April 2023 | DefInsights | 1 DefInsights Vol.7 Issue 3 - May 2023 A SUGOSHA MEDIA PRESENTATION Differential GPS: The Ultimate Solution to Accurate Navigation
2 | DefInsights | April 2023 I n s i de t hi s i s s u e : DefInsights Cover Story: The article examines the significance of Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) in precise navigation. It discusses the errors associated with GPS and how DGPS emerged as a solution and highlights its use in civil aviation, maritime, and military applications, particularly in challenging conditions. It also mentions the development of India's indigenous navigation system—NAVIC, its advantages and discuss the future plans for NAVIC expansion and the capabilities of the Indian SBAS, GAGAN, in improving navigation and military infrastructure. Disclaimer: Great care has been taken in the compilation and validation of information. All information in DefInsights is derived from sources we consider reliable. The views expressed in DefInsights are not necessarily shared by, nor should they be taken as the views of the Publisher, Editor or the owner of DefInsights. Any views expressed are those of the individual contributors. No responsibility or liability is accepted by the editor, the publisher or the owner for any loss occasioned to any person, legal or physical, acting or refraining from action as a result of any errors, statement, fact, figure, expression of opinion or belief contained in DefInsights. Cover……………………………………………..…....….1 Contents………………………...…...……...............2 MD’s Desk……..………………………...……………...3 Differential GPS: The Ultimate Solution to Accurate Navigation….…...……..……………………..6 Intuiting the Deficit: India's position in the Global Startup Index………..…......................11 Wooing Africa: Indian defence sector’s venture in Africa…………………...…………….………..15 Russian Roulette: Assaying India-Russia DefTech Cooperation …………....…………..………….19 Accessing India’s Military Drone Ecosystem……………….…………………………………..…….22 Conferences & Seminars …………………….…...24 Industry Buzz……….……………………...............26 DAP 2020 Primer: Part 13……..…………..……..30 Business Opportunities: May 2023…………...32 Contact Page……………...………………...…..…….33 Differential GPS Device (Source: CadMax Website) Started in 2017, DefInsights is an online monthly publication focusing on Indian Defence procurement policies & regulations, major programs, and private & public defence manufacturing companies in English language by Sugosha Media Private Limited, C-202, Celebrity Homes, Palam Vihar, Gurugram Haryana—122017. Subscription is free to all subscribers globally and can be accessed at http:// www.sugosha.com/magazine/ . Authors interested in sending their articles in the field of Indian defence industry, defence procurement policies & regulations, major programs, private and public actors in defence sector, policy and framework analysis etc. can make their submissions at “[email protected]”. Editorial Board and Panel Dr S Sundar Rajan, OS & Former Head BRAHMOs Lt Gen SK Upadhya, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Veteran) Maj Gen Sandeepan Handa, PVSM (Veteran) AVM Ravi Vridhachalem, VM, VSM (Veteran) Colonel KV Kuber (Veteran) Editorial Team Mrs Shanti Kuber | Editor in Chief Mr Sohil Patel | Editor Mr Ayan Manchanda | Associate Editor
April 2023 | DefInsights | 3 Six years ago, we took it upon ourselves to record the nation’s progress in aerospace and defence sector with a vigorous editorial and an emphasis on the spearheads of our forces. Today, our defence exports have reached an all-time high, the aerospace and defense market in India is offering an appealing and significant opportunity for both, Indian and foreign, companies throughout its supply chain. Through indigenous research and development projects, a number of key products are being developed and a number of goods and pieces of equipment have been created through technology transfer. Due to rising activity in the civil aviation and defence sectors, India's aerospace industry continues to expand substantially. Similarly, aviation has been given priority, and the "Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik 5.0" (UDAN 5.0) programme seeks to build smaller regional airports so that everyone can access flights. The idea has already become a reality thanks to more than 400 routes in the regional connectivity scheme (RCS). In addition, the composite market size for Indian aerospace and defence will increase over the next 6 years with a compound annual growth rate of 12.6%CAGR. This positive development, thanks to more enlightened government and the upper echelons of power that have collectively understood and appreciated the urgent need for swiftly tracking our own armed forces while at the same time making a strong commitment to extending frontiers, is all well and good. In these two years, the MakeinIndia mantra has been fast tracked into reality, and the military industrial complex has been reinvigorated. We've got a plan for the short and the long term, not only to tangibly upgrade our armed forces, but also to create a viable manufacturing, research and development infrastructure not only on Earth, but also in space. India has become a major player in these areas, and the future is not only bright but full of promises for great success. Geopolitics Following events unfolded in May indicative of the extent of Military diplomacy practised by Indian government, encompassing, W Asia, SE Asia, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Eurasia etc. . Briefly, they are :- IAF’s C-17 Globe transport aircraft was dispatched to war torn Sudan to bring back 192 passengers, IAF crew flew through extended duty periods of nearly 24 hrs to get them back to the homeland. INS Tarkash and INS Subhadra arrived at Jubail Port to participate in the second edition of the Indo-Saudi bilateral naval exercise Al-Mohed Al-Hindi. INS Kavaratti with Chetak helicopter and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft participated in Ex Samudra Shakti with the Indonesian Navy. Sri Lanka Navy ceremonially welcomed INS Batti Malv at the Port of Trincomalee on a Visit Board Search & Seize training exercise, these vessels later engaged with the SL Navy in a Passage Exercise. INS Delhi and Satpura sailed to Cambodia on a 3 day port call demonstrated India’s cordial ties and rapidly growing cooperation with the Kingdom of Cambodia. Armenian government has adopted a decision on appointing a military attaché at its Embassy in India, considering that there is a great potential for cooperation between the two countries in the military and military-technical sphere. In a swift humanitarian action Indian Navy deployed its P8i Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft in the Southern IOR, in response to sinking of a Chinese Fishing Vessel with 39 crew on-board. MD’s Desk Mrs. Shanti Kuber
4 | DefInsights | April 2023 India and Indonesia started working on an Air Force Bilateral Agreement aimed at enhancing defence cooperation. It’ll pave the way for joint air exercises, exchange of operational knowledge, experiences, and best practices. Through this collaboration, both countries seek to strengthen their respective air forces and enhance their capabilities in safeguarding their national security. INS Satpura and Delhi embarked towards Singapore to participate in the Inaugural ASEAN India Maritime Exercise. AIME 2023 will provide an opportunity for Indian Navy and ASEAN navies to work together closely and conduct seamless operations in the maritime domain. INS Kesri oparticipated in the The 35th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) along the IMBL in the Andaman Sea. Indo-Thai CORPAT is another step towards enhancing IN’s efforts to consolidate interoperability and forge strong bonds of friendship between India and Thailand. Chief of the Army Staff proceeded on a visit to Egypt to discuss avenues for further enhancing Indo-Egypt defence relations. Military relations between India and Egypt are on the rise, this was evident during their first ever joint exercise between the Special Forces named “Ex Cyclone-I” this year. DPSUs India recently reached the pinnacles of defence production as it reached a record high of INR 1.07 trillion in fiscal year (FY) 2022–23. The new record is a 12% increase over the value of defence production in FY 2021–22, when it reached INR948.5 billion. These numbers are likely to increase further once full-year financial data has been received from some private sector firms. The MoD said there has been a 200% increase in the number of licences issued to firms in the past seven to eight years. These measures have given a boost to the defence industrial manufacturing ecosystem in the country. According to the MoD, the increase in production value is attributable to a series of industry reforms introduced in recent years. These include measures to integrate private sector firms into supply chains and to simplify the licensing procedures for these companies. Additionally, the 4th Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) of 928 strategically-important items, including high-end materials & spares, with import substitution value worth Rs 715 crore. These will only be procured from the Indian Industry after the timelines indicated in the list. This presents an opportunity in disguise as it would be inevitable for the DPSUs to undertake indigenisation of these items through different routes under and cater for in-house development through the capabilities of MSMEs and private Indian industry, thereby providing impetus to the growth in economy, enhanced investment in defence and reduction in import dependence of DPSUs. In addition, this will augment the design capabilities of the domestic defence industry by involving academia and research institutions. HAL along with Safran Helicopter Engines have finalized a workshare agreement for the engine development of the 13- tonne IMRH and its naval variant, the Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH). HAL's active participation in the design, development, and production of core engine components would add up to its expertise in times to come as it’d have the opportunity to manufacture a majority of the engine components within the country. HAL confirmed a hand over of a minimum of 8 newly manufactured Tejas Trainer aircraft to the IAF within the current fiscal year. HAL aims to deliver a minimum of 6 Tejas Trainer aircraft by the end of this year and an additional 2 by March 2024. HAL plans to complete the delivery of all 18 Tejas Trainer jets by March 2025. GE Aerospace is open to the transfer of technology to India for the indigenous manufacture of engines for light combat aircraft LCA Mark 2 by 2028.GE also announced agreements that deepen the company’s investment in India’s military. Godrej Aerospace has started manufacturing 8 modules of the 48 kN Dry Kaveri Engine for the GTRE that plans to complete last mile trials for the certification of the engine before it is cleared for production. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) unveiled a model of its autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) swarm concept under the iDEX initiative, this would enhance Navy’s mine-countermeasures (MCM) capabilities.
April 2023 | DefInsights | 5 Armed Forces The Indian Army has been incentivised to modernise their operatives and enhance their lethal envelope. Upgraded state-of-the-art artillery and cutting-edge technology are also reflected in the manufacture of modern combat vehicle platforms. The latest in Artillery guns will provide tangible efficacy to the operatives on the battlefield. DAC recently approved the AON to procure 307 ATAGS, once the contract is concluded; the Army will receive 75 guns per year, resulting in the formation of four ATAGS gun regiments annually. The establishment of the IRF will complement the existing capabilities of the SFC, allowing for a comprehensive and robust defence strategy. While the SFC focuses on nuclear deterrence and strategic missile systems, the IRF will concentrate on conventional missile systems for tactical operations. The Indian Navy is being given influence to patrol the oceans and be counted. With over 45 vessels under construction incorporating destroyers, frigates, corvettes, and conventional powered and nuclear submarines. This magnitude of indigenous sea power would make our forces sovereign and No longer is the dependence on second hand ‘gifts’ from other lands. Navyis also being equipped with the Spanish Lanza-N radars, these advanced radars will be deployed to augment the surveillance and operational capabilities of the vessels. The Indian Air Force is primed for protecting the celestial canopy,and as fourth-generation fighters are inducted, there is a priority given to drone power and missile systems. The extra Long Range Surface to Air Missile (XRSAM) for the IAF, which is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is a case in point. MOD MoD is looking to engage the domestic industry to set up repair and overhaul facilities for Western aircraft. This move aims to stabilize the production systems and ensure a steady supply of frequently replaced components, ultimately reducing operating costs while enhancing the combat readiness of the IAF and bolstering the Tejas Mk2 fleet overall playing a significant step towards achieving self-reliance in the defence sector. This move comes at a point when maintenance support contracts of a few western aircraft are coming to an end and before contracts are renewed with the original manufacturers. It will also be a test for foreign suppliers that made promises of shifting the repair and overhaul facilities to India during the time of purchase. GE Aviation, a leading global aircraft engine manufacturer, has expressed its intent to establish local manufacturing capabilities for F414 engines in India. The company has submitted its proposal and is now awaiting final approval from the Biden administration, which is expected to coincide with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming state visit to the United States.
6 | DefInsights | April 2023 Differential GPS: The Ultimate Solution to Accurate Navigation - Group Captain Arun Kashyap (Retd) Introduction It has been human dream to have a Navigation System which can provide accurate worldwide coverage of one’s position & accurate real-time directions to achieve its objectives; it could vary to an accurate landing for a civil use or accurate delivery of ordnance through a curving multidirectional path for a Military person. The solution to accurate directions was found thousands of years ago by our ancestors in the skies above & has remained unchanged even today. Our ancestors, specifically -The residents of Indian continent identified 57 celestial bodies for calculating the true directions {Inclusive of selected stars called Nakshatras, prominent planets and our own earth satellite the Moon besides first point of Aeries}. Their relative position in celestial sphere was also used for accurate time keeping. Many a modern platform like the famous SR71 ‘Blackbird’ & Tornado used IR/UV trackers to track these 57 heavenly bodies for accurate navigation eliminating the Gyro Magnetic compass’s errors & complexities. Accurate real-time position worldwide remained a problem both Militarily & otherwise. In 1973 US Govt started to work on a satellite-constellation based navigation system for this conundrum & thus was born the now famous GPS. It consists of 24 operational ‘NAVSTAR’ Satellites orbiting the earth in 12 hr orbit at an altitude approximately 20200 Kms. Each satellite has an accurate atomic clock with multiple redundancy transmitting a unique ID code. The system had become fully operational by 1990s & saw its 1st extensive military use in both Ops ‘Desert Storm’ & ‘Desert Shield’. The time elapse between the satellite & the receiver besides the accurate position of the satellite provides the end user with the accurate distance between the receiver & the satellite. The plotting of interaction of minimum three such satellite positions provide the receiver it’s exact location in three dimensions (Lat, Long & altitude/elevation). Ultimate requirement of Navigation problems in realm of surface & skies appeared to have been achieved. The GPS system thus consists of three parts or segments- The space segment consisting of 24 NAVSTAR active satellites (6 in reserve). The Control/ Ground Segment consisting of one Master control Station (USAF Schriever Base , Colorado) & four Monitoring Stations (Hawaii & Kwajalein in Pacific Ocean, Diego Garcia in IOR besides Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean). The third segment is the User or Receiver segment. The Genesis of Differential GPS To control this massive constellation of satellite & to generate codes with accurate information series of ground stations are required which calculate multiple changing parameters & feed it to each satellite using CDMA technique for accurate Navigation information to be transmitted to the receivers. Since, GPS had been initially build by USA DoD for specific military use two codes were generated by the ground station , the 1st short length code called C/A code which provided a SEP of about 10-30 mtrs & another longish code running into hours which was meant only for the NATO & US Military called P/A code with accuracy of few meters.
April 2023 | DefInsights | 7 To make matters worse for Civil users & non-NATO Nations the US Govt introduced SA (Selective Availability) wherein a deliberate error was fed into the C/A code reducing its accuracy to about 100 mtrs. This, error could be fed selectively to satellites both in time & space thus affecting a given region, Nation, or geographical area more than others. The purpose was to limit the usage of GPS & its misuse by adversaries of NATO/USA. The world knew if SA error was removed the accuracy of GPS would be as good as 10 mtrs & thus was born the initial family of Differential GPS or DGPS, which tackled the above problem with a very simple solution. A surveyed location whose location was known to the desired accuracy was selected & a GPS receiver fixed there. The error between the factual position & that calculated from GPS satellite feed was thus calculated. The difference in the data calculated was then transmitted either in real-time to the other GPS receivers in the vicinity or the other GPS receivers recorded their data same is correlated & corrected later (post processing). Though in the year 2000 by USA Presidential ordinance the SA was done away with permanently but by then DGPS had come to stay & other Nations had started spawning the GPS rivals namely the Russian GLONASS, European Galileo, Chinese BEIDOU & Japanese QZSS. The Sources of Errors of GPS & their cancellation by DGPS Though the SA was removed in 2000, GPS suffers from certain inbuilt design errors which are easily countered by DGPS. These are covered in brief below. Satellite related Errors Satellite Clock-Slightest of errors in satellites time keeping has a cascading effect on the receiver’s accuracy as the time lapse forms the basic principle of GPS working. Satellite Orbit - Other error related to satellites is their straying from the desired or designated orbital path. Dilution of Precision- The GPS is designed for an ideal intercept of four satellites, one right overhead & three other satellites equally displaced close to the horizon but due to comparatively low altitude 20000kms & orbital cycle of 12 hrs does not always work out. This leads to calculation errors. Atmospheric Errors Ionospheric Errors -Ionosphere is one of the largest contributor of errors in GPS system. It consists of various electronically charged (ionised layers) between 50- 400kms above earth’s surface, which vary in electronic & ionisation density as per the position of sun, day & night besides the atmospheric phenomenon like solar flares. The EW wave { L- band transmission of GPS signal from satellite in 1575.42 Mhz (L1 Frequency), 1227.6 Mhz (L2 Frequency)} passing through such an electronic field are refracted, reflected, deflected and delayed as per the density of ionisation. The error in satellites right overhead is least & increases with decrease in angle of inclination. The ionospheric error in extreme cases can be as much as 50 meters. Lower Atmospheric Errors – The varying density of the Stratosphere, Tropopause & Troposphere affect the GPS signals by slowing them down compared to free space. This error is also related to the angle of elevation/ inclination with the receiver.
8 | DefInsights | April 2023 User Segment Errors Receiver Clock – Receivers have quartz clocks which are less accurate than the atomic clocks in the satellite leading to error in time keeping which is eliminated by comparing signals from 2 satellites. Receiver Noise – The receiver may get heated up & generate internal errors. Multipath Error— Ideally the receiver should receive only one signal from the satellite but due to obstructions in its vicinity especially metallic/ reflective surfaces the Satellite signal may bounce off these surfaces and be received by the receiver from various paths. This error can be overcome by selecting those satellites which are at least 15 degrees above the horizon (called Masking angle). All the above errors despite the best efforts are difficult to predict & eliminate in toto but by comparing the calculated position to surveyed position these errors are easily neutralized. Hence the continued use & demand for DGPS. Types of DGPS The fundamental of operation of DGPS is that any two receivers that are comparatively close to each other would experience similar GPS system errors. In DGPS, the GPS receiver set at precisely known location is called the base or reference station. The Base station receiver calculates its position based on satellite signals and compares this location to surveyed / known location. The difference or the error is applied to the GPS data recorded by the second or other GPS receiver/ receivers, called the roving receiver. The corrected information is utilized to correct data from the roving receiver in real time in the field using radio signals or through post-processing after data capture using special processing software. Terrestrial DGPS- In this the base station calculates and broadcasts corrections for each satellite as it receives the data. The correction is received by the roving receiver via a radio signal or in any other realtime manner to be applied to the position it is calculating. Thus, the base station must have the ability to transmit in omni-direction the correction data in real time. The Rover receiver should have the ability to receive the data from to channels simultaneously and correct the data instantaneously. Satellite Differential Services or Space Based Augmentation Services (SBAS)- In this method geostationary satellites are utilized to obtaining real-time differential correction data for the roving receiver. A series of geographically spread reference stations are selected (Akin to the terrestrial DGPS). The errors for each reference station are calculated and a correction map of the area is generated. Then this information is centrally transmitted to a Geostationary Satellite. Now, the advantage of a Geostationary satellite is that it always remains directly above a fixed position on earth & is at an altitude of 36000kms above the earth. This Geostationary satellite then transmits the correction data to all the GPS receivers in that region. Though the accuracy is slightly lesser than that of Realtime DGPS, it does not require any special system set up for each specific area. The worldwide established SBAS are: Japan: Michibiki Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS) USA: Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) India: GPS-aided GEO-Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) China: BeiDou SBAS (BDSBAS) (in development) South Korea: Korea Augmentation Satellite System (KASS) (in development) Russia: System for Differential Corrections and Monitoring (SDCM) (in development) ASECNA: Augmented NaviGation for Africa (ANGA) (in development) Australia & New Zealand: Southern Positioning Augmentation Network (SouthPAN) (in development) European Union: European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Services (EGNOS)
April 2023 | DefInsights | 9 Usage of DGPS Besides providing accuracy of position & excellent navigation, the various modes of DGPS are popularly utilized in civil aviation, maritime & military for safe navigation especially in areas where navigation aids are limited or not available. Both SABS & DGPS are being increasingly used for GPS assisted Runway approaches till ILS Cat -I levels. The airfield areas have been surveyed for exact locations are installed with GPS receivers, the errors are calculated in real time and transmitted to approaching aircraft in form of VHF signals. Such a procedure is called Ground based Augmentation System (GBAS) Landing system or in shorts GLS approaches. In military a DGPS base transmitter can make precision approaches, accurate weapon delivery, troop/ ordnance drops feasible even in absolute zero visibility conditions. SABS approaches by civil aircrafts are often referred to as LPV (Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance), wherein remote airports with very limited or nil navigation/ landing assistance facilities can be approached to almost ILS Cat-I (250-300 feet above the runway) approaches. Though, technically it is only a Airfield approach aid & not a Runway approach aid due to comparatively less accuracy but in wilderness it is an all-weather blessing. SABS like Indian Gagan system inflight accuracy of RNP 0.1 which implies that the system can be used to allow aircraft to follow precise three-dimensional curved flight paths through congested airspace, around noise sensitive areas, or through difficult terrain standard. India has become the only third country in the world & first in Asia to utilize SABS LPV approach on 22 Apr 2022 at the Kishangarh Airport in Rajasthan. The Indian GPS Story The Indian quest for Indigenous GPS was propelled majorly by the denial by the USA Govt with regards to position of the Enemy (Pakistan) in the Kargil Sector, making it amply clear that during conflict a foreign nation can always deny the requisite accurate navigation information besides retarding the GPS services over a given geographical area. The Indian efforts culminated in creation of the Indian Satellite based navigation System called ‘NAVIC’ (Navigation with Indian Constellation) was earlier called IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System) it became operational with total of 07 Satellites in the year 2018, of these 03 satellites are in Geostationary orbit and the other 04 are re in Geosynchronous Orbit ( the satellite appears at the same point over the earth at end of each sidereal day or rotation time of earth on its axis 23h56m04 s). All the satellites are at an altitude of 36000kms; the Geostationary satellites are centred at longitude 32.5 at° E, 83° E, and 131.5° E while the Geosynchronous satellites are inclined to equator at 55° E and two at 111.75° E. This gives India an accurate coverage from 30° South to 50° North in latitude swathe and from 30° East to 130° East longitudinal swathe. The Advantages of NAVIC over other Satellite based Nav Systems The NAVIC system has the satellites at Geosynchronous/ Geostationary orbit which implies that all the satellites all the time are way above the masking angle hence are able to provide accurate information and 07 satellite coverage to all the receivers providing exceptional accuracies of about 05 mtrs even without any enhancement. The high altitude also more or less eliminates the blocking of signals due to high buildings & Mountains as suffered by US GPS. Another factor in its favour is that NaVIC uses two frequency bands instead of one: the L5 (1176.45 MHz) and S band (2492.028 MHz). This increases accuracy by allowing the satellite receivers to simultaneously use the two frequencies to correct any atmospheric errors, instead of elaborate error correctors in GPS and other single frequency band
10 | DefInsights | April 2023 The Future Plans The Indian Government plans to slowly expand NAVIC from regional nav system to global with addition of more MRO ( Medium altitude Orbit) Satellites in near future. These satellites are to be placed at an altitude of 24000kms and would be approx. 20 in number. The lifecycle of present Navigation satellites (IRNSS1 series) is 12 years and would be slowly augmented and replaced by NAV series satellites, first of which is likely to be deployed in next few months. The Indian SBAS GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation system) GAGAN exploits the seven satellites in NAVIC constellation along with 03 Geostationary Communication satellites namely GSAT-8, GSAT-10 and GSAT-15, its Ground segment at present consists of about 23 reference stations spread all over India and 03 master control centres. This gives GAGAN an ability to providing RNP0.1 Standards Navigation ability all over India and its immediate threat regions besides augmenting the ability of various fight platforms to approach & land at airfields even where no Approach/ Landing Navigation aids are available without the need of any other assistance but for an onboard compatible receiver. Conclusion The establishment of NAVIC & GAGAN and their expansion harbour in great tidings for India establishing it among lead Nations in this field besides greatly enhancing its ability in all fronts civil, GIS, agriculture, disaster management, UAV & other fight operations, Network Centric Operations. It also helps India catch up in leaps & bounds to Chinese Nav & military infrastructure in the uneasy Mountainous Borders.
April 2023 | DefInsights | 11 In a recent poll conducted by the AI website "Business Name Generator" (BNG), India was ranked as one of the most difficult countries to establish a business in. The website examined 50 nations, taking into account factors like company tax rates, growth in GDP, and the expenses of start-up processes, among others, in order to construct this global start-up index to identify the most suitable region to launch a business. It evaluated the country's population, median monthly wage, happiness score, cost of living, GDP, GDP per capita and standard of living were taken into account when calculating the final score to determine the locations of the most contented workers as these variables are crucial for boosting growth and productivity. The Czech Republic takes the top rank among the top ten locations in the world for starting a business in 2023, according to research by BNG. The other top five countries in that order were Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, and Estonia. It should not come as a surprise that a pair of Nordic nations rank in the top five considering how well they consistently perform in surveys that prioritise happiness and quality of life. Additionally, Europe is luring tech talent by providing visas for digital nomads and remote working programmes. Czech Republic was ranked the best country to take-off a start-up. It ranks as one of the most cost-effective locations to launch a business as it only costs 1.1% of GNI per inhabitant, in spite of having the lowest standard of life rating amongst the top ten. With a With monthly salary of about USD 1,800, the cost of manpower is comparatively low. Companies reap the advantages of a corporate tax rate that is extraordinarily low at just 19%. Finland, being ranked at 2nd position had an edge over others owing to its low cost of initiating business of just 0.7% of GNI and low taxation rate of 20%. Studies have also reflected that Finland having world’s happiest people have positive implications for business as happy workers lead to efficient outcomes including, increased productivity, work quality and higher retention rates. Sweden rounds out the top three, where starting business only costs 0.5% of GNI per inhabitant. With a GDP per capita of USD 59,324 and a relatively cheap cost of living of USD 881.20 per month, excluding rent, it also has the greatest GDP amongst the top 5 nations in the Intuiting the Deficit: India's position in the Global Startup Index - Ayan Manchanda Global start-up map (Source: Report) Regional Distribution (Source: Report)
12 | DefInsights | April 2023 World. This suggests that its population of more than 10 million—the largest in the Nordic region and nearly twice as many as the next largest— has a sizable amount of disposable income. It is well-suited to promote a local start-up due to its substantial consumer base. The corporate tax in Sweden, at 20.60%, is little higher than those in the Czech Republic & Finland. United States was ranked 17th owing to the 3rdlowest GDP growth rate globally at 1.6% despite it creates the most start-ups worldwide. With a nationwide average of 25.8%, state-specific business tax rates are also quite high. Despite this, the study showed that the US is still a preferred location for entrepreneurs because of its sizable market, developed infrastructure, and favourable legal framework for intellectual property protection. The survey also showed that, with the exception of one, all five of the most difficult nations to generate successful start-ups are in Asia. The Philippines has the unfortunate distinction of being at the very bottom of the list, followed, in that order, with Egypt, India, South Korea, and Vietnam. Given the thriving start-up ecosystems in South Korea and India, it is somewhat surprising that these two nations rank last in a start-up index. South Korea is renowned for being an innovation and high-tech centre. In fact, according to a 2022 World Economic Forum assessment of the top nations for entrepreneurs, South Korea came in at number 7 while India came in at number 17 out of 50. India was ranked 44th out of 100 countries in an additional research study by StartupBlink, which utilises more detailed criteria to determine its rating, and South Korea was ranked 22nd. The StartupBlink research also takes into account factors including innovation, technology services accessibility, R&D spending, university quality, and English language competency. India has more than 77,000 start-ups, making it the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the world, according to Invest India. In India, startup funding increased 15 times between 2015 and 2022, while the amount of investors increased by 9 times, and the amount of incubators increased by 7 times. With a total market value of USD 340.79 billion, India is also the home of 107 unicorns. India was identified as third most difficult country in the BNG research to create a start-up due primarily to its low standard of life and happiness index ratings. According to the report, "this could have a significant impact on employment satisfaction, productivity, and general workplace well-being." Indo Pacific top countries (Source: Report) Division of Unicorns in India (Source: Report)
April 2023 | DefInsights | 13 In addition, the nation's 30% business tax rates may cancel out a handful of the savings from low labour costs, which are low in comparison to the other nations in the study. The cost of initiating a start-up within the archipelagic nation of the Philippines is the main factor contributing to its ranking as the most difficult nation in which to begin a start-up. With 23.3 percent of GNI per capita, it has the highest percentage of any of the examined nations. Additionally, the quality of life score for workers is the least (81 out of 240) among all the places ranked, which could have a negative impact on efficiency, retention of workers, and job satisfaction. The average monthly salary is also comparatively low at USD 850. Overview of Indian Start-up Ecosystem India has moved up one point this year to rank 19th overall in the global rankings, continuing its upward trend. India is the fourth-best performing nation in the Asia-Pacific area, behind China, Singapore, and Australia. India, Japan, and South Korea, which are placed fourth, fifth, and sixth in Asia Pacific accordingly, have quite close total score differences. Given the size of its population, which is taken into account when calculating its national ranking, this portends a competitive atmosphere for India. With three cities included in the top 20, India is tied with China for the second-highest number in the world. India is second only to the US in terms of the number of top-20 cities. Bangalore, a city in Southern India, has retained its title as India's top city. It has improved by two spots to rank eighth globally, strengthening its hold on a spot in the top 10. In Asia-Pacific, it is likewise rated third highest, behind Beijing and Shanghai. 32 cities in India are in the range of 100 to 1000. Patna and Goa have improved the most in India, moving up 218 and 272 points, respectively, to positions 522 and 500. In 2022, a total of 37 Indian cities have been ranked in the list, placing the country in seventh position globally in terms of the total number of ranked ecosystems per capita. India has enormous potential given the size of its people and the low cost of doing businesses. The nation has made a name for itself as a global leader in technological services, and in recent years, it has witnessed a unicorn boom. Indian start-up ecosystem's growth trajectory is quite astounding, largely attributing to the size of its own market and robust IT sector. The start-up ecosystem in India is more than just an economic growth driver. Start-ups have the potential to transform India's production and completely alter the nation. Start-ups are additionally going to be the impetus for transitioning India's shadow economy into a transparent one, giving the government the tax Division of Startups in India (Source: Report)
14 | DefInsights | April 2023 revenue it needs to turn India into the powerhouse. The government will need to select its top talent to work on developing the start-up sector and formulating strategy to allow for this to materialise. The success stories of Indian CEOs running corporations like Alphabet, Adobe, and Microsoft is evidence of their aptitude for entrepreneurship. However, the fact that some of India's top talent is moving to the West also demonstrates the enormous expense of brain drain. The lack of lucrative employment opportunities coupled with India's infrastructure issues is responsible for the relocation of our talented entrepreneurs abroad. In comparison to other nations, connectivity to the internet is slow, and power disruptions are common. Given the rapid growth of other nations in the region, the government of India should take additional measures to strengthen its start-up ecosystem and its vital infrastructure. Government's flagship start-up initiative "Startup India," as well as "Make in India" signifies the firm dedication for building the start-up ecosystem and infrastructure. The majority of India's unicorns and successful start-ups are concentrating on the enormous local market potential as India is financially headed in the right direction. However, Indian start-ups ecosystem must concentrate on domestic and global markets in order to become a recognised global tech hub. The Indian start-up ecosystem has recently switched its attention away from earlier ecommerce triumphs of unicorns like Flipkart and Big Basket and towards digital solutions and fintech. The majority of FDI going to Indian start-ups comes from the US, and most of it is going to fintech start-ups developing cutting-edge banking models like neo-banking. COVID-19 pandemic caused venture capital funding for digital healthcare and its education solutions to increase. Given India's youthful educated populace and positive relations with the world, India has a great potential to expand and play a larger role in the global start-up ecosystem. Indian top cities (Source: Report)
April 2023 | DefInsights | 15 History illustrates that nations with a substantial military-industrial complex possessed strong military forces, that prompted robust and proactive foreign policies allowing them to stand firmly among other nations. Wooing Africa: Indian defence sector’s venture in Africa - Ayan Manchanda India has been exerting a whole lot of effort to compete with giants like USA, China and Russia in the arms trade. Owing to this desire, India has concentrated its efforts on selling its indigenous weapon systems to African forces, which oftentimes are unable to afford Western equipment. India has already achieved some degree of success in this sector, and it plans to build on this in an effort to establish itself as a significant player in African weapon trade. From simple firearms to complex aircrafts, India has created and built a wide variety of weaponry and defence systems. These are offered to African militaries at prices that are significantly lower than those of those in the West, making them a desirable option for less developed countries. Indian weaponry is now a dependable and affordable choice for African forces thanks to significant advancements in maintenance and support. India aims to utilise the from its expanding market share in Africa to increase sales of domestically produced gear, opening up new markets, and boost its position on the international stage. With the appropriate tactics in place, India has faith that it will contend Russia and China for arms transactions after making significant inroads into the African market for weapons. Investments paying off In order to reduce its reliance on Russian imports, India has spent billions in its defence industry. Recently during the India-Africa Army Chiefs Conference which witnessed the participation from 31 African countries, India displayed domestically produced artillery, helicopters, and drones as it seeks to establish itself as a significant exporter as well as the world's largest arms importer. As India attempts to enhance its influence on the continent, it has boosted its sales of weapons to Africa. Indian weapon exports to Africa have mostly consisted of small arms, ammo, and other military hardware. However, India has been successful in securing several sizeable contracts for the supply of advanced
16 | DefInsights | April 2023 military systems, such as planes and navy ships. African Delegates attended the meeting, which came after nine days of joint military drills in AFINDEX-2023 involving soldiers from 23 African nations. During the drills Indian military demonstrated its capabilities in mock operations and showcased a glimpse of India's defence sector by highlighting various equipment such as Assault rifles, artillery shells, model missiles, helicopters, armoured vehicles, and robots that disarm bombs. Sino-Indian competition fuelling increased arms export India is dedicated to imparting its talents and expertise in defence manufacture, research, and development in order to enable its African partner countries to self-satisfy their defence needs. New Delhi has been attempting to establish its reputation as a reliable ally for African countries as it competes with Beijing for influence in the continent. India hopes that by supplying arms to African governments, it would be able to enhance relations with them as well as expand its influence in the region. According to Lt Gen James Mugira, who is speaking on behalf of the Chief of the Ugandan Defence Forces, defence and security cooperation between India and Africa is still underutilised and should be prioritised. Transfer of technology to African countries and the establishment of industrial facilities there. The rising need for military hardware on the continent is another factor influencing India's weapons sales to Africa. To be able to combat security threats like terrorism, insurgency, and piracy, many African nations require access to sophisticated military hardware. India was able to meet this need and give African countries cost-effective, dependable military hardware. In the upcoming years, India wants to expand its annual exports of weaponry from around $1.7 billion to $5 billion. According to authorities less than 20% of its armament shipments are being made to clients in Africa, namely Egypt, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles. As part of its steps to deepen its defence ties with the continent, India staged its first-ever trilateral (Tanzania, Mozambique, and India) Navy exercise with Africa in November 22. In order to address security issues on the continent, such as extremism and cyber attacks, and to prevent blackmailing by more powerful nations owing to the country's weak security and military capabilities, Uganda has advocated for a robust Africa-India defence cooperation.
April 2023 | DefInsights | 17 With several African nations, including Uganda, including in bilateral and security engagements, India has provided logistical support and military training, transferring skills and knowledge to hundreds of military officers while also providing training opportunities for African officers. Indian ambitions Indian arms sale to Africa is a testimony of India's ambition to transform itself as a major global player and expanding its influence on the continent. These sales have aided India in forging closer ties with the African continent and constraining China's influence, but they have additionally raised concerns about the instability and arms proliferation in the region. The initiative appears to be effective as the Tanzanian Defence Minister led a delegation of Senior Armed Forces officials to Bharat Dynamics Limited's (BDL's) production facilities last August to look into potential areas of cooperation. A similar agreement was inked between Egypt and India to increase military collaboration between their respective defence industries. Russia: A dominant giant in the arms export market India nevertheless plans to compete with Russia, which has emerged as the major weaponry supplier to the forces of Sub-Saharan Africa. The country is now the top supplier of armaments in the region, surpassing China as a result of this trend. Russia has actively worked to extend its influence in Africa, and as a result, African countries are receiving more weapons. According to data compiled by SIPRI, despite Beijing has historically been the region's top exporter of arms 26% of the subSaharan artillery imported over the period of 5 years came from Russia. Contrary, FY 2022–23 proved to be a significant achievement for India in defence exports. $1.9 billion was a record high for exports, over $364 million higher than the prior fiscal year. Since the 2016–2017 fiscal year, this marks a tenfold rise. With 100 companies already selling defence goods, India has increased the size of its market for export to more than 85 nations. Indian defence industry has undergone substantial reforms as a result of the government's intention to enhance the country's defence capability by reducing import reliance. The government intends to support up to 70% of development expenses, simplifying the procurement process for defence items, and increasing FDI to 74% through the automatic route, all of which are likely to increase investments in the sector. By 2024–2025, the government intends to produce defence products valued INR 1,75,000 crore, including INR 35,000 crore in defence exports. Recent developments in the defence sector reflects that the changes carried out over the previous few years have produced favourable results. The government is committed to support efforts to make India a centre for defence manufacturing. Changes in regulations and R&D, doing business is now much simpler owing to which Indian defence exports are expected to reach Rs 35,000–40,000 crore by 2026. Lack of bureaucracy has also made it easier for young business entrepreneurs to efficiently launch their ventures. Crucial approaches to aid India’s quest for increase arms export
18 | DefInsights | April 2023 By concentrating on a few crucial approaches, India can compete with China, Russia, and Turkey in the supply of weaponry to African Forces: 1. Offering quality weapon systems at affordable prices: India has a robust defence sector and is capable of producing cutting-edge weapons systems, including missiles, fighter planes, and submarines. India can draw African nations that are trying to upgrade their military capabilities by providing such weapon systems at affordable pricing. 2. Fostering close ties with African countries: India can foster close ties with African countries by delivering aid for development, such as through infrastructure projects, educational initiatives, and health programmes. 3. Catering training and support services: Indian defence sector should assist African forces in using Indian-made weaponry successfully by providing training and support services. Indian businesses may set themselves apart from rivals and establish enduring ties with African military by offering these services. 4. Delivering custom solutions: Indian manufacturers can adjust their systems to the tailored requirements of African forces, such as by modifying them for the climate and topography in the region. Indian businesses can then provide distinctive solutions that are especially suited to African needs. 5. Emphasis on openness and moral behaviour: India can stand out by putting an emphasis on transparency and moral behaviour to gain the trust of African governments by upholding rigorous standards of ethics and being open and honest about their business dealings. They can also distinguish themselves from rivals who might have a poor track record for corruption and unethical conduct. India can compete with China, Russia, and Turkey in the supply of weapons to African forces by concentrating on the aforementioned strategies and establish itself as a major supplier of military hardware in the area.
April 2023 | DefInsights | 19 India has a unique opportunity to benefit greatly from Russia's 70th anniversary of its public administration system for military-technical cooperation. Russia's strategic adaptability can be utilised in directing India's growing defence sector in a progressive multipolar world. Russian Geopolitical Outlook The cornerstone of Russian foreign policy has been its military-technical cooperation, which is governed by universal values like respect for one another, equality of rights, & noninterference in domestic affairs. Despite the global sanctions, Russia has effectively upheld & strengthened its authority in the global arms market. USP of Russian military industrial complex is its cutting edge military hardware & versatile financial tactics. Russian equipment draws global clientele owing to its remarkable performance and cost-effectiveness. The impact of Western sanctions has also been mitigated by Russia's financial tactics which inculcates the national currency & other financial instruments. India-Russia Joint Ventures Russia's desire to establish military equipment manufacture in cooperating nations is notable as the global defence sector embraces increased collaborative military projects. The success of these joint ventures with India, including the T-90S tanks, AK-203 assault rifles, Su-30MKI aircraft, & BrahMos missile system, is evidence of the efficacy of this strategy. BrahMos project, the licenced manufacturing of T-90S tanks, Su-30MKI aircraft, aircraft engines, and Mango tank ammunition have all been executed in India, and frigates of Project 11356 are now being produced at Indian shipyards. India is one of the best-known examples of such collaboration. The playing field In order to maintain Russian equipment functional for the Indian military, Russian OEMs are required to establish joint ventures involving private defence businesses in India. These joint ventures will be carrying out repair, maintenance, overhaul, and upgrade work as Russian Roulette: Assaying India-Russia Military Technical Cooperation - Ayan Manchanda
20 | DefInsights | April 2023 well as develop spare components, systems as a whole and subassembly materials locally. Russian suppliers can retain a maximum of 49% equity holding in the private Indian companies. Under this programme, Russian OEMs will also produce weaponry and military hardware in India using at least 50% (Buy and Make Indian) and 60% (Buy Indian) indigenous materials. 60% of Indian inventory is Russian-made systems, despite this since past 3-4 years, Russia was unable to deliver over 40% of the spare parts India has requested. Indian smallscale enterprises are capable enough of producing parts, assemblies, and subassemblies for the products. State-run defense entities that could seek joint ventures with Russian OEMs include Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd.; Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd.; BEL.; BDL; BHEL; HAL; India Optel Ltd.; and MIL. Private defense firms include: Indesys Equipments; MKU Ltd.; Ananth Technologies; Bharat Forge; PTC Industries; etc. Likewise, Russian manufacturers that could participate include: Uralvagonzavod; Tecmash; Bazalt; Tactical Missiles Corp.; NPO Mashinostroyenia; United Aircraft Corp.; Russian Helicopters; Oboronprom; Almaz-Antey; United Engine Corp.; United Shipbuilding Corp.; Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center; Admiralty Shipyards; Aerospace Equipment Corp.; and Urals Optical and Mechanical Plant. Charting India’s Defence Future: Key Lessons Increasing proximity between Moscow and Beijing will limit India’s military options and fetter its capacity to credibly prosecute military operations if a war breaks out between India against Beijing. Indian defence ecosystem can draw a lot of lessons from Russia's military-technical cooperation. Developing a robust system that is able to cope with geopolitical conditions is the first lesson. Delivering high-quality goods, providing dependable customer service, and upholding its end of the contractual bargain should be India's top priorities. Despite the concerns that crisis in Ukraine might escalate, Russia and India have committed to strengthen their defence relations, owing to this Russia has been able to keep up limited supply to India. Recently, an agreement was also reached between the two countries to settle queues of payments in defence contract and formalise an approach for production of Russian equipment and replacement components locally.
April 2023 | DefInsights | 21 Indian businesses should create products using indigenous designs or in technological partnership with nations that have employed equipment of Russian origin and have grown more technologically advanced than India. These lessons are crucial as India negotiates towards the intricate realm of global defence in an era where sanctions are shaping international relations and Russia's innovative financial strategy and reduced reliance on historically dominating currencies provide a feasible route ahead. The military-technical cooperation between Russia and India is an example of industrial partnership with a number of completed and on -going joint projects for all services of the Indian armed forces. Nearly half of India's imported weaponry comes from Russia; as of now, T-90 and T-72 tanks, BMP-2 infantry vehicles and Mango and Invar ammunition are being manufactured in India. Production of AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles has already started at plant in Korwa to be fully localized eventually. Contracts for the delivery of S-400 systems and frigates of Project 11356 to India are also being implemented smoothly. This collaboration may further be reinforced by the planned manufacturing of Igla-S portable anti-aircraft systems and Kamov Ka-226T helicopters. Additionally, Russian companies are also anticipating to working closely with both state-owned and privately held Indian defence sector companies in order expand their industrial cooperation with India and meet the requirements of the "Make in India" initiative. Russia and India have pledged to boost defence ties despite concerns that the war in Ukraine could block deliveries from Moscow and that US sanctions might get in the way of future weapons contracts. The 70th anniversary of Russia's public administration system for military-technical cooperation offers India a good chance to consider its strategy for defence expansion. India's defence sector can ambitiously assert an extensive global reach utilising the mutually beneficial IndoRussia partnership model. The enormous potential of diligent military-technical collaboration will further be reinforced by the promise of development, adaptability, and sovereignty. Increasing proximity between Moscow and Beijing will limit India’s military options and fetter its capacity to credibly prosecute military operations if a war breaks out between India against Beijing. India and Russia have agreed to resolve delayed payments related to defense contracts, while also formalizing a plan for the local production of Russian equipment and spare parts. The 70th anniversary of Russia's public administration system for military-technical cooperation offers India a good chance to consider its strategy for defence expansion. India's defence sector can ambitiously assert an extensive global reach utilising the mutually beneficial Indo-Russia partnership model. The enormous potential of diligent military-technical collaboration will further be reinforced by the promise of development, adaptability, and sovereignty.
22 | DefInsights | April 2023 Indian armed forces have increased their acquisition of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the past few years, primarily for the purposes of logistics, target acquisition, surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision strikes. The on-going border confrontation with China has given this process even more momentum. In order to improve its monitoring and recon capabilities along the China-India border and carry supplies to forward stations, Army has ordered approximately 2000 drones. In order to improve the precision and effectiveness of its artillery weapons positioned along the border, it is also looking into using drones to guide artillery fire. The Indian military views drones as a crucial force multiplier and plans to procure more of them in the upcoming years for a variety of uses. India now has the chance to develop its ecosystem for military drones. While India's drone start-ups are getting more adept at equipping the military with equipment, the ecosystem for military drones in India needs to be given enough attention if it is to reach its full potential. It will also call for the swift resolution of a few important problems. The Growing Capacity of Drone Start-ups The drone sector in India remains in its infancy, but during the last three years it has developed quickly, with drone start-ups at the forefront of this expansion. The majority of India's 300 or so drone start-ups are focused on civilian applications, but some also produce military drones. In addition, several start-ups have created dual-use drones that may be used for both military and civilian purposes. In this respect, a logistic drone capable of delivering packages in a city may also deliver supplies to the front lines Indian defence start-ups possess the capability to equip the military with of India with a variety of military-grade drones capable to perform surveillance and transfer freight in high-altitude regions along India's borders. The Indian Army has lately placed orders with start-ups like ideaForge and Raphe mPhibr. Additionally, the Army is receiving a brand-new offensive swarm drone system from another start-up, NewSpace Research & Technologies. Considerably, these orders are a testimony to progressive ecosystem for military drones, however it still has to be enhanced even further. In Pic: Major Drones in India (Source—Bharat Rakshak) Nurturing an Ecosystem Through its initiatives, the MoD supports India's military drone ecosystem. For instance, the iDEX project awards funding to help with the creation of military-grade products, such as drones. Based on the distinctive needs of the armed services, iDEX posts open challenges. Then, Accessing India’s Military Drone Ecosystem - Ayan Manchanda
April 2023 | DefInsights | 23 startups propose their concepts to fit these criteria, and the ones that do so best get a grant to build their product. Today, this method is used for making a number of military drones. The Technology Development Fund has helped drone startups by providing financial support in a similar manner to iDEX in order to modernise military systems and create cutting-edge technology for defence applications. The government may think about extending the perks of these programmes. More iDEX challenges concerning UAVs are crucial given the enormous potential that iDEX offers to support the research & development of military drones. The government must provide adequate funding in this case to allow defence start-ups to gradually improve their products & services. The armed forces are launching their own initiatives to promote the production of military drones alongside the MoD. For instance, the Mehar Baba Competition of the Indian Air Force, aims to support swarm drone R&D, was responsible for the first uptake of military drones in India. The first competition was conducted in October 2018-2021 and the second edition was launched in 6 April 2022, it featured drone demonstrations by start-ups from all throughout the nation. These start-ups were led through the competition by a panel of subject-matter experts, who also assessed the effectiveness of their drones in accordance with the standards established by the Air Force. Parallel to this, the Him Drone-a-thon programme was introduced by the Indian Army and the Drone Federation of India in 2022 which aimed at providing India's drone ecosystem the chance to expand its capabilities and comply with the growing needs of the Army. Although these activities boost India's ecosystem for military drones, they should be followed by purchase orders from the services. Growing Pains Although it appears that conditions are favourable for the design and production of military-grade drones, there are still a few hurdles to be addressed. For instance, the private sector in India currently lacks the ability to produce crucial parts for drones and needs to import them. In order to remedy this, the government did introduce a Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) plan in 2021 with the goal of encouraging drone component production domestically on a broad scale. The initiative only costs Rs. 120 crores, and each beneficiary only receives a little portion of the proceeds. Since some defence start-ups are already gaining from the PLI programme, which will aid in the indigenous development of military drones, there is an opportunity for the government to boost its budget and support additional start-ups. Furthermore, it is unrealistic to anticipate that any drone startup will produce all essential parts on its own. India has to develop a supporting environment that can provide drone start-ups locally made parts like battery packs, motors, propellers, flight control systems, etc. in order to establish a genuinely indigenous drone industry. A Bright Future Consumer interest in military-grade drones will only continue to rise owing to which drone ecosystem in India will mature and expand promptly, and drones will play an indispensable part in India's drive towards producing indigenous defence technology. Additionally, there is an enormous potential for exporting drones as the share of military drones in the global market is expected increase from $15.8 billion in 2023 to $30.86 billion by 2029. There is not much argument that a nation with India's talent pool and information technology skills cannot achieve the same if nations like Turkey and Iran can rise to become major exporters of military drones. However, in order to make this a reality, Indian drone start-up ecosystem would need to be granted adequate backing from the government.
24 | DefInsights | April 2023 Pokhran-2 Exhibition: MoD organised a public exhibition from May 9-13 in Pune, to mark the completion of 25 years of Pokhran Nuclear Test-II. The exhibit focussed on the future scenario of CBRN aggression, this exhibition extend public awareness on Radiological Dispersal Device disposal, Drone launched disaster reduction and nuclear-contaminated water purification etc. NBCE Wing, Pune organised a public exhibition of nuclear radiation and contamination protection equipment, demonstrations by emergency response authorities, and a screening of films on the subject. IISCC – AS&D 23: India International Supply Chain Conference— Aero, Space & Defence was organised from May 19-20, 2023, by the Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies & Industries (SIATI), Bengaluru. It was attended by representatives from Government organisations, Armed Forces, Defence PSUs, Foreign OEMs and Indian private vendors. The conference was aimed at building synergy between and facilitating networking opportunities for Indian Aerospace & Defence manufacturers, R&D organisations and foreign OEMs. The focus of this year's conference was on indigenisation of items being imported. AM&M 2023: Automotive Materials & Manufacturing Conference has been organised from May 31 - June 2 in Pune with a theme of the conference is "Shaping Progressive Mobility through Emerging Materials & Manufacturing Technology." AMM 2023 gathered industry leaders and technocrats from the automotive, defense & aerospace sectors to discuss subjects including advanced materials, plastics & composites, manufacturing processes, additive manufacturing, e-mobility, design and simulation, Industry 4.0, AI/ML, etc. IDC 23: India Defence Conclave was held in New Delhi with a theme “Propelling Self-Reliance in Aerospace & Defence Sector”. It witnessed an active participation from public & private players in the defence sector. Interactive panel discussions & presentations were held on the strategies & procedures for ensuring that forces are equipped with latest technologies. Further, the discussions were held on Technologies for future in defence sector- capitalizing new opportunities, Ecosystem for leadership in defence R&D, Human & Infrastructure resources for NextGen Technologies; Challenges faced in defence R&D & collaborative opportunities. Conferences & Seminars
April 2023 | DefInsights | 25 US-India 5G Workshop: USTDA hosted a workshop on US-India 5G and Next Generation Networks. US Ambassador to India and Department of Telecommunications Secretary kicked off the workshop with over 150 senior Indian and US government and private sector participants. The event convened leading industry experts & officials to exchange information on approaches, solutions, & applications of 5G & nextgeneration networks in India & highlight new opportunities for US-India technical & commercial cooperation in the sector, expanding strategic technology partnership, an important element of the US-India iCET. Force Protection India 2023: Force protection India aims to bring together a number of speakers, military planners, decision-makers and industry representatives. Surveillance & perimeter protection, Intrusion detection & monitoring, Soldier Protection & Body Armour, Vehicles protection, Bulletproofing, Ballistic & Special technical textiles, Counter-IED equipment, Air base & aircraft protection, Critical Infrastructure protection, Combat Triage & healthcare, CBRN protection, Combat survival, High Altitude protection etc. 6G India 2023: 6G India 2023 International Conference & Exhibition was held on 9 and 10 May 2023 in New Delhi with a theme “6G Vision for Connecting The Digital Future”. It aims to bring together India’s telecom industry leaders and policymakers to discuss on the issues and opportunities related to 5G roadmap including current regulatory environment, policy decisions and device ecosystem for 6G Vision. CII Annual Session: CII’s Annual Session was held from 24-25 May at New Delhi with a theme “Future Frontiers: Competitiveness, Technology, Sustainability, &Internationalization”. It brought together eminent leaders, strategic thinkers, leading economists & captains of Industry, who shared their perspectives on Future of Manufacturing, Technologies, Agriculture, Trade, Globalisation, Public policy and Competitiveness of India & Indian Industry. Spacetronics and Deftronics 23: IESA organised 2 day conference and exhibition Spacetronics and Deftronics on May 25 in Bengaluru. It brought together over 500 participants from the public and private sector sharing their valuable insights and expertise shedding light on technologies and products available for commercialization by the industry for the global market. The event showcased cutting-edge technologies and promoting collaboration to drive the growth of the strategic electronics in space and defence sector. It aimed at fostering development and integration of new technologies that will contribute to the progress of India’s defence and space industries.
26 | DefInsights | April 2023 INDUSTRY BUZZ iDex-DIO signs 250th contract under Mission DefSpace & 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract iDEX has reached a milestone with the signing of its 250th contract - first under Mission DefSpace - and 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract. Mission DefSpace contract: ‘Micropropulsion system for cubesats’. 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract: Siliconia Technologies Pvt Ltd is developing a lightweight prototype that is a ASIC based communication system using software defined antenna for Low Earth Orbit, Medium Earth Orbit and Geostationary satellite communication. Parachutes for re-entry capsule of Mission Gangayaan shipped from Agra Indigenously developed parachutes by Agra based Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) for the safe return of the capsule that will carry astronauts under the proposed Gaganyaan programme are set to undergo fitment tests at an ISRO facility in Bangalore. MoD approves 4th Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) of 928 strategically-important Line Replacement Units/Sub-systems/Spares & Components MoD has approved 4th PIL of 928 strategically-important Line Replacement Units with import substitution value worth Rs 715 crore. The previous three PILs were published in December 2021, March 2022 and August 2022 containing 2,500 items which are already indigenised and 1,238 items which will be indigenised within the given timelines. Indian Navy looking for Dry-Kaveri powered UCAV for Aircraft Carriers Indian Navy’s Indigenous aircraft carrier will be capable to operate Unmanned Combat Vehicles (UCAV) for deck-based operators in 2030. Navy has been closely monitoring the proposed UCAV platform by the DRDO which is expected to be powered by a Dry KaverI engine, generating 40kn of thrust which can be adapted for deck-based operations. The certification of the Dry Kaveri engine is anticipated to be granted by 2024-25 following which further testing and trials are planned. A functional scaled prototype is expected to join the testing phase by 2028-29. Indian Army will receive 75 ATAGS annually DAC approved the AON to procure 307 ATAGS for which Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems would be the production partners. The army would receive 75 guns every year, resulting in the formation of four ATAGS gun regiments annually. Both companies are expected to manufacture a minimum of 1,500 additional ATAGS guns. NAEL to start making heavy lifting drones Prayagraj based NAEL signed a MoU with a Chennai-based company Garuda Aerospace for collaboration in manufacturing of these drones. The Naini-based unit will start manufacturing by the end of next month, this would be first drone manufacturing facility in the northern India. Naini based NAeL started its production in July 2017. It previously hogged the limelight when it bagged the order for manufacturing loom for LCA Tejas & for ALH Dhruv.
April 2023 | DefInsights | 27 French Safran Group opened a unit in Kerala French defence major Safran Group opened the test centre for A&D products near Techno park, Kerala which will be turned into a first space test centre in the Asia Pacific region. Safran provides services in the fields of SATCOM and satellite tracking, along with manufacturing critical machinery for fighter aircraft, rockets and missiles. The company has also expressed interest in starting an assembling/manufacturing unit for Safran Space Products in Kerala itself. Indian Navyto get Spanish Lanza-N radars Indian Navy is set to get Spanish Lanza-N radars, which will provide comprehensive situational picture to naval commanders, enabling them to make informed decisions swiftly. The versatility of the Lanza-N radars makes them suitable for various naval platforms, including frigates, destroyers, and patrol vessels. Their multi-role capabilities ensure effective surveillance, target identification, and threat assessment across a range of operational scenarios. Light Tank 'ZORAWAR' to be ready for trials along China Border by the end of 2023 Light tank Zorawar being jointly developed jointly by the DRDO and L&T is expected to be ready for trials in the high-altitude mountainous border with China by the end of 2023. The present order is for 59 of these tanks but the order can go up to 600 tanks. There is also a need being felt for using these tanks for operations in the Rann of Kutch area and the desert terrain where they can travel at high speeds. IAF draws up Jaguar retirement plans IAF outlined its plans to retire the Jaguar strike aircraft from its fleet starting in 2027-28. The retirement process will be carried out in multiple phases, with the complete phase-out completed by 2035. Both the IAF and HAL have developed comprehensive plans to sustain the Jaguar fleet until 2035. IAF intends to replace the Jaguar fleet with the locally produced Tejas Mki aircraft. IAF to restart hunt for VVIP Helicopters IAF is planning to reactivate a tender to procure new VVIP helicopters that will be used for the president, prime minister, and other VVIPs. This decision comes after successfully resolving the previously cancelled AgustaWestland chopper scam. The IAF, in consultation with organizations like SPG, NSG and others, will soon float an open tender to seek new helicopters. Currently, the Mi -17-5 helicopters are being used for VVIP duties, but they lack integrated protections against multi -level threats. DRDO'S defence satellite launch vehicle Veda's development trials to commence soon The Veda Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) is a threestage, solid-propellant rocket capable of lifting a payload of up to 2,000 kilograms into orbit. It is expected to have a maximum altitude of 200 kilometres. Project Veda—or Vehicle for Defence Application—is a DRDO project to develop a new SLV for the Indian armed forces trials for which are likely to begin soon. The SLV, codenamed Veda, will be used to put defence satellites into lower orbit for a variety of purposes—including surveillance, communication and navigation. INS Mormugao engages sea-skimming supersonic target Navy successfully carried out an engagement of a sea-skimming supersonic target using its latest indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Mormugao.
28 | DefInsights | April 2023 HAL to hand over 8 newly manufactured Tejas Trainer aircraft to the IAF HAL confirmed their plans to hand over minimum of 8 newly manufactured Tejas Trainer aircraft to the IAF within the current fiscal year. HAL has received orders for 18 Tejas Trainers from the IAF, and currently, 8-10 structures are in various stages of development. By March 2024, all trainers, including the one that completed its first flight recently, will be delivered to the IAF. HAL plans to complete the delivery of all 18 Tejas Trainer jets by March 2025. HAL launches metal cutting for seriesproduction of HTT-40 HAL launch of metal cutting for HTT-40 (Basic Trainer Aircraft) series production at its Nasik Division. This marks a major leap forward in the indigenous manufacturing of the HTT-40 aircraft. It signifies the transition from prototype development to the production of multiple aircraft, emphasizing HAL's ability to meet the demands of the IAF and cater to the training requirements of future pilots. The HTT-40, as a homegrown trainer aircraft, holds immense strategic importance. The initial contract for the HTT-40 involves the supply of 70 aircrafts. HAL presents a proposal to develop a seaplane variant of the Do-228 aircraft HAL presented a proposal to develop a seaplane variant of the Do-228 aircraft. Navy is yet to grant approval for this project, despite HAL's announcement from its Transport Aircraft Division (TAD Kanpur) to proceed with the development. HAL'S broader vision for the seaplane variant of the Do-228 extends beyond military and government applications. HAL intends to make them available for use by private sector operators in the tourism industry. HAL to get ToT for new engine of IMRH Program Safran Helicopter Engines and HAL have finalized a work share agreement for the engine development of the 13-tonne IMRH and its naval variant, the Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter . Both parties have reached an understanding of the distribution of responsibilities, with HAL's active participation in the design, development, and production of core engine components. IMRH program is scheduled to be launched in four years, and HAL will have the opportunity to manufacture a majority of the engine components within the country. HAL sets to conclude 240 AL-31 engines for the Sukhoi-30 MKI HAL sets to conclude the contract with the IAF for the supply of 240 AL-31 engines for the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft. The company is confident that the contract can be successfully concluded within the next 6-8 months. GE Aerospace working with India on jet engines for LCA, AMCA GE Aerospace is open to the transfer of technology to India for the indigenous manufacture of engines for light combat aircraft LCA Mark 2 by 2028.GE also announced agreements that deepen the company’s investment in India’s military. Indian Navy, DRDO conduct test trial of indigenous Air Droppable Container 'ADC150' from IL-38SD aircraft Indian Navy & DRDO conducted a successful maiden test trial of 'ADC-150' from an IL 38SD aircraft off the coast of Goa. The 'ADC-150' is an indigenously designed and developed 'Air Droppable Container' with a 150 kg payload capacity.
April 2023 | DefInsights | 29 Ministry of Civil Aviation launches UDAN 5.1, specifically designed for helicopter routes Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched UDAN 5.1 to further enhance the connectivity to remote areas of the country and achieve last mile connectivity through helicopters. For the first time under RCS-UDAN, this round is designed specifically for helicopter routes. The latest round of UDAN scheme is a testament to two emerging phenomenon in Indian civil aviation - One is to provide last-mile connectivity and second is to give the helicopter segment of the Indian civil aviation industry a much needed boost. AI Supercomputer ‘AIRAWAT’ puts India among top supercomputing league The AI Supercomputer ‘AIRAWAT’, installed at CDAC, Pune has been ranked 75th in the world. It was declared so in the 61st edition of Top 500 Global Supercomputing List at the International Supercomputing Conference (ISC 2023) in Germany. The system is installed under National Program on AI (NPAI). AIRAWAT’ will empower the Academia, Research Labs, Scientific Community, Industry and Start-Ups to develop indigenous AI enabled products/solutions especially for solving India specific grand challenges complex real-life problems. Night Traps of MiG-29K onboard INS Vikrant INS Vikrant is presently undergoing Air Certification & Flight Integration Trials with Rotary Wing and Fixed Wing aircraft for achieving 'Combat ready' state at the earliest. As part of the trials, maiden day landing of MiG-29K & the indigenous LCA (Navy) was achieved. Day and night landing trials of all helicopters in the Naval inventory have been progressed. Navy has achieved another maiden night landing of MiG29K. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) unveils MCM Swarm system for the Indian Navy at LIMA 2023 MDL unveiled a model of its autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) swarm concept at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2023 being held in Malaysia. The concept is to enhance Navy’s minecountermeasures (MCM) capabilities. Operating as a swarm, the AUVs will comprise three units. The first will act as the master AUV, with two slaved systems; the second will operate as a mine locator; and the third as a mine neutraliser. The master AUV will establish communication between the AUVs and the surface mother ship and will direct the slaved AUVs in operations. AUVs will be capable of launch and recovery from Naval surface ships and submarine torpedo tubes. MDL is developing the AUV swarm drones concept under the Indian government's iDEX initiative. HAL To Replace Aluminium Control Rods Of ALH with ones made of steel HAL, the original manufacturer of the ALH, have decided to replace the aluminium control rods with ones made of steel.The replacement programme will begin shortly. A steel control rod, would be easier for maintenance. The replacement will take about one year. The chopper, otherwise, entirely acceptable by the armed forces has been problematic because of the control rod.
30 | DefInsights | April 2023 Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 Primer Part 12 – We continue the acquisition process from Part 12 at the Bid Submission Stage Technical Offset Evaluation Committee (TOEC) The Technical Offset Evaluation Committee (TOEC) will be constituted by the concerned ADG Acquisition Technical with approval of the DG (Acquisition), wherever applicable. The TOEC will be chaired by JS (DOMW) and will include representatives of the SHQ, FM and DRDO. Field Evaluation Trials (FET) FET for equipment of all TEC compliant vendors will be conducted by SHQ on the basis of Trial Methodology given in the RFP. The conduct of trials will be based on the principles of transparency, fairness, equal opportunities to all and meticulous attention to details. Parameters evaluated at TEC stage, based on documents or certificates rendered by accredited agencies, may not be included in the FET. Conduct of FET. FET will not be conducted as a process of elimination but with an objective to nurture competition. The primary focus of the evaluation should, therefore, be towards testing the equipment based on its anticipated employability. Wherever feasible, the entire trials should be conducted simultaneously in order to save time. All efforts should be made to get adequate pieces of the equipment, to allow concurrent trials, through the RFP. FET would consist of all or any of the following trials:- (a) User Trials. (b) Technical Trials i.e. DGQA Evaluation including Environmental testing. (c) Maintainability Evaluation Trials (MET). (d) Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC)/Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) Evaluation. (e) Secrecy Testing – where required Non Applicability of Trials: FET/NCNC Trials will not be applicable for procurement cases where there is no prototype available for conduct of NCNC Trials as is the case in acquisition/construction of Ships, Submarines, Yard Craft, Tugs, Ferry Craft and Barges (only for capacity cleared yards). FET/NCNC Trials will also not be applicable for simulators being built for the first time where there is no possibility of testing on a similar existing simulator. Simulation Based Trials: In cases where trials are not visualised or where field evaluation is not feasible due to terrain, time or operational restrictions, there may be possibility of conducting evaluation through computer simulations or documented historical data of validation of the parameters produced by the vendor. In such cases, the exact scope of the trials shall be included in the SoC while seeking the AoN. Trial Directive: SHQ, in consultation with TEC compliant vendors, will formulate a detailed Trial Directive in conformity with the Trial Methodology given in the RFP. Trial directive will be issued within two weeks post approval of TEC report. The Trial Directive must specify the fundamental points that need to be addressed for validation of RFP parameters in terms of ‘Compliance cum Responsibility Matrix’. Parameters not mentioned in the RFP will not be included in the Trial Directive and no variation to the SQRs will be introduced in the compliance matrix. Responsibility for testing each parameter must be fixed for a single agency. By Sohil Patel
April 2023 | DefInsights | 31 Trial Wings/Teams: SHQ should preferably setup Trial Wings at Training Institutions/Establishments for their respective arms/services and trials should be conducted under the aegis of these wings. However, where ever such establishments are not available, as in cases of Navy and Air Force, SHQ may follow norms/ procedures in vogue. Representatives of QA agencies, EMI-EMC Cell and Maintainability Evaluation Trials (where applicable) may be co-opted, based on requirement. Endeavours should, however, be made by all Services to establish dedicated Trial Nodes at the earliest. In cases, where the equipment is being procured for more than one Service, the Trial Team will have representatives of each Service for whom equipment is being procured, headed by representative from the Lead Service. For trials of equipment involving ToT, representative of Production Agency (PA)/Development cum Production Partner (DcPP), may be included as an Associate Member. In certain cases, SHQ may conduct concurrent trials by constituting a Composite Trial Team (CTT), comprising of representatives of the User, QA agency, Maintenance agency and EMI/EMC evaluating agency, in order to hasten the evaluation process. Multi-Disciplinary Technical Delegation (MDTD): In certain cases, particularly in those involving integration of systems or sensitive equipment, there may be a need to depute a MDTD for carrying out evaluation abroad and the same may be constituted post approval of the AoN according authority. An Empowered Committee could also be deputed along with MDTD for negotiation purposes. The delegation will have representatives from the User service, Maintenance agency, QA agency and the concerned ADG Acquisition Technical. In addition, JS & AM and FM or their representatives for nondelegated cases and IFA (Capital) / PIFA for delegated power cases may be included in the Empowered Committee. Submission of Equipment Under Trial (EUT): Vendors will be asked to field the desired number of units of the equipment/ weapon system for FET as per dates promulgated in the Trial Directive. Vendor(s) failing to produce equipment by date decided in the Trial Directive may be given a grace period of 30 days authorised by the concerned PSO at the SHQ and additional grace period of up to 30 days approved by the CISC/ VCOAS/VCNS/DCAS/DGICG, on a case to case basis. Equal opportunity would be provided to all vendors while granting such grace period. Joint Trials. Single OEM equipment being fielded by multiple Indian vendors may have joint trials if two or more Indian vendors so desire. Indian vendors who agree to field the equipment jointly may do so after providing an undertaking that they will accept the trial results. User Trials: Trials will be conducted only pertaining to conditions where the equipment is most likely to be deployed. In other conditions where the probability of deployment is not high, appropriate vendor certifications confirming the functional effectiveness under such conditions may be obtained and simulations based testing may be resorted to wherever applicable. Equipment fielded may require repairs/ modifications during the course of trials and these in situ servicing, repair, maintenance actions or modifications as requested by the vendor will be permitted. Towards this, vendors shall be adequately informed and advised at the pre trial stage itself so that they can ensure availability of requisite maintenance teams/ experts on site during the conduct of trials. SHQ may also accord permission for trial equipment to move out of the trial location for a defined period for such repairs or modifications on a case to case basis. In Single Vendor Cases, permission for the above may be permitted by the OIC Trials itself. We shall continue with Technical Trials in Part 14.
32 | DefInsights | April 2023 Business Opportunities : May 2023 Sno Work Description Submission Closing Date Org/ Agency Service Tender ID Enquiry type Type 1 EoI for empanelment of customers for purchase of Blast Furnace Grade Slag (BF SLAG) and SMS Slag produced at NMDC Steel Ltd (NSL) 12-05-23 DPSU GRSE 2023_DoDP_70959 8_1 EoI Machinery 2 High Speed Aerial vehicle Assembly Components (As per List Assorted) 15-May-24 DDRD RCI 2023_DRDO_59280 0_1 Limited Vehicle spares 3 Radome for radar 13-05-2023 DPSU BEL GEM/2023/ B/3412226 Open Radar 4 Multi frequency aerial platform, Testing Drone, High speed drones 15-May-23 DRDO DDRD GEM/2023/ B/3414709 Open 5 Portable digital handset radios—Display Model , Portable digital Intrinsically Safe Handset Radios Non Display Model, Mobile based station radio, Digital VHF Repeater Station 16-May-23 DRDO - GEM/2023/ B/3342760 Open Communication 6 EoI for Design, Development, Supply, IP Transfer of Thruster for Underwater Vehicles 11-May-23 DPSU BEL 2023_BEL_92670_1 EoI UV 7 Procurement of Optical Fibers 18-May-23 I-HUB Quantum Tech Foundation I-HUB QTF, IISER Pune 2023_IHUBQ_7096 67_1 Open Electronics 8 Engaging Consultancy Service for BEML SEZ 24-May-23 DPSU BEML 2023_DoDP_71019 8_1 RFQ consultancy 9 Supply of component(s) for Sub Assemblies of Retracting Mechanism 16-May-23 DoDP OF Kanpur 2023_DoDP_71005 2_1 EoI Ammunition 10 EoI for integration & testing of AI Algorithms for a translation application & deployment of the integrated code on a custom made Edge device 18-May-23 DDRD DYSL 2023_DRDO_59405 2_1 EoI IT 11 Electronic Enclosures for U 2 Simulator 06-Jun-23 DRDO NPOL 2023_DRDO_59561 1_1 Open Simulator 12 Multinode FHSS modem IP and Porting for drone communications 27-May-23 DDRD RCI GEM/2023/ B/3454477 Open Communication 13 Ammunition Davit (SWL 100 Kg) (Q3) 06-Jun-23 DPSU GSL GEM/2023/ B/3453324 Open Ammunition 14 Development of camouflage and shielding technology in static and dynamic conditions from various IR sensors 26-Jun-23 DRDO DRL 2023_DRDO_59669 2_1 EoI Sensors 15 Radio frequency interference filter 09-Jun-23 DPSU HAL GEM/2023/ B/3468642 Open Communication
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