Boeing wins $469M contract for C-17 airlifter services to India

The Indian Air Force upped the total value of a contract with Boeing Co.    for aircraft maintenance and upgrades by nearly half a billion dollars, according to an announcement from the Defense Department Wednesday.

The contract modification — worth $469 million — was made under a foreign military sales requirement for Boeing's C-17 Globemaster III airlifters, which means the actual contract to provide the services to India is between Boeing and the Defense Department.

The Indian Air Force is a member of the "virtual fleet," which is an international program that provides C-17 customers with comprehensive logistics support, including spare parts, support equipment, technology orders, sustainment engineering, and on-site field teams. This is accomplished through use of shared resources across the entire global fleet, providing all C-17 customers —regardless of the number of aircraft that they own — access to the same support services.

Boeing, which employs more than 3,200 people in more than two dozen locations in the Washington area, announced in June that the India’s Ministry of Defence signed an agreement with the U.S. government to acquire 10 C-17 Globemaster III airlifters for an estimated $4.1 billion, making India the C-17′s largest international customer.

Washington Business Journal

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Indian air force to buy 15 Saras twin turboprops as trainers

The Indian air force will buy 15 National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) Saras 14-seat multi-role transport aircraft for use as trainers.

The twin-engine, push-prop aircraft will be produced by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) in Bengaluru, an industry source said. Three will be delivered in 2014, with another four to be delivered yearly over the next three years.

The air force will use the aircraft to train flight crews for its large and medium-sized transport aircraft, such as the Boeing C-17, Ilyushin Il-76 and Antonov An-32. It may ultimately acquire 50 Saras aircraft, the source said. These will be used for a range of roles.

© National Aerospace Laboratories

In addition, the Indian navy may get about 25 Saras aircraft for use as land-based coastal patrol aircraft. A working naval example of the navalised Saras will be rolled out in 2014.

"The maritime version is still in the preliminary design stage," the source said. "It will have modifications to help it perform in the maritime environment."

Three Saras prototypes have been produced so far. The second was lost in a 2009 crash that killed all three of its crew members. Investigators attributed the accident to pilot error, noting that the military test pilots had been trying to relight an engine with insufficient recovery altitude moments before the incident.

The third prototype, which features a new glass cockpit, was a replacement for this aircraft.

The Saras made its first flight in 2004, 18 years after the programme's inception. However, in the following years the NAL struggled to reduce the aircraft's weight, making progress by introducing composite tails and wings, and reducing the number of bulkheads in the aircraft's third prototype.

Source:FlightGlobal

Boeing delivers 1st 787 dreamliner to ANA

After nearly a decade from concept to design to production and flight test, Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, the first majority composite jetliner, is ready for its first delivery to Japan's All Nippon Airways.

Not since the Comet has a commercial jetliner pushed the boundaries of what's possible harder than Boeing has with its 787, which has met both record reception by the market with more than 800 orders and record delays.

The 220-250 seat jetliner is said to be a "game changer", offering unprecedented economics on long-range routes up to 14,800 km (8,000nm) apart, taking advantage of the growing fragmentation of route structures and passenger preference for point-to-point travel.

Upgraded Tejas to take off in 3 years

CHANDIGARH: An upgraded version of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will be ready to take off within three years.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), along with the Central Scientific Instruments Organization (CSIO), Chandigarh, is working on the project. Tejas' aircraft technology will put India on the fifth spot after the US, France,Russia and UK.

This was disclosed by additional general manager of HAL, Bangalore, K P Singh, who visited the CSIO laboratory on the occasion of the CSIR foundation day on Monday.

Tejas LCA has a HUD (head up display) which was developed at the CSIO at the start of the year. It has unmatchable brightness on the display board. "We will provide HUD for the upgraded version which will have better range accuracy and will be lighter as compared to the existing one. At present, we have HUD weighing 18kg," said Dr Pawan Kapur, director CSIO.

The improvised version is being devised for the Indian Navy. According to official sources, there is a requirement of over 100 such HUDs for Tejas. "Already, we have provided 36 and 90 more are in the production line," said an official at the CSIO.

Talking about the plan, Singh said, "We have been working with CSIO on LCA and intermediate jet trainer aircraft."

Though HAL is the only supplier of Tejas to the Indian defence forces, catching up with the international competitors has not been easy. "We cannot afford to lose time. There are gaps in the system which slows down the pace of technology. Though red tapism has decreased to some extent, it still exists," said Singh.

The CSIO is working on Mark 2 for intermediate jet trainer aircraft where the weight of the HUD will be 11.8kg.
Source: TOI

Mahindra-NAL C-NM5 conducts first flight

The Mahindra Aerospace-NAL C-NM5 five-seat turboprop has conducted its maiden flight, a key milestone for the first Indian aircraft developed by a public-private partnership.

The flight took place on 1 September and lasted 45 minutes, said Mahindra. It was conducted from Latrobe regional airport in Australia, where Mahindra's Australia unit GippsAero has a facility. Subsequent flights have evaluated aircraft stability and control in different flight regimes.

The company hopes to meet Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 23 norms, with international type certification the ultimate goal. The company will market the aircraft globally.

                                                                                                                     © Mahindra Aerospace

"The programme is India's first public-private partnership to develop an aircraft, and this milestone event is the result of teamwork across three development teams: the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories, Mahindra Aerospace and GippsAero," said Mahindra & Mahindra, the parent company of Mahindra Aerospace.

The C-NM5 is powered by a Lycoming IO-540 engine. It has non-retractable landing gear and large access doors.

Previously, the company has referred to the aircraft as the NM5-100.

Source:FlightGlobal

Shaurya test-fire a copy-book success

BALASORE: India on Saturday test-fired a new-age surface-to-surface nuclear capable missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), about 15- km from Balasore. Indigenously developed Shaurya missile was test-launched from an underground silo located in the launching complex-III around 2.30 pm.
Defence sources said the missile was test fired in its final configuration and met all mission objectives. "The test was a copy book success. The missile travelled along the pre-coordinated path as expected and covered a distance of nearly 700 km," said a defence release.
Shaurya can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. It is the land version of the underwater-launched missile K-15 and was first fired in 2008 from the same test range. This missile can remain hidden and camouflaged in underground silos from enemy surveillance or satellites till they are fired from the special storage-cum-launch canisters.
A defence scientist said this developmental flight trial was a part of the on-going technology demonstration work undertaken by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO). The sophisticated missile can be easily handled, transported and stored within the canister for longer shelf life.
"All the radar stations, telemetry stations, electro-optical stations along the east coast have tracked and monitored all the mission parameters. Ships located near the target have also tracked and witnessed the final event. The missile has reached the target within few meters accuracy," he informed.
Shaurya, which has a strike range of 750 km, can carry a one-tonne nuclear and conventional warhead and is powered by two-stage solid fuel. Its length is about 10 metre and diameter of 0.5 metre. Its launch weight is about six tonne. The high maneuverability of the missile makes it less vulnerable to available anti-missile defence systems.
Prior to the test firing the district administration had temporarily evacuated 401 families residing within two km radius of the launching complex-III to nearby shelter camps early in the morning. They were compensated as per the prevailing guidelines. Soon after the successful launch DRDO chief controller Avinash Chander congratulated all the scientists and employees of DRDO and other establishments. Director of DRDL P Venugoplalan, Director of ITR SP Dash, Director of SPIC Satish Kumar and Programme Director AK Chakravarti monitored all the preparatory operations. Project director A Joseph and team had prepared the missile and conducted the launch flawlessly.
Source:Time of India

Rs 3L cr plan to boost India's naval might

NEW DELHI: Jostling for the same strategic space with China in the Indian Ocean and beyond, with the oil exploration stand-off in South China Sea being just the latest indicator, India is slowly but surely building a Navy for the future.

A powerful three-dimensional Navy, which can protect India's geo-strategic interests stretching from Hormuz Strait to Malacca Strait, will not come cheap. Neither will it be built overnight.

Calculations show ongoing warship, submarine and maritime aircraft acquisition programmes as well as some concrete projects in the pipeline will together cost well upwards of Rs 300,000 crore.

When Admiral Nirmal Verma on Saturday commissions the second fleet tanker from Italy, the 27,500-tonne INS Shakti, Navy's force-levels will stand at 132 ships, with just over 50 "major combatants" and 14 ageing submarines.

But the numbers will dip in the coming months, with older ships slated for retirement. China, in contrast, has close to 100 major warships and over 60 submarines, and is now increasingly flexing its muscles in international waters.

India cannot hope to match it. The good news, however, is there are 46 ships "on order" for Navy at different domestic shipyards, along with aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (refitted Admiral Gorshkov) and three Talwar-class stealth frigates being built in Russia, say defence ministry sources.

Ranging from two aircraft carriers, six submarines and seven guided-missile destroyers to four anti-submarine warfare corvettes, nine naval off-shore patrol vessels and eight amphibious craft, the combined price tag for these 50 ships comes to over Rs 100,000 crore.

There are also two other major projects taking concrete shape now. One, the Rs 52,000 crore `Project-75India' to acquire six new-generation stealth submarines, equipped with land-attack missiles and air-independent propulsion, for which the global tender is now in the final stages. Six Scorpene submarines are already being constructed at Mumbai-based Mazagon Docks (MDL) for Rs 23,562 crore.

Then, seven more stealth frigates are to be built at MDL and GRSE (Kolkata) under Project-17A for around Rs 45,000 crore. This will follow the three 6,200-tonne stealth frigates built at MDL for Rs 8,101 crore, INS Shivalik, INS Satpura and INS Sahyadri, with only the last now left to be delivered.

Navy is also going in for new carrier-borne fighter jets and maritime patrol aircraft as well as multi-role helicopters and spy drones, which together will cost around Rs 85,000 crore. These include 45 Russian MiG-29Ks for $2 billion and 12 American P-8I long-range reconnaissance aircraft for over $3 billion.

The biggest warships currently under construction are the 44,570-tonne Vikramaditya and the 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) being built at Cochin Shipyard.

With Vikramaditya to be inducted by early-2013 and IAC by 2015, India hopes to deploy two potent carrier battle-groups by the middle of this decade. Another lethal punch will come when India's own nuclear submarine, the over 6,000-tonne INS Arihant being built at Vizag, becomes operational next year. 

The Vikramaditya aircraft carrier will be handed over to India in December 2012

For everyone who is engaged in giving the finishing touches to the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier or is a member of the Indian Navy’s group of observers at the Sevmash plant, this week began with a comprehensive inspection. According to the press service of the Russian largest defence shipyard, on Monday 19 September, a delegation from the Indian Navy’s joint staff, led by Rear Admiral Nadela Niradzhan Kumar, chief of the shipbuilding and procurement department, arrived at Russia’s biggest naval shipbuilding enterprise, in Severodvinsk.

Together with Roman Trotsenko, President of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, which includes the best-known Russian shipyards, he looked at how work on the ship was progressing. Sevmash chief engineer Alexei Alsufyev briefed him on advances since the previous inspection. Taking part in discussing aspects of production and organisation were deputy general directors of the enterprise Mikhail Budnichenko, Sergei Novosyolov and Andrei Monogarov and head of the Indian Navy group of observers Mr. Swaminatan.

The chief of the Indian delegation, Vice Admiral Kumar, expressed satisfaction with the progress in modernising the aircraft carrier, considering the ship to be more than 85% ready. This was made possible by the efforts of the management of the plant and the United Shipbuilding Corporation, he is quoted as saying by the shipyard’s press service. “I am very grateful to Mr. Trotsenko for directing the shipbuilding process, to Rosoboronexport, to the Nevsky Design Bureau and to Sevmash contractors.”

Roman Trotsenko responded with a serious commitment. After thanking the customer, the Indian Navy, for their confidence and understanding of the problems that have cropped up at various stages during the fulfillment of the contract, he said that the final stage of the modernisation would be carried out with the utmost thoroughness, in strict accordance with the technology and particular attention to quality.

“Today, the work is going ahead on schedule,” Trotsenko confirmed. “The technical problems that arise are resolved, largely thanks to Rosoboronexport, which always supports us. I am sure that the ship will be delivered to the customer in December 2012.”

Note
Sevmash got a new General Director three months ago. In June 2011, Andrei Dyachkov, who formerly worked at the Severodvinsk shipyard and knows it well, was appointed to the job. His production experience will be augmented by the organisational skills he acquired during the two years he served as General Director of the Rubin Central Design Bureau (St Petersburg). Mr. Dyachkov is currently combining the two jobs.

Source:Russia and India REPORT

Rafael fires Spike missiles in Indian evaluation

A test launch of three Rafael Spike ER multi-purpose air-to-surface missiles from an Israeli air force helicopter on 19 September completed the Indian air force's evaluation of the candidates hoping to equip some of its helicopters.

Performed at the Shedma test range in southern Israel, the firings were successful, according to a source.

With a maximum range of 8km (4.3nm), the electro-optically-guided Spike ER is available with a variety of warhead options designed to destroy tanks with special armour and other reinforced targets.

The relatively slow velocity of the weapon and its use of a fibreoptic data link allows "pinpoint" accuracy, even in adverse weather conditions and at night, Rafael said.

© Rafael

The Israeli company faces competition from European rival MBDA Deutschland, which is promoting its PARS 3 missile.

Armed with a tandem warhead, the "fire and forget" weapon is capable of engaging targets to a range of around 7km.

A German army Eurocopter Tiger was used to fire three of the missiles at the Vidsel test range in Sweden in April 2011, with each weapon striking its intended target.

The Indian army is seeking to arm some of its Hindustan Aeronautics Dhruv advanced light helicopters with the selected weapon.

It could potentially also be integrated with the Kamov Ka-52 or Mil Mi-28, if either of these are selected for the service's future attack helicopter requireme

Source:FlightGlobal.com

PICTURE: India's first 737-based P-8I nears flight debut

Boeing is close to conducting the first flight of a 737-800-based P-8I maritime patrol aircraftfor the Indian navy, with its first example having emerged at the manufacturer’s Renton Field assembly site in Washington.

Photographed by AirSpace user Brandon Farris earlier this month, the aircraft has already been painted in Indian markings and assigned the registration IN320. It is the first of eight P-8Is on order as replacements for the navy’s current Tupolev Tu-142 turboprops. The aircraft was last pictured as it entered final assembly in June.

© Brandon Farris

Derived from the P-8A Poseidon now in development testing for the US Navy, India’s next-generation maritime surveillance aircraft will enter use from early 2013.

India’s examples will differ from the USN’s aircraft through the addition of a belly-mounted radar, which once combined with other sensors will afford the aircraft a 360° surveillance capability against airborne targets.

Another key piece of equipment for the P-8I will be its Raytheon Mk54 lightweight torpedoes. New Delhi signed an $86 million deal in June for an initial 32 of the weapons.

Boeing performed the first flight of a production P-8A for the USN from Renton Field in July. India is the first and so for lone export buyer for the 737 derivative. Test and acceptance activities will be performed from Boeing’s Seattle Field site in Washington.

SOURCE:Flightglobal.com

Indian Navy plans three aircraft carriers

The Indian Navy plans to acquire at least three aircraft carriers in the next five to seven years in addition to other procurements.

It plans to acquire sea-based assets for littoral warfare, landing platform docks, and long-range maritime surveillance aircraft.

An Indian Defence Ministry news release said quoting Defence Minister A.K. Antony who asked the Navy to increase Navy-to-Navy contact with the littoral countries of the Indian Ocean. This move comes five years after the service incorporated preparation for littoral warfare as part of the Navy’s long term doctrine.

Addressing top Indian military commanders at a meeting in Delhi on Oct. 27, Antony said, “The complex maritime security environment in our region requires the Navy to maintain a state of perpetual readiness operationally. You must factor in the need to be ready at all times prominently, while planning for the future. At the same time, we need to maintain, and even increase, the momentum of our Navy-to-Navy contact with the littoral countries of the Indian Ocean. Such contacts strengthen professional ties and mutual trust, and streamline interoperability issues.”

Antony said New Delhi is committed to the continued deployment of ships and aircraft to improve surveillance off the coast of Maldives and Seychelles to ensure maritime security from piracy.

Antony said, “We also need to engage like-minded African states in the Western Indian Ocean Region, such as Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya, to enhance our strengths and contribute to peace and stability, not only in the Asia-Pacific region, but also in the entire Indian Ocean Region”.

Source: www.indiandefence.com

Ratan Tata beats PM, Pope & the Queen in reputation

Ratan Tata's reputation, it turns out, is bigger than that of Manmohan Singh and the Pope. Indeed, the Tata Group boss is a more liked, respected, admired and trusted personality than the Queen and David Beckham of the UK, says a new global study. Tata, whose shopping bags in Britain are stuffed with two iconic marques, a tea brand and a steelmaker, has also finished ahead of that country's richest man, LN Mittal, and its premier, David Cameron, shows the study of more than 50,000 people in 25 countries. 

Tata is ninth in the 2011 Leader RepTrak, which assesses the reputations of the world's 54 most visible public figures in politics, business, culture and sports. He ranks high alongside other business visionaries such as the philanthropic duo of Bill Gates (3) and Warren Buffett (4) and the entrepreneurial duo of Richard Branson (5) and Steve Jobs (6) in the study conducted by Reputation Insitute, a global private consultancy. 

The list is topped by South African icon Nelson Mandela and Roger Federer. The tennis superstar hasn't had the best of years in 2011, drawing a blank in the Grand Slams and developing a growing habit of bowing to Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, but his reputation in the public remains as spotless as it was in the zenith of his career. In contrast, golfer Tiger Woods, who has received much ink for his tales of infidelity, has fared badly in the list, languishing at 47. The public has given its weakest ratings to leaders cast as "anti-democratic". 

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il took last place in the study while Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe is at 48. That's not to suggest that politicians have fared a lot better. The ratings of US president Barack Obama (14), Singh (27), Cameron (34) and Russian premier Vladimir Putin (44) indicate that the public views the group with distrust . Indeed, "the broadest lesson from the study is that the public tends to be critical of leaders" , says Reputation Institute.

Trials of Tejas aircraft continue in Pokhran

JAISALMER: Tejas, India's indigenously built single-seat, single-engine, lightweight, high-agility supersonic fighter aircraft, is undergoing flight trials and firing tests at Pokhran, to prepare for operational clearance.

The ongoing trials at Chandan firing ranges of Jaisalmer are part of final operational trials (FOC). The trials will continue till the end of this month. Tejas is likely to be cleared for operational service in the latter part of 2012. It had completed more than 1,670 test flights up to a speed of Mach 1.4 till August 2011.

The design and development of LCA is being conducted by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as the prime industrial contractor.

DRDO and HAL teams have already reached Jaisalmer to conduct the tests. Some of Tejas LCAs have also arrived at the Air Force Station there.

"Tejas LCAs have been contracted for induction into Indian Air Force (IAF).The cost of procuring the LCA is about Rs 8,861 crore. Their design and manufacture involves development of sophisticated technology skills. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is manufacturing this aircraft for IAF," said Col S D Goswami, defence spokesman.

"The LCA programme was launched for two primary purposes. The principal goal was the development of a replacement aircraft for the ageing MiG-21 fighter planes. IAF is using he MiG-21 planes since the 1970s. As per the Long Term Re-Equipment Plan, 1981, the MiG-21 planes will soon become non-functional and the IAF will fall short of 40% of the aircraft needed to meet the projected force structure requirements.

The Tejas is single-engine, multi-role fighter which is designed with "relaxed static stability" for better maneuverability. It can be armed with air-to-air, air-to-ground and anti-ship missiles, precision-guided munitions, rockets and bombs. Drop tanks can also be carried.

Source: The Times of India

INS Vikramaditya Carrier Is 85% Ready

The Indian navy aircraft carrier Vikramaditya is nearing completion at Russia’s Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk. Vice Admiral Nadel Niradjan Kumar, chief manager of production and purchase of warships for the Indian navy who inspected Sevmash this week, says the ship is 85% ready and will be handed over to the navy in December 2012.

The navy, meanwhile, is already training a crew for the carrier. The first Indian seamen, 23 electricians and 19 internal communications technicians, out of the 152-man group being trained in Severodvinsk at the moment, completed their 6-month practical training in mid-September, Sevmash reported.

The second batch of 112 crewmen is now studying at the Naval Academy in St. Petersburg and will arrive in Sevmash in early November. By the end of 2012, over 1,000 Indian seamen and officers from Vikramaditya will be trained in Russia, according to Servmash.

The 44,500-ton Kiev-class Vikramaditya (ex-Russian Admiral Gorshkov) has been under repairs and modernization at Sevmash for the Indian navy since 2004. The refurbishment included removal of all the weaponry from the ship’s foredeck, which was extended and received a ski-jump for MiG-29K Stobar aircraft operations. Initially Vikramaditya was to be delivered to the Indian navy in 2008, but after the Russian and Indian sides settled a dispute in March 2010 over the increase of the modernization price from $800 million to $2.3 billion, the new delivery date was set for 2012.

India to topple Japan as world's 3rd-largest economy - The Economic Times

India to topple Japan as world's 3rd-largest economy - The Economic Times:

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India's DRDO targets solar-powered UAV

India's state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is looking to develop a solar-powered unmanned air vehicle that would be capable of remaining airborne for at least a month.

The DRDO said the new system would be capable of performing long-range sorties and delivering real-time information via secure data links.

Meanwhile, sources within the same organisation have revealed that the Gas Turbine Research Establishment's indigenous Kaveri engine was deemed suitable to power a future unmanned combat air vehicle, which is currently the subject of concept studies.

The Kaveri was originally intended to power the Aeronautical Development Agency's Tejas light combat aircraft.

:: Bharat-Rakshak.com - Indian Military News Headlines ::

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India to test advanced, 3,000 km range, 'Agni-II Prime' n

New Delhi: India will test fire an advanced version of the Agni-II nuclear-capable medium range ballistic missile, dubbed as the 'Agni-II Prime', which will boast of a strike range of around 3,000 km.
"We are planning to test fire an advanced nuclear capable Agni-II Prime missile by next month," defence ministry officials said here.
The new missile will be an advanced version of the existing Agni-II, which has a strike range of 2,000 km.
The 'Agni-II Prime' has been developed by making some changes in the existing Agni-II missile. It will have the same size of boosters as in the existing missile but will extend the range by 1,000 km, they said.

Powered by solid fuel propellants, the 'Prime' will also have a better navigational system and greater accuracy compared to the existing Agni-II missile.
Newer technologies have also been incorporated in the missile to make it lighter and the weapon system has also been provided with greater thrust.
The Agni missile series have been developed under the Integrated Missile Development Programme (IMDP).
The DRDO will also make the first test of the Agni-V ballistic missile by the end of this year, sources said. The Agni-V will be able to strike targets in the range of 5,000 km, a capability that will allow India to join a select league of nations.
http://www.domain-b.com/aero/mil_avi/miss_muni/20110919_agni-II.html

India to develop torpedo testing centre in Kyrgyzstan

India is planning to develop a facility in Kyrgyzstan to produce state of the art torpedoes in order to strengthen its under water attack capabilities.

The Torpedo Testing Centre located at Issyk Kul lake in Karakul province, 250 km away from the capital Bishkek, is considered one of the best locations to launch and recover torpedoes fired during test trials.

“The facility was visited by Defence Minister A.K. Antony a few months ago. An Indian delegation would be visiting Kyrgyzstan soon to make an assessment of investment needed for the project and the terms and conditions for co-developing it,” DRDO Chief Controller William Selvamurthy told PTI.

To develop existing infrastructure at the centre, India has proposed to engage local companies with available know how in torpedo technology to co-develop the facility.

“India is willing to develop the Centre to test all kinds of torpedoes such as heavy weight torpedoes and those having thermal navigation system,” Mr. Selvamurthy said.

The centre has a network of sensors which can monitor the speed, velocity, homing in and direction of the torpedo once it is fired. This enables scientists to make necessary modifications in the navigation system to make the missiles more accurate and fool proof.

The torpedoes fired in the lake are also recoverable enabling the scientists to make physical verification of its structure for further study.

A torpedo is a self-propelled explosive projectile weapons, launched above or below the water surface, propelled under water towards a target.

India is also planning to use the facility to test the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Developed by Naval Scientific and Technological Laboratory (NSTL).

Developed during the Soviet era, the facility was used by the Russian military as a testing site for torpedo propulsion and guidance systems, and Karakol was home to a sizable population of military personnel and their families.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2464999.ece