India and Japan Ink Mutual Military Logistics Agreement

After years of negotiations, India and Japan have inked a landmark agreement that will allow their militaries to access each other’s bases for logistics support, a key development that comes in the backdrop of growing concerns over China’s military muscle flexing in the region.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during their meeting in summit

The acquisition and cross-servicing pact was signed by Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and Japanese Ambassador Suzuki Satoshi, a defence ministry spokesperson said on Thursday. The agreement provides for creation of an enabling framework for closer cooperation and interoperability, besides allowing militaries of the two countries to use each other’s bases and facilities for repair and replenishment of supplies, the official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, who held a telephonic conversation earlier in the day, welcomed the signing of the “Agreement on Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services” between the Indian Armed Forces and the Self-Defense Forces of Japan. The two leaders concurred that the pact will further enhance the depth of defence cooperation between the two countries and contribute to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region, according to a release from the external affairs ministry here.

Indian and Japanese administration and defence personnel signed the agreement Military Logistics

The signing of the agreement comes at a time India is locked in a bitter border row with China, and rising concerns among countries in the region over increasing Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

A statement by Japanese foreign ministry said the agreement will promote closer cooperation between the militaries of the two countries, and enable them to actively contribute to international peace and security. “It is expected that the agreement will facilitate the smooth and prompt provision of supplies and services between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Indian Armed Forces,” it said. The defence ministry said the pact will enhance the interoperability between the armed forces, resulting in further expansion of bilateral defence engagement under the Indo-Japan special strategic and global partnership. “The agreement establishes the enabling framework for closer cooperation between the armed forces of India and Japan in reciprocal provision of supplies and services,” it said.

In June, India and Australia sealed a similar Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) while resolving to scale up their overall defence cooperation. India has already signed similar agreements with the US, France and Singapore. India has been signing MLSAs with countries primarily eyeing deeper maritime cooperation which is important considering China’s rapid military expansionism in the Indo-Pacific, Indian Ocean and South China Sea. The pacts signed with the US and France provide for accessing various crucial bases by Indian military in Djibouti, Guam and the Reunion Islands among others. India is also expanding overall strategic cooperation with Japan in the Indo-Pacific region under the framework of four nation coalition ‘Quad’. In November 2017, India, the US, Australia and Japan gave shape to the long-pending “Quad” to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence. The US has been pushing for a greater role for India in the Indo-Pacific which is seen by many countries as an effort to contain China’s growing clout in the region.

Japanese Navy sailors waving towards Indian Navy's counterpart

In June, the Indian Navy carried out a maritime exercise with the Japanese navy as part of efforts to bolster military cooperation. The Indian Navy has significantly expanded its deployment in the Indian Ocean Region, deploying a plethora of warships and submarines following the border row with China in eastern Ladakh. The maritime space around the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, is very critical for China’s supply chain through sea routes.

Pakistan to buy Multi-Role fighter jets and Missiles from China

According to the Pakistan sources, Pakistan Air Force is now looking to buy J-10CE (export version) fighter jets from China. Pakistan has asked to China for 30 J-10CE fighters and modern air-to-air missiles for its air force.

Pakistan Air Force again shown interest to buy J-10CE jets from China

Pakistan had asked for the J-10 in 2009 but with purchase of China and Pakistan jointly developed JF-17 fighters, the plan to buy J-10 placed in the backburner.

China and Pakistan have again begun a high-level government talks for the possible sale and purchase process for the J-10CE jets, PL-10 and PL-15, short-range and long-range air-to-air missiles respectively. The J-10CE  has the AESA radar, fire-control systems and Infrared technology.

The sources said that the purchase of Rafale fighters has created the panic in Pakistan side, aiming the balance with Indian forces they have reached out to China to buy 30 J-10CE jets, short-range PL-10 and long range PL-15 air-to-air missiles.

With the United States gradually getting close to India, China has become Pakistan’s only supplier of sophisticated weapons.

J-10C jet spotted carrying Chinese PL-10 short range and PL-15 long range Air to Air missiles

The Pakistan Air Force has not just worried about the Rafale but also with the Meteor air-to-air missile and the Mica missile that can be air-launched. The bigger worry is about the S-400 air defence system, which India has buy from Russia, has now considered to be the main threat for PAF fighters.

The PAF is dependent on its 124 JF-17 fighters, co-produced with China, it’s 70 F-16s and the Mirage 3A which has now become old with today’s combat scenario. If, or rather, when the J-10CE arrives with the missiles, it will be another Chinese made fighter in Pakistan air force after JF-17.

Scramjet powered Hypersonic Missile HSTDV test completed successfully: INDIA

DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) has successfully demonstrated the hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology with the flight test of Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV) at 11:03 hours from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Launch Complex at Wheeler Island, off the coast of Odisha today.

India successfully test fired HSTDV hypersonic missile powered with scramjet engine (Source: DRDO)

Technical Feature of HSTDV

The hypersonic cruise vehicle was launched using a proven solid rocket motor, which took it to an altitude of 30,000m, where the aerodynamic heat shields were separated at hypersonic Mach number. The cruise vehicle separated from the launch vehicle and the air intake opened as planned.

The hypersonic combustion sustained and the cruise vehicle continued on its desired flight path at Mach-6 speed i.e., nearly 02 km/second for more than 20 seconds. The critical events like fuel injection and auto ignition of scramjet demonstrated technological maturity. The scramjet engine performed in a text book manner.

The parameters of launch and cruise vehicle, including scramjet engine was monitored by multiple tracking radars, electro-optical systems and Telemetry Stations. The scramjet engine worked at high dynamic pressure and at very high temperature.

HSTDV hypersonic missile powered with scramjet engine APJ Abdul Kalama Island (Source:DRDO)

Mission Observation

A Ship was also deployed in the Bay of Bengal to monitor the performance during the cruise phase of hypersonic vehicle. All the performance parameters have indicated a resounding success of the mission.

With this successful demonstration, many critical technologies such as aerodynamic configuration for hypersonic maneuvers, use of scramjet propulsion for ignition and sustained combustion at hypersonic flow, thermo-structural characterisation of high temperature materials, separation mechanism at hypersonic velocities etc. have proven.

Defence Minister (Raksha Mantri) Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO on this landmark achievement towards realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He also spoke to the scientists associated with the project and congratulated them on this great achievement. India is proud of them, he added.

HSTDV hypersonic missile powered with scramjet engine test fired successfully

Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy congratulated all the Scientists, Researchers and other personnel related with HSTDV mission for their resolute and unwavering efforts towards strengthening Nation’s defence capabilities. On this successful demonstration, the country enters into the hypersonic regime paving way for advanced hypersonic Vehicles.

South Korea and Indonesia start assembling first prototype KF-X fighter aircraft

According to Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on Thursday 03-09-2020, “Korea Aerospace Industries Co. (KAI) has commenced final assembly of a prototype jet at its assembly line in Sacheon, south of Seoul”.

Korean Aerospace Industries start first prototype assembly (Source: KAI)

Under the KF-X project worth 8.8 trillion Won (US$7.3 billion), South Korea start working in 2015 to develop a home-grown fighter aircraft to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets, KAI announced today quoting a DAPA statement.

The greenlight for final assembly came following the design confirmation last year and the local development of certain crucial technologies such as Active Electronically Scanning Array (AESA) radar.

The prototype is expected to be ready in the first half of 2021 and agency is eyeing 2026 to the completion of development after ground and flight tests, KAI said in a statement posed on its website.

South Korean home grown fighter jet will have own AESA radar (Source: KAI)

KF-X Features

• The aircraft is designed to be able to fly at a maximum speed of Mach 1.81 with its flying range reaching 2900kms.
• The fighter will have 10 pods for missiles and fuel barrels.
• It will be able to carry several types of air-to-air missiles, such as Germany's IRIS-T and European developer MBDA's active radar guided Meteor missiles.
• Home grown Active Electronically Scanning Array (AESA) radar. 

South Korean KF-X fighter jet prototype come by 2021 (Source: KAI)

Prototype Testing

“KAI will roll out the first KF-X prototype by April next year. After the first prototype, the remaining five prototypes will come out one after another within the same year. Test flights are scheduled in 2022,” a KAI official had said in July 2020.

Of the six prototypes, one will be delivered to Indonesia, co-developer of KF-X project. The KF-X is expected to be slotted one level below the F-35 jets in the South Korean Air Force. Starting with the test flights in 2022, the prototypes will then undergo four years of trials, and the development is expected to complete by mid-2026.

South Korean KF-X (Source: Republic of KAF)

The first batch of mass-produced KF-X aircraft are expected between 2026 and 2028. They will be equipped with limited air-to-ground weapons in addition to air-to-air weapons. The second batch, which will be series-produced from 2029, will be capable of performing full air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions.

The Last operating UAV of Series is now retired from Bulgarian Air Component

As announced in June, the Belgian Air Component (Air Force) has retired its last Israeli-built B-Hunter UAVs from service. On 28 August 2020, a ceremony took place at Florennes Air Base to commemorate this event and to thank the 80 Sqn for the many years of dedication, Aviation 24 reports.

Belgian Air Component retired its last B-Hunter UAV from service (Pic Source: Belgian Air Component)

The ceremony, which included a water cannon salute as performed for aircraft held in the presence of Major General Frederik Vansina, Commander of the Belgian Air Component, about to become Vice-Chief of Staff in charge of Strategy (ACOS Strat) after replacing Major General Thierry Dupont.

The 80 Sqn was formerly an artillery observation unit (80 Battery), before being transferred into the Air Force.

The current B-Hunter has low availability and no longer meets the standards and requirements of current operational theatres. Its early decommissioning will allow personnel to optimally prepare for the planned deployment in 2023 of the General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft and to strengthen other weapon systems.

Belgian Air Component's new UAV MQ-9B SkyGuardian (Pic Source: GA)

China’s Ladakh move Xi JinPing attempt towards a looming food crisis

President Xi Jinping launched ‘Operation Clean Plate’ to prepare China for a potential food crisis aroused due to the diplomatic muscle flexing pursued abroad to bolster his standing at home. However, Beijing’s aggressive manoeuvres in Ladakh, the South China Sea seen to prompt by a design to divert attention from domestic troubles come as cratered relations with its neighbours and soured relations with its important food suppliers the United States, Canada and Australia.

Xi JinPing turn food crisis of China with its Save Food Campaign

China’s ultra-nationalistic wolf warrior diplomacy and aggressive military posture by PLA in Ladakh is a throwback to 1962, when it used the border skirmish with India to mask the failed Great Leap Forward movement that killed millions of Chinese of hunger. Xi Jinping’s focus on crash diet last month immediately set off speculation that he may expects its food supply to get worse.

Back in May, Premier Li Keqiang promised to draw up a food security plan amid the coronavirus pandemic, assuring that China could ensure food for its people ‘through our own efforts’, reward higher yield of grains and promote the pig production. Agriculture minister Han Changfu had added that the African swine fever that led to kill 100 million pigs was a big threat increase in price of pork, a staple food for world’s biggest consumer.

However, Official statistics indicate food prices went up by 13% in July compared with a year ago and the price of pork by about 85 per cent. The Qingyi River an upper Yangtze tributary saw its worst flood in a century. Already, according to data from the China General Administration of Customs, China’s grain imports had risen by 22.7 per cent (to 74.51 million tonnes) in between January and July as compared to the same period last year.

India China Clash in Ladakh a provoked conspiracy to divert attention of  food crisis in China

Wheat and Corn imports saw a 197% and 23% increase year-on-year with 910,000 tonnes and 880,000 tonnes. China’s state media denied any shortage of food instead claimed to have a record high of 142.8 million Ton this year “There is no need to worry”. According to news agency AFP, that China’s “food shortfall” will increase in coming years unless major agricultural reforms are undertaken.

China’s state media has linked Xi Jinping’s campaign to the global food crisis predicted by the United Nations, a warning that was repeated by the world body two months back when it asked governments to act swiftly to avoid disaster.