The Best Defence Analysts on Indian Television

MAROOF RAZA GILANI:

A vehement proponent of India's sovereignty and national interests, Raza is the undisputed strategic affairs face on the news service channel Times Now. His electric presence, impeccable demeanor, extraordinary acumen, probity and dexterity which he imparts to debates is remarkable. He is one of the few defense analysts on Indian television who is unbiased, incisive and does not hesitate to articulate his achromatic opinions on any topic or situations. In truth, he is no less a star than his friend and the best anchor in the news service business Arnab Goswami, both form a indomitable team to smash hypocritical politicians and arm-chair experts at will. Arnab also has the tendency to routinely goad him when required. He is renowned to mete out his best but polite reserves on the miserable panelists from Pakistan.

Maroof has the distinction of appearing on almost all of India’s leading television channels as an expert on military and security matters. He is a former Indian Army officer, with experience in counter-insurgency operations. He graduated from St Stephen's College, Delhi, has an M.A. in War Studies from King's College, London, and an M.Phil in International Relations from Cambridge University.

He has authored two books and most recently, he has edited a book on Indian terrorism challenges titled "Confronting Terrorism". He is this author's first and automatic choice as the number one analyst who should be in the National Security Advisor's office.

Major General G D Bakshi

Maj Gen (Dr) GD Bakshi, SM, VSM (retd) is a distinguished army man, his no holds barred vitriol against politicians and panelists of all hew and color is the most entertaining to watch on television. His diatribe is so fierce that most anchors are reluctant to give him ample time to speak. His views are rather unilateral mainly due to his defense background. He has seen the worst of action and worst of the terrorist caboodle during his lifetime.

He is a combat veteran of many skirmishes on the LC and Counter-Terrorist operations in J & K and Punjab. He commanded his battalion in active operations in Kargil and was awarded the Vishist Seva Medal. Later he commanded a brigade in Counter-Terrorist operations in the very rugged mountains of Kishtwar and was awarded the Sena Medal for his distinguished services. He subsequently commanded the reputed Romeo Force during intensive Counter-Terrorist operations in the Rajouri-Punch Districts of J&K in the wake of Op Sarp Vinash and succeeded in pacifying the area. 

He has served tenures at highly prestigious institutions, he is also a prolific writer on military and non-military matters and has published 24 books and over 110 papers in many prestigious research journals. Like Maroof he is particularly severe on Pakistani panelists.

Commodore C Uday Bhaskar

The commodore appears very rarely on television but when he does, he elicits maximum attention from his viewers, such is the power of his dissertations when it comes to matters of national security and interest. He presents the more mellow adaptation of a defence analyst on TV. He is one of India's leading experts and outspoken critics on security and strategic affairs.

Commodore C Uday Bhaskar, is currently a Senior Fellow at the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), New Delhi and he retired from the Indian Navy in early 2007 after 37 years service. He is concurrently a contributing Editor at the South Asia Monitor and a Lowy Institute for International Policy & Reuters columnist.

He is a columnist, editor, and contributor of numerous research-articles on nuclear and international security issues to reputed journals in India and abroad, He has written edited books on nuclear, naval/maritime and international security related issues; and has contributed several research articles to journals in India and abroad. His most notable book is Emerging India: Security and Foreign policy perspectives.

G Parthasarathy

The sombre and dapper G Parthasarathy is the refined composition of India's defence analysts. Being a former member of the foreign service helps him to gauge the pulse of a government and its varied mechanizations. During the UPA regime he justifiably took a hawkish line as he was vociferously critical on the waning diffidence that was creeping into India's foreign relations constituents which had grave ramifications on India's national security & interest. He was the first to smell the potential booby trap that former defence minister A K Antony might lay when it came to defence equipment acquisitions. He knew that the former defence minister had a penchant to adhere to his "squeaky clean" image even at the expense of the national security. True to what he anticipated, A K Antony's diffidence and veritable decision making & policy paralysis eventually relegated the precedence of  acquiring vital defence equipment for the armed forces.

Gopalaswami Parthasarathy was a former diplomat who retired from active Service in 2000. Prior to his entry to the Indian Foreign Service Parthasarathy was a Commissioned Officer in the Indian Army (1963-1968). He has served as Ambassador of India to Myanmar, 1992-95, High Commissioner of India to Australia 1995-98, High Commissioner of India to Pakistan 1998-2000 and High Commissioner of India, Cyprus 1990-92. He also served in Indian Missions abroad as Second/First Secretary, Embassy of India, Moscow (1969-1973), Deputy High Commissioner to Tanzania (1974-1976), Counsellor, (Political and Press), Embassy of India, Washington D.C., (1978- 1981); and Consul General of India, Karachi (1982-1985). 

His main areas of interest are developments in India’s neighbourhood and issues of economic integration, energy and national security and terrorism. Ambassador Parthasarathy is a widely read Columnist, writing for a number of newspapers and news agencies in India and abroad on foreign policy and national security issues.

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Selecting the Right Mix of Combat Aircraft

We have been hearing for a long time about various different combat aircrafts and also more recently about the LCA Tejas since its second initial operational clearance. Considering the wealth of information available on all of these combat aircrafts, it is but natural to make a comparison of all of these combat aircrafts.

The combat aircrafts that are being considered for this comparison are JAS 39 Gripen, F-15 Eagle, F-16, F/A-18E Super Hornet, F-35 Stealth, Euro Fighter, Dassault Rafale, Mig-29, Su-30, Su-35, T-50 FGFA, J-10 and the LCA.

The aircrafts are categorized based on their maximum take-off weight as Light-Combat, Top Line Combat, or Medium Role Combat.

The pricing and configuration is taken at the maximum potential of these aircraft

Let us first look at the Light Combat variants. The first ranking goes to the JAS39 Gripen aircraft from Sweden as it has the same or less maximum take-off weight as the other two contenders, the LCA and the Chinese J10. But it has a better range of operations and combat radius and offers a more potent configuration of weapon systems. 

For example the Gripen can easily shoot down the LCA and the J10 from 180 miles and deliver a load of missiles more than 500 miles away. Considering it has a combat radius of 432 miles, it can easily do its job and get away. Though the price of the Gripen is twice that of the LCA or the J10, a small squadron of these high tech aircraft with less number of pilots can take care twice or thrice the number of LCA / J-10 squadrons.

The Indian Air Force is right in demanding a more potent LCA than its present form to take on the Light Combat role. If the LCA MKII or MKIII can have a more powerful and fuel efficient engine, it can have a better range and carry more long range weapons like the Brahmos ASM and longer range AAMs at a reasonable price.

Let us now consider the Top Line combat aircrafts that also includes the still under development stealth aircraft by Russia and India as also the F-35 Stealth Fighter that the US and its allies are equipping themselves with.

The F-35 is clearly the winner here primarily because of its advanced stealth capabilities and design as also it offers the maximum weapon load of 8100 KGS giving it the flexibility of equipping itself with a range of long range AAMs and ASMs and delivering it with a sufficiently comfortable combat range thus ensuring survivability. This combat aircraft can only be challenged by the joint Russian/Indian T-50 equipped with longer range missiles and a longer combat radius. Which means the T-50 may well be able to detect the F-35 at closer range and engage it and then be able to fire missiles from a longer distance and turn around and get away. The F-35 on the other hand with its more stealthy features may get behind the T-50 and fire the first shot.

The second rung of Top Line combat aircraft constitutes the Su-30MKI, Su-35 and the F15 Eagle.

The Su-30MKI is far superior to the Su-35 in weapon and range capabilities and hence can defeat the Su-35 that the Chinese have purchased from the Russians on this count. The Su-30MKI has better long range weapons and once equipped with the supersonic Brahmos will make it a fearful weapon platform. The Su-35 on the other hand is faster than the Su-30 and hence could take down the Su-30 in close combat. The Russian Su-35 has stealth coatings that also make it difficult to be detected by radars. 

The F-15 Eagle is still the King of the skies and is faster than the Su-30MKI or the Su-35 as well has a higher operating ceiling which means it can go higher than both combat aircraft and shoot them down using its look down radar and long range missiles. However, the Su-30MKI may be able to detect the F-15 at longer ranges and fire the first shot at it. When it comes to close range combat, both aircrafts are equally matched though the Su-30MKI has an edge though everything depends on the pilots. The F-15 has more rounds of ammunition than the Su-30MKI or the Su-35.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet is the odd man out here. With a shorter combat radius and slower speeds, this combat aircraft will need to go with a fully loaded weapons suite to neutralize the Su-30MKI or the Su-35. Both the adversaries can shoot down the F/A-18 using the look down mode as they have a higher operating ceiling and the Su-30MKI may carry longer range missiles though US combat aircrafts are known to have a higher kill ratio versus Russian fighters.

The last category of combat aircraft here is the Medium Role Combat aircraft that the Indian Air force recently went for in selecting the French made Rafale combat aircraft. 

From the above table it is quite clear that this decision was a wise decision as the Rafale has the best combat range and weapon configuration. However, it remains to be seen what the IAF versions of Rafale are equipped with. Certainly they will be French AAM or American AAM missies and not longer range Russian or Indian missiles.

It is also doubt if the Rafale will be able to integrate the supersonic Brahmos cruise missile. So though selecting the Rafale is a wise decision in terms of quality it may be the most expensive choice here. The Rafale has more weapon payload capacity than even the Top-Line combat aircrafts and hence can carry more bombs and missiles than the Su-30MKI theoretically.

However, it is slower than then all the other aircrafts in this category, namely the F-16, EuroFighter and the Mig-29. The F-16 though offers a good match to the Rafale in terms of missiles and bombs it can carry; it may be shot down by the Rafale using its long combat radius and if equipped with long range AAMs. The EuroFighter on the other hand has the highest service ceiling as it can hover at 70,000 feet and use its look down radar to shoot down the other contenders which can reach not more than 60,000 feet. The EuroFighter comes with the same potent long range American missiles as the F-16 and therefore is a better challenger to the American fighter than the Rafale.

The Rafale on the other hand can deliver the maximum punch in the ground attack role and may need the support of Su-30MKI to counter the F-16s or the EuroFighters.

The Mig-29 is in the lower rung of this combat category mainly due to the lower configuration of its weapon loads. In close combat, it can still out maneuver the F-16 or even the Rafale so long as it is not shot down from longer ranges. Here also, the F-16 has more ammo than all the other competitors and close combat could be really close and depend greatly on the caliber of the pilots.

The final analysis is that for any Air Force when taking a decision on selecting the right combat aircraft is certainly as challenging as using them in real combat. The ideal combination would be as follows:

Two to Four Squadrons of F-35 or T-50 FGFA each with 20 combat aircrafts and 5 Training aircrafts. That is a total of 45 F-35 or 90 T-50 FGFA Stealth aircrafts to make the first strike and take out the enemy’s air defenses will cost $7Billion(F-35).

This will be followed by 5 squadrons of Rafale each equipped with 20 combat aircrafts and 10 additional Training versions totaling 110 Rafale combat aircrafts to vanquish the enemy by destroying airfields and defense infrastructure by delivering 10 tons of destruction by each aircraft costing $14 billion.

The Rafale will be supported by 10 squadrons of Su-30MKIs with a total of 250 combat aircrafts costing another $14 billion.

Finally once the Air Force has achieved air superiority, it can deploy 10 squadrons of LCA-Tejas MKII or MKIII totaling 250 Tejas of different versions costing in total $8 billion.

As the Indian Air force has already purchased the Su-30MKI combat aircrafts, it needs to for 2-4 squadrons (F-35/T-50) of stealth fighters, 5 squadrons of Rafale and 10 squadrons of LCA-Tejas costing not more than $30 billion over a 10-15 year period.

On the other hand, we are going ahead inking a deal for $20 billion or even more as also $25 billion T-50 deal and add to the cost of acquiring LCA-Tejas fighters taking the total spend to over $50 billion. That is an additional $20 billion over the actual requirement as shown earlier.

Instead of going for the $25 billion T-50 Russian project that may never satisfy our needs, it would be prudent to talk to the Americans and get 2 squadrons of the far more advanced F-35 which are available for purchase. Using these advanced aircrafts can help us develop a stealthy model of the LCA which anyways has American Engines and technology. This will cost less than the ever delayed T-50 project over the long term.

Once the stealthy version of the LCA is developed, we may be able to advance considerably as in the case of the missiles and space launch vehicles in developer even top line combat aircrafts in the future. Especially considering we are allowing 49% of FDI in defense and running the Make in India campaign so effectively. 

This will ensure we are not at the whims and fancies of external suppliers such as the US, France and Russia for our defense.

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Ancient Indian Science of Aeronautics

Artistic Representation of RUKMAVimana

Introduction

In the ancient Vedas, there are many descriptions of flying machines called Vimana. The Indian epic, the Mahabharata is a long and complex work. It mentions specifics to mature Indian aerospace technologies, however references to flying machines are common in most of the Indian ancient texts.

The western school of anthropology considers human civilization emerged out of Africa. Genetic studies show that primates diverged from other mammals about 85 million years ago, in the Late Cretaceous period, and the earliest fossils appear in the Paleocene, around 55 million years ago. Abrahamic religions follow Exclusivism” or “Particularism” with a view that one religion is uniquely and supremely true and all other religions are false, followed by an authoritative advocation of Genesis creation narrative and reject vehemently the scientific theory of evolution. On the other hand, Hinduism advocates evolution the ten avatars of Vishnu is manifestation and attestation of this line of thought.

Hinduism’s understanding of time is as grandiose as time itself. While Abrahamic religions, base their cosmologies on familiar units such as few hundreds or thousands of years, the Hindu concept of time embraces billions and trillions of years. The Puranas describe time units from the infinitesimal truti, lasting 1/1,000,0000 of a second to a mahamantavara of 311 trillion years. Hindu sages describe time as cyclic, an endless procession of creation, preservation and dissolution. Scientists such as Carl Sagan have expressed amazement at the accuracy of space and time descriptions given by the ancient rishis and saints, who fathomed the secrets of the universe through their mystically awakened senses.

The study of human evolution involves many scientific disciplines, including physical anthropology, primatology, archaeology, paleontology, evolutionary psychology, embryology and the most modern theories, genetics. It is a "modern superstition" to assume that the move towards knowledge is something linear. Our knowledge on ancient science and technology is rather inadequate. But the Vedas definitive structure and explanation of such technologies several eons before the egression of modern thought  is revolutionary and needs rigorous investigation.

Let us examine some of the antecedents of this fascinating branch of science:

The Yajur Veda, 10:19

"O royal skilled engineer, construct sea-boats, propelled on water by our experts, and airplanes, moving and flying upward, after the clouds that reside in the mid-region, that fly as the boats move on the sea, that fly high over and below the watery clouds. Be thou, thereby, prosperous in this world created by the Omnipresent God, and flier in both air and lightning." 

The Yajur Veda,  6:21

"Through astronomy, geography, and geology, go thou to all the different countries of the world under the sun. Mayest thou attain through good preaching to statesmanship and artisanship, through medical science obtain knowledge of all medicinal plants, through hydrostatics learn the different uses of water, through electricity understand the working of ever lustrous lightening. Carry out my instructions willingly."

The Atharva Veda, 20:41.1-3

"The atomic energy fissions the ninety-nine elements, covering its path by the bombardments of neutrons without let or hindrance. Desirous of stalking the head, ie. The chief part of the swift power, hidden in the mass of molecular adjustments of the elements, this atomic energy approaches it in the very act of fissioning it by the above-noted bombardment. Herein, verily the scientists know the similar hidden striking force of the rays of the sun working in the orbit of the moon." (Source: Searching for Vedic India - By Devamitra Swami p. 155 - 157)

The Rig Veda, the oldest known documents in history describes some of these means of transport: 

Jalayan - is a vehicle designed to move both in air and in water ... (Rig Veda 6.58.3)

Kaara - is a vehicle designed to move both on land and in the water ... (Rig Veda 9.14.1)

Tritala - is a vehicle designed to move in the three elements ... (Rig Veda 3.14.1)

Trichakra Ratha - is a vehicle with three engines designed to move in the air ... (Rig Veda 4.36.1)

Vaayu Ratha - is a vehicle driven by an air motor ... (Rig Veda 5.41.6)

Vidyut Ratha - a vehicle driven by a motor potentissimoè (Rig Veda 3.14.1).

Kathasaritsagara refers to highly talented woodworkers called Rajyadhara and Pranadhara. The former was so skilled in mechanical contrivances that he could make ocean crossing chariots. And the latter manufactured a flying chariot to carry a thousand passengers in the air. These chariots were stated to be as fast as thought itself. (Source: India Through The Ages: History, Art Culture and Religion - By G. Kuppuram p. 532-533)

Puranic notes on the ancient flying machines

The Arthasastra of Kautilya (3zo century BC) mentions among the businessmen and technocrats, the Saubhikas or pilots conducting vehicles in the sky. Saubha was the name of the city of King Harishchandra and the root of "Saubika" means a person able to fly or who knows how to fly an aircraft. The essay uses Kautilya another significant word 'Akasa Yodhinah " whose translation is: People trained for air combat warfare. The existence of aerial chariots, in any form, was well known that found a place among the royal edicts of the Emperor Asoka who was executed during his reign from 256 BC.

One excellent example is the 3,000 year old Vymanika Shastra, meaning “The Science of Aeronautics”. It has been translated by G.R. Josyer, director of the International Academy of Sanskrit research in Mysore, India. The translation, “Aeronautics, a Manuscript From the Prehistoric Past”, was published in book form by Coronation press, Mysore, in 1973. The Vaimanika Shastra, refers to other 97 authoritative works of which at least 20 of these books, explaining the mechanisms of flying machines, unfortunately these texts are now untraceable. The Yuktikalpataru of Bhoja, includes a note on the flying machines in verses 48-50. Samarangana sootradhara of King Bhojaraja unveils the use of mercury in engines for aviation use very distinctly. Briefly explaining the operation of this type of engine, western researchers, quoting this treatise, mention this as a heating device placed underneath to cause ignition, triggering the potent energy in mercury to drive the whirlwind in motion. This produces highly intense impulse catapulting the flying machine into air instantaneously. This confirmed by a comment the work dated 1870 AD, which belongs to the University of Sanskrit in Calcutta. We are therefore in possession of manuscript material that demonstrates the existence of Vimana or airplanes in ancient India which followed the western route, towards the Arabian Sea, Africa, Atlantic Ocean, Latin America, etc., And these were only the shortest routes. It is likely that the ships had followed the same route by sea, but most of the cargo ships, however, were to follow longer route through the Pacific Ocean, Indonesia, Polynesia, Latin America because of winds and equatorial currents which made navigation easier.

And if the ancient Indians could boast of a form of travel across the sky, this means that the Nazca lines in Peru acquire an added significance. So not only the scriptural references of aircraft and their shipping routes, but also the places would be landing in the tangled outlines of the figures of the Pampas of Nazca. Maria Reiche, a German scientist, studied with dedication these seriously, preserved them from destruction and published them to the world. It is likely that the huge figures that are visible from the air would help the old pilots (Saubhikas).

There are many clues in the texts in Sanskrit on Vimana carrying kings and dignitaries to pataldesa. The Ramayana describes the flight of Ravana by Varunalaya (Borneo) in Rasatala (Peru). Proffessor D K Kanjilal describes the history of the Matsya Purana (Chapter 129) and Vimana in Ancient India in the following words: "Behind the veil of legend and scientific truth comes out that three airports were built and used by the demons. One in a stationary orbit, another moving in the sky and one was permanently on the earth's surface. These were similar to the modern space stations within a particular time by a fixed latitude and longitude. The arrow of Siva (mentioned in the text), refers to a blazing missile fired from an orbiting satellite that goes to hit a spaceship that fell into the Indian Ocean. The remains of an ancient prosperous civilization destroyed in battles only flicker through these legends. " These notes confirm the use of some kind of flying vehicle known as Vimana relating to a mechanical invention. These facts require more than a passing thought.

Scientific composition of Vimanas

In the Yantra Sarvasva, sage Maharshi Bhardwaj describes vimana, or aerial aircrafts, as being of three classes:

• Those that travel from place to place; 
• Those that travel from one country to another; 
• Those that travel between planets. 

According to Rahasyagnyodhikaaree - Sutra 2, "The pilot is one who knows the secrets" There were 32 secrets the pilot needed to learn from competent preceptors and only such a person was fit to be entrusted with an aeroplane, and no others: 

There are 32 secrets of the working of the Vimaana. He must know the structure of the aeroplane, know the means of its take off and ascent to the sky, know how to drive it and how to halt it when necessary, how to maneuver it and make it perform spectacular feats in the sky without crashing. Those secrets are given in "Rahashya Lahari" and other works by Lalla and other masters and are described as thus:

"The pilot should have had training in maantrica and taantrica, kritaka and antaraalaka, goodha or hidden, drishya and adrishya or seen and unseen, paroksha and aparoksha, contraction and expansion, changing shape, look frightening, look pleasing, become luminous or enveloped in darkness, deluge or pralaya, vimukha, taara, stun by thunderstorm din, jump, move zig-zag like serpent, chaapala, face all sides, hear distant sounds, take pictures, know enemy maneuver, know direction of enemy approach, stabdhaka or paralyse, and karshana or exercise magnetic pull. 

Some of these secrets are:

1. Goodha: As explained in 'Vaayutatva-Prakarana', by harnessing the powers, Yaasaa, Viyaasaa, Prayaasaa in the 8th atmospheric layer covering the earth, to attract the dark content of the solar ray, and use it to hide the Vimana from the enemy.

2. Drishya: By collision of the electric power and wind power in the atmosphere, a glow is created, whose reflection is to be caught in the Vishwa-Kriya-drapana or mirror at the front of the Vimana, and by its manipulation produce a Maaya-Vimana or camouflaged Vimana.

3. Vimukha: As mentioned in "Rig-hridaya", by projecting the force of Kubera, Vimukha and Vyshawaanara poison powder through the third tube of the roudree mirror and turning the switch of the air mechanism, produce wholesale insensibility and coma.

4. Roopaakarshana: By means of the photographic yantra in the Vimana to obtain a television view of things inside an enemy's plane.

5. Stabdhak: By projecting apasmaara poison fume smoke through the tube on the north side on the Vimana, and discharging it with stambhana yantra, people in enemy planes will be made unconscious.

6. Chaapla: On sighting an enemy plane, by turning the switch in the force center in the middle section of the Vimana, a 4087 revolutions an hour atmospheric wave speed will be generated, and shake up the enemy plane.

7. Parashabda Graahaka: As explained in the "Sowdaaminee Kalaa: or science of electronics, by means of the sound capturing yantra in the Vimana, to hear the talks and sound in enemy planes flying in the sky.

According to Shownaka, the regions of the sky are 5, named, Rekhaapathaha, Mandala, Kakshaya, Shakti and Kendra. In these 5 atmospheric regions, there are 5,19,800 air ways traversed by Vimanas of the Seven Lokas or worlds, known as Bhooloka, Bhuvarloka, Suvarloka, Maholoka, Janoloka, Tapoloka and Satyaloka. Dhundinaatha and "Valalmeeki Ganita" state that Rekha has 7,03,00,800 air routes. Mandala has 20,08,00200 air routes, Kakshya has 2,09,00,300 air routes, Shakti has 10,01,300 air routes, and Kendra has 30,08,200 air routes.

It discusses what kind of food to eat, clothing to wear, metals for vimanas, purification of metals, deals with mirrors and lenses which are required to be installed in the vimaanas, mechanical contrivances or yantras and protecting and different types of vimaanas. 

Aeronautical Society of India referring to the Vymanika Shashtra states that a glass-like material based on technology found in an ancient Sanskrit text that could ultimately be used in a stealth bomber (the material cannot be detected by radar) has been developed by a research scholar of Benaras Hindu University. Prof M A Lakshmithathachar, Director of the Academy of Sanskrit Research in Melkote, near Mandya.

The tests conducted with the material showed radars could not detect it. 

“The unique material cannot be traced by radar and so a plane coated with it cannot be detected using radar,” he said.

This was first reported by the Deccan Herald long back. What happened to this research is anybody’s guess. So this proves that at least some of the Indian scientists did seriously undertake research on Ancient Indian Aerospace Technology.

Types of Vimanas

Maharshi Bharadwaaja: SHAKUNA VIMANA

Maharshi Bharadwaaja: SUNDARA VIMANA

Maharshi Bharadwaaja: RUKMA VIMANA

Maharshi Bharadwaaja: TRIPURA VIMANA

Conclusion

Ancient Indian civilization was superior and advanced with possible contacts with extraterrestrial visitors and the flying devices called 'Vimanas'. Ancient Indian texts may underline their possible connections with today's aerospace technology.

Erich von Däniken a Swiss author discusses the Ramayana and the vimanas in Chapter 6 of his bestseller book "Chariots of the Gods" suggesting that they were "space vehicles". To support his hypothesis, he offers a quotation which he says is from an 1889 translation of the Mahabharata by C. Roy: "Bhima flew with his Vimana on an enormous ray which was as brilliant as the sun and made a noise like the thunder of a storm.

Dismissing Vimanas as a creation of mythology would be a fallacy, we need to study and investigate the veracity of the ancient texts which eventually could prove to be shocking. In the modern context UFO's have become a consternation between the believable and the absurd. It is also purported that advanced nations had access to secret alien technology which have been used to develop sophisticated weapons, the Roswell incident (1947) and the Crash at Corona (1992) are illustrious examples of this theory, although there is no clear evidence that a UFO crashed at Roswell or Corona, believers firmly believe that one did, and that the truth has been concealed as a result of a government conspiracy. It is noteworthy to mention here that the Vedic literatures of ancient India draws overwhelming attention to gods and heroes fighting in the skies using piloted vehicles with weapons of mass destruction.

Main Source>> VYMAANIKA-SHAASTRA by Maharshi Bharadwaaja (Propounded by Venerable SUBBARAYA SHASTRY) Printed at CORONATION PRESS, MYSORE (1973)

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SHOCK WAVES IN DRDO: Perform or Perish is the New Mantra

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Former DRDO Chief Dr. Avinash Chander

The government's decision to sack Chief Controller of DRDO Dr. Avinash Chander has shaken the defence establishment and sent shock waves through the Defence Public Sector units (DPSU's), it even caught Dr. Chander offguard. The all important DPSU's which is in a way the secondary line of defence of the nation following the armed forces, have been literally hijacking the development and manufacture of defence related equipment in the country. There is a severe lack accountability in these organisations and DPSU's have never been put through a stringent science audit. Over the past several decades there has been virtually nothing noteworthy the DPSU's have contributed to strengthen the nations security against two potent adversaries on either side of our borders. Our safety & security can only be attributed to the resolve and bravery of our armed forces who have been stacked against all odds over the years in the defense of the nation.

Lt Gen Harwant Singh (retd), in a scathing report said "DRDO in stand-alone mode has achieved little and will not be able to meet the future needs of the armed forces. It has shown little skill and capability in the field of even reverse engineering of comparatively simple equipment. This is legacy of the Nehruvian policies of entrusting all this to the public sector (DRDO in this case). Since then vested interests have opposed any change in this moribund policy".

So why did the government sack Dr. Avinash Chander?

• Was he inefficient as an administrator
• Did he indulgence in corruption? 
• Was he advocating cronyism or nepotism in his administrative capacities? 

It is an emphatic no? On the other hand, it is a perceptible and overt message to all concerned that this government means business when it comes to critical results and does not brook any compromises or delays! Besides, such an earth shattering event has never occurred in the history of any defense public sector units in the country. There is a unvarying notion that government run agencies are holy cows which cannot be touched by any departmental agency or for that matter execution of extemporary government termination of personnel is an inconceivable notion, has been shattered by this singular action. Simple, this dispensation is unlike any other the country has seen, it is marked by a strong intent and purpose and principally it gives great emphasis on national security and national interest. It is notable to mention that this decision was not executed by any powerful bureaucrat or under-secretary in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) but by the nation's Defence Minister himself, of course the green signal must have come from the PM who must have authorized the exit of the chief controller. In short, the sacking of the DRDO chief had a strong corporate typecast flavor to it, perform or perish.

LCA Tejas Naval Prototype NP-1

The death knell was sounded in August 2014, the PM had sent a strong feeler to the DRDO, attacking its “chalta hai” (laid-back or lackadaisical) culture, asking it to complete projects before or on time to put India ahead in the world. The Prime Minister also added “The world will not wait for us. We have to run ahead of time. That is why whatever we do, we should try hard to do it before time. It should not be so that a project is conceived in 1992 and in 2014 (we say) it will take some more time. The world will go ahead.”

DRDO has faced criticism for the past several years for delays and cost over-runs in crucial projects for the armed forces. Though Dr. Chander was one of the most prominent scientists in the country and the developments indicate that the government was not happy with the performance of the DRDO and Avinash Chander as its chief. Mr. Chander is one of the key scientists behind the Agni missile project including the 5,500 km-range Agni-V ICBM that had given the country a credible nuclear-capable deterrent against China.

A report by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence presented in Parliament on December 22, 2014, had criticised DRDO for chronic inefficiency and delays in executing numerous programs. The committee said "projects are not executed according to their schedule, and inordinate delays in execution of almost all the projects [are] common phenomena".

Some of the critical projects that have been subject to endless delays include: (Please note that this is not an exhaustive list but an indicative one)

• Nearly 70% of our defense equipment is imported and this includes even low-technology items
• Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter, a much delayed project was conceived in 1990 and the LCA-Tejas has taken more than two decades to evolve as a credible fighting system and it is still limping toward its crucial Final Operational Clearance (FOC) which has been pushed for the umpteenth time to December 2015.
• In the same vein the Naval version of the fighter has seen inordinate delays owing to downright shortsightedness on the part of ADA in its design, development and implementation phases.
• The failure of the Kaveri engine is a great setback to DRDO, however developing an afterburning turbofan engine is a very sophisticated technology to master, even developed countries like France struggled to develop a new turbofan engine. Snecma a seasoned player and prominent engine developer with several decades of experience of various engine types, took more than 15 years to perfect its M88 engine for the Rafale. DRDO should have set realistic targets with regard to the Kaveri engine and because of this lack of foresight the program had to be eventually cancelled, though the engine is still being used for other applications.
• The failure of DRDO to provide reliable and effective modern guns to the armed forces
• Arjun Main Battle Tank program, the delay cannot be entirely blamed on DRDO, the Army has shown great animosity for the indigenous tank program and favored imports (there is so much money to be made in imports) more clamantly, the army due to its misplaced idiosyncrasies has been back pedaling on the induction of sizable volumes of the tank since it had set unrealistic targets for DRDO. However, DRDO has also delayed on the technologies that had to be developed in its development.
• Advanced Air Defence (AAD) & Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) ballistic missile defense system has gone into deep slumber mode. The last AAD test was conducted in November 2012 and the PDV in April 2014.
• Intermediate Jet Trainer IJT-SITARA delayed due to design blunders (HAL Stakeholder)
• Development, testing and induction of Arjun MK-2 & MK-3 
• K-4,K-5 & K-15 Series of Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) test and induction
• Delay in testing and induction of NAG anti tank guided missile (ATGM) for the Army, to compensate for the delay India is procuring Spike ATGM missiles from Israel
• Rustom-II UAV test and induction
• India's concept super secret AURA stealth Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (Stealth Bomber) prototyping to be completed
• Completion of Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) System
• 155mm Gun test and induction
• INS Arihant test and induction
• AMCA test and induction
• Astra MK-1 & MK-2 test and induction
• Induction of Long Range Surface to Air Missile BARAK-8 in collaboration with Israel yet to be inducted
• Multi-Caliber Gun test and induction
• Advanced Sub Machine Gun test and induction
• F-INSAS test and induction
• Future infantry fighting Vehicle for the Army test and induction
• HTT-40 Trainer test and induction (HAL Stakeholder)
• Light Combat Helicopter test and induction (HAL Stakeholder)
• 12 tone Class Utility Helicopter test and induction (HAL Stakeholder)
• Light Utility Helicopter development, testing and induction (HAL Stakeholder)

Unless the government takes concrete steps to resolve issues that exists in DRDO and the status quo broken, the Prime Minister’s expectations of India developing high-end defence equipment and becoming self reliant in this field will only remain a pipe dream.

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AGNI V - Top 10 Facts

Agni-V is an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). DRDO had limited the range to only 5,000 km during both the test it has conducted. However, it is understood that the range is "classified" or "understated" for national security reasons, but the Chinese have confirmed that the missile is capable of achieving an expected range of over 8,000 km which clearly bracket it in the ICBM class.

Here are the top 10 facts on the Agni-V Missile:

1) India broke into the exclusive ICBM club of six countries including the United States, Russia, United Kingdom, China and France after launching two successful test flights of Agni-V. Touted as one of the deadliest missile systems in the world by defense analysts across the world,  Agni-V achieved single-digit accuracy in its second test which is rare for even missiles of advanced nations.

2) The Agni series of missiles, including Agni-V, is crucial for India’s defence vis-a-vis China since Beijing has upped the ante in recent times by deploying missiles in Tibet Autonomous Region bordering India.

3) Tipped to be a game changer, Agni-V will extend India’s reach all over Asia, parts of Africa and parts of Europe.

4) Once fired, it cannot be stopped. It travels faster than a bullet and can carry 1,000 kilograms of nuclear weapons. Agni-V incorporates advanced technologies involving ring laser gyroscope and accelerometer systems for navigation and guidance.

5) With a range of 5,000 km, Agni-V, once validated and inducted into the armed forces after more tests, Agni-V will be India’s longest-range missile to carry a nuclear warhead. It will have the capacity to carry a nuclear warhead weighing over a ton.

6) Agni-V has Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) capability with each missile capable of carrying 2–10 separate nuclear warheads. This means that each warhead can be assigned to a different target, alternatively, two or more warheads can be assigned to one target.

7) Agni-V can be configured to launch small satellites and can be used later even a anti satellite weapon.

8) This 50 ton missile is quite easy to store and can be transported swiftly by road, rail or water because of its canister based launch system.

9) Seventeen metres tall, Agni-V’s three-stages are powered by solid propellants. The first rocket engine takes it to a height of about 40 kilometers  The second stage pushes it to about 150 kilometres. The third stage takes it to about 300 kilometres above the Earth. The missile finally reaches a height of about 800 kilometres.

10) The Agni-V is a three stage solid fueled system with sophisticated composite motor casing in the second and third stage. In many aspects, the Agni-V carries forward the Agni-II pedigree. With composites used extensively to reduce weight, and a third stage added Agni-V can fly significantly more to intercontinental ranges.

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AGNI-VI: Intercontinental Ballistic Boost

India boasts of an excellent non-proliferation record and that it has engaged intermittently with the international community on such issues, the US had openly endorsed India's ICBM development ambitions since it stood in dark contrast to states racing to acquire advanced ballistic missile technologies harmful to US interests. The lack of US condemnation of India's missile test demonstrates that the US is comfortable with the Indian program in the nuclear and missile fields and appreciates India's need to meet the emerging strategic challenge posed by rising China. Besides, it is also entirely imperative that India breaks away out of the regional context as the country's sphere of influence is growing and it needs the capability to match its sphere of global influence.

The Government of India had not considered the development of an ICBM with a range of 10,000 km or more. However, speculations of an ongoing program for a longer range ICBM resurfaced in 2011. Some reports since the late 1990s claimed that the ICBM is already code named "Surya". It is also known that the government had not given serious weight to the necessity for an ICBM. Since India is not a signatory to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Indian missile program is not limited by any treaty commitment to cap the development of long range ICBM. There have been also occasional hypothesis that, despite India being a non-signatory to MTCR, there is a voluntary moratorium on developing missiles beyond the range of 5,000 km probably owing to US & NATO pressure.

The important AGNI-VI Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) which is expected to feature Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV) capabilities has not been approved by the government. The scams & policy paralysis stricken erstwhile UPA government dillydallied its approval which was one among the many it procrastinated with regard to projects of national security & importance.

Despite this impediment DRDO has decided on the missile specifications and enhanced capabilities and proceeding as per plan, once the ongoing Agni-V program concludes DRDO is confident that the present dispensation will sanction the program and allocate funds. In addition, there has been considerable speculation worldwide about this futuristic cutting-edge missile development program after the clinical success of the AGNI-V.

Agni-VI will be a three-stage, solid fuel ICBM which will carry a massive three-tonne warhead, thrice the weight of current Agni missiles have carried so far. This will enable the missile to launch multiple nuclear warheads with each warhead striking a different target alternatively, separated by hundreds of kilometers, two or more warheads can be assigned to one target and can perform evasive maneuvers while hurtling down towards its target, confusing enemy air defence systems that will try to intercept them mid-air. MIRVs ensure a credible second strike capability even with few missiles.

DRDO technicians in Hyderabad integrating AGNI Missiles

Technological Challenges

Multiple Warhead Technology

DRDO is at an advanced stage of integrating warhead technologies, but one notable challenge is building a booster rocket that can propel a three-tonne payload to targets 10,000 kilometres away. The payload weight is comparably more than what a GSLV can launch. The missile should be able to deploy decoys and chaffs to evade air defense systems.

Weapons Delivery

Analyzing a ballistic trajectory is a simple physics problem, but there is big difference betweem analysis and implementation. Recording the necessary data, rapidly analyzing it, combined with ever changing variables, to determine the precise moment to release a warhead so that it hits a specific target 8-10 thousand miles away, is not a simple task. Therefore, dispersing nuclear warheads is another major technological challenge.

Miniaturization 

Miniaturization of nuclear and thermonuclear weapons as has been obtained to fit the nose cone spatial shape of Agni-VI missile.

Support Structures

The building blocks from boosters to radars, seekers and sophisticated mission control centers are currently available. DRDO had been able to develop key Radio Frequency seeker technologies for missiles, it has since indigenously perfected this technology, and digital processing during the missile's boost, mid-course and terminal phase is based on DRDO’s own software.

Mobility

Agni-VI must be compact and road mobile, this can be achieved by building the first stage with composites , which is expected to weigh around 40-tons. This is a technical challenge but DRDO has the capability in lightweight composites. The road mobile Agni-VI would also have stringent limits on its length since it must be carried on a standard size trailer that can move from one part of the country to another, turn on narrow roads, cross bridges and climb heights. As the payload weight increases, it will require more advanced technologies to keep the missile's length to technically acceptable limits.

Weight & Dimension

Harnessing maximum performance from smaller rockets also becomes especially important in submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) version, which cannot be no longer than 13 metres so as to fit into the cramped confines of a submarines. This holds true to even the K-4 "Sagarika" SLBM for the country's Arihant-Class, Chakra-Class Nuclear-Propelled ballistic missile attack submarines (SSBNs).

Conclusion

Until April 2012, the existence of an ICBM program was unclear and was never officially acknowledged by the DRDO. However, in the DRDO newsletter of May 2011, while describing the achievements of a recently promoted scientist, it revealed that he headed a program code named A6, which will be an ICBM with a range in between 6,000-10,000 km and like some versions of its precursor Agni V, it will be capable of underwater launch with MIRV.

“ Chief Controller R&D (Missiles and Strategic Systems)

Shri Avinash Chander, Distinguished Scientist, Programme Director, SFD and Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory has been appointed as Chief Controller R&D (Missiles and Strategic Systems) wef 3 May 2011. He is an eminent scientist in the field of Missiles and is the Chief Designer of Long-range missile system, with specific contribution in Agni programme management, mission design, guidance, navigation, simulation and terminal guidance. He has unique achievement of delivering and deploying three long-range Agni missile weapon systems viz, A1, A2 and A3.

It is evident from history that there exists a close concurrence between a space and a missile program as was the case with both Soviet Union and America, China and India have also pursued the same path. The interchangeability of several technologies between the two entities suit there sustained development, but the more pronounced beneficiary is undeniably the missile programs. Though the Indian missile program has matured to world-class levels it is mastering some of the aforementioned technologies that will make MIRV integration as a holistic system.

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METAL BEHEMOTHS: The Best Battle Tanks in the World

As a young man, apart from worshiping exotic super cars, battle tanks were my other stellar indulgence. The 1971 Indo-Pakistan introduced me to actual tank warfare, when I got to hear about the battle of Longewala which was fought between assaulting Pakistani forces and Indian defenders at the border post of Longewala, in the Thar Desert of the Rajasthan, India. It exposed me to the fact that possessing the best tanks in the world was not good enough to win battles. The Battle was fought between India and Pakistan, in which just 120 Indian Soldiers with 1 jeep mounted M40 recoilless rifle held the fort against 2,000 invading Pakistani forces backed by 45 tanks and 1 mobile infantry brigade. Despite being so heavily out-numbered, the Indian soldiers held their ground throughout the night and with the help of the Air Force, were able to completely rout the aggressors.

The Battle of Longewala is considered by many military historians as one of the greatest field battles ever fought (including all wars until 1971) principally because the mighty odds the Indian Army confronted. This legendary valor of our armed forces held me in awe for decades right up to the recent Kargil war with Pakistan which was contrary to the battle of Longewala was fought using mainly field guns. And so I thought it was high time I wrote a piece dedicated to these awesome heavyweights, before we dwell into what the current crop has to offer let us look into a brief history of these behemoths.

BRIEF HISTORY

British Mark V Tank

It is frequently claimed that Richard Lovell Edgeworth created a caterpillar track in 1770 which he patented as a "machine, that should carry and lay down its own road". His own account in his autobiography is of a horse-drawn wooden carriage on eight retractable legs, capable of lifting itself over high walls. The Mark V was originally invented in World War I as a means of infantry support, tanks quickly evolved over the ensuing decades to become a distinct and fearsome weapon of war.

French Renault FT-17

The Renault FT was a French light tank that was among the most revolutionary and influential tank designs in history. The FT was the first production tank to have its armament within a fully rotating turret. It had a crew compartment at the front, engine compartment at the back, and main armament in a revolving turret, which became and remains to this day the standard tank layout. Over 3,000 tanks were manufactured during the year 1918. 

German A7V

Germany fielded very few tanks during World War I, and started development only after encountering British tanks. The A7V, the only type made, was introduced in March 1918 and only 20 were produced. However, captured British Mk IVs formed the bulk of Germany's tank forces during WW I; about 35 were in service at any one time. Plans to expand the tank program were under way when the War ended.

THE TOP LIST

France: AMX Leclerc

Named in honor of General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, the General had been the commander of an Armored Division during the Second World War.

Designed during 1983, the Leclerc is in the same league as other NATO tanks and is certainly one of the top three best modern MBT’s but it is also renowned for being the most expensive tank in history. The Leclerc is all about speed. Its the lightest modern NATO tank weighting 56tons, as it has a much smaller hull and turret, giving it an added bonus of excellent Strategic mobility. It carries a SACM V8X-1500 4-stroke liquid cooled V8 diesel engine, which generates 1500hp mainly due to its Hyperbar process. It is also equipped with a computerized automatic gearbox. With its light weight, the Leclerc is one very fast machine. Unlike other MBTs of its generation, the Leclerc comes with an autoloading system which reduces the crew to three and its work burden, and has an ammo capacity of 40 rounds. Its capable of carrying 1,300 litres of diesel fuel giving it a 550km fighting range. The Leclerc has a top road speed is 72 km/h and can go up 55 km/h off road thanks to its hydrogas suspension.

India: Arjun MBT

The Arjun MBT is named after the main protagonist and world’s greatest archer from the Indian epic, "The Mahabharata". Despite the countless flak it has received during its formative phases, the Arjun today remains as one of the most potent and technologically advanced MBTs in the world, this is acknowledged by several defense analysts and technology experts across the spectrum.  Design of the tank began officially began in 2004 as a way of providing the Indian Army with an indigenously-designed and built tank main battle tank.

The Arjun sports a 120 mm main rifled gun with indigenously developed Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding-Sabot (APFSDS) ammunition, one 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, and a 12.7 mm machine gun. The tanks is protected by the modular composite Kanchan armor that is composed of layers of composite alongside rolled homogenous steel, and a new honeycomb design of non-explosive and non-energetic reactive armor (NERA) is reportedly being tested as well. Kanchan is made by sandwiching composite panels between Rolled Homogenous Armor (RHA). This helps in defeating APFDS and High Explosive Anti Tank Warhead (HEAT) rounds. Trials conducted in 2000, showcased the ability of Kanchan armour to protect the tank, even when hit at point blank range by a T-72. It also demonstrated the capability to defeat HESH and APFSDS rounds, which included the Israeli APFSDS rounds. An advanced laser warning countermeasure system and a mobile camouflage system have been developed. The new advanced camouflage system will provide multi-spectral signature management, in order to protect the vehicle against all enemy sensors and smart munitions.

Like most MBTs of its generation, the Arjun has a four-man crew, including the commander, gunner, loader and a driver. It is powered by a single MTU multi-fuel diesel engine rated at 1,400 hp, and can achieve a maximum speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) and a cross-country speed of 40 km/h (25 mph). 

An extensive comparative trial was conducted by the Indian Army in March 2010, in which the Arjun was pitted against the T-90. Arjun emerged a conclusive winner from its showdown with the Russian tank and it demonstrated excellent performance under various circumstances, such as driving cross-country over rugged sand dunes, detecting, observing and quickly engaging targets, accurately hitting targets – both stationary and moving, with pin pointed accuracy. It displayed accurate and quick target acquisition capability during day and night in all types of weather and shortest possible reaction time during combat engagements. An army officer remarked that the Arjun could have performed even better, had it been operated by experienced crewmen. Nevertheless, the result was heartening vindication of DRDO technological capabilities, the Arjun MBT out-gunned and outran the T-90 on every crucial parameter.

The Arjun Mark II is an advanced third generation main battle tank and an upgraded version of the Arjun main battle tank with a total of 93 upgrades, including 13 major improvements. The Mark-II version completed most user trials in 2012 and 2013 and displayed impressive performance. The new features of the modified tank received favorable responses from defense sources.

The Arjun entered service with the Indian Army in 2004. The tanks were first inducted into the 43 Armoured Regiment, Indian Army Armoured Corps while the latest induction has been into the 75 Armoured Regiment on 12 March 2011.

Italy: C1 Ariete

The C1 Ariete is the main battle tank of the Italian Army, developed by a consortium formed by Iveco-Fiat and Oto Melara (aka CIO, Consorzio Iveco Oto Melara). The chassis and engine were produced by Iveco, while the turret and fire-control system were supplied by Oto Melara. The vehicle carries the latest optical and digital-imaging and fire-control systems, enabling it to fight day and night and to fire on the move.

It is equipped with a Oto Melara 120mm smooth-bore cannon, with thermal sleeve, a fume extractor and a muzzle reference system. It fires standard Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) & High Explosive Anti Tank Warhead (HEAT) rounds and can store 42 rounds, 15 rounds in the turret and 27 in the hull. 

Mounted on the front of the tank is the BAE Systems Italia manufactured RALM laser warning receiver. The system gives the tank a 360° detection of laser guided ATM and warning. It carries the standard smoke grenade dischargers (x4 either side) on the turret. It also has a standard Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense system manufactured by Sekur SpA and supported by a 7.62mm co-axially mounted machine gun, the commander has a 7.62mm machine gun mounted on his cupola, which doubles up as an anti-aircraft gun and can store 2500 rounds. The C1 uses a superior composite armor system.

UK: Challenger II

Challenger 2 is a heavily armoured, highly mobile Main Battle Tank, designed for use in the direct fire zone. Its primary role is to destroy or neutralise armour. However it has the ability to engage both hard and soft targets and can operate across a spectrum of high intensity conflict, counter insurgency and peace keeping roles. 

The vehicle is equipped with an L30 120mm rifled tank gun, firing both long rod penetrator and High Explosive Squash Head (HESH) ammunition natures. Secondary armaments are provided with a 7.62mm co-axial chain gun and a 7.62mm pintle mounted General Purpose Machine Gun.

Optical and thermal imager sights are provided for both the Commander and Gunner, including an independent 360 degree panoramic sight for the Commander. The sighting systems, turret and gun are fully stabilised enabling rapid target engagement when static and on the move. Mobility is provided through a 12-cylinder, 1,200hp Perkins CV12 diesel engine with a David Brown TN54 gearbox, providing six forward and two reverse gears. A double pin track with Hydrogas suspension and a Hydraulic Track Tensioner provide platform stability covering flat road surfaces through to rough cross country terrain.

South Korea: K2 Black Panther

The K2 Black Panther is an advanced main battle tank (MBT) featuring state-of-the-art technology developed by South Korea. It was developed to replace the various models of the aging M48 Patton tanks and complement the K1 series of MBTs currently fielded ones. 

The South Korean Army plans to deploy about 680 Black Panthers, yet the full-scale mass-production of the tank has currently been suspended due to concerns over its transmission and main engine systems. These issues may lead to a delay of service entry until March 2014. The K2 Black Panther, estimated to cost about US$8.5 million per unit, is certified as the  most expensive MBT in world by the Guinness Book of World Records.

The Black Panther is armed with a Rheinmetall 120-mm/ L55 smoothbore gun. This gun is license-produced in South Korea. This is complemented by an autoloader, similar to that designed for Leclerc, it can fire up to 15 rounds a minute. The ammunition for the main gun is loaded in a 16-shell magazine, with a total ammunition capacity of 40. The K2 is equipped with an advanced fire-control system (FCS) linked to a millimeter band radar system deployed on the frontal arc of the turret, along with a traditional laser range-finder and crosswind sensor. The system is capable of a "lock-on" mode, which can acquire and track specific targets up to a range of 9.8 km using thermal optics. This allows the crew to fire accurately while moving as well as effectively engage low-flying aircraft. The FCS is also linked to an advanced gun stabilizer and trigger-delay mechanism to optimise accuracy while moving in uneven terrain.

Germany: Leopard 2

Developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s for the West German Army, the Leopard 2 entered service in 1979 to replace the older Leopard 1 models. In addition to being the MBT of a united Germany after 1989, the Leopard 2 is also one of the most widely-used tanks in the world, serving in a total of 16 armies that range from Germany and Austria, to Canada, Turkey, Singapore and Indonesia. Due to improved technology, the tank has also gone through many variations.

The primary gun on the Leopard 2 is the Rheinmetall L/44 120 mm smoothbore gun, which is capable of firing Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) warheads as well as the German DM12 multipurpose anti-tank projectile (MPAT) and the LAHAT anti-tank guided missile. It also has two 7.62mm machine guns, a coaxially-mounted one in the turret, and the other on an external anti-aircraft mount. The tank also has a stabilization system, a laser rangefinder, thermal imaging and a fire control computer.

For protection, the Leopard 2 uses spaced, multi-layered composite armor that incorporates Rolled Homogenous Armor (RHA), interior spall liners and the option of slat armor on the sides to protect from Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs). The Leopard 2 is also equipped with a fire protection system that automatically dispenses halomethane foam in the event that the interior temperature rises above a certain point. It is powered by a 1,479 hp V-12 liquid-cooled twin-turbo diesel engine with a fuel capacity of 1200 liters. It has a top speed of 72 km/h (45 mph) and an operational range of 550 km (340 mi).

US: A1 Abrams

The M1A2SEP (System Enhancement Package) is the most recent and advanced version of the M1 Abrams MBTs manufactured by the United States. Weighing nearly 62 metric tons, it is one of the heaviest main battle tanks in service. The M1 Abrams, named after General Creighton Abrams, is a third-generation MBT Designed used in modern armored ground warfare. It's highly mobile, well-armed and heavily-armored. Three main variants of the M1 Abrams, namely, the M1, M1A1 and M1A2, have been deployed so far. The M1A2SEP, based on the M1A2, features a greatly enhanced armament, and advanced protection, electronics and reliability systems. A M1A2SEP costs about US$8 million.

It is capable of firing the Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) and High Explosive Anti Tank warhead (HEAT) rounds, as well as the M1028 anti-personnel canister cartridge. It also comes with two 7.62mm machine guns – one coaxial and one turret-mounted – and a 12.7mm machine gun mounted by the commander’s hatch.

The tank also has a full-stabilization system for the main gun an comes equipped with a laser rangefinder, crosswind sensor, a pendulum static cant sensor, thermal imaging and a firing computer. The tank’s crew is protected by a halon firefighting system similar to the Leopard 2’s, and a rear ammo compartment with blowout panels that protect the crew from its own ammo exploding.

The tank is protected by composite armor that is composed of alloys of steel, ceramics, plastic composites, and Kevlar, similar to British Chobam & Indian Kanchan armor. It may also be fitted with reactive armor over the track skirts if needed and slat armor over the rear of the tank and rear fuel cells to protect against RPGs. Beginning in 1987, M1A1 tanks also received armor packages that incorporated depleted uranium components at the front of the turret and hull.

The M1 is powered by a 1,500 hp turbine engine which is capable of running on gas or diesel with a fuel capacity of 1,900 liters and an operational range of 426 km (265 miles). It has a top speed of 72 km/h.

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