In a recent post we read about how the US is giving Russia, China, and now India or latest radar technology. Now I came across this from News World.

MOSCOW, OCT. 16. India and Russia are discussing plans to upgrade Indian air defences to cope with the challenges of modern warfare, defence experts said here.

The plan calls for in-depth modernisation of Russian- supplied surface-to-air Pechora missiles and a step-by-step deployment of the new anti-ballistic missile system, S-300. India's Defence Ministry is currently evaluating Russian proposals for upgrading its S-125 Pechora-1 complexes.

India is believed to have purchased ``several dozen'' Pechora complexes since 1974. The proposals were handed over to the Indian side in August, when Russian arms exporters demonstrated the advantages of an upgraded Pechora-2 during field trials in India.

Russian experts also examined the condition of India's Pechora surface-to-air missiles (SAM) and were ``impressed'' by the high level of maintenance and competence of the crews, according to Mr. Vladimir Khripchenko, director of the science and technical centre of Russia's Defence Systems Corporation.

The proposed modernisation of the Pechora SAMs involves replacing the bulky bulb-using data processing equipment with compact and high-speed digital hardware, installing a new radar and placing the system on wheeled chassis. This will drastically enhance the system's effectiveness and survivability against high-speed, manoeuvrable and low-flying targets, including cruise missiles. ``Upgrading transforms Pechora-1 practically into a next- generation air defence weapon at a fraction of the cost of buying a brand-new system,'' Mr. Khripchenko said.

Pechora-2 meets the demands placed on air defence systems by modern warfare, as demonstrated during the recent conflict in Yugoslavia. It can avoid detection by enemy radar by using teleoptical equipment to track and target incoming aircraft and missiles during day as well as night time. It ensures greater safety to SAM crews by positioning launching pads up to 10 km from the control cab, which is the prime target of enemy radar- killing bombs. For Pechora-1, the maximum distance is 70 metres due to the need to use cables to transmit commands. Also, it takes only 30 minutes to deploy or pack up, compared to 90 minutes for Pechora-1.

The new noise-protected data processing equipment is guaranteed to work without any breakdown for 2,000 hours, as against 120 hours for Pechora-1, and its weekly maintenance has been cut from 12 hours to less than an hour.

The Defence Systems Corporation, which will handle the upgradation of Pechora SAMs, agreed to consider India's proposal to use Indian-built Tatra chassis.

The upgradation would be done at a factory in India where Pechora-1 complexes are repaired. ``If we sign the contract before the end of the year, upgrading can begin next year at a pace of one Pechora complex a month,'' said Mr. Khripchenko of the Defence Systems corporation, which comprises scores of Russian design and production units specialising in the manufacture of air defence systems.

-- I'm Disgusted too! (hell@ahandbasket.com), October 17, 1999

Answers

y2k must be over, nobody seems to be posting much about it here anymore.

-- converting to a polly (y2k@is.fixed?), October 17, 1999.

None of this technology came from the US. This is just a case of the Russians selling their modern military technology for badly needed cash. This time it's just upgrading old SAM systems for India. What they're selling is just a new solid-state radar and missile guidance system for use with old SA-2 missiles.

This kind of work has been going on Since Desert Storm. The poor performance of the older SA-2 and SA-3 SAM systems prompted the Russians and other users to upgrade their equipment to try and keep pace with US SAM supression (go Wild Weasels!).

Iraq, China and Russia are all marketing a version of upgrades for these SAM systems. They were used against US and NATO pilots over Kosovo. US and British planes flying over Iraq in the no-fly zones are regularly defending themselves against the Iraqi SA-2 missiles using their "Tiger Song" upgrade of the old "Fan Song" radar and guidance system.

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), October 17, 1999.

As is becoming glaringly evident, Y2K is but one of many problematic issues we will all be facing in the near future. Fortunately for YOU, Y2K has brought you to this forum to be informed of many of these issues. It is up to you to wake up to them in how they will impact you and your loved ones.

For once, you will not be able to lament, "but, I didn't know!!!!"

NO EXCUSES. DEAL WITH IT. Oh, and have a nice day.

-- OR (orwelliator@biosys.net), October 17, 1999.