India, Malaysia in defense deal
India and Malaysia signed a defense cooperation deal that includes an agreement under which the Malaysian air force will be trained by the Indian military to work the Su-30 MKM aircraft.
Under the deal signed Monday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony and his Malaysian counterpart, Mohd Najib Tun Razak, who also serves as deputy prime minister, the two countries agreed to, among other things, co-production, joint ventures and military-related industry collaboration, the Hindu newspaper reported.
Najib was asked if after the deal India would have a role to play in maintaining security across the Malacca Straits. He said: "India is ready to work closely with us (especially) in the field of capacity-building." The littoral states would maintain a primary responsibility, however, he said.
Under the Sukhoi deal, a 31-strong Indian air force team will arrive in Malaysia in February to train their Malaysian counterparts, the Hindu reported. In naval cooperation, the newspaper said Malaysia would buy the India-produced Scorpene class of submarines.
India eyes development of high-speed interceptors
India says it plans to develop long-range, high-speed interceptors with the ability to hit missiles that are fired from deep within enemy territory.
"We are now going to build AD-1 and AD-2 -- high-speed interceptors for engaging 5,000 km class targets," said V.K. Saraswat, project director, Air Defense wing in the Defense Research and Development Organization.
The comments were reported by the semi-official Press Trust of India.
Such systems can shoot down missiles launched from enemy territory.
"Currently, we have capabilities to defend ourselves from 2,500-km range ballistic missiles. But suppose missiles are launched by our immediate neighbors from their rear formations, they will be using long-range missiles -- intermediate range ballistic missiles and inter-continental ballistic missiles.
"We should now develop technologies to defend against them. That is our effort," he said, according to PTI.
Lockheed sets up India unit
Lockheed Martin said Wednesday it was opening a subsidiary in India in a bid to improve its chances in a tight global competition to supply the Indian air force.
The Times of India reported Wednesday that the Bethesda, Md.-based company, the world's No. 1 defense company, set up Lockheed Martin India Pvt. Ltd. and named Douglas A. Hartwick as chief executive. It cited a company statement as the source of the information.
Bids for the $11 billion deal for 126 fighter jets for the Indian air force are expected in March, the newspaper said. In the running are Boeing Co., Lockheed, Europe's Eurofighter, Russia's MiG, Sweden's Saab and France's Dassault Aviation SA.
India's air force uses Russian MiGs and Sukhoi, and it is unclear if the government will switch from Russian suppliers.
