Regional Perspective - Naval Guns and AUVs

THe INDIAN NAVy HAS the Russian 100mm gun as its large calibre gun on its major ships also has the 76.2mm super rapid gun mount from Oto melara on a large number of its ships. for close-in weapon system (CIWS), it has the AK 630 and the BmP 30mm Russian guns. However, the Indian Navy has been looking for a larger calibre gunÑ 127mm or higher calibre for some time now. The main consideration appears to be the fact that it should become the future main gun of the Indian Navy and therefore the production should be in India, not only for the mount but also for the ammunition, further the transfer of technology (ToT) should take care of the future upgrades. As far as CIWS is concerned, Indian Navy may be looking for a phased replacement of the 30mm, preferably with a higher calibre and having commonality with the other services. A RfI for (30 in number) 40mm guns with electro-optical firing sight had been floated by the Navy in 2011. The Defence Acquisition Council has also cleared an Indian Navy proposal for 30mm gunsÑ 116 in number worth $300 millionÑ to be installed on its warships. The first lot of these guns are to be directly imported and the rest manufactured in India under a technology transfer contract. The Royal Australian Navy has mk 75-76/62 Oto melara, mk 45127/54 BAe guns, etc. It has plans to upgrade their shipping fleet and also acquire new submarines, frigates and other ships for which gun systems will be required. Japan maritime Self-Defense force operates about 114 major ships like helicopter destroyers, Aegis destroyer, guided missile destroyers, frigates, submarines, etc. The ships carry guns of the uS and Italian origin. Due the expansion of the Chinese Navy, Japan is upgrading and modernising its Navy and thus will need naval guns for their new ships. The Republic of Korea has been steadily upgrading its naval forces since the 1990s to make it a blue-water navy. It also has a large number of patrol vessels. Due to the threat from North Korea and problems in South China Sea, Republic of Korea has been modernising its Navy and thus will require naval guns for their ships. Similarly, other countries like Taiwan, Indonesia and Philippines are also upgrading and modernising their navies due to the expansion of the Chinese Navy. ,QGlDQ 1Dyy KDV flRDWHG D uHTXluHPHQW IRu DW OHDVW 10 $89V in 2010, that can be developed and begin production within four years of award of contract. The Navy has chosen to exercise the ÒmakeÓ procedure of IndiaÕs Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) a special category that can be invoked by the armed forces for Òhigh technology complex systems designed, developed and produced indigenouslyÓ. The Navy wants AuVs that can carry Òvariable payloads like high GHfiQlWlRQ VRQDuV DQG XQGHuZDWHu fDPHuDV IRu VXuyHlOODQfH reconnaissance activities of the seabed (such as mCm operations, oceanographic survey and specialised mapping, etc).Ó Not much is known about the AOVs held by the navies of WKH uHJlRQ eXW lW lV DQ HPHuJlQJ fiHOG ZlWK ZlGH RSHuDWlRQDO underwater roles. Thus all seafaring nations including China are likely to develop/acquire them in the near future.