Cryogenic Engine Manufacturing Technology When Glavkosmos renegotiated its 1991 contract to supply the Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO) with cryogenic booster engines in December
1993 (see the entry on propulsion components),
Russian officials gave assurances that the amended contract would not provide
for the transfer of manufacturing technology.[1] As the objections that
the United States raised to the original contract to centered around the
transfer of this technology, the United States withdrew its opposition
to the sale and allowed the sanctions it imposed on Glavkosmos and ISRO
to expire in May 1994. Some Indian scientists expressed disappointment
with the new contract because, as one rocket engine expert put it, "We
went for the contract to get hold of the technology, not just ready-made
engines."[4] Strong evidence, however, indicates that significant
elements of the manufacturing know-how needed to design and construct cryogenic
engines were in fact transferred to India even before the 1993 renegotiation
of the rocket engine sale. In September 1993, a senior ISRO scientist
said that India had received drawings of the engine, and receipt of the
drawings was confirmed in several subsequent reports.[3,6,7] In March 1994,
Dr. U. R. Rao of ISRO said that ISRO would benefit from design drawings
and other information obtained under the original contract and from the
extensive training that its engineers received in Russia.[4] According
to one estimate, Russia had already transferred 80% of the technology
promised in the original agreement by October 1993, including fabrication
and quality control technology, and that the remaining 20% was being transferred
through the "training of dozens of Indian Scientists" at Glavkosmos. The
number of Russian scientists working at ISRO was also doubled to expedite
the technology transfer.[5] In 1995, a report in the Indian press
found that the acquisition of the drawings and training from Russia before
the 1991 contract was canceled had not allowed India to produce cryogenic
engines, and that India still lacked the capability to produce the special
alloys and high-speed turbines required for cryogenic fuels.[7] It is therefore
difficult to assess the overall contribution of Russian technology and
training to India's indigenous cryogenic rocket program, but it is clear
that Glavkosmos made a major effort to effect the missile technology transfer
that its 1993 contract with India purportedly sought to avoid. Apparently unable to develop its own
cryogenic rocket design, India has decided to contract the development of a
cryogenic booster to Khrunichev,
which completed the development of the 12KRB cryogenic booster it had
started in
1982.[8,9] Interfax reported in April 2001 that India planned to purchase five
such boosters for use in its Geosynchronous Space Launch Vehicle (GSLV)
program.[9] In December 2001 Khrunichev announced that India formally adopted
the 12KRB booster, and that Russia and India would collaborate on further
development of the booster.[8] It is not yet clear whether India's decision to
procure a Russian design represents forgoing domestic cryogenic booster
technology development, or only a stop-gap solution. Sources: [1] Interfax, 2 December 1993; in "Shokhin: Cryogenic
Missile Technology Not for Sale," FBIS-SOV-93-233. [2] "Indian, Russian Deal Satisfies Washington," Defense
News, 2 May 1994, p. 2. [3] "India Said It Will Be Able To Make Its Own Cryogenic
Rocket Engines," BMD Monitor, 12 August 1994, p. 296. [4] "Native Cryogenic Engine Design Progressing Fast,"
The Hindu, 9 April 1994, p. 12. [5] Neelam Jain, UPI, 15 March 1994, in "Russia Transfers
Advanced Technology to India Despite U.S. Pressure," Executive News Service,
15 March 1994. [6] "India Says It Can Make Rockets Without Help," Washington
Times, 30 July 1994. [7] Raj Chengappa, India Today, 30 June 1995,
pp. 128-129; in "Cryogenic Engine Development Viewed," FBIS-TAC-95-014-L.
[8] Agentstvo voyennykh novostey, 27 December 2001; in "Russian cryogenic booster
adopted by India," FBIS Document CEP20011227000133.
[9] "Khrunichev Space Center to Supply Rocket Booster Units to India," Interfax,
9 April 2001.
{entered 10/9/98 FW}{Updated
8/31/2002 MJ}
Cruise Missile Technology
As part of its military modernization program, India has sought to acquire
several types of Russian cruise missiles, and may also be pursuing a domestic
cruise missile design and production capability. In November 1999 India and
Russia signed an agreement to equip Russian-built frigates and submarines in
Indian Navy service with the
Club missile system,
which includes anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles. The agreement
reportedly includes provisions for transferring some cruise missile technologies
to India. According to some reports, India will use Russian technology to
develop domestic cruise missile designs, and has begun the development of a
1,200km land-attack cruise missile.[1] In addition to the Club system, India's
Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)
is developing the PJ-10 ramjet-powered supersonic cruise missile, in cooperation
with Russian NPO Mashinostroyeniya,
which designed the
Oniks/Yakhont anti-ship missile
on which the PJ-10 is based. In 1998 DRDO
and NPO Mashinostroyeniya
formed the BrahMos
joint venture for the purpose of joint development, testing, production, and
marketing of the PJ-10 missile.[2,3] Under the terms of the agreement, Russia is
responsible for developing the airframe and propulsion system of the PJ-10, and
India for the development of its guidance system.[4] To facilitate BrahMos
cooperation, in late 2000 NPO Mashinostroyeniya
was granted a seven-year license to conduct independent military-technical
cooperation with DRDO.[5]
The first test of the missile took place on 14 June 2001.[4] An NPO Mashinostroyeniya
representative has stated that the missile would adhere to
MTCR
restrictions and was not being designed to carry a nuclear warhead.[6] However,
there have also been reports that PJ-10 development represents a component of
India's efforts to develop nuclear weapons and effective means of delivery.[7]
British specialists have also voiced concern that participation in PJ-10
development will enable India to develop domestic cruise missiles with
capabilities exceeding MTCR
limits.[6] The missile is expected to be made available for export in 2003, and
it will also enter service with Indian and Russian navies.[8] Sources:
[1] Mohammed Ahmedullah, "Russia Sells Its Latest Cruise Missile to
India," Navy News and Undersea Technology, 6 December 1999; in Lexis-Nexis
Academic Universe, http://www.web.lexis-nexis.com/.
[2] Ivan Safronov, "Rossiyskaya raketa doletela do Indii," Kommersant,
27 June 2001; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/. [3] Aleksey Tamilin, "Raketa na dvoikh," Vedomosti, 27 June
2001, p. A3; in WPS Oborona i Bezopasnost, 29 June 2001; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[4] "Ispytana rossiysko-indiyskaya krylataya raketa," Nezavisimaya
gazeta, 14 June 2001; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[5] Sergey Sokut, "Dlinnyye ruki dlya
aviatsii i flota," Nezavisimoye voyennoye obozreniye," 24
August 2001; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/. [6]Douglas Barrie, "India, Russia Vow To
Keep Missile Legal Under MTCR," Defense News, 27 August-2
September 2001, p. 4.
[7] Aleksey Tamilin, "Dvoyakiy smysl poleta PJ-10," Nezavisimaya
gazeta, 26 June 2001, p. 6; in WPS Oborona i Bezopasnost, 29 June
2001; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[8] Rajat Pandit, "BrahMos to be inducted next
year," The Times of India, 10 April 2002; in "India, Russia to
induct
jointly developed 'BrahMos' cruise missile by 2003," FBIS Document
SAP20020410000022. {Entered 8/31/2002 MJ}
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Missile Exports to India entry, see the 