Target Detection Exercise: Fill & Download for Free

Let’s first understand the Tejas MK1.The Tejas MK1 variants currently on duty alongside Pakistani border are the IOC-II variant and the FOC variant. These aircrafts have somewhat similar capabilities, with a bit better accessories and performance coming with the FOC variant ( like the inflight refuelling probe).Now, the Tejas MK1 is equipped with a powerful Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) (read the ELTA 2035, a joint Indo-Israeli version ) which has Air to Air, Air to Sea, and Air to Ground target detection modes. In Air-to-Air, the Tejas Mk1 is currently capable of firing R-73 close combat missiles (CCMs) and Derby Beyond Visual Range missiles (BVRAAMs). It also has helmet mounted display and sight (HMDS) and hands on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) controls, and coupled with navigation aides like tactical air navigation system (TACAN), Tejas Mk1 allows the pilot to concentrate on “head-down” mission-critical requirements rather than worry about basic flying. (If one closely recalls, this is a similar feature added to the latest JF-17 Block 3 version)One of the Tejas’s greatest strengths is its Air to Ground weapon delivery accuracy. In all flight tests and air exercises so far, the Mk1 has consistently performed highest range scores of all the aircraft in the IAF’s inventory. Not only can it carry 250 kg and 450 kg dumb bombs, but also laser guided bombs (LGBs) which are guided to their targets using a LITENING laser designation pod (LDP).The Tejas Mk1’s “All-weather” as well as the “day/night capability” has been proven in the extreme hot and cold weather trials, both in Jaisalmer and in Leh. The FOC version of the Tejas MK-1 has been fitted with a fixed refueling probe to refuel the jet mid-air, effectively doubling its range and endurance. As it might be clear, that the Tejas IOC-II and the FOC variant are also very much capable of hitting the enemy in Air or on the Ground and defending the countries aerial borders and keeping the enemy in check, even though it performs the role of mainly a point defence multirole fighter.Now, when the development of the Tejas was costing time and money to the IAF and there was a lot of criticism regarding the LCA project. The ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency) came up with the idea of the Tejas MK2 version and in the middle of this all the HAL proposed a simpler upgrade, the Tejas MK1A.The IAF wanted the Tejas to be formidable to the frontline fighters of opponent countries (read F-16), and to enhance its role of more than just a point defence multirole fighter.The Tejas MK1A is armed with technology and deception to take on enemies by surprise and tactics. Added to it’s small size and comparatively low RCS (Radar cross section) is the compatible electronic warfare suite , which includes a self protection jammer (SPJ) pod carried on the outboard wing pylon of the aircraft, RWR, MAWS amongst others. Tejas Mk1A is to be equipped with the ELTA EL/M- 2052 active electronic scanned array (AESA) radar/ Uttam AESA radar. The aircraft would also be fitted with an Onboard Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS) which would allow pilots to undertake long endurance flights . On the the outboard pylon, two CCMs would be carried on a dual-rack pylonA twin-assembly of two CCMs at the Outboard pylon stations of the aircraftand finally the most important aspect, that I believe of Tejas is …..The Pilot, the Airmen who are flying these machines. Never have we heard from an Airman a negative comment about this aircraft( be that Indian or a foreign visitor), because once in the air, this aircraft does not stay behind any competitor. The aircraft has always performed as per the expectations of the pilots flying them. The more they are flying and exposing it to the operational situations the more they are gaining knowledge and expertise over this aircraft.All in all, one can very well guess that the Tejas MK1A aircraft is far better than the MK1 version and in India’s defence strategies, it can perform the role of not just a “point defense” as a multirole fighter but also offensive operations, though on a limited scale.Images courtesy Google.

Getting in front of decision makers at prospective customer organisations.My last three ventures have involved B2B business development into traditional industries. Full of heirarcy and process and conflicting internal incentives and politics.I controlled none of these factors and knew dwelling on them yielded nothing.What I did control was being in motion on an idea. And this breaks down to two practical activities: Making product and selling product.For the most part being in motion on making product is relatively straightforward. There are a few but not many external dependencies and for that reason product managers and engineers can get on with making.Creating momentum on sales is very different because of the vast external factors at play. At some point however the rate of sales needs to eclipse the rate of product development.Instead of focusing on the uncontrollable factors at my prospective customer organisations I formed a habit for mapping a web of connections (all sourced via LinkedIn and press releases) to understand how to forge a path to decision-makers.I treated getting a meeting with the decision maker (and I still do) as an intriguing mystery to be solved.I set myself (as I now do my teams) one week to map and engage with different parts of target organisations. We make it a priority to deliver value at each conversation and in return more intelligence is gained and we meet more potential future advocates of the brand we’re building.Framing BD as a detective exercise has accelerated the speed at which I find myself in meetings with people who decide on deals, the type of deals that change the growth trajectories of startups.And being able to get high level meetings in the time that it takes was easier than anticipated. But I really, really enjoy developing businesses so maybe I have an unfair advantage.Hope that helps!

Submarines with torpedoes.The US Navy doesn’t like it and so pretends it isn’t so, but recent developments have meant that submarines are winning the race against sonar. In many NATO exercises submarines have penetrated the defences of a carrier battle group without being detected and scored enough theoretical torpedo hits to sink the carrier. The British Royal Navy have done it many times, the Dutch, the Italians, in fact most of the NATO navies with decent hunter-killer submarines have scored a carrier multiple times in exercises. In one exercise a particularly competent French submarine crew “sunk” an entire carrier battle group except for one destroyer. If it had been a real shooting war the carrier, all but one of its battle group and even the supply & support ships would have been sunk. The only reason the French sub couldn’t sink the remaining destroyer was because it ran out of pretend torpedoes. It was never successfully attacked by any of the US vessels and was never detected for more than a few seconds. Launching a torpedo makes a noise that any modern sonar will pick up, and they simulated this in the exercise very realistically — the French still got away with every attack.In a real shooting war against any modern navy that has a decent sized hunter-killer submarine fleet surface ships are all doomed. Yes, the submarine fleet would experience some casualties too, but in an all out war after a few weeks the only vessels out of port that would be left would be submarines.Both China and Russia have large submarine fleets and there are enough of them with modern noise levels to do the job. The Russians have some older submarines still vulnerable to detection by modern destroyers and other hunter-killer subs, but they do have enough quiet submarines too. The Chinese fleet includes some of the quietest submarines in the world, though they do lack a little in detection technology. Detecting any surface ship though, is very easy, so the only part of a carrier battle group they couldn’t deal with is the hunter-killer submarine (sometimes two) that is usually part of the group. If they are willing to sacrifice a sub as bait for any hunter-killers they could certainly keep them occupied long enough for other subs to sink the carrier though. The Chinese submarine fleet is large and growing rapidly.Submariners in modern navies have a saying; in a war there are two kinds of ships; submarines and targets.