Indo-French Naval Exercise ‘Varuna’ 2017
The 15th edition of the major Indo-French naval exercise, Varuna, was held
from 24 April to 12 May.
It took place at France's Toulon port, southern France’s Mediterranean
coast
The Indian Navy sent four of its foremost ships for the exercise: guided
missile destroyer INS Mumbai, two guided missile frigates INS
Trishul and INS Tarkash,
and replenishment and repair ship INS Aditya.
From the French Navy, too, four ships participated: multi-mission frigates
Auvergne and Aquitaine, the anti-aircraft frigate Cassard, and the stealth
frigate La Fayette.
Helicopters and Rafale fighter jets were also
in service for this exercise
The purpose of current naval exercise is to
underscore India’s peaceful presence and
solidarity with friendly and like-minded
countries towards ensuring good order in
the maritime domain and to strengthen the
existing bonds between India and France
SLINEX 2017: India-Sri Lanka joint maritime naval exercise
The seventh edition of India-Sri Lanka joint maritime naval exercise SLINEX
2017 was held near Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) in Bay of Bengal.
Conducted from 7th to 14th September 2017
Two ships of the Sri Lanka Navy, SLNS Sayura and SLNS Sagara participated.
The seven days exercise aimed to reinforce strong neighbourly ties between
both countries underscored by extensive maritime interaction and improved
understanding.
SLINEX 2017' focuses on fleet work, seamanship, communication,
replenishment at sea, Visit Board Search and Seize (VBSS) operations and
helicopter operations. Joint naval operations enable both Navies to rehearse
and improve own capabilities and enhance operational effectiveness required
to maintain maritime security in the region.
India, Russia to hold joint military exercise in October
India and Russia will hold a mega military exercise in October involving
their armies, navies and the air forces for the first time to further
ramp up military ties.
The exercise “Indra”, which will be held in Russia from 19 to 29
October.
It will be for the first time that India will participate in a tri-services
military exercise with a foreign country with such a large scale
participation by the Navy, the Army and the Air Force (IAF)
The officials said the exercise will take place in three locations in
Russia including in mountainous Vladivostok region.
Malabar 2017: India-Japan-U.S. joint exercise
The 21st edition of the 'MALABAR-2017' naval exercise began in the Bay of
Bengal on 10th July & will last till July 17.
Originally a bilateral exercise between India and the United States, Japan
became a permanent partner in 2015.
Past non-permanent participants are Australia and Singapore.
The primary aim of this exercise is to increase interoperability amongst the
three navies of India, U.S. and Japan and to reiterate the strong and resilient
relationship between them in many areas, including maritime security
operations.
The scope of MALABAR-2017 includes wide-ranging professional interactions
during the Harbour Phase at Chennai from 10 to 13 July 2017 and a diverse
range of operational activities at sea during the Sea Phase from 14 to 17 July
17.
Participants from US Navy include the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier
USS Nimitz with embarked Carrier Air Wing 11; guided-missile
cruiser USS Princeton; guided-missile destroyers USS Howard, USS
Shoup and USS Kidd; a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft; and a Los
Angeles-class fast-attack submarine
From Indian Navy, aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
Two Kamorta class anti-submarine warfare
corvettes, two Shivalik class frigates and tanker INS
Jyoti are also participating. The Japan Maritime Self
Defence Force (JMSD) ships JS Izumo and JS
Sazanami are participating in the exercise.
Bilateral Exercise Between Indian & Republic Of Singapore Navy Simbex-17
Commences
This year’s edition of SIMBEX-17 being held in the South China Sea would be
the 24th in the series since 1994
And is aimed to increase interoperability between the RSN and IN as well as
develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security
operations.
SIMBEX is an acronym for “Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercises.
It Began on 18th May and concluded on 24th May
Indian Naval Ships Shivalik, Sahyadri, Jyoti and Kamorta and one P8-I
Maritime Patrol and Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft participated.
The thrust of exercises at sea this year would be on
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), integrated
operations with Surface, Air and Sub-surface forces,
Air Defence and Surface Encounter Exercises.
ARPAN 3.0: Government rolled out new automation software for Defence
Security Corps
Defence Ministry has rolled out ARPAN 3.0 (Army Record Office Process
Automation 3.0), a new automation software for Defence Security Corps
personnel to ease personal documentation and all issues related to their
progression.
The software was jointly developed by Army Software Development
Centre (ASDC) and Tech Mahindra, using state-of-the-art web-based
technology.
Facts :
ARPAN 3.0 will provide over 12 lakh soldiers of Indian Army easy access to
their service records including pay and leave details and transfer and
postings among others.
As of now, all these records are maintained manually, which is a time-
consuming exercise.
It consists of seven modules facilitating end to end human resource,
financial management of Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and
Other Ranks with major functional advantages of timely processing
of postings, promotions, release of salary, publication of personal
occurrences and processing of pension has been rolled out by
DCOAS (IS &T) for the Defence Security Corps
The software provides valuable data for decision and policy making
for the Defence Security Corps Directorate.
It will enable Defence Security Corps to access their service profiles,
statement of accounts and adjustment of allowances at par with
troops of Indian Army.
INS TARASA commissioned into Indian Navy.
INS Tarasa (T94), the fourth and last ship in series of Water Jet Fast
Attack Craft (WJFAC) was commissioned into Indian Navy at Naval
Dockyard, Mumbai.
It is an improved variant of Car Nicobar-class high-speed offshore
patrol vessels (OPVs) built indegenously by Kolkata (West Bengal)
based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), for the
Indian Navy.
It has been named after the picturesque island in the Andaman and
Nicobar archipelago in Bay of Bengal.
It is powered by the latest 4,000-series MTU engines and has
displacement capacity of 315 tonnes.
It is fitted with advanced machinery control system. It has been designed to
attain maximum speed of 35 knots and for an endurance of nearly 2,000
nautical miles at 12-14 knots.
The ship will be fitted with CRN-91 indigenous 30mm gun with optronic
pedestal.
The ship will also have the latest communication equipment and radars to
enable effective surveillance.
INS Tarasa will be based at Mumbai under operational control of Western
Naval Command.
Background
WJFACs are ideally suited and used for interception of fast-moving surface
craft.
INS Tarasa is fourth and last of follow-on WJFAC’s indegenously built
GRSE, Kolkata.
The first two ships of class INS Tarmugli and INS Tihayu were
commissioned in 2016 and are based at Visakhapatnam.
The third ship INS Tillanchang was commissioned earlier in March 2017 at
Karwar, Gujarat.
DRUZBA 2017: Pakistan, Russia hold joint military drill
The second edition of DRUZBA 2017 (Friendship-2017), a joint military exercise
between special forces of Pakistan and Russia was held in Minralney Vody, Russia.
The exercise set the stage for translating political goodwill between both
countries into a substantial partnership especially in the field of defence
The joint exercise DRUZBA 2017 focused on counter-terrorism operations,
hostage and rescue, cordon and search operation.
It aimed to enhance and further strengthen military ties between two countries
and share Pakistan Army’s experience in war against terrorism.
ICBM Agni-IV successfully test-fired off Odisha coast.
India successfully test-fired its home-grown long range intercontinental
ballistic missile (ICBM) Agni-IV from the Abdul Kalam Wheeler Island off
Odisha coast.
The test was aimed at revalidating new technologies incorporated in Agni-IV
system and checking the readiness of armed forces to launch the missile on
its own.
Agni-IV missile
Agni-IV is two-stage surface-to-surface nuclear capable intercontinental
ballistic missile.
It has been designed and developed indigenously by Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO)
It is 20 metres long and weighs 17 tonnes.
It has many cutting-edge technologies which can meet global standards
including Pershing missile of US.
It is fire and forget missile navigated using a jam proof ring laser
gyroscope. Its re-entry heat shield can withstand temperatures in the
range of over 4,0000
Equipped with most accurate ring laser gyro-based inertial navigation
system (RINS) and supported by highly reliable redundant micro
navigation system (MINGS) that ensures it hit target within two-digit
accuracy
It is equipped with state-of-the-art Avionics, 5th generation on-board
computer and distributed architecture. It has the latest features to
correct and guide itself for in-flight disturbances.
It can carry a one-tonne nuclear warhead
over a distance of 4,000 kilometres.
It was the sixth test of the missile and the
previous test was conducted on November
09, 2015 by the specially formed strategic
force command (SFC) of Indian Army.
Indian Army conducts test of indigenous heavy artillery gun Dhanush
The Indian Army has successfully conducted ‘user-validation’ trials of
indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) Dhanush in the
Himalayas. It clears the way for the induction in the Army.
Earlier, proof firing tests of Dhanush’s armament systems were carried out
during technical trials in June and September 2016 and some initial integrated
firing tests were successfully carried out in December 2016.
It is developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in
collaboration with the private sector companies.
It was designed by the DRDO’s Armament Research and Development
Establishment (ARDE).
It boasts a range of 45 km with accuracy and precision and
provides greater fire power, depending on the type of
ammunition used.
It also has night firing capability in direct fire mode.
It has several significant features such as an all-electric drive,
quick deployability, high mobility, auxiliary power mode,
advanced communication system, and automated command
and control system.
Guided Pinaka successfully test-fired
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
successfully test-fired the Pinaka Rocket converted to a Guided
Pinaka from Launch Complex-III, ITR, Chandipur (Odisha).
Guided Pinaka is transformed version of the Pinaka Rocket Mark-II,
which has evolved from Pinaka Mark-I.
It has been jointly developed by ARDE Pune, DRDL Hyderabad and
RCI Hyderabad.
It is equipped with a navigation, guidance and control kit. This
conversion considerably enhances the range and accuracy of Pinaka
About Pinaka
Pinaka is an unguided rocket weapon area system (WAS) with a range of
40 km. It meant to neutralise large areas with rapid salvos.
It can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds with 1.2 tonnes of high
explosives.
The battery of six launchers can neutralise at a time a target area of 3.9
sq km.
It has capability to incorporate several types of warheads makes it
deadly for the enemy as it can even destroy solid structures and bunkers.
The quick reaction time and high rate of fire of the system gives an edge
to the Army during a low amount conflict situation. It already has been
inducted into Indian Army.
Pakistan test-fires first nuclear-capable submarine cruise missile
Babur-3
Pakistan successfully test-fired its first Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile
(SLCM) Babur-3 capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
This launch gives Pakistan a “credible” second-strike capability.
The Babur-3 missile was fired from an underwater mobile platform from an
undisclosed location in the Indian Ocean and hit its target with precise
accuracy.
SLCM Babur-3 is a sea-based variant of Ground Launched Cruise Missile
(GLCM) Babur-2.
It has been named after the first Mughal Emperor Zahir-ud-Din Babur.
It has a range of 450km.
It also has certain stealth technologies, in an emerging regional
Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) environment.
Babur-3 SLCM in land-attack mode, is capable of delivering various
types of payloads including conventional as well as nuclear
warheads.
Government to set up Defence Procurement Organisation
Union Government is planning to set up a Defence Procurement
Organisation (DPO), new procurement body to integrate and
streamline the long and arduous process of defence acquisitions.
The DPO will be a vertical under the Union Defence Ministry. It will
simplify the defence purchase procedure by integrating procurement
processes.
Government has modified several times the Defence Procurement
Process, which applies to all defence capital procurements to bring in
transparency and speed up acquisitions.
But even after multiple modification, the process continues to be
lengthy and complicated.
The new agency will be established based on the
recommendation of government appointed committee on
the modalities of setting up the DPO.
The committee was headed by Dr. Pritam Singh, former
Director of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow
and has submitted a report to then Union Defence Minister
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by the
Prime Minister has increased the financial powers of the
Defence Minister to clear defence deals upto Rs.2,000 crore
from earlier Rs.500 crore limit to shorten the procurement
cycle.
Now only deals of Rs.3,000 crore and above would go to the
CCS for approval.
CCS also increased joint financial powers of Finance Minister
and Defence Minister to approve projects up to Rs.3,000 crore,
up from the earlier Rs.1,000 crore.
The Defence Secretary also has been given financial powers
upto Rs.500 crore to clear deals.
Second Scorpene class submarine INS Khanderi launched
INS Khanderi, the second Scorpene class submarine was launched at the Mazagon
Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
It is the second of the six submarines being built at MDL in collaboration with
France’s DCNS as part of Project 75 of Indian Navy.
It has been named Khanderi, after the Island fort of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati
Shivaji which played had vital role in ensuring their supremacy at sea in late 17th
century.
Khanderi is also name for Tiger Shark.
The state-of-the-art features include superior stealth and ability to launch a
crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapon.
Under Project 75, six Scorpene submarines are being built with
assistance and technology transfer from DCNS of France under deal
signed in October 2005.
The first of the series INS Kalvari is completing sea trials and will be
commissioned shortly.
The other four submarines are expected to be launched at nine-
month intervals after the INS Khanderi.
At Present, the Indian Navy operates only 13 conventionally powered
submarines and two nuclear submarines.
Pakistan conducts first flight test of Ababeel missile with MIRV
technology.
Pakistan successfully conducted the first flight test of Ababeel surface-to-
surface medium range ballistic missile.
The test flight was aimed at validating various design and technical
parameters of missile’s weapon system.
It is claimed that Ababeel missile has the capability to carry nuclear as
well as conventional warheads and engage multiple targets with high
precision by defeating the enemy’s hostile radars.
Ababeel missile is capable of delivering multiple warheads, using Multiple
Independent Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, first of its kind in
Pakistan’s missile arsenal.
It has a maximum range of 2,200 kilometres.
The development of Ababeel Weapon System aims at ensuring
survivability of Pakistan’s ballistic missiles in growing regional Ballistic
Missile Defence (BMD) environment in reference to the India’s Prithvi
and Ashwin BMD systems.
It also seeks to further reinforce Pakistan’s deterrence.
With this successful test, Pakistan became seventh country to join
the elite club of nuclear countries that have MIRV capabilities
Other countries having MIRV capabilities are United Kingdom, France,
Russia, the United States, China and India.
India and China had achieved this capability over the past couple of
years.
India, France sign pact on maritime information sharing in Indian
Ocean Region.
India and France have signed White Shipping agreement to enable
information sharing on maritime traffic and maritime domain awareness
in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The agreement was signed in New Delhi after both countries held their
second dialogue on maritime cooperation for the IOR.
The agreement will enable navies of India and France to coordinate their
roles in stabilising Indo-Pacific region.
Background
India and France firmed up cooperation on sharing of radars in the
Indian Ocean during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris in
2015.
India is setting up a grid of coastal surveillance radars in the IOR
that will enable it to monitor increasing Chinese presence in the
area, France has shown interest in sharing data from surveillance
systems on its Indian Ocean territories in the region that includes
Mayotte, besides military bases in UAE and Djibouti.
Both countries in the last couple of years are coordinating their
naval movements and surveillance in the IOR.
China successfully tests DF-5C missile with 10 nuclear warheads.
China has successfully tested a new version of a DF-5C missile that can carry
up to 10 nuclear warheads
The flight test of the missile was carried using 10 multiple independently
targetable re-entry vehicles, (MIRVs), from the Taiyuan Space Launch Centre
in Shanxi province and to an impact range in the western Taklamakan desert.
The Dongfeng 5 (DF-5) is a three stage Chinese intercontinental ballistic
missile (ICBM).
It has a length of 32.6 m and a diameter of 3.35 m. It weighs in at 183,000
kilograms.
It has an estimated range of 12,000 to 15,000 kilometers. It is primarily
designed for nuclear weapons delivery.
The DF-5’s first flight was conduected in 1971 and was
in operational service 10 years later.
This missile’s development is considered as response
to development of US’s ballistic missile defence system
Indian Navy’s Theatre Level Exercise TROPEX 17
The Indian Navy’s Annual Theatre Readiness Operational
Exercise (TROPEX) 2017 is being conducted off the Western
Seaboard.
The month long exercise will see participation of ships and
aircraft of both the Western and Eastern Naval Command and
also assets from the Indian Air Force, Indian Army and the Indian
Coast Guard.
TROPEX 17 exercise is aimed at testing combat readiness of the
combined fleets of the Indian Navy, and the assets of the Indian
Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard.
It will also see participation of recently commissioned destroyer
Chennai, the P-8I long range maritime reconnaissance and anti-
submarine warfare aircraft.
The assets of Indian Navy will operate alongside SU-30 MKI, Jaguars,
AWACS, IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft of the Indian Air Force and
Infantry units of the Indian Army.
The last edition of TROPEX exercise was conducted in January 2015 and
since its launch it has grown in scale and complexity over the years.
Indian Navy launches underwater harbour defence and surveillance
system.
Indian Navy has launched an Integrated Underwater Harbour Defence and
Surveillance System (IUHDSS) in Mumbai, Maharashtra to enhance the
security of valuable naval assets against asymmetric threats.
It is third IUHDSS to be installed in India.
IUHDSS is designed and developed by Israeli Aerospace Industries ELTA for
surface and sub-surface surveillance of the harbour.
It is a state of the art system with integrated radars, advance sensors,
electro optic cameras and sound navigation and ranging systems (SONARs).
Its sensors have been strategically installed around Mumbai Harbour to
provide comprehensive real-time situational awareness for monitoring and
analysis.
It is capable of detecting, tracking, identifying and generating warning for all
types of underwater and surface threats to harbour security.
Besides detecting large targets, it can also detect small targets like divers,
boats and swimmers at adequate ranges.
IUHDSS will play an important role in strengthening Harbour Defence and
Security at Mumbai.
AAD interceptor missile successfully test-fired
Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile was successfully
test-fired from launching complex-IV of Dhamara Abdul Kalam
defence base off Odisha coast.
The test assed missile’s killing capability by intercepting a target,
mimicking an incoming enemy missile in mid-air.
The success of test has boosted India’s position in the exclusive club of
AAD countries United States, Russia and Israel.
The interceptor missile is a 7.5-metre-long single stage solid rocket
propelled guided missile
It is equipped with a navigation system, a hi-tech computer, inertial
navigation system and an electro-mechanical activator
It can destroy the incoming hostile ballistic missile in the endo-
atmospheric region (less than 30 km altitude) at a low altitude of less
than 30 kms.
It has its own mobile launcher, secure data link for interception,
independent tracking and homing capabilities and sophisticated radars,
Pakistan’s naval exercise Aman 2017 in Karachi
Pakistan Navy kicked of its biannually-held multinational
AMAN 2017 naval exercise in Karachi, Pakistan.
37 countries are participat in the international event.
Aman-17 is the sixth edition such exercise which Pakistan
has been holding biannually since 2007.
Previous exercises were held in 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2013,
and 2016 respectively.
The theme of AMAN 2017 is “together for peace”. It is
intended to devise procedures and techniques against
conventional and non-conventional threats
The naval exercise aims at enhancing efforts to
combating piracy and protecting international trade
routes.
It is divided into two phases viz. Harbor phase and Sea
phase.
Harbor phase will include ship visits, sports events, and a
maritime security conference in which participants will
present research papers, among other things.
Sea phase will witness a variety of activities including
Search & Rescue (SAR) Operations, gunnery drills, anti-
piracy demonstrations, replenishment at Sea (RAS) and
maritime counter-terrorism demonstrations.
Nine countries Australia, China, Turkey, Indonesia, United
Kingdom, Sri Lanka, United States, Japan and Russia are
participated with warships or aircraft. Turkey and Russia
are participating for first time.
US sent four ships, China and Russia sent three ships,
while Australia, Indonesia, UK, Turkey and Sri Lanka each
dispatched one.
Japan has sent two P-3C Orion aircraft, whereas the
Maldives, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Russia have each
dispatched Special Operations Forces detachments.
INS Sarvekshak becomes India’s first ship to go green.
Indian Navy’s survey vessel INS Sarvekshak, based at the Southern
Naval Command in Kochi became the first naval ship to go green by
installing a solar power system on board.
It has innovatively deployed the zero-maintenance solar power system,
capable of generating 5.4KW electricity and replacing the ship’s
traditional 4.4KW emergency diesel alternator.
The solar power generating system has been installed by customising
and installing ‘razor-thin, flexible’ solar panels on the canopy of
its telescopic (retractable) helicopter deck.
It has light weight, extra-thin and flexible unbreakable solar panels
imported from US along with no-fume solid electrolyte batteries.
These industrial grade panels are found to be performing well in all-light
conditions and are shade-tolerant.
They also have a maintenance free life for 24 years making
it maintenance free.
The system is 100% reliable for power source that can be used for
communication equipment, general lightings onboard and battery
charging round the clock with battery outputs during night.
The low cost system will slash a yearly carbon emission of 60,225 kg and
save around 22,995 litres of diesel used to run the vessel’s emergency
diesel alternator
Reliance Defence signs warship repair pact with US Navy
Anil Ambani group led Reliance Defence and Engineering Limited
(RDEL) has signed a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with the
US Navy to provide repair and alteration services for ships of the
Seventh Fleet.
With this, RDEL became first Indian company (either public or
private) to provide logistical support to the US military within Indian
territory.
Under this agreement, RDEL will maintain the vessels of US Seventh
Fleet involving 100 vessels operating in the Indian Ocean.
The signing of a MSRA agreement is a follow-up to the Logistics Exchange
Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) signed between India and US in
August 2016.
These vessels will be serviced and repaired from the RDEL owned private
shipyard in Pipavav in Gujarat.
This deal is likely to generate Rs. 10,000 crore in revenues for RDEL in the
next five years.
The Pipavav shipyard was qualified and approved by US government to
perform complex repair and alteration services for the US Navy after a
detailed site survey conducted in October 2016.
The US Seventh Fleet looks after the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Currently, these vessels visit Singapore or Japan for such works.
About LEMOA
It is a tweaked India-specific version of the logistics support
agreement (LSA), which US has close military to military co-
operation with several countries.
LEMOA gives access, to both countries, to designated military
facilities on either side for the purpose of refuelling and
replenishment.
It should be noted that it does not create any obligations on
either Party to carry out any joint activity. It does not provide for
the establishment of any bases or basing arrangements.
IAF inducts indigenous early warning system NETRA
The Indian Airforce (IAG) has formally inducted the first
indigenously built Airborne Early Warning and Control System
(AEW&C) dubbed as NETRA.
The AEW&C NETRA has been indigenously developed by the
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
It was unveiled at the 2017 Aero India exhibition held in Bengaluru,
Karnataka.
AEW&C NETRA system is based on Embraer aircraft (Emb-145
platform).
It has self-protection suite and also mid-air refueling capability
to enhance surveillance time.
This system gives 240-degree coverage of airspace.
DRDO has developed three NETRA systems and its three
aircraft will be based at Bhatinda, facing the Western border.
With this India, joins group of other countries such as United
States, Russia and Israel which have developed the AEW&C
system.
Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS AYUSH commissioned
Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS AYUSH was commissioned at Kochi, Kerala by
Vice Admiral AR Karwe, Flag Officer Commanding-in- Chief, Southern Naval
Command.
ICGS AYUSH is the 20th and the last in the series of 20 Fast Patrol Vessels
(FPVs) built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd.
ICGS AYUSH is fitted with state-of- the-art navigational and communication
equipment including Integrated Bridge System (IBS) and Machinery Control
System (MCS).
The ship is capable of undertaking multifarious tasks such as surveillance,
interdiction, search and rescue, anti-smuggling and medical evacuation.
It will also play a secondary role of providing a communication link
and escort coastal conveys in times of war.
The ship will be based at Krisnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), under the
administrative and operational control of Commander, Coast Guard
Region.
FPVs are intended to help secure Indian waters by patrolling within
the Exclusive Economic Zone and help in fisheries protection.
Government approves Phase II of coastal surveillance
project
Union Defence Ministry has given its nod to the Phase II of coastal
surveillance project to expand the coastal radar surveillance
network.
It will strengthen surveillance of over 7,500-km coastline of the
country.
The decision was taken by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC),
chaired by Then Union Defence Minister
It also approved proposal of setting up of a shore-based
intermediate engine repair facility for the Indian Navy’s MiG-29K
fighters at the Naval yard in Goa.
Phase II of coastal surveillance project involves setting up 38 additional
radars aimed to give gap less electronic surveillance of Indian coastline.
The project will be executed by Indian companies and Bengaluru based
Bharat Electronics Ltd will be the lead integrator for the various works.
Under it four mobile surveillance stations will be also set up and will be
integrated with two vessel traffic management systems (VTMS) in Kutch
and Khambat in Gujarat.
The Central government had decided to set up a chain of static sensors to
fill gaps in coastal surveillance and keep track of boats entering Indian
territorial waters aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which
terrorists used a fishing boat to enter the city.
Under Phase I of the surveillance project, a chain of 46
coastal surveillance radars and electro-optic sensors were set
up, including 36 in the mainland, 6 in the Lakshadweep
islands and 4 in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Besides, India is also setting up similar radar stations in
friendly Indian Ocean littoral nations.
India, Israel to develop MR-SAM missile system for Army.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has approved a deal to jointly develop a medium range
surface-to-air missile (MR-SAM) system for Army with help of Israel.
The deal will be executed by the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI).
The approved deal is for five regiments of the MR-SAM system, which
consists of 40 units and 200 missiles. It has a range of 50-70 km.
The system will be based on the older Barak system of Israel, which is
in use in India. It will be manufactured in India and will have an 80%
indigenous content.
Under this deal, the DRDO will play a crucial role in developing
the target homing system. Deliveries of the system will begin in
2023.
The MR-SAM system will be the latest in a series of other
variants of SAM systems used by the Navy and the Air Force
which is jointly developed by India and Israel.
Phalcon Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS)
India and Israel are also in an advanced stage of negotiations for
the purchase of two more long-range Phalcon AWACS. The CCS
already has approved the deal for additional AWACS in 2016.
India currently operates three Phalcon AWACS Israeli radars
mounted on Russian IL-76 transport aircraft, under a $1-billion
tripartite deal with Russia, signed in 2003. India already has
ordered two IL-76 aircraft from Russia to be converted to
AWACS.
Indian Navy successfully test-Fires anti-ship missile from Kalvari Submarine
Indian Navy successfully test-fired an anti-ship missile for the first time from an
indigenously built INS Kalvari submarine.
During a test firing in the Arabian Sea, the missile successfully hit a surface target
at extended ranges.
This launch is considered as significant milestone of Indian Navy in enhancing its
“sub-surface” warfare prowess.
INS Kalvari is the first of India’s six Scorpene-class submarines which are being
built under the Project 75.
It has been designed by France’s DCNS and was manufactured at state-owned
Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
The second Kalvari class submarine INS Khanderi was launched in Mumbai in
January 2017.
Indigenously developed weapon-locating radar SWATHI handed to Army
The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) formally handed over an indigenously developed Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) system dubbed as ‘SWATHI’ to
Indian Army.
The DRDO also handed over a Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) recce vehicle Mk-I and NBC treatment drugs to the Indian Army.
Developed by DRDO’s Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE). It has a range of 50 km which brings all artillery guns presently in service worldwide under its
coverage.
Performs two roles i.e. Weapon Location Mode for enemy Artillery and Direction of Own artillery Fire (DOOAF) Mode for Artillery
It has been extensively tested along the Line of Control (LoC). Four such
systems are currently in operation and another 30 are on order for the
Indian Army.
The WLR has been a critical requirement of the Indian Army and in the
aftermath of the Kargil conflict it was imported from the US in 2002 to fill
critical needs
About NBC recce vehicle Mk-I
Developed by DRDO’s Vehicles Research & Development Establishment
(VRDE) for carrying out post event recce of Chemical, Biological,
Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) contaminated areas.
It is capable of collecting solid and liquid samples of biologically
contaminated areas, mark the nuclear and chemical contamination zone
and transfer the recce data speedily to support formations.
India-Oman joint military exercise Al-Nagah-II 2017 held in
Himachal Pradesh
The joint military exercise Al-Nagah-II 2017 between India and Oman
began in the Dhauladhar Ranges in Bakloh belt of Himachal Pradesh to
strengthen the military ties between the two countries.
This is the second edition of the exercise in continuation of a series of
joint exercises between the armies of the two countries. The first edition
of the exercise was held at Muscat, Oman in 2015.
The 14-day joint exercise aims to acquaint both forces with each other’s
operating procedures in the backdrop of counter insurgency, counter
terrorism environment.
Approximately sixty troops from both countries are participating in the
exercise.
World’s oldest aircraft carrier INS Viraat decommissioned
The world’s longest serving warship INS Viraat was decommissioned by the
Indian Navy at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, Maharashtra after nearly six
decades of service.
This marks the end of an era of Viraat being the flagship of the Indian Navy as it
had provided utmost protection to the country during many tense situations.
It was built in 1943 during the Second World War and was first commissioned
as the HMS Hermes into the British Royal Navy in November 1959.
INS Viraat holds Guinness Books of record of being the longest serving warship
in the world. It was also the last British-built ship serving with the Indian Navy.
During the Falklands War in 1982, the aircraft carrier had served as the
flagship of the Royal Navy’s task force. British navy had decommissioned in
1985 after 27 years of service.
It had sailed nearly 11 lakh km, enough to cover the globe 27 times. It had
spent 30 years in the Indian Navy and 27 years in the Royal Navy.
It was commissioned into the Indian Navy on May 12, 1987. It had played a
major role in Operation Jupiter in 1989 in the Sri Lankan peace keeping
operation.
It also had participated in the standoff Operation Parakram in 2001-20012
when India and Pakistan were engaged in a standoff post the Parliament
terror attack.
Its last operational deployment was for participation in International Fleet
Review held at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh in February 2016.
Indo-Nepal joint Military exercise Surya Kiran-XI held in
Uttarakhand
The eleventh edition of joint military exercise ‘Surya Kiran 2017‘
between India and Nepal began in Pithoragarh area of Uttarakhand.
It is two-week long battalion level joint exercise between armies of
both countries. It will focus on skills required for natural disaster
management, counter-insurgency and jungle warfare.
The Surya Kiran XI aims at training of both the troops in the area of
various counter insurgency operations over a prolonged period.
It will focus on other important aspects such as humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations and environmental
conservation.
In this exercise, Indian Army is represented by the officers and
troops of Ekta Shakti Battalion of the Punjab Regiment.
While, Nepali Army is being represented by Durga Baksh
Battalion.
The Surya Kiran series of military exercises are being conducted
bi-annually, alternatively in India and Nepal.
The 10th edition of the exercise was held at Army Battle School,
Saljhandi in Nepal in November 2016.
INS Tillanchang commissioned by Indian Navy
India Navy has commissioned INS Tillanchang at Karwar, Karnataka. It is
a Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC)
It is the third ship of four follow-on WJFAC built by the Kolkata based Garden
Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).
The first two ships INS Tarmugli and INS Tihayu which were commissioned in
2016.
INS Tillanchang has been indigenously designed and built and is an upgrade
from the Chetlat class of Fast Attack Craft (FCA).
It is about 50 m long and powered by three waterjet propulsion system, which
give it speeds of over 35 knots.
It is armed with a 30 mm main gun and a number of light,
medium and heavy machine guns to undertake operations at
sea.
It will be used for missions like Coastal and Off-shore
Surveillance, Law Enforcement, EEZ Control as well as non-
military missions such as Search and Rescue, Humanitarian
Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
INS Tillanchang will be based at Karwar under the operational
control of the Flag Officer Commanding, Karnataka Naval Area.
It is manned by 50 personnel.
India, Russia ink long-term support pact on Sukhoi Su-30MKI
India and Russia have signed two long-term support agreements for
the Sukhoi Su-30MKI combat aircraft fleet covering around 57,000 spares
and components related to the aircraft.
The agreements were signed by India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)
with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation and United Engine Corporation
at the first India-Russia Military Industrial Conference held in New Delhi.
Pacts were also signed for maintenance and life-cycle support for other
Russian-origin platforms, such as Mi-17 helicopters, MiG-29K aircraft, INS
Vikramaditya and T-90 tanks.
The Su-30MKI was designed and developed by Russia’s Irkut Corporation,
specifically for India. The licensed production of the aircraft takes place at
HAL’s facility in Nashik, Maharashtra
BrahMos missile successfully test-fired
The land-attack version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile with an
extended range increased from 290 km to 450 km was successfully
test fired.
The missile was test fired from a Mobile Autonomous Launcher
(MAL) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Odisha.
It met its mission parameters fully by achieving 100% results.
BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has been designed and developed
by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture of India and Russia.
It name has been derived from the names of two rivers, India’s
Brahmaputra River and Russia’s Moskva River.
It has top supersonic speed of Mach 2.
It is two-stage missile, the first one being solid and the second one ramjet
liquid propellant.
It is capable of carrying a warhead of 300 kilogram, both conventional and
nuclear.
Another version of the missile with a strike range of 800 km is under
development.
It has already been inducted into the Indian Army and Navy, while the Air
Force version is in the final stage of trials.
Navy’s first version was inducted in 2005 on INS Rajput.
The Indian Army is already equipped with three regiments of Block III version
of Brahmos missiles. Now, it is fully operational with two regiments of the
Army.
Indian Navy successfully test fires Barak missile from INS
Vikramaditya.
Indian Navy successfully conducted maiden test of short range surface-
to-air Barak missile from country’s sole aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
The test was conducted in the Arabian Sea in which missile was fired
against a live, low-flying, high-speed target.
The missile successfully engaged and destroyed the target, validating
operational readiness inspection of the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy.
INS Vikramaditya is the country’s sole aircraft carrier (after retirement
of INS Viraat in March 2017)
It was built in 1987 and had served the Soviet navy (named as
Baku). It was later renamed Admiral Gorshkov under the Russian
navy.
The Indian navy purchased the vessel in 2004 and commissioned it
in November 2013 at Severodvinsk in Russia.
The Kiev-class vessel weighs 44,500 tonne. Its overall length is 284
meters and has maximum beam of about 60 meters.
It can carry over 30 aircraft comprising MiG-29Ks, Kamov-28s,
Kamov-31s, ALH-Dhruv and Chetak helicopters.
It was retrofitted with a Barak missile system under joint
development with Israel
Indian Navy gets three naval systems from DRDO
Three naval systems, developed by premier defence research organisation
DRDO, handed over to the navy by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley.
The naval systems, given to Indian Navy are
USHUS-II submarine sonar,
Directing gear for hull-mounted sonar array,
Inertial navigation system for ship applications.
Sonars detect objects on or under the water and the latest systems are
expected to significantly enhance the navy’s navigation and communication
network.
Jaitley also released two other products developed by DRDO
The Gallium Nitride Technology : It will substantially help in the
development of next generation radars, seekers and communication
systems, for application in Light Combat Aircraft.
The Secure IP Phone : It incorporates an indigenous encryption
algorithm on a “trustworthy hardware platform” to provide high
level of secrecy to voice and data, for communication of strategic and
tactical plans of the Armed Forces.
The Defence Minister also gave away the annual DRDO awards in
various categories:
The Advanced Systems Laboratory, Hyderabad and the Microwave
Tube Research and Development Centre, Bangalore won the coveted
Silicon Trophy and Titanium Trophy
Indian Navy de-inducts TU142M Long Range Maritime Patrol
aircraft.
The Indian Navy de-inducted TU142M long-range maritime patrol aircraft
after its 29 years of service.
The aircraft was formally de-inducted at a ceremony held at INS Rajali
naval air station in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu on 29th March.
The role of TU142M will now be taken on by the newly inducted P-8l
aircraft, which has proven all its systems and has been fully integrated into
the operational grid of the Indian Navy.
Commander Yogender Mair, the last Commanding Officer of the squadron
with the TU142M aircraft, handed over the reins to Commander V.
Ranganathan, who is the first Squadron Commanding Officer with the P-8l.
The TU142M long-range maritime patrol aircraft was inducted
into the Indian Navy at Dabolim in Goa from the erstwhile USSR
in 1988.
The aircraft subsequently shifted base permanently to INS Rajali
in 1992 and became the most formidable LRMR ASW aircraft of
the Indian Navy
The aircraft has had a distinguished service with over 30,000 hours
of accident-free flying.
Despite being in its twilight year, the aircraft performed
exceptionally well during the Naval Exercise TROPEX held in
March 2017.
The ceremony also coincides with Silver Jubilee of INS Rajali,
home to the TU-142M aircraft for nearly three decades.
It had participated in all major naval exercises and
operations such as operation ‘Cactus’ in Maldives,
Operation Vijay (1998), Operation Parakram (2002)
and anti-piracy operations from 2011 to till date.
Indian Navy inducts surveillance ship INLCU L51.
It was commissioned at a ceremony held in Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar
Command of Navy.
NLCU L51 is the first of the eight ships of the LCU Mk IV Class.
It has been built and designed indigenously by Kolkata based M/s Garden Reach Ship
Builders & Engineers Ltd.
The ship is 62.8 metre in length and 11 metre in breadth. It has displacement
capacity of 900 tons.
It is fitted with state-of-the art Electronic Warfare suite for early detection of
adversaries.
It has 30 mm CRN -91 guns, 12.7 mm Heavy Machine Guns and 7.62 mm Medium
Machine Guns.
IAF launches Aviation Turbine Fuel Digital Issue and Payment.
A web-based e-billing or the 'Aviation Turbine Fuel Digital Issue and
Payment' has been developed for the speedy accounting and clearance
of aviation fuel bills of Oil PSUs
The aviation fuel management in the IAF involves over two lakh
transactions per year and it is expected that the new platform will
streamline the ATF bill payment system.
The e-billing module christened as 'ATF DIP' was unveiled by Chief of
Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and was implemented from
April 1.
e-billing system is in line with the government's
flagship digital India programme
IIT Madras, Indian Army ink MoU to strengthen critical
technological areas.
The Indian Army has signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) to identify
and enhance the critical technological areas in the armed forces.
The objective of the MoU, signed by IIT-M Director Prof Bhaskar
Ramamurthi and Deputy Chief of Army Staff (P and S) Lt Gen Subrata
Saha at the IIT Madras campus was to facilitate prestigious institutions
like IITs achieve a better understanding of the critical technology
requirements of the Indian Army through seamless interaction between
the IIT-M faculty and the Army officers.
They would identify areas that require Research and
Development and student projects.
Such projects would be initiated jointly by both the IIT-M
and the Army.
''There are also plans to commercialize Intellectual
Property Rights (IPR) achieved through this collaboration
Indian Navy unveils Integrated Automatic Aviation
Meteorological System
Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba unveiled an integrated aviation
meteorological system which is expected to bring accuracy in weather
monitoring mechanism in the Indian Navy.
The Integrated Automatic Aviation Meteorological System (IAAMS) was
launched at Rajali Air Station in Tamil Nadu.
The aim of IAAMS is to modernise the meteorological infrastructure of
the nine Naval Air Stations (NAS).
Equipped with the state-of-the-art meteorological sensors, IAAMS
undertakes automatic and continuous recording of relevant weather
parameters that are vital for accurate weather forecasting,
It has a special alarm feature that alerts the duty staff during
abnormal change of weather parameters that may affect safe
flying operations.
The system can also provide automatic dissemination of routine
weather reports as per standards followed by the World
Meteorological Organisation to other air stations and Air Traffic
Controller towers without human intervention.
Installation of the system at remaining eight stations is expected
to be completed by March 2019.
India ink defence deals with Israel for advanced MRSAM.
India and Israel mega defence deals worth over $2 billion for advanced
surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems
These are designed to destroy hostile aircraft, missiles and drones at a
range of 70-km, to further tighten the bilateral strategic partnership
The major deal was for the joint project between the Defence
Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Israel
Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the Barak-8 medium-range SAM
systems to initially include one regiment of 16 launchers and 560
missiles for the Indian Army.
The second deal to be inked was for a similar SAM system to be fitted
on board the 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant
being built at the Cochin Shipyard.
These Barak-8 systems, with their MF-STARs (multi-function
surveillance and threat alert radars) as well as weapon control
systems with data links, can detect and track hostile aerial threats
at a range of 100-km and destroy them at 70-km
Consequently, they will help in plugging the existing holes in India's
air defence coverage.
Israel currently is the fourth-largest arms supplier to India after the
US, Russia and France.
12th Indo-Mongolian Joint Military Exercise Nomadic
Elephant
The twelfth edition Indo-Mongolian Joint Military Exercise Nomadic
Elephant 2017 has begun at Vairengte in Mizoram.
Vairengte houses Indian Army’s elite Counter-Insurgency and Jungle
Warfare School
The first joint Nomadic Elephant was held in 2004 and since then it is
annually held.
It seeks to promote military associations between India and
Mongolia.
The two week exercise (from 5 to 18 April 2017), is aimed at training
the troops in Counter Insurgency & Counter Terrorism Operations
(CICT Ops) under the United Nations mandate.
India-South Korea sign MoU on shipbuilding.
India and South Korea signed an MoU for defence industry cooperation in
shipbuilding.
The MoU, signed by India's Defence Production Secretary Ashok Kumar
Gupta and South Korean Defence Acquisition and Programme
Administration Minister Chang Myoung-Jin
Focuses on developing and strengthening defence industry co-operation
between the two countries
It was conceived under the overall umbrella of the 'Special Strategic
Partnership' between both sides as declared in the Joint Statement of the
Prime Minister of India and the President of South Korea in May 2015.
The Cabinet Committee on Security had accorded its
approval for the MoU and also nominated Hindustan
Shipyard Ltd (HSL), Visakhapatnam from the Indian side for
the collaboration.
South Korea will indicate the name of its recommended
organisation for the collaboration in due course of time.
"The co-operation with the recommended Korean shipyard
would enable HSL to upgrade and modernise its facilities
and execute naval shipbuilding projects in a timely and cost
effective manner.
HSL would be able to imbibe best practices in shipbuilding
leading to effective project management.
India becomes world’s fifth largest military spender.
India’s military expenditure grew around 8.5 per cent in 2016, making it
the world’s fifth largest spender at $55.9 billion.
Figures released by the Stockholm International Peace Research
Institute (Sipri)
As per the figures, the US remains the world’s largest military spendere
registering a growth of 1.7 per cent between 2015 and 2016 to $611
billion.
Four others in the top 15 spenders include China, Japan, South Korea,
Australia.
China is second on the list spending $215 billion, an increase of 5.4 per
cent.
Russia increased its spending by 5.9 per cent to $69.2 billion, making it the
third largest spender.
Saudi Arabia, the third largest spender in 2015, dropped to the fourth position
in 2016 with its spending dropping by 30 per cent in 2016 to $63.7 billion,
despite its continued involvement in regional wars.
Pakistan does not figure in the top 15 spenders, and spent $9.93 billion.
Global military spending accounted for 2.2 per cent of the worldwide GDP.
Military spending as a share of GDP, was highest in the Middle East with an
average of 6.0 per cent, while the lowest was in the Americas, with an average
of 1.3 per cent.
In Asia and Oceania, military expenditure rose by 4.6 per cent in 2016.
Joint operational doctrine for Tri-Services unveiled.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/j
oint-operational-doctrine-for-army-navy-air-force-
unveiled/articleshow/58365762.cms
India successfully carries out fresh user trial of Agni-III ballistic missile.
India successfully test-fired its intermediate-range ballistic missile Agni-III from
Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.
The Strategic Forces Command, an especially raised missile-handling unit of the
Indian Army, carried out the test with logistics support from DRDO.
Agni-III has a strike range of more than 3,000 km and capable of carrying both
conventional and nuclear warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes.
The missile is powered by a two-stage solid propellant engine.
With a length of 17 metres, the missile’s diameter is 2 metres and weight is
around 2,200 kg.
The missile was inducted into the armed forces in June 2011.
Agni-II Ballistic Missile Test Fired Successfully.
The Agni-ll Ballistic Missile was successfully test fired from A.P.J Abdul
Kalam island of Dhamara in Odisha.
The 2,000-km plus range nuclear-capable missile was lifted from the
Launch Complex IV.
After initial failures, India had in 2010 successfully test-fired Agni-II. The
success was repeated in 2014 and in succeeding test-firing exercises.
Developed as part of medium and long range Agni series of missile
systems, - Agni-II has already been inducted into the Armed Forces.
It is a two-stage solid propelled system and equipped with a
special navigation system to achieve high degree of accuracy
The missile weighs 17 tonnes and its range can be increased to
3,000 km by reducing the payload.
It can be fired from both rail and road mobile launchers.
It takes only 15 minutes for the missile to be readied for firing.
India- Indonesia Co-Ordinated Patrol Commences.
The 29th India–Indonesia CORPAT has commenced at Port Blair under the
aegis of Andaman and Nicobar Command.
The bilateral exercise held from 9th to 25th May.
The Indonesian Naval Ship KRI Sutedi Senoputra has arrived to take part in
the 29th series of IND–INDO CORPAT.
An Indonesian Maritime Patrol Aircraft has also arrived with the Indonesian
Naval delegation.
Defence relations between India and Indonesia are growing steadily with
regular joint activities and interactions between the Armed Forces of the
two countries.
CORPAT is a bilateral maritime exercise held between India
and Indonesia under thebroad ambit of strategic partnership.
Both countries have been carrying out maritime exercise twice
a year since 2002.
The main aim of CORPAT is to keep the vital part of the Indian
Ocean Region (IOR) safe and secure for commercial shipping,
International trade and legitimate marine activities
India’s First Private Sector Small Arms Manufacturing Plant
Inaugurated.
India’s first private sector small arms manufacturing plant was today
inaugurated in Madhya Pradesh
It will supply world class weapons to the armed forces in sync with
the country’s defence indigenisation programme.
The plant, a joint venture between India’s Punj Lloyd and Israel
Weapon Systems.
It will produce four products — X95 carbine and assault rifle, Galil
sniper rifle, Tavor assault rifle and Negev Light Machine Gun (LMG).
BSF to use Invisible Laser Wall Kavach to Secure Border.
The Border Security Force (BSF) is all set to get more teeth to man the 198
km India-Pakistan international border using a newly developed technology
that can detect intrusions and relay information immediately to the nearest
post for action.
Developed by Delhi-based defence IoT firm, CRON Systems, the made-in-India
technology is called Kavach (KVx) series laser walls and is a notch higher than
the existing laser walls.
CRON Systems have come up with this intrusion detection system based on
infrared array, which is invisible. It is more advanced than laser wall.
Kavach walls can also work in transparent water and glass
India shares nearly 3,000 km border with Pakistan, of which 198 km
international border and 740 km Line of Control (LoC) falls in
Jammu and Kashmir.
Infiltration of Pakistani militants through this part has been a major
issue for the BSF which guards the border.
Five KVx-series walls, connected with infrared (technology), can
secure a kilometre-long stretch.
“It takes less than a couple of hours for a 1 km stretch to install the
technology.
It needed electricity to run the technology. And in case power is
snapped, it can be run on UPS for 8–12 hours
Tejas Successfully Test Fires Air-to-Air Beyond Visual Range Missile.
Tejas, the Light Combat Aircraft has successfully test fired Derby Air-to-Air
Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile in RADAR guided mode.
The test was performed on a Manoeuvrable Aerial Target at the Interim Test
Range (ITR), Chandipur.
The objective behind the test was to assess the Derby integration with
aircraft systems on-board Tejas including the aircraft avionics, fire-control
radar, launchers and Missile Weapon Delivery System and evaluate its
performance.
The flawless launch is a major step towards clearing BVR capabilities on LCA
aircraft for final operational clearance.
The Indian Light Combat Aircraft is the world’s
smallest, light weight, multi-role combat aircraft in its
class amongst modern supersonic aircraft .
It is a single seat, single jet engine developed by
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Navy
and the Air Force
Indian Army gets its First Artillery Gun in 30 Years.
Nearly three decades after the Bofors howitzers were inducted,
the Army has got its first artillery guns from BAE Systems.
Two 155mm/39 caliber ultra light howitzers (ULH) will be firing
at the Pokhran field firing range in Rajasthan.
Having initiated the deal for M777 guns with the United States in
2010, the government finally announced a deal for 145 guns on
June 26 last year.
The Rs 2,900-crore deal, which was a government-to-government
deal under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route, was completed
in November last year.
The two M777 guns, which will fire at Pokhran will be used for
compilation of firing tables — a calibration for target acquisition
with various types of ammunition used with the guns.
After these two guns, three M777 guns will come to India in
September 2018 and used for training.
Thereafter, five guns will be inducted every month from March 2019
to June 2021.
These guns, which will equip seven artillery regiments, are capable of
firing at a range of 24 to 40 km, depending on the type of
ammunition used.
While the first 25 guns will be inducted directly, 120 of the 145
guns will be assembled in India by Mahindra Defence as part of
offsets obligation.
The modular design of the M777 gun allows it to be towed
along narrow and treacherous mountain roads, which dot
India’s borders with both Pakistan and China.
Moreover, it can be transported to the battlefield, slung under
heavy-lift helicopters like the Chinook, which India has signed
to acquire from the US.
The US-made C130J Super Hercules, used for strategic airlift
by India are capable of carrying two M777 guns on a single
sortie.
Light utility helicopter second prototype completes first flight
The Light Utility Helicopter second prototype (LUH-PT2)completed its
maiden flight, close on the heels of the first flight of the HTT-40 basic aircraft.
The chopper, flown by Chief Test Pilot Wing Cdr (Retd) Unni K Pillai and Test
Pilot Wing Cdr (Retd) Anil Bhambhani, was in the skies for 22 minutes.
The LUH is a 3-tonne class new generation helicopter being indigenously
developed by HAL and comes with a Glass Cockpit.
It will be deployed for Reconnaissance, Surveillance roles and as a light
transport helicopter
The helicopter will be capable of flying at 220kmph, with a service ceiling of
6.5km and a range of 350km with 400-kg payload. The LUH is powered by
HAL's own single turbo shaft engine.
The LUH PT2 has a modified tail boom and incorporates
improvements based on feedback from testing of LUH PT1.
The first flight of LUH PT1 was carried out on September 6, 2016 and
further envelope expansion flights are in progress.
LUH PT-1 made its flight demonstration during the international air
show Aero India-2017
Air Marshal PN Pradhan Appointed as Deputy Chief of
Integrated Defence Staff
PN Pradhan was commissioned as a pilot in Indian Air Force in
1981.
He was awarded with AtiVishisht Seva Medal in 2014.
Prithvi-II Missile Test Fired Successfully
India successfully test-fired its indigenous nuclear-capable Prithvi-II
missile from a test range in Odisha as part of a user trial by the Army.
The trial of the surface-to-surface missile, which has a strike range of
350 km, was carried out from a mobile launcher from launch
complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near
Balasore in Odisha.
The Prithvi-II missile is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of
warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines.
In salvo mode, two Prithvi-II missiles were successfully
test fired in quick succession from the same base, on
November 21, 2016.
Inducted into Indian armed forces in 2003, the nine-
metre-tall, single-stage liquid-fuelled Prithvi-II is the first
missile to have been developed by the DRDO under the
Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
Newly Built Aeronautical Test Range at Chitradurga in Karnataka
The Then Defence Minister Arun Jaitley has inaugurated the newly built
Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) of the Defence Research & Development
Organisation (DRDO) at Chitradurga in Karnataka.
The ATR is a facility under the Aeronautical Development Establishment
(ADE) which works on a range of UAVs (unmanned air vehicles).
The labs primarily using the range will be the Centre for Air Borne Systems,
the Gas Turbine Research Establishment, the Defence Avionics Research
Establishment, the Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification, all based
in Bengaluru, and the Aerial Delivery Research & Development
Establishment, Agra.
In November last year, the DRDO used the ATR to conduct the first successful
flight of the UAV ‘Tapas’ 201, earlier called Rustom-2.
DRDO Successfully Test-fires anti-Tank Nag Missile.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has
successfully test fired anti-tank ‘Nag’ missile in Rajasthan.
The test was conducted by Scientists of the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Missile Complex at Hyderabad, Defence Laboratory at Jodhpur, High
Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) at Pune and
Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) at
Pune and Armament Research and Development Establishment
(ARDE) at Pune.
The anti-tank Nag missile is one of the five missile systems developed
by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)
under the integrated guided missile development programme
(IGMDP).
The four other missiles developed under this programme include Agni,
Akash, Trishul and Prithvi.
The Nag missile is a third generation anti-tank guided missile which
works on “fire and forget” principle.
The anti-tank Nag missile has been equipped with the highly advanced
Imaging Infrared Radar (IRR) seeker along with integrated avionics.
This technology is possessed by very few nations. It also
possess advanced passive homing guidance system.
Nag can be launched from land and air-based platforms.
The helicopter launched version known as helicopter-launched
NAG (HELINA) can be fired from Dhruv advanced light helicopter
(ALH) and HAL Rudra attack helicopter.
The land-based version of the missile is at present available for
integration on the Nag missile carrier (NAMICA)
Exercise Australia-India (AUSINDEX)
India's naval ships Shivalik, Jyoti and Kamorta were on a port visit to
Freemantle, Australia from 13 to 17 June, 2017 to participate in
AUSINDEX-17.
It is a bilateral maritime exercise with the Australian navy.
The aim of the exercise is to enhance inter-operability and
cooperation between the two forces.
This would be the second edition of the exercise. The first one was
conducted in Visakhapatnam and the Bay of Bengal in 2015.
After the success of the exercise, both the sides decided to make it a
biennial event.
The maritime exercises are in consonance with
India's 'Act East' policy and seem to reaffirm
Australia's commitment to the trilateral talks
between Tokyo, New Delhi and Canberra.
First Indigenously built Floating Dock Launched by L&T.
The Indian Navy’s first indigenously built Floating Dock (FDN-2),
developed by Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T), was launched at L&T’s shipyard
in Kattupalli, Chennai
The Floating Dock is 185 metres long and 40 metres wide and will enable
docking of all kinds of vessels, including Naval ships and submarines
(excepting aircraft carriers and tankers) of up to 8,000 tonnes
displacement, with draughts of up to seven metres, during both day and
night.
The Navy already has one Floating Dock; this would be its second such
facility.
FDN-2 will be based in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and will
enhance the Navy’s technical repair infrastructure.
FDN-2 will be based in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
and will enhance the Navy’s technical repair
infrastructure.
It will be delivered in two to three months at Port Blair.
It was 100% designed in-house
Lockheed signs pact with Tata to make F-16 planes in India
U.S. aircraft major Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems
Limited (TASL) signed an agreement to make the F-16 Block 70
fighter aircraft in India to meet the IAF’s single-engine jet
requirement.
The IAF is about to initiate the process for selection of a single-
engine fighter aircraft to replace the Russian MiGs under the
Strategic Partnership model of the Defence Procurement
Procedure.
The announcement was done on Paris Air Show.
The Strategic Partnership model has four segments —
submarines, single-engine fighter aircraft, helicopters and
armoured carriers/main battle tanks — and specifically intends to
open up defence manufacturing to the private sector.
The deal for 100- plus fighter aircraft is estimated to be worth
over ₹60,000 crore.
TASAL has an existing partnership with Lockheed under which it
manufactures airframe components for the C-130J airlifter and
the S-92 helicopter
Indian Army to rethink on its Sahayak System.
The Army is now actively considering recruiting civilian staff in peace
stations to do away with the colonial-era Sakayak system, in the wake
of rising cases of jawans coming out openly against it.
The Sahayaks or buddy system — whereby a solider is attached to
officers — will continue be deployed in key bases and field areas as
they have defined military duties.
Army is looking at getting civilian staff to replace Sahayaks in peace
stations
In March 2017, the government had strongly supported the
Sahayak system.
However, it had said that it has issued exhaustive instructions
not to make sahayaks perform menial tasks which are
derogatory to the dignity of a soldier.
In the annual conference of top Army commanders,
deliberations regarding the sahayak system were held and it
was decided to reorient the human resource policy of the
Indian Army
US Approves Sale of UAV Technology to India.
The US has cleared the sale of 22 unmanned Guardian drones to India.
The deal, estimated to be worth $2to 3 billion, has been approved by the
State Department.
The transfer of the state-of-the-art UAV technology to India will be the first
significant progress after India’s entry into the exclusive Missile.
Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and after the US has designated India
as a major defence partner.
India became the 35th full member of the Missile Technology Control
Regime (MTCR) in June 2016.
The transfer of Guardian UAV technology is aimed at furthering mutual
security interests to protect the Indian Ocean.
US to sell C-17 GlobemasterTransport Aircraft to India
The Trump administration's decision to sell one C-17 transport aircraft
to India by the US will improve its capability to meet current and future
strategic airlift requirements.
The proposed sale of C-17 transport aircraft by Boeing at an estimated
cost of is USD 366.2 million includes one missile Warning System, one
Countermeasures Dispensing System, one Identification Friend or Foe
(IFF) Transponder and precision navigation equipment.
India currently operates C-17 aircraft and will have no difficulty
absorbing this aircraft into its armed forces
According to the Pentagon, the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III
military airlift aircraft is the most flexible cargo aircraft to
enter the US Air Force fleet.
The C-17 is capable of strategic delivery of up to 170,900
pounds of personnel and/or equipment to main operating
bases or forward operating locations.
A fully integrated electronic cockpit and advanced cargo
delivery system allow a crew of three: pilot, co-pilot, and
loadmaster, to operate the aircraft on any type of mission
Indian Army gets Modern Bullet Proof Helmets.
The Indian Army has reportedly received its first batch of bullet-
proof helmets from Kanpur-based MKU Industries which was
awarded a contract to manufacture 1.58 lakh helmets at the cost of
Rs 180 crore.
he new helmets are reportedly designed to bear the impact of 9
mm ammunition fired from a short range.
According to studies, 26 per cent to 28 per cent of soldiers die
because of head injuries.
In addition to the current 1.6 lakh order, MKU has to deliver over 7
lakh helmets to Indian Army and overall one million helmets to
different Indian armed forces.
As of now, besides MKU, Tata Advanced Materials exports
body armour to armed forces around the world including
United Kingdom, Germany and Spain.
As per estimates, there’s a requirement of over 50,000
bullet proof kits for the police force in the country.
Indigenously developed quick reaction surface-to-air short
range missile successfully test-fired.
The indigenously developed Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air (QRSAM)
short range missile was successfully test-fired from a test range along
the Odisha coast.
The missile has a strike range of 25 km to 30 km.
Designed to be a quick reaction missile, it involves an all-weather
weapon system capable of tracking and firing.
The missile was test-fired from a truck-mounted canister launcher
from launch complex-3 at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at
Chandipur near Balasore, Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO)
This was the second developmental trial of the state-of-the-
art missile with an aerial target.
The missile has been developed by the DRDO and other
establishments.
The first test launch of the missile was conducted on June 4,
2017 from the same base
Indo-Thai joint military exercise Maitree 2017 begins in
Himachal Pradesh
A 15-day long joint military training exercise between the Indian and
Thai army began on 3rd July and was concluded on 17th July at
Bakloh in Himachal Pradesh.
The aim is to build and promote bilateral Army-to-Army relations
and enhance inter-operability between the two armies
The joint exercise between the two armies is an annual event.
The previous edition of the exercise was held at Krabi in Thailand in
2016
Indian Navy’s second LCU Mark IV L52 ship launched by
GRSE.
Indian Navy’s second LCU (landing craft utility) Mark IV L52 ship built
by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata,
was formally launched in Kolkata, West Bengal.
The LCU Mark-IV vessels are designed for multipurpose amphibious
operations jointly carried out Indian Navy and Indian Army to ensure
maritime security of Andamans and Lakshadweep islands.
LCU L52 ship is the second in series of the eight Mark IV LCU vessels
built by GRSE for Navy.
Finally, Indian Navy’s second LCU (landing craft utility) Mark IV L52
ship has been commissioned at Port Blair, capital of Andaman and
Nicobar Islands
USS Gerald R Ford: World’s largest aircraft carrier inducted by US.
The United States (US) Navy officially inducted USS Gerald R Ford
(CVN 78), the world’s largest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at
Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.
It is the most advanced aircraft carrier in the world
USS Gerald Ford is first in the series of three of the futuristic ships of
the Ford-class carriers ordered by US Navy.
Its operational deployment will be in 2021 after undergoing final
outfitting and testing.
About USS Gerald R Ford
The ship is named after the 38th President of the US Gerald Ford to pay
tribute to his lifetime of service to the nation in the US Navy and the US
government.
Construction on the USS Gerald R Ford started in 2009 and was to be
completed by September 2015 at a cost of $10.5 billion.
USS Gerald R Ford weighs 1 lakh tonnes and is 1,106-feet long equivalent
to size of about three football fields.
It has two nuclear reactors on board that can operate for up to 20 years
without refuelling.
It has electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS),
replaceing the steam system used on earlier carriers and new
electric motor-based Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system for
faster and more efficient aircraft take-offs and landings.
It is also outfitted with touchscreen navigation display in place of
a traditional throttle.
It has 2,600 sailors carrying capacity, 600 less crew members
compared to earlier carriers due to its double electrical capacity
and more automated equipment
Muntra: India’s first unmanned tank rolled out by DRDO.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has
rolled out Muntra, India’s first unmanned, remotely operated tank at its
Chennai laboratory.
It has been launched in three variants Muntra-S, Muntra-M and Muntra-
N for surveillance, mine detection and reconnaissance in areas with
nuclear and biological threats. It is also likely to be used in Naxal-hit
areas.
Muntra-S is the country’s first tracked unmanned ground vehicle (tank)
developed for unmanned surveillance missions.
Muntra-M is for detecting mines and Muntra-N is for operation in areas
where there is nuclear radiation or biological weapon risk
The Muntra variants have surveillance radar, an
integrated camera along with laser range finder which
can be used to spy on ground target 15km away – heavy
vehicles or crawling men.
This unmanned, remotely tele-operated tank has been
successfully tested and validated at Mahajan field firing
range inin Rajasthan under dusty desert conditions
Reliance Defence launches first two Navy ships Shachi and
Shruti.
Reliance Defence and Engineering Limited (RDEL) launched
the first two Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (NOPVs) — Shachi
and Shruti at their shipyard in Pipavav, Gujarat.
These two NOPVs are the first warships to be launched by a
private sector shipyard in India.
These ships are part of a five-ships being constructed for the
Indian Navy under the P-21 project.
The NOPVs are primarily patrol ships to undertake surveillance of the
country’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
The five NOPVs constructed by RDEL are armed with a 76
mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) system along with two
30 mm AK-630 guns, which provide medium range and short
range offensive and defensive capabilities.
The armaments of these vessels are remotely controlled
through an electronic fire control system.
They are also fitted with 20,000 KW diesel engine-driven
propulsion systems and can deliver speeds up to 25 knots.
RDEL, subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure is the first private
shipyard in India to obtain defence production licence and sign
a contract for defence a contract for defence ships in 2011.
It is also engaged in construction of one training ship and 14
Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard.
Indian Coast Guard Ship Shaurya commissioned in Goa.
ICGS Shaurya is an offshore patrol vessel designed and built
indigenously by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL).
It will be based at Chennai under administrative and
operational control of Commander Coast Guard Region
(East).
ICGS Shaurya is fifth of a series of six OPVs designed in-house
and built by GSL.
It is 105-metre long and capable of cruising at a speed of 23
knots. It has a range of 6000 nautical miles
It is powered by twin diesel engines and carries four boats
for boarding party operations.
It is fitted with state-of-the-art advanced navigation and
communication equipment.
Its weaponry package has one 30 mm gun and two 12.7
mm guns associated with fire control system.
India’s first private missile production facility unveiled in
Hyderabad.
India’s first private sector missile sub-systems manufacturing facility
Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS) plant was inaugurated near
Hyderabad.
It is 51:49 joint venture between India’s Kalyani Group and Israel’s
Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd.
It has been established line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative and
Government’s policy to encourage private sector participation in
defence production.
KRAS aims to be a one-stop solution provider to locally re-
design, develop, re-engineer and manufacture various land and
airborne products and systems in India.
It has invested in designing, developing and manufacturing of
weapon systems including Spike Anti-Tank Guided Missile
(ATGM) systems and remote weapon systems.
The plant would employ more than 300 engineers and provide
indirect employment to 1,000 people.
The localisation content of the plant is 90% and most of the
vendors are in and around Hyderabad.
Defence Ministry clears proposal to procure 6 Apache attack
helicopters for Army.
The Union Defence Ministry has cleared a proposal to procure six AH-64-E
Apache attack helicopters along with weapons systems from American
aerospace giant Boeing for the Indian Army.
Decision in this regard was taken at the Defence Acquisition Council
(DAC).
The six will come along with associated equipment, spares and weapons
system.
It will be a follow on order to the deal India had signed in September 2015
with Boeing and the US government for 22 Apache helicopters and 15
Chinook heavy-lift choppers..
The AH-64-E Apache choppers are one of the most advanced
multi-role combat helicopters which have advanced weapons
systems and night-fighting features.
Till now, Indian Army was not having its own fleet attack
helicopter. Army was using the fleet of Russian Mi-25 and Mi-
35 attack helicopters with the help of Indian Air Force.
DRDO, IAI to produce MRSAM missile system by 2020 for Indian
Army.
The Indian Army will finally get an advanced medium-range surface to air
missile (MRSAM) system by 2020 which will be able to shoot down ballistic
missiles, fighter jets and attack helicopters from a range of around 70 km.
The missile system will be produced by premier defence research
organisation DRDO in collaboration with the Israel Aerospace Industries
(IAI)
The MRSAM system will be capable of shooting down enemy ballistic
missiles, aircraft, helicopters, drones, surveillance aircraft
and AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control Systems) aircraft.
The current version of MRSAM is operational with the Indian Air Force and
the Navy.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
has signed a Rs 17,000 crore deal with the IAI for the ambitious
project.
The MR-SAM, a land-based version of the long-range surface-to-
air missile (LRSAM) for the Navy, will have a strike range of up 70
km.
The deal envisages 40 firing units and around 200 missile.
The first set of missile system will be ready in the next three
years
India, Japan to step up defence cooperation
India and Japan have agreed to collaborate closely
in defence production, including on dual-use technologies, as the
two countries resolved to ramp up overall military engagement
under the bilateral special strategic framework.
The decision by India and Japan to boost defence ties comes amid
escalating tension in the region in the wake of the nuclear test by
North Korea and China's growing assertiveness in the South China
Sea.
The two sides also agreed to commence technical discussions for
research collaboration in the areas of Unmanned Ground Vehicles
and Robotics.
India plans to buy the US-2 ShinMaywa aircraft from Japan for its
navy
SAAB, Adani Group announce collaboration for defence
manufacturing.
Swedish defence and security company, SAAB and infrastructure
conglomerate Adani Group announced a collaboration for design,
development and production of Gripen fighter jets under the ‘Make in
India’ scheme.
Indian Air Force (IAF) is going to choose between F-16 and Gripen
fighter jets for 100 single engine aircraft under the Strategic
Partnership model.
Besides the first 18 aircraft which will be brought to India in a flyaway
mode, the rest will be manufactured in India by an Indian private
company with technology transfer from the foreign manufacturer.
Adani Group so far has no presence in the defence and security
sector but are keen to play an instrumental role in helping
transform India into a destination for world class high-tech defence
manufacturing.
Recently, US aircraft major Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced
Systems Limited (TASL) had signed an agreement to produce the
F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft in India.
Gripen is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft featuring state-
of-the-art technology, including advanced data links and sensors,
which is manufactured by SAAB.
Navika Sagar Parikrama: India’s first all-women
circumnavigation expedition flagged-off.
Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman flagged off the all-
women team of the ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’ in Panaji, Goa
The crew of the ‘Sagar Parikrama’ comprises of six-member all
women team on board the sailing vessel INSV Tarini and will
circumnavigate the globe in approximately 165 days
This is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-
women crew. Cdr Dilip Dhonde has trained the crew. He is the first
sailor to circumnavigate.
The team comprises of- Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi and Lt Payal
Gupta from Uttarakhand, Lt Cdr Pratibha Jamwal from
Himachal, Lt Cdr P Swathi from Andhra Pradesh, Lt
Aishwarya Boddapati from Telangana and Lt Shourgrakpam
Vijaya Devi hailing from Manipur.
Vartika Joshi has rich sailing experience and has led INSV
Mhadei as well as INSV Tarini.
ATAGS: Indigenous artillery gun sets new record in range
An indigenous artillery gun, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System
(ATAGS), being jointly developed by the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) and the private sector has set a
new world record in range by hitting targets at a distance of 48 km.
TAGS is a 155mm, 52 calibre towed artillery gun being developed in
mission mode by DRDO as a part of the Army’s artillery modernisation
programme.
The development is being done through a consortium based model,
similar to that adopted for the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launch
system.
It was designed by DRDO’s Armament Research and Development
Establishment (ARDE) in Pune.
IAF successfully conducts development trials of Astra missile.
The indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile
(BVRAAM) — Astra — underwent a series of successful trials+ for four
days over the Bay of Bengal, marking completion of its development
phase.
"The final development flight trials of Astra BVRAAM were successfully
conducted over the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Chandipur in Odisha.
A total of seven trials were conducted against pilotless target
aircraft successfully.
The missile system has been developed by the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) in cooperation with the IAF.
It is one of the smallest weapon system developed by DRDO, having
length of 3.8-metre and weighing 154kg.
It is single stage solid fuelled missile and has payload capacity of 15 kg
conventional explosives.
It can be launched from different altitudes and is capable of engaging
targets at varying range and altitudes at both short-range targets (up to
20 km) in tail-chase mode and long-range targets (up to 80 km) in head-
on mode.
It is radar homing supersonic missile having maximum speed of Mach 4
(four times speed of sound
Indian Coast Guard commissions 2 high-speed interceptor boats.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) commissioned two high-speed interceptor boats C-433
and C-434 boats at the Dighi Port in Mumbai, Maharashtra
The commissioning of boats will strengthen the security umbrella over720-km-long
Maharashtra coastline.
It will also help in patrolling and prevent illicit activities such as smuggling, infiltration
and illegal fishing.
The C-433 and C-434 boats were built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Shipbuilding in
Chennai.
They are 27.42 metres long and have displacement of 136
tons each.
They are water jet propelled vessels with endurance of 500
nautical miles at 20 knots.
They are capable of doing speeds up to 45 knots.
The vessels are fitted with latest state of art navigational and
communication equipment with 12.7 mm machine gun.
They are designed for high-speed interception, low intensity
maritime operations, close coast patrol, search and rescue
and maritime surveillance.
Yudh Abhyas 2017: Joint India-US military exercise.
The armies of India and the US today commenced a joint military
exercise at a base in Washington state to hone tactical skills in counter-
insurgency and counter-terrorist operations.
Yudh Abhyas 2017, a joint military exercise, saw representation from 5th
Infantry Battalion of 20 Infantry Regiment of the US Army while the
Indian side was represented by soldiers of Gorkha Rifles from the Surya
Command.
Yudh Abhyas is annual bilateral military exercise, alternately held by the
two countries.
V-409: Indian Coast Guard’s interceptor boat launched.
Giving a boost to coastal security, a new interceptor boat (V-409) built by
Bharathi Defence and Infrastructure Limited (BDIL) was launched at
a function held at the Coast Guard yard in Mangaluru.
The V-409 interceptor boat has length of 28 meters, beam of 6 meters and
draught of 1.2 meters.
It has aluminium hull.
It has Articulate Surface Piercing Propulsion, also called as Arneson
Surface Drives (ASD) which is powered by twin MTU Caterpillar marine
diesel engines having a capacity of 1630 kW each.
These engines enable boat to attain a maximum speed of more
than 35 knots.
BDIL is constructing 20 vessels for ICG of which six had already
been handed over and the remaining vessels would be handed
over on the projected time.
The boats are being constructed as per Rs. 2.81 billion contract
signed between Ministry of Defence and BDIL in March 2009.