BEL to Manufacture Israel's LORA Ballistic Missile for Indian Tri-Services
Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) signed an MoU with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the domestic manufacture and supply of its Long-Range Artillery Weapon System (LORA) for the Indian Tri-services. This state-of-the-art strategic weapon system will be manufactured by BEL, as the prime contractor, based on the work share arrangement with IAI.
LORA is a sea-to-ground and ground-to-ground system developed by IAI's 'MALAM' division that comprises a long-range ballistic missile, a unique launcher, a command-and-control system, and a ground/marine support system.
The LORA system provides ballistic assault capabilities for multiple ranges with a precision level of 10 meters CEP (circular error probable).
Lt Gen M. V. Suchindra Kumar is New Army Vice Chief
The Indian Army appointed Lt General M. V. Suchindra Kumar as the new Army Vice Chief as the present officer holding the charge was shifted to South Western Army Command as Army Commander.
Before being appointed as the Army Vice Chief, Lt Gen M. V. Suchendra Kumar served as the deputy chief of Army Staff (strategy). He was part of various important assignments including the White Knight Corps in Jammu and Kashmir.
Lt Gen M. V. Suchindra Kumar is New Army Vice Chief
The Indian Army appointed Lt General M. V. Suchindra Kumar as the new Army Vice Chief as the present officer holding the charge was shifted to South Western Army Command as Army Commander.
Before being appointed as the Army Vice Chief, Lt Gen M. V. Suchendra Kumar served as the deputy chief of Army Staff (strategy). He was part of various important assignments including the White Knight Corps in Jammu and Kashmir.
Feb 18, 2023
India, Japan Kickstarts 2-week Wargame
The armies of India and Japan kickstarted a two-week mega military wargame from in the Japanese province of Shiga to share best practices and develop interoperability. As per the Indian Army, the exercise 'Dharma Guardian' is crucial and significant in terms of security challenges faced by both nations in the backdrop of the current global situation.
The fourth edition of the exercise will conclude on March 2 at Camp Imazu in Shiga province.
The scope of this exercise covers platoon level joint training on operations in jungle and semi-urban, urban terrain.
Troops of the Garhwal rifles regiment of the Indian Army and an infantry regiment from the Middle Army of the Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) are participating in the exercise.
Feb 17, 2023
India, US Forces Run Joint Exercise Tarkash
A joint counter-terrorism exercise 'Tarkash' between National Security Guard (NSG) and US Special Operations Forces (SOF) culminated in Chennai, after four weeks of intense training and joint anti-terror exercises. The main highlight of the exercise was mock drills for the CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) counter terror response by special forces of both countries. The training regimen of the exercise included the conduct of urban counter-terrorism drills, combat shooting and practice of long-range marksmanship, to enhance mutual warfare capabilities.
The main aim of this exercise was to train commandos of both the special forces units for the implementation of rapid neutralisation of enemies, the rescuing of hostages and neutralise the threat of chemical weapons. Notably, this was the first instance in the exercise's history where Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terror response (CBRN) drills were conducted. CBRN weapons are classified as weapons of mass destruction and have been used by states and terror elements in the past.
Feb 16, 2023
ITBP to Get 7 Battalions, 1 Operational Base for Sino-India LAC Deployment
The government sanctioned hiring of 9,400 fresh troops for raising seven new border battalions apart from a new operational base for the India-China LAC guarding force Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
The proposal was cleared during the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) that was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur.
According to the government sanction, the fresh manpower will be utilised for manning 47 new border posts and a dozen 'staging camps' or troops bases to be created along this frontier, largely in Arunachal Pradesh. These bases were sanctioned in 2020.
Feb 15, 2023
Indian Army Gets 'World's First' Fully Operational SWARM Drone System
In a boost to its offensive capability, the Army started taking delivery of its first heterogeneous swarm Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system for use on the battlefield.
This delivery may possibly be the world's first operational high density swarming UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) induction for military applications, especially given that most swarm drone research is yet to be operationalised across the world.
Supplied by an Indian start-up, Bengaluru based NewSpace Research & Technologies, the swarm of 100 drones is capable of hitting targets at least 50 km away into enemy territory.
The swarming systems were ordered under the emergency procurement (EP) and show that India has taken a global lead with induction of a cutting edge 'Made in India' technology which is at par, if not ahead, of its peers across the world.
HAL in Talks with Four Nations to Sell its Light-combat Aircraft Tejas
India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is in talks with at least four countries to sell its light-combat aircraft, as New Delhi looks to triple defence exports over the next two years.
As per HAL Chief Managing Director C. B. Ananthkrishnan, Malaysia has shortlisted the Tejas light fighter jet for an order of around 10 to 20 planes and Argentina, Egypt and Botswana have also expressed interest.
HAL is also in talks with the Philippines to sell its light-combat helicopters.