Serbia Signs LOI with Spain on C295 Transport Aircraft
Serbian Assistant Minister of Defence for Material Resources Nenad Miloradović and Spanish National Armaments Director Admiral Santiago Ramon Gonzalez Gomez signed a letter of intent (LOI) in Madrid for Serbia's procurement of Airbus C295 transport aircraft, supported and assisted by the Spanish Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The signing came less than a month after Serbian Defence Minister Nebojša Stefanović announced that Serbia would buy two C295s on the first day of the Partner 2021 defence exhibition held in Belgrade on 11–14 October.
Nov 10, 2021
Vice Admiral Hari Kumar to Take Charge as India's Next Navy Chief
The Central government announced that Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar will take over as India's next Navy Chief, replacing Admiral Karambir Singh.
Kumar is currently heading the Mumbai-based Western Naval Command. He was commissioned into the navy in January 1983.
Before taking over the Western Naval Command, Kumar was Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, the ministry said in a statement. In that capacity, he was involved in the ongoing theaterisation drive for optimal use of the military's resources.
Indian Navy Receives Fourth Scorpene Submarine 'Vela'
The Indian Navy got its fourth submarine INS Vela under Project75 after completing all trails at the sea.
Project75 includes the construction of six submarines of Scorpene design. These submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France.
"Christened 'Vela', the submarine was launched in May 2019, and has completed all major harbour and sea trials including weapon and sensor trials despite Covid restrictions. Three of these submarines are already in commission with the Indian Navy.
Nov 09, 2021
China Delivers Largest, Most Advanced Warship to Pakistan
China delivered to Pakistan the largest and most advanced warship that Beijing has ever exported.
Designed and built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC), the frigate was delivered to the Pakistan Navy in a commissioning ceremony in Shanghai.
The Type 054A/P frigate was named the PNS Tughril, according to a statement by the Pakistan Navy.
The PNS Tughril is the first hull of four Type 054 frigates being constructed for the Pakistan Navy.
Nov 08, 2021
Iran Begins Annual War Games Ahead of Nuke Talks with West
Iran's military began its annual war games in a coastal area of the Gulf of Oman, less than a month before upcoming nuclear talks with the West.
The navy and air force units as well as ground forces were participating in a more than 1 million square-kilometer (386,100 square-mile) area east of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Dubbed "Zolfaghar-1400," the war games are aimed at improving readiness in confronting foreign threats and any possible invasion.
Nov 07, 2021
Indian Navy's Goa Maritime Conclave
India played host to the Navy chiefs of 12 nations from the Indian Ocean Region at the annual maritime conclave 2021. The third edition of the Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC-21) included a three-day-long conclave on building working-level deliberations that took place earlier in the year during the Goa Maritime Symposium-21 in May.
The Navy chose 'maritime security' as the official theme for the GMC 21. The theme focused on 'Maritime security and emerging non-traditional threats: A case for a proactive role for IOR navies', derived keeping in mind the necessity of 'winning everyday peace' in the maritime domain.
Japan, Germany Expand Military Ties
Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said that Japan will step up military cooperation with Germany in the Indo-Pacific region as he welcomed a port call by the first German warship to visit Japan in about 20 years.
The frigate Bayern is visiting Tokyo after two days of joint exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Samidare in the Pacific Ocean amid increasingly assertive maritime activities by China in the region.
The ship's visit is "an important turning point" in pursuing a "free and open Indo-Pacific" and secure one of the world's most important shipping lanes, Kishi said after inspecting the frigate with German officials.