Centre Gives Financial Powers to Clear Projects to Deputy Chiefs, Command Heads of Armed Forces
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved financial powers to clear projects worth up to Rs. 200 crore to the deputy chiefs and command heads of the armed forces for capital procurement projects, officials said. The financial powers have been approved for projects under the 'Other Capital Procurement Procedure' category.
As per the approval, financial powers for capital procurement projects worth up to Rs. 100 crore have been delegated to General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) at services commands and regional commands.
First Test of Air-to-Air Missile Astra Mk II
India's latest Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile Astra Mk II is all set to move out of the drawing board as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is likely to conduct its first developmental trial this week.
The indigenously developed missile will be flight tested from a ground launcher being set up at launching complex III of Integrated Test Range (ITR) off Odisha coast.
The initial trials of the successor of Astra Mk I will be to test the weapon system's ballistic performance. Once the safe release of the missile from the ground launcher and its propulsion and navigation are validated, it would be test fired from a fighter aircraft.
Feb 17, 2021
First Joint Commands to be Launched by May
India is set to begin a formal roll-out of its long-awaited theaterisation plan to best utilise its military's resources amid growing security threats, with the Air Defence Command and the Maritime Theatre Command set to be launched by May.
The commands are being set up in the backdrop of border tensions with China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and Pakistani hostility along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir, with a joint threat from the two nuclear-armed neighbours being acknowledged as a reality by the country's military leadership, and at a time when India is demonstrating a muscular stance in the Indo-Pacific region.
India Joins Iran-Russia's Two-day Navy Exercise
India has joined Iran and Russia in a two-day navy exercise dubbed "Iran-Russia Maritime Security Belt 2021" in the northern part of the Indian Ocean.
As per reports, forces and vessels from the navy divisions of both the Iranian army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) participated in the drill alongside several vessels from the Russian navy.
The drill will cover an area of 17,000 square kilometres (6,500 square miles). It will include shooting at sea and air targets and liberating hijacked ships, as well as search and rescue and anti-piracy operations.
Feb 16, 2021
Indian Navy Gets Third Scorpene Submarine, to be Commissioned as INS Karanj
The Indian Navy got its third Scorpene submarine, which will be commissioned as INS Karanj, of Project P-75 in Mumbai.
The acceptance document was signed by Vice Admiral (Retd) Narayan Prasad, Chairman and Managing Director of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, and Rear Admiral B. Sivakumar, Chief of Staff Officer (Tech) of Western Naval Command.
With the delivery of Karanj, India further cemented its position as a submarine building nation.
MDL, one of the India's leading shipyards with the capacity and the capability to meet the requirements and aspirations of the Indian Navy, has delivered three Scorpene submarines named Khanderi, Kalvari and now Karanj.
Feb 15, 2021
Pakistan Army Holds Month-long War Games
The Pakistan Army is holding a month-long exercise in the Thar Desert in Sindh province to prepare for conflict in an extreme desert environment.
The exercise, codenamed Jidar-ul-Hadeed', began on January 28 and is scheduled to conclude on February 28.
The four-week-long defensive manoeuvre exercise is aimed at validating the concept of defence in deserts.
Tonbo Bags Multi-million-dollar Deal for Indigenising Indian Missiles
Tonbo Imaging, a night-vision startup backed by top investors such as Artiman and Qualcomm Ventures, is clinching defence deals despite all odds.
The Bengaluru-based firm has won a large deal with Bharat Dynamics Ltd to indigenize new missile seekers for the multi-million dollar anti-tank guided missile programme that BDL is building for the Indian Army. For Tonbo, it is an opportunity to tap over $500 million in the next few years.
Tonbo signed up with BDL to supply the EO-IR (electro-optical-infrared) seeker and command launcher unit (CLU) that controls and launches the missile and engages with the target before launch.
PM Modi Hands over Indigenous Arjun tank to Indian Army
Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the indigenous main battle tank Arjun Mk-1A to the Army in a function at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai. Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane received the model of the tank, designed and developed by Chennai-based Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), a unit of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).
The state-of-the-art indigenous main battle tank has been indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by CVRDE, DRDO along with 15 academic institutions, eight labs and several MSMEs.
Indian-Saudi Arabia Armies to Undertake Joint Bilateral Exercises
In a significant development, Indian and Saudi Arabia armies will undertake joint bilateral exercises and this will be the first such exercise of both the armies together. The Indian forces contingent will be travelling to Saudi Arabia for the exercises which will be taking place in the next financial year.
In December 2020 Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane had visited Saudi Arabia. It was the first time any Indian Army chief had visited the west Asian country in what is a clear sign of growing ties between New Delhi and Riyadh.
Feb 14, 2021
India Exported Military Hardware Worth over Rs 34,000 crore in Last Five Years
According to details provided by the government in the Lok Sabha, India exported military hardware and equipment worth over Rs. 34,000 crore in the last five years.
Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik said that the total exports by both private and defence public sector undertakings were worth Rs. 2059.18 crore in 2015-16 while the number came down to Rs. 1521.91 crore in 2016-17.
However, the exports of military hardware went up to Rs. 4682.36 crore in 2017-18 and further jumped to Rs. 10745.77 crore in 2018-19. The amount for 2019-20 was Rs. 9115.55 crore while it was Rs. 6288.26 crore in the current fiscal till January 31.
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