Iran Kicks Off Ground Forces Drill on Coast of Gulf of Oman
Iran's military kicked off ground forces drill along the coast of the Gulf of Oman, state TV reported, the latest in a series of snap exercises that the country is holding amid escalating tensions over its nuclear programme and Washington's pressure campaign against Tehran.
According to the report, commando units and airborne infantry were participating in the annual exercise, along with fighter jets, helicopters and military transport aircraft. Iran's National Army chief Abdolrahim Mousavi was overseeing the drill.
Iran has recently stepped up military drills as part of an effort to pressure President-elect Joe Biden over the nuclear deal that President Donald Trump pulled out of. Mr. Biden has said the U.S. could rejoin the multinational accord meant to contain Iran's nuclear programme.
Joe Biden Seeks Five-year Extension of New START Arms Treaty with Russia
The Biden administration plans to seek a five-year extension to the New START arms control treaty with Russia, the White House announced, only days before the crucial nuclear arms pact was set to expire.
"The President has long been clear that the New START treaty is in the national security interests of the United States. And this extension makes even more sense when the relationship with Russia is adversarial as it is at this time," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a briefing.
The New START arms control treaty was signed by then-US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in 2010. It restricts the number of strategic nuclear warheads the pair can deploy to not more than 1,550. There is also a limit on the missiles and bombers that carry them.
The agreement, one of the last restraints on Russia and the United States' nuclear forces, was set to expire on February 5.
Jan 22, 2021
India and Singapore to Scale up Military Ties
India and Singapore expressed a commitment to further elevate their engagement in the fields of defence technology, military and industry.
This was the outcome of the fifth India-Singapore Defence Ministers Dialogue. Rajnath Singh co-chaired it the along with Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence, Singapore. It was a virtual interaction.
During the dialogue, both ministers discussed new areas of potential cooperation and articulated their vision in that direction. The ministers witnessed the signing of the implementing agreement on submarine rescue support and cooperation signed between the navies of both countries.
Rafale Jets to Debut in Republic Day Fly Past
The Indian Air Force's Rafales, Sukhoi-30s and MiG-29s, fighters that are part of its muscular posture in the Ladakh theatre, are among the 42 aircraft that will take part in this year's Republic Day fly past, the highlight of India's biggest ceremonial parade.
The Rafales, whose induction into the IAF began last September and is work in progress, are taking part in the fly past for the first time. A woman fighter pilot will also participate in the parade for the first time.
Jan 21, 2021
First military Team Heads to Russia to Train on S-400 air Defence Systems
The first group of Indian military specialists is set to travel to Russia for training in operating the S-400 air defence systems, deliveries of which are set to start this year against the backdrop of possible US sanctions.
Russian ambassador Nikolay Kudashev described the upcoming departure of the Indian military team as a remarkable occasion that will usher in "a new stage in our strategic partnership.
He defended the $5.4 billion deal with India for five S-400 systems as part of Russia's bilateral and multilateral commitments within the framework of just and equal relations based on the international law and the UN Charter.
India and Russia signed the $5.4 billion deal for five S-400 systems in October 2018, and the first batch is expected to be delivered by the end of 2021.
Jan 20, 2021
Global Firepower Index, 2021
The Global Firepower Index ranks the countries based on their potential military strength. India was ranked fourth in the index. The Global Firepower Index ranked 138 countries. The countries were evaluated based on prolonged offensive and defensive military campaigns.
The United States topped the index with 904 attack helicopters and eleven aircraft carriers. Also, the country has sixty-eight submarines and 40,000 armoured fighting vehicles.
The US was followed by Russia with 189 fighter aircrafts and 538 attack helicopters. Russia has 13,000 tanks and 64 submarines.
China was ranked third with 1,200 combat aircrafts and 327 attack helicopters and seventy-nine submarines. Also, China has 35,000 armoured vehicles.
India was ranked fourth in the Global Firepower Index with 542 combat aircraft, 17 submarines, 4,730 tanks and 37 attack helicopters.
Japan was ranked fifth in the Global Firepower Index with 2 helicopter carriers, 27 destroyers.
South Korea was ranked sixth in the world and North Korea was ranked 28th.
Jan 19, 2021
Ex-Desert Knight 21
For the first time, French and Indian and Rafale jets would be flying and exercising together during the Desert Knight-21 war games scheduled between January 20 and 24 in Jodhpur.
The Indian Air Force is hosting the French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'Air et de I'Espace) at Air Force Station Jodhpur for Ex-Desert Knight 21, a bilateral Air exercise. The French forces are currently deployed in Asia as part of their 'Skyros Deployment', and will transit through India.
The aim of the exercise is to provide operational exposure and share best practices towards enhancing combat capability. Both the forces will participate with Fighter, Transport, and Tanker aircraft.
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