General Awareness

DEFENCE - December 2018

Dec 2018

Aug 28, 2024

India Inks Repeat Order for 73,000 SiG 716 Rifles from the US

The Indian Defence Ministry inked a repeat order for 73,000 SiG 716 G2 patrol assault rifles from the US to equip its frontline troops. This follows a 2019 procurement of 72,400 SiG 716 rifles (7.62 x 51mm calibre) under the 'Buy (Global)' category through a fast-track procedure, which were distributed across the Army, Air Force, and Navy.
The new order aims to address the requirements of remaining frontline soldiers, aligning with the Army's revised operational philosophy favouring the 7.62 x 51mm calibre for its longer range, increased lethality, and automatic firing mode. The SiG 716 has been integrated with OFB-manufactured ammunition and equipped with Picatinny rails for mounting accessories like optical sights and grenade launchers.

Indian Air Force's Sarang Team to Showcase at Egypt International Airshow

The Indian Air Force (IAF) took a significant step in international aviation diplomacy by dispatching its renowned Sarang Helicopter Display Team to participate in the inaugural Egypt International Airshow. This event, scheduled from September 3 to 5, 2024, at the Al-Alamein International Airport in Egypt's El Dabaa, marks a crucial moment for India to demonstrate its indigenous aviation capabilities on the global stage.
The Sarang team, known for its precision and spectacular aerial displays, represents the pinnacle of IAF's helicopter aviation skills. Their participation in this international event underscores India's growing prominence in the global aviation sector.

IPS Officer B. Srinivasan to Head India's Counter-Terrorism Force NSG

Senior IPS officer B. Srinivasan was appointed as the Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG), the country's counter-terrorism force.
Srinivasan is a 1992 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Bihar cadre.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Srinivasan as Director General, NSG, from the date of joining the post and up to August 31, 2027, -- the date of his superannuation.
The post of NSG DG was lying vacant after incumbent Nalin Prabhat was named as the new chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
The National Security Guard (NSG), commonly known as Black Cats, is a counter-terrorism unit of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It was founded on 16 October 1984, following Operation Blue Star against Sikh militants.

Aug 26, 2024

North Korea's Kim Jong Un Unveils New Suicide Drones After Performance Test

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unveiled a new type of 'suicide drone', of which he personally oversaw a performance test of the weaponry. These drones, designed to carry explosives and crash into enemy targets like guided missiles. The test was successful, with all drones accurately identifying and destroying their designated targets after flying along preset routes. Experts suggest that the technology behind these drones may have Russian origins.

Aug 25, 2024

US Approves Sale of Anti-submarine Warfare Gear to India

The DSCA delivered the required certification, notifying Congress of the possible sale.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken approved a possible foreign military sale to India of anti-submarine warfare sonobuoys and related equipment for an estimated cost of $52.8 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced in Washington.
The development came on a day Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his American counterpart Lloyd Austin held wide-ranging talks at the Pentagon to deepen the bilateral relationship, with the dialogue putting the spotlight on a raft of issues including defence cooperation, industrial collaboration, regional security, the Indo-Pacific region, and other pressing international matters.
The equipment will improve India's capability to meet threats by enhancing its capacity to conduct anti-submarine warfare operations from its US-origin MH-60R helicopters.

Aug 23, 2024

ITBP Gets Cadre Officer Sanjeev Raina as ADG in Rare Appointment

Sanjeev Raina, a 1987-batch ITBP officer, was appointed Additional Director General (ADG) in the India-China LAC guarding force, only the second time when a non-IPS officer has been elevated to this post in the force. An order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said Raina, serving as an Inspector General (IG) at the force's central sector headquartered in Bhopal, was elevated to the ADG rank apart from another officer, IG Jaspal Singh, for the panel year 2024.
However, Raina will serve in the new post for just over a month as he is scheduled to retire next month.
A rank piping ceremony was held at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) headquarters on Lodhi Road here on Thursday in the presence of DG Rahul Rasgotra and other senior officers.

Aug 22, 2024

EndureAir Joins Hands with 5 Defence PSUs to Establish Advanced Testing Facilities under DIT Scheme

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) maker EndureAir collaborated with five defence PSUs for establishing advanced testing facilities under the DIT Scheme of the Ministry of Defence. The ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up these testing facilities within the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC) to drive technological advancements and provide essential infrastructure to test and refine niche defence technologies, particularly in unmanned aerial systems.
Launched by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with an outlay of Rs. 400 crore in May 2020, the Defence Testing Infrastructure (DTI) Scheme is aimed at setting up testing facilities in collaboration with private industry and central or state government, promoting indigenous defence production, reducing military equipment imports and enhancing self-reliance.
EndureAir also said that it is the sole private firm involved alongside the five Defence PSUs -- Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Bharat Electronics Ltd, Gliders India Ltd, Yantra India Ltd, and BEML.

In a First, Two Women Officers of Indian Coast Guard Participate in Foreign Engagement

In a first, two women officers of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) were on board a patrol vessel on an overseas deployment. ICG offshore patrol vessel Sujay made a port call at Jakarta, Indonesia as part of its ongoing overseas deployment to East Asia.
The Indian Coast Guard said that the crew of Sujay engaged in professional interactions focusing on marine pollution response, maritime search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement.
The vessel is on a two-day visit to Indonesia.

Ulchi Freedom Shield Exercises

South Korea and the United States kicked off annual summertime military exercises, seeking to boost their joint readiness to fend off North Korea's weapons and cyber threats.
The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, set to end on August 29, came as North Korea races to advance its nuclear and missile programmes and tries to launch reconnaissance satellites. The drills reflect "realistic threats" across all domains, including the North's missile threats but also GPS jamming, cyberattacks and other lessons learned from recent incidents.

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