General Awareness

DEFENCE - January 2019

Jan 2019

Dec 13, 2022

IAF Decides to Allow Women Officers to Join its Garud Commando Force

The Indian Air Force has allowed women officers to join its special forces unit, the Garud commando force, to promote gender equality within its ranks, provided they meet the criteria for selection.
The decision to allow women into the elite wing was taken last year.
The special forces of the army, navy and air force consist of some of the toughest soldiers who undergo rigorous training, are capable of mounting a swift and stealthy response in denied territories, and have thus far been a male preserve. Soldiers are not directly assigned to special forces units, and have to volunteer for it.
The air force raised the Garud commando force in 2004. The move came three years after four terrorists, armed with Kalashnikovs and grenades, attempted to force their way into the its Awantipora fighter base near Srinagar in broad daylight. They were all killed.

Indian Navy to Create Marcos Unit for Women

In a historic move, the Indian Navy decided to allow women to be part of its elite special forces the Marine Commandos (Marcos). The historical move will allow women serve as commandos in any of the three defence services.
No one in the Navy is directly assigned to Special Forces units and they have to volunteer for it.
Both women officers and sailors who join the Navy as Agniveers next year will have the option to volunteer to become Marcos.
The Army, Navy and Air Force have Special Forces comprising the toughest soldiers who have to undergo rigorous training to be able to conduct a swift and stealthy response in denied territories. Until now, only men were allowed to be part of the Special Forces.
One of these Special Forces in the Navy is the Marine Commandos or Marcos.
The Indian Navy raised the Marcos in 1987. Initially, they were named the Indian Marine Special Forces (IMSF). However, in 1991, the Navy changed the name to "sabotage forces of the marines" – Marine Commando Force (MCF), who are also known as Marcos in short.

Dec 12, 2022

The 39th Edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol Is Underway

The 39th edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy is being conducted from December 8 -19, 2022. Indian Naval Ship (INS) Karmuk, an indigenously built Missile Corvette participated in the pre-deployment briefing at Belawan, Indonesia.
The 39th edition of IND-INDO CORPAT seeks to bolster the maritime cooperation between the two navies and forge strong bonds of friendship between India and Indonesia.
As part of Government of India's vision SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to enhance maritime security in the region.
India and Indonesia have been carrying out CORPATs twice a year since 2002, with an aim of keeping this vital part of the IOR safe and secure for commercial shipping, international trade and conduct of legitimate maritime activities.

Dec 11, 2022

Japan to Jointly Develop 'Next-genenration' Fighter Jet with UK, Italy

Japan announced that it will jointly develop its next-generation fighter jet with the UK and Italy as Tokyo looks to expand defence cooperation beyond its traditional ally, the United States.
The Mitsubishi F-X fighter jet will replace the aging fleet of F-2 that Japan previously developed with the United States.
Japan's F-X and Britain's Tempest, a successor to the Eurofighter Typhoon, will be combined into the next-generation combat aircraft for deployment in 2035.
The deal will give Japan greater support in countering China's growing assertiveness and allow Britain a bigger presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Dec 09, 2022

INS Kochi, Kavaratti and Sumedha Participate in IFR-22

Indian Navy ships Kochi, Kavaratti and Sumedha were in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh and participated in the maiden International Fleet Review (IFR) conducted by the Bangladesh Navy (BN). The ships took part in a variety of activities conducted as a part of BN IFR-22 from 06 to 09 December 2022.
IFR-22 was conducted by BN this year, to commemorate the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh. The Chief Guest for the Fleet Review was the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.

Dec 07, 2022

The 7th Edition of US-India Naval Exercise Sangam in Goa

The 7th edition of Exercise Sangam, a joint Naval Special Forces exercise between Indian Navy MARCOs and US Navy SEALs commenced in Goa. The present edition which will see personnel from SEAL Team Five based at San Diego, US and Indian Navy MARCOs from INS Abhimanyu together aim at exchange of ideas and experiences on various aspects of maritime special operations. The exercise is planned for a duration of three weeks wherein personnel will exercise and hone their skills in maritime interdiction operations, direct action missions, combat free fall jumps, special heliborne operations and various other evolutions.
Exercise Sangam was first conducted in 1994 and is an important military and diplomatic initiative between the two nations, reflective of the trust and friendship between them.
A joint exercise among US SEALs, Indian Navy MARCOs and other participating nations' Naval Special Forces is held annually as part of Exercise Malabar. The Sangam Exercise is a bilateral exercise purely between the US and Indian Special Forces.

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