General Awareness

DEFENCE - January 2019

Jan 2019

Dec 06, 2022

OFB Out of World's Top 100 Military Firms' List, HAL, BEL Retain Spots

While one Indian company exited from the SIPRI's (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) 2021 'Top 100' list that was released, two state-owned Indian manufacturers of weapons and providers of military services retained their place.
The two companies are Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at rank 42 and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) at rank 63 in the list of 100 companies.
In SIPRI's 2020 'Top 100' list, three Indian companies were named—HAL, BEL and the OFB or the Indian Ordnance Factories. That year, HAL was ranked 42nd, BEL was placed at rank 66 and OFB at 60th place.
As per the latest report, the total arms sales of the two Indian companies (HAL and BEL) in the Top 100 were $5.1 billion in 2021. The arms sales of Hindustan Aeronautics and Bharat Electronics increased by 6.7 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively.
Both companies (HAL and BEL) have benefited from major orders placed by the Indian armed forces in recent years.

Ajit Doval Meets Central Asian NSAs

National Security Advisers (NSA) from Central Asian countries met with their Indian counterpart Ajit Doval and discussed Afghanistan, counter-terrorism and connectivity.
The meeting was a follow-up to the extensive Indian engagement with landlocked Central Asia to fashion a sea-ward connectivity route, bypassing Pakistan as well as to stabilise Afghanistan.
India and Central Asia are on the same page on terrorism as both sides have been battling violence from Islamist extremists. A joint statement on the occasion "condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and reiterated that providing safe havens, using terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism".

Indian Navy's 1st Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft

The Indian Navy's first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASWSWC) will be launched on December 16, adding yet another feather in the cap of Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd.
Though only 77.6 metres long and 10.5 metres wide, this vessel will pack a punch and be capable of hunting down and neutralising the enemy submarines lurking close to India's coast.
After her launch, the ship will get outfitted with deck equipment, sensors and weapons systems before being delivered to the Navy.
The Navy has ordered 16 such vessels. While eight are being built by GRSE, the remaining are under construction at the Cochin Shipyard Ltd.

Dec 05, 2022

US Air Force Unveils its Newest Nuclear Stealth Bomber- B-21

The US Air Force unveiled its newest nuclear stealth bomber, the B-21, which will gradually replace aircraft first flown in the Cold War.
The first new bomber in 30 years could cost nearly $700m (£569m) each and can carry nuclear and conventional weapons.
As expected, specific details of the aircraft remain shrouded in secrecy.
The B-21 Raider was unveiled during a ceremony at manufacturer Northrop Grumman's facility in California.

Dec 03, 2022

Middle-East Countries could soon Seal BrahMos Missile Deals

Countries from the Middle-east could soon be finalising a deal with the Indian government to procure the country's first indigenous supersonic cruise missile – BrahMos.
These nations initiated deliberations after they observed South Asian nations are in queue to buy this missile. Adding to it, these countries approached India to procure the missile witnessing changes in geo-political equation — where the US has refused to sell arms and ammunitions to various nations in the region and Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine has changed the country to country alignments.
Discusisons with the UAE regarding the BrahMos are already in advanced stages. In fact this country was the first in the region to express interest in buying the BrahMos missile and has expressed interest in the indigenous Akaash missile.
The discussions with Saudi Arabia too are in advanced stages. "The discussions had got delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, now the talks are back on track. It is expected that the deal could be sealed soon.

Dec 02, 2022

Exercise Agni Warrior Concludes in Maharashtra

The 12th edition of a bilateral exercise between the armies of India and Singapore concluded in Maharashtra, and achieved its aim of improving interoperability between the two sides. The bilateral exercise involved showcasing joint firepower planning, execution and use of new generation equipment by the artillery arm of both the armies.
It also included participation by both sides in a computer war game as part of the joint planning process. Both sides utilised niche technology and artillery observation simulators as part of the joint training phase.
The closing event was witnessed by Wong Wie Kuen, High Commissioner of Singapore to India, Lt Gen S Harimohan Iyer, Commandant, School of Artillery, along with other dignitaries from Singapore and serving officers from both the armies.

Dec 01, 2022

Laxmi Singh Takes Charge as New Noida CP, First Woman Officer to Head Police Commissionerate in UP

Senior IPS officer Laxmi Singh took charge as the Police Commissioner of Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida).
With the appointment, Singh became the first woman officer to head Police Commissionerate in Uttar Pradesh.
Singh, a 2000-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, replaced Additional Director General Alok Singh. The IG-rank officer is the second Police Commissioner of Gautam Buddh Nagar, where the commissionerate was introduced in January 2020.
She holds the distinction of being the first woman IPS topper (33rd rank overall) in the UPSC-held exams and was adjudged the best probationer at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad, as per official records.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

August GK, July GK, June GK, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, PERSONS IN NEWS, DAYS AND EVENTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES, GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION, ART AND CULTURE, BOOKS AND AUTHORS, TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS, ART AND CULTURE, LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Start Discussion

On any topic

Take Tests

Compiled from GK updates

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Download TCY App

Unlock All Services And Enjoy The Premium Benefits

US$ 10

US$ 13

US$ 15

US$ 17

US$ 19

US$ 20

US$ 21

US$ 22

US$ 23

US$ 24

US$ 25

US$ 26