President Tsai Ing-wen said that Taiwan may become a supplier of weapons to Western democracies, praising the island's ramped up weapons-design ability as she launched an advanced, missile-laden warship and commissioned a new minelayer.
Tsai has made boosting the defence of the Chinese-claimed island a priority in the face of a growing military challenge from Beijing, which has never renounced the use of force to bring democratic Taiwan under its control.
Warships, Jets Part of Maritime Command; Contours Finalised
India is set to create an overarching maritime command. It will have warships, fighter jets, helicopters, submarines, aircraft carriers and special amphibious brigades of the Army.
To be headed by the Navy, the command's contours were finalised and shared with the chiefs of the three-armed forces.
Before the year ends, the plan is expected to be sent to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat for a decision and government's approval.
Creating theatre commands with elements of all three armed forces operating jointly is the mandate of the CDS, a post created in January this year. The command will not just cover both sides of the peninsula but also aims to dominate a vast area. The Navy assumes its area of influence from the Straits of Hormuz to the west and Straits of Malacca to the east.
Dec 15, 2020
Navy's Advanced Frigate 'Himgiri' Launched
'Himgiri', the first of the three Project 17A ships being built at Kolkata's Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), made her first contact with the waters of Hoogly River.
Project 17A has upheld India's vision for Atmanirbhar Bharat. P17A ships have been indigenously designed by Directorate of Naval Design (Surface Ship Design Group) — DND (SSG), and are being built at indigenous yards namely Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and GRSE.
General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was the chief guest at the ceremony. In keeping with Naval traditions Smt Madhulika Rawat, spouse of CDS, launched the ship. The ship has taken its name and crest of the second frigate of the Leander Class of ships, which incidentally was launched 50 years ago in 1970.
Under the Project 17A programme, a total of seven ships, four at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and three ships at GRSE are being built with enhanced stealth features, advanced indigenous weapon and sensor fit along with several other improvements.
Dec 14, 2020
HAL's Avionics Division Assembles First Israeli AESA Radar for Jaguar Jets Locally
HAL's Avionics Div, Hyderabad has acquired clearance for the primary AESA Radar (CBU part) to be fitted on the Jaguar DARIN III UPG plane, that is the primary AESA radar being fitted on any platform in India.
HAL Hyderabad is the manufacturing company for complete 54 AESA radars underneath ToT from IAI, Elta Methods, Israel. In a short ceremony held on 20 November 2020, the Clearance Certificates was handed over by HV Kumar, RDAQA (Hyd) to Mr. Rajeev Kumar, GM (AD).
ELTA ELM-2052 is a Hearth Management Radar FCR designed for air-to-air superiority/strike missions, based mostly on totally solid-state Energetic Electronically Scanning Array AESA tech enabling the radar to attain lengthy detection ranges and multi-target monitoring capabilities.
Dec 13, 2020
First Separation Tests of Safran's 1,000-kg AASM "Hammer" Air-to-ground Weapon a Success
The new 1,000-kilogram version of the AASM "Hammer" air-to-ground modular weapon, designed and produced by Safran Electronics & Defense, successfully completed its first two inert separation tests from a Rafale omni role fighter. The tests were conducted at the French defense procurement agency DGA's Cazaux flight test center in southwest France.
The separation dynamics observed during the two firings were in line with simulations. These industrial validation tests were designed to check the correct sequencing of all components of the wing hardpoint and the weapon, as well as the wing deployment mechanism on the range extension kit. Following these successful separation tests, the first live firing tests will be conducted in 2021 as part of the final development and qualification of the 1,000-kg AASM.
The 1,000-kg AASM features a guidance kit derived from the 250-kg version and a specific range extension kit. The 1,000-kg AASM has the same modular characteristics as the 250-kg version with the BLU109 penetrating bomb body and MK84 conventional body, as well as its close functional integration with the Rafale, especially for fire control system and configuration options.
Dec 11, 2020
India and Japan Discuss Military Ties, Joint Drills
India and Japan have discussed how to further enhance cooperation and interoperability between the air forces of the two countries.
They also discussed the scope for enhancement of joint exercises and training. A broader cooperation for strengthening collective response to contingencies was also discussed.
The two sides held wide-ranging discussions during the visit of General Izutsu Shunji, Chief of Staff, Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF), who met his Indian counterpart Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria.
Gen Izutsu Shunji called on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and held meetings with Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Navy Admiral Karambir Singh and Vice Chief of the Army Lt Gen SK Saini.
A pair of Canadians have been held for almost two years amid a dispute over the arrest of an executive of Chinese technology giant Huawei.
Brazil's CBC and India's SSS Defence Joint Venture to Take Off in 2021
Production of ammunition under the joint venture between Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos (CBC) Brazil, the world's second-largest ammunition manufacturer, and Stumpp Schuele & Somappa India (SSS Defence) will take off in August 2021, in Andhra Pradesh.
The joint venture will focus on not only the Indian market but will also reach out to the region.
The joint venture between the two companies was inked in January this year.
China and Pakistan Conduct Joint Air Drills
China and Pakistan are conducting joint air force exercises in the southern desert of the Islamic Republic near the border with India in a not-so-subtle message to a country with which both have long had tense relations.
The drills come just a week after Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe visited Pakistan and signed a memorandum of understanding for deepening military cooperation. The exercises, dubbed Shaheen -- or Falcon -- IX, are underway at the newly operational Bholari air base in the arid region of Sindh in the country's south, less than 200 km from the Indian border.