General Awareness

DEFENCE - October 2019

Oct 2019

Jan 20, 2020

India Successfully Tests K-4 Missile

The Indian strategic forces got a major boost after the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) tested a 3,500-kilometre range submarine-launched K-4 ballistic missile off the Vizag coast, with the nuclear weapon meeting all its target objectives.
The three-metre-tall missile carries a nuclear warhead of over one tonne with a circular error probability (CEP) far lower than that of Chinese ballistic missiles. Only the US, Russia and China have submarine-launched ballistic missiles of 3,500-kilometre range. The INS Arihant is already equipped with a 700-kilometre range B-02 nuclear missile, with the second nuclear submarine INS Arighat on way to becoming operational.

Jan 19, 2020

U.K. Working on Government-to-government Format for Defence Deals

Brig. Gavin Thompson, U.K. Defence Adviser in India said that the UK government is working on a government-to-government framework for defence deals in future given India's preference for such an arrangement. "We have worked very hard since April last year to get all departments in U.K. to get this mechanism. We are at a point where we can send this proposal to the Indian government," Brig. Thompson said. The mechanism needs to be agreed to by both sides, he stated. However, unlike the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route of the U.S. government where the government levies a small service charge, Brig. Thompson said there are no overheads built into the contract.

Indian Navy Trims Acquisition List Due to Budget Cuts

With budget cuts hitting hard, the Navy is pulling back on procurement of combat systems, cutting down on the numbers planned to be acquired in some cases and foreclosing other projects that have hit a dead end.
The rationalisation process, which is likely to be approved by the defence ministry, has been initiated after consecutive budgets where projected demands of the Navy have not been met. In the current budget, for example, the Navy was allocated Rs. 41,259 crore against the projected amount of Rs. 64,307 crore, which officials say is not even adequate to continue annual payments for acquisition contracts already signed.
As per reports, the Navy is cutting down the number of Mine Counter Measure Vessels (MCMVs) it wanted to acquire from the original 12 warships to eight. The contract, given on nomination to the Goa Shipyard Limited, was originally pegged at Rs. 32,000 crore which will now be brought down.
Similarly, it is planning to cut down the acquisition of Kamov KA 31 early warning helicopters to six, from 10. These choppers are deployed from large combatants such as the aircraft carrier to significantly increase the detection range for incoming enemy units.

Jan 18, 2020

L&T Delivers over Half of K9 Vajra-T SPHs to Indian Army Ahead of Schedule

India's private-sector defence contractor Larsen & Toubro (L&T) delivered ahead of schedule more than half of the 100 K9 Vajra-T 155 mm/52 cal tracked self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) ordered by the Indian Army (IA).
The company handed over the 51st Vajra-T, which is a variant of the Hanwha Defense K9 Thunder SPH, to Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at L&T's Armoured System Complex (ASC) facility in the western coastal town of Hazira in the state of Gujarat.
L&T claimed that the SPH, like the 50 howitzers before it, was delivered to the IA before the stipulated schedule in keeping with the INR43.66 billion (USD615.70 million) contract awarded by India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) in mid-2017. The contract requires L&T to complete delivery of all 100 K9 Vajra-Ts to the IA by the end of 2020.

HAL Has Designs on a Full LCA for Navy

After playing a prominent supporting role in the Light Combat Aircraft naval prototype's tricky landing and take-off debuts from a Navy ship, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd eyes the prospect of fully designing and developing a twin-engine fighter plane for the Navy if or when an occasion comes up.
Asked what the successful twin acts of naval protytpe NP2 mean for its manufacturer HAL, company Chairman and Managing Director R. Madhavan said that the recent ship-based trials will, of course, not translate to business from the Navy unless a twin-engined fighter project formalises from the Force.

Jan 17, 2020

Indian Army Conducts Biggest Airborne Exercise

The Indian Army conducted its biggest airborne exercise called the 'Winged Raider' comprising of more than 500 Special Forces troops in the North-Eastern theatre.
The exercise conducted in January had over 500 soldiers of the Special Forces parachuting from C-130 Hercules and C-17 globemaster transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, besides Dhruv helicopters during the day and night. The exercise was preceded by a series of intense preparations involving movement of Special Forces and rallying up of transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force starting from January 6.
The newly inducted aerial platforms and equipment were validated with clockwork precision and seamless integration between the Indian Army and Indian Air Force in difficult terrain. Exercise Winged Raider demonstrated the operational readiness of our Paratroopers and Air Warriors to undertake airborne missions.

Jan 16, 2020

European powers trigger dispute mechanism

European powers have triggered a formal dispute mechanism over Iran's breaches of key parts of the 2015 nuclear deal - a move that could spell its end.
Iran has gradually lifted all limits on its production of enriched uranium, which can be used to make reactor fuel but also nuclear weapons.
It has said it is entitled to do so in response to sanctions reinstated by the US when it abandoned the deal in 2018.
France, Germany and the UK did not accept Iran's argument.
The mechanism, set out in article 36 of the deal, involves the dispute being referred to a Joint Commission that will have a minimum of 15 days to resolve the issue.
If the complainants are still not satisfied, they can refer the matter to the UN Security Council, which could vote to reimpose any sanctions lifted under the deal.

222 squadron to be operationalised with Brahmos equipped Sukhoi-30 at AFS Thanjavur

The newly resurrected 222 Squadron will be operationalised with Brahmos equipped Sukhoi-30 air superiority fighter with twin-engine at Air Force Station in Thanjavur on January 20.
The induction ceremony of Su-30 Squadron will be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Thanjavoor, an official statement quoted Air Marshal Amit Tiwari, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command announcing in a press meet.
The 222 Squadron, also known as 'Tigersharks' was raised at Air Force Station Ambala on 15 Sep 1969 with Sukhoi Su-7 aircraft. In July 1971, the Squadron moved to Air Force Station Halwara and took part in the 1971 war with Pakistan.

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