General Awareness

DEFENCE - October 2019

Oct 2019

Oct 24, 2019

US Air Force Gets Its First Anti-Drone Laser Weapon From Raytheon

Raytheon has delivered the first anti-drone buggy to the US Air Force, just over year after it introduced the technology.
It's a high-energy laser system mounted on a small all-terrain vehicle, to be specific, which uses electro-optical/infrared sensors to detect and track drones.
After it identifies and tracks the unwelcome flying device, it then neutralizes it with its laser in a process that takes a few seconds.
Raytheon says the system can draw power from a standard 220-volt outlet and can deliver dozens -- it didn't mention an exact number -- of laser shots on a single charge.
However, it can also be paired with a generator if it needs to be on the field for an extended period.

Govt Nod to 3,000 More Personnel in ITBP, Two New Commands for Guarding China Front

The Union government approved a full cadre review, resulting in creation of over 3,000 new posts, and creation of two operational commands for the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) that guards the LAC with China.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said the cadre review exercise of the force has been conducted after 18 years, the last was done in 2001.
The review, for Group 'A' general duty (executive) cadre and non-general duty officials, will create over 3,000 new posts, including 60 in the top command, and will also allow it to raise two commands along the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China that the force guards.

Deal with HAL for 83 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Soon: Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is likely to sign a deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for acquiring 83 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) as negotiations over the price of the fighter jets are almost done.
In December 2017, the IAF had issued a single-vendor tender to the HAL for procuring 83 LCA. However, the deal is yet to be signed owing to delay in negotiations over the price of the aircraft.

Oct 23, 2019

IAF Successfully Test Fires Brahmos Surface-To-Surface Missile From Mobile Platform

The Indian Air Force has carried out successful firing of BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles from a mobile platform at Trak Island in Andaman Nicobar islands.
The drill to check the IAF's capability to hit targets with "pin-point" accuracy at targets close to 300 KM was conducted.
Surface-to-surface missiles were fired by IAF at Trak Island in the Andaman Nicobar group of islands. The missile engaged the designated mock targets close to 300 KM away.
The 2.5-tonne surface-to-surface missile has a range of around 300 km.
BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms.

DRDO Starts Work On 'Next-Gen' Hypersonic Weapon

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working on manufacturing a hypersonic missile, that would be capable of travelling at a speed five times faster than that of sound.
This means, the next generation hypersonic weapons will have the capacity to move at a speed of about a mile per second.
A wind tunnel is being worked on at the moment where the weapon will be tested and fine-tuned, before it is put to operational use.

Indian Army's Exercise 'Sindhu Sudarshan' In Deserts Of Rajasthan

More than 40,000 troops will take part in the Indian Army's exercise codenamed 'Sindhu Sudarshan' in the deserts of Rajasthan, from November 29 to December 4, 2019.
The Indian Army will be carrying out this exercise using its integrated battle groups which are the new formations being raised by the force for warfighting in future.
Over 40,000 troops will participate in an all-arms battle array of Divisions and Brigades carrying out offensive operations in deserts.
This will provide the unique opportunity to employ entire mechanised formations consisting of Tanks and Infantry Combat Vehicles in order to evaluate the capability to strike deep along Western Borders.

Oct 22, 2019

Kurdish-Led Syrian Democratic Forces Withdraw From Border Town Of Ras Al Ain

In Syria, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have withdrawn from the border town of Ras al Ain under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal.
SDF spokesman Kino Gabriel said that they do not have any more fighters in the city, but a spokesman for Turkish-backed Syrian rebels said the withdrawal was not yet complete.
Ras al Ain is one of two towns on the Turkish-Syrian border that have been the main targets of Turkey's offensive to push back Kurdish fighters and create a safe zone inside Syria that is more than 30 km deep.
Turkey paused the offensive night for five days under a deal agreed between President Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.
Erdogan has warned that Turkey will resume the assault when the deadline expires, if the SDF had not pulled back from the safe zone area.

DAC Approves Procurement Of Indigenous Equipment

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has accorded approval for Capital Procurement for the Defence forces amounting to over 3,300 crore rupees of indigenously designed and developed equipment. Maintaining its impetus on the Make in India initiative, the DAC accorded approval for three projects to be indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by the Indian industry.
The first two projects include third-generation Anti-Tank Guided Missiles and the Auxiliary Power Units for the T-72 and T-90 Tanks.
The Third-generation Anti-Tank Guided Missiles would provide Fire and Forget and Top Attack capabilities to the troops in an armoured battle.
The Auxiliary Power Units would enable incorporation of various upgrades to Fire Control System and Night Fighting capabilities of the Tanks.
The third indigenous project pertains to discrete Electronic Warfare systems for the mountain and High-Altitude terrain, which would be designed and developed by DRDO and manufactured by design cum production partner from the Indian industry.

Oct 21, 2019

Indo-Japan Joint Military Exercise Dharma Guardian Commences In Mizoram

The second edition of bilateral annual military exercise Dharma Guardian - 2019 between Indian and Japanese Army commenced at Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) Vairengte, Mizoram.
The Japanese contingent is represented by 34th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division of Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces (JGSDF), while the Indian side is represented by a battalion of the Dogra Regiment. 25 soldiers from each battalion are participating in this joint exercise.
The aim of the exercise is joint training of troops in counter-insurgency/counter-terrorism operations in both mountainous terrains. Exercise Dharma Guardian - 2019 will further cement the long-standing strategic ties between India and Japan.

Pune: India-Maldives joint military exercise 'Ex EKUVERIN - 2019' culminates

India-Maldives joint military exercise 'Ex EKUVERIN - 2019' culminated with an impressive closing ceremony held at Foreign Training Node, Aundh Military Station, Pune.
The 14 day Joint Training that commenced on October 7, 2019 included joint training of the contingents in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban environment under the UN mandate, developing interoperability and cohesion between both the contingents.
The Maldivian contingent was represented by Marine troops of Maldivian National Defence Force, while the Indian side was represented by a battalion of the MAHAR regiment.

Three Terror Launch Pads in PoK Destroyed, 6-10 Pakistani Soldiers Killed

In a major counter-offensive after Pakistan's unprovoked firing, the Indian Army carried out heavy artillery strikes targeting four terror launch pads and several Pakistani military positions in Neelam Valley in PoK, killing 6-10 of their soldiers and as many terrorists, Army Chief Bipin Rawat said.
The Indian retaliation came a day after Pakistan military resorted to firing in Tangadhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir along the Line of Control to assist infiltration by terrorists, killing two Indian Army personnel and a civilian. Three others were also injured in the attack.
The retaliation has caused substantial harm to the terrorist infrastructure across the Line of Control (LoC).

Oct 20, 2019

Visakhapatnam: India-Myanmar Naval Exercise Commence Onboard INS Ranvijay

The opening ceremony of the second edition of 'India Myanmar Naval Exercise' IMNEX-2019 was conducted onboard INS Ranvijay.
Myanmar naval ships UMS Sin Phyu Shin (F-14) and UMS Tabinshweti (773) arrived at Visakhapatnam and would engage in professional interaction with Indian Navy personnel for sharing of expertise on various maritime issues between both the navies.
The harbour phase of IMNEX-19 scheduled till October 20, 2019 includes visits to Indian Naval units, training and maintenance facility at Visakhapatnam.
During Sea Phase scheduled from October 20 to 22, INS Ranvijay, a guided-missile destroyer and INS Kuthar, a missile corvette will be carrying out a joint exercise with Myanmar ships UMS Sin Phyu Shin, a frigate and UMS Tabinshweti, a corvette in the Bay of Bengal.

Army Organises 'The Ultimate Run' To Honour 'Next Of Kin', Disabled Soldiers

Indian Army organised an event "The Ultimate Run" to honour the next of kin and disabled soldiers at Cariappa Parade Ground in Delhi Cantonment.
Present to honour and motivate the participants, Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat and Vice Chief Lieutenant-General MM Naravane flagged off the event.
The two were seen motivating and interacting with Army veterans and participants with a disability during the event.

Indian Defence Exports To Grow To Rs 35,000 Crore By 2024

Indian defence industry is becoming export-oriented and country's defence exports are set to grow to Rs 35,000 crore in next five years.
India is manufacturing weapons and equipment not just to arm our defence forces but we are now gradually becoming an export-oriented defence industry and our defence export, which currently range in the region of just about Rs 11, 000 crores annually is set to grow to approximately Rs 35,000 crores by the year 2024.

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