Tata Group and L&T to build six Pinaka Rocket Regiments for Army
The Defence Ministry signed contracts with the Tata Power Company Limited (TPCL) and the Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for supply of six Pinaka rocket regiments for the Army at approximately Rs. 2,580 crore. This will be the first instance of the private industry manufacturing the complete Pinaka system.
These six Pinaka regiments comprise 114 launchers with automated gun aiming and positioning system (AGAPS) and 45 command posts to be procured from TPCL and L&T and 330 vehicles to be procured from Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML). The regiments will be operationalised along the northern and the eastern borders and the induction is planned to be completed by 2024.
This project is being processed under the Buy (Indian) categorisation with 70% indigenous content, the Ministry said. The Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) has been indigenously designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Sep 01, 2020
IPS Charu Sinha to Become First Woman Head of CRPF's Srinagar Sector
For the first time, a female IPS officer has been appointed as Inspector General (IG) of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Srinagar sector, one of the terrorist-affected areas in Jammu and Kashmir.
Charu Sinha, IPS officer of the 1996-batch Telangana cadre, will now be heading the Srinagar sector for CRPF as the Inspector General. This is not the first time when she has been assigned such a tough task, earlier also, she had worked as IG, the Bihar sector in CRPF and has dealt with Naxals.
Under her leadership, various anti-Naxals operations were carried out. Later, she was transferred to IG Jammu in CRPF where she spent a long and successful tenure. On Monday, a fresh order came appointing her as the IG Srinagar sector.
Current Director-General CRPF AP Maheshwari headed the Srinagar sector as IG in 2005.
The sector, which started functioning in 2005 never had a female officer at the IG level. This sector involved in anti-terror operations and closely work with the Indian Army along with Jammu and Kashmir police.
Srinagar sector is located at Brein Nishat, Srinagar (J-K). It started functioning in 2005. Srinagar Sector has operational jurisdiction over three districts of J-K- Budgam, Ganderbal, and Srinagar and Union Territory of Ladakh.
US Seeks Formal Alliance Similar to NATO with India, Japan and Australia
As per reports, Washington aims to formalise its closer Indo-Pacific defence relations with India, Japan and Australia – also known as "the quad" – into something more closely resembling the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
The US government's goal is to get the grouping of four countries and others in the region to work together as a bulwark against a potential challenge from China and to create a critical mass around the shared values and interests of those parties in a manner that attracts more countries in the Indo-Pacific and even from around the world.
Aug 31, 2020
Navy Inducts Indigenously Developed Torpedo Decoy System
Anti-Submarine Warfare capability of the Indian Navy received a major boost with the conclusion of a contract for Advanced Torpedo Decoy System (ATDS) 'Maareech' capable of launch from all frontline warships of Indian Navy. The decoy system has been designed and developed indigenously by DRDO's Naval Systems and Materials (NS&M) cluster lab Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi.
Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), the other naval laboratory in the NS&M cluster, has developed the expendable decoy counter measure system, which is integrated with the Maareech system. Maareech ATDS is capable of providing reliable defence mechanism against a possible torpedo attack by vintage as well as modern torpedoes.
The system has both torpedo detection and countermeasure capability. Its functions include automatic detection, tracking and sounding alert of incoming torpedoes, and decoying of acoustic homing torpedoes. Bharat Electronics Limited, a Defence PSU, would undertake the production of this decoy system.
Maareech features are at par with the global torpedo defence systems; Maareech system possesses detection and decoying capabilities superior to that of global systems.
Also, being totally indigenous, continuous support of DRDO and Indian industry is available for up gradation of capabilities based on new requirements arising out of tactical missions. This induction not only stands testimony to the joint resolve of the Indian Navy and DRDO towards indigenous development of Defence technology, but is also a major fillip to the Government's 'Make in India' initiative and the country's resolve to become 'Atmanirbhar' in niche technology.
Aug 30, 2020
India Not to Attend War Games in Russia
India pulled out of a multi-nation military exercise hosted by Russia in which Chinese and Pakistani troops too were expected to participate. With tensions brewing, India did not want its military seen alongside that of China and Pakistan.
This decision was taken at a high-level meeting where External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat were present. It was decided that with India locked in a military conflict with China in eastern Ladakh, it could not be business as usual. China has stalled all efforts to disengage along the Line of Actual Control.
Jaishankar and General Rawat also took into account the worsening global Covid-19 situation. India and China clashed in the Galwan valley on June 15 in which 20 Indian troops lost their lives while the Chinese suffered an undeclared number of casualties.
Aug 29, 2020
Four Artillery Systems from Kalyani Group Being Tested by Indian Army
Kalyani Group developed artillery systems are in the race to be officially be inducted into the Indian Army sometime shortly. Four artillery systems developed by the Kalyani Group have finally moved from internal trials to the user trials stage and soon might be on its way to be inducted into the Indian Army.
Garuda 105 mounted on a light tactical vehicle, Bharat-52, 155mm/39cal ULH and Truck mounted 155mm/39cal ULH are four artillery systems which are being tested by the Indian Army, where else Bharat-52 a 155mm, 52 caliber towed howitzer has reached final trials round and around 400 numbers will be ordered once it is cleared by the Indian Army. Elbit Systems developed Athos 2052 towed gun had won the Tender but sources now suggest that it might be replaced with Bharat-52 instead.