General Awareness

DEFENCE - June 2020

Jun 2020

Aug 09, 2020

India to Participate in Multi-nation Kavkaz 2020 (Caucasus-2020) Military Exercise

India will take part in the multilateral military "Russian Kavkaz 2020" strategic command-post exercise to be held in Astrakhan, Russia. The Indian contingent includes 150 Army personnel and a smaller number of personnel from the Navy and Air Force.
The invitation for participation to Kavkaz 2020, also referred to as Caucasus-2020, has been extended to at least 18 countries including China, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey apart from other Central Asian Republics part of the SCO.

Aug 08, 2020

Russia Will See any Missile Launched at its Territory as a Nuclear Attack

As per reports, Russia will perceive any ballistic missile launched at its territory as a nuclear attack that warrants a nuclear retaliation.
The harsh warning is directed at the United States, which has worked to develop long-range non-nuclear weapons.
The article follows the publication in June of Russia's nuclear deterrent policy that envisages the use of atomic weapons in response to what could be a conventional strike targeting the nation's critical government and military infrastructure.
According to the Russian military, there is no way to determine if an incoming ballistic missile is fitted with a nuclear or a conventional warhead, and so the military will see it as a nuclear attack.
The argument reflects Russia's longtime concerns about the development of weapons that could give Washington the capability to knock out key military assets and government facilities without resorting to atomic weapons.

Aug 07, 2020

Taiwan in Talks to Make First Purchase of Sophisticated United States Drones

As per reports, the United States is negotiating the sale of at least four sophisticated aerial drones to Taiwan for the first time.
The SeaGuardian surveillance drones have a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,100 km), far greater than the 160-mile range of Taiwan's current fleet of drones, potentially giving the island greater capacity to peer into China, observing its air force, missiles and other facilities.
While the State Department tacitly authorised the sale of the unmanned aerial vehicles, it is not known whether the U.S. officials have approved exporting the drones with weapons attached.
The deal must be approved by members of Congress, who may receive formal notification as soon as next month, two of the people said. Congress could block a final agreement.
Such a sale would most likely anger China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory.

Aug 06, 2020

China Begins Sea Trials of First Giant Amphibious Assault Warship

As per reports, the sea trials of the first ship of a new class of amphibious assault warships for the country's navy appear to have started. The first ship of the Type 075 class was launched at a shipyard in Shanghai in September last year. The presumed maiden voyage will likely test the amphibious assault ship's main systems, including propulsion, navigation and communication.
According to military analysts, it usually takes a new warship a year or two to formally join military service after its first sea trial. This means the first Type 075 will likely be commissioned into the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in 2021 or 2022.
The Type 075 class of ships are among the largest amphibious assault ships in the world, displacing approximately 40,000 tonnes and are about 250 metres long. The ship has a large flight deck, enabling it to carry up to 30 transport and attack helicopters. It also has a 'well deck' in its hull, which allows it to launch hovercraft and other amphibious vessels capable of ferrying tanks and troops to shore. A second Type 075 class ship was launched in Shanghai in April this year. According to the US Navy's Office of Naval Intelligence, China is also building a third Type 075 class amphibious assault warship.
In terms of size, the Type 075 class ships are the largest amphibious assault ships in the world, excluding similar vessels of the US Navy. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Type 075 provides "China with greater capabilities for asserting their territorial claims in the East and South China Sea, as well as executing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, anti-piracy, and non-combatant evacuation operations". Experts have warned China is improving its amphibious warfare capability to prepare for the eventuality of military operations in Taiwan or disputed islands in the South China Sea.
China has also inducted at least five Type 071 class amphibious assault ships in the past decade. These ships are smaller in size compared with the Type-075 and displace around 25,000 tonnes each.

US Conducts Test Flight of Unarmed Minuteman III Missile

The United States (US) Air Force conducted a scheduled test launch of an LGM-30G Minuteman III, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) carrying a load of three unarmed reentry vehicles, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, US to a target in the Pacific Ocean. Missile's three reentry vehicles travelled 4,200 miles (6,759 kilometres) to the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands as part of a developmental test.
This launch was an essential test to sustaining the aging Minuteman III nuclear weapon system.
The launch calendars are developed three to five years in advance, and planning for individual launches takes six months to a year.
Minuteman III, an Intercontinental ballistic missile manufactured by Boeing is a long-range, solid-fuel, three-stage ICBM with the capability to carry single or multiple nuclear warheads. It has a range of more than 6,000mi (5,218 nautical miles) and speed of approximately 24,000km/h (15,000mph) at burnout.

Aug 04, 2020

Russia Offers India Sprut Lightweight Tanks

Russia has offered India its 18-tonne Sprut SDM1 lightweight tanks for possible procurement amid the ongoing stand-off with China in eastern Ladakh, ThePrint has learnt. Sources in the defence and security establishment said the offer for Spruts, capable of being airlifted, was made during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Russia in June.
The move came as India has deployed heavy T-90 tanks, weighing about 46 tonnes, in Ladakh, besides T-72 tanks, which weigh around 45 tonnes and were deployed earlier. China, meanwhile, has deployed its new lightweight tanks, Type 15, which weigh around 33 tonnes. Lightweight tanks allow faster mobility in mountainous terrain than regular battle tanks that weigh over 40 tonnes.
During Rajnath Singh's visit, New Delhi and Moscow prepared a list of items that could be bought and sold in wake of the tensions at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The lightweight tank did not feature in India's demands but was part of the Russian offer.
As per reports, the technical discussions are ongoing between the Indian embassy in Moscow and Russian authorities. Under technical discussions, both sides talked about the technical aspects of the weapons system to understand its capabilities and limitations.
But defence sources maintained that no emergency procurement is planned for these lightweight tanks currently.

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