General Awareness

DEFENCE - January 2021

Jan 2021

May 30, 2021

DG NCC Mobile Training App 2.0 Launched

Defence Secretary, Dr Ajay Kumar, launched the "DG NCC Mobile Training App 2.0" to provide basis information and training material to NCC Cadet.
App will assist in conducting online training to NCC cadets amid COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to provide basic information related to NCC and entire training material including, Syllabus, Training Videos etc on single platform. Cadets can attend online training and appear in certificate exams through this app which in turn help to prevent their academic year. App was developed in line with 'Digital India' vision.
NCC is the youth wing of Indian Armed Forces, headquartered in New Delhi. School and college students can join on voluntary basis. It is a Tri-Services Organization comprising of Army, Navy and Air Wing. NCC groom the youth of country into disciplined and patriotic citizens.
NCC was created by the Act of 1950. It was established on the line of 'University Corps' created under Indian Defence Act 1917, to fill the shortage in Army.

May 29, 2021

Croatia to Buy Second-hand Rafale F3-R Fighter Jets

Croatia's government has made a decision to buy 12 second-hand Rafale F3-R fighter jets from France for the country's Air Force.
The purchase of the multirole fighter aircraft will strengthen Croatia's position as a member of NATO and a partner within the European Union.
The deal is to be worth some €999 million (U.S. $1.2 billion) and, in addition to the aircraft, it will cover weapon systems, spare parts, logistics and training. Following the cabinet's decision, Zagreb will proceed to negotiate the contract's details with Paris.
Under the plan, France is to deliver the first six twin-engine aircraft in 2024, and the remaining six Rafales will be supplied the following year. The delivered aircraft will include 10 single-seater and two twin-seater fighter jets.

US-Russia Open Skies Treaty

The US administration led by Biden, does not seek to re-join the Open Skies Treaty.
The treaty is a key arms control agreement that allowed US and Russia to fly surveillance aircraft over their military facilities
According to US administration, US does not seek to renter the pact because of Russia's failure to comply with it.
Now, "New START treaty" is the only major arms control pact between both the countries which was extended for five years recently by US.
The Open Skies Treaty was signed by United States on March 24, 1992. It came into effect in 2002. The Treaty allows both member countries to fly surveillance aircraft over military facilities. The treaty was signed to promote transparency among member countries.
Former President of US, Donald Trump, announced its withdrawal in November 2020 while, Russia announced to withdraw in January 2021.
Proposal for aerial surveillance was first proposed by Former US President Dwight Eisenhower in July 1995. However, Russia then rejected proposal on ground of spying. In 1989, the proposal was again introduced by former President US, George Bush, following a conference between NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) and Warsaw Pact countries. Finally, in 1992, treaty was signed and came into force in 2002.

May 27, 2021

Taliban Warn Afghan Neighbours (Pakistan) against Allowing US Bases

The Taliban warned Afghanistan's neighbours Wednesday against allowing the United States to operate military bases on their soil.
Washington is in the final stages of withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan, and a flurry of diplomatic calls between the United States and Pakistan in recent days has fuelled speculation the Pentagon is scouting for new bases to use against the Taliban.
Several of Afghanistan's neighbours allowed the US military limited use of air bases in the early 2000s after the overthrow of the Taliban.
Such overt physical support has largely ended, however, although some countries do allow their airspace to be used for military flights.
The Taliban and Washington entered into a landmark deal last year that paved the way for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan.
In return, the Taliban said it would not allow Afghanistan to be a base for jihadist groups such as Al-Qaeda and Islamic State.

May 26, 2021

Baltic States Vow to Tighten Defense Ties

The governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have agreed to tighten their defense cooperation, vowing to explore the joint acquisition of new rocket launchers amid fears of Russian military moves in their neighborhood, the countries said in a joint declaration.
The announcement follows a May 21 meeting of the three defense ministers in Siauliai, Lithuania, meant as a stepping stone toward the June 14 NATO summit in Brussels.

US Lifts Missile Restrictions on South Korea

South Korea can now develop ballistic missiles capable of reaching targets far beyond the Korean Peninsula, following the United States' approval to lift a 42-year-old restriction on its ally's missile development program.
South Korean and U.S. leaders announced the termination of missile guidelines imposed on Seoul in 1979. At the time, South Korea wanted to acquire American technology to develop its own missiles, and in return, the Asian nation agreed to limit the range of its missiles to 180 kilometers with a maximum payload of 500 kg.
In the face of increasing threats from North Korea, the guidelines have been revised four times. A 1997 revision allowed Seoul to develop a ballistic missile carrying a 500-kilogram warhead with a maximum range of 300 kilometers. Another revision was made in 2012 that extended the ballistic missile range to 800 kilometers with a 500-kilogram warhead.

May 25, 2021

Pakistani Air Force to Cooperate with Turkish Paramilitary Group

The Pakistani Air Force (PAF) has agreed to cooperate with a notorious Turkish paramilitary group that has been accused by the United Nations of deploying fighters from Syrian armed groups to take part in military operations in Libya.
The Pakistani Air Force's policy thinks tank, the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS), has become a partner of the Islamic Union Congress, organised by the Association of Justice Defenders Strategic Studies Center (ASSAM), a front organization run by private military contractor SADAT, which many believe is a de facto paramilitary force loyal to the Islamist president of Turkey.
In 2020, the United Nations (UN) revealed how the Turkish government used its paramilitary contractor SADAT in Libya and requested an explanation from Turkish authorities in a letter signed by a group of senior rapporteurs.

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