General Awareness

DEFENCE - January 2021

Jan 2021

Feb 06, 2021

No Blanket Waiver on S-400, Urge India to Avoid Russian Deals: US

The US has urged India to refrain from military transactions with Russia, saying that there is no blanket waiver under its Sanctions Act for the recent S-400 missile system purchase, in the first detailed comments on the tricky issue after the Biden administration has come to power.
Speaking ahead of the Aero India summit in Bengaluru, the head of the US delegation has said that India is an important and trusted partner for Indo-Pacific security and Washington DC is keen to work with India to develop key capabilities in the quest for self-reliance. On the S-400 issue — India has ordered the Russian surface to air missile system with deliveries expected towards the end of this year — US charged'affaires Don Heflin said that there is a provision for case-by-case waiver of sanctions but no assurance has been given to India.

Historic Defence Order of 118 Indigenous Arjun 1A Tanks on the Anvil

An order for two regiments of the new indigenous Arjun 1A tank for the Indian Army is on the anvil. The two regiments, comprising 118 tanks, have been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and incorporates 71 improvements from the original version.
They are expected to go through the usual route for clearance: The Defence Acquisition Council and the Cabinet Committee on Security. This deal is worth Rs 8,956 crore, not just for the tanks but also, spares and servicing.
The Army already has to regiments of the earlier version of the Arjun. While the T-90, a Russian designed armoured vehicle, is the Army's MBT or main battle tank, the Arjun is being considered suitable for use, particularly in the southern Rajasthan area, in the Thar Desert. Tank movement in the Punjab and northern Rajasthan is now more difficult because of urban settlements, canals and the increase in vegetation.

BEL Delivers Modules to Thales for Radars on Rafale Fighter Jets

Bharat Electronics Limited has delivered transmit/receive (T/R) modules to Thales for the RBE2 radar that is used by Rafale fighter aircraft.
These modules were delivered to Thales by BEL after the French company transferred its technology as per the Rafale fighter jet purchase agreement between India and France.
The BEL's engineers were trained at the French facility of Thales as per the offset agreement.
The modules produced in India (by BEL) are then integrated with the RBE2 radar in France. BEL and Thales teams are, thus working closely to transfer advanced technological know-how.

Feb 05, 2021

HAL all Set to Produce Unmanned Fighter Jet

Public sector giant Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) announced a technological leap by showcasing a programme to make an unmanned fighter jet.
It will be part of a pack of manned jets and will have the capability to go deep into enemy territory and hit the target.
Called "manned-unmanned" teaming, this is the latest concept and technology in aerial warfare. Under the technology, termed combined air teaming system (CATS), an unmanned fighter jet will be controlled by pilots in another jet flying a few hundred kilometres behind.

India Ready to Supply Weapons Systems to Countries in Indian Ocean Region

According to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, India is ready to supply various weapons systems, including missiles and electronic warfare systems, to countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Rajnath Singh said that organizing a conclave of countries in the IOR on the margins of the international event "Aero India-2021" shows the importance India attaches to the vision of common growth and stability and constructive engagements with them.

Feb 04, 2021

India and Saudi Arabia to Set up Joint Working Groups on Defence and Security

India and Saudi Arabia held the first meeting of a bilateral committee on political, security, social and cultural cooperation and agreed to create joint working groups on issues ranging from defence and security to the Haj pilgrimage.
The committee comes under the India-Saudi Arabia agreement on a Strategic Partnership Council that was launched during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in October 2019.
The inaugural senior officials' meeting, which was held virtually, discussed and reviewed cooperation in various areas and existing mechanisms.
Both sides agreed to give impetus to the work of existing mechanisms and establish joint working groups for regular dialogue covering various fields such as political, consular, Haj, defence, security, culture, health and education.
Discussions have also been held under the committee on economy and investment between the two sides.

Israel's Rafael Unveils New Variant of Spice Weapon Guidance Kit

Israeli defence major Rafael plans to offer the Indian Air Force its new weapon guidance kit, Spice 250 ER, which has an extended range of at least 150 kilometres.
The new variant from Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, which was unveiled at the Aero India show here, comes with an additional integrated turbojet engine.
Dubbed Spice 250 ER (Extended Range), the new system is the smallest of the Spice family that includes the Spice 250, Spice 1000 and the Spice 2000 guidance kits.
The IAF had used the Spice 2000 during Balakot air strike in 2019.
The Spice 250 ER will incorporate a miniature turbojet engine with an internal JP-8/10 fuel system, providing the weapon a range of at least 150 km, while retaining the same mission-planning system, aircraft interfaces and air crew operation.

Feb 03, 2021

Rajnath Singh Inaugurates New Tejas LCA Production Line in Bengaluru

The Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the second Light Combat Aircraft- LCA production line of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
During his address at the inauguration, the Union Minister emphasized that India cannot remain dependent on other nations for defending its borders. He also assured that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited- HAL will be getting new orders in the future.
The Defence Minister also added that despite the pandemic, HAL received orders of Rs. 48,000 crores from the armed forces making it the biggest procurement in terms of indigenous defence procurement which will provide new heights to the Indian aerospace sector.
The new facility will help Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to produce 16 LCA's annually and the orders will also help in generating 5,000 primary and secondary jobs across the country.

Feb 02, 2021

CSIR Develops Three Mob Control Vehicles for Paramilitary Forces

To provide modern technical support to paramilitary forces deployed in maintaining law and order and internal security operations, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed three innovative mob control vehicles (MCV).
The MCVs, categorised as compact, medium and heavy category, are claimed to be the first-of-its-kind advanced indigenous design and featured development programme in the country.
The MCVs have been designed and fabricated by CSIR's Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, which had earlier brought in indigenous tractor revolution in India.
The heavy category MCV prototype has a 7.5-ton payload capacity, while, the medium category has a 2.5-ton payload capacity. The compact one is a tractor-based vehicle for easy maneuvering. The key requirements and technical specifications for these vehicles have been evolved and formulated with the involvement of various stakeholders.

India, US Start Discussions on F-15EX Multi-role Combat Aircraft: Boeing

The US and India have held discussions on F-15EX fighter jets and the two respective air forces have exchanged information about it, after the aerospace major received approval from the American government to offer its latest multi-role combat aircraft to the Indian Air Force.
The F-15EX is the latest and most advanced version of the multi-role, all-weather, and day and night versions of the F-15 aircraft family.

First Indo-US Combat Drill of Biden Era in Rajasthan Next Week

India and the US are all set to kick off a major combat exercise in Rajasthan next week, in the first such bilateral wargames after the Biden administration took charge in Washington and reiterated India's role as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific as well as the need to strengthen the "Quad".
Indian officials said that the 'Yudh Abhyas' exercise, which will be held at the Mahajan Field Firing ranges from February 8 to 21, will once again underscore the continuing upward trajectory in defence cooperation with the US, which enjoys bipartisan support among the Democrats and Republicans.
The US contingent for Yudh Abhyas will include a brigade headquarters and a battalion group of around 250 soldiers from a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. India will also field an infantry brigade headquarters and a battalion group from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry for the exercise.

HAL Completes Sukhoi Order

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has manufactured the last two Su-30MKIs of the 272 aircraft contracted from Russia and is all set to deliver them to the IAF.
One aircraft is certified and inducted for BrahMos modification. Another aircraft has been produced and planned to be certified by February end. The delivery formalities for acceptance by the customer are being finalised.
India had contracted the Su-30s from Russia in batches of which 222 were assembled by HAL at its Nasik plant under Transfer of technology (ToT) since 2004. Of the 272 fighters, 40 are being modified to carry the air launched version of the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos. The IAF has started receiving the aircraft and has deployed some at Thanjavur air base in Tamil Nadu last year.

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