General Awareness

DEFENCE - January 2021

Jan 2021

Jan 07, 2021

Lt Gen Shantanu Dayal to Take Charge as Deputy Chief of Army Staff

Lt Gen Shantanu Dayal has been named the new Deputy Chief of Army Staff (DCOAS). Lt Gen Dayal is the Corps Commander of the Tejpur based 4 Corps.
He will take the place of Lt Gen SS Hasabnis who superannuated on December 31 as soon as his replacement arrives.
Indian Army has undergone a major reshuffle at the top within the Army Headquarters and at the various other formations including the Corps Commanders, administrative and training institutions witnessing the change of guard.

Jan 06, 2021

Indian Army Inks Pact with Goa Shipyard for Fast Patrol Boats

Indian Army has inked a contract with Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) to procure 12 Fast Patrol Boats for surveillance and patrolling of large water bodies, including those in high altitude areas like Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh.
Pangong Tso's 134-km length is divided into eight 'fingers', military parlance for mountain spurs jutting into the water body that is contested by both sides. The lake is frozen with the onset of winters, and the Army plans to deploy around two dozen such boats by next summer.

India and Israel Successfully Test MRSAM Air Defence System

In a major boost to their combat capabilities, India and Israel have conducted a successful test of a Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) defence system which was jointly developed by the two countries. It is aimed at providing ultimate protection from enemy aircraft.
The MRSAM is an advanced path breaking air and missile defense system that provides ultimate protection against a variety of aerial platforms.

Tech Mahindra Partners with College of Military Engineering for Defence Solutions

IT major Tech Mahindra's research and development arm, Makers Lab, has collaborated with the College of Military Engineering (CME), Pune to address challenges in the field of defence through technological innovations.
CME will leverage the partnership to address critical military problem statements and be future-ready using next-generation technologies of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics.
Through this collaboration, Makers Lab will provide real-world technological exposure to the army officers at CME and assist them in getting the nuances of next-generation technologies such as AI, Machine Learning (ML), Robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) to make them future-ready for modern-day warfare.
As a part of this partnership, Tech Mahindra will establish a Makers Lab at CME to utilise their diverse set of capabilities and promote R&D to provide cutting-edge technology solutions for defence forces.

Jan 05, 2021

US Unhappy with India's S-400 air defence System Deal with Russia

A US Congressional report has warned that India's decision to ink a multi-billion dollar deal to purchase the S-400 air defence system from Russia may prompt Washington to impose sanctions on India.
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) said in its report to Congress that India is "eager for more technology-sharing and co-production initiatives, while the United States urges more reforms in India's defence offsets policy and higher Foreign Direct Investment caps in its defence sector". The CRS is an independent and bipartisan research wing of the US Congress.

Jan 04, 2021

Japan's Military Unit to Make Pilotless Fighter Planes

With an eye on China and visualising the future of warfare, Japan has begun to develop a remote-controlled fighter aircraft which will be ready for deployment in 2035.
As per reports, the 15-year project has acquired urgency to counter China's cascading advancement of hi-tech weaponry.
Currently, Tokyo stands outmanned and outgunned by its larger neighbour. It points out that China possesses more than 1,000 fourth-generation fighter jets that can reach supersonic speeds, about triple as many as Japan. It has also begun deploying fifth-generation stealth fighters.

China' s New National Defence Law

China has revised its National Defence Law, expanding the power of its armed forces headed by President Xi Jinping to mobilise military and civilian resources to defend its national interests both at home and abroad.
The new law, effective from January 1, weakens the role of the State Council, China's Cabinet headed by Premier Li Keqiang, in formulating military policy, handing decision-making powers to the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high-command of the two million-strong People's Liberation Army (PLA) headed by Xi.
The revised law came into force after the key conclave of the ruling CPC in November last year finalised plans to build a fully modern military on par with the US by 2027.

Forces Oppose Mapping by Private Firms

Citing security reasons, the armed forces have opposed a proposal of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) seeking to permit geospatial mapping of border and coastal areas by private entities.
At present, all areas up to a distance of 25 km from the land borders or from the coastline require special permission for terrain mapping.
Google Maps, app-based taxi services, food or shopping portals, location services, etc. are among other applications that need mapping data. Service providers in coastal cities need permission from the MoD. Similar is the case with land borders in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, etc. The proposal through the MoD is to "review the policy on geospatial and geophysical systems" and seeks to allow private entities to freely map the areas falling within the "no-go" zone.
It also seeks permission to map the terrain underwater within 12 nautical miles from the coast. The only exception would be the pin-pointed areas that the forces want excluded.

Jan 03, 2021

SAHAYAK-NG: India's First Indigenous Air Dropped Container

The SAHAYAK-NG, an air droppable container was tested successfully by the Defence Ministry. It is the first indigenously developed air droppable container.
The SAHAYAK-NG can carry a payload up to fifty kilograms.
It can be dropped from heavy aircraft. It is GPS enabled. Furthermore, it is an advanced version of SAHAYAK Mk I.
The SAHAYAK-NG containers are completely water tight.
They are designed to withstand water entry shocks.
The rate of descent of SAHAYAK-NG container is controlled by a parachute system.
The SAHAYAK-NG was designed by Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) and Avantel, a private company.

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