Defence Current Affairs (Page : 1)

Indian Navy has launched INS Tarasa, the last ship in the series of four Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts (WJFAC) being built by Kolkata  based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) for the Indian Navy .

The WJFACs are ideally suited for interception of fast-moving surface craft and will perform anti-smuggling, fishery protection and search and rescue operations.

Facts about INS Tarasa :

• Powered by the latest 4,000-series MTU engines with advanced machinery control system, the ship will be fitted with CRN-91 indigenous 30mm gun with optronic pedestal and will have the latest communication equipment and radars to enable effective surveillance.
• With a 315 tonne displacement, the ship is designed for a maximum speed of 35 knots, with an endurance of nearly 2,000 nautical miles at 12-14 knots. It will perform anti-smuggling, fishery protection and search and rescue operations.

On June 25, 2016 the frontline fighter aircraft Su-30 MKI flew with an 2,500 kg integrated BrahMos supersonic cruise missile that has a range of over 290 kms, making IAF the only air force in the world in possession of such a system.

It is the first time in the world that such a heavyweight (2,500 kg) supersonic cruise missile has been integrated on a fighter aircraft.

The aircraft was in the air for 45 minutes and was flown by Wing Commander Prashant Nair and Wg Cdr MS Raju, both flight test crew of the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment.

The maiden flight will be followed by a series of test flights and complete evaluation and certification of BrahMos missile on Su30 MKI aircraft. Around 40 Su-30 MKI aircraft are expected to be modified.

With successful integration of BrahMos on Su-30 MKI aircraft has become a lethal weapon delivery platform for IAF. With this IAF also moved few steps closer towards actual test firing when a 2.5 tonnes supersonic BrahMos air-to-ground missile from the Su-30 MKI.

About BrahMos missile 

BrahMos is  supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land.It is a joint venture between the Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroeyenia and India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Missile’s name has been derived from the names of two rivers, India’s Brahmaputra River and Russia’s Moskva River.

What makes it a lethal weapon ?

• It has top supersonic speed of Mach 2.8 and is capable of carrying a warhead of 300 kilogram. 
• It is two-stage missile, the first one being solid and the second one ramjet liquid propellant. 
• It can strike a target at maximum range of 290 km.

Vice-Admiral AR Karve took charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command (SNC) from Vice Admiral Girish Luthra who has been appointed as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. Prior to this appointment, he was serving as the Chief of Personnel at IHQ MoD (Navy), at Delhi.

Vice-Admiral A R Karve

• Vice Admiral AR Karve who joined the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 80 is the alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune. He is an anti-submarine warfare specialist with rich experience of 35 years. 
• In his distinguished service he has held several important operational and staff appointments both at sea as well as ashore.
• He commanded the aircraft carrier INS Viraat as well as the guided missile destroyer INS Ranvijay, the frigate INS Dunagiri and the ASW patrol vessel INS Ajay.

Awards and Honours: He has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2013 for his distinguished service. 

Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, took over as the new Chief of the Naval Staff  today as the current CNS Admiral R.K.Dhowan retired after four decade of service.

Key things to know about Admiral Sunil Lanba :

Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba born on 17 July 1957 is an alumnus of the National Defense Academy (NDA), Defense Services Staff College, Royal College of Defense Studies and also has a PG in Defense and Management studies. He was commissioned in 1978 into the Executive Branch of the Navy. 

In a service spanning nearly 38 years, Vice-Admiral Lanba has served in a variety of Command, operational and staff appointments. He served as Vice-Chief, headed the Southern Naval command and the National Defence College. 

He has commanded four frontline warships  INS Kakinada (minesweeper), INS Himgiri (frigate) and destroyers INS Ranvijay and INS Mumbai. Vice Admiral Lanba is a recipient of the Param Vishist Seva Medal and the Athi Vishist Seva Medal for distinguished service of an exceptionally high order.

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha inaugurated the Electronic Maintenance Management System (e-MMS) at the air force station, Pune, Maharashtra.

The e-MMS project is one of the largest Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) IT implementation in the world.

Electronic Maintenance Management System (e-MMS) :

The contract for the project e-MMS was signed with Wipro as a System Integrator (SI) on February 4, 2013.

The system has a central console that will help IAF to get rid of paper works and heavy logbooks. 

The system would seamlessly connect squadrons, wings, commands, and Air Headquarters after its implementation.

The work environment of IAF will become more efficient and operational availability of all fleets and systems can be monitored in real time at various hierarchical levels.

Indian Navy decommissioned its fleet of iconic Sea Harriers. This event of decommissioning marked the end of an era in India’s naval history, as the country holds an official ceremony phasing out the last of its iconic Sea Harrier jets.

The Harriers have been replaced by a squadron of Russian MiG 29k jets during an official  ceremony held at INS Hansa base in Vasco at Goa.

Fighter planes Sea Harriers  

The aircraft, developed by the British in the 1960s, are best known for the ability to take off and land vertically, and for being the only class of jet that can hover like a helicopter.

The sea Harrier was used by the British during the Falklands War, both Gulf Wars, and during the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Indian Navy has launched the state-of-the-art harbour defence systems, viz. Integrated Underwater Harbour Defence and surveillance system (IUHDSS)  and mine warfare data centre(MWDC), in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

The installations  would enhance the Navy's surveillance capability and response to security threats at the naval dockyard in Visakhapatnam.

Key facts 

IUHDSS: The IUHDSS is a multi-sensor system capable of detecting, identifying, tracking and generating warnings for all types of surface and underwater threats to Visakhapatnam harbour.

MWDC: The MWDC will collate, analyse and classify data collected by the Navy's Mine Hunting Ships from various ports along the East coast. This state-of-the-art facility will be the nodal centre for maintaining an underwater information database of harbours along the East coast.

Background :

Post 26/11, the Indian Navy was made responsible for the security of the country's vast coastline of 7516 km in coordination with other agencies like Indian Coast Guard, Marine Police, fisheries, etc.

The creation of the Sagar Prahari Bal, induction of Fast Interceptor Crafts (FICs) and commissioning of the IUHDSS are some of the Navy's measures to strengthen security.

Indian Naval Ships Veer and Nipat, serving under the 22nd Killer Missile Vessel Squadron will be decommissioned in Mumbai today. These ships are the first of Veer Class of ships to be decommissioned from the Indian Navy.

Both the ships, are 1241 RE class missile vessels, and have completed 29 and 28 years of commissioned service respectively. During their service, the ships have participated in numerous operations and successfully completed many deployments.

A naval detachment aimed at enhancing the Navy's reach and surveillance of Arabian Sea waters was inagurated by Southern Command of the Indian Navy at Androth Island of the Lakshadweep archipelago.

Significance of the naval detachment

It will extend Indian naval presence at Androth Island, provide communication network connectivity with mainland, enable Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC) monitoring and function as an Observance and reporting organisation, besides radar surveillance.

Lakshadweep and Mnicoy Islands occupy a strategic location in the Arabian Sea. A number of shipping lanes pass close to these islands.

The eleventh edition of India-Mongolia joint military training Exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant – 2016’  to promote military associations between India and Mongolia has commenced at Mongolia. The exercise will culminate on 08 May 2016. 

The aim of this exercise is to develop synergy and inter operability between the two armies to fight in Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorism environment under the United Nation mandate. 

In this edition, a platoon of the Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army along with a team of two observers is taking part in the event.

The Indian contingent will share their practical experiences of Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorism through a series of classroom lectures and outdoor demonstrations.

The Army Commanders Conference is beginning today in New Delhi. It will be a six days Conference that will appraise current and emerging strategic security scenario, review of operational preparedness of the Indian Army and aspects pertaining to training, administration, military technology and force modernization.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will inaugurate the conference today. The Conference will be chaired by Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Dalbir Singh. All Army Commanders and other senior Army Officers will attend the conference.

Mathura-based Strike 1 corps is conducting a major exercise ‘Shatrujeet’ in the deserts of Rajasthan to evaluate the capability of the Army to strike deep into enemy territory in an integrated air-land battle environment.

The gruelling exercise,  involves around 30,000 troops deployed in the blistering Thar honing their war fighting skills and practicing modern military tactics.

The operation-oriented exercise is focusing on “validating integrated battle theatre fighting concept” incorporating new-age technologies, weapon platforms and systems as well as long range precision targeting vectors".

The Army undertakes such exercises at regular intervals at different levels to ensure forces are provided war-like situations and kept in high-state of battle readiness.

It was post preparatory training exercise manoeuvres at subordinate units and formation levels by conducting integrated operational manoeuvres. It mainly validated India Army’s operational plans in simulated high tempo battlefield environment and terrain.

India and the U.S.  have agreed “in principle” on a logistics support agreement  that would make it easier for both militaries to share each other’s facilities and further strengthen the growing strategic partnership. 

The agreement in this regard was covered under "The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA)" which was first proposed in 2004 but resisted by the UPA government for a decade.

Besides LEMOA,  the others are Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA).

Maritime cooperation : The two countries also agreed to set up a new Maritime Security Dialogue between officials from their respective Defence and External Affairs Ministries and conclude an agreement to improve maritime domain awareness with an arrangement to improve sharing of data on commercial shipping traffic. Both countries will also deepen cooperation in Maritime Domain Awareness by finalising a ‘White Shipping’ Agreement. The two countries have agreed to start Navy-to-Navy discussions on submarine safety and anti-submarine warfare.

Pakistan Navy has successfully test-fired shore-based anti-ship missile 'Zarb'. The missile was launched from coastal site and successfully hit the surface target in the Arabian Sea.

The missile was formally inducted into Pakistan's Navy defence system soon after its successful launch.The maximum range allotted for the test was set at 300km.

Zarb which means hit in Urdu language, is the Chinese C-602.The C-602 is claimed to have a range of 280 kms and weighs around 300 kg. It has semi-armour-piercing warhead and GPS guidance.

Comment : The missile’s successful test shows the strategic partnership between China and Pakistan toward enhancing the combat capabilities of Pakistani Navy and  step towards further strengthening the seaward defence of Pakistan.

The fourth edition of Indo-Indonesia Joint Training Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI has began at Magelang, Indonesia . It will be conducted for 13 days from 10 to 23 March 16, 2016. 

Aim of the exercise: The aim of the exercise is to build and promote positive relations between the armies of India and Indonesia and to enhance the ability of Indian and Indonesian Army to undertake joint tactical level operations in a Counter Insurgency environment under United Nations Charter. 

Indian Army platoon strength contingent will carry out cross training with a platoon from the Airborne battalion of the Indonesian Army. The Indian Contingent has been put through a rigorous training schedule to prepare it for the exercise which includes combat conditioning, firing, tactical operations, tactical skills and special heliborne operations training.

Selected Indian unit has had varied operational experience in Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorist operations in the Northern, Western and Eastern theatres. The exercise will be conducted as joint Counter Insurgency operations exercise in urban and rural scenario and encompass various facets of tactical Counter Insurgency operations.

Background : Indo-Indonesia Joint Training Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI is conducted as part of military diplomacy between Indian and Indonesian Army alternatively in India and Indonesia respectively. The exercise is conducted on a reciprocal basis and its first edition was conducted in the year 2012 in India. The second edition was conducted in Indonesia in 2013 and third in India in 2014

The licensing committee of Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) has approved 12 industrial licences to the Reliance Defence, a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure Limited which will manufacture wide range of Defence equipment required by the Armed Forces.

DIPP has approved these licences to the Strategic Business Units (SBU) under Reliance Defence Limited to address defence programmes in India and overseas.

Industrial licences approved : 

In aerospace segment : The company has got licence for manufacture of military aircraft and helicopters to address the aircraft requirement of the Indian Navy pegged at Rs 9,000 crorer and light utility helicopters pegged at more than Rs 20,000 crore. The defence forces have requirement of 160-200 medium to heavy helicopter, valued at Rs 50,000 crore.

In land systems : Reliance has got licences for manufacturing of missiles & all terrain combat vehicles which includes short, medium and long range missile systems.

In naval systems : The company has got licences for air independent propulsion technology and hull penetrators and connectors along with motor shafts and propulsion systems. Reliance naval systems is already working on C4I, underwater systems, weapons, radars and electro optic systems.

For the export market : Reliance Strategic Electronics Division (SED) plans to manufacture night vision devices (NVDs) and surveillance devices. 

In case of unmanned aerial systems, the company is targeting different requirement from the Indian Navy, army and the Air Force. The company plans to develop an infantry combat vehicle to address the domestic and global requirements.

Exercise ‘Lamitye – 2016’, the 7th joint military training exercise between the Indian Army and the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) concluded in Victoria, Mahe Island, Seychelles. 

The 14 day joint exercise was conducted from 15 to 28 February 2016 at Victoria, Mahe Island, Seychelles with an aim to improve interoperability between both Armies in jointly fighting Counter Insurgency / Counter Terrorism.

Indian contingent was represented by an infantry platoon and representatives from the Special Forces while Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) was represented by the Tazar (Special Forces Unit) and Seychelles Infantry.

‘Exercise Lamitye’ meaning ‘Friendship in Creole’ has been a bridge between the Armed Forces of India and SPDF since 2001. The exercise is conducted biennially with the aim of enhancing military cooperation and interoperability between the Armed Forces of two countries.

India's first  indigenously-built nuclear armed submarine "INS Arihant nuclear missile submarine" is now ready for full fledged operations,  having passed several deep sea diving drills as well as weapons launch tests.  

These successful tests undertaken off Vishakhapatnam coast where the submarine was build. A Russian diving support ship  "the RFS Epron" has been accompanying the Arihant on its deep sea dives and launch tests.

About INS Arihant

INS Arihant which means  "Slayer of Enemies" was launched on 26 July 2009, the anniversary of Vijay Diwas (Kargil War Victory Day) by the then Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh.

Design : INS Arihant’s design is based on the Russian Akula-1 class submarine. It is a 6,000-tonne nuclear powered submarine and is 112 metre long. It is powered by 83 MW pressurised light water reactor built with Russia’s help. This reactor generates tremendous heat, driving a steam turbine. 

Armament : It is capable of launching twelve short range nuclear-capable ballistic missile BO-5 (K 15) which has a range of 700 kms and four K 4 ballistic missile with a range of 3,500 km.

India and Myanmar undertook India-Myanmar coordinated patrol (IMCOR) along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Andaman Sea. The coordinated patrol was successfully undertaken from February 13 to 16, 2016. Navies of the two countries have conducted coordinated patrols along the maritime boundary since 2013.

Indian Navy ships Saryu and Bitra along with Myanmar ships Aung Zeya and FAC 563 participated in the patrol. It should be noted that besides Myanmar, India has formal agreement for joint patrol only with two other navies they are - Thailand and Indonesia.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

During the Closing Ceremony of 4th IMCOR, India and Myanmar signed the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the India-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol (IMCOR). The signing of the SOP is a significant achievement and will facilitate smooth conduct of coordinated patrols between two friendly neighbours that share a long maritime boundary in the strategically significant Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal

Missile technologists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation.have planned to conduct Captive flight trials of an advanced, state-of-the-art Anti-Radiation Missile (ARM) by April-May this year. The maiden flight test will be conducted by the end of this year.

During the captive flight trials, scientists will evaluate the performance of the seeker, navigation and control system, structural capability and aerodynamic vibrations. These will be followed by ground testing and the missile will be fired from Su-30 during the actual flight trial by year-end.

About Anti-Radiation Missile

The air-to-surface tactical missile indigenously developed by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) will target the enemy’s air defence capabilities by attacking radars and communication facilities by picking up the radiation or signals from these facilities.

The range of the missile is 100 to 125 km and it will be mounted on combat aircraft Sukhoi (Su-30) and Tejas-Light Combat Aircraft.The missile uses dual pulse propulsion system as in the case of LR-SAM (Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile) instead of thrust propulsion.

The entire missile is being developed indigenously, including the seeker. The missile will be inducted in about two years after conducting a number of developmental trials. Only a few countries, including the U.S. and Germany, have ARMs at present.

Twelve personnel from the engineering and service corps of the Indian Army are participating  as observers in the 35th edition of annual Asia-Pacific military exercise " Cobra Gold " being hosted by Thailand, along with its counterparts from China and Pakistan. 

India has been invited to the exercises as an “observer plus” country. Indian army has been invited for this Asia-Pacific military exercise keeping in view the recent trend of India’s increasing regional interoperability with a series of multi-lateral exercises on land and sea.

Theme: Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief

About Cobra Gold

Cobra Gold is the largest Asia-Pacific military exercise held in Thailand every year. It is among the largest multinational military exercise in which the United States participates. Cobra Gold was first held in 1982  to improve coordination between the armed forces of the United States and Thailand in both hostile military and humanitarian efforts.

Cobra Gold has three distinct activities

• Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX) 
• Command Post Exercise (CPX) 
• Assisting the local Thai population 

The exercise was proved effective in improving coordinated military response during numerous natural disasters including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, 2011 Tohoku tsunami and aftermath 2013 Typhoon Haiyan in Philippines.

Today India successfull test-fired its indigenously developed Prithvi-II missile, from the Chandipur, off Odisha coast. The test was conducted by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) and was monitored by the scientists from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The missile test was carried out from a mobile launcher from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 1000 hrs. The test has met all its mission objectives. Prithvi-II  already has been inducted into India’s armed forces in 2003. The last user trial of it was successfully conducted in November 2015 from the same test range.

Facts about Prithvi-II missile

Prithvi-II missile  is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) eveloped by DRDO under India’s prestigious IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Program).

• Range: The surface-to-surface Prithvi-II ballistic missile has a strike range of 350 km.
• Warheads: It is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads.
• Other Variants : Prithvi-I  (Army Version), Prithvi II (Air Force Version), Prithvi III (Naval Version)

The 7th edition of joint military exercise LAMITYE 2016  between Indian Army and Seychelles People's Defence Forces (SPDF) has begun in Victoria, Seychelles. The 14 day joint exercise has been conducted at Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA), Victoria. It will conclude on February 28, 2016.

This edition of joint military drill, will be concluding phase of the drill. It will be incorporating a tactical exercise and will be witnessed by senior military officers from both the countries who will review the standards of interoperability achieved by both the contingents.

Facts about LAMITYE 2016 :

India and Seychelles have been conducting joint drill ‘Exercise Lamitye’ since 2001. Lamitye which means friendship in Creole (local dialect), is conducted biennially with the aim of enhancing military cooperation and interoperability between the two countries. 

Representation: Seychelles People's Defence Forces (SPDF) will be represented by 20 personnel from Tazar (Special Forces Unit) and 32 from Seychelles Infantry while the Indian contingent will comprise an infantry platoon and representatives from the Special Forces. 

The border troops of India and China have held their first joint tactical exercise named “Sino-India Cooperation 2016”, in the Chushul-Moldo area along the northern border of Jammu and Kashmir.

This exercise is complementary to the Hand-in-Hand series of India-China Joint Exercises and the recently conducted joint exercise in Sikkim.

During the exercise the 30-member Indian Army team was led by Colonel Ritesh Chandra Singh, while the Chinese delegation with an equal strength was led by Colonel Qu Yi.

The exercise is part of the ongoing initiatives taken by India and China to ensure greater interaction between troops stationed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and thereby ensure peace and tranquillity along the border.

The regular bilateral interaction between Indian and Chinese border troops reflects positive relationship which is crucial for enhancing confidence and building relation between the armies of the two countries.

The Union government’s Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has given it's final approval to the proposal from the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra) to  set up the country’s first defence industrial park at Ottappalam.

The proposed park, will be established as part of the Make in India, Make in Kerala project. It will  have modern common infrastructure facilities aimed at attracting component manufacturers in the defence industry. The Union government has agreed to bring it under the Modified Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme (MIIUS).

Ottappalam was selected for the defence park keeping in view its strategic location as far as connectivity was concerned. Apart from common facilities such as dedicated power and water supply, the park will have a research and development centre.

Financial budget  The park would be established in 60 acres of land and the total expenditure for the defence park is estimated at Rs.231.25 crore. Kinfra will invest Rs.181.35 crore, while the rest of the amount is being expected as grant from the Union government.

Economic importance The defence components manufacturing sector has demand estimated at USD 700 million a year from India and other countries having friendly relationship with it. In India, there is a 15 per cent gap between demand and supply. This defence park will play important role bridging the gap and at the same time it will provide opportunity in defence-related export of products from small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the raising of 17 India Reserve Battalions (IR Bns) in Jammu & Kashmir and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected States. It includes 5 IR Bns in the state of J&K, 4 IR Bns in Chhattisgarh, 3 IR Bns in Jharkhand, 3 IR Bns in Odisha and 2 IR Bns in Maharashtra.

Facts to know 

(1) Local youths will be recruited. To achieve this, the States will relax the age and educational criteria, if required. 

(2) In respect of the 5 IR Bns to be raised in J&K, 60 percent of the vacancies will be filled from the border districts of J&K for the posts of constables and class IV. 

(3) For LWE states, 75 percent of the vacancies of constables will be filled up from 27 core districts under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme. 

Background 

The Government of India introduced the scheme of Indian Reserve Battalions in 1971 with an aim to boost the efforts of the states to deal with the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) i.e. naxalite problem effectively . The Government of India has so far, sanctioned 153 IR Bns to various States, out of which 144 IR Bns have been raised and one IR Bn in Jharkhand has been converted into Specialized Indian Reserve Battalion (SIRB) having two engineering companies and five security companies. 

Indigenously developed surface-to-air ‘Akash’ missile was test fired from complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odhisa as part of the user trial by the air force aiming at para-barrel targets.

Akash Missile

Akash which means sky in english is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air anti—aircraft defence system with a strike range of 25 km and can carry a warhead of 60 kg.

It has the capability to target aircraft up to 30 km away and is packed with a battery that can track and attack several targets simultaneously.

Akash’ has been Indigenously  developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

It has the capability to "neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles" as well as ballistic missiles. The missile is in operational service with the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

Army Day is celebrated on January 15 every year in recognition of Lieutenant General (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa who took over as the  first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, on 15 January 1949.  This year it will be the 68th Indian Army Day.

Events organised : It is celebrated every year at all the Army Command headquarters and national capital by organizing army parades including many other military shows.

Key facts about Indian army :

• Indian Army, the biggest component of Indian armed forces. It is headed by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), a four-star General. Presently Genral Dalbir Singh Suhag is COAS. 
• So far only two officers from Indian Army - Sam Mankeshaw (in 1973) and K M Cariappa (1986) have been conferred the rank of Field Marshal, a five-star rank, which is a ceremonial position of great honour. 
• The Indian Army originated from the armies of the East India Company, which eventually became the British India Army and finally the Indian Army after independence
• Indian Army is the 2nd largest standing army in the world, with about 1, 129, 900 active troops and 960,000 reserve troops.
• The Indian Army is a voluntary service and although a provision for military conscription (mandatory Military Service ) exists in the Constitution, it has never been imposed. 
• Headquartered at New Delhi, the Indian Army fields 35 Divisions within 13 Corps. The army operates 6 operational commands and 1 training command. 

The 15th edition of joint exercise by the Indian Coast Guard and its Japanese counterpart beigins from today  off the Chennai coast . The joint exercise has been titled as ‘Sahayog-Kaijin 2014'. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) vessel Samudra Pehredar and the Japanese vessel Echigo are berthed at Chennai Port.

Focus: The focus of the bilateral training would be anti-piracy, search and rescue operations and interoperability between the two forces.

The Director General of Indian Coast Guard Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, Vice Commandant of the Japanese Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Hideyo Hanamizu and other prominent officials would be witnessing the day-long event.

Union Govt. has launched a dedicated website for aspirants seeking recruitment in border guarding force Indo Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) which works under the command of the Union Home Ministry.The website is the first-ever initiative by any paramilitary force in the country to help young men and women gain entry in central forces .

The launched website provides information about the maximum number of career opportunities in the force, vacancies, pay scales and results and other relevant subjects. Online applications for various posts can also be submitted through this portal. ITBP has received the government sanction to raise at least ten new battalions for border guarding and other duties.

Indo Tibetan Border Police Force :

Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)  one of the five Central Armed Police Forces of India. The ITBP was intended for deployment along India's border with Chinese-occupied Tibet.

Established: It was raised on 24 October 1962, under the CRPF Act, in the wake of the Sino-Indian War of 1962. 

The ITBP, started with 4 battalions and now it has undergone expansion to a force of 45 battalions with 4 more being raised as of 2013

Role : The ITBP is trained in Civil Medical Camp, disaster management, and nuclear, biological and chemical disasters.

With a view to enhancing representation of women in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Union Home Ministry  has approved the 33% posts at Constable level for being filled up by women. The proposal in this regard was approved by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and shall come into effect with immediate effect.

Key facts to know :

• 33% of posts of Constables will be reserved for women in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
• 14-15 % posts in the Border Security Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Indo Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) will be reserved for women.

The Committee on Empowerment of Women in its Sixth Report (Recommendation No.84) of the (2010-11) had recommended urgent need to provide due representation to women in paramilitary forces. 

Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM) Barak 8 jointly developed by India and Israel was successfully test-fired from INS Kolkata. The firing trial of the LR SAM was jointly carried out by the Indian Navy, DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries. 

During the trial Barak 8 missile was fired by the Indian Navy from its warship INS Kolkata on the Western Seaboard during which it successfully intercepted an aerial target at extended ranges. The missile has a range of nearly 70 km.

With this test, India has joined a select group of countries which has such an anti-air warfare capability for their navies as only a small club of countries including the US, France, Britain and Israel possess such a capability.

Facts about Barak 8 :

• Barak 8 ( it means Lightning in Hebrew language)  is an Indian-Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM), designed  to defend the country against any type of airborne threat including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs at range of  70 km.
• It has been jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and other companies from Israel and India. The first 32 missile will be fitted on the Indian Navy stealth guided-missile destroyer INS Kolkata.

MF-STAR radar system :

Apart from the missile, the system includes a Multi Functional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MF STAR) for detection, tracking and guidance of the missile.Israel made MF-STAR radar system is capable of simultaneously tracking hundreds of airborne targets to a range of more than 250 KM.

Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM) Barak 8 jointly developed by India and Israel was successfully test-fired from INS Kolkata. The firing trial of the LR SAM was jointly carried out by the Indian Navy, DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries. 

During the trial Barak 8 missile was fired by the Indian Navy from its warship INS Kolkata on the Western Seaboard during which it successfully intercepted an aerial target at extended ranges. The missile has a range of nearly 70 km.

With this test, India has joined a select group of countries which has such an anti-air warfare capability for their navies as only a small club of countries including the US, France, Britain and Israel possess such a capability.

Facts about Barak 8 :

• Barak 8 ( it means Lightning in Hebrew language)  is an Indian-Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM), designed  to defend the country against t any type of airborne threat including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs at range of  70 km.
• It has been jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and other companies from Israel and India. The first 32 missile will be fitted on the Indian Navy stealth guided-missile destroyer INS Kolkata.

MF-STAR radar system :

Apart from the missile, the system includes a Multi Functional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MF STAR) for detection, tracking and guidance of the missile.Israel made MF-STAR radar system is capable of simultaneously tracking hundreds of airborne targets to a range of more than 250 KM.

The anti-jamming capability of  the air-to-air Astra missile  was successfully validated in recent trials conducted by missile scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

During the trials conducted the ECCM (electronic counter-counter measure) features to overcome any jamming was successfully evaluated. It should be noted that this test was conducted after the missile’s RF seeker and other electronic components were sought to be jammed in the earlier trials.

Several developmental trials, including captive flight mode, have already been completed, and with some more trials to be carried in future including air launch trial with a warhead, the missile will be inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2015.

Facts to know about Astra missile :

• Astra missile is an active radar homing beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed by missile complex at Hyderabad and several DRDO laboratories in partnership with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the Indian Air Force.
• The all-weather, radar homing missile has high manoeuvrability and capability to engage and destroy aerial targets at supersonic speeds of 1.2 Mach to 1.4 Mach
• It can engage targets in head-on up to 80 km and tail-chase up to 20 km modes. It can reach up to altitude of 110 km when fired from an altitude of 15 km.
• It is a 60-km plus range missile which possesses Shot Kill Probability (SSKP) making it one of the most reliable in its class of weapon systems.The missile could be launched at different altitudes from sea level to 20 km for engaging aerial targets at various ranges.
• DRDO is looking to integrate  the missile with Su-30, and also plans to mount it on other fighter aircraft including Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, Mirage-2000 and MIG-29.

The government of Seychelles has allocated land for India to build its first naval base in the Assumption Island of Indian Ocean.This is a joint project between India and Seychelles involving the two Defence Forces in enhancing the mutual security along the western seaboard.

Apart from the naval base, India is set to acquire a fully operational coastal radar system (CRS) based in Seychelles from March 2016. The CRS will provide India with the ability to gather intelligence and assist in surveillance operations of the vital energy lanes near Seychelles.

Strategic importance:

The project has acquired significance following China acquiring its first African naval base in Djibouti in November. Once ready, the naval base to be built by the defence forces of India, and Seychelles will help India exercise greater control over the Indian Ocean’s western region all the way to the piracy-prone eastern African coastline.This naval base will be staging posts for a large maritime security network that India is setting up with the help of the various IOR partner countries.

India's first indigenously designed and built warship Indian Naval Ship Godavari is scheduled to be decommissioned today. she was commissioned on 10 December 1983.The ship is the first of three Godavari Class frigates, others being Ganga and Gomati. At the time of decommissioning, it would have served the country for little over 32 years. 

INS Godavari was also among of the first frigates in the world capable of carrying two Sea King helicopters (well known as the 'Flying Frigate', because of its integral firepower and sensor suite). The frigate's weapon and sensor suite comprised of a mix of Russian and Western systems and their efficient integration was a milestone in itself 

Achievements and glories of  INS Godavari :

Over the past three decades, Godavari has successfully been deployed in numerous operations including Operation Jupiter - 1988 (Sri Lanka), Operation Shield and Operation Bolster - 1994 (de-induction of the Indian Army from Somalia) and Patrol of Gulf of Aden (PoG) - 2009 and 2011 (anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden).

Operation Cactus : 

• In 1988, following an attempted takeover against Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom by Sri Lankan mercenaries, India launched Operation Cactus to restore the democratically elected government.
• After Indian paratroopers restored the presidency, the mercenaries captured Maldivian hostages on board a freighter and fled towards Sri Lanka. INS Godavari and INS Betwa (F39) successfully intercepted the freighter, rescued the hostages and arrested the mercenaries off the Sri Lankan coast.

Pakistan has  successfully tested its nuclear-capable Shaheen-IA ballistic missile with a range of 900 km. This was Pakistan’s second test of a nuclear-capable missile in December 2015. On December 11, Pakistan tested the Shaheen-III surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of 2,750 km.

The test of the Shaheen-IA was aimed at re-validating several design and technical parameters of the weapon system .The impact point of the test was in the Arabian Sea and the launch was witnessed by officers from the Strategic Plans Division, strategic forces, scientists and engineers.

Facts about Shaheen-IA (Hatf IV) ballistic missile  :

Shaheen-IA ballistic missile (In English means Falcon) is a land-based supersonic and short-to-intermediate range surface-to-surface guided ballistic missile. It is an improved version of the Shaheen 1 with better accuracy and double the range of its predecessor. Both the Shaheen I and Shaheen IA are Pakistan's equivalent to the United States Pershing 1 and Pershing 1a missiles.

The missille has been designed and developed by the joint venture of NESCOM and the National Defence Complex (NDC). It has been named after a species of Falcon found in the mountains of Pakistan.

The Pakistani military initially did not publicly reveal the range of the missile which lead to media speculation of the true range of the missile but as per defense analyst this missile could be equipped with warheads designed to evade missile defense systems. This missile also incorporates DSI technology

All three Shaheen missiles, Shaheen I, Shaheen 1A and Shaheen II are reportedly equipped with the latest PSAC (Post-Separation Altitude Correction) system. This is a unique feature which consists of small thrusters that can adjust the warhead trajectory for greater accuracy and evading anti-ballistic missile defence systems.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Combined Commanders Conference, an annual tri-services event, held for the first time outside New Delhi, on board INS Vikramaditya about 50 kms off Kochi coast. 

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, all three services chiefs and other senior officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force were present during the conference.

The Conference, also known as the Unified Commanders' Conference, is an occasion in which India's defence policy, doctrine and operational challenges are discussed in detail. Last year Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested that such a significant conference should be shifted from New Delhi to field areas of the three services. 

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INS Sindhudhwaj, a submarine of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), has been awarded 'The Best Innovation Trophy' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

The award was given as part of the Navy Day celebrations that concluded last week. The award comes as a great morale booster to the submarine arm which celebrates its 48th anniversary tomorrow.

The innovation undertaken by the submarine to repair their ventilation system under challenging circumstances at sea during a search and rescue (SAR) operation was adjudged the first among the 137 entries of Navy.

Coast Guard interceptor boat  'ICGS C-422' has been commissioned in a traditional ceremony at Karaikal port to enhance vigil along Puducherry and South Tamil Nadu coast.

The vessel has been commissioned to strengthen coastal security in the region. Coast Guard already has two fast patrol vessels ICGS Rani Durgavati, ICGS Ameya and two interceptor boats C-428 and C-415 at Karaikal.

The vessel ICGS C422 has been equipped with modern navigation and communication system. It is fitted with state-of-the-art communication, navigational equipment and adequate fire power. The boat is capable of multiple tasks including surveillance, interdiction, and search and rescue. 

India has successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni-I from Dr Abdul Kalam Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast. 

The user trial of the strategic missile was carried out by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of Indian Army.The last trial of Agni-I conducted in September 2014 was also successful.

Agni-I, the first missile of the Agni series powered by both solid and liquid propellants, can travel at a speed of 2.5 km per second and destroy targets nearly 700 kilometres away.

About Agni-I missile :-

• Agni-I missile is the first missile of the Agni series launched in 1983 by the DRDO as part of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) in India. It is a single-stage missile developed after the Kargil War to fill the gap between 250 km range of Prithvi-II and 2,500 km range of Agni-II
• The missile weighs around 12 tonnes and can carry both conventional and nuclear payload of about 1,000 kg. It was first launched on January 25, 2002 and can be fired from road and rail mobile launchers.

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Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar dedicated a Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin (SMB) to the nation and handed over the Advanced Torpedo Defence System 'Maareech' to the Indian Navy at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam in the presence of Chief  of  Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan and  Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Director General, DRDO,  Dr S Christopher. 

Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin (SMB) :-

• SMB facility is one of its kind in the country, set up as a joint effort of   DRDO and Indian Navy. The facility puts India among the few nations in the world having the capability to undertake comprehensive hydrodynamic model testing of naval platforms and weapon systems. SMB would help to design and build state-of-the-art naval combatants such as submarines, ships, torpedoes, etc.

Maareech :-

• Maareech, a joint project of Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi and NSTL, Visakhapatnam is a state-of-the-art indigenous system for torpedo detection and countermeasures.This system offers a complete solution to detect and locate the incoming torpedo and to apply countermeasures to protect naval platform against torpedo attack. Two production grade Maareech systems have been developed and user evaluation trials completed onboard two Indian Navy ships.

Forty systems have already been procured and are being deployed in the Indian Navy ships. Varunastra, a heavy torpedo, designed and developed by the NSTL, has gone through user evaluation trials and a clearance is awaited for its production

Complementing the vital role of DRDO towards self-reliance and promoting the Make in India efforts, the Defence Minister said the development of complex system - Maareech is an excellent model of synergy between DRDO, Indian Navy, public and private industries, demonstrating yet another milestone in Make in India program.

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• Shipwright School, a premier technical establishment and alma-mater for Naval Architect Officers, Shipwright Officers and Shipwright Sailors of the Indian Navy, was commissioned as Indian Naval Ship Vishwakarma by Admiral RK Dhowan, Chief of the Naval Staff at a formal ceremony held at Visakhapatnam.
• Commissioning of INS Vishwakarma would enhance professionalism of young officers and sailors who would at Shipwright School to become warship designers and hull maintenance technicians of the future.
• The Indian Navy is equipped with technologically advanced warships, which have been designed in-house by the Navy’s own Warship Design Organisation and constructed by several Indian shipyards. 
• INS Vishwakarma would also enhance the Navy’s in-house design and maintenance capabilities. This would go a long way transforming the Indian Navy to a designer’s and builder’s Navy in keeping with the ‘Make in India’ vision.

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• Central Industrial Security Force has launched a new mobile application named  'm-Power' which will enable it's troops to  check their pay-related queries and register grievances while being on the move. 
• 'm-Power' is android-based facility and is an extended technology facility of the existing computer system facility for these men and women who guard some of the most vital installations in the country's civil aviation, aerospace and nuclear power domain.
• This is the first phase of the mobile-based application which offers one-touch access to information about locations and contact details of all force units, an employees' pay, interface for lodging grievance, monitoring its status and for knowing other service-related details
• The 1.47-lakh personnel strong Central Industrial Security Force is deployed to secure country's 59 civil airports, Delhi Metro and historical monuments like Taj Mahal and Red Fort.

About CISF:-

• Central Industrial Security Force  is a Central Armed Police Force in India. It was set up under an Act of the Parliament of India on 10 March 1969 with a strength of 2,800. CISF was subsequently made an armed force of the Union of India by another Act of Parliament passed on 15 June 1983.
• Its current strength is 165,000. The strength will be raised to 200,000 over the next 2–3 years. CISF is the largest industrial security force in the world. It is directly under the federal Ministry of Home Affairs and its headquarters are at New Delhi.

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• The Indian Army has tested  nearly 300-km-range Brahmos supersonic land attack cruise missile against a designated target in Rajasthan's Pokhran test range, demonstrating the weapon's operational capability.
• The missile was test launched by a Mobile Autonomous Launcher (MAL) deployed in full configuration. It met all the mission objective. BrahMos is a joint venture between DRDO of India and NPOM of Russia.
• The Army has already inducted three regiments of Brahmos in its arsenal. All are equipped with Block-III version of missile, which was tested on 8 and 9 May this year.

Brahmos supersonic land attack cruise missile :-

• The missile, having a range of 290-km and a Mach 2.8 speed, is capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air against sea and land targets. It is the most lethal and potent weapon system for precision strike available with Indian Army.
• The land-attack version of Brahmos has been operationalised in the Army since 2007.The fire-and-forget Missile has the capability to take on surface-based targets by flying a combined high-low trajectory, thus evading enemy air defence systems
• Inclusion of the powerful weapon system in Indian Army has given it a distinct operational advantage to knock down any enemy target even in the most difficult and hidden terrains.

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• Aadesh-Class Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV) ICGS Arinjay, the 15th vessel of its class in the series of 20 such Fast Patrol Vessels was commissioned in Indian Coast Guard  at Kochi, Kerala.
• It was commissioned by Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba PVSM, AVSM Flag Officer Commanding-in-chief, Southern Naval Command at a ceremony held Naval Base, Kochi.
• The Coast Guard ship, built by Cochin Shipyard Limited is 50 metres long, displaces 317 tons of water and has a maximum designed speed of 33 knots. The ship is capable of undertaking multifarious tasks such as surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue and medical evacuation. 
• Post commissioning, the ship will be based at Okha, under the administrative and operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (NW).

Role of the Vessel :-

The primary role of the vessel include fisheries protection and monitoring, patrol within exclusive economic zone (EEZ), coastal patrol, and anti-smuggling, anti piracy and search and rescue operations. The vessels have a secondary role of providing communication link and escorting convoys during hostilities and war time

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The fourth edition of Sri Lanka India bilateral Naval Exercise (SLINEX) began off Sri Lanka’s Trincomalee coast. The exercise is mainly focused on anti-piracy exercises, gun firings, cross-deck helicopter operations and anti-surface operations. 

SLINEX 15 will further enhance the capability of the two navies to work together at sea and contribute towards maritime security in the region. The exercise also seeks to reinforce the strong neighbourly ties underscored by extensive maritime interaction.

Facts about SLINEX :-

• SLINEX series of bilateral maritime exercises were initiated in 2005 and since then three successful engagements have been conducted.
• Indian Navy is represented by Indian Naval ships Kora, Kirpan (both missile corvettes) and Savitri (offshore patrol vessel) along with ship-borne integral helicopters.In addition, an Indian Naval maritime reconnaissance aircraft will also participate in the exercise.
• The Lankan Navy will be represented by Sayura, Samudra, Sagara, 6 Fast Attack Crafts, 2 Fast Gun Boats and 1 Fast Missile Vessel. 

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• Defence Ministry has approved the induction of women into the combat stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Thus, women can now fly warplanes for the first time.
• The induction process will begin with women from the current batch being trained at the Air Force Academy (AFA). The first woman fighter pilot will be in the cockpit in June 2017.
• There are around 1,500 women in the Air Force, including 94 pilots and 14 navigators. At the moment, they serve as transport and helicopter pilots in the IAF but are not exposed to direct combat. Women fighter pilots have been serving in the air forces of Pakistan, Israel, UAE, US and UK and other countries.
• This progressive step is in keeping with the aspirations of Indian women and in line with contemporary trends in armed forces in developed nations at the same time Introducing women into the fighter stream would provide them with equal opportunity to prove their mettle in combat as well.

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In order to enhance operational and administrative organizational structure Union Ministry of Defence has divided erstwhile Maharashtra and Gujarat (MnG) Naval Area into two separate headquarters.

It was divided into two under Flag Officer Maharashtra Area and Flag Officer Gujarat Naval Area.

The divison will facilitate:-

• Better vigilance on the sea border with Pakistan
• Better communication and coordination with the state government,local authorities and fishermen

Rear Admiral Satish Namdeo Ghormade assumed the charge of Maharashtra Area and Rear Admiral Murlidhar Sadashiv Pawar assumed the charge of Gujarat Naval Area.

Rear Admiral SN Ghormade :-

• Rear Admiral SN Ghormade is a graduate of National Defence Acedamy (NDA),Khadakwasla.He was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jan 1984.
• His career spans over 31 years. During this period he has been through a myriad of operational and staff appointments.
• His operational appointments include commands of the Guided Missile Frigate INS Brahmaputra, Submarine Rescue Vessel INS Nireekshak, and Minesweeper INS Allepey
• He is the recipient of the Nau Sena Medal in 2007 by the President of India and Commendation by Chief of Naval Staff in 2000.

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• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) launched its biggest military exercise in 13 years, mobilizing 36,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen from more than 30 countries to test the alliance's ability to respond to new security threats. The exercise will demonstrate that NATO is capable of responding to threats from any direction.
• Trident Juncture will continue until November 6. The exercise will also certify next year’s NATO Response Force headquarters and the functions of the new very-high readiness Spearhead Force.

Facts to know about NATO :-

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization  is an intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty which was signed on 4 April 1949. NATO has 28 member state. 
• The organization constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party. Article 5 of the North Atlantic treaty, requiring member states to come to the aid of any member state subject to an armed attack
• The combined military spending of all NATO members constitutes over 70 percent of the global total. Members' defense spending is supposed to amount to 2 percent of GDP. NATO's headquarters are located in Haren, Brussels (Belgium) 

 Member States of  NATO:-

Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Rep, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, LuxembourgNetherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.

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• The third India-Sri Lanka  joint training exercise " Mitra Shakti-2015" concluded after a grand closing ceremony held at Aundh Military Camp, Pune.
• 14 days of joint training that was started on 29 September 2015 included understanding of transnational terrorism, developing interoperability and conduct of joint tactical operations controlled by a Joint Command Post.
• Brigadier Tapan Lal Sah of the Indian Army and Brigadier KP Aruna Jayasekera of the Sri Lankan Army jointly reviewed the parade commanded by Major Ashish Kumar, of Indian Army. Martial skill display by Indian Army added colour to the impressive parade displayed by the joint contingent.
• Brigadier Tapan Lal Sah of the Indian Army and Brigadier KP Aruna Jayasekera of the Sri Lankan Army jointly reviewed the parade commanded by Major Ashish Kumar, of Indian Army.

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• Asia's two largest military powers India and China, will jointly conduct combined military training exercise Hand-in-Hand from October 12 to October 2015 at Kunming Military Academy, Yunnan, China. This will be the fifth exercise of the series, which started in 2007. 
• The exercise will bring together troops of an Infantry sub-unit and a formation headquarter of Indian Army and similar participation from the Chinese Army for the joint training.
• This exercise aims to strengthen and broaden interoperability and cooperation between both the Armies as well as complement a number of other exchanges between the two forces. 
• The exercise curriculum has been planned in a manner that the participants will initially be made to get familiar with each others organisational structure, weapons, equipment and tactical drills. Subsequently, under Joint Tactical Exercises, battle drill of both the armies will be rehearsed.
• The twelve day exercise will lay emphasis on joint handling of insurgency at sub-unit level and related issues, while the aspect of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief will be discussed at formation headquarters level.
• Commanders and Staff Officers of both sides will work in close coordination to receive and collate intelligence and to issue suitable operational orders to the combined field training components, who in turn will execute these orders on ground.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrated its 83rd anniversary on 8 October, 2015 with a large parade and air display at the Hindon air base near Delhi. The major take away from the celebrations was the announcement of a planned inclusion of women pilots in the fighter squadrons.Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, announced that women pilots will soon fly fighter jets of the Indian Air Force. 

How was 83rd anniversary of  Indian Air Force celebrated ?

• The re-constituted " Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) " was the highlight of this year's event. The squadron was disbanded four years ago due to shortage of aircraft.It used to fly ageing Kiran trainers at the time but now has shifted to British-designed Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers.
• The air display commenced with flag bearing sky divers of the famous Akash Ganga Team dropping out of AN-32 aircraft in their colourful canopies. The parade was marked by a fly past of the ENSIGN formation comprising of three Mi-17 V5 helicopters in VIC formation. It was followed by Chakra formation comprising of three Mi-35. Other fighter aircrafts, including Jaguar and SU-30, also took part in fighter fly past.
• Army Chief General Dalbir Singh and his Naval counterpart Admiral R.K. Dhowan were also present at the event along with batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who became the first sportsperson to be made an honourary Group Captain in the Indian Air Force.

Significance of  Indian Air Force Day:-

• The Air Force Day was officially started celebrating at 8th of October in the year 1932 as an auxiliary air force of Indian Empire. The Indian Air Force, air arm of the Indian armed forces, has its prime responsibility of securing the Indian airspace as well as to carry out the aerial warfare during any clash.

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" INS Astradharani " Indian Navy’s first totally indigenously-designed and built torpedo launch and recovery vessel ( TRV ) was commissioned into Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Key facts about " INS Astradharani " :-

• INS Astradharan is a 50-metre twin-hulled warship with maximum speed of 15 knots (28 km/h).
• The unique design of the ship was a collaborative effort of Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, IIT Kharagpur and Shoft Shipyard.
• The catamaran hull configuration significantly reduces its power requirement.
• INS Astradharani will be used to carryout the technical trials of underwater weapons and systems developed by the city-based NSTL.
• It is an advanced replacement for Astravahini which was decommissioned on July 17 this year.

INS Astradharani adds thrust to the Nation’s ongoing endeavours towards indigenisation and achieving the nation’s goal of self reliance in underwater weapons development.

The ship reflects the capability of our scientists and manufacturing facilities and would go a long way in the `Make in India' campaign of the Government. Such a ship has been a long-felt need and it is a dream come true.

Facts to know about Indian Navy :-

• The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the navy.
• The 17th-century Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is considered as the 'Father of the Indian Navy'.
• As of 2015, the Indian Navy has a strength of 58,350 personnel and a large operational fleet

Motto :-  ( Sham No Varunah) i.e, May the Lord of the Oceans be auspicious unto us.

Current Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) :- Admiral RK Dhowan

Current Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) :- Vice Admiral P Murugesan

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• Indian Navy (IN) has commissioned INS Kochi, the stealth-guided missile destroyer. INS Kochi is the largest and most powerful vessel designed and completed in the country till date. The warship is the second of three destroyers being built at the Mazgaon Docks in Mumbai. The ship is christened after the port city of Kochi.
• 'INS Kochi' has been been built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) and is part of the project code 15A. It measures 164 metres in length and 17 metres in width, it can displace around 7,500 tonnes of water and can attain a speed in excess of 55 kilometres per hour. It is equipped with four Ukrainian gas turbine generators and one diesel alternator.

"INS Kochi" is well equipped with all major weapons :-

• The ship is one of the few warships of the world and the second in the Indian Navy to have Multi-Function Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar to provide target data to Long Range Surface to Air Missile system. The ship has been assigned a crew of about 40 officers and 350 sailors. 
• Like her predecessor INS Kolkata, which was commissioned in August 2014, INS Kochi is armed with AK-630 rapid fire guns, indigenously-designed torpedo and rocket launchers, the long-range supersonic BrahMos missile as well the 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM). It is protected from all kinds of cyber threats
• Its anti-submarine arsenal consists of indigenously built Twin-tube Torpedo Launchers (ITTL), Indigenous Rocket Launchers (IRL) and bow-mounted new generation HUMSA Sonar Dome. INS Kochi is also equipped to operate 2 Sea King or Chetak helicopters

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• The oldest operational aircraft carrier in the world, INS Viraat of Indian Navy which is expected to be decommissioned some time next year, is on a visit to Kochi.
• INS Viraat is the oldest operational carrier in the world but Navy continue to run it at its operational best . The ship, started it's  journey in Navy in 1958. 
• For the last 28 years, the ship had been periodically upgraded with all its weapons and sensors with equipment on board that is how Navy has been able to keep it running so effectively.

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• The government has cleared the proposal for a nearly Rs 8,000-crore project for IAF's Integrated Air Command and Control System ( IACCS), which aims at integrating all ground and air sensors 
• Decision in this regard was taken by Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the proposal forwarded by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). Earlier in November 2014, DAC had given its nod for addition of 4 more nodes IAF’s IACCS.

About Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) :-

• Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) is an automated command and control system for Air Defence (AD) which integrates different air sensors and radars to protect Indian airspace.
• Once the system is in place, the air headquarters will get a composite air situation picture since it will be integrating Air Force, Army, Naval and civilian radars. 
• The IAF currently has five sector headquarters (nodes) of communication and the plan is to have four more, besides establishment of 10 sub-nodes and up-gradation of the entire system. 
• As part of this, the new command and control system will be set up and integrated with the existing ground and air sensors and air defence systems. 

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The Indian Coast Guard has commissioned  two of its ships, Apoorva and C-421, off the Mumbai coast. The ships were commissioned by Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command, Mumbai, Vice Admiral SPS Cheema, off the naval dockyard in Mumbai.

ICGS Apoorva

• ICGS Apoorva, 14th in the series of 20, is a 50 meter long Fast Patrol Vessel that displaces 317 tonnes and can achieve a maximum speed of 33 knots. 
• It is equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, advanced communication and navigational equipment that make it fit for undertaking multifarious close-coast surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue and medical evacuation missions. It will be based at Goa.

ICGS C-421

• ICGS C-421 is an interceptor boat with 27.8 meter length and displaces 106 tonnes. The ship is commanded by Deputy Commandant Rohit Kulkarni with a complement of one officer and 13 ranks. It is a water jet propelled vessel, 27th in the series of IBs constructed by L & T Limited and can achieve a maximum speed of 45 knots.
• The ship is being commissioned nearly two years ahead of schedule. Fitted with medium range armaments, the ship is designed for close coast and shallow water operations. The vessel is based at Androth (L&M Islands). 

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• Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has cleared a multi-billion dollar deal for 22 Apache attack helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers with American aviation giant Boeing. 
• Experts in the defence sector had expected the deal, valued to be over USD 2.5 billion and pending since 2013 following finalisation of cost negotiations, to be signed during the visit of US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter in June this year.
• The deal for Apache is "a hybrid one", with one contract to be signed with Boeing for the helicopter and the other with the US government for its weapons, radars and electronic warfare suites.
• Over the last decade US defence companies have bagged defence contracts from India worth around 10 billion USD, including for aircraft like P-8I maritime surveillance planes, and the C-130J Super Hercules and C-17 Globemaster-III in the transport category.

Apache Attack helicopters:- 

• The Apache is considered by experts to be the world’s premier anti-tank attack helicopter. They are potent as fighter helicopters and are capable of destroying enemy helicopter and tank forces. In its flight evaluation trials, the IAF had picked the Apache ahead of the Russian Mi-28N Night Hunter.
• The 22 Apache AH 64D Longbow helicopters are one of the most advanced multi-role combat helicopters, featuring all-weather and night fighting features, ability to track upto 128 targets in less than a minute and engage with 16, besides stealth characteristics, advanced sensors and beyond visual range missiles.
• There addition in Indian Air Force (IAF) will help to replace the ageing fleet of 15 Russian Mi-35 attack helicopters which already have undergone life extension upgrades.

Chinook heavy-lift choppers :-

• The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its primary roles are troop movement, artillery placement and battlefield resupply. The CH-47 is among the heaviest lifting Western helicopters. Its name is from the Native American Chinook people.
• It has a wide loading ramp at the rear of the fuselage and three external ventral cargo hooks. With a top speed of 170 knots (196 mph, 315 km/h) the helicopter was faster than contemporary 1960s utility helicopters and attack helicopters, and is still one of the fastest helicopter in the US inventory.

Categories:  Sep 2015 Current Affairs • Daily Current Affairs Quiz • Latest UPSC mains Articles • GK Articles • Latest Current Affairs Articles

• Bilateral Maritime Exercise between India and Australia 'AUSINDEX-15', commenced off coast of Visakhapatnam. The week-long drill was inaugurated by Head, Navy Capability, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead and Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet Rear Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh onboard the INS Shivalik.
• In this Bilateral Maritime Exercise Royal Australian Navy (RAN) comprises of HMAS Sirius (fleet tanker), HMAS Arunta (Anzac class frigate) and one submarine HMAS Sheean (Collins class submarine) while Indian Navy would be represented by INS Shivalik (stealth frigate), INS Ranvijay (guided missile destroyer) and INS Shakti (fleet tanker)
• In addition, one Royal Australian air force P3C orion surveillance aircraft and Indian Navy's P8I maritime patrol aircraft will operate from Chennai during the exercise
• AUSINDEX15 naval exercise between navies of both countries is held in line with the Framework for Security Co-operation. The framework was announced by the Australian and Indian Prime Ministers in 2014.

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• Union Home ministry has announced 33 per cent reservations for women in all paramilitary forces, including Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). 
• Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh made this announcement at National Industrial Security Academy (NISA), a premier training centre of the CISF where 48 freshly inducted and trained Assistant Commandants, eleven promotee ACs and 478 Sub-inspectors have passed. 
• Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also said that CISF will be the first among Central Armed Police Forces to achieve 33 percent reservation for women. 

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• The sixth joint military training exercise, 'EKUVRIN 2015', between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF) has commenced at Pangode Military Station in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.
• The bilateral annual exercise was commenced in 2009 in Belgaum, India. It is alternately held in India and Maldives with the aim of enhancing military cooperation and inter-operability between the two countries.
• In this edition of joint exercise, total of 45 soldiers each from Indian Army (BIHAR Regiment) and the Maldivian National Defence Force will take part.
• This year's joint training is the first exercise involving an international contingent to be conducted at Thiruvananthapuram, which is being developed as a training node by the Indian Army,

Categories:  Aug 2015 Current Affairs • Daily Current Affairs Quiz • Latest UPSC mains Articles • GK Articles • Latest Current Affairs Articles

• US Army has launched the largest NATO airborne drills in Europe since the end of the Cold War, to enhance “security and stability” in the region.
• The airborne drill which has been named as "Swift Response 15" is belived to be the largest Allied airborne training event on the continent since the end of the Cold War
• Swift Response 15 will continue until September 13, in which nearly 5,000 soldiers from 11 Nato allies are taking part. 
• Soldiers from Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the UK and the United States are taking part in the exercise
•  During the drill the allied warplanes led by US will drop more than one thousand paratroopers and warfare equipment to Hohenfels training area in Germany.
• "Swift Response 15" marks the return to Europe of the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division for the first time since it was sent to carry out operations in Kosovo in 1999
• After a short break NATO is set to stage another major exercise, Trident Juncture 2015, which is to take place in Spain, Italy and Portugal late September.

Objective of the drill :-

The aim of the drills is to increase the capabilities of NATO's "high-readiness forces" based in Europe, and also to "demonstrate the alliance's capacity to rapidly deploy and operate in support of maintaining a strong and secure Europe

About NATO :-

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) , is an intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty which was signed on 4 April 1949. 
• NATO constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party

Headquarters:- Haren, Brussels

NATO has 28 member countries article five of the North Atlantic Treaty states that if an armed attack occurs against one of the member states, it should be considered an attack against all members, and other members shall assist the attacked member, with armed forces if necessary

categories:  July 2015 Current Affairs • Daily Current Affairs Quiz • Latest UPSC mains Articles • GK Articles • Latest Current Affairs Articles

• For the first time ever, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) today hosted an Indian Army delegation in the Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) area along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The Indian delegation was led by Colonel BS Uppal and the Chinese delegation by Colonel Song Zhoanli. A cultural programme showcasing Chinese culture and tradition was also organised to mark the occasion.

Facts about People Liberation Army

• People's Liberation Army is the armed forces of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The PLA is under the command of the Central Military Commission of the CPC
• The PLA consists of four professional service branches: the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, the People's Liberation Army Navy, the People's Liberation Army Air Force and the Second Artillery Corps
• The PLA is the world's largest military force, with a strength of approximately 2,285,000 personnel, 0.18% of the country's population
• Military service is compulsory by law; however, compulsory military service in China has never been enforced due to large numbers of volunteers from China's population
• Image source : economictimes

categories:  July 2015 Current Affairs • Daily Current Affairs Quiz • Latest UPSC mains Articles • GK Articles • Latest Current Affairs Articles

Indo-UK bilateral Air Exercise Indradhanush between Indian Air Force (IAF) and British Royal Air Forces (RAF) concluded .The Exercise Indradhanush started in Britain on 21 July 2015. During the 10-day exercise different elements of the IAF contingent operated from separate RAF bases. The Sukhois operated from Corningsby, combat support elements from Brize Norton and the Garud special forces from Hunnington.The two air forces also operate common combat support platforms, namely the Globemaster and the Super Hercules.For the first time Ex-Indradhanush was conducted in 2007 at Waddington, UK.

India's joint military exercises with various countries are as follows:-

1. Malabar => Naval exercise that takes place between India and U.S. 
2. Yudh Abhyas => Army exercise takes place between India and U.S.
3. Red flag =>  Air Force exercise takes place between India and U.S.
4. Cope => Army exercise between India and U.S.
5. VARUNA => Joint exercise of Air Force between India and France
6. GARUDA=>   Air Force between India and U.K.
7. EKUVERIN=> Defence exercise between India and Maldives         
8. NOMADIC ELEPHANT => Defence exercise between India and Mangolia
9. HAND IN HAND =>  Defence exercise between India and China
10. SLINEX => Naval exercise between India and Sri Lanka
11. SIMBEX => Joint Naval Exercise between India and South East Asia especially Singapore

Image source :aviationweek

Anil Ambani-led Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company (PDOC) signed an agreement with JSC Ship Repairing Centre Zvyozdochka, Russia,for Medium Refits and Life Certification of 877 EKM Submarines in India. The agreement was signed  under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" initiative. The programme will be executed under a joint venture (JV) with 51 per cent stake, which is consistent with the Defence Ministry regulations.

• The agreement marks the first instance of the refit of submarines being considered for the private sector in India, the estimated budget of the joint venture is around Rs.11,000 crore.
• Under the agreement, Zvyozdochka will provide complete technical assistance and support to the JV, including for the enhancement of infrastructure at the PDOC facilities, training of engineers.
• PDOC will undertake similar work for large submarine forces of similar class deployed by countries such as Algeria, Vietnam and Iran
• Zvyozdochka is the premier ship repairing centre in Russia. It has undertaken upgradation/refurbishment of more than 120 submarines and 90 warships
• The idea behind this joint venture is to have a 198-ship naval force by 2027, up from the current 137 vessels. Already, 48 warships are under construction at Indian shipyards, including aircraft carriers, frigates, destroyers, submarines, corvettes and fast-attack craft.

India has been stressing on domestic defence production under the "Make in India" programme, an important aspect of which is to get technology transfers and inviting foreign firms to manufacture in India

Image source : wikipedia

Tags: July 2015 Current Affairs • Daily Current Affairs Quiz • Latest UPSC mains Articles • GK Articles • Latest Current Affairs Articles

Home Ministry has approved to raise Seventeen new police battalions, comprising 18,700 personnel in Jammu and Kashmir and the Naxal-hit states

• Of these 17 police battalions, 5 battalions will be for Jammu and Kashmir and 12 for the Maoist-affected states
• Each of the battalions will comprise 1,100 recruits and these battalions will be raised by recruiting local youths. 
• In case of Naxal-hit states, 75 per cent vacancies will be filled up by youths from the 27 worst-affected districts. 
• In case of Jammu and Kashmir, the recruitment process will concentrate on insurgency prone areas. 

The cost of raising each of the battalion will be around Rs 61 crore and 75 per cent of it will be provided by the central government although this cost is much lower than raising of a paramilitary battalion which costs around Rs 160 crore 

Currently there are 144 India Reserve Battalions in various states. In addition, the Centre has recently approved raising eight additional IR Battalions four each for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. 

Personnel of India Reserve Battalion are normally deployed in their respective states but they can be deployed in other states too if there is a requirement. 

Image credit : indian defense news

• Indigenously built Torpedo launch and recovery vessel (TLRV) 'INS Astravahini' has been decommissioned after almost 31 years in service to the nation.
• 'INS Astravahini' was decommissioned at a ceremony presided over by Commodore K A Bopanna, Naval Officer-in-Charge ( Andhra Pradesh Division) at the Ship Building Centre. 
• The vessel was developed by Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) 
• Astravahini was auxiliary vessel of TLRV class, the ship was commissioned on November 5, 1984 at Visakhapatnam, the headquarters of Eastern Naval Command 
• The only one of its class the ship was extensively used by NSTL as a test platform to launch and recover experimental torpedoes prior to their induction into the Navy.

Image credit :indianexpress