1. Agreement between Ministry of Defense and HAL for the manufacture of Dornier aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard
Tags: Defence
On July 7, 2023, The Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for procurement of 2 Dornier aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) with Associated Engineering Support Package at a total cost of Rs 458.87 crore in New Delhi.
An Overview of the news:
- The aircraft will be equipped with many advanced equipment such as glass cockpit, maritime patrol radar, electro optic infra-red device, mission management system etc.
- Its addition will further boost the aerial surveillance capability of the maritime areas under the responsibilities of the ICG.
- Dornier aircraft are indigenously manufactured at HAL (Transport Aircraft Division) in Kanpur.
- This initiative of the Ministry of Defense will contribute significantly in achieving self-reliance in defense in line with the Government's 'Make in India'.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL):
- Establishment: 23 December 1940 (Aircraft manufacturing started from 1942).
- Founder: Incorporated as Hindustan Aircraft Limited in Bangalore by Walchand Hirachand.
- It was formed on 1 October 1964 as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- Headquarters: Bangalore
- Management: by a Board of Directors appointed by the President of India through the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
- The HAL HF-24 Marut fighter-bomber was the first indigenously built fighter aircraft in India.
2. Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX 23) 2023
Tags: Defence
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The seventh edition of the bilateral Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX 23) 2023 being conducted by the Indian Navy is being conducted at Visakhapatnam from 5 to 10 July 2023.
An Overview of the news: -
- The seventh edition marks the 11th anniversary of JIMEX since its inception in 2012.
Practice Leadership:
- Units of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) under the command of RADM Nishiyama Takahiro while Indian Navy ships under the command of Admiral Gurcharan Singh are participating in the exercise.
Demonstration of practice weapons:
- The exercise will see the participation of INS Delhi, India's first indigenously built Guided Missile Destroyer, INS Kamorta, an indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette, Fleet Tanker INS Shakti, Maritime Patrol Aircraft P-8I and Dornier.
- The JMSDF will be represented by the guided missile destroyer JS Samidare and its integral helicopters.
Six Day Practice:
- The exercise will be conducted over six days in two phases - a harbor phase at Visakhapatnam which will include professional, sports and social interactions.
- Both the navies will jointly hone their warfare skills at sea and enhance interoperability in the surface, sub-surface and air domains through complex multi-discipline operations.
Japan:
- Capital: Tokyo
- King: Prince Naruhito (The reign of the 126th king will be known as 'Riwa'.)
- Prime Minister: Fumio Kishida
- Currency: Japanese Yen
3. Member countries of the SCO should collaborate to fully capitalize on the potential of the Chabahar Port: PM Modi
Tags: International Relations Defence International News
The Prime Minister has suggested that the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) should collaborate to fully capitalise on the potential of the Chabahar Port, especially with Iran's recent accession to this major regional organisation.
An Overview of the News
During a virtual summit hosted by India, Iran was formally inducted as a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The induction took place within the influential SCO, with the virtual summit serving as the forum for this announcement.
Chabahar Port:
Location and Access: The Chabahar Port is located in Iran's Sistan-Balochistan province, at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz.
It provides direct access to the Indian Ocean and is situated outside the Hormuz Strait.
Importance and Potential: As Iran's only seaport, the Chabahar Port has the potential to become a significant commercial hub in the region.
Its strategic proximity to countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, along with its role in the International North-South Transport Corridor, contributes to its importance.
Chabahar Project:
Tripartite Agreement: In May 2016, India, Iran, and Afghanistan signed a tripartite agreement to develop the Shahid Beheshti Terminal at Chabahar.
This marked India's first foreign port project.
Objectives: The agreement aimed to establish an International Transport and Transit Corridor at Chabahar.
Key highlights of the project include the construction of the Chabahar Port and a rail line connecting it to Zahedan.
Bypassing Pakistan: The Chabahar Port provides India with an alternative route to access Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
This offers increased trade and connectivity opportunities.
International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC):
Description: The INSTC is a multimodal transportation route that connects the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea.
It further extends to northern Europe through St. Petersburg, Russia.
Components: The corridor encompasses seaports in the Persian Gulf and the Caspian region, as well as road and rail networks.
Objective: The primary aim of the INSTC is to reduce transportation costs and transit time between India and Russia.
Once fully functional, it is expected to significantly decrease transit time by nearly half.
4. Lebanese Armed Forces on visit to Indian Southern Naval Command
Tags: Defence
A five-member training delegation of the Lebanese Armed Forces led by Brigadier General Hussain Bazzi is on a visit to Southern Naval Command, Kochi and Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala from 3 to 8 July 2023.
An Overview of the news:-
- During the visit, the delegation interacted with Rear Admiral Upal Kundu, Chief Staff Officer (Training) and discussed issues of interoperability and cooperation between the two services in the field of training.
- The delegation visited Headquarters Maritime Training (HQST) and interacted with Rear Admiral Sushil Menon, Flag Officer Sea Training.
- Business interactions were held on various aspects of Operational Sea Training.
- The delegation also visited various training establishments of the Southern Naval Command at Kochi and observed demonstrations regarding state-of-the-art training infrastructure, facilities and simulators.
- On completion of the visit to Kochi, the delegation will proceed to INA Ezhimala to explore avenues of mutual cooperation in the field of naval training.
Lebanon:
Capital: Beirut (largest city)
President: Michel Naeem Ouen (until October 2022)
Prime Minister: Najib Azmi Mikati
Currency: Lebanese pound
5. Conference on Classification Regulations and Advanced Naval Technologies in New Delhi
Tags: Defence
A conference on Classification Regulations and Advanced Technologies for Naval Ships and Auxiliaries was held on 27-28 June 2023 at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, New Delhi.
An Overview of the news:
- The conference was organized by the Directorate of Naval Architecture, Integrated Headquarters Ministry of Defense (Navy).
- The conference was inaugurated by Vice Admiral Sandeep Naithani, Chief of Material.
- The conference provided a technical platform to understand the progress in the role of the class society in promoting indigenous warship building and its maintenance at par with international standards.
- Senior representatives/subject experts from seven major International Classification Societies viz. ABS, BV, Klass-NK, DNV, IRAS, LR and RINA participated in the conference.
6. Biggest air exercise 'Tarang Shakti'
Tags: Defence
The Indian Air Force is making preparations to organize a large-scale multilateral exercise later this year, aimed at enhancing military cooperation with 12 nations.
An overview of the news
The exercise, named Tarang Shakti, is set to be the largest air exercise ever conducted in India, showcasing the country's commitment to strengthening international military partnerships.
Among others, air forces of France, Australia, the US and the UK are likely to participate in the exercise .
The participating countries will contribute their military combat jets, as well as transport aircraft and other assets, showcasing their collective capabilities and fostering interoperability.
Tarang Shakti will provide a platform for air forces from different nations to engage in joint training, exchange knowledge, and improve coordination in various operational scenarios.
The exercise aims to enhance the mutual understanding and compatibility between the participating air forces, promoting regional stability and security.
By hosting this mega-multilateral exercise, India seeks to demonstrate its commitment to regional cooperation and its capability to conduct large-scale joint military operations.
The exercise will provide valuable insights into the operational capabilities of different air forces, facilitating the exchange of best practices and fostering stronger military ties.
Earlier in 2023, IAF took part in Exercise Orion in France and INIOCHOS in Greece.
In April, the IAF and the USAF had taken part in a joint exercise in Cope India-2023 across Kalaikunda, Panagarh and Agra bases.
7. IAF conducts Rannvijay exercise with focus on integrated operations
Tags: Defence National News
The Indian Air Force recently conducted Exercise Ranvijay, a series of integrated wargames aimed at enhancing the skills of fighter pilots through day and night operations involving combat aircraft like Su-30s.
An overview of the news
The exercise took place in the UB Hills and Central Air Command Area of Responsibility from June 16 to June 23.
It involved the execution of full spectrum operations by all combat assets, with a particular emphasis on integrated operations and the optimal utilization of the Indian Air Force's electronic warfare capabilities.
The exercise was carried out from various air bases under the Central Air Command, which is headquartered in Prayagraj.
Different commands within the Indian Air Force, along with the Army and Navy, have been conducting wargames to enhance coordination and strengthen integration among the forces.
After addressing various concerns, the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force have reached a consensus to proceed with the plan for establishing theatre commands, which will further enhance coordination and synergy among the three services.
8. INS Sunayna visits Mombasa, Kenya to strengthen bilateral ties
Tags: Defence International News
INS Sunayna visited Mombasa, Kenya, with the aim of strengthening bilateral ties with maritime neighbors under the theme of Ocean Ring of Yoga.
An overview of the news
The Commanding Officer of INS Sunayna held a meeting with Brigadier Y S Abdi, Deputy Commander of the Kenya Navy, and emphasized the significance of Yoga in fostering unity and bringing the world closer together.
On the occasion of the International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2023, a joint Yoga session was conducted onboard INS Sunayna, involving Indian Navy personnel and members of the Kenyan Defence Forces.
A Maritime Partnership Exercise took place between the Indian and Kenyan navies, where drills related to firefighting, damage control, boarding exercises, asymmetric threat simulations, and VBSS (Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure) operations were carried out during the harbor phase.
An onboard Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capsule was also conducted to enhance the capabilities of the Kenya Navy.
In honor of General Francis Ogolla, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the Kenyan Defence Forces, a reception was hosted onboard INS Sunayna by Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff.
The event was attended by Namgya Khampa, the High Commissioner of India in Nairobi.
As a symbol of goodwill, the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff gifted 200 life jackets to Major General Jimson Muthai, Commander of the Kenya Navy.
Prior to departure from Mombasa, INS Sunayna conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the Kenya Naval Ship Jasiri on June 23, 2023, further strengthening the maritime cooperation between the two navies.
9. New Russian frigates will be armed with hypersonic Zircon missiles
Tags: Defence International News
The Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy has recently made an announcement stating that all new frigate and corvette class vessels of the Russian Navy will be equipped with hypersonic Zircon missiles.
About Zircon Missile
The Zircon Missile, also known as the 3M22 Zircon or SS-N-33, is a hypersonic cruise missile developed in Russia.
It is designed as an anti-ship missile with advanced capabilities.
Characteristics of Zircon Missile
The Zircon Missile can achieve speeds of over 9,500 kilometers per hour (6,000 miles per hour), which is approximately nine times the speed of sound.
It is a two-stage missile, utilizing solid fuel in the first stage and a scramjet motor in the second stage.
The missile has a range of more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and is capable of accurately pinpointing targets within that range.
The Zircon Missile employs an active and passive radar seeker as its guidance system.
Hypersonic Cruise Missiles
Hypersonic cruise missiles are a type of missile designed to travel at extremely high speeds, typically exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound).
They are propelled by rocket engines and are equipped with guidance systems for target navigation.
One notable characteristic of hypersonic cruise missiles is their ability to maneuver during flight, making them difficult to track and intercept.
10. India-United States Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X) launched in Washington DC
Tags: International Relations Defence International News
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The U.S. Department of Defense and the Indian Ministry of Defense launched the India-U S Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) on 21st June at an event hosted by the U S-India Business Council.
An overview of the news
The launch of INDUS-X is a major milestone in promoting US-India defense cooperation, innovation, and job creation.
The initiative seeks to enhance defense capabilities and contribute to global peace, security and prosperity while reaffirming commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Significance of INDUS-X
INDUS-X aims to revitalize defense industrial cooperation between the United States and India, promoting the development of new technologies and fostering collaboration in manufacturing.
It represents a strategic effort to strengthen bilateral ties and unlock the potential for advancements in the defense sector.
Job Creation and Economic Growth
INDUS-X holds the potential to create job opportunities for working families in both countries.
By fostering collaboration between U S and Indian start-ups, the initiative aims to generate employment and drive economic growth, contributing to global peace, security, and prosperity.
Collaboration Agenda
This agenda outlines various initiatives that INDUS-X stakeholders intend to pursue, complementing existing government-to-government collaboration.
These initiatives include the formation of a Senior Advisory Group for Start-ups.
Indo-Pacific Defence Capabilities
U S and Indian officials have affirmed that INDUS-X will act as a catalyst for innovation and contribute to equipping their armed forces with the necessary capabilities to ensure the defense of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
This emphasizes the shared commitment to regional security and stability.
