1. Exercise Cope India 2023
Tags: Defence
Exercise Cope India 2023, a bilateral air force exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF), is being held at Air Force Stations Arjan Singh (Panagarh), Kalaikunda (West Bengal) and Agra from 10 April.
An Overview of the News:
- The aim of the exercise is to enhance mutual understanding between the two air forces and to share their best practices.
- The first phase of this exercise has started on 10 April 2023. This phase of the exercise will focus on air mobility and will involve transport aircraft and special forces assets from both the air forces.
- Both countries will field C-130J and C-17 aircraft in the exercise, along with USAF MC-130J operations.
- The exercise also features the presence of Japanese Air Self Defense Force personnel, who will participate in the capacity of observers.
- The first Cope India exercise was held in the year 2004 at Tekanpur, Air Force Station, Gwalior.
2. Joint Military Exercise ‘Ex KAVACH’ concludes at Andaman and Nicobar Command
Tags: Defence National News
The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) conducted a large-scale joint military exercise 'X Kavach' involving assets of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
An overview of the news
Commencing on 23 February 2023, the exercise concluded on 7 April 2023.
The exercise was aimed at fine-tuning joint combat capabilities and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and enhancing interoperability and operational synergy between the armies.
Army's 'Shatrujit Brigade', Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD), Navy's Special Forces and ANC's amphibious troops carried out an exercise at a remote island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The exercise featured multi-domain exercises involving amphibious landings, airborne operations, heliborne operations and rapid entry of special forces off the coast.
'X Kavach' showcased the capabilities and preparedness of the Armed Forces to safeguard India's maritime interests and ensure the security of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
3. President of India takes a historic sortie in a Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft
Tags: Defence National News
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu took a historic sortie in a Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft at the Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam on April 8, 2023.
An overview of the news
The President, who is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, flew for about 30 minutes.
The aircraft was flown by Group Captain Naveen Kumar, Commanding Officer of 106 Squadron.
The aircraft flew at an altitude of about two kilometers above sea level and at a speed of about 800 kilometers per hour.
The President's flight in the Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft is a part of his efforts to engage with the armed forces as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces.
Country's second President to fly in fighter jet
President Draupadi Murmu is the second President of the country to fly in Sukhoi MKI 30 fighter jet and the fourth President of the country to fly in a fighter aircraft.
Earlier, former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Pratibha Patil and Ramnath Kovind have flown in Indian Air Force fighter aircraft.
Before President Draupadi Murmu, country's first woman President Pratibha Patil flew in Sukhoi in 2009.
Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft
It is a two-seat multirole fighter aircraft.
It is developed by Russian company Sukhoi and manufactured under license by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Range – 3000 Km
4. Indigenous Anti Tank Guided Missile, Amogha-III tested successfully
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
Bharat Dynamics (BDL) has successfully conducted a field firing test of its latest 3rd generation man-portable Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM), Amogha-III.
About Amogha-III Missile
The Amogha-III Missile has been developed indigenously under Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
It is a third generation fire-and-forget Anti-Tank Guided Missile.
Developed by the Research and Development Division of BDL, the missile also has a dual-mode IIR seeker with a range of 200 to 2500 metres.
The missile can be fired in lock-on-before launch (LOBL) mode and its anti-armour tandem warhead can penetrate in excess of 650 mm beyond Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA).
About Anti-tank Guided Missile (ATGM)
An anti-tank guided missile is a guided missile designed primarily to hit and destroy heavily armored military vehicles.
These missiles can be carried by a single soldier as a large tripod-mounted weapon.
5. 10th Edition of India - Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime exercise SLINEX-2023 begins
Tags: Defence
The 10th Edition of the annual India - Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime exercise SLINEX-2023 began in Colombo on the 3rd of April.
An overview of the news
The exercise is being conducted in two phases of three days each, the harbor phase and the sea phase.
The Indian Navy will be represented by INS Kiltan and INS Savitri, while the Sri Lankan Navy will be represented by SLNS Vijayabahu and SLNS Samudura.
In addition, Chetak helicopters and Dornier maritime patrol aircraft of the Indian Navy as well as Dornier and BEL 412 helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force will also participate in the exercise.
Special forces of both the navies will also participate in this exercise together.
The sea phase of the exercise will include exercises in multi-dimensions such as surface and anti-air firing exercises, seamanship evaluation, helicopter and maritime patrol aircraft operations, advanced tactical manoeuvres, search and rescue and special forces operations at sea.
The 9th edition of this exercise was concluded on 10 March 2022 at Visakhapatnam, in Bay of Bengal.
Objective of SLINEX-2023
SLINEX-2023 aims to enhance interoperability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures in multi-dimensional maritime operations between the two navies.
6. Vice ADM Atul Anand takes over as the Director General of Naval Operations (DGNO)
Tags: Defence Person in news
Vice Admiral Atul Anand took over as the Director General Naval Operations on April 1, 2023.
An Overview of the News
He was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy on January 1, 1988, and is an alumnus of the National Defense Academy, Defense Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur (Bangladesh) and the National Defense College, New Delhi.
Vice Admiral Atul Anand is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal.
He has also served as Navigating Officer of IN Ships Sharda, Rannvijay and Jyoti, and was Direction Officer of Sea Harrier Squadron INAS 300 and Executive Officer of destroyer INS Delhi.
His important staff appointments include Joint Director Staff Requirements, Director Staff at the Defense Services Staff College, Wellington, Director Naval Operations and Director Naval Intelligence (Ops).
About Indian Navy
It was established in 1830 and its mission is to protect maritime interests and borders.
The motto of the Indian Navy is "Sham no Varunah", which means "May Varuna, lord of the oceans, be auspicious to us."
The fleet includes ships, submarines and aircraft with approximately 67,000 personnel.
Operations include anti-piracy, disaster relief and joint exercises with other navies.
7. PM Modi addresses joint commanders' conference in Bhopal
Tags: Defence Summits National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Joint Commanders' conference of the three services which is being held at Kushabhau Thackeray International Convention Center in Bhopal.
An overview of the news
The theme of the conference is 'Ready, Resurgent, Relevant'.
Commanders of the three services and senior officials of the Ministry of Defense are participating in the conference.
The focus of the conference is to advance the theater command structure for national security, enhance coordination among the three services and work together in the future.
Apart from this, the strategy of security forces in the event of war, self-reliance in defense matters and defense ecosystem are also being discussed in the conference.
The conference was attended by top commanders of the three services including CDS General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Manoj Pandey, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary and Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar.
8. India’s Defence exports touch all-time high of 15 thousand 920 crore rupees
Tags: Economy/Finance Defence National News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on April 1 said that India’s defence exports have reached an all-time high of 15 thousand 920 crore rupees in Financial Year 2022-2023.
An overview of the news
India exported military hardware worth Rs 8,434 crore in 2020-21, Rs 9,115 crore in 2019-20 and Rs 10,745 crore in 2018-19.
The amount was Rs 4,682 crore in 2017-18 and Rs 1,521 crore in 2016-17.
The government has set a target of manufacturing defense hardware worth Rs 1,75,000 crore and taking defense exports to Rs 35,000 crore by 2024-25.
In recent years, the government has implemented various measures to promote domestic defense production.
Steps taken by the Government to boost defence production
Simplified defence industrial licensing, relaxation of export controls and grant of No Objection Certificate.
Specific incentives introduced under the foreign trade policy.
Defence Production & Export Promotion Policy 2020.
The government had issued two "positive indigenization lists" which included 209 items that could not be imported.
The government has also announced two dedicated corridors in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh to act as clusters of defense manufacturing.
The vision of the government
To achieve a turnover of $25 billion, including exports of $5 billion in aerospace and defence goods and services by 2025.
9. Defense Ministry signs Rs 1700 crore contract with BrahMos Aerospace
Tags: Defence National News
On March 30, 2023 The Defense Ministry signed a Rs 1,700 crore contract with BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd (BAPL) for the procurement of next generation marine mobile coastal batteries and BrahMos missiles.
An Overview of the News
The systems will be armed with supersonic BrahMos missiles, which are known for their speed and accuracy.
The deliveries of these batteries are scheduled to begin in 2027, indicating that the Ministry of Defense is making long-term plans to strengthen its military capabilities.
BAPL is a joint venture between India and Russia, highlighting the collaborative efforts of both countries in advancing defence technology.
About BrahMos Missile
BrahMos missiles are medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircrafts or land. These missiles are capable of travelling at a speed of Mach 2.8 and can carry conventional or nuclear warheads.
Its first successful launch took place on June 12, 2001. The missile has undergone several successful tests and is considered one of the most reliable missiles in the world.
It is named after two rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia, symbolising the cooperation between the two countries in developing this technology.
In 2016, India became a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which aims to prevent the proliferation of missiles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction. India's entry into MTCR made it easier for India to export BrahMos missiles to other countries which are members of MTCR.
10. Defence Ministry signs contract for 11 next generation OPVs
Tags: Defence National News
The Defense Ministry on 30 March signed contracts with Indian shipyards worth Rs 19,600 crore for the acquisition of 11 next-generation offshore patrol vessels
(OPVs) and six next-generation missile vessels.
An overview of the news
The contract for the acquisition of 11 OPVs under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category was signed with Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) of Kolkata for a total of Rs 9,781 crore.
Out of 11 next generation offshore patrol vessels, 7 vessels will be built by GSL and 4 vessels by GRSE.
These ships will be indigenously designed, developed and manufactured. Delivery of the vessels will begin in September 2026.
The acquisition of these ships will enable the Indian Navy to maintain its combat capability and meet various operational requirements.
Indian Navy's anti-piracy, counter-infiltration, anti-poaching, anti-trafficking, non-combatant evacuation operations, search and rescue (SAR), security of offshore assets etc. will be strengthened.
A contract was signed with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for the acquisition of six Next Generation Missile Ships (NGMVs) at a cost of Rs 9,805 crore. The deliveries of these ships will commence from March 2027.
