1. Shalija Dhami becomes first woman officer to command a fighter unit in IAF
Tags: Defence Person in news
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has announced on 8 March 2023 that Group Captain Shalija Dhami will take over the command of the Missile Squadron in the Western Sector. Ms. Dhami has become the first Indian woman officer to achieve this.
An overview of the news:
Dhami was commissioned as a helicopter pilot in the year 2003.
She is currently posted in the Operations Branch of Forward Command Headquarters.
Dhami is the second deployment after Captain Shiva Chauhan of the Fire and Fury Corps of the Indian Army.
Shiva Chauhan is currently the first woman officer to be operationally posted in Siachen.
In another achievement, Major Abhilasha Barak has become the first woman officer to join the Army Aviation Corps as a combat aviator after completing her training.
Indian Air Force (IAF):
Headquarters: New Delhi
It is the fourth largest air force in the world.
Motto: Touching the sky with glory (taken from the eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita).
Chief of the Air Staff: Air Chief Marshal VR Chowdhary.
2. First Naval Commanders' Conference in the year 2023
Tags: Defence
The first Naval Commanders' Conference for the year 2023 began on 6 March 2023.
An overview of the news
For the first time, the conference is being organized on board India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.
The conference serves as a platform for Naval Commanders to discuss important security issues at the military-strategic level as well as an institutional platform to interact with senior government officials.
This year the first phase of the Commanders' Conference is being held at sea.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the Naval Commanders onboard INS Vikrant on the opening day.
Significance of the conference
The conference has its own importance and relevance because of the current geo-strategic situation.
In line with India's growing maritime interests, there has been a significant uptick in naval operations over the years.
The Commanders are also deliberating on the Navy's preparedness to address challenges to maritime interests.
The Indian Navy is focused on establishing itself as a force that is battle-ready, credible, cohesive and adaptable to future requirements.
It works tirelessly and hard to ensure the maritime security of the country.
3. INS Trikand participates in International Maritime Exercise / Cutlass Express 23
Tags: Defence
INS Trikand is participating in the International Maritime Exercise/ Cutlass Express 2023 (IMX/CE-23) being held in the Gulf region from 26 February to 16 March 2023.
An overview of the news
The exercise is being conducted with more than 50 countries and international maritime agencies with the common objective of enhancing maritime security and securing sea lanes in the region for maritime commerce.
IMX/CE-23 is one of the largest multinational maritime exercises in the world.
This is the Indian Navy’s maiden IMX participation.
It also marks the second occasion where an Indian Naval ship is participating in an exercise conducted by the CMF.
Earlier, in November 2022, INS Trikand had participated in the CMF led Operation Sea Sword 2.
Participation in exercises such as Sea Sword 2 and IMX/CE-23 enables the Indian Navy to strengthen ties with maritime partners in the IOR and enhance interoperability and collective maritime capability.
It also enables the Navy to make a constructive contribution to regional stability and security.
INS Trikand
It is a state-of-the-art Guided Missile Stealth Frigate.
It is part of the Western Fleet which functions under the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, based at Mumbai.
It is the third and last ship of the second batch of Talwar-class frigates ordered by the Indian Navy.
It was built by the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.
It was inducted into the Indian Navy on 29 June 2013.
4. Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar takes over as Vice Chief of Army Staff
Tags: Defence Person in news
Lt. Gen. M.V. Suchindra Kumar took over as Vice Chief of the Army Staff on 1 March 2023.
An overview of the news:
General Officer Suchindra Kumar, Lieutenant General B.S. Raju, who took over the reins of the Jaipur-based Sapta Shakti Command on March 1, 2023.
Prior to taking over, Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar was the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) at the Army Headquarters.
In his recent responsibilities, he has experience in various departments like Intelligence, Operations, Force Structuring, Operational Logistics and Tech Infusion.
The General Officer has held various staff and instructional responsibilities at home and abroad.
Suchindra Kumar's military papers have been published in several professional journals.
Chiefs of Indian Services:
Chief of Defense Staff: Lt. Gen. Anil Chauhan (Retd.)
Army: General Manoj Pandey
Navy: Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar
Air Force: Air Marshal VR Chowdhary
5. Government approves purchase of 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft from HAL for IAF
Tags: Defence
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The Union Cabinet has approved the procurement of 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force at a cost of Rs 6,828.36 crore.
An overview of the news:
These aircraft are to be supplied by HAL over a period of next six years.
The HTT-40 is a turbo prop aircraft and is designed to provide good low speed handling qualities and improved training effectiveness.
Fully aerobatic this one-seat turbo trainer in the rear has an air-conditioned cockpit, modern avionics, hot re-fuelling, running change over and zero-zero ejection seat.
The aircraft will bridge the shortfall of basic trainer aircraft of the IAF for training newly inducted pilots.
The purchase will include associated equipment and training aids, including simulators.
Being an indigenous solution, the aircraft can be upgraded to incorporate the future requirements of the Indian Armed Forces.
The HTT-40 has approximately 56 per cent indigenous content which will increase to over 60 per cent through indigenization of major components and sub-systems. HAL will involve Indian private industry including MSMEs in its supply chain. The procurement is likely to provide direct employment to around 1,500 personnel and indirect employment to 3,000 people spread across more than 100 MSMEs.
6. IAF transport aircraft Exercise Shinyuu Maitri with Japan's Air Self Defense Force
Tags: Defence
The Indian Air Force (IAF) along with the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) participated in Exercise Shinyuu Maitri. It was mainly organised from 1st to 2nd March 2023.
An overview of the news:
This air exercise was organised along with the Indo-Japanese joint military exercise Dharma Guardian.
The Dharma Guardian air exercise was conducted from 13 February 2023 to 02 March 2023 at Komatsu, Japan.
An Indian Air Force contingent with a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft participated in Exercise SHINYU Maitri 23.
The first phase of the exercise involved discussion on transport operations and tactical manoeuvres, followed by the second phase of flying exercises by C-17 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force and C-2 transport aircraft of the Air Self-Defense Force of Japan.
This special exercise provides an opportunity for the respective subject matter experts to interact and deliberate on each other's operational philosophies and best practices.
This exercise will also enhance mutual understanding and reciprocity between the two countries.
The heavy lift transport aircraft fleet of the Indian Air Force is also participating in Exercise Desert Flag VIII in UAE and Exercise Cobra Warrior in UK.
7. Indian Air Force to conduct exercise Cobra Warrior with British Royal Air Force
Tags: Defence
Indian Air Force departs for the British Royal Air Force to participate in Exercise Cobra Warrior at Waddington Air Force Base. This exercise is proposed to be organised from 06 March 2023 to 24 March 2023.
An Overview of the news:
Exercise Cobra Warrior is a multilateral air military exercise in which air forces from Finland, Sweden, South Africa, USA and Singapore are also participating along with the Royal Air Force and Indian Air Force.
The Indian Air Force is participating in the exercise this year with five Mirage 2000 fighter jets, two C-17 Globemaster III and one IL-78 mid air refuelling aircraft.
The aim of the exercise is to engage in a variety of activities by different fighter aircraft and learn from the best practices of different air forces.
8. IAF develops indigenous data link communication: 'Vayulink'
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
In a major achievement, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched the indigenously built jammer-proof communication platform 'Vayulink'. This will help in maintaining contact with the base station even in bad weather.
An overview of the news:
It is a highly secure communication system developed by the IAF.
At Aero India 2023, IAF has given information about this and also organised a gallery for detailed information about this 'Vayulink platform.
Platform 'Vayulink:
Vayulink' is an ad-hoc data link communication system that, when installed on an aircraft, transmits encrypted traffic data over a secure channel as well as the position of other aircraft.
The jammer-proof platform 'Vayulink' data link communication uses the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), also known as NAVIC.
Benefits of 'Vayulink:
From this platform radio communication can be sent to the base station even in weak signal conditions.
This system is very helpful for IAF. Because during a war situation when the aircraft are flying close to a friendly force, this system is helpful in telling the actual position of the aircraft.
This helps the pilots to get accurate and precise information about the weather. In particular, it also helps in providing accurate communication to aircraft flying over hills.
It helps prevent fratricide in case of war. Also it helps to know where our army is present.
By this, mutual collision of fighter planes can also be prevented. Which provides an accurate teaming system service. It also helps in setting real time targets with the help of which multiple teams can attack the target simultaneously.
The indigenous jammer-proof communication platform 'Vayulink' is helpful to all the three services of the country.
9. Indian Air Force contingent reaches in UAE to participate in Exercise Desert Flag VIII
Tags: Defence International News
An Indian Air Force contingent of 110 Air Warriors reached Al Dahfra airbase of United Arab Emirates on 25 February for participating in Exercise 'Desert Flag VIII'.
An overview of the news
Tejas, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) made in India, will make its first appearance at a multinational exercise in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The IAF would be participating with five LCA Tejas and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.
About Exercise Desert Flag
It is a multilateral air exercise in which air forces from the United Arab Emirates, France, Kuwait, Australia, United Kingdom, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, Republic of Korea and the United States will also participate.
This exercise will run from 27 February to 17 March.
The objective of the exercise is to participate in multiple combat events and learn from best practices of air forces of different countries.
TEJAS fighter aircraft
It is an 'Indigenous Light Combat Aircraft'.
It has been jointly developed by 'Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA)' and 'Hindustan Aeronautics Limited' (HAL).
It is the smallest-lightweight single-engine 'Multirole Tactical Fighter Aircraft'.
It has been designed with an aim to reduce India's dependence on Russia's MiG-21 fighter jets and move towards self-reliance in the field of national security.
It is designed to carry a range of air-to-air, air-to-surface weapons.
It is capable of refueling in the sky during the journey and has a maximum payload capacity of 4000 kg.
It can achieve a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 and has a range of 3,000 km.
10. Germany to pursue $5.2-billion deal with India to build 6 submarines
Tags: Defence International News
Germanywill sign a $5.2 billion deal to jointly build six conventional submarines with India during German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to India on February 25-26.
An overview of the news
The naval project is the latest attempt by the Western military manufacturing power to end India's dependence on Russia for military hardware.
India is looking to replace 11 of its 16 conventional submarines that are more than two decades old, as it seeks to counter China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean.
The Indian Navy also has two indigenous nuclear-powered submarines.
Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is one of the two international bidders for the submarine project Berlin will back the deal.
Under the deal, a foreign submarine maker will have to partner with an Indian company to build submarines in India.
