1. India, Japan to hold 1st bilateral air exercise 'Veer Guardian-2023' from next week
Tags: Defence
Exercise ‘Veer Guardian 2023’ between the Indian Air Force and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) will be conducted from January 12 to 26 at Hyakuri air base and Iruma air base in Japan.
An overview of the news
The aim of the exercise is to strengthen mutual understanding and defence ties between the two air forces.
The Indian contingent will be represented by a contingent of around 150 personnel. India's 1 IL-78 mid-air refuelling and 4 Su-30MKI fighter aircraft will participate in it.
4 F-15s and 4 F-2 fighter jets will be involved in this bilateral exercise from the Japanese side.
Other defence exercises involving India and Japan
Dharma Guardian - Held from 27 February to 10 March 2022 at Lagavi (Belgaum, Karnataka).
The 6th edition of JIMEX-2022 was organised in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.
Malabar naval exercise - India and Japan, along with the United States and Australia, participate in a naval exercise called Malabar. Its 26th edition was organised in Japan in November 2022.
2. Military Tattoo & Tribal Dance Festival to be held in New Delhi on 23rd & 24th January
As part of the Republic Day celebrations 2023 and to mark the 126th birth anniversary (Parakram Diwas) of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, a military tattoo and tribal dance festival 'Adi Shaurya - Parv Parakram Ka' will organise at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
An overview of the news
The two-day festival will showcase the might of the Armed Forces and the ethnic beauty of India's tribal culture.
The program included a military tattoo (paramotor gliding, hot air balloon, horse show, motorcycle display, air warrior drill, navy band) and an hour long traditional dance performance (khukri dance, gatka, mallakhamb, kalaripayattu, thangata) by tribal artistes.
The grand finale includes a performance by renowned singer Kailash Kher.
The festival aims to remember the sacrifices of the country's bravehearts and celebrate the rich cultural heritage that makes India unique and diverse.
It aims to celebrate the bravery of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, embrace the true spirit of India and renew the commitment to build a strong and prosperous 'New India'.
The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs are jointly organising the event, with the Indian Coast Guard as the coordinating agency.
3. Captain Shiva Chauhan becomes the first women officer to be operationally deployed in Siachen
Tags: National Defence Person in news
Fire and Fury Corps officer Captain Shiva Chauhan became the first woman officer to be operationally deployed at the highest battleground in Kumar Post on the Siachen glacier.
This information was tweeted by the official account of the Fire and Fury Corps of the Indian Army.
Ms Shiva had to undergo arduous training before her posting in Kumar Post.
Siachen Glacier
The Siachen glacier lies in the Karakoram Range .It is 75 km (47 miles) long, which makes it the second longest nonpolar glacier in the world, after Fedchenko Glacier in Tajikistan.
Strategic Significance of Siachen Glacier
The Siachen Glacier is the highest battleground on earth, where India and Pakistan have fought intermittently since 1984. The Glacier is of strategic significance for India namely;
- The Glacier guards the routes which lead to Leh, the capital of Ladakh.
- Secondly the Saltoro Ridge overlooks the area of Gilgit–Baltistan of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
- Thirdly, it overlooks and dominates the Shaksgam Valley, which was illegally ceded to China by Pakistan.
- Fourthly, it is close to the Karakoram Pass through which the Karakoram Highway passes connecting Gilgit-Baltistan to Xinjiang Province of China.
Due to its strategic significance both countries maintain a permanent military presence in the region at a height of over 6,000 metres (20,000 feet).
More than 2,000 soldiers have died in this inhospitable terrain, mostly due to weather extremes and the natural hazards of mountain warfare.
Operation Meghdoot
Operation Meghdoot was launched by the Indian Armed Forces to take control of Siachen Glacier on the morning of April 13, 1984 before the Pakistani army did so.
At that time Siachen Glacier was in the State of Jammu and Kashmir but presently it is in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
4. Government starts process to buy 100 more K9-Vajras
Tags: Defence
The Defense Ministry has initiated the process to procure 100 more K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers, which are made in India by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) using technology transferred from South Korean defence major Hanwha Defence.
Important facts
The 100th cannon was handed over to the army in 2021.
In the 2020 standoff in eastern Ladakh, the Army deployed a regiment of these howitzers to augment its long-range firepower in a massive move by China across the Line of Actual Control.
Encouraged by its improved performance, the Army is looking to eventually buy an additional 100 guns.
The induction of Dhanush, K9-Vajra and M777 Ultra Light Howitzers has increased the artillery firepower on the northern frontiers.
About K9-Vajra
The K-9 Vajra is a 155 mm, 52-calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer manufactured by L&T.
It is based on the K-9 Thunder with technology transferred from South Korean defence major Hanwha Defence.
The K-9 Vajra was primarily procured for use in the desert, but the standoff with China has prompted them to be deployed in the mountains as well.
5. Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha assumes command of the IAF Western Command
Tags: Defence Person in news
Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha assumed command of the Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command on 01 January 2023.
The Air Marshal is a graduate of National Defence Academy, Pune and was commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot in June 1985. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.
Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha succeeds Air Marshal S Prabhakaran who superannuated on 31 December 2022 after putting in more than 39 years of distinguished service in the IAF.
Indian Air force and its command structure
It was set up on 8 October 1932. It comes under the Union Defence Ministry.
President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Air Force.
Every year October 8 is observed as Air Force Day.
Chief of Air Staff: Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari
Command structure of the Indian Air Force
Serial No | Command | Headquarters |
1 | Western Air Command | Delhi |
2 | South-Western Air Command | Gandhinagar |
3 | Central Air Command | Prayagraj |
4 | Eastern Air Command | Shillong |
5 | Southern Air Command | Thiruvananthapuram |
6 | Training Command | Bengaluru |
7 | Maintenance Command | Nagpur |
6. Air version of BrahMos Missile with 400 km Range test fired form IAF Sukhoi plane
Tags: Defence
The Indian Air Force successfully tested the extended range version of the Brahmos Air Launched missile against a ship target in Bay of Bengal from Su-30 MKI fighter jet on 29 December 2022.
According to the media report the extended range of the Brahmos missile is believed to have the ability to take out targets in sea 400 km away.
According to the Defence ministry the supersonic cruise missile successfully achieved all its mission objectives.
The successful test firing was a joint effort by the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the BrahMos Aerospace (BAPL).
In May this year, the extended-range version of the supersonic missile was successfully tested from the Sukhoi fighter. The extended range was reported to have increased to 350 km from 290 km.
Brahmos missile
Brahmos supersonic missile has been developed by the Brahmos Aerospace ltd. The company is a joint venture of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and Russia’s NPOM.
The missile takes its name from the river Brahmaputra and Moskva Rivers. Russian capital Moscow is situated along the Moskva River.
The missile can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has a two-stage propellant booster engine. The first stage is a solid booster engine and the second stage is the liquid ramjet engine. The missile has a low radar signature.
The missile has a speed of 2.8 Mach or 2.8 times the speed of the sound.
The missile has a range of 290-400 km.
The Philippines is the first country in the world to buy the Brahmos missile from India.
Managing Director and CEO of Brahmos Aerospace: Atul Dinkar Rane
7. Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches the “Prahari app” of the Border Security Force
Tags: National Defence Science and Technology
The Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the Mobile App ‘Prahari’ of the Border Security Force (BSF) in New Delhi on 29 December 2022. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, Director General of BSF Pankaj Kumar Singh were amongst those dignitaries present on the occasion.
Usefulness of the Prahari’ app
Amit Shah said that the BSF ‘Prahari’ app is a great example of Proactive Governance. “Now jawans can get personal information and information related to accommodation, Ayushmann-CAPF and leaves on their mobiles. Be it GPF, Bio Data or grievance redressal on “Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System” (CP-GRAMS) or information on various welfare schemes, now Jawans can get all this information through the app and this app will also connect them with the portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs.”
The Union Home Minister also said that a “BSF Drone/UAV and Cyber Forensic Lab” has been set up in Noida, Uttar Pradesh through which captured drones of Pakistan have been thoroughly mapped for their linkages and locations across the border. These drones are used to bring narcotics and arms and ammunition to spread terrorism in India.
The Border Security Force was raised on 1 December 1965 after the India-Pakistan war of 1965. It is a border force which is deployed along the International border with Bangladesh and Pakistan.
BSF is also known as the nation’s ’first line of defence'. It comes under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
8. Indian Army inaugurates first ever two-storey 3-D printed dwelling unit in Ahmedabad
Tags: Defence Science and Technology National News
The Indian Army inaugurated its first 3-D Printed House Dwelling Unit (with Ground plus One configuration) for soldiers at Ahmedabad Cantt on 28 December 2022.
Important facts
The dwelling unit has been constructed by Military Engineering Services (MES) in association with MiCoB Pvt Ltd, incorporating the latest 3D Rapid Construction Technology.
The 71 sqm dwelling unit with garage space was completed in just 12 weeks using 3D printed foundations, walls and slabs.
The disaster-resistant structures comply with Zone-III earthquake specifications and green building norms.
The formation is a testimony to the commitment of the Indian Army in promoting the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan'.
About Technology
This technique uses a solid 3D printer that accepts computerized three-dimensional designs.
It builds up a 3-D structure in a layer-by-layer manner by extruding a specially designed special type of concrete.
The Ahmedabad-based Golden Katar Division of the Indian Army has been instrumental in taking forward the project with manifold applications in operation.
What is 3D Printing?
3D printing uses computer aided design (CAD) to create three-dimensional objects through the layering method.
The model to be printed with the help of software is first developed by the computer, which then instructs the 3D printer.
9. India, Japan to conduct first-ever air combat exercise ‘Veer Guardian 23'
Tags: Defence
India and Japan will conduct their first bilateral combat air exercise 'Veer Guardian 23' for 10 days in Japan in January 2023.
Important facts
The exercise will be conducted from January 16 to January 26. The exercise will be conducted at Hyakuri Air Base north-west of Tokyo.
Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) will conduct bilateral combat training with the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The aim of the exercise is to promote mutual understanding and strengthen defence cooperation between the Air Forces.
The IAF will field its Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft from a squadron under the Western Air Command.
150 IAF crew will fly in IAF's C-17 transport aircraft.
On their journey from India to Japan, the fighter jets will be refuelled mid-air using IL-78 aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
Japan will deploy its F-2 jets which are derivatives of America's F-16 aircraft.
It will also launch the F-15, which is also used by America.
Other defence exercises between India and Japan
JIMEX (naval),
SHINYUU Maitri (Air Force)
Dharma Guardian (Army)
Milan Exercise (Indian Navy)
Malabar exercise (Naval Exercise) - USA, Japan and Australia
10. Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) Organises Two-Day Seminar on The Theme of “Civil Military Integration: The Way Forward”
Tags: Defence
Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), an independent New Delhi based think tank, is conducting a two-day Seminar on the theme of “Civil Military Integration: The Way Forward”, at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt.
Important facts
The seminar began with a discussion on the role of the military and bureaucracy in adopting a whole nation approach to deal with security challenges.
General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defense Staff and General Manoj Pandey, Chief of Army Staff addressed the gathering at the commencement of the proceedings.
During his address, the CDS highlighted the important role played by the Armed Forces as part of the 'whole of government' approach towards national security.
He stressed that all defence initiatives should be aligned to derive mutual benefits from government schemes like Atmanirbharta, Vibrant Border Villages, Gati Shakti, National Logistics Policy to achieve higher defence preparedness.
