1. Govt clears 120 Pralay ballistic missiles for armed forces, to be deployed along China, Pakistan border
Tags: Defence
The Union Defence ministry has approved a proposal on 25 December 2022 to buy around 120 Pralay ballistic missiles to be deployed along the China Pakistan borders. The missile will be inducted first in the Indian Air Force and then in the Indian Army.
Pralay ballistic missiles is a canisterised tactical, surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for battlefield use.
Pralay missile will replace the liquid fuelled Prithvi-1 missile which is in use by the Indian Army. Prithvi-1 has a range of 150 Km with a payload of 1 tonnes of warhead. Liquid fueled rockets are more accurate but are expensive and prone to weather conditions affecting its performances.
The Pralay ballistic missile is an improvement over the Prithvi -1 missile. The missiles have a range of 150 to 500 kms. It is a solid fuelled rocket that follows a quasi- ballistic trajectory and can perform mid-air maneuver to defeat anti-ballistic interceptors.
Pralay is a tactical missile which can hit military targets in China and Pakistan and has a better capability in the high altitude areas.
DRDO chairman: Samir Kamat
2. India, Japan to conduct 1st bilateral air combat exercise in January 2023
Tags: place in news Defence
India and Japan will conduct their first Air exercise from 16 January to 26 January 2023 at the Hyakuri Air Base and at the Iruma Air Base in Sayama Japan.
The decision to conduct bilateral air exercise was taken during defence minister Rajnath Singh meeting with the Japanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada held in Tokyo, Japan on 8 September 2022.
According to the information, around 150 Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel will take part in the exercise along with the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF). The aim of the combat exercise is to strengthen defence cooperation between the forces, enhance tactical skills and promote mutual understanding.
India -Japan military exercise
At present both the countries conduct bilateral Naval and Army exercises.
The bilateral Army Dharma Guardian exercise was started in 2018. It was held in Belagavi, Karnataka in February 2022.
Naval Exercise
The Indian Navy has been conducting the Japan India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) with the Japan Maritime Self Defence every year since 2012. This year it was held from 11-17 September in the Bay of Bengal.
3. GRSE launches first ship Arnala of the ASW SWC vessels Project
Tags: Defence
In a boost to the Indian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capability, defence shipyard Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata launched ‘Arnala’ in the Bay of Bengal on 20 December 2022 at M/s L&T, Kattupalli, Chennai.
In order to strengthen its ASW(Anti-Submarine Warfare ) capability in the shallow water the Union Ministry of Defence signed an agreement with Cochin Shipyards limited (CSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata in 2019 to build 16 ASW SWC (Shallow Water Craft).
Each company is developing 8 vessels each.
These ships will replace Abhay class ASW Ships of the Indian Navy and are designed to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters and Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) including subsurface surveillance in littoral waters. The 77.6m ASW SWC ships have a displacement of 900 tons with a maximum speed of 25 knots and endurance of 1800 NM.
The ASW SWC ships will have over 80% indigenous content, ensuring that large scale defence production is executed by Indian manufacturing units.
Defence Shipyards
There are 4 main shipyards in India which are engaged in the construction of many types of ships and vessels for the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard. The Shipyards which are under the Union Ministry of Defence are as follows;
- Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Kolkata
- Goa Shipyard Limited: Goa Shipyard Limited, Goa
- Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Visakhapatnam
4. Bandhan Bank to be a service center for Defence ministry SPARSH pension system
Tags: Defence
The Defence Accounts Department of the Union Ministry of Defence signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bandhan Bank to onboard them as Service Centers under the System for Pension Administration (Raksha) (SPARSH) initiative.
A statement by the Bandhan bank said that under the MoU, Bandhan Bank will provide services to the defence pensioners and their families through its 557 branches.
The service to the defence personnel will be provided under the System for Pension Administration Raksha (SPARSH).
System for Pension Administration (SPARSH)
SPARSH is a web-based system for processing the pension claims and crediting the pension directly into the bank accounts of defence pensioners without any external intermediary.
This system is administered by the Defence Accounts Department through the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj and caters to all the three Services and allied organizations.
Bandhan Bank
The Bandhan Bank started as an NGO and later it was converted into an NBFC -MFI (Micro Financial institution).
It was converted into a private sector bank in 2015.
The Bank’s Headquarters: Kolkata
MD and CEO: Chandra Shekhar Ghosh
Tagline: Aapka Bhala. Sabki Bhalai
5. Fifth Scorpene Submarine ‘Vagir’ delivered to Indian Navy
Tags: Defence National News
The fifth submarine of the Project -75, Kalvari Class submarines, Yard 11879 (Vagir) was delivered to the Indian Navy on 20 December.
Important facts
Project -75 includes indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design.
These submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France.
Launched on 12 Nov 20, Vagir commenced sea trials from 1 Feb 2022 and has completed all major trials, including weapon and sensor trials, in less time than earlier submarines.
The construction of these submarines in an Indian yard is another step towards 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and instills confidence in the region.
What is also a remarkable achievement is that this is the third submarine delivered to the Indian Navy in a span of 24 months.
Project- 75
Project- 75 intends to build six diesel-electric attack submarines of the Kalvari class that are based on the Scorpene-class, which are being built at MDL (Mazagon Dock Limited).
Project 75 (I), approved in 2007, is part of the Indian Navy’s 30 year Plan for indigenous submarine construction.
6. Major General Mohit Seth takes over as GoC Kilo Force
Tags: Defence Person in news
Major General Mohit Seth took over as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Counter Insurgency Force Kilo on 20 December.
Important facts
Major General Sanjiv Singh Slaria on relinquishing the command, moves to Headquarter Northern Command, Udhampur.
Major General Sanjiv Singh Slaria’s tenure saw the Kilo Force take distinctive steps towards peace and stability in North Kashmir.
In December 1991 the General Officer was commissioned in the 3 Madras Regiment.
An alumnus of the National Defense Academy, the General Officer attended the prestigious NDC at New Delhi.
In his distinguished military career spanning over three decades, the General Officer has held various prestigious staff and command appointments in J&K, North East and Army Headquarters.
He has also served as the Indian Army Liaison Officer, High Commission of India, United Kingdom.
7. INSV Tarini to participate in 50th edition of Cape Town to Rio Race 2023
Indian Navy’s sailboat INSV (Indian Naval Sailing Vessel) Tarini has set sail for an expedition to Cape Town, South Africa to participate in the 50th edition of Cape Town to Rio Race 2023.
This ocean sailing race will be flagged off from Cape Town on 2nd January, 2023 and will culminate at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The expedition is being undertaken by an Indian Navy crew of five officers including two women officers.INSV Tarini is being skippered by Capt Atool Sinha.
The Cape Town - Rio de Janeiro is one of the most prestigious Trans-Atlantic ocean races. The crew, over a period of 5-6 months in this trans-oceanic voyage is expected to face extreme weather and rough sea conditions of the Indian, Atlantic and the Southern oceans.
During the expedition while transiting from Goa to Rio de Janeiro via Cape Town and back, INSV Tarini would be covering a distance of almost 17000 nautical miles.
INSV Tarini is known for circumnavigating the globe with an all-women officer crew in the historic expedition titled ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’ in 2017.
8. Stealth guided missile destroyer Mormugao commissioned into Indian Navy
Tags: Defence National News
India commissioned its latest stealth guided missile destroyer, Mormugao, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on December 18.
Important facts
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, CDS Gen Anil Chauhan, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and other dignitaries were present on this occasion.
Against the backdrop of concerns over China's growing efforts, India is focusing on enhancing its maritime capability with a focus on the Indian Ocean.
With a focus on indigenization and self-reliance, 42 of the 44 ships and submarines under construction are being built at Indian shipyards.
About INS Mormugao
It is the second warship under the navy’s Project-15B under which two more warships will be delivered by 2025.
The first P-15B warship, Visakhapatnam, was commissioned in Mumbai in November last year.
It is indigenously designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd.
The ship measuring 163 metres in length and 17 metres in breadth with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes can be regarded as one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India.
70% of the components used in the construction of INS Mormugao are indigenous.
The ship is propelled by four powerful gas turbines and it is capable of achieving speeds over 30 knots.
The ship is equipped to fight under Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions and equipped with a modern surveillance radar.
What is Project 15B?
The contract for the four ships of Project 15B, known as the Visakhapatnam class ships, was signed on 28 January 2011.
The project is a follow-on to the Kolkata class (Project 15A) destroyers commissioned in the previous decade.
Four Ships are to be developed under Project 15B -
Visakhapatnam
Mormugao
Imphal
Surat
These four ships have been named after major cities from the four corners of the country. Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Surat.
These are designed by Directorate of Naval Design, Indian Navy’s in-house design organisation and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai.
9. India successfully carries out trials of nuclear-capable ''Agni-5 missile''
Tags: Defence Science and Technology National News
India on 15 December successfully carried out the night trials of the Agni-5 nuclear-capable ballistic missile. The test comes days after a clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang district.
Important facts
Agni 5 missile capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometres with a very high degree of accuracy.
The test was conducted to validate new technologies and equipment on the missile, which is now lighter than before.
Defense sources said the test proved the capability of extending the range of the Agni 5 missile if required.
The trial was aimed at enhancing the range of the Agni-5 missile if required.
About Agni 5 Missile
Agni-5 is an ingeniously built advanced surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
It is a fire-and-forget missile, which cannot be stopped without an interceptor missile.
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) is the brain-child of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, who aimed at making the country self-sufficient in the field of missile technology.
The program had five missiles P-A-T-N-A, Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Nag, and Akash.
It was aimed at boosting India's nuclear deterrence against China, which has missiles such as the Dongfeng-41, which have a range between 12,000-15,000 km.
The Agni 1 to 4 missiles have ranges from 700 km to 3,500 km and they have already been deployed.
Agni Class of Missiles
Agni 1 : Range of 700-800 km.
Agni 2: Range more than 2000 km.
Agni 3: Range of more than 2,500 Km
Agni 4: Range is more than 3,500 km.
Agni-5: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.
Agni-P (Prime): It is a canisterised missile with a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km. It will replace the Agni I missile.
10. Indo-Nepal Joint Training Exercise “SURYA KIRAN-XVI” Begins at Nepal Army Battle School, Saljhandi (Nepal)
Tags: Defence
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The 16th Edition of Indo-Nepal joint training Exercise “SURYA KIRAN-XVI” between India and Nepal will be conducted at Nepal Army Battle School, Saljhandi (Nepal), from 16 - 29 December 2022.
Important facts
Nepal Army soldiers of Shree Bhawani Baksh Battalion and Indian Army soldiers from the 5 GR will be participating in the exercise.
The two armies, through these contingents, shall be sharing the experiences gained during the conduct of various counter-insurgency operations over the years in their respective countries.
The joint exercise will focus on tactical operational planning and disaster response mechanisms in counter-terrorist operations and the role of the armed forces in disaster management.
During the exercise, the participants will train together to develop inter-operability and also share their experiences on counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations and humanitarian relief operations.
The joint military exercise will boost defence cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries.
Exercise “SURYA KIRAN
It is a biennial exercise, which is held alternately in both the countries.
Its aim is to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare & counter terrorism operations in mountainous terrain under UN mandate.
Purpose of the exercise
To establish military relations in inaccessible mountainous areas by the soldiers of both the countries.
Providing humanitarian assistance under disaster management.
Providing training for anti-terrorist operations.
To establish interoperability and expertise between the two countries.
