1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. India gets Rafale's 36th and last aircraft from France
Tags: Defence National News
Rafale, the last of the 36 IAF Rafale aircraft, has landed in New Delhi after refuelling by a UAE Air Force tanker aircraft after taking off from France.
Important facts
With the landing of the last Rafale aircraft, the delivery of 36 Rafale fighter jets to the country has been completed.
The first batch of five state-of-the-art Rafale fighter jets arrived in India on July 29, 2021, nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 aircraft at a cost of around Rs 60,000 crore.
Earlier, according to the deal, France had handed over 35 Rafale fighter jets to India.
These jets are stationed at Ambala, Haryana and Hashimara in West Bengal.
The 36th aircraft with RB tail number has been handed over to India by France and all its parts and other components have been replaced as it was being used for upgrading.
About Rafale aircraft
It is a French twin-engine multirole fighter aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation Company of France.
It was introduced in the year 2001.
State-of-the-art technology has been used in it and it is a 4.5 generation fighter aircraft.
The Meteor missile, SCALP cruise missile and MICA missile system present in it make it very important from the point of view of security.
It can fly at a speed of 2,222 kilometres per hour and a height of 50,000 feet.
Its length is about 15.27 meters and it can carry 9,500 kg of bombs and ammunition at a time.
5. India-Kazakhstan joint military exercise "KAZIND - 2022" to begin in Umroi, Meghalaya
Tags: Defence National News
The 6th Edition of Indo - Kazakhstan joint training exercise “KAZIND-22” is scheduled to be conducted at Umroi, Meghalaya from 15 to 28 December 2022.
Important facts
Troops of the Kazakhstan Army, including troops from the regional command, 11 Gorkha Rifles and troops from the Indian Army will participate in the exercise.
Aim of the exercise is to build positive military relations, imbibe each other’s best practices and promote the ability to operate together while undertaking counter terrorist operations in semi urban / jungle scenario, under a UN peace enforcement mandate.
This joint exercise will enable the two armies to train, plan and execute a series of combined tactical drills for neutralising of likely threats that may be encountered in UN peacekeeping operations.
The scope of this exercise involves a Command Post Exercise (CPX) at the Battalion level and Company level Field Training Exercise (FTX) on sub-conventional operations.
During the exercise, participants will engage in a variety of missions ranging from joint planning, joint tactical drills, basics of special arms skills, HADR and raiding a hostile target.
About exercise “KAZIND"
Joint annual training exercise with the Kazakhstan Army was instituted in 2016 as Exercise Prabal Dostyk, which was later upgraded to a company level exercise and renamed as Ex Kazind in 2018.
6. Indian and Indonesia Navy conducts the 39th Edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT)
Tags: Defence
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The 39th edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy is being conducted from 08 – 19 December 2022.
The CORPAT will be executed along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) from 15 to 16 December 2022 and will conclude at Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar.
Along with INS Karmuk, L-58 (indigenously built Landing Craft Utility vessel) and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft will be participating in the CORPAT. KRI Cut Nyak Dien, a Kapitan Pattimura Class Corvette, would represent the Indonesian side.
Coordinated Patrol
India conducts Coordinated Patrol with the navies of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia and France.
The main aim of conducting the coordinated petrol between two navies is to strengthen mutual understanding and enhanced interoperability between both the navies in countering transnational maritime threats at sea.
7. Indian Army's Airawat Division conducted Ex Sanchaar Bodh
Tags: Defence
Indian Army's Airawat Division conducted Ex Sanchaar Bodh in extensive obstacle ridden terrain of Punjab.
Important facts
Tactical communication capabilities were validated in the exercise.
The determination to win at any cost in the face of adversity was confirmed in practice.
About Indian Army's Airawat Division
The Indian 1 Armoured Division, under II Corps, is headquartered at Patiala.
The 1 Armoured Division, nicknamed the "Black Elephant" or "Airawat" Division, is considered to be the pride of the Indian Army.
Elephants have been regarded as precious and majestic since the "puranic" era.
The supremacy of Elephant is also well illustrated in the Hindu Mythology.
The 1 Armoured Division played a major role in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
At that time the Division consisted of 2 Royal Lancers, 4 Hodson's Horse, 7 Light Cavalry, 16 'Black Elephant' Cavalry, 17 Cavalry (Poona Horse), 18 Cavalry and 62 Cavalry.
8. Japan, Britain and Italy to jointly build sixth generation fighter jets
Tags: Defence International News
Japan, Britain and Italy are merging their next-generation jet fighter projects to build an advanced front-line 6th generation fighter into operation by 2035. It is for the first time that Japan is collaborating in a defence project without the participation of the United States of America since World War Two. It is seen as a move by Japan to counter an increasingly assertive China and Russia in the region.
The project will merge the British-led Future Combat Air System project, also known as Tempest, with Japan's F-X programme in a venture called the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
Britain's BAE Systems, Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Italy's Leonardo will lead design of the aircraft, which will have advanced digital capabilities in AI and cyber warfare.
The newly developed fighter plane will replace Britain’s Typhoon fighters and Japan’s F -22 fighter plane.
Britain, Italy and Japan are part of the US fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter program and parts of the planes are assembled in Italy and Japan. The new jet is not expected to affect the F-35 program.
China and Russia also are developing the 6th generation fighter plane. At present China has 5th generation fighter planes J-20 and J-31, while the Russian 5th generation planes are Su-57.
India which has the Rafale fighter plane is considered to be a 4.5 generation plane.
9. Indian Navy to participate in the first International Fleet Review of the Bangladesh Navy
Tags: Defence
Indian Navy ships Kochi, Kavaratti and Sumedha arrived in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh to participate in the maiden International Fleet Review (IFR) being conducted by the Bangladesh Navy (BN). The ships are taking part in a variety of activities being conducted as a part of BN IFR-22 from 06 to 09 December 2022.
International Fleet Review -22 is being conducted by BN this year, to commemorate the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Prime Minister Mrs Sheikh Hasina will be the chief guest at the International Fleet Review.
International Naval Fleet Review is an event where the ships of the Navy’s of many countries are gathered together in a formation and are paraded.
10. HAL and BEL in the top 100 defence companies list of SIPRI
Tags: Reports Defence International News
Two Indian government owned defence companies Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) have been included by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute((SIPRI) in its list of 100 top defence companies in the world 2021. In a report released by SIPRI on 5 December 2022 HAL was ranked 42nd with $3.3 billion in arms sales and HAL was ranked at 63rd Rank with $1.8 billion sales in 2021.
HAL is the manufacturer of fighter aircrafts like LCA Tejas, Su-30MKI, helicopters like LCH Prachand etc, and trainer aircrafts for the Indian Air Force. BEL manufactures advanced electronics equipment for the armed forces.
Last year apart from HAL and BEL, Indian Ordnance Factories were included in the top 100 defence companies.
Highlights of SIPRI report
In 2021, the total arms sales of the world’s Top 100 totalled $592 billion in 2021, marking an increase of 1.9 per cent in their arms sales compared with 2020.
The United States has 40 companies in the top 100 defence companies in the world.
The top 5 companies are all American.
China has 8 companies in the top 100 companies.
Country-wise, in the 2021 list,
- US companies topped with a share of 51 per cent of the total arms sales, followed by Chinese companies with 18 per cent,
- UK firms with 6.8 per cent, and
- French companies with 4.9 per cent share.
Russian companies garnered only 3 per cent of the global share.
India is the world’s second-biggest importer of weapons after Saudi Arabia and is also the world’s third-biggest spender on defence after the US and China.
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. It is funded mainly by the Swedish Government.
It was set up in 1966
Headquarters: Solana, Sweden
