1. 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
2. 7th edition of Sangam exercise begins in Goa
Tags: Defence
The 7th edition of Exercise Sangam, a joint Naval Special Forces exercise between Indian Navy MARCOs and US Navy SEALs commenced from 1 Dec 22 at Goa.
Important facts
Exercise Sangam was first conducted in 1994 and is an important military and diplomatic initiative between the two nations, reflective of the trust and friendship between them.
The present edition will see personnel from SEAL Team Five based at San Diego, USA and Indian Navy MARCOs from INS Abhimanyu.
It aims to exchange ideas and experiences on various aspects of Maritime Special Operations.
A joint exercise among US SEALs, MARCOs and other participating nations’ Naval Special Forces is held annually as part of Exercise Malabar.
The Sangam exercise is a bilateral exercise purely between the US and Indian Special Forces.
The exercise will be for a duration of three weeks, in which the personnel will be trained in Maritime Interdiction Operations, Direct Action Missions, Combat Free Fall Jumps, Special Heliborne Operations and other skill drills.
What are Indian Navy MARCOs?
MARCOS was raised in the year of 1985 as the Indian Maritime Special Force (IMSF).
2 Years later, MARCOS were renamed as the Marine Commando Force (MCF) with the deadliest motto “The Few The Fearless”.
3. 11th edition of Admiral's Cup Regatta to begin in Kerala from 6 December 2022
Tags: place in news Sports Defence
The 11th edition of the Admiral's Cup Regatta will be held at the Ettikulam Bay in the Kannur district of Kerala from 6-10 December 2022. The Regatta is organised as a fleet race in a single crew Olympic class Laser Radial sailboat.
Teams from 27 nations, including Australia, Germany, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the UK, the USA, Japan, and Myanmar are participating in the annual sailing event.
It is hosted by the Indian Naval Academy situated in Ezhimala, Kannur district of Kerala.
Admiral's Cup Sailing Regatta
The Admiral's Cup Sailing Regatta was instituted in 2010 under the burgee of Yachting Association of India as a forum for competition in sailing in a regatta format amongst the officer trainees of friendly foreign navies.
The last Admiral's Cup was held in 2019 and a total of 25 countries participated in the event.
4. Navy Day 2022 to be celebrated at Eastern Naval Command Visakhapatnam
Tags: Defence Important Days
Every year since 1972, 4th December has been observed as Navy Day in India. The day is celebrated to honour the Indian Navy's role during the India Pakistan war of 1971. This year for the first time the Navy Day celebration is taking place outside New Delhi at Eastern Naval Command headquarters Visakhapatnam.
The Indian Navy launched Operation Trident on 4-5 December 1971 to block the Karachi port of Pakistan. During the operation the Indian Navy sank four Pakistani vessels including PNS Khaibar, killing hundreds of Pakistani Navy personnel.
Background to the Day
Navy Day was first celebrated on 21 Oct 1944 by the Royal Indian Navy, which coincided with the Royal Navy's Trafalgar Day of the British navy.
Until 1972 the Navy Day was celebrated on 15 December and the week in which 15 December fell was observed as Navy Week.
At the Senior Naval Officers’ Conference in May 1972, it was decided that Indian Navy Day would be celebrated on December 4 to recognise the efforts and achievements of the Indian Navy during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
Navy Day 2022
This year the Navy Day celebration will be held in Visakhapatnam. This is for the first time that the Navy Day celebration is being held outside Delhi. Indian Naval ships, submarines, aircraft and Special Forces from Eastern, Western and Southern Naval Command would showcase the capability and versatility of the Indian Navy. The event will culminate with a sunset ceremony and lighting up of ships at anchorage.
The Indian Navy will demonstrate India’s combat prowess and capability through an ‘Operational Demonstration' during the celebration.
President of India and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Droupadi Murmu would witness the event as the Guest of Honour.
The event will be hosted by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar.
Indian Navy
The modern Indian Navy was founded on 26 January 1950.
It comes under the Union Ministry of Defence
President is the supreme commander of the Indian Navy.
Current Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral R.Hari Kumar
Navy Day: 4 December
The Headquarters of the Indian Navy is at New Delhi
Naval Command and its Headquarters
Operational Naval Commands | Headquarters |
Western Naval Command | Mumbai |
Southern Naval Command | Kochi |
Eastern Naval Command | Visakhapatnam |
5. 2022 Navy Day to be celebrated at Visakhapatnam
Tags: place in news Defence
The Indian Navy will hold its annual Navy Day celebration 2022 at Visakhapatnam as per the Prime Minister's vision to move significant events and festivities out of the national capital.
The Indian Air Force Day which is observed on 8 October was held for the first time outside Delhi in Chandigarh. The Indian Army has also announced that the Next Army Day parade 2023 will be held outside New Delhi in the Army’s Southern Command area on 15 January 2023.
The Navy Day which is observed on 4 December every year is usually held in New Delhi in presence of the Commander in Chief, President of India.
This year for the first time it will be held outside New Delhi. This year the Indian Navy is all set to demonstrate India’s combat prowess and capability through an ‘Operational Demonstration’ at Visakhapatnam on 04 December 2022.
Navy Day is observed on 4 December to commemorate Operation Trident of the Indian Navy launched on 4 December 1971 to block the Karachi port of Pakistan and cripple its war effort against India. It was a highly successful mission.
Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral R Hari Kumar
6. Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane inaugurates the first Coastal Security Conference in Chennai
Tags: place in news Defence Summits Person in news
Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane inaugurated the first Coastal Security Conference organised by the Indian Coast Guard under the aegis of Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) at Chennai on 1 December 2022. Director General, Indian Coast Guard V S Pathania was also present at the occasion.
Defence Secretary called upon the member countries to take concerted measures to counter transnational crimes and address identified areas to make the seas safer.
The two day (1-2 December) conference is being attended by India, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.
Theme of the conference: Collaborative Efforts for Coastal Security.
A range of issues including coastal security threat, collaborative response, international maritime law and role of empowered agencies, technological solutions for coastal security etc were discussed at the conference.
Colombo Security Conclave (CSC)
The CSC started as a trilateral maritime cooperation mechanism between India, Maldives and Sri Lanka in 2011. The membership of the Group was enlarged with the addition of Mauritius in March 2022.
The Secretariat of the CSC is located in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The members have identified five pillars for cooperation, namely-
- Maritime Safety and Security;
- Countering Terrorism and Radicalization;
- Combating Trafficking and Organised Crime;
- Cyber Security, Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Technology and
- Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.
7. 12th edition of Agni Warrior exercise between Indian and Singapore Armed Forces Concludes at Devlali
Tags: place in news Defence
The 12th edition of the bilateral Agni Warrior Exercise between the Indian and the Singapore Army concluded at Field Firing Ranges, Devlali (Maharashtra) on 30 November 2022.
The exercise which commenced on 13 November 2022 involved showcasing joint firepower planning, execution and use of New Generation Equipment by the Artillery arm of both armies.
Exercise also included participation by both sides in a joint computer war-game as part of joint planning process.
8. Exercise Sudarshan Prahar conducted by Army’s Sudarshan Chakra Corps in Rajasthan
Tags: place in news Defence
Indian Army’s Sudarshan Chakra Corps carried out Exercise Sudarshan Prahar in the deserts of Rajasthan. The exercise focussed on the synergised application of combat power through the integration of force multipliers & practicing new battle techniques in an integrated all arms environment showcasing high level of professionalism and offensive spirit.
General Officer Commanding In Chief of the Southern Command: Lieutenant General A K Singh
Command structure of the Indian Army
The Headquarter of the Indian Army is at New Delhi with the President being the Commander in Chief of the Army.
Headquarters of the Indian Army: New Delhi
Chief of Army Staff: General Manoj Pande
The Indian Army has 6 operational commands and one Training command. Each command is headed by a General Officer Commanding in Chief with the rank of Lieutenant General.
Command | Headquarters |
Western Command | Chandimandir (Haryana) |
Eastern Command | Kolkata (West Bengal) |
Southern Command | Pune(Maharashtra) |
Northern Command | Udhampur(Jammu ) |
Central Command | Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) |
South -Western Command | Jaipur (Rajasthan ) |
Army Training Command | Shimla(Himachal Pradesh) |
Army Day is observed on 15 January every year.
9. Prime Minister Modi greets BSF on its 58th raising Day
Tags: Defence Important Days
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted the Border Security Personnel and their families on BSF (Border Security Force) 58th raising day. Every year December 1 is observed as BSF day because the force was raised on this day in 1965.
BSF was set up after the 1965 India Pakistan war. 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 is the world’s largest border force in the world.
It is one of the 7 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) which comes under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The other CAPF are Assam Rifles, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo Tibetan Border Force (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG) and Sashastra Seema BAL (SSB).
The BSF is the only force in the country to have the Camel Contingents and the Camel Mounted Band.
It is the only force in the world which has a female camel riding squad.
It is the only CAPF to have a full-fledged Water Wing, Air Wing and even an Artillery Regiment of its own.
- Motto of BSF : Duty Unto Death,
- Headquarters: New Delhi,
- Director General: Pankaj Kumar Singh (IPS)
- First Director General : K F Rustamji
10. Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-III squadron, commissioned in Chennai
Tags: Defence National News
With a view to further strengthen Coast Guard Area East, 840 Sqn (CG), an Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk-III squadron was commissioned by DG VS Pathania on 30 November at ICG Air Station, Chennai.
Important facts
The commissioning of 840 Sqn (CG) marks a significant progress towards self-reliance in helicopter manufacturing, in line with the government's vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.
It will provide a fillip to the capabilities of the Indian Coast Guard in the security sensitive waters of Tamil Nadu and Andhra region.
A total of 16 ALH Mk-III aircraft have been inducted into the Indian Coast Guard in a phased manner and four of these aircraft are positioned in Chennai.
Since induction, the squadron has flown over 430 hours and conducted numerous operational missions.
About ALH Mk-III helicopters
The ALH Mk-III helicopters, indigenously manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
It features state-of-the-art equipment including advanced RADAR as well as Electro optical sensors, Shakti engines, full glass cockpit, high-intensity search light, advanced communication systems, automatic identification system as well as search-and-rescue homer.
The facility will enable the squadron to conduct maritime reconnaissance, and conduct search and rescue operations over extended ranges, operating day and night from ships.
The aircraft has the ability to switch from an offensive platform with a heavy machine gun for transfer of critically ill patients to a benign platform carrying ICUs.
