1. Army Commanders’ Conference to take place from November 7 in New Delhi
Tags: National Defence Summits National News
The Army Commanders' Conference will be held in New Delhi from 7-11 November to deliberate on the current and emerging security and administrative aspects and to chart the future for the Indian Army.
Important facts
During the conference, the top leadership of the Indian Army will deliberate on current/emerging security and administrative aspects to chart the future for the Indian Army.
Other activities planned during the conference will also include talks by eminent subject matter experts on "Contemporary India-China Relations" as well as "Technical Challenges to National Security".
During the conference, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will address and interact with Army Commanders on 10 November 2022.
The Chief of Defense Staff and the Chiefs of the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force will also address the senior leadership of the Indian Army to promote tri-services synergy.
About Army Commanders’ Conference
It is an apex level biennial event which is an institutional forum for ideological level discussions and helps in taking important policy decisions for the Indian Army.
It is an apex level biennial event which is an institutional forum for ideological level discussions and helps in taking important policy decisions for the Indian Army.
It is also a formal forum for the senior leadership of the Indian Army to interact with senior officials from the Department of Military Affairs and the Department of Defence.
2. Joint Military Training-2022 With Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) at Air Force Station Kalaikunda
Tags: Defence
-at-Air-Force-Station-Kalaikunda.jpg)
Singapore Air Force (RSAF) began their six-week-long 11th annual Joint Military Training (JMT) on 3 November, 2022, at Air Force Station, Kalaikunda.
Important facts
The air forces of these two countries have resumed this training after a gap of two years.
This training could not take place during the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bilateral phase of the exercise will be conducted from November 9 to 18, 2022 and both the air forces will engage in advanced air warfare exercise.
RSAF is participating with F-16 aircraft in JMT- 2022.
Apart from this, the IAF will field Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, MiG-29 and LCA Tejas aircraft in this exercise.
The exercise underlines the strong and long standing ties between India and Singapore in the field of defence cooperation.
Objective of Joint Military Training
It aims to provide an opportunity to the participating crews to share valuable operational knowledge, experience and best practices while strengthening the professional relationship between the two Air Forces.
India's Joint Military Exercise with other countries
Mitra Shakti - India & Sri Lanka
Maitree Exercise - India & Thailand
Yudh Abhyas - India and US
Vajra Prahar - India and US
Garuda Shakti - India & Indonesia
Nomadic Elephant - India & Mongolia
Shakti Exercise - India & France
Surya Kiran - India and Nepal
SIMBEX - India and Singapore
CORPAT - India and Thailand
3. Bhutan Army Chief Lt Gen Batoo Tshering meets Indian Army chief General Pande during his visit to India
Tags: Defence Person in news
The visiting Bhutanese Army Chief officially known as Chief Operations Officer, Royal Bhutan Army Lt Gen Batoo Tshering met his Indian counterpart, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande. He also met the defence secretary Giridhar Aramane in New Delhi.
Lt Gen Batoo Tshering was on an official visit to India from 28 October to 02 November 2022.Eralier in the month of July this year the Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande visited Bhutan.
India Bhutan Special military Relationship
India and Bhutan share a special relationship and it is governed by the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation of 1949 signed between the two countries and updated during the visit to India of Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in February 2007.
Under the treaty India is responsible for Bhutanese security.
For this purpose India has stationed its Indian Military Training Team in Bhutan to provide training to Bhutanese security forces.
Regular India-Bhutan security and border management meetings take place between the two countries to discuss a number of key issues, including threat perceptions, security and border management issues.
Kingdom of Bhutan
King of Bhutan: Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Prime Minister: Lotay Tshering
Capital: Thimphu
Currency: ngultrum
Bhutan is known as "Druk Yul," or "Land of the Thunder Dragon".
4. First successful flight test of phase -II ballistic missile defence interceptor
Tags: Defence Science and Technology National News
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the first successful flight test of Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Interceptor AD-1 missile with Large Kill Altitude Bracket from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on November 2, 2022.
Interceptor AD-1 Missile
It is a long-range interceptor missile designed for both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception of long-range ballistic missiles as well as aircraft.
It is driven by a two-phase solid motor.
It is equipped with indigenously developed advanced control system, navigation and guidance algorithms to accurately guide the missile to the target.
It has the ability to hit many different types of targets.
During this flight-test, all sub-systems performed as expected.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
It is a premier defence research and development agency under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
It aims to make India self-reliant in critical defence technology and systems.
It was set up in 1958.
Headquarters - New Delhi
Chairman - Samir V Kamat
5. Zojila Day commemorated at Zojila War Memorial, Drass
Tags: National Defence National News
Zojila Day was observed on 1 November 2022 at the Zojila War Memorial near Dras to celebrate the gallant action taken by the Indian soldiers in 'Operation Bison'. 'Operation Bison' was launched on the icy heights of Zojila Pass, the gateway to Ladakh in 1948.
Important facts
The Commander of Drass Warriors of Leh's Fire and Fury Corps paid floral tributes to the soldiers who were martyred in liberating the Zojila Pass from Pakistani infiltrators.
Zojila Day is an indomitable symbol of the bravery of the Indian Army.
This battle is considered historic as tanks were used for the first time at such a height.
Zojila Day is a symbol of the indomitable spirit of bravery and 'Never Say Die' of the Indian Army.
About Zojila Pass
It is a high mountain pass in Jammu and Kashmir, located on National Highway 1.
It connects Srinagar in Kashmir Valley to Leh in Ladakh region.
It has an elevation of about 3,528 metres (11,575 ft), and is the second highest pass on the Srinagar–Leh National Highway after Photu La.
This is known as the 'Icy Storm Pass'.
The Zojila Tunnel project was started in the year 2018. It is the longest and strategic bi-directional tunnel in Asia.
About The battle of Zojila
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, Zojila was seized by Pakistani-backed invaders in 1948 in their campaign to capture Ladakh.
On November 1, 1948, the Zojila Pass was recaptured by the Indian Army in an attack called Operation Bison.
The Battle of Zojila was one of the first battles of the Indian Army in the high altitude region.
6. Second edition of Naval Commanders' Conference
Tags: Defence National News
The second edition of Naval Commanders' Conference of 2022 begins on 1 November, 2022 in New Delhi.
Important facts
During the four-day conference, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address and interact with naval commanders on matters related to national security.
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and the Chiefs of Indian Army and Indian Air Force will also interact with the Naval Commanders.
During the conference, the Chief of Naval Staff, along with other Naval Commanders, will review major operations, material, logistics, human resource development, training and administrative activities undertaken by the Indian Navy over the past few months.
They will deliberate on plans for important future activities and initiatives.
The conference will also focus on the dynamics of the geo-strategic situation in the region and the Navy's readiness to deal with it.
Chief of Defence Staff - General Anil Chauhan
Chief of Indian Air Force - V. R. Chaudhari
Chief of Indian Army - General Manoj Pande
Chief of Indian Navy - Admiral R Hari Kumar
7. Goa Maritime Symposium
Tags: Defence National News
The fourth edition of the Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS) is being conducted by the Naval War College (NWC) at Goa from 31 October to 1 November 2022.
Important facts
The theme of GMS-2022 is Maritime Security Challenges in the Indian Ocean Region: Converting Common Maritime Priorities into Collaborative Mitigation Frameworks.
The Symposium was inaugurated by Rear Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar, Commandant, Naval War College.
The participants of the symposium include Captains/ officers of the rank of Commander or equivalent from navies/ maritime forces from friendly countries like Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand besides India.
About Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS)
It was conceptualised and instituted by the Indian Navy in 2016.
It is a forum for promoting collaborative thinking, cooperation and mutual understanding between India and the major maritime countries of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The Symposium is organised biennially by NWC, Goa and so far three editions of the event have been organised.
8. Indian Navy participates in the first Trilateral Naval exercise with Mozambique and Tanzania Navies
Tags: Defence
The first trilateral naval exercise (IMT TRILAT) between Indian, Mozambican and Tanzanian navies commenced at Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on 27 Oct 2022. It is the first time that the Indian Navy is participating in an exercise with these navies.
The exercise will be held from 27 to 29 October 2022 which includes harbour and sea phases.
The Indian Navy is being represented by the guided missile frigate, INS Tarkash, a Chetak helicopter and special commando unit of the Indian Navy, MARCOS (Marine Commandos).
9. Indian Ministry of Defence is the largest employer in the world: Statista
Tags: Defence
According to the German Statista infographic, the Union Defence Ministry is the world's biggest employer with 2.92 million people as employees. The Statista report on ‘Employers with the largest workforce worldwide 2022” has included the active service personnel, reservists and civilian staff in the Defence ministry personnel list.
Statista is a Hamburg-based private organisation that provides data and statistics about various issues worldwide.
The American Department of Defense which employs 2.91 million personnel comes second in the list.
The Chinese Military Commission which is equivalent to the Defence ministry in India employs around 6.8 million people. But it was not included in the list as there was doubt over its data.
Largest private sector employer
According to Statista, amongst the private sector, Walmart is the largest employer with 2.3 million personnel.
Amazon is the second largest employer with 1.6 million personnel.
World’s largest armed forces
According to Statista the largest military personnel based on active services personnel is China.
The top 10 largest militaries based on active personnel:
- China - 2,000,000
- India - 1,450,000
- United States - 1,390,000
- North Korea - 1,200,000
- Russia - 850,000
- Pakistan - 640,000
- Iran - 575,000
- South Korea - 555,000
- Vietnam - 470,000
- Egypt - 450,000
10. 7th India France bilateral Air exercise 'Garuda VIl'commences in Jodhpur
Tags: place in news Defence
The Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Force (FASF) are participating in a bilateral exercise, named 'Garuda VIl', from 26 October to 12 November 2022 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
This is the seventh edition of the bilateral exercise. The first, third and fifth editions were conducted in India in 2003, 2006 and 2014 at Air Force Stations Gwalior, Kalaikunda and Jodhpur, respectively. The second, fourth and sixth editions were conducted in France in 2005, 2010 and 2019.
In this exercise, FASF will participate with four Rafale fighter aircraft, one A-330 Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft and a contingent of 220 personnel. The IAF is participating with Su-30 MKI, Rafale, Tejas and Jaguar fighter aircraft, as well as the Light Combat Helicopter and Mi-17 helicopters.
Participation of the IAF and FASF in this exercise will promote professional interaction, exchange of experiences and enhancement of operational knowledge, besides strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
