1. Successfully test-fired anti-tank guided missile 'Helina'
Tags: Defence
Indigenously developed helicopter launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’ was successfully flight tested on April 11, 2022 at high-altitude ranges as part of user validation trials.
The flight-test was jointly conducted by the teams of scientists from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF).
The flight trials were conducted from an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the missile was fired successfully engaging a simulated tank target.
The missile is guided by an Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) Seeker operating in the Lock on Before Launch mode.
It is one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world.
In continuation to validation trials conducted at Pokhran in Rajasthan, proof of efficacy at high altitudes paves the way for its integration on the ALH.
2. India successfully test-fires upgraded version of Pinaka Mk-I Rocket
Tags: Defence
Pinaka Mk-I Rocket System (EPRS) and Pinaka Area Denial Munition (ADM) Rocket System have been successfully test fired by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Army at Pokhran firing range.
The required accuracy and stability were achieved by these rockets during the trials, meeting all the test objectives satisfactorily.
Pinaka Mk-I :
Pinaka Mk-I is an upgraded rocket system with a range of about 45 km. The Pinaka-II rocket system has a range of 60 km. The rocket system has been jointly designed by two laboratories of DRDO, Ordnance High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) and Research and Development Establishment (ARDE).
Strategic Capabilities of Pinaka Mk-I:
During the escalation of tension with China, India had deployed this completely indigenous system on Eastern Ladakh and LAC.
It is named after 'Pinaka', the bow of Lord Shiva. It is a multi barrel rocket launcher system.
The Pinaka Mk-I Enhanced Rocket System is an upgraded version of the early Pinaka.
This rocket system has given the army a lethal alternative to ground attack.
The multi-barrel launcher is capable of firing 72 rockets in just 44 seconds.
3. DRDO test-fires two surface-to-air missiles
Tags: Defence
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted two successful flight tests of the Indian Army version of Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) at Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on March 27, 2022.
This MRSAM version is a Surface-to-Air Missile developed jointly by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel for use by the Indian Army.
It is capable of engaging multiple targets at ranges up to 70 kms.
The MRSAM Army weapon system comprises multi-function radar, mobile launcher system and other vehicles.
Important for Exam
DRDO chairman : Dr G Satheesh Reddy
The chairman of DRDO is also the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister.
4. President of India Presents President’s Colour to INS Valsura
Tags: Defence
- President Ram Nath Kovind presented the President’s colour to the Indian Navy premier training technological training establishment, INS Valsura on 25 March 2022.
- The President’s Colour is bestowed on a military unit in recognition of the exceptional service rendered to the nation, both in peace and in war.
- The Navy was the first Indian armed force to be awarded the President’s Colour by Dr Rajendra Prasad on May 27, 1951.
- INS Valsura which was set up in 1942 as a torpedo training institute at Jamnagar, Gujarat is now a premier technical training institution in India.
5. Western Naval Commands conducts security exercise Prasthan
Tags: Defence State News
The Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy conducted an offshore security exercise, ‘Prasthan’ off the coast of Mumbai . The exercise is conducted by the Western Naval Command every six months .
Led by the Navy, the exercise saw participation from the Indian Air Force, Coast Guard, ONGC, Mumbai Port Trust, JawaharLal Nehru Port Trust, Customs, state fisheries department, Mercantile Marine Department and the Marine Police.
Important for exam
Current Chief of Navy : Admiral R.Hari Kumar
Navy Day : 4 December
The Headquarters of the Indian Navy is at New Delhi
Operational Naval Commands Headquarters
Western Naval Command Mumbai
Southern Naval Command Kochi
Eastern Naval Command Visakhapatnam
6. India- Seychelles military exercise LAMITYE starts in Seychelles
Tags: Defence
The 9th Joint Military Exercise LAMITIYE-2022 between the Indian Army and Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) is being conducted at Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA), Seychelles from 22 March to 31 March 22.
Exercise LAMITIYE-2022 is a biennial training event which is being conducted in Seychelles since 2001.
An Infantry Platoon strength each from both the Indian Army and Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) along with Company Headquarters will be participating in this exercise
The Indian Army contingent comprising troops from the 2/3 Gorkha Rifles group (PIRKANTHI Battalion) arrived at Seychelles on 21 March 2022.
Seychelles
It is an island republic in the Western Indian ocean . It is a part of Eastern Africa .
Capital : Victoria
President : Wavel Ramkalawan
Currency : Seychelles rupee
7. 9th edition of SLINEX held at Visakhapatnam
The 9th edition of the India - Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime Exercise SLINEX (Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise) concluded on 10 March 2022 at Visakhapatnam, in Bay of Bengal. It was held from 07 Mar to 10 Mar 2022.
Sri Lanka Navy was represented by SLNS Sayurala, an advanced offshore patrol vessel and the Indian Navy by INS Kirch, a guided missile corvette.
Other participants from the Indian Navy include INS Jyoti, a Fleet support tanker, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), SeaKing and Chetak Helicopters and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
The previous edition of SLINEX was conducted off Trincomalee in Sri Lanka in the month of October 2020.
8. 19th India-US Military Cooperation meeting held in Agra
The 19th edition of India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting was held in Agra, Uttar Pradesh on March 01-02, 2022.
The meeting was co-chaired by Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Air Marshal BR Krishna from the Indian side and Deputy Commander, US Indo-Pacific Command Lieutenant General Stephen D Sklenka from the US side.
The India-US MCG is a forum established to progress defence cooperation between the countries through regular talks at the strategic and operational levels between Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff and the US Indo-Pacific Command.
9. MILAN Naval exercise starts in Visakhapatnam
Tags: Defence
The Indian Navy’s multinational Naval exercise MILAN 2022 commenced in Visakhapatnam on 25 February 2022.It will be conducted for 9 days in two phases with the harbour phase scheduled from 25 to 28 February and Sea Phase from 01 to 04 March.
The theme of the MILAN 2022 exercise is ‘Camaraderie – Cohesion – Collaboration’.
More than 40 countries are participating in the MILAN exercise .
MILAN
MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval exercise incepted by Indian Navy in 1995 at Andaman and Nicobar Command.
Since its inception, the event has been held biennially except for 2001, 2005, 2016 and 2020.
10. Tejas to participate in the Cobra warrior exercise 2022
Tags: Defence
For the first time Indian made fighter aircraft Tejas will participate in a foreign military exercises.
Indian Air Force will participate in a multi-nation air exercise named ‘Ex Cobra Warrior 22’ at Waddington, United Kingdom from 06 to 27 March 2022.
Five Tejas aircraft will participate in the exercise along with fighter aircraft of the UK and other leading Air Forces.
Tejas
Tejas is a single engine lightweight multirole fighter aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency under the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with Aircraft Research and Design Center of the Hindustan Aeronautics limited (HAL).
The Government of India started a programme in the 1980s to develop an indigenous Light Combat Aircraft(LCA) to replace the Mig-21 fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force and Navy.
The Light Combat Aircraft was renamed as Tejas in 2003.
The first Tejas squadron became operational in 2016, as Squadron no 45 of the IAF “ Flying Daggers “ with its base at Sulur ,TamilNadu.
The first fighter aircraft to be developed by HAL was HF-24 Marut and Tejas is the second fighter aircraft to be developed by HAL.
