1. Indian and French navies conclude Phase II of Varuna-23
Tags: Defence
The second phase of the 21st edition of the India-France bilateral naval exercise 'Varuna' concluded successfully in the Arabian Sea.
An Overview of the News
Exercise 'Varuna' involved the participation of guided missile frigates, tankers, maritime patrol aircraft, and integral helicopters from both the Indian and French navies.
This phase of the exercise lasted for three days and included joint operations, underway replenishment, and various tactical maneuvers.
The primary objectives were to enhance and refine war-fighting skills, improve interoperability, and demonstrate the ability to promote peace, security, and stability in the region.
Previous Phase:
The first phase of 'Varuna-2023' took place off the western coast of India from January 16 to January 20, 2023.
Initiation of Varuna Exercise:
Bilateral naval exercises between India and France began in 1993.
It was officially named 'Varuna' in 2001.
Purpose of Varuna Exercise:
The exercise serves as a symbol of the strong strategic ties between India and France.
It provides an opportunity for both the navies to learn and adopt each other's best practices and procedures.
2. India's new warship Mahendragiri to be launched in Mumbai
Tags: Defence
The warship 'Mahendragiri', built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, will be launched on 1 September 2023 in Mumbai.
An Overview of the News
Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar, wife of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, will launch the warship Mahendragiri, and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will be the chief guest at the ceremony.
Warship Mahendragiri is the seventh ship of the Project 17A frigates.
Warship Mahendragiri
It is named after Mahendragiri, a mountain peak in the Eastern Ghats, located in the state of Odisha.
It is a technologically advanced warship and is also a symbol of India's determination to embrace its rich naval heritage.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)
It is a shipyard located in Mazgaon, Mumbai.
It also manufactures warships and submarines for the Indian Navy and offshore platforms and associated support vessels for offshore oil drilling.
It is a Public Sector Undertaking managed by the Ministry of Defence, The Government of India holds an 84.83% stake in MDL.
Established - 1934
Headquarters - Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
3. Indian Navy participates in 5th 'AUSINDEX-23' held in Australia
Tags: Defence International News
From August 22 to 25, 2023, the 5th edition of the biennial AUSINDEX maritime exercise occurred in Sydney, Australia, conducted collaboratively by the Indian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.
An Overview of the News
Indian Navy and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) jointly organized the exercise.
The participating ships included INS Sahyadri, INS Kolkata from the Indian Navy, and HMAS Choules and HMAS Brisbane from RAN
The exercise not only involved ships and their helicopters but also fighter aircraft and maritime patrol aircraft.
Over the course of 4 days, AUSINDEX involved a series of complex exercises covering all three maritime operational domains.
Indian Navy (IN):
It is the marine branch of the Indian Armed Forces.
The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy.
The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, leads the Navy.
The Navy operates as a blue-water force in areas such as the Persian Gulf, the Horn of Africa, and the Malacca Straits.
Establishment - 26 January 1950
Headquarters - New Delhi
Motto - Sham no Varunah (Sanskrit) Translation - ‘May the Lord of the waters be auspicious unto us’
Navy Day - 4 December
About Australia
It is a sovereign country located in the Southern Hemisphere and is geographically isolated from the rest of the world.
Capital - Canberra
Emperor - Charles III
Governor-General - David Hurley
Prime Minister - Anthony Albanese
4. Indian Air Force participates in Egypt's Exercise Bright Star-23 for the first time
Tags: Defence
The Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in the biennial multilateral tri-services exercise Bright Star-23 held at Cairo Air Base in Egypt.
An Overview of the News
Bright Star-23 exercise will take place from 27 August to 16 September 2023.
The participating countries in the biennial multilateral tri-services exercise Bright Star-23 include the United States, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Qatar, and India.
IAF transport aircraft will airlift around 150 Indian Army personnel.
The main goal of the exercise is to enhance joint operational planning and execution.
India and Egypt have long-standing ties, having collaborated on aero-engine and aircraft development in the 1960s.
The IAF Contingent Included:
Five MiG-29 aircraft
Two IL-78 tanker aircraft
Two C-130 transport aircraft
Two C-17 transport aircraft
The Garuda Special Forces and personnel from Squadrons 28, 77, 78, and 81 of the Indian Air Force are part of the contingent.
About Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force was established on 8 October 1932.
Before independence, it was known as the Royal Indian Air Force.
The Indian Air Force has been ranked third in the World Air Power Index 2022, behind the US and Russia.
Headquarters- New Delhi
Air Force Chief- Vivek Ram Chaudhary.
5. Indian Coast Guard and Philippine Coast Guard sign MoU to strengthen maritime cooperation
Tags: International Relations Defence
The Indian Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their maritime cooperation.
An Overview of the News
The objective of the MoU is to enhance bilateral maritime cooperation between the two countries with a focus on ensuring safe, secure, and clean seas in the region.
The MoU was signed in New Delhi by Rakesh Pal, Director General of, the Indian Coast Guard, and Admiral Artemio M. Abu, Commandant of, the Philippine Coast Guard.
The two sides held their inaugural bilateral meeting after the signing of the MoU, addressing a range of maritime issues.
Areas of Focus: The key areas of cooperation under the MoU include:
Maritime Law Enforcement: Strengthening cooperation in the enforcement of maritime laws.
Maritime Search and Rescue: To enhance joint efforts in search and rescue operations at sea.
Marine Pollution Response: Collaborating to respond effectively to marine pollution incidents.
Delegation visit: A five-member delegation of the Philippine Coast Guard is on an official visit to India from 20 August to 24 August.
6. Indian submarine INS Vagir completes historic 7,000 km deployment to Australia
Tags: Defence
India's Scorpene class submarine INS Vagir has successfully completed its longest deployment ever by covering a remarkable distance of nearly 7,000 km to reach Australia. This deployment, which begins in June 2023, is a significant achievement for the Indian Navy.
An Overview of the News
Since deployment, INS Vagir has been operational without interruption, except for one port call in Sri Lanka.
The submarine re-surfaces every 3-4 days to recharge its batteries while maintaining its operational status.
Commissioning and Grounding:
Commissioned in January this year, INS Vagir belongs to the Kalvari class submarines.
The submarine is based in Mumbai and its deployment reflects the professionalism of the Navy.
Seamless Travel Details:
After a stay in Sri Lanka for the International Day of Yoga, INS Vagir continued her voyage.
It has traveled more than 7,000 kilometers (about 4,000 nautical miles) since June following a recharge routine.
Historical deployments in Australia:
The visit of INS Vagir is the first instance of an extended-distance deployment to Australia by an Indian submarine.
This achievement highlights the Indian Navy's capabilities for sustained operations at long ranges.
Exercises with the Royal Australian Navy:
During her visit to Australia, INS Vagir will participate in exercises with units of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) off the West Coast.
The objective of these exercises is to enhance cooperation and interoperability between the two naval forces.
INS Vagir is in Australia, Indian naval ships and aircraft are concurrently engaged in Exercise MALABAR (11-21 August) and AUSINDEX (22-24 August) off the east coast of Australia.
Anti-Submarine Exercises and Cooperation:
The ongoing deployment of INS Vagir includes anti-submarine exercises at various levels.
Strengthening joint naval capabilities, joint exercises with RAN submarines and Indian Navy P8i aircraft have been planned.
7. IAF's 'Tarang Shakti' multinational exercise rescheduled
Tags: Defence
The 'Tarang Shakti' multinational military exercise originally planned for October has been postponed to mid-2024.
An Overview of the News
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will host the 'Tarang Shakti' multinational military exercise.
The rescheduling was due to several participating air forces being unable to attend this year's event.
Miscellaneous Partnership:
'Tarang Shakti' will include several major air forces such as France, the UK, Australia, the US, and Japan.
These countries will contribute fighter jets, military transport aircraft, and mid-air refuellers to the exercise.
In addition, six other countries have been invited as observers, highlighting the global importance of the exercise.
Objectives of 'Tarang Shakti':
Expected to involve around 12 air forces, 'Tarang Shakti' aims to showcase international cooperation and military capabilities.
The main goal of the exercise is to enhance military coordination and promote seamless interaction between the participating nations.
The exercise is set to be India's most comprehensive air exercise, underscoring its growing role in global military cooperation.
Recent International Exercises of IAF:
In April, the Indian Air Force sent four Rafale jets, two C-17 aircraft, and two IL-78 mid-air refueling aircraft for a multinational air exercise at the Mont-de-Marsan military base in France.
Another notable incident involved four Rafale fighter jets carrying out a "strategic" mission over the Indian Ocean region lasting more than six hours.
It showcased the combat capabilities of the advanced aircraft and showcased India's air power launch capabilities.
Additionally, the Indian and US air forces conducted the Cope India exercise in locations such as Kalaikunda, Panagarh, and Agra, involving US assets such as B1 bomber jets and F-15 fighter aircraft. This highlighted the strong cooperation between the two countries.
8. Indian Navy launches second edition of 'G20 THINQ' quiz
Tags: Defence
The Indian Navy, in association with the Navy Welfare and Wellness Association (NWWA) and the G20 Secretariat, launched the second edition of "G20 THINQ''. The initiative aims to bring together young individuals from different walks of life and geographies, fostering lasting friendship with the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' - The World is One Family.
An Overview of the News
"G20 THINQ" is a national and international quiz competition designed for students studying in classes IX to XII and their counterparts.
More than 10,000 schools from across the country will participate in the national round. Sixteen schools will qualify for the semi-finals to be held in Mumbai on 16 November 2023. The top eight teams will compete in the National Championship Finals on 18 November 2023 at the iconic Gateway of India.
The Indian team in the International round will consist of two main quizzers and one standby member, who will be selected by an eminent jury. Additionally, all the sixteen semi-finalist teams will have an opportunity to visit the Naval Dockyard and interact with naval personnel onboard ships and submarines.
The quiz will be conducted in English and international standards will be followed. After a rigorous selection process, eleven international teams along with the Indian team will be selected to compete in the international finals to be held at the iconic India Gate on 22nd November 2023.
The primary objective of G20 THINQ is to enlighten the brightest young minds about the Indian Navy, which is considered to be the leader of the future.Through this quiz competition, the participants will showcase their knowledge and intelligence, thereby instilling in them a sense of patriotism and national pride.
Current Navy Chief Admiral R.K. Hari Kumar, who is taking over as the 25th Chief of the Naval Staff.
9. INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata arrive at Jakarta for Bilateral Maritime Exercise
Tags: Defence
INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata, two flagship ships of the Indian Navy, arrived at Jakarta on 17 July 2023 to participate in a bilateral maritime exercise with the Indonesian Naval Forces.
An Overview of the news:
- On arrival at Jakarta, both the naval ships of the mission deployed in the South-Eastern IOR were accorded a warm welcome by the Indonesian Navy.
- The Indian and Indonesian navies will engage in an elaborate program of professional interactions, joint yoga sessions, sports events and cross-deck visits, with an aim to strengthen mutual cooperation and understanding between the two navies.
- Both the ships will also participate in the Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) at sea with the Indonesian Navy to further strengthen the high level of interoperability that both navies have from the Middle East.
- Recently Indian and Indonesian naval forces conducted their bilateral exercise named Samudra Shakti 2023 in the South China Sea.
INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata:
- INS Sahyadri is the third indigenously designed and built stealth frigate of the Project-17 class.
- INS Kolkata is the first indigenously designed and built Project-15A class stealth destroyer.
- Both these ships have been built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai.
10. India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise "Nomadic Elephant-2023"
Tags: Defence
The 15th edition of India-Mongolia joint military exercise "Nomadic Elephant-2023" is scheduled to be held from 17 to 31 July 2023 at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
An Overview of the news:
- Exercise Nomadic Elephant is an annual training program of India with Mongolia which is conducted alternately in Mongolia and India.
- Earlier the military exercise program was organized at Special Forces Training School, Bakloh in October 2019.
- Troops from Mongolian Armed Forces Unit 084 and Indian troops from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment will participate in the 15th edition of the military exercise.
Objective of military exercise:
- The aim of the military exercise is to strengthen positive military-to-military relations, exchange of best military practices, bilateral interoperability, camaraderie, camaraderie and friendship.
- The primary objective of this military exercise under the mandate of the United Nations is to curb terrorist activities in the mountainous areas.
- This military exercise includes platoon level Field Training Exercise (FTX). During this military exercise, Indian and Mongolian troops will participate in various training activities designed to enhance their capabilities and skills.
- These activities include endurance training, reflex firing, room intervention, small team tactics and mountain drills (rock craft firing).
Mongolia:
- Capital: Ulaanbaatar
- Currency: Mongolian tugrik
- President: Ukhnagin Hurelsukh
- Prime Minister: Oyun Erdan Luv-Sanm-Saren
