Kautilya

According to Defence PRO, Rajasthan, Colonel Sombit Ghosh, the tactical exercise involved integrated employment and firing of all arms including artillery guns, rockets, tanks, helicopters and air resources. The Army aptly demonstrated the ability to hit hard and swiftly with precision, with the accuracy of multiple rocket launch systems and K-9 Vajra 155 mm Howitzer being particularly noteworthy.

The defence minister was in Ladakh, along with Army chief Gen. Bipin Rawat, to inaugurate a strategically located bridge across the Shyok River which will provide easy connectivity with the Daulat Beg Oldi sector along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. “Ladakh has tremendous potential in tourism. Better connectivity in Ladakh would certainly bring tourists in large numbers. The Siachen area is now open for tourists and tourism.

The proposal to acquire two regiments of the Akash Prime missiles which can be deployed in high altitude areas to counter China and Pakistan would be discussed at the meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council scheduled to be held today. The Akash missile system has been developed in India by DRDO and has proven to be highly successful in the defence forces.

Work on the radar stations to plug the Maldives into India’s coastal radar chain is progressing fast. “Two of the stations are functional and the third is in an advanced stage. It should be fully linked by January,” the sources added. Sources pointed out that the two Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) given by India were of “great service”. They were flying round the clock for medical evacuation and search and rescue.

According to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, DTTI came about to expedite the scope of cooperation on defence technology that become narrow due to the presence of differing bureaucratic processes and legal requirements. Essentially, DTTI is an initiative to provide “increased US senior level oversight and engagement to get beyond these obstacles.”