Defense

Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt arrived at Jakarta, Indonesia on 18 Sep 21 to participate in the 3rd edition of Bilateral Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ with the Indonesian Navy scheduled off the approaches to Sunda Strait from 20 Sep to 22 Sep 21. The exercise aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship, enhance mutual understanding and interoperability in maritime operations between the two navies. The exercise will also provide an appropriate platform to share best practices and develop a common understanding of Maritime Security Operations. 

The state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is anticipating receiving government approval for funding of over Rs 700 crore to develop an indigenous High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS). This project is a part of the drone warfare program being carried out for the defence forces.

Helina is a third-generation fire-and-forget class ATGM mounted on an indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), and has a minimum range of 500 metres and a maximum range of 7 kilometres. All issues with the minimum range had been sorted out and the integration with other weapons on the platform was over, said Dr. Sood.

Termed as an ‘Elevated Platform for Gathering Intelligence through Electronic Support Measures (ESM)’, the project is being executed by the Army’s Military College of Telecommunication Engineering located at Mhow near Indore. ESM gather intelligence through passive “listening” to radio transmissions or electromagnetic radiations and the data so generated can be used to assess the enemy’s tactical activity or develop a library on the signature and capability of the adversary’s equipment.

Giving a major fillip to India’s security ecosystem, the Union government has decided to install Radiation Detection Equipment (RDE) at all eight Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) on the nation’s borders with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Nepal, to detect smuggling of radioactive materials.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat would be visiting Russia and America as part of his maiden visits to foreign countries after taking over his present assignment 21-months ago. The tours are taking place to the countries considered to be India’s biggest strategic allies.

One contract is for about 600 pieces of multi-functional thermal imaging binoculars for target acquisition and the other is for multi mission-sight, which can be mounted on the helmet and also the weapon. The order was placed with a Bengaluru-based firm — Tonbo Imaging.