Defense

INS Karanj, the third submarine of the Kalvari class being prepared in India, is expected to join the Navy in four to five months. Karanja was sent for sea tests in 2018 and according to sources these tests have been successful. The fourth submarine INS Vela of the same class will also join the Navy by the end of next year.

Continuing the close defence partnership, Moscow is hoping that India would soon sign an agreement on the Igla S Anti-Air Missile, while New Delhi announced that it would produce spare parts of the Russian defence equipment under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission.

India is now finally going to seal the long-pending around $1 billion deal to acquire two more “Phalcon” airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft from Israel, which has been derailed at least a couple of times in the past due to the high costs involved.

In addition to these, as per the report, the airstrip at Lakshadweep is also set to be upgraded for military operations. While the elevation of the airstrips in Andaman and Nicobar islands into full-fledged fighter bases will secure the Bay of Bengal up to the Malacca Straits, the up-gradation of the airstrip in Lakshadweep will secure the Arabian Sea up to the Gulf of Aden.

Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, Chief of the Air Staff launched a mobile application ‘MY IAF’ at Air HQs Vayu Bhawan on 24 Aug 20 as a part of Digital India initiative. The application developed in association with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) provides career related information and details for those desirous of joining the Indian Air Force (IAF).

DRDO will also provide support to industries for design, development and testing of these systems on requirement basis. All the requirements of these systems by R&D establishments, Armed Forces, and other Security Agencies can be met through development contracts or production orders on suitable Indian industry. This will allow DRDO to focus on design & development of critical and advanced technologies and systems.