Defense

In a boost to maritime security, the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK III aircraft was formally inducted at INS Utkrosh by Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) Lieutenant General Ajai Singh at Port Blair on January 28, 2022.

Keel laying for the first ship of Diving Support Craft (DSC) project was held on 27 Jan 22 in virtual presence of reps from the Indian Navy, at M/s Titagarh Wagons Ltd., Kolkata. The contract for procurement of Five Diving Support Crafts (Yards 325 to 329) for the Indian Navy was signed in Feb 21 with M/s Titagarh Wagons Ltd.

By 2025, the government has set an ambitious goal of exporting aerospace and defense items and services worth over 35,000 crores ($5 billion). Despite being second only to Saudi Arabia in terms of imports, India’s defense exports for the previous year were among the top 25 in the world.

There have been roughly 60 sightings of drones along the northern border in Jammu and Kashmir and on the western border in Punjab

The exercise was conducted over a duration of 20 days with an objective to validate operational plans of the Western Naval Command and enhance Inter-Service synergy among the Indian Navy, IAF, Indian Army and Coast Guard. 

Saab has been awarded a contract for providing AT4 single-shot support weapons to the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, the company announced on 20 January. The AT4 was selected by the Indian Armed Forces following a competitive programme, the company said.

Under a deal signed in 2017, L&T supplied 100 K9s to the Indian Army. The howitzers were delivered ahead of schedule, with the last one handed over to the Army in February 2021. The guns were built by L&T at Hazira in Gujarat with technology transfer from South Korean defence major Hanwha Defense.

As part of India’s localisation of defence manufacturing, a special purpose joint venture called Indo-Russian Rifles Private Ltd (IRRPL) has been created for the production of 600,000 AK-203 in India. The Joint Venture is between India, represented by the Defence PSUs-Advanced Weapons & Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) & Munitions India Limited (MIL) and Russia, represented by Rosoboronexport (RoE) & Concern Kalashnikov (CK).

These tugs have been designed and built under the classification rules of Indian Register for Shipping (IRS) with a service life of 20 years and are capable of assisting large naval ships, including Aircraft Carrier and Submarines in berthing, un-berthing, turning and manoeuvering in confined waters and in harbour.