Defense

In 2020, the Indian Army will continue its induction of 145 air-mobile M777 howitzers from BAE Systems and 100 K9 Vajra 155 mm/52 caliber self-propelled tracked howitzers from South Korea. The Indian Army received its first shipment of two M777 light towed howitzers on May 18, 2017, in New Delhi from the United States ready to be used.

‘Kamikaze’ attack could be as simple as feeding the drone with the target’s Latitude and Longitude so that the drones cruise to the target and crash with explosive mounted over it to destroy them. However, in case of ‘directed attack’, the drones are guided to the missile firing zone and target parameters are provided to the drone system to launch an air-to-surface missile precisely on the chosen target.

The Indian Navy said warships and aircraft were deployed to establish presence, provide a sense of reassurance to the Indian merchant men, monitor the ongoing situation and respond to any emergent crises.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is targeting to roll out the first four Final Operational Clearance (FOC) variants of Light Combat Aircraft Tejas in the next 3 months. The target is to produce all four aircraft in this financial year and the balance 12 by March 2021. HAL needs to produce 16 fighters and eight trainers, all based on FOC standards.

“The BMD programme has been completed. All tests carried so far have been successful, including the radars and missiles. The IAF, which is responsible for the country’s air defence, and the DRDO, which has developed the system, will now move a joint proposal for the government’s clearance,” a top government official told ThePrint.

For the last three years, Bengaluru-based DRDO lab, the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robots (CAIR), has been perfecting four different models of mobile robots designed to infiltrate military and combat zones, map the area and help friendly troops punch their way in.

“Adani group will give us the financial muscle to bid for the six submarines. We would be providing the technical expertise,” he said. Asked whether HSL had the technical expertise to build a highly sophisticated vessel like a submarine, Sarat Babu said the shipyard has a long experience in retrofitting submarines.

Commissioned into the Sikh regiment two years after the Partition, Lt Gen Hoon led the Operation Meghdoot — as the commander of Srinagar-based 15 Corps — to capture the Siachen glacier in 1984. As a frontline soldier, he defended the borders, during the Chinese Aggression and the 1965 war against Pakistan. He also served as the director general of military operations.

The powerful swing-wing jets were a Soviet warplanes license-built by India and upgraded with 2000s-era avionics. Armed with unguided bombs, rockets and an earth-shattering six barreled Gatling guns, the type had seen extensive action during the 1999 Kargil War, blasting Pakistani troops on Himalayan peaks at 18,000 feet above sea level.

The Army is likely to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a month for the procurement of over 7.5 lakh AK-203 assault rifles, which are to be manufactured locally by an India-Russia joint venture (JV), a Defence source said.