Defense

A key Indo-US industry body feels that the best way to go ahead with procurement — valued at about $20 billion — is through a government-to-government deal to enable ‘Make in India’ and technology-sharing. Led by defence minister Rajnath Singh and external affairs minister S Jaishankar, will focus on renewed efforts to take forward the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) to include drone warfare, light-weight arms and virtual augmented reality.

The committee headed by a Special Director General (SDG) rank officer of the force will also deliberate if such personnel can be “absorbed” in other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) like the border guarding SSB or the airports security force CISF to ensure better “rest and recuperation” for them.

Revealing plans about how the defence ministry is bolstering startups, Naik said that the government had launched Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework in 2018 to achieve self-reliance and to foster innovation and technology development in defence and aerospace sector.

The Ministry of Defence has signed more than 180 contracts worth Rs 1,96,000 crore with the Indian industry since 2014 while a few are in the pipeline to be signed in the near future, the ministry said on Thursday.The Services have also placed a number of contracts for private sector vendors such as Titagarh Wagons Ltd, Force Motors Pvt Ltd, Tata Power SED, Tech Mahindra Ltd, Tata Motor Ltd, Ashok Leyland Ltd, Bharat Forge Ltd, MKU Ltd, SMPP Delhi, Alpha Design for items like 1000 Tons Fuel Barges, Light Strike Vehicles, Portable Diver Detection Sonar (PDDS), RFID based SMART Card, 6×6 and 8×8 High Mobility Vehicle with Material Handling Crane, Dual Technology Mine Detector, Ballistic Helmet, Bullet Proof Jacket (BPJ) and Integrated Gunnery.

The notification states that under the Coast Guard Act, 1978, the central government authorises “every member of the Coast Guard” to “visit, board, search and seize vessel, or arrest any person, or seize any artificial island or any floating or moored object or any underwater object including any maritime property involved or suspected to be used in the commission of any offence…”

In respect of non-core items, OFB can still participate in requests for proposal (RFPs) of the users, i.e. Armed Forces, on a competitive basis. The decision to declare items as non-core was taken in consultation with all stake holders, and was made to enable OFB to focus on core areas and complex systems like artillery guns, tanks, and ammunition. This position has been adequately explained to the employees of OFB through various meetings in the Ministry.

Company-sized mechanized contingents, fighter and transport aircraft, as well as ships of respective Army, Air Force, and Navy, will participate in this exercise of ten days duration. The exercise will consist of a five-day training phase consisting of a comprehensive training curriculum.

“Earlier, as per the Rs 59,000 crore deal inked for 36 Rafale jets and their weapon packages in September 2016, the progressive deliveries of the Meteor and the over 300-km range Scalp air-to-ground cruise missiles were to begin several months later,” said a source.
“But given the current operational situation with Pakistan, India has asked for faster delivery of at least 8-10 Meteor missiles. France is examining the request,” he added.

The Missile System which has been designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced and commissioned by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has been performing well in integrated Air Defence (AD) exercises conducted from time to time by IAF.

Shillong-based Defence Spokesperson, Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh said the Chinese contingent from the Tibet Military command comprising of 130 personal and the Indian Contingent of similar strength will participate in the 14 day long training exercise.