Defense

n pursuance to the Union Budget announcement (2018-19), it has been decided to set up two Defence Industrial Corridors in the Country, one in Uttar Pradesh and another in Tamil Nadu. Subsequently, five nodes for Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor, viz. Chennai, Coimbatore, Hosur, Salem and Tiruchirapalli have been identified.

Fifty-eight contracts worth around Rs 1.38 lakh crore were signed in the last three financial years for procurement of defence equipment for the Indian armed forces from foreign companies, said Minister of state for Defence Shripad Naik on Monday.

The Army has set up smart classrooms in a higher secondary school in Bagga village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi under its Operation Goodwill initiative, a defence spokesperson said on Sunday. The inauguration event of the renovated school on Sunday was attended by Army officials, the principal, teachers and students, the spokesperson said adding a total of 268 students and locals attended the event.

Raider-X has the capability to detect explosives from a stand-off distance. The data library can be built in the system to expand its capability to detect a number of explosives in pure form as well as with the contaminants. Bulk explosives in concealed condition can also be detected by the device.

Major General Madhuri Kanitkar was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General on Saturday, February 29. Lt Gen Kanitkar who has served in the Indian Army for 37 years, achieved the rare feat of becoming the third woman officer in the Indian Army and first woman paediatrician to achieve the second-highest post in the force.

“One major project we are focusing on is to produce a helicopter in 10 to 12 tonnes category to replace the Mi-17 fleet. It will be an indigenous platform with the potential to manufacture around 500 helicopters. It will stop import of more than Rs 4 lakh crore worth of platforms from foreign countries,” he said.

N N Sinha, Secretary, Border Management in the Ministry of Home Affairs visited the Indo-Pakistan international border in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district on Saturday. He was accompanied by chief project manager of the CPWD, Pradeep Gupta and other BSF officials.

The contract is for four Swathi weapon locating radars which provide fast, automatic and accurate location of enemy weapons like mortars, shells and rockets in its 50-km range. The radar can simultaneously handle multiple projectiles fired from different weapons at different locations.

Today, as the LCH heads towards achieving its full operational capability (FOC) standards, especially after successful test firing of almost its entire weapons suite, the only aspects which will have to be dealt with very carefully and intelligently are the aspects of flawless weapons integration and maintainability. HAL needs to focus on robust product support and maintenance of these machines to ensure availability.

The newly commissioned ICGS Varad with a gross tonnage of 2,100 tons is 98mtrs long and has 15mtrs broad. The endurance of the vessel is 5,000 nautical miles, with a maximum speed of 26 Knots. The ship will be fitted with one CRN-91 and two 12.7 mm guns and will be capable of carrying an Integral Twin Engine Helicopter which will enhance its operational, surveillance, and search & rescue capability.