Defense

Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), on Monday said it recently signed a contract with Airbus Defence and Space for manufacture and supply of radar warning receiver and missile approach warning system for the C295 aircraft.

The Indian Coast Guard vessels, ICGS Vajra and ICGS Apoorva, and the Sri Lanka Coast Guard’s SLCGS Suraksha are in the Maldives for the exercise. This year marks 30 years since the first edition of the exercise. The trilateral exercise aims to strengthen friendship, enhance mutual operational capabilities, exercise interoperability and build cooperation between the coast guards of the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka, officials said.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh visited the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on November 22, 2021 on the occasion of Armed Forces Day of Bangladesh, which is celebrated on 21st November every year. The event was organised by the Bangladesh High Commission. High Commissioner of Bangladesh Mr Muhammad Imran, Ambassadors and Heads of Mission, Officers from Armed Forces of Bangladesh and other friendly nations and war veterans were among those present. 

As of now, the development cost of the 25-tonne AMCA is estimated to be around Rs 15,000 crore, with the first prototype’s “rollout” by 2025-26 and production of the Mark-1 jets slated to begin in 2030-31 under the “aggressive timelines” set by DRDO and its Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). A more realistic timeframe for the AMCA induction to kick-off, however, would be around 2035.

“A key focus of the exercise will be on the exploitation of new and indigenous technologies such as Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) ‘Dhruv’, with the integrated weapon system, swarm drones, and artificial intelligence-driven systems providing cohesive intelligence and surveillance,” said the command authorities.

“A 76 ft tall national flag at 15000 ft constructed by #IA and Flag Foundation of India, hoisted overlooking the Hanle Valley by #TheUltimateForce,” the Fire and Fury Corps said on Twitter. The Indian Army said that the hoisting of the flag was part of the Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the government’s initiative to commemorate 75 years of Independence of India.

Once the enhancements are approved and accepted by the IAF, the upgrade is planned to be started from January next year onwards making the Indian planes more capable,” they said.The India specific enhancements would include integration of highly capable missiles, low band jammers and satellite communication systems as per Indian requirements.

INS Visakhapatnam measures 163m in length, 17m in breadth with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes and can rightfully be regarded as one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India. The ship is propelled by four powerful Gas Turbines, in a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration, capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots. The ship has enhanced stealth features resulting in a reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS) achieved through efficient shaping of hull, full beam superstructure design, plated masts and use of radar transparent materials on exposed decks. 

The Sixth Edition of Indo – France joint military exercise “Ex SHAKTI 2021” has commenced at the Military School of Draguignan, France with an opening ceremony on 15 Nov 21. The Indian Army contingent is being represented by a composite team of three Officers, three Junior Commissioned Officers and 37 soldiers from a battalion of Gorkha Rifles and support Arms.

HAL had earlier unveiled its Combined Air Teaming System (CATS) which involved a mothership operating distantly with an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle known as CATS Warrior to strike inside enemy territory. The unmanned aircraft concept may look like a futuristic project but HAL seems to have made rapid strides in the last few years.