Defense

On this occasion, a bust of Major Narendra Dhar Jayal, the first principal of the HMI was unveiled. A documentary entitled Making of Mountaineers, celebrating 105th birth anniversary of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, was screened for the first time. The ascent of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, by Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary was a major boost to mountaineering in India.

“A joint venture has been created. The helicopter’s (Ka 226T ) appearance is being updated based on the requirements of the Indian Ministry of Defense. We hope to complete the project and sign a contract in the next six months,” Mikheyev said. According to Mikheyev, “the work on this helicopter has already begun,” and the terms are being formed based on the procedures adopted by the Indian Ministry of Defense.

India is close to inking a defence deal with the US for the procurement of Sea Guardian armed drones and P-8I anti-submarine warfare and surveillance aircraft. The deal is valued at over $7 billion. “Indian Navy, Air Force, and Army are coordinating their requirements and specifications for the acquisition of these Sea Guardian armed drones from the US under the FMS route,” Defence sources told .

Tonbo’s imaging sensors are the eyes of the soldiers, the artificial intelligence stack built into it is the brain that enables real-time decision-making and fire control. Infrared seekers guide weapons to lock on targets more than 1km away; smart cameras record the action and a secure, wireless communication system relays it back to base.

India and Oman will conduct the 12th edition of bilateral maritime exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ in the Arabian Sea next month, as both countries are aiming to further increase interoperability between the two navies and enhance maritime security. The scope of Naseem Al Bahr this year will include besides professional interactions, operational activities at sea across the spectrum of maritime operations.

An avalanche hit the Siachen Glacier in Ladakh on Monday, trapping eight soldiers of the Indian Army under the snow. The incident took place at 3 pm. The Indian Army is conducting a massive search and rescue operation since then to locate and rescue the trapped soldiers. The Army personnel hit by the avalanche were part of a patrolling party consisting of eight persons and were in the northern glacier when the incident happened. The soldiers continue to be trapped at Northern Siachen Glacier.

The maiden bilateral maritime exercise between the Qatari Amiri Naval Forces (QANF) and Indian Navy started yesterday. Named Za’ir-Al-Bahr (Roar of the sea), the five-day exercise is carried out in order to enhance co-operation between the two forces. The exercise will be attended by Indian Navy Guided Missile Stealth Frigate INS Trikand and Patrol Aircraft P8-I that arrived at Hamad Port yesterday and Anti-Ship Missile equipped Barran Class Fast Attack Craft along with Rafale multi-task fighter aircraft.

Sources confirm that talks are on to acquire 10 “Heron TP” version of the heron family. The Ministry of Defence had okayed the proposal in May last year. “We are working to finalise the deal that is estimated to be $400 million,” sources said. This could be the first drone in the Indian arsenal to have a missile-strike ability hence can be used to hit at targets without sending a man on the mission on board a fighter jet. The armed forces had proposed buying armed drones in 2012.

According to a defence press release, this is for the first time after the inauguration of Naval Taxi Link connecting NAE Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) in August this year that a defence mission has been undertaken. The aircraft successfully completed an operational turn round at NAE, Cochin, as part of the mission.

“The number is going to blow up from whatever we have today at 1,400, it will rise to 2,000 soon,” he said at a program here. The induction of medium transport aircraft, Airbus C295, in the IAF will begin soon, he said adding that the force has already inducted Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation of France.