Defense

The Brahmos is jointly developed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroeyenia. Capable of traveling at speeds of Mach 3.0, the Brahmos is the fastest cruise missile in the world. As Russia and India Report explained, “The BrahMos’ 3000 km per second speed – literally faster than a bullet – means it hits the target with a huge amount of kinetic energy. In tests, the BrahMos has often cut warships in half and reduced ground targets to smithereens.”

India has moved to produce the primary ammunition for its Russian-made T-72 and T-90 tanks at local factories. Issuing an Expression of Interest (EoI) to local vendors, the Indian Army aims to purchase 85,000 rounds of 125mm ammunition in a bid to expedite the supply of the ammunition that it has been importing from Russia. EoI is the first step in the procurement procedure.

INS Sumedha, presently on Anti Piracy Patrol in Gulf of Aden, came to the rescue of the crew of the dhow Al-Hamid on 06 Jan 20. A traditional wooden vessel known as “Dhow”, Al-Hamid was detected by an IN Helicopter launched from the deck of INS Sumedha, which confirmed that the vessel was in distress and drifting near the coast of Somalia.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), however, is to approve it before it is rolled out. Launching the website www.modnoc.ncog.gov.in, Rajnath Singh said: “an internal mechanism should be developed to monitor the time taken to issue NOC’s.”

India has signed four military logistics support agreements with partner countries and is in the process of finalising the fifth with Russia. The issue came up for discussion during the recent visit of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Russia from November 05-07, 2019.

This state-of-the-art equipment based on SDR (Software Defined Radio) architecture is used in ships and submarines for exchanging data and voice communication between them using water as the acoustic medium, a KELTRON press release said.

The acquisition – through a joint venture in which Israeli manufacturer IWI holds a 49% stake – will help the group acquire capabilities ranging from UAVs to helicopter systems to major aero structures. Sources said the entity is poised to pick up major orders from the defence ministry, with final discussions underway for 16,400 light machine guns for which IWI is the lead contender.

India plans to get indigenous Self Propelled Air Defence Gun Missile System (SPAD-GMS) replace 1360 obsolete Bofors L 70 40mm single barrel and Soviet-era ZU-23-2 towed 23 mm twin-barrel weapon systems.

“General Rawat is extremely hardworking and bold in pursuing the organisation’s objectives. He has the ability to think differently and take tough decisions without bothering about the accompanying criticism,” said Lieutenant General BS Sandhu (retd), who has known Rawat for almost 45 years and was his course mate at the Khadakwasla-based National Defence Academy.