Defense

Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’ 51 Squadron will be awarded unit citation by Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria for thwarting Pakistan’s aerial attack and shooting down their F-16 fighter aircraft on Feb 27, earlier this year. The number nine squadron, whose Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft carried out the Balakot aerial strikes on February 26 during ‘Operation Bandar’, will also be awarded.

The IAF is also finalising with Russia the procurement of 12 more Sukhois to replace the ones lost in crashes, which will be built by defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics, as well as 21 additional MiG-29 jets that will cost around Rs 230 crore each. “The Sukhois will be upgraded in near future to further enhance their operational capabilities,” said IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria. The IAF has so far inducted over 250 of the 272 Sukhois originally contracted in batches from Russia for well over $12 billion, with the bulk of them being licensed-produced by HAL.

Over 3,000 people attended a mega medical camp organised by the Army on Saturday in a remote village in Reasi district of Jammu & Kashmir, a defence person said

Asked about the threat potential of drones especially in the aftermath of such an attack on oil refineries in Saudia Arabia recently as part of the new way of asymmetric warfare, the IAF chief had anticipated such a challenge and we are also procuring sensors and other equipment to thwart any attack. He said the IAF is also aware of incidents in Punjab where drones were used to drop weapons by Pakistan.

Sqd Ldr Khanna was one of four IAF personnel to have been murdered by Yasin Malik on 25 January 1990 in the Kashmir Valley. Malik is presently being tried in a number of cases involving terror funding and also the murder of the IAF personnel. The decision to engrave Sqd Ldr Khanna’s name at the National War Memorial was taken by the IAF in the last week of September, under the former air chief marshal BS Dhanoa.

On October 8, the defence minister is scheduled to meet the French President Emmanuel Macron. After the meeting, Singh will proceed to Bordeaux to participate in the Rafale fighter jet handing-over ceremony at Merignac along with French Minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly. Singh will also perform the ‘Shastrapuja’ on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami and fly a sortie in the Rafale fighter jet.

As many as 20 units are expected to be placed by New Delhi and the aim is to increase Bangladesh’s maritime domain and keep an eye on the shared Indo-Bangla coast. PM Modi said, “India Bangladeshi ties are an example of good neighbourly ties” with PM Hasina saying “cooperation will be strengthened in future.”

The aircraft will be the first set of planes that will only be used by PM Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu. These two aircraft, which are being configured at a Boeing facility in Dallas, will be on par with the US President’s Air Force One in so far as security measures are concerned, according to South Block officials who requested anonymity. These can fly between India and the US without having to stop for refuelling.

In addition to the assistance under the ABCWF, the already existing monetary grant includes ex-gratia for various ranks ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 45 lakh and Army Group Insurance ranging from Rs 40 lakh to Rs 75 lakh, officials said.

“Met India’s former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa (retired). He has served our nation with utmost valour, diligence and professionalism. He has made a rich contribution to our Air Force. My best wishes to him for his future endeavours,” the Prime Minister tweeted.