Defense

Security sources have revealed that this time the alarm could be much ado about nothing. The removal of barbed wires at certain areas is being done as part of the smart fencing project for air to bottom fortification of the 2,300 km long India-Pakistan border by installing a smart fence based on sensors. Sources disclosed that in at least two locations, the fence is being replaced to fortify it with sensors.

Indian troops reclaimed the Goan territory with little to no resistance and forced General Manuel Antonio Vassalo e Silva to sign the certificate of surrender, thus ending 451 years of the exploitative rule of the Portuguese over the territory on December 19, 1961. As the country’s smallest state enters its 58th year of liberation, it remains a blend of the cultures of Portugal while retaining a distinctive position of his own.

Marine commandos (Marcos) are now using the hostile terrain of the world’s largest mangroves for training. In the past, there were mere assault landings on the beaches. Now, the Navy’s Special Forces are setting up camps on uninhabited islands to hone survival skills and practise intervention techniques.

“Our defence trade and technology ties continue to grow. Today, we are proud to conclude the Industrial Security Annex (ISA) which will facilitate collaboration between our defence industries by supporting the secure transfer of key information and technologies,” Esper said addressing a joint press conference with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) announced on 17 December that it has completed the integration of the BrahMos-A (Air) supersonic cruise missile onto the Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole fighter. The announcement was made after the service successfully launched the weapon from an Su-30MKI off the coast of Odisha against a sea-based target, achieving “a direct hit”.

The move will ensure the exploitation of the airport’s planned second runway to its full potential, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a statement. The air force radar operations will work side-by-side with radar controllers employed by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) at the airport.

India’s state-funded defence research body DRDO successfully tested an upgraded version of its guided Pinaka rocket on Thursday at firing ranges in Odisha state. It is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility. It is believed that the guided version of the Pinaka system is being developed in order to deliver nuclear warheads at short ranges.

Exercise Apharan was aimed at streamlining the response mechanism and preparedness to thwart any attempt by to hijack a merchant vessel or attempt forced entry of a rogue or commandeered merchant vessel into Kochi harbour. The Exercise was conducted under the aegis of the Commander-in-Chief, Coastal Defence (Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command), Kerala.

Singh will hold bilateral discussions with Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva, Commander of Sri Lanka Navy, other service chiefs and senior Sri Lankan government officials, according to the official statement.
The visit of the Indian Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) comes a month after newly-elected Sri Lankan President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa came to India.

The land-attack version of the missile was test-fired from a mobile autonomous launcher at Launch Complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near here at around 8.30 am, they said. The trial of the surface-to-surface missile was successful, meeting all the parameters, a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) source said.