Defense

The signing of the RLSA is on the anvil, high-level defence sources said; India and the United States had signed the LEMOA or Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement three years ago. Both sides are working to ensure that the agreement, to be signed by Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart, General Sergey Shoygu, is ready for signing in the next ten days.

Scientists from NTRO recently visited Kibithu, the eastern most sector of the LAC, ET has learnt. The army informed them about the need for mobile network. While the scientists agreed to raise the matter at the government’s highest level, they said that only mobile towers or microwave towers that need only small power supplies and project network can be setup along the border.

Designed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the new FTR is a 10,000 tonne ship, 200 metres long and 60 metres wide, equipped with state-of-the art electro-optical missile tracking (EOTS), S-band radar tracking and telemetry devices apart from a launch pad, a launch control and mission control centre.

Fish Tail-I and II are in the easternmost corner of Arunachal Pradesh. Fish Tail -I is largely glaciated terrain, and patrols from either side are few and far between. The proposal for “coordinated patrolling” was made by India at a high-level meeting between the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the Indian army in June in the run-up to the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Mamallapuram,Tamil Nadu, earlier this month.

“The infantry soldiers are ever-ready to go into battle on short notice, and the Army wants to empower them. And the empowerment happens by giving the soldier the right kind of war-waging material necessary for a soldier to accomplish its mission,” Rawat said. “And, let me assure you, the best rifle available in the world, Sig Sauer from the US will be made available to the infantry by the end of this year,” he said.

The officials were toured aboard the ship, which was docked at Pier 15, Manila South Harbor, and briefed about the “BrahMos” missile, which can be launched from ship, aircraft, submarine or land. “The Philippine Army is interested in acquiring this type of missile as it will strengthen our coastal defense operations,” Zagala said.

The Sikh Regiment of Sapta Shakti Command will represent the Indian Army in this exercise while troops of the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment of 6th Armoured Brigade will be present on behalf of the Army of France. The training will focus primarily on the high degree of physical fitness, sharing of the drill at a tactical level and learning of the best practices from each other.

During his interaction with them, Singh reiterated that the Andaman & Nicobar islands were strategically important for national security and would provide critical capability to monitor sea areas in the region. “Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff, visited INS Baaz, Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar Island and spent a day with the personnel stationed in various units in Campbell Bay,” the Navy said in a statement.

The India US Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) signed in 2012 was aimed at identifying and promoting major joint development and manufacturing projects for the defence forces but hasn’t yielded any major results. Sources told ET that the next meeting of the pact planned in the capital on Thursday between Ellen M Lord, undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and Subhash Chandra, secretary Defence Production, will look at fresh ideas to take things forward, including setting up of an industry forum that can identify and suggest practical projects that can be taken up in the future.