Defense

In just four more years, Saras Mk2 will obtain final certification. Their induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF) will begin from 2024. It is encouraging that the IAF has already committed to the induction of 15 such aircraft for various applications such as troop movement, VIP transport and supply roles during emergency situations.

The Indian Air Force will be flying its MiG 29 (UPG) and C-17 Globemaster alongside Oman’s Eurofighter Typhoon and F-16, in this bilateral exercise.Exercise Eastern Bridge V is being held at the Air Force Base Masirah in Oman from October 17-26. According to the IAF, this is the first occasion that the MiG 29 will participate in an international air exercise outside India.

Shillong-based defence PRO Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh said, “The Eastern Air Command has planned fighter operations from six Airfields in its area of operations namely Dimapur, Imphal, Guwahati, Kolkata, Pasighat and Andal.” This exercise is in two phases where the topline fighters will use the four airstrips in the first phase and the airstrips of Pasighat and Andal will be utilized in the second phase, added the officer.

The Excalibur ammunition which has been acquired under the fast track procedure can hit targets at extended ranges. In a major boost to its firepower, the Indian army has inducted the indigenous Dhanush howitzer and the American precision-guided Excalibur artillery ammunition in its inventory.

The P8i is a long-range (more than 1,200 nautical miles) aircraft for surveillance and also, anti-submarine operations. The USA has been pushing this deal which comes up before the DAC towards the end of this month. Admiral Aquilino arrives for meetings with the Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh, and other officials, on October 27 for a three-day visit.

According to the Eastern Air Command sources, the focus of exercise would be to undertake Joint Mobility & Tactical interoperability among the two forces. Within few days of the Indo-Japan Joint Air Force Exercise: Shinyuu Maitri – 2019, another drill between the armies of the same countries will also get underway in the eastern theatre.

The “apparent high handedness” of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) troops has led to tension between the two sides with BSF chief V K Johri calling up his counterpart Major General Shafeenul Islam over a hotline. The BGB Director General has assured a through probe of the incident, they said.

In a ceremony held in the city on Wednesday, the IAF said the concept of IACCS aims towards facilitating centralised command and control by automated integration of all air defence resources. The Bengaluru node exercises air defence control over the whole Southern Peninsula and is the only such node in this region. The node is equipped with the latest batch of equipment from BEL.

At a key conference here, the top commanders also felt that a Joint Services Act will facilitate faster integration of operation of the three forces, besides enhancing combat overall combat capabilities, official sources said. The commanders also decided to roll out at the earliest new training module at different levels to include various operational dimensions like space warfare and artificial intelligence.

In fact, since September 27, the Army has not only increased its own footfall in the forests, it has also air dropped several units of its elite para commandos in the forests. This is because, as sources have told News18, security agencies suspect the presence of at least two dozen highly trained and heavily armed militants in the area.