Defense

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.

As part of Indian Navy’s Overseas Deployment, ships of Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron – Indian Naval Ships Tir, Sujata and Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi – arrived at Antsiranana, Madagascar, on October 1, for a three-day visit. Indian Navy ships are regularly deployed overseas as part of Indian Navy’s mission of building ‘bridges of friendship’ and strengthening international cooperation with friendly countries.

“We have no plans for importing a FGFA. The indigenous AMCA (advanced medium combat aircraft) has already been initiated…We are putting all our energy into it. IAF remains committed to indigenous development in consonance with the PM’s ‘Make in India’ initiative,” said Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, who took over as the chief on September 30.

The move will enable the IAF to operate the Russian-made world’s largest heavy-lift helicopters together with the American Chinook choppers that are being currently inducted, giving it an unprecedented tactical lift capability.Once the process is complete, India will become the first country to have a simultaneous inventory of both Mi-26s and Chinooks.

Mr Singh reaffirmed the Government’s aim of inclusive growth and making India a $5 trillion economy by 2025, adding that the defence sector will play a pivotal role in achieving this goal.
“Our aim is to make a world class domestic defence industry that is self-reliant and less dependent on imports”, he added.

“The technological and infrastructural facilities that India has been able to build up, we would like to throw open and make it available for the best use of the countries of the region,” Ajit Doval said, pointing out that India had provided navigational warnings, and hydrographic surveys to the neighbouring countries.

This is the second edition of the conclave and this year’s theme is “Common Maritime Priorities in Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and need for Regional Maritime Strategy”. According to the Indian Navy, representatives from Indian Ocean littoral countries – from South East Asian countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand; close neighbours like Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka and the island nations of Seychelles, Mauritius and Maldives are present.