Defense

“INS Sagardhwani, a Marine Acoustic Research Ship (MARS) of the Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi and operated by the Indian Navy has set sail from Kochi for a two-month-long scientific mission called ‘Marine & Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative (MAITRI)’.” Ministry of Defence said on Thursday.

India and China have reduced their presence on the Doklam plateau post the disengagement in 2017, but the India Army is monitoring Chinese activities in the area and is adequately prepared to respond to any contingency, the Defence Ministry said in a report.

The order for the satellite was placed on June 11, with officials saying the newly-sanctioned triservices Defence Space Agency is likely to get several new assets in the coming months for communication as well as surveillance. The order for the satellite was placed on June 11, with officials saying the newly-sanctioned triservices Defence Space Agency is likely to get several new assets in the coming months for communication as well as surveillance.

As part of the programme a 20-member UAE contingent reached the IMA on Wednesday, IMA spokesman Lt Col Amit Dagar said, here on Thursday. The army has been facilitating this kind of training engagements with a large number of militaries. However, this is the first time that the UAE officers and soldiers will be trained at the IMA.

The defence minister has accorded approval to allow private companies to compete with ordnance factories and DPSUs for the award, the statement said. The revised format includes awards in institutional, and individual and team category for excellence in technological breakthroughs; indigenisation or import substitution; and excellence in exports, it said.

The ‘Centre of Excellence’ was established by IIT-Hyderabad and BDL with the intention of making use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in developing missile technology. Some preliminary work on it has already begun. “It will completely be developed indigenously,” Siddharth Mishra, chairman and managing director, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has enhanced the Repair and Overhaul (ROH) capability of Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft at its Nasik Division and also prepared a proposal to enhance the same for the AL-31FP engines used in the frontline Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter. The public sector defence company is also planning to establish ROH facilities for RD-33 MK engines of MiG-29K/KUB fighter aircraft.

India had signed the missile deal in October 2018 during Russian President Putin’s visit. The deal was worth $5 billion ensuring the advanced long-range surface-to-air missile would become a key weapon in India’s arsenal. S-400 is known as Russia’s most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.

The agreement involves a range of maintenance and other services for sub-systems of Israel Aerospace’s naval medium range surface-to-air missile. “This contract is a breakthrough as it advances us from system development and delivery to looking after the operational needs of our customers,” said Boaz Levi, general manager of the Systems, Missiles & Space Group at Israel Aerospace.