Defense

Sources on Thursday said the “first lot” of the 210 Spike missiles, with a dozen launchers, “arrived in India about 10 days ago” as part of the “Army vice chief’s emergency procurement powers” exercised by the force amidst the ongoing heightened tensions with Pakistan. The Army moved to buy the initial amount of the fire-and-forget Spike ATGMs, which have a strike range of up to 4-km, for around Rs 280 crore after the Jaish-e-Muhammed training facility at Balakot in Pakistan was bombed by Indian Mirage-2000 fighters on February 26.

According to the Indian Navy, for the first time ever the two navies will hold their bilateral joint naval exercise and also their second coordinated patrol. The Bangladesh government has expressed its keenness on doing HADR exercise with the Indian Navy. As far regional cooperation is concerned neighbouring Bangladesh is the Vice-Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and is expected to take over as the Chair in 2021.

The biggest UAV procurements for the JK police has already been approved Union home ministry. The UAVs will help the police to keep an eye on protesters and militant movements. Officials privy to details of the procurements told Hindustan Times that tenders have already been floated by the procurement wing of the JK police and the process could be completed by this month which would give cops more eyes in the sky.

This move also mainstreams the NSCS and gives it the authority to service the NSC, SPG and even the DPG. It can now generate cabinet notes, access relevant cabinet proposals and partake in inter-ministerial deliberations just like any other government department. Until now, the Cabinet Secretary would have to send out periodic reminders to various ministries to route relevant notes through the NSCS for comments.

Industry experts said some domestic companies have been supplying parts for anti-personnel mines to OFB and there are likely to be several respondents to the Army’s request for information. However, the competition could be limited to two major players that have the capacity for the delicate procedure of filling in explosives.

Air Marshal Ghotia replaced Air Marshal H S Arora, who moved to Air Headquarters as the Vice-Chief of Air Staff. Prior to assuming the present appointment, Air Marshal Ghotia was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Training Command. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Air Marshal Ghotia was commissioned in the fighter stream of the IAF in December, 1981. He has held various posts including Chief Operations Officer and Station Commander of a forward base in SWAC.

Around 60 soldiers from both Indian and Kazakhstan would share their experiences of counter terrorism operations during the exercise, he said, adding that its was an yearly exercise conducted between both the armies. It will will conclude on October 15, an Indian Army spokesman said.

Without citing any reason, speaking to Financial Express Online on condition of anonymity, a senior official confirmed that “The contract for the 45,000-ton fleet support ships (FSS) for the Indian Navy with the Turkish Company could be delayed.” “It could be a fall out of Turkey cosying up to Pakistan and raising Kashmir issue at the recently concluded 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA),” said the officer.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, the Air Vice Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik was commissioned in Indian Air Force on June 8, 1984, as a fighter pilot.
“He is a Fighter Combat Leader with more than 2,500 hours of accident-free fighter flying on a variety of aircraft, and has more than 800 hours as Mission Commander,” an official release said. The Air Officer has commanded the Air Force Station Ambala. Air Vice Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik has flown many live bombing missions during the Kargil operations, for which he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) in 1999