Defense

During the talks, both sides highlighted the importance of coordinated border management programme (CBMP) in curbing the menace of trans border crimes. It was decided that effective steps would be taken for prevention of human trafficking and illegal crossing of IB. Both the delegations agreed to aid victims of human trafficking and to facilitate their timely rescue and rehabilitation, as per the law of land.

Called ‘Operation Sunshine-2’, the military action that took place between May 16 and June 8, is expected to give a debilitating jolt to insurgencies in the Northeastern states. The operation included blocks by two battalions of the Indian Army — along with Special Forces, Assam Rifles and infantry Ghataks — on the Indian side of the border while clearance action was taken by four brigades of the Myanmar Army.

Top sources say the tri-service procurement proposal for the Sea Guardian remotely piloted aircraft – with 10 drones each for the Navy, IAF and Army to hunt and destroy targets on land and sea – is now “being vetted” before it is sent to the Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) for approval.

Elbit is close to signing a $180 million deal for supplying various types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the Philippines army, Globes newspaper reported. The UAVs involved include Hermes 900 and Hermes 450 for long-range missions; Skylark 1 and Skylark 3 tactical UAVS for use by field units for real time observation and intelligence gathering.

According to three senior IAF officers, who asked not to be named, the AN-32, seen as a workhorse for the force, may be taken off duties that involve flying over mountainous regions and oceans out of safety concerns.

Officials said Singh appreciated the commitment and dedication of DRDO scientists and directed them to focus on flagship programmes of national importance. The defence minister also released a publication titled ‘Roadmap of DRDO’, which encapsulated its target for the next ten years.

Paperwork for transferring the land from the state government to MDL is now almost complete, the official added.
Sources say, MDL will be required to obtain environmental clearances after which it may start construction of facilities required for building warships at Nhava.

“Indian Army rescues 81 tourists visiting Shyok region, stranded onPartapu r- Turtuk road; immediate shelter, medical aid & warm clothing were provided” Northern Command, Indian Army tweeted on Friday.

Myanmar’s shift from veritable inaction to offensive operations comes after India launched a cross-border attack in June 2015 on the NSCN-K in response to an ambush the previous month that killed 19 Indian soldiers in Chandel, Manipur. The details of that strike are contested.

INDIA AND the US are working towards signing two more defence pacts, the Industrial Security Annexure (ISA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA) to further institutionalise defence cooperation between the two countries.