Defense

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.

According to the BDL the weapon system uses its own intelligence in tracing the target. The Hyderabad-based defence public sector undertaking is the main producer of the country’s range of missiles and missile defence systems.

Indian Air Force has said there are no survivors in the crash of its An-32 aircraft. Thirteen people were on board when the An-32 lost contact after taking off from Jorhat base on June 3. Paying tribute to those who lost their life in the An-32 crash, Indian Air Force said it stands by with families of the victims.

Highly placed sources said close to 300 short-range air-to-air missiles, the R-73, and 400 medium-range air-to-air guided missiles, the RVV-AE, also known as the R-77, have been ordered. The R-77 is the Russian counterpart to the US medium-range AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.

The Directorate of Indian Defence University (IDU) of the Headquarter Integrated Defence Staff is organising a two-day workshop on ‘exploitation of technology by non-state actors and building capacities of own forces to counter them’ in Delhi. An important discussion will be to understand the capabilities of using technology in counter-terrorist operations.

Sources said a team of 15 men including IAF personnel, army troops and local mountaineers was air dropped on the wreckage site of the IAF An-32 aircraft on Wednesday morning. 15 mountaineers have been inducted by Mi-17s and ALH helicopters with all equipment. They are yet to reach the crash site due to inclement weather and rough terrain.

The attack took place along K.P Road in Anantnag, when terrorists struck a patrolling party of the CRPF and the Jammu and Kashmir police, critically injuring five soldiers. While heavy firing began immediately, one terrorist was killed in the exchange.

Rockets have long travelled at hypersonic speeds, but they have the advantage of carrying their own oxygen, along with their fuel. Achieving hypersonic flight with an air-breathing engine is the greater challenge. Only Americans, Fre­nch, Chinese and Austra­lians have managed 10-second hyp­ersonic flights. The DRDO has targeted a 20-second flight.

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) bricks and relief material have been embarked on board nominated ships of the Command and are ready to be deployed at short notice. The cyclone intensified into a severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday and is likely to hit the Gujarat coast on Thursday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The six meter long air vehicle with a launch weight of around one tonne features a flattened octagonal cross section with wings on mid-body and tail fins. The scramjet engine is placed at the mid-body while the portion towards the tail serves as exhaust nozzle. In between there is a rectangular component of about 12-foot for air intake.