Defense

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired enhanced range versions of indigenously developed 122mm Caliber Rocket from a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) on June 25, 2021 at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. Four enhanced range version of 122mm rockets were test fired with full instrumentation and they met the complete mission objectives. These rockets have been developed for Army applications and can destroy targets up to 40 km.

The second Rafale squadron at Hasimara is meant to counter threats on the eastern front with China. Rafales’ deployment on the eastern front is expected to boost capabilities of the IAF, which has already placed multirole air superiority fighter Sukhoi-30MKIs at Tezpur and Chabua.

Over 6 Ex-Air India Airbus A320 that are being planned to be converted into Netra 2.0 AWACS platform using new upgraded Desi AESA Radar developed in India by DRDO. Three ERJ145 based Netra AEW&CS were procured by India and two are flying with IAF and one is still retained by DRDO to be used as Test Bed for the future program, which eventually might join IAF at a later stage.

A team of 18 Navy personnel reached the U.S. for training on the MH-60R multi-role helicopters, 24 of which were contracted in a $2.2-billion deal signed during the visit of then President Donald Trump in February 2020.

This project is being executed under the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Russia which is for two Advanced Missile Frigates for the Indian Navy and is part of indigenous shipbuilding program. In 2019, the contract for building these two frigates was inked between GSL and the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

As a strategic outreach exercise with the defence forces of friendly foreign countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Indian Air Force will participate in operational engagements with the US Navy in an exercise to be carried out with Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) on 23 and 24 Jun 21. The CSG is currently deployed in the IOR.

Indian Naval Ship Trikand, mission deployed for Anti-Piracy Operations, is participating in the maiden IN – EUNAVFOR Joint Naval Exercise in the Gulf of Aden commencing today. A total of five warships from four navies are participating in the exercise on 18th and 19th June 2021. Other warships include Italian Navy Ship ITS Carabinere, Spanish Navy Ship ESPS Navarra, and two French Navy Ship FS Tonnerre and FS Surcouf.

It was a special day for the 135 Indian soldiers on UN Duty, also known as Blue Berets, as the medal ceremony in Bor, South Sudan, was presided over by Lt Gen Shailesh Tinaikar, UN Force Commander, also an Indian Army officer himself. As many as 103 Sri Lankan Blue Berets were also awarded the medal.

“India has strengthened its cooperative engagements in the Indo-Pacific based on converging visions and values for promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Premised upon the centrality of ASEAN, India supports utilisation of ASEAN-led mechanisms as important platforms for implementation of our shared vision for the Indo-Pacific,” he added.

INS Visakhapatnam is undergoing sea trials and three other destroyers are under various stages of development by the state-run company, which had to revise the delivery schedule because COVID-19 disrupted operations