India successfully conducted an interceptor missile test off the Odisha coast Sunday night, achieving a major milestone in developing a two-layer Ballistic Missile Defence system, defence sources said.

The interceptor was launched from Abdul Kalam Island, earlier known as Wheeler Island of the Integrated Test Range (ITR), at about 8.05 pm, the sources said.

This Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) mission is for engaging the targets in the exo-atmosphere region at an altitude above 50 km of the earth’s atmosphere, a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist said.

“Both the PDV interceptor and the target missile were successfully engaged,” DRDO sources said.

In an automated operation, radar-based detection and tracking system detected and tracked the enemy’s ballistic missile.

The computer network with the help of data received from radars predicted the trajectory of the incoming ballistic missile. The PDV that was kept fully ready took off once the computer system gave the command for lift-off.

The interceptor guided by high-accuracy Inertial Navigation System (INS) supported by a Redundant Micro Navigation System moved towards the estimated point of the interception, the sources said.

Once the missile crossed the atmosphere, the Heat Shield ejected and the IR Seeker dome opened to look at the target location as designated by the mission computer.

With the help of Inertial Guidance and IR Seeker the missile moved for interception.

All events were monitored in real-time by the Telemetry/Range Stations, at various other locations.

Interceptor was successfully test fired last from the same base on February 11, 2017.

Courtesy: ET

Sep 16, 2018

NEW DELHI: As part of the ongoing Indo-US defence cooperation, a joint military training Exercise – Yudh Abhyas 2018 – will be held from September 16 to 29 at Chaubattia in Uttarakhand’s Almora district.

Yudh Abhyas is one of the longest running joint military training exercises and a major bilateral defence cooperation endeavour between India and the US, said the Ministry of Defence. This will be the 14th edition of the joint military exercise hosted alternately by both countries.

“The joint exercise Yudh Abhyas 2018 will simulate a scenario where both nations will work together in counter insurgency and counter terrorism environment in mountainous terrain under United Nation charter,” said the Defence Ministry.

A two-week exercise, Yudh Abhyas will witness participation of about nearly 700 personnel of US and Indian Armies.

“The exercise curriculum is progressively planned where the participants are initially made to get familiar with each other’s organizational structure, weapons, equipment, confidence training and tactical drills. Subsequently, the training advances to joint tactical exercises wherein the battle drills of both the armies are coherently unleashed. The training will culminate with a final validation exercise in which troops of both countries will jointly carry out an operation against terrorists in a fictitious but realistic setting,” said the ministry.

This year, the joint military drill will witness a Division Headquarter based Command Post Exercise, an Infantry Battalion carrying out Field Training Exercise and discussions on issues of mutual interest by experts of both countries.

Courtesy: Zee News

The Indian Army is scouting for a remotely piloted aircraft system with anti-jamming and anti-spoofing properties for providing real-time input in the form of imagery and electronic data to detect and combat foreign military formations and activities at forward bases, especially along the border with China.

New Delhi (Sputnik): The Indian Army has launched the procurement process for remotely piloted aircraft system that can operate at a height of over 18,000 feet or 5,500 meters to keep an eye on the activities of China near the loosely demarcated border called Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The details provided in the request for information (RFI) issued on August 31 indicate that the Indian Army wants such a system, which would require only about 30 minutes and two soldiers for complete assembly in posts located at higher altitudes.

India Adopts Pilot Policy Paving the Way for Commercial Use of Drones

They also need to be equipped with three complete sets of sensor packages with day and night capabilities and two airborne data relays to control the unmanned system beyond the line of sight.

“The mission range should not be less than 10 kilometers, with loiter time of minimum 45 minutes at the maximum range,” the RFI document reads.

As per the document, the Indian Army will come up with a formal tender by April 2019 and manufacturers or vendors should deliver the system by 2020.

The Indian Army has been demanding mini-drones for a long time in order to modernize the infantry. It is believed that every soldier would receive at least one mini-drone that could be used for monitoring the movement of foreign forces.

Courtesy: SputnikNews

Washington (AFP) Aug 29, 2018

A top Pentagon official cautioned India on Wednesday that there are no guarantees for a special waiver from US sanctions if it buys new weapons platforms from Russia.

Washington is alarmed at the prospect of India, an increasingly important US military ally and the world’s top defense importer, buying new systems from Russia, including its S-400 long-range, surface-to-air missile system.

Under current US rules against Russia, third countries could face sanctions if they transact with Russian defense or intelligence sectors.

But after lobbying from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Congress granted the US president and the secretary of state the option of granting waivers, such as when an ally nation transitions from legacy Russian gear to Western arms.

Randall Schriver, the Pentagon’s assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, said the waiver authority had created the impression Washington would insulate India “from any fallout from this legislation no matter what they do.”

“I would say that’s a bit misleading,” Schriver told an audience at the Carnegie Endowment For International Peace in Washington.

“We would still have very significant concerns if India pursued major new platforms and systems (from Russia). I can’t sit here and tell you that they would be exempt, that we would use that waiver.”

Schriver was speaking ahead of a historic summit in New Delhi next week, a first ever “2+2” between India and the United States that will see Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meet with their Indian counterparts.

Schriver said the prospect of India buying the S-400 is particularly “troubling” for a lot of reasons.

“Our strong preference … is (for India) to seek alternatives and see if we could be a partner to India in addressing those defense needs,” he said.

The United States has in recent years pushed to forge closer diplomatic and military ties with India, a fellow democracy that it sees as key to countering China’s growing regional ambitions.

India has increasingly turned to the United States and France for arms purchases, but is still reliant on Russian hardware and expertise to maintain its existing arsenal.

Schriver said the Indian and US militaries would next week discuss expanding the scope and complexity of joint military exercises.

Courtesy: Spacewar

Indo-Asian News Service

August 20, 2018 07:17 IST

The missile is guided by an Infrared Imaging Seeker operating in the Lock-on-Before-Launch mode.

New Delhi:

The DRDO on Sunday successfully flight tested the indigenously developed HELINA (Helicopter-Launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile) system at Pokhran in Rajasthan, official sources said.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated the DRDO and the Indian Army for further strengthening the defence capabilities of the country with the successful test.

“The weapon system has been tested for its full range. The HELINA weapon system released smoothly from the launch platform and tracked the target all through its course beforre hitting it with high precision,” an official release said.

The missile is guided by an Infrared Imaging Seeker operating in the Lock-on-Before-Launch mode. It is one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world.

Senior officials from the DRDO and Indian Army were present during the mission.

Courtesy: NDTV

Describing the innovation as “unprecedented”, the report said the catapult-propelled rockets can hit targets beyond 200 km and will be more powerful and effective than conventional artillery guns.

The report didn’t specifically mention India, though it quoted the military scientist developing the technology as saying such rockets could potentially have been used during a military incident on a plateau in southwest China’s border region.

That didn’t leave too much room for doubt about where such rockets could be deployed.

China and India were locked in a 73-day standoff on the Doklam (Donglang in Chinese) plateau near the Sikkim border last year.

The Communist Party of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had repeatedly threatened to retaliate after Indian soldiers took position in Doklam to prevent Chinese personnel from building a strategic road in the region controlled by Beijing but claimed by Thimphu.

The standoff was resolved through diplomatic negotiations, partly because the Indian Army was said to be at an advantage in the area.

The “electromagnetic catapult rocket artillery technology” being developed at a PLA research centre in Beijing could negate that advantage, experts said.

Courtesy:HT

The deal for 48 additional Mi-17 V5 choppers – which currently are the backbone of the air force’s heliborne transport fleet – has been in discussions since 2015, with both the ministries raising a demand for helicopters to be used for a range of missions. These include troop support missions in the mountain regions as well as critical air transport for the fight against Naxal extremism.

Sources said that price negotiations have been completed that are at par with the past purchases of 151 choppers by India and relevant approvals are in place to sign the contract at the earliest. India first placed an order for the Mi 17 V5s in 2008, when 80 of the machines were ordered to replace the ageing Mi 8 fleet.

“We have been processing the procurement as per the procedure. It is part of follow on orders that were placed in the past as well,” a ministry official told ET.

The defence acquisition panel approved the purchase of 48 new Mi 17 V5 choppers in September 2015 and financial clearances have been obtained as well. However, the meager capital allocation for defence acquisitions this year could be a matter for concern. The acquisition plan includes maintenance facilities well as the mandatory offset obligation of 30% that will be invested in India. An official explained that while some of them will go to the home ministry, a few of the new choppers are being ordered as replacements for machines that were diverted to the Air HQ Communications Squadron last year that is tasked with flying the President, Prime Minister and visiting dignitaries.

In 2015, the Air Force has assigned six choppers from its regular fleet to the special squadron after modifications were carried out at a facility in Chandigarh for VVIP flights. This was necessitated after the corruption scandal around the VVIP chopper deal in which the AgustaWestland AW 101 was chosen. The contract was later cancelled in 2014 after it emerged that the Italian company had employed middlemen to influence the decision making process.

“We are expecting our Indian partners to finally sign the contract soon. After that we will start production. The Mi-17v5 is the best performing helicopter in its class,” a Russian Helicopters spokesperson said.

The versatile helicopters are also used by India for VVIP duty to ferry the top leadership, besides playing an active part in rescue missions as well as fire-fighting duties.

Courtesy:ET

NEW DELHI: In a first after last year’s Doklam stand-off, a three-member delegation of the Indian Army will be visiting Beijing for talks with its Chinese military counterparts next month to bolster defence ties between the two countries that share a long border, part of which is in dispute. 

The team will be led by Eastern Army commander Lt. Gen. Abhay Krishna in the second week of August, sources here said. 

The 73-day military stand-off in 2017 was witnessed at the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction after Indian troops halted road construction at Doka La, or Doklam, citing Bhutan’s claim to the area. 

The Doklam issue soared ties between India and China. However, there was a thaw after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping for an informal summit at Wuhan on April 27-28 this year. 

The Indian military visit will reciprocate a similar trip by a 10-member team of the People’s Liberation Army, led by its senior commander Lt. General Liu Xiaowu, the Deputy Chief of its Western Theatre Command, in the first week of July. 

The Chinese soldiers were hosted by the 33 Corps Headquarters at Sukna in West Bengal and Eastern Army Command at Kolkata for delegation level talks with their counterparts. The 33 Corps guards the Doklam area. 

India and China have long-pending border disputes even as the two sides after the Wuhan meeting reaffirmed their commitment to fully operationalize the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) they signed in October 2013. 

The two neighbours share over 4,000-km long boundary stretching from Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. There are 23 areas of dispute along the de facto border also known as Line of Actual Control. 

The last time an Indian Army delegation was on a China visit was in 2015. The delegation was headed by the then Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D.S. Hooda.

Source: IANS

NEW DELHI: Major General VD Dogra (59th course NDA) became the first serving Indian Army officer and the only General across the world to have completed a gruelling ‘Ironman’ triathlon competition held in Austria on Sunday, army officers said today.

The Ironman is an international triathlon consisting of three consecutive events- 3.8 km of swimming, 180 km cycling and 42.2 km of running (a full marathon). It is considered the toughest one day sporting event in the world. The competitors have to complete the events in sequence within 17 hours to earn the title of ‘Ironman’.

Maj Gen Dogra completed the event in 14 hours and 21 minutes. “He is the only serving army officer from the Indian Army to have done a full Ironman and the only General across the globe to have done so,” said army officers privy to the matter.

The Ironman Austria was held in Klagenfurt on July 1. More than 3000 athletes participated in the event. Maj Gen Dogra, who is currently posted as Director General Resettlement, was one of the participants.

“He has been an avid sportsman all his life. However he started cycling about five years ago. He cycled from Leh to Chandigarh, a distance of 800 kms, in 8 days,” said officers.

He has also cycled from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer, Sela Pass to Bumla Pass in Arunachal Pradesh and from Akhnoor to Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir. He has participated in several triathlons which include the Sprint category (500 metres swimming, 20 km cycling and 5 km running), the Olympic category (1500 metres swimming, 40 km cycling, 10 km running), the half Ironman and now the full Ironman.

His efforts drew applause from Congress president Rahul Gandhi as well. In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi saluted General VD Dogra and said that he is an inspiration and role model for all the Indians.

“It takes tremendous will power, discipline & stamina to complete an Ironman triathlon – 3.8 KM swim; 180 KM cycle; 42.2 KM run. Major General Dogra did that, in Austria, in just 14 hrs! He is a role model & inspiration for all Indians. We salute him!,” Gandhi’s tweet read.

Courtesy: ET

New Delhi, June 30

To prevent an adverse impact on India’s military readiness, the security establishment is clear that the US-imposed sanctions on Russia and the resultant threat of sanctions on India have to be ignored.

India’s military relations with Russia have to continue as usual. Military readiness literally depends on these relations, said sources.

The IAF fighter jets Sukhoi-30 MKI, Army’s T-90 tanks, BrahMos missiles and large parts of ammunition comes from Russia or are licence-produced here. Also hinges upon Russia is the supply of spares for the Mi-17 helicopters, the MiG 29 fighter jets used by the IAF and the Navy, the transport fleet of the IAF and the armoured combat vehicles. The newly minted joint production of the Kamov helicopter will ensure that helicopters will be produced in India.

India operates one nuclear submarine, INS Chakra, on lease from Russia and another sub is being negotiated. Moscow has helped New Delhi build its indigenous nuclear submarine, INS Arihant.

Discussion on impact of US sanctions has emerged in New Delhi after the US Senate last week passed the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) without the provision of waiver sought by President Donald Trump’s Administration. India had also used diplomatic channels seeking the waiver.

The CAATSA requires to impose curbs on nations that have ‘significant’ defence relations with Russia. Among the 39 entities listed by the US is the Rosoboronexport, the Russian state-controlled intermediary for export and import of arms.

In the US, its legislators will now have to reconcile the Bills passed by two Chambers of its Congress. The US legislature consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both have passed different versions of CAATSA. CAATSA passed by the Senate has no waiver, while the one passed by the House contains a six-month delay provision.

Courtesy: Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service