Jean-Yves Le Drian(French Defence Minister) is to visit India
French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will arrive in India on a three-day visit later this month to hold talks with his counterpart Manohar Parrikar during which the issue of the multi-billion dollar deal for Rafale combat aircraft is likely to come up. He will arrive in India on November 30 and hold a series of meetings with top defence and government officials the next day. Defence sources said the meeting with Parrikar will take place at the Army Battle Honour Mess rather than at the South Block. This will be Parrika…
Despite Delay, Indian Buy of Howitzers Remains on Track
The Indian government has announced that the purchase of 145 ultra light howitzer artillery guns from the US is not being withheld, despite a three-year delay since clearance was granted to buy the guns from the US subsidiary of BAE Systems. Anonymous complaints to the Defence Ministry regarding the process have delayed finalizing the contract, officials said. In August, Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony told the Indian Parliament, “Various anonymous complaints regarding alleged irregularities in the procurement of ultra light how…
India, Russia to hold first-ever air force war game in 2014
In a major boost to their military ties, India and Russia on Monday decided to hold their first ever joint air forces exercise next year, even as they agreed to jointly strategise on policies and cooperation in the fast-changing global security scenario. The decisions came during the Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation meeting between Indian Defence Minister A K Antony and his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu in Moscow just two days after the Russian-built INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier was handed ove…
India, Russia discuss issues related to MTA , Pak-FA aircraft and T-90 tank deals
Against the backdrop of issues over the work share in the over Rs 1.2 lakh crore fifth generation fighter aircraft project with Russia, India today said both the sides must give their best for execution of the “significant” programme. During the Defence Minister-level meeting between the two sides in Moscow, the two countries also decided to extend their strategic partnership and to have the first exercise between their air forces next year. In the meeting taking place two days after Indian Navy inducted aircraft carrier INS Vikra…
Indian Army test-fires advanced version of BrahMos missile
An advanced version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system was successfully test-fired by the Indian Army at the Pokhran test range in Rajasthan at 1055 hours on Monday. The block III variant of BrahMos with deep penetration capability was test launched from a Mobile Autonomous Launcher. The missile after launch followed the predetermined trajectory and successfully pierced the designated concrete structure, a press release stated. “The launch has successfully validated the deep penetration capability of the supersonic cr…
Indian Army Major scales Everest twice in a year
India is full of icons in every field, but a paradox exists, for at times, instead of celebrating their success, we shun and push them into oblivion. Achievements don't usually get overlooked, but more often than not, we don't get to know about them. Something similar happened when an Indian Army soldier climbed Mt. Everest twice in one year, breaking through the cocoon of limitations. Surmounting difficulties has become second nature to Major Ranveer Singh Jamwal (VSM). He climbed Mt. Everest on May 25, 2012 and on Ma…
Garden Reach, Indian Navy to ink MoU for offshore patrol vessels warships
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) will soon be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Navy for a warships project, an official said here Friday. “These off-shore patrol vessels made by GRSE for the Navy will tremendously increase business opportunities in the eastern region, especially in West Bengal. GRSE will require more vendors and industry partners to meet the requirements,” said GRSE Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral (Retd) A.K. Verma. Participating in a Confederation of I…
South Korean Air Force official meets IAF chief
Seeking to strengthen defence ties with India, a top South Korean Air Force official met IAF Chief NAK Browne to discuss ways of enhancing cooperation. General Sung II Hwan, Air Force Chief of Staff, Republic of Korea called on the IAF chief and the two sides discussed wide range of bilateral issues being discussed which relate to the ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries towards expanding the bilateral defence ties. General Sung II Hwan is also slated to visit Agra and Jodhpurairbases during his three-day visit to I…
Russia, India to map out further military-technical cooperation plans
Russia and India will decide shortly which surface ships and submarines the Indian Navy may need as part of the bilateral military-technical cooperation, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Saturday, November 16. “The commission on military-technical cooperation will meet on Monday. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu is the Russian co-chair of the commission. We plan to hold the meetings of two target groups in the near future. One of them will deal with shipbuilding,” he said. Rogozin said that India had already stated it…
Plan for Indio-Japanese naval drill approved
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his Indian counterpart, Salman Khurshid, have agreed on plans for a joint exercise between the Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy by the end of this year, Japanese officials said. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his Indian counterpart, Salman Khurshid, have agreed on plans for a joint exercise between the Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy by the end of this year, Japanese officials said. The drill, aimed in part at checking China’s increasingly …
IAF prepares for A330 MRTT operations
The contract for six A330 MRTT flight refuelling aircraft, fitted with Israeli hose and drogue refuelling systems (as is standard on the Il-78Ms of the IAF) will come as big relief to the IAF, which plans to deploy the new refuellers to the Eastern sector, in Panagarh, West Bengal. The Indian Air Force anticipates a contract award to Airbus Military for the A330 MRTT before the end of the financial year, top sources tell SP's. The contract for six A330 MRTT flight refuelling aircraft, fitted with Isra…
Aicraft carrier INS Vikramaditya to be based at INS Kadamba in Karwar
The country’s second aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, being commissioned in Russia on November 16, will be stationed at the Karwar Naval base in Karnataka, a top Navy officer today said. The 44,570-tonne warship, formerly known as Admiral Gorskhov, is being commissioned into Navy by Defence Minister A K Antony after which it would be brought to Karwar, Vice-Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of Western Naval Command, said. The ship will take a month to reach India. With the commissioning of Vikramaditya, N…
Vietnam requests Indian Navy to train personnel
In what will strengthen defence ties, Vietnam has requested the Indian Navy to help train Vietnamese naval personnel on Russian-built kilo-class submarines. Vietnam has already been extending special privileges to Indian naval warships to berth at their ports. The two countries have shared close ties for decades and both have been the victims of Chinese aggression in the past. India recently held defence secretary-level talks with Vietnam. India is also keen to sell the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, jointly developed with Russia,…
India Again Considers Buying Israeli-made ATGM
The Israeli-built Spike anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) is back on the Indian Army's acquisition agenda. The potential purchase of the missile arose during a Nov. 11 meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which likely will take up the issue again when it meets later this month, an Indian Defence Ministry source said. The purchase of the Spike was put on hold in April as it was a single-vendor procurement from Israeli company Rafael. But the Indian Army is in a hurry to get advanced ATGMs. The renewed interest i…
Tejas trials fast-tracked to meet deadline
Defence scientists, engineers and pilots attached to India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas programme are on a war footing to ensure that the fighter doesn’t miss the December deadline for its Initial Operational Clearance (IOC-2). Three aircraft -- LSP-3, LSP-5, LSP-8 -- from the Tejas flight-line are currently undertaking weapon trials in Jamnagar. The Russian-made R73-E missile will be fired during the ongoing trials. Sources confirm that the Ministry of Defence has made it clear to both Aeronautical Development Agency (AD…
IAF to procure equipment, platforms worth $150 bn
The Indian Air Force will procure $150 billion worth of equipment and platforms in the next 15 years. Giving this bit of information, Air Marshal P.P. Reddy, director general, inspection and safety, Wednesday said the Indian industry requires tax holidays and a more friendly import and export regime. Research and Develpment funds should also be made available to the private sector companies, Air Marshal Reddy said while speaking at the inaugural session of 8th International Conference on Energising Indian Aerospace Industry. …
India, China war game commences in Chengdu
With military ties back on track and a new border cooperation agreement signed, the latest round of war games between India and China commenced in Chengdu Tuesday, with the armies from both sides participating in an exercise modelled around a United Nations peacekeeping mission. The India-China training exercise 'Hand in Hand' is aimed at honing joint counter-terrorism skills and is the third in a series of exercises that have taken place on similar themes. On Tuesday, the opening ceremony of the war game took place at Mia…
Indian Navy emerging as a major air force
The Indian Navy is on its way to becoming a major air force, with the fleet air arm having achieved several landmarks this year. In May, the first MiG-29K squadron was commissioned at the INS Hansa in Goa, with 20 world-class Russian fighters. In August, the first indigenous aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant, was launched at Kochi. Later this month, Russia will hand over the INS Vikramaditya, formerly the Admiral Gorshkov, which will supplement the INS Viraat to become the navy’s second aircraft carrier. On Wednesday, the navy rec…
Indo-US Naval exercise to begin Tuesday
The Malabar 2013 annual war drill of the Indian and US navies will commence Tuesday and will witness the two forces practising a series of maneuvers including search and seizures and anti-submarine warfare measures, an official release said. The Malabar 2013 annual war drill of the Indian and US navies will commence Tuesday and will witness the two forces practising a series of maneuvers including search and seizures and anti-submarine warfare measures, an official release said. The exercise, which will conclude Nov 13, will f…
Indian troops arrive in China for joint military exercise
Indian and Chinese armies are all set to hold their third joint military exercise after a gap of five years, as a 150-strong Indian army contingent arrived in Chengdu city today to take part in anti-terrorism drills. Indian and Chinese armies are all set to hold their third joint military exercise after a gap of five years, as a 150-strong Indian army contingent arrived in Chengdu city today to take part in anti-terrorism drills. The 10-day drill code named ‘hand in hand’ would be formally inaugurated tomorrow at a designated area…
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