DAC Approves Procurement of Equipment Worth Rs 9,100 Crores

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Raksha Mantri
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, met here today and accorded approval for the procurement of equipment for the Defence Forces valued at over Rs 9,100 crores.

Pursuing the goal of indigenisation and self-reliance, the DAC approved procurement of two Regiments of Akash Missile Systems under 'Buy (Indian)' category from M/s BDL. The Missile to be procured is an upgraded version of the previously inducted Akash missiles and will include seeker technology, possess 360 degree coverage and will be of compact configuration with reduced signature. The upgraded Akash Weapon System is operationally critical equipment which will provide protection to vital assets.

The DAC also accorded approval for progressing Design and Development of Individual Under Water Breathing Apparatus (IUWBA) for T 90 Tanks. Developed by DRDO Lab DEBEL, the IUWBA is used by the crew of Tanks as a safety gear and is required by the Tank crew for emergency escape when negotiating water obstacles while deep fording. The DAC also accorded approval for Design and Development of Test Equipment for Guided Weapons System of T 90 Tank. The equipment is being developed by DRDO and will give an indigenous solution to the Test Equipment used for checking the Guided Weapon System of Tank T 90. The equipment earlier procured from foreign OEMs, has been developed indigenously and is in pursuit of the Government’s 'Make in India' initiative.

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डॉ. पंजाबराव देशमुख वसतिगृह निर्वाह भत्ता योजनेअंतर्गत मराठा आर्थिकदृष्ट्या मागास प्रवर्गातील मुला-मुलींसाठी शासकीय औद्योगिक प्रशिक्षण संस्था परिसर औंध पुणे येथे वसतिगृह सुरू करण्यात येत आहे.

( सदरचे वसतिगृह औंध पुणे विद्यापीठाजवळ , ब्रेमेन चौक येथे आहे , या ठिकाणाहून शिवाजीनगर पुणे , पिंपरी चिंचवड भागात जाण्यासाठी सार्वजनिक वाहतूक व्यवस्था आहे )

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India not lowering guard on border with China: Defence Mininster

PTI Sunday, 16 September 2018

NEW DELHI: India will not lower its guard along the Line of Actual Control with China, while maintaining border peace in sync with the ‘Wuhan’ spirit, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said.

Nearly a month after talks with her Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe, Sitharaman said both sides recognised that the broad decisions arrived at the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan should govern management of the border.

“Absolutely”, she told PTI when asked whether India is still on guard and not lowering it despite the Wuhan spirit. At the Wuhan summit in April, Modi and Xi resolved to open a new chapter in ties, and directed their militaries to boost coordination along the nearly 3,500 km Sino-India border, months after the most serious military faceoff in decades between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in Doklam triggered fears of an war.

Asked whether the decision of Modi and Xi at the summit to issue strategic guidelines to their militaries to maintain peace along the border is working, she said, “I want to believe it is working.”

At the same time, she added that as defence minister of the country she was conscious of the fact that the she will have to keep the border guards alert.

“Then I would also be, as Raksha Mantri, I would also be conscious that I have to keep (them) alert...Wuhan spirit, yes,” she told PTI during an interaction.

When asked if Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat’s comments earlier in the year that the time has come for India to shift focus to its northern border from the western frontier, she said, “I cannot afford to say, at the cost of one border, I will be more alert, more ready in another. A border is a border. I have to be conscious of both my borders.”

“I will also have be conscious of my sea. It is less talked about,” she said.

Last month Sitharaman and Wei held extensive talks here during which they decided to work towards firming up a new bilateral pact on defence cooperation and agreed to increase interactions between their militaries at various levels to avoid Doklam-like standoffs.

“It is this (Wuhan) spirit, which both the Chinese and we recognise, will have to govern our borders. The Chinese minister referred to the Wuhan spirit more than twice and said we expect the sprit to be governing everything which happens to the last company which comes to the border,” Sitharaman said.

The defence minister also referred to Modi’s speech at Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in June, saying his views about the region were welcomed by China.

About the Line of Actual Control (LAC), she said it is not completely demarcated, there are differing perceptions about it by both sides.

National Defence College, New Delhi Convocation ceremony – 56th NDC course – 15 September 2018

            The National Defence College, New Delhi is the premier seat of learning in India in the field of Defence and Strategic Studies. A Total of 100 officers of the rank of Brigadier and equivalent from the Indian Armed Forces and Joint Secretary level officers from civil, police and allied services attend the prestigious NDC Course each year. Armed forces officers from about 25 friendly foreign countries also attend the course. NDC alumni have gone on to occupy the highest positions in the armed forces and the government both in India and abroad.

            The one-year course also qualifies the officers to receive an M Phil degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from the prestigious University of Madras, Chennai. Graduates of the 56^th NDC Course (2016 Batch) were awarded the degrees in a convocation ceremony held at the NDC, New Delhi on 15 Sep 18. The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Shri. Anil Baijal graced the occasion and delivered the Valedictory address while awarding the parchments to the officers in the presence of Vice Admiral Srikant, Commandant, NDC and Prof. (Dr.) Utham Kumar Jamadhagni, HOD (DDSS) University of Madras. Vice Admiral Srikant, brought out that on completion of the NDC course, the graduates were confident to handle complex situations, and taking a broader view of the problem and arrive at logical decision with regards to National Security.

            The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Shri. Anil Baijal, in his address, congratulated the MPhil recipients and also exhorted them to further pursue their studies in National Security to become thinking scholar soldiers who can further India’s quest for comprehensive internal and external security. He appreciated the fact that the diverse fields and countries of the course participants would help in enriching their knowledge and understanding.

Air force association Celebrates Annual Day

The Annual Day of Air Force Association began in the morning with the Wreath Laying Ceremony at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate today in the memory of those who laid down their lives for the motherland. The wreath was placed by President of Air Force Association Veteran Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha PVSM AVSM VM. This was followed by Annual General Body Meeting held at Air Force Auditorium, Subroto Park, where-in some of the Air Force Nonagenarians and Octogenarians were honoured and were presented mementos by the Air Force Association, wishing them a healthy and long life. The Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC was the Chief Guest who addressed the gathering. Retired Chiefs of the Air Staff, very large number of Officers and airmen attended the Annual General Meeting.

Air Force Association is a welfare organisation in the non-governmental sector, actively involved in the welfare of air veterans and their families. The organisation is also deeply committed in alleviating the sufferings of the widows and the destitute children.

The Association was established on 15 Sep 1980 under the patronage of Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh DFC. It has nineteen branches spread all over the country. In addition, it has two branches in UK and Australia. It has more than 84015 Air Veteran members and 4324 Spouse members on its roll. The current President of the Association is Veteran Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha PVSM AVSM VM.

The raising day of the Air Force Association is celebrated on 15 Sep every year. It is an occasion when the valour and heroic deeds of gallant Air Force personnel, who had made supreme sacrifice in the past to defend our country, are remembered. The Annual Day also provides opportunities to the serving and the retired Air Force personnel to strengthen the bonds of comradeship, brotherhood and espirit-de-corps.

IAF & French Air force Conduct Basic Training in India

Indian Air Force (IAF) recently participated in Exercise Pitch Black 2018 at Darwin, Australia.  Sixteen different nations from across the globe, including French Air Force (FAF) participated in this exercise.  On the return leg, Rafale fighter aircraft and transport aircraft of FAF staged through Air Force Station, Gwalior and Air Force Station, Agra from 01 – 04 Sep 18.

During the staging period, FAF and IAF carried out basic joint training, which included fighter sorties by pilots in their respective aircraft with observers onboard each other’s transport aircraft supporting the missions.  This interaction with FAF provided a unique opportunity for exchange of experience and sharing of best practices during cooperative deployment.

Amid procurement controversy, Air Force pilots train on Rafale jets

New Delhi: Three Rafale fighter jets are engaged in an exercise with the Indian Air Force in Gwalior and Agra, amid a raging controversy over the Rs 58,000-crore deal to procure 36 of them by the government.

Officials said around 100 French aviators, one Atlas A-400M military transport aircraft, one C-135 refuelling plane and an Airbus A310 cargo aircraft have also come to India along with the Rafale jets on a four-day visit.

They said a batch of IAF pilots have got an opportunity to train on the Rafale jets. The aircraft landed in India on Saturday after visiting Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore.

India had inked an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore.

The delivery of the jets is scheduled to begin from September 2019.

The Congress has raised several questions about the deal including alleged inflated rate of the aircraft but the government has rejected the charges.

In a statement, the French embassy in the national capital said that joint flights and exchanges between the French and Indian Air Forces will be conducted as part of the four-day tour by the French contingent.

"This mission in India is yet another illustration of the depth of the Indo-French strategic partnership, which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year, and the great trust that prevails in the relations between our respective armed forces, it said.

It said operational aim of the 'Mision PEGASE' is to reinforce France's presence in the region of strategic interest and deepen its relations with its main partner countries.

The French contingent is here days after it participated in 'Operation Pitch Black', a multilateral air exercises which took place in Australia recently. The Indian Air Force was also part of the mega exercise.

"This mission succeeds a major exercise in Australia, where our aircraft have carried out joint drills with those of the Indian Air Force," the French Embassy said.

A senior IAF official said the visit of the Rafale jets as well as other aircraft will further boost cooperation between the two forces.

Dailyhunt

3 Rafale jets parked in India for 3 days

 

Three Rafale jets of French Air Force are in India for past two days, giving Indian Air Force pilots an opportunity to fly the metal birds, which would enter the country's service next year.

The aircraft were on their way back home after participating in Exercise Pitch Black in Australia last month. They landed at Agra and Gwalior base of the IAF on Saturday.

Along with the combat jets, one Atlas A-400M military transport aircraft, one C-135 refuelling aircraft, and one Airbus A310 cargo aircraft too have come as a part of the detachment.

The aircraft are in India as a part of Mission Pegase of the French Air Force to reinforce France's presence in this region of strategic interest and deepen its relations with its main partner countries, says the French Embassy in a statement.

The mission succeeds a major exercise in Australia, where French aircraft carried out joint drills with those of the Indian Air Force.

Joint flights

"During the three-day stopover at the Air Force Stations of Gwalior and Agra, joint flights and exchanges between the French and Indian Air Forces will be conducted," says the statement. The fighters will fly out on Tuesday.

"This mission in India is yet another illustration of the depth of the Indo-French strategic partnership, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year," it adds.

India purchased 36 Rafale fighter jets from France in a Rs 59,000 crore government-to-government deal. The first aircraft is expected in India next year.

Dailyhunt

ISRO to launch its first fully owned overseas satellite ground station at North Pole

Bengaluru, Sep 4: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to set up its first fully owned overseas satellite ground station near the North Pole.

This would bolster the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) operations which are critically important in times like disaster management but also for the armed forces, said a report in The Times of India.

A scientist told the daily, "The plan will take some time to materialise as it involves huge logistical challenges, international approvals and co-operation," adding that hardware installation would be tougher at the North Pole considering the extreme weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the agency was supposed to establish a second data reception antenna at Antarctica Ground Station for Earth Observation Satellites this year, but will now do it the next year.

Earlier in 2016, China launched its first fully owned overseas satellite ground station near the North Pole. China has previously built ground satellite facilities in numerous foreign countries, mostly in Africa and South America, which are all joint ventures.

Meanwhile, ISRO is readying for 19 launches, including the Chandrayaan-2 mission, starting from this month. All launches will be conducted within seven months, starting from this September to March next year.

source: oneindia.com

Army Chief Questions Officers Filing Individual Cases Over AFSPA

 

Army chief Bipin Rawat has reportedly raised questions as to why officers and soldiers were filing cases in their individual capacity in the Supreme Court challenging any dilution of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).

Addressing colonel-level officers in New Delhi, the Army chief was quoted by sources cited by The Indian Express as saying:

Army chief Bipin Rawat, as quoted by sources The Army was fighting these cases, the government is aware of these cases, and AFSPA is a very strong law which provides protection to the soldiers. Now, if these guys (the petitioners) lose the case, what will happen?

This comes in the context of as many as 700 Army personnel having moved the top court asking for AFSPA and the protections it offers to them to remain intact.

During his address, Rawat also asserted that moral turpitude will invite strict punishment, including imprisonment and dismissal, reported The Tribune.

Among others things raised by the Army chief during the interaction were the procurement of weapons, the issue of Non-Functional Upgrade (NFU), equivalence with civilian officers, military service pay and the restructuring of the army headquarters.

Dailyhunt

Visit of Chief of the Air Staff to Myanmar and Malaysia

Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC, Chief of the Air Staff is on an official visit to Myanmar and Malaysia from 03-08 Sep 2018.  The visit will be beneficial for enhancing the strong camaraderie and partnership that the nations and their Air Forces share. Presently, the areas of cooperation include exchanges in military training course, mutual visits by subject matter experts and joint air exercises.

During the visit, CAS is scheduled to visit various operational establishments and interact with senior functionaries of the Myanmar and Malaysian Air Forces. The main focus would be to share ideas, enhance mutual engagement and promote understanding.

The visit of the Indian Air Force Chief would provide further impetus towards increasing defence cooperation between the Air Forces and pave the way for greater interaction in future.