Category: Defence

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Global Britain Back in Action

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the deployment of carrier strike group is a “symbol of Global Britain in action, and powerfully demonstrates our commitment to India, the Indo-Pacific region, and confronting threats to international order”, reports Asian Lite News

The UK’s carrier strike group, led by HMS Queen Elizabeth is set sail to India in the autumn on its maiden operational deployment as a representation of the ‘Indo-Pacific tilt’ in its foreign policy, the British High Commission (BHC) said on Monday.

The BHC statement said that the HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier will sail to India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and the wider region.

“The Carrier will visit West Coast Ports where it will engage in a series of events to maximise bilateral relations benefitting both countries’ trade and political alliances. The ship will conduct a series of joint exercises with Indian military forces in the Indian Ocean, expanding our interoperability and enhancing our capabilities to defend against shared threats and protect our democratic values,” the statement added.

Throughout the deployment, the UK will support freedom of passage through vital global trading routes and demonstrate commitment to a recognised international system of norms and behaviours that benefit all countries.

It will also help to establish a maritime partnership with India to support our mutual security objectives in the Indian Ocean.

The UK Government’s landmark review of foreign, defence, development, and security policy, published last month, committed the UK to become the European country with the broadest, most integrated presence in the Indo-Pacific in support of trade, shared security, and values.

Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace MP said UK and India are natural defence partners, particularly in world-class research, development, and training.

“The UK and India are natural defence partners, particularly in world-class research, development, and training. The Carrier Strike Group’s collaboration with India will build the foundations for this relationship to flourish even further,” said Wallace.

“The deployment is a symbol of Global Britain in action, and powerfully demonstrates our commitment to India, the Indo-Pacific region, and confronting threats to international order.”

Last December, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab travelled to meet Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar in New Delhi to make progress towards agreeing a landmark UK-India roadmap for greater joint cooperation, including on defence and security, trade, health, and climate change.

Later this year, the UK has invited Prime Minister Modi to attend the G7 Summit in Cornwall, UK, in recognition of India’s role as the world’s largest democracy and as a vital partner to the UK in tackling global challenges like climate change and coronavirus.

The Carrier Strike Group will travel over 26,000 nautical miles from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, from the Gulf of Aden to the Arabian Sea, and from the Indian Ocean to the Philippine Sea.

The Strike Group will also comprise Type 45 destroyers HMS Defender and HMS Diamond, Type 23 anti-submarine frigates HMS Kent and HMS Richmond, and tanker and storage ships Fort Victoria and RFA Tidespring.

The UK and India have a bi-annual exercise programme across all the services where Indian and British forces undertake joint exercises: Exercise Ajeya Warrior for the Army, Exercise Konkan for the Navy, and Exercise Indra Dhanush for the Air Force.

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INS Sarvekshak undertakes hydrographic surveys in Mauritius

INS Sarvekshak has undertaken various foreign cooperation surveys over the last few years in Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania and Kenya…reports Asian Lite News.

Reflecting growing defence cooperation between India and Mauritius which is a strategically important Indian Ocean country, INS Sarvekshak, a hydrographic survey ship, is on a deployment to Mauritius for undertaking joint hydrographic surveys.

“During the deployment, training of Mauritian personnel on advanced hydrographic equipment and practices will also be undertaken. The ship visited Port Louis, Mauritius and commenced the hydrographic survey of the deep sea area off Port Louis,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

INS Sarvekshak, a specialised survey ship is fitted with state-of-the-art survey equipment like Deep Sea Multi-Beam Echo Sounder, Side Scan Sonars and a fully automated digital surveying and processing system. In addition, the ship carries an integral Chetak helicopter, which would be extensively deployed during the survey.

INS Sarvekshak has undertaken various foreign cooperation surveys over the last few years in Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania and Kenya.

Defence partnership between India and Mauritius is strengthening. During External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Port Louis this year in the third week of February, India and Mauritius had signed a $100 million Defence Line of Credit agreement.

Flexible solar panels on board the ship. (Wikipedia)

This LoC was extended to Mauritius to enable the procurement of defence assets from India. Mauritius will be provided with a Dornier aircraft and an Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv on lease by India to help the former build its maritime security capabilities.

Mauritius is one of India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and occupies a special place in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘SAGAR’(Security and Growth for All in the Region).

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Quad-plus-France naval drill kicks off in Bay of Bengal

India has deployed its advanced stealth frigate INS Satpura and anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kiltan, along with P-8I long range maritime patrol aircraft, reports Asian Lite News

India and the three other Quad countries kicked off a major naval exercise with France in the Bay of Bengal, underlining the growing strategic congruence in ensuring a secure and stable Indo-Pacific in face of China’s belligerence in the region.

India deployed its advanced stealth frigate INS Satpura and anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kiltan, along with P-8I long range maritime patrol aircraft, for the three-day “La Pérouse” exercise led by France.

Meanwhile, an influential American lawmaker Brad Sherman applauded the beginning of the exercise and said that the war games will advance US-India defence relationship, particularly in support of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.

India and three other Quad member nations — the US, Australia and Japan joined France in kick-starting a three-day naval wargame in the eastern Indian Ocean in reflection of their growing maritime cooperation amid China’s growing efforts to expand influence in the region.

“Great to see the US and India participating in the Quad France naval exercise beginning today in the Bay of Bengal,” Congressman Sherman said in a tweet.

Sherman is the co-chair of the India Caucus in the US House of Representatives. Congressman Steve Chabot is the other co-chair. 

The Indian Navy ships and aircraft will exercise at sea with ships and aircraft of the French Navy (FN), Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) and the United States Navy (USN) during the three-day exercise at sea, it said.

The exercise La Pérouse, led by the French Navy, has participation by FN Ships Tonnerre, an amphibious assault ship and frigate Surcouf. United States Navy is represented in the exercise by amphibious transport dock ship Somerset.

Her Majesty’s Australian Ships (HMAS) Anzac, a frigate and tanker Sirius have been deployed by RAN for participation in the exercise while Japan Maritime Self Defence Ship (JMSDF) is represented by the destroyer Akebono. In addition to the ships, integral helicopters embarked onboard ships will also participate in the exercise.

Exercise La Pérouse will witness complex and advanced naval operations including surface warfare, anti-air warfare and air defence exercises, weapon firing exercises, cross deck flying operations, tactical manoeuvres and seamanship evolutions such as replenishment at sea.

The exercise will showcase high levels of synergy, coordination and inter-operability between the friendly navies. Participation by the Indian Navy in the exercise demonstrates the shared values with friendly navies ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.

This came a day after Russia said it attached great importance on “rejection of confrontation and bloc-type approaches”, thought to be a reference to Quad and the Indo-Pacific initiative, both of which it views as “divisive” and aimed at containing China.

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Defence India News

Indian army man eyes Guinness record

To start this epic feat, Naik N.A. Velu P was flagged off from 92 Base Hospital at Srinagar on April 1 by a heartwarming gathering of enthusiasts who accompanied him in his solo run for the initial 5 Kms carrying the National Flag and boosting his morale…reports Sheikh Qayoom.

An indian soldier courageously attempting to set a Guinness record by running from North end to South end. The soldier has already started Kashmir to Kanyakumari ultra marathon to make it to the Guinness Book of World records.

A defence statement said here on Saturday, “Naik N.A. Velu P of 60 Para Field Hospital is an Ultra marathon runner who is attempting a Guinness book of world record by running from Kashmir to Kanyakumari for a distance of approximately 4,300 kms in under 50 days.

“To start this epic feat, Naik N.A. Velu P was flagged off from 92 Base Hospital at Srinagar on April 1 by a heartwarming gathering of enthusiasts who accompanied him in his solo run for the initial 5 Kms carrying the National Flag and boosting his morale. To cover this mammoth distance from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in 50 days Naik Velu P would be running 70-100 KMs per day crossing various States and major towns and cities.

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“Naik Velu P has already won many ultra-marathons, Tuffman runs and Stadium runs across India. He has been representing Athletics federation of India (AFI) in long distance runs for the past 4 years and in coming September, he will be representing India for Stadium run at the World championship at Romania, for which he had won a trial run of 24 hours stadium running held at Bengaluru.

“In an another laurel to his splendid performances till date, in June 2020 he ran 1600 Kms in 17 days. This feat is in the process of being entered as an Asian record”.

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IAF to induct Rafales’ second squadron soon

The first squadron was raised in Ambala after first batch of five Rafale aircraft landed on July 29, 2020. These aircraft were inducted on September 10 at Ambala Air Base into the 17 ‘Golden Arrows’ Squadron.

It was in the same week Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told in Rajyasabha that all sanctioned Rafale fighter jets to be inducted into the Indian Air Force by April 2022. The Indian Air Force plans to raise its second squadron of Rafale fighter jets at Hasimara Air Force base in West Bengal by next month to counter threats from China.

Hasimara is a strategic base for IAF operations because of its proximity to Bhutan, the Chumbi Valley where lies a tri-junction between India, Bhutan and China, and Doklam where a standoff took place in 2017. The tri-junction has been a matter of concern for all the three countries.

“Second Rafale Squadron is being raised at the next Main Operating Base (MOB) Hasimara in mid April this year,” said an Indian Air Force official.

The first squadron was raised in Ambala after first batch of five Rafale aircraft landed on July 29, 2020. These aircraft were inducted on September 10 at Ambala Air Base into the 17 ‘Golden Arrows’ Squadron.

The Indian Air Force has received 11 jets till now out of the 36 ordered from France. Six more jets are expected to be delivered in a month. The remaining aircraft are likely to be in India by April 2022. Currently, IAF pilots are being trained in France.

The two squadrons of Rafale jets will add wings to the IAF’s depleting fleet strength.

The two squadrons with 18 jets each at Amabala and Hasimara have been planned keeping in mind the operations against Pakistan on the western front and China in the eastern sector.

Hasimara earlier had a MiG-27 squadron that has now been decommissioned.

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.

A 4.5 generation aircraft with the latest weapons, superior sensors and fully integrated architecture, Rafale is an omni-role aircraft which means it can carry out at least four missions in one sortie.

Armed with Hammer missiles, it will also have beyond visual range missiles like Meteor, Scalp and Mica, increasing their ability to take on incoming targets from a distance.

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UN lauds Indo-Pak decision on ceasefire

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan/IANS)

The Secretary-General is encouraged by the joint statement issued by the militaries of India and Pakistan on their agreement to observing the ceasefire at the Line of Control in Kashmir and engaging through established mechanisms…reports Arul Louis.

India and Pakistan have entered into a historic decision by agreeing to observe ceasefire pacts in LoC. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir have welcomed the joint statement by India and Pakistan reaffirming their commitment to upholding the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Kashmir.

Guterres’s Spokesperson Stephane Guterres said on Thursday, “The Secretary-General is encouraged by the joint statement issued by the militaries of India and Pakistan on their agreement to observing the ceasefire at the Line of Control in Kashmir and engaging through established mechanisms. He hopes that this positive step will provide an opportunity for further dialogue.”

Asked if Guterres intended to talk to the leaders of the two countries about a dialogue, Dujarric said, “There’s no plan that I’m aware of, but the Secretary-General is always available for (extending) his good offices between any Member States who would request it.”

Bozkir “wholeheartedly welcomes today’s ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan”, his Spokesperson Brenden Varma said.

Joint statement

“Their stated commitment to achieve sustainable peace through addressing each other’s core issues and concerns sets an example for other countries and demonstrates the General Assembly’s values,” Varma said without explaining the Assembly’s role.

If anything, the Assembly has been used by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his diplomats in a manner that could worsen the situation through their rhetoric but they have failed to get Assembly to take note of their cause.

The joint statement reaffirming the ceasefire was issued by the two neighbour’s directors-general of military operations (DGSMO).

Their said that after a “free, frank and cordial” assessment of the situation along the border they agreed “In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGsMO agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence.”

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Ceasefire along LoC

A positive step towards greater peace and stability 

India and Pakistan agree for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the LoC and all other sectors with effect from midnight February 24, reports Asian Lite News

India and Pakistan reviewed the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, and agreed for strict observance of all agreements, and understandings, Indian Army said.
A joint statement issued in New Delhi and Islamabad. It states that the Director Generals of Military Operations of India and Pakistan held discussions over the established mechanism of hotline contact.

“The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Control and all other sectors in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere,” the statement said.
It further points out that in the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGMOs agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have the propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence.

Army men at  Pakistan Border

Both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the LoC and all other sectors with effect from midnight February 24 and February 25, 2021.
“Both sides reiterated that existing mechanisms of hotline contact and border flag meetings will be utilised to resolve any unforeseen situation or misunderstanding,” the statement says.

Pakistan-promoted terror still a threat

Indian Army Chief General MM. Naravane, while speaking at a webinar organised by the Vivekananda International Foundation, says that there is definitely a great improvement in the internal security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. He, however, states that Pakistan-promoted terror still remains a threat.

Indian Army Chief notes that Pakistan is committed to the strategy of supporting terrorism in all its forms as terrorist launch pads continue to be operated and terrorists continue to be there on the other side of the LoC looking for an opportunity to cross over.
General Naravane expressed confidence that with continued engagement with Pakistan, there could be some sort of an understanding because unsettled borders and violence on the borders help no one.

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“We always want peace and tranquility in our border areas, whether it be the western front or the northern front and the Line of Actual Control. Or whether it is on the Indo-Myanmar border, we are always looking for peace and tranquility and our role is to ensure that so as the rest of the nation can develop,” he said.

No thinning of troops along LoC

There is no proposal of thinning of troops along Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir as Pakistan has not stopped terrorism, Indian Army said. The Army also denotes that the situation along the northern borders has no bearing on Line of Control/Western Front.

“Our endeavor is to achieve peace and stability which is beneficial for the region and specially for the population residing along the LoC, this is an attempt to bring the violence levels down,” the Indian Army added.
It also states that DGMO of India and Pakistan Army interact regularly over the established mechanism of hotline.

There is trust deficit with Pakistan, said the force stating: “We have a history of bitter experiences with Pakistan. The peace processes in the past have been derailed either because of acts of terror or Pakistan Army’s belligerence. We are alive to this reality and we all remain prepared to meet any eventuality. However we remain cautiously optimistic. Peace along LoC is mutually beneficial.”

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Indian Army gets solar-powered tent

“As our soliders were living at high altitude areas, so we decided why should we not develop solar-heated shelters for them,” said Wangchuk, who has carried out research on solar-heated houses for last 25 years….reports Asian Lite News

Ladakh-based engineer Sonam Wangchuk, who inspired the character of ‘Phunsukh Wangdu’ in Bollywood blockbuster “Three Idiots”, has developed a mobile solar-powered tent, accommodating 10 soldiers, for use by the Indian Army in high-altitude locations.

On how he came up with the idea, Wangchuk said that he decided to come up with the innovation after he came to know that around 50,000 Indian troops were deployed at high altitude areas in harsh winter conditions.

“Indian and Chinese troops are being withdrawn from friction points. Disengagement is happening. It is good thing for both. Around 50,000 troops were deployed at high- altitude areas in harsh winter conditions. It was a difficult situation,” he said.

When soldiers are deployed in harsh freezing temperature, they stayed in tents made of cloth or in iron containers, and lakhs of litres of kerosene are used. It is a very costly affair as it also adds pollution to the environment and affect glaciers at high altitude areas, Wangchuk said.



“The soldiers too face problems using kerosene… many even suffer winter injuries,” the engineer said.

He said that at the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Ladakh, they innovate on ways for comfortable living at higher altitudes.

“As our soliders were living at high altitude areas, so we decided why should we not develop solar-heated shelters for them,” said Wangchuk, who has carried out research on solar-heated houses for last 25 years.

He said that 15 years ago, he had developed a mobile shelters for nomad shepherds in the Changtang region of Ladakh.

“We started working on a project of a passive solar-heated tent in the varsity. It took a month to develop the tent,” he said.

The tent he came up for the army is divided into two parts: ‘green house’ which is also known as solar lounge and a sleeping chamber where soliders sleep. The two parts are divided by a portable wall that is called the heat bank.

Highly insulated, the tent is covered by a water proof ‘windcheater’.

Soliders can sit and work in the green house part during the afternoon, while in the sleeping chamber, temperature is maintained at 15 degrees Celsius.



The cost of tent is Rs 5 lakh.

“While making this tent, we kept it in mind that these are portable. It is made also keeping in mind hilltops like Black Top, Rezang La and Siachen. When we open up this tent, it turns out into 30 to 40 parts and each part is less than 30kg,” Wangchuk said.

He said that he designed the tent in close coordination and cooperation with the Indian Army.

Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar thanked Wangchuk and said that the innovation was very timely, absolutely relevant and perfect as usual.

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Iran won’t pursue nuclear weapons

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani reiterated that the Islamic Republic’s “definite” determination not to produce or store weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), including nuclear weapons, official news agency IRNA reported.

“As we have said many times, in our country’s defence program, there is no place for weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, and this is a definite decision of the system,” he said in a cabinet meeting in Tehran on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Rouhani said this is not a new or recent decision, because Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and late Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani underlined nearly 30 years ago that Iran will not pursue nuclear weapons.

However, Iran has ever since intended to develop “peaceful nuclear technologies” as it is right as a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and signatory to a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), he added.

A demilitarized, commercial launch of the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces R-36 ICBM; also known by the NATO reporting name: SS-18 Satan. Upon its first fielding in the late 1960s, the SS-18 remains the single highest throw weight missile delivery system ever built. (Wikipedia)

Iran’s president also reiterated that Tehran will not accept any changes in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed in 2015 after intensive works between Iran and six world powers, neither will negotiate its national defence program.

Meanwhile, Rouhani said that Iran vowed to return to compliance with the JCPOA “in a few hours” after sanctions against Iran are lifted, whether this is done step by step by both the U.S. and Iran, or in full and at once.

Regarding Iran’s stated plan to stop the implementation of the IAEA’s Additional Protocol next week, Rouhani said the IAEA inspections will continue on the basis of safeguards agreement, noting the IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has made a request to travel to Iran.

People wearing face masks walk on a street in Rasht, Iran. Iran’s health ministry warned of the spread of a new Covid-19 variant in the country.

In January, Iran launched 20-percent uranium enrichment process as part of Iran’s Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions, which was approved by parliament in December 2020.

In response to the US withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and re-imposition of sanctions, Iran has suspended implementing parts of its obligations under the agreement.

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Nation remembers Pulwama martyrs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tribute to the security personnel who were killed in a terror attack in south Kashmir’s Pulwama in 2019.

“We pay tribute to all those men martyred in the Pulwama terror attack,” Modi said during his visit to Chennai.

The Prime Minister said that the people were proud of Indian security forces and their bravery would continue to inspire generations.

On February 14, 2019, a car filled with explosives had exploded near a Central Reserve Police Forces convoy while on way to Srinagar from Jammu, killing 40 men.

Modi inaugurated a slew of infrastructure projects which he said were examples of innovation and the idea of ‘Swadeshi’ which would promote development.

The Prime Minister said that the Chennai Metro Phase-1 project had been completed within stipulated time despite the coronavirus pandemic. Its civil construction activities were completed by Indian contractors which symbolises ‘Atmanirbhar’ Bharat, he added.

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