Category: Defence

As India celebrated its 72nd Republic Day on Tuesday, President Ram Nath Kovind unfurled the national flag and received the customary 21-gun salute at Rajpath.

The 21-gun salute was presented by the Ceremonial Battery of 223 Field Regiment that was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jitender Singh Mehta.

Kovind, escorted by 46 President’s Bodyguards raised in 1773 — on magnificent Bay and Dark Bay coloured mounts, was welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wore a traditional ‘kurta-pajama’ and sported a special turban from Jamnagar in Gujarat.

Earlier, Modi paid solemn tributes to the martyrs by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial at the India Gate.

After unfurling the national flag, the first formation comprising of four Mi-17 V5 helicopters of the 155 Helicopter Unit flew and showered flowers at the Rajpath and guests. The helicopters flew in a Wineglass formation.

Thereafter, India’s military might, cultural diversity, social and economic progress was on display at the majestic Rajpath.

President, Vice President, Prime Minister and other dignitaries attended the parade at Rajpath. The Republic Day parade showcases India’s defence capabilities, the different culture and traditions.

This year there was no Chief Guest due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was invited as the Chief Guest for Republic Day celebrations but due to pandemic he could not come.

In his video message, Johnson said that he will visit in the coming months and wished India on the occasion citing it as the biggest sovereign democracy in the world. “I was hugely looking forward to joining you for this important occasion at the kind invitation of my friend Prime Minister Modi, alas our common struggle against Covid has kept me in London,” said Johnson.

India is celebrating its 72nd Republic Day on Tuesday, honouring the historic date when the country completed its transition towards becoming an independent republic after its constitution came into effect.

PM greets India

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLjLcjVV2nA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended his greetings to the citizens of India as the country marked its 72nd Republic Day.

In a tweet both in English and Hindi, the Prime Minister said: “Wishing all the people of India a Happy Republic Day… Jai Hind.”

On this day in 1950, the Constitution of India came into force.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the National War Memorial near the India Gate later in the day, from where he will lead the nation in paying solemn tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath.

Thereafter, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries will head to the saluting dais at Rajpath to witness the 90-minute-long Republic Day parade ceremony.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOBvOlQvpOU

Prime Minister Modi, President Kovind, CDS Bipin Rawat and Army chief General Narawane

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended greetings to the Indian army soldiers and their family members on the occasion of 73rd Army Day, saying that the courageous Army always held the head of nation high with pride.

“Congratulations to the mighty soldiers of the country who stand in defence of Mother Bharati and their family members on Army Day. Our army is strong, courageous and determined, and has always held the head of nation high with pride. I salute the Indian Army on behalf of all the countrymen,” he tweeted.

On Army Day, greetings to the valiant men and women of the Indian Army.

We remember the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in service to the nation.

India will remain forever grateful to courageous and committed soldiers, veterans and their families.

Jai Hind!🇮🇳

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 15, 2021

Army Day is celebrated on 15 January every year in India, in recognition of Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa’s taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, on 15 January 1949.

President Ram Nath Kovind also took to twitter to mark the occasion. He tweeted that India will remain forever grateful to courageous and committed soldiers.

“On Army Day, greetings to the valiant men and women of the Indian Army. We remember the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in service to the nation. India will remain forever grateful to courageous and committed soldiers, veterans and their families. Jai Hind!” the president tweeted.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also extended greetings to the Indian Army saying that the “nation salutes the Indian Army’s indomitable courage, valour and sacrifices.”

“Greetings to Indian Army personnel and their families on the occasion of Army Day. The nation salutes the Indian Army’s indomitable courage, valour and sacrifices. India is proud of their selfless service to the nation,” Singh tweeted.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat also extended his wishes and said the soldiers’ valour and sacrifices are an inspiration to many. “On the historic Army Day, we pay homage and express our gratitude to those brave soldiers, whose valour and Supreme sacrifice in line of duty inspires us to rededicate ourselves with renewed vigour,” Rawat said in a message.

“Your dauntless courage, indomitable spirit and unparalleled devotion to duty in the true traditions and ethos of the Indian army will continue to inspire future generations. Jai Hind!” he added.

During the fifth Armed Forces Veterans’ Day on Thursday, the Defence Minister warned that India would give a befitting response if its pride is hurt by any super power.

“If any super power hurts our national pride, our soldiers are capable of giving a fitting response though we do not want a war,” Singh said at the fifth Armed Forces Veterans’ Day here, without naming any country amid the border standoff with China since June 2020.

Noting that India stood for peace and friendly relations with all the countries, especially in the region, Singh said the nation is against armed conflict and wants to maintain peace, which is its hoary culture.

“India is for protecting one’s security but not in favour of war though our troops are capable of defending the country’s borders,” reiterated Singh.

Lauding the soldiers for eliminating hundreds of terrorists intruding from across the western border, Singh said they have also displayed bravery in protecting the country in the northern border facing China.

Earlier, Singh and Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat placed wreaths and paid homage at the War Memorial at the Indian Air Force (IAF) training command in the city. IAF and Indian Navy officers also laid wreaths as a mark of respect to the war heroes.

“Singh and Rawat interacted with the military veterans and martyrs’ kin and members of ex-servicemen organisations,” a defence official said in a statement.

Indian armed forces celebrate Veterans Day on January 14 every year in recognition of the services rendered by the country’s first Field Marshal, K.M. Cariappa, who retired on the same day in 1953.

Cariappa (1899-1993), who hailed from Karnataka’s Coorg (Kodagu), led the Indian forces on the western front during the first India-Pakistan war in 1947 as the army’s first Commander-in-Chief. He also fought in World War II.

The only other Field Marshal, Sam Manekshaw (1914-2008), also retired on January 14, 1973.

Entry for the event was restricted due to Covid-induced curbs to contain the pandemic spread.

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The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the highest decision-making body for security issues headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the purchase of 83 Tejas fighter jets for the Indian Air Force at a cost of Rs 48,000 crore, including infrastructure.

The CCS approved the largest indigenous defence procurement deal worth about Rs 48,000 crore to strengthen the IAF’s fleet of homegrown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas. “This deal will be a game changer for self reliance in the Indian defence manufacturing,” Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.

Giving out details about the Cabinet decision, the Defence Ministry in a statement said: “The Cabinet has approved procurement of 73 LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft and 10 LCA Tejas Mk-1 trainer aircraft at the cost of Rs 45,696 crore along with design and development of infrastructure sanctions worth Rs 1,202 crore.”

Light Combat Aircraft Mk-1A variant is an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured state-of-the-art modern 4+ generation fighter aircraft. This aircraft is equipped with critical operational capabilities of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar, Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile, Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite and Air to Air Refuelling (AAR) would be a potent platform to meet the operational requirements of Indian Air Force, IAF.

The LCA-Tejas is going to be the backbone of the IAF fighter fleet in the years to come. LCA-Tejas incorporates a large number of new technologies many of which were never attempted in India. The indigenous content of LCA-Tejas is 50 per cent in the Mk1A variant which will be enhanced to 60 per cent.

The Light Combat Aircraft Tejas is indigenously designed by the Aircraft Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The HAL has already set up second line manufacturing facilities at its Nasik and Bengaluru Divisions. Equipped with the augmented infrastructure the HAL will steer LCA-Mk1A production for timely deliveries to the IAF.

“The decision taken today will considerably expand the current LCA ecosystem and help in creating new job opportunities,” the minister said.

HAL follows a system integrator model in the LCA Mk1A programme and acts as an umbrella organisation, fostering manufacturing and design capabilities in private industry.

The first squadron of the Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas was raised in 2016.

The manufacturing of 83 jets will not only be a boost for ‘Make in India’ or self reliance but help in filling the gaps in the Indian Air Force as its current fleet is down to 30 squadrons, way below the sanctioned strength of 42.

Each squadron comprises 18 fighter jets. These 73 Mark 1A jets are in addition to the 40 Mark 1 already ordered by the IAF.

Last year in March, the Ministry of Defence gave the go-ahead for the purchase of 73 Tejas Mark 1A aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

This was a major breakthrough as after cost negotiations for over three years between the Ministry of Defence and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the price for procurement of the advanced variant of the indigenously-made Light Combat Aircraft Tejas was slashed.

The IAF has 20 Mark-1 jets of the earlier variant while another 20 are to be delivered.

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Amid the border dispute with China, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat is on a two-day visit to eastern Ladakh to assess and review ground requirements of the force deployed at forward locations in freezing temperatures.

He is being briefed by 14 Corps commander and other commanders on the ground. This comes soon after his visit to forward areas in Arunachal Pradesh.

Gen Rawat had visited forward air bases in Arunachal Pradesh and interacted with soldiers of the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Special Frontier Force deployed there.

He also visited forward most air maintained posts in Dibang Valley and Lohit sector of Arunachal Pradesh. Gen Rawat has completed one year as Chief of Defence Staff.

On the current standoff with China, last year General Rawat had reiterated that India has military options to deal with the Chinese on the issue of transgressions if talks between both countries at the military and diplomatic level do not yield results.

India and China are engaged in a border standoff since April-May over the transgressions by the Chinese PLA in multiple areas in eastern Ladakh.

IAF operational preparedness

Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria on Monday reviewed operational preparedness and the status of deployed forces at the Indian Air Force bases in the forward areas of Ladakh.

His visit came at a time when Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat is on a two-day visit to Ladakh to assess and review ground requirements of the forces deployed at the forward locations in freezing conditions.

Bhadauria undertook a visit to Air Force stations and advanced landing grounds in Ladakh. He also interacted with IAF and Indian Army personnel deployed at these locations.

During his visit to Thoise, he reviewed the ongoing logistic operations for support and sustenance of troops in the winter season.

He also visited Daulat Beg Oldi and Nyoma advanced landing ground where he was given a security overview of the respective sub-sectors.

At Daulat Beg Oldi, Bhadauria laid a wreath in homage to the fallen heroes. Prior to his departure, he joined General Rawat for a comprehensive discussion on operational matters with senior IAF and Indian Army commanders at the Air Force station in Leh.

Bhadauria conveyed his deep appreciation for the exceptionally high levels of morale and dedication with which all personnel continue to maintain operational preparedness despite the harsh weather and an inhospitable terrain.

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