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-Top News Defence India News

‘IAF on cusp of transformation into a highly potent Air Force’

“The Air Force has big expectations from you as you will be the leaders who will steer the IAF and this country into the future,” he added…reports Asian Lite News.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is on the cusp of transformation into a highly potent Air Force with new inductions like Rafale, Apache, Chinook and a wide variety of surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW) systems, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said on Saturday.

According to the Air Chief, the nature of warfare was undergoing fundamental changes. New technology and radically newer doctrines had emerged in the last few years, he noted while addressing the Combined Graduation Parade of the Air Force Academy.

“India’s security dynamics involves multi- faceted threats and challenges. It would require us to build multi-domain capabilities and execute all our operations simultaneously and in shortened timeframes,” the Chief of Air Staff said.

The Air Chief reviewed the Combined Graduation Parade of 208th Pilot and Ground duty Course and 133rd Nav Course along with two officers from the Indian Navy, nine officers from the Indian Coast Guard and three cadets from Vietnam, who received their Wings.

Participants in the course underwent an extensive curriculum as part of a rigorous training schedule, designed to prepare them for leadership roles in the profession that they have chosen.

“Your successful passing out is a direct reflection of the skills you have developed and demonstrated while acquiring knowledge. I commend the efforts of all officers and airmen who have guided, mentored and taught you not just the basics of your profession but also imbibed in you the ethos of IAF which is, ‘Mission, Integrity and Excellence,” Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said.

General Bipin Rawat

“The Air Force has big expectations from you as you will be the leaders who will steer the IAF and this country into the future,” he added.

The Air Chief also expressed his heartfelt grief and sorrow on the untimely demise of General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 12 armed forces’ personnel on board the ill-fated helicopter on December 8.

“We have chosen to cut down many events that would otherwise have been part of this graduation parade as a mark of respect to the departed souls,” he said.

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Categories
-Top News Defence Sri Lanka

Navy Vice Admiral meets Lankan Navy, Air Force commanders

During the visit interaction with key Area Headquarters is planned in addition to visit at Naval and Maritime Academy at Trincomalee…reports Asian Lite News.

Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of the Indian Navy’s Southern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla who is on a four-day (October 24 to 28) official visit to Sri Lanka on Tuesday called on Commanders of Sri Lankan Navy and Air Force, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne and Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana respectively.

Vice Admiral Chawla also met Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary, Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage.

A tweet by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said that Vice Admiral Anil Chawla called on Commanders of @srilanka_navy & @airforcelk and met Foreign Secretary.

The tweet further said that he also interacted with National Defence College of Sri Lanka’s faculty and participated in the Indian Navy Trainee Alumni get together to strengthen the bonds of friendship and paid homage to the martyrs of Indian Peace Keeping Force.

Besides calling on the senior leadership in Sri Lanka and visiting Colombo, Vice Admiral Chawla will also go to Trincomalee and Galle.

During the visit interaction with key Area Headquarters is planned in addition to visit at Naval and Maritime Academy at Trincomalee.

Discussions on areas of common maritime interests and training would be pursued since Vice Admiral Chawla is also heading the training Command of the Indian Navy.

The visit of Indian Naval Commanding in Chief of the Southern Command coincides with the arrival of the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron’s six ships at ports of Colombo and Trincomalee for a training, interaction with their counterparts in the Sri Lanka Navy.

The First Training Squadron which comprises six ships including two sail ships is a part of Indian Navy’s prestigious Southern Naval Command (SNC).

Ships from the First Training Squadron had last visited Sri Lanka in 2015.

SNC is the Training Command of the Indian Navy which conducts the entire range of naval training for officers and sailors, including those from friendly foreign countries.

As one of the finest destinations for training, Indian Navy has trained more than 11,000 international trainees from over 40 countries in the last four decades.

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Categories
Arab News News World

International ‘Blue Flag’ air combat exercise started in Israel

Air forces of eight countries began the international “Blue Flag” air combat exercise in Israel…reports Asian Lite News

The annual exercise is taking place at the Ovda Air Force Base in southern Israel, with the participation of air forces from the United States, Germany, Italy, Britain, France, India and Greece, Xinhua news agency quoted an Israeli military spokesperson as saying.

The exercise kicked started on Sunday with an honorary flyover, led by the Commander of the Israeli Air Force Amikam Norkin in an F-15, alongside an Israeli “Adir”, the Israeli version of F-35 stealth jet.

International ‘Blue Flag’ air combat exercise started in Israel

The Chief of the German Air Force Ingo Gerhartz flew with them in an “Eagle Star” Eurofighter, which has been specially painted with Israeli and German flags.

The 12-days drill will simulate air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, advanced surface-to-air missiles threats, and various operational scenarios in enemy territory, the Israeli military said.

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The goal is “to strengthen strategic international cooperation through shared learning about the integration of fourth and fifth-generation aircraft in complex operational scenarios, with a focus on broadening and enhancing the operational capabilities,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The exercise provides an opportunity to carry out “joint tactical flights against a variety of threats using advanced technology,” the statement added.

Categories
-Top News Dubai EXPO 2020

UK’s Red Arrows to put up 20-minute air show at Expo

Famed daredevils, the Red Arrows, the aerobatic team of the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF), will take to the skies over the Expo 2020 Dubai site on Friday, 8th October 2021…reports Asian Lite News

The Red Arrows’ distinctive Hawk fast-jets, known for their formation flying and colourful displays of synchronised smoke trails, will be visible over Jubilee Park on Friday at 16:00 GST for about 15-20 minutes as part of the UK Pavilion’s participation at Expo 2020 Dubai.

UK’s Red Arrows to put up 20-minute air show at Expo

As one of the world’s premier aerobatic display teams, the Red Arrows are the public face of the RAF and assist in British Armed Forces recruitment, acting as an ambassador by performing at home and overseas.

The Red Arrows have been wowing the world since 1965 with their trademark ‘Diamond Nine’ shape and precision flying, and have flown almost 5,000 displays in 57 countries.

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The UK Pavilion is located in the Opportunity District and is inspired by ‘Breakthrough Message’, one of the final projects by the late scientist Stephen Hawking. The pavilion highlights leading British expertise in sectors that include artificial intelligence and space, under the theme ‘Innovating for a Shared Future’.

Categories
-Top News Afghanistan Asia News

Large portion of Afghan Air Force fled to Uzbekistan

The US embassies of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment…reports Asian Lite News.

A large portion of the Afghan Air Force has ended up in neighbouring Uzbekistan, after hundreds of service members used US-supplied planes and helicopters to flee the Taliban, The Wall Street Journal reported citing American officials.

At least 46 of the aircraft crossed over Afghanistan’s border into Uzbekistan since August 15, when the Taliban seized Kabul and the government collapsed, the officials said.

The planes and helicopters carried a total of 585 members of Afghan forces with them, the officials said.

A handful of airplanes also ended up in Tajikistan, also on Afghanistan’s northern border.

The US embassies of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

The migration of the aircraft comes as Washington is only beginning to tally up how much of the billions of dollars in US-supplied hardware has ended up with the Taliban.

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