Tag: Defence

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Over 1 lakh crore allocated to DRDO for modernization of defence

Rajnath Singh.

The Minister informed the House that this is an increase of Rs 21, 415.41crore (23.78%) over BE 2020-21 allocations…reports Asian Lite News.

The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has been allocated over 1 lakh crore to boost development of state-of-the-art platforms, weapon systems and sensors in the country, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply on Monday.

An amount of Rs 1,11,463.21 crore has been allocated under the Capital Acquisition Head (Modernisation) of Defence Services in BE 2021-22, he said.

The Minister informed the House that this is an increase of Rs 21, 415.41crore (23.78%) over BE 2020-21 allocations.

He further informed that DRDO has taken projects, for development of Products/Systems, in various technology domains.

Some of them are Missiles Systems, Airborne Early Warning & Surveillance, Fighter Aircrafts, Armoured Fighting Vehicles, Bridging and Mining Systems, Guided Munitions, Artillery Guns & Rockets, Small Arms & Ammunitions, Advanced Torpedoes & Advanced Sonar Suite, Electronic Warfare (EW), Long Range Radars, and Artificial Intelligence based Systems among others.

Under the Make in India project, the Minister informed that many significant projects including 155mm Artillery Gun system ‘Dhanush’, Bridge Laying Tank, Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’, ‘Akash’ Surface to Air Missile system, Submarine ‘INS Kalvari’, Inshore Patrol Vessel, Offshore Surveillance Ship, ‘INS Chennai’, Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette (ASWC), Arjun Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle, Landing Craft Utility, Bridge Laying Tank, Bi-Modular Charge System (BMCS) for 155mm Ammunition, Thermal Imaging Sight Mark-II for T-72 tank, 25 T Tugs, Water Jet Fast Attack Craft, Offshore Patrol Vessel, Fast Interceptor Boat, INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, Medium Bullet Proof Vehicle (MBPV), Lakshya Parachute for Pilotless Target Aircraft, etc. have been produced in last few years.

Further, the Minister said that the central government has taken several policy initiatives and brought reforms to promote self-reliance in defence manufacturing. These policy initiatives are aimed at encouraging indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment in the country, thereby reducing dependency on imports in the long run.

Listing the policy initiatives, the Minister in the reply to the Upper House of the parliament, said that DPP-2016 has been revised as Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)- 2020, which is driven by the tenets of Defence Reforms announced as part of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’.

He noted that in order to promote indigenous design and development of defence equipment ‘Buy {Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)}’ category has been accorded top most priority for procurement of capital equipment.

Further, the Minister highlighted that the Ministry of Defence has notified two ‘Positive indigenisation lists’ of 209 items for which there would be an embargo on the import beyond the timeline indicated against them. This would offer a great opportunity to the Indian defence industry to manufacture listed items using their own design and development capabilities to meet the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces, he said.

He said that the ‘Make’ Procedure of capital procurement has been simplified. There is a provision for funding upto 70% of development cost by the Government to Indian industry under Make-IN category. In addition, there are specific reservations for MSMEs under the ‘Make’ procedure.

Procedure for ‘Make-II’ category (Industry funded), introduced in DPP-2016 to encourage indigenous development and manufacture of defence equipment has a number of industry friendly provisions such as relaxation of eligibility criterion, minimal documentation, provision for considering proposals suggested by industry /individual etc. So far, 58 projects relating to Army, Navy & Air Force, have been accorded ‘Approval in Principle’, the Minister said.

The Minister recalled that the Government has approved enhanced delegation of Financial Powers under Capital Procurement to levels below the Vice-Chief of Armed Forces in February, 2021. The Government has also approved enhanced delegation of Financial Powers in the Make-I category under which public funding up to 70% of the prototype development cost is available for Design & Development of equipment, systems, major platforms or upgrades thereof.

The Government of India has enhanced FDI in Defence Sector up to 74% through the Automatic Route and up to 100% by the Government Route wherever it is likely to result in access to modern technology or for other reasons to be recorded.

He told the House that the government has established two Defence Industrial Corridors, one each in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The investments of Rs 20,000 Cr are planned in Defence corridors of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu by year 2024.

So far, investment of approx. Rs 3342 crore have been made in both the corridors by public as well private sector companies. Moreover, the respective State Governments have also published their Aerospace & Defence Policies to attract private players as well as foreign companies including Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in these two corridors.

An Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) on “Mutual Cooperation in Joint Manufacturing of Spares, Components, Aggregates and other material related to Russian/Soviet Origin Arms and Defence Equipment” was signed in September, 2019.

The objective of the IGA is to enhance the “After Sales Support” and operational availability of Russian origin equipment currently in service in Indian Armed Forces by organizing production of spares and components in the territory of India by Indian Industry by way of creation of Joint Ventures/Partnership with Russian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) under the framework of the “Make in India” initiative.

Defence Products list requiring Industrial License has been rationalised and manufacture of most of parts or components does not require Industrial License. The initial validity of the Industrial Licence granted under the IDR Act has been increased from 03 years to 15 years with a provision to further extend it by 03 years on a case-to-case basis.

The Minister said that the Department of Defence Production has notified 46 items under the latest Public Procurement Order 2017 notified by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), for which there is sufficient local capacity and competition and procurement of these items shall be done from local suppliers only irrespective of the purchase value.

Defence Investor Cell (DIC) was created in February 2018 in the Ministry to provide all necessary information including addressing queries related to investment opportunities, procedures and regulatory requirements for investment in the sector. So far, 1182 queries have been addressed by DIC, the minister said in his reply.

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-Top News China Defence

China is building new nuclear missile silos, satellite images reveal

Considering other missile silos that are being constructed by China, the country seems to be aiming for a tenfold increase in intercontinental ballistic missiles…reports Asian Lite News

Satellite images revealed by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) showed that Beijing is building a second nuclear missile silo field which is located 380 km northwest of the Yumen field and this has set the alarm bells ringing for the United States.

Considering other missile silos that are being constructed by China, the country seems to be aiming for a tenfold increase in intercontinental ballistic missiles, The Washinton Post reported.

“The number of new Chinese silos under construction exceeds the number of silo-based ICBMs operated by Russia and constitutes more than half of the size of the entire US ICBM force. The Chinese missile silo program constitutes the most extensive silo construction since the US and Soviet missile silo construction during the Cold War,” Matt Korda and Hans Kristensen of the FAS said in the reports.

pic credit ANI

It is unknown how China will operate the new silos and how many warheads each missile will carry. Regardless, the silo construction represents a significant increase in the Chinese arsenal, reports from FAS said.

The static synchronous compensator commander Admiral Charles Richard also informed that “China’s nuclear weapons stockpile is expected to double over the next decade.” The new silos could allow China to accomplish this goal if it is indeed the goal,”

China was reportedly constructing more than 100 new missile silos in a desert area located in the western part of the country, in what experts say signals plans to significantly expand its nuclear capabilities.

These silo construction projects could provide China with yet another means of concealing its most powerful weapons.

China is also building more underground silos to launch its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), as its military rivalry with the US intensifies

Currently, The US has 450 silos, 400 of them loaded with missiles, while Russia has about 130 active silos, compared to 18 to 20 active silos in China, according to the FAS. (ANI)

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-Top News India News USA

US Special Operations Command leadership visits India

Pic credits Twitter@adgpi

The meetings were part of a routine visit by Clarke through multiple countries in Asia….reports Asian Lite News

A day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to India, the Commander of US Special Operations Command, General Richard D. Clarke, met Indian defence and military officials here on Thursday.

The meetings were part of a routine visit by Clarke through multiple countries in Asia.

Clarke began the trip by honouring India’s fallen service members by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial.

Pic credits Twitter@adgpi

“We are proud to recognise the efforts of all those who’ve fought for and defended India,” Clarke said.

“Laying this wreath reminds us of what our respective countries have given to protect our ways of life. We thank India’s service members who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice and we appreciate the work of all those who protect India today,” he added.

Pic credits Twitter@adgpi

After the ceremony, Clarke met with Indian defence officials. They discussed ways in which India and the US can continue to work together to improve defence partnerships and grow interoperability.

“Our partnership with India is vital in the Indo-Pacific, and our teamwork helps provide security throughout the region,” Clarke said.

“Whether we’re training together in exercises, or cooperating in many other areas, our relationship with India is strong and continues to grow. I want to thank the Indian defence team for their leadership, friendship, and commitment to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” he added.

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India News

333 private companies into defence production in India: Centre

So far, 58 projects relating to army, navy and air force have been accorded ‘approval in principle’, Bhatt informed the House…reports Asian Lite News.

A total 333 private companies have been issued 539 industrial licences for defence production in India and out of these, 110 companies have started production.

In a written reply to Vijay Pal Singh Tomar in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt, said that the defence industry sector, which was hitherto reserved for the public sector, was opened up to 100 per cent for Indian private sector participation in May, 2001. Thereafter, many measures have been taken by the government to promote private sector participation.

Out of the total capital acquisition budget for the year 2021-22, 64.09 per cent has been earmarked for domestic capital procurement, while the defence capital outlay has been increased by 18.75 per cent in the Budget for FY 2021-22, the minister informed.

The Defence Procurement Procedure-2016 has been revised as Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020, which is driven by the tenets of the defence reforms announced as part of the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ (self-reliant India campaign), Bhatt said.

In order to promote indigenous design and development of defence equipment, the ‘Buy’ (Indian-IDDM or Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category has been accorded top most priority for procurement of capital equipment, he said.

The ministry has notified a ‘Positive indigenisation list’ of 209 items for which there would be an embargo on the import beyond the timeline indicated against them.

This would offer a great opportunity to the Indian defence industry to manufacture these items using their own design and development capabilities to meet the requirements of the armed forces in the coming years, Bhatt said.

The ‘Make’ procedure of capital procurement has been simplified. There is a provision for funding up to 70 per cent of development cost by the government to the Indian industry under Make-I category. In addition, there are specific reservations for MSMEs under the ‘Make’ procedure.

“The procedure for ‘Make-II’ category (industry funded), introduced in DPP 2016 to encourage indigenous development and manufacture of defence equipment, has a number of industry-friendly provisions such as relaxation of eligibility criterion, minimal documentation, provision for considering proposals suggested by industry/individual etc.,” the minister said.

So far, 58 projects relating to army, navy and air force have been accorded ‘approval in principle’, Bhatt informed the House.

The government has enhanced FDI in defence sector to up to 74 per cent through the automatic route for companies seeking new defence industrial licence and up to 100 per cent by the government route wherever it is likely to result in access to modern technology or for other reasons to be recorded.

An innovation ecosystem for defence titled Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) has been launched in April 2018. iDEX is aimed at creation of an ecosystem to foster innovation and technology development in defence and aerospace.

To give a major boost to development of innovative defence technology and support a growing startup base in the country, the Ministry of Defence has earmarked Rs 1,000 crore during 2021-22 for procurement from the iDEX startups, the minister said.

The Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence has also approved a scheme for Innovation in Defence Excellence (iDEX) during the current year which is worth Rs 498 crore for five years. The scheme aims to benefit 300 new startups for innovative design and development in defence sector.

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-Top News Defence India News

Defence Ministry to undergo restructuring of 57K posts: Govt

Pic credits Twitter@rajnathsingh

The report was taken up by the Defence Ministry to frame key action points and roadmap for implementation, the Minister said….reports Asian Lite News

The Defence Ministry is to undergo redeployment or restructuring of around 57,000 posts, both military and civilian, as per Committee of Experts (CoE) recommendations, Parliament was told on Monday.

In a written reply to CPI-M’s Rajya Sabha member K. Somaprasad, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said: “The implementation of certain recommendations of the CoE involves redeployment/restructuring/optimisation of approximately 57,000 posts, both military and civilian.”

He said that the Committee of Experts (CoE), set up by the Ministry under the chairmanship of Lt Gen D.B. Shekatkar (retd) to recommend measures to enhance combat compatibility and rebalance defence expenditure of the armed forces, submitted its report in December 2016.

The report was taken up by the Defence Ministry to frame key action points and roadmap for implementation, the Minister said.

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Among the recommendations to be implemented were optimisation of Signals establishments to include Radio Monitoring Companies, Corps Air Support Signal Regiments, Air Formation Signal Regiments, Composite Signal Regiments and merger for Corps Operating and Engineering Signal Regiments.

Then there would be restructuring of repair echelons in the army to include Base Workshops, Advance Base Workshops and Static/Station Workshops in the field, and redeployment of Ordnance echelons to include Vehicle Depots, Ordnance Depots and Central Ordnance Depots, apart from streamlining inventory control mechanisms, he said.

There would better utilisation of Supply and Transportation echelons and Animal Transport Units and as per recommendations, Military Farms and Army Postal Establishments in peace locations would be closed.

Enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army, and improving the efficiency of the National Cadet Corps were also some of the recommendations to be implemented, Bhatt said, adding that full details are not being placed in the public domain as they include operational aspects of the armed forces, the disclosure of which is not in the interest of national security.

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Categories
-Top News Defence

How the Indian Navy is demonstrating its reach, capabilities

This bilateral joint training exercise carried out over a span of 12 days contributed towards the capacities of Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) and enhanced interoperability of the forces…reports Mihir Bhonsale

Demonstrating professional competence, operating capabilities and reach, the Indian Navy has held several bilateral and multilateral exercises this year stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the East China Sea and from the Gulf of Aden to the Indian Ocean.

Holding bilateral and joint exercises with friendly navies accrues many short term and long term gains for India’s strategic partnership.

These include gaining operational and doctrinal expertise and sharing transformational experiences in addition to examining and imbibing ‘best-practices’.

Among the stated objectives of holding joint exercises with foreign navies is also to achieve a high level of inter-operability and enhance maritime domain awareness through a variety of information-sharing mechanisms.

On Saturday, the fourth edition of the India-Maldives Joint Naval Exercise ‘Ekatha’ ended in Maldives. This bilateral joint training exercise carried out over a span of 12 days contributed towards the capacities of Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) and enhanced interoperability of the forces.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean Region, Indian and US Forces held a two-day integrated bilateral exercise last month.

Participation of the Indian Navy in the exercise held on June 23-24 included Guided Missiles Stealth Destroyer Kochi, Guided Missile Frigates Teg and Maritime air dominance fighter. The US side was represented by Nimitz class aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan with her integral maritime air element.

The exercise has been a key enabler in building interoperability and strengthening the defence coordination between the two nations and witnessed high tempo-naval operations at sea.

Reiterating their commitment towards free, open, inclusive and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, India and EU conducted their first joint naval exercise in the Gulf of Aden on June 18-19.

The exercise involved Indian Navy frigate Indian Naval Ship Trikand, EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta assets, including Italian frigate Carabiniere (Atalanta’s flagship) and Spanish frigate Navarra, French frigate Surcouf and French amphibious assault helicopter carrier Tonnerre.

The exercise was based on the scenario of an anti-piracy operation. It included cross-deck helicopter landings, complex tactical evolutions at sea, live firing, a night-time joint patrol and a naval parade in the high seas off the coast of Somalia.

Among other firsts for the Indian Navy was participation in a French naval exercise along with fellow Quad member nations, the United States, Australia and Japan, in the eastern Indian Ocean from March 5 to 7.

Exercise La Perouse involved 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.

India and France also held the 19th edition of the bilateral exercise VARUNA-2021.

Conducted from 25-27 April in the Arabian Sea, the exercise witnessed high tempo-naval operations at sea, including advanced air defence and anti-submarine exercises, intense fixed and rotary wing flying operations, tactical manoeuvres, surface and anti-air weapon firings, underway replenishment and other maritime security operations.

Units of both navies honed and enhanced their war-fighting skills to demonstrate their ability as an integrated force to promote peace, security and stability in the maritime domain.

Enhancing interoperability and strengthening bilateral maritime cooperation between the two countries, India and Japan undertook Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in the Andaman Sea.

Indian Navy Ship INS Kulish and Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (MSDF) Training Squadron ships JS Kashima & JS Setoyuki undertook Passage Exercise #PASSEX in Andaman Sea on 13 June.

Earlier in the same month, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Saryu, an indigenously built naval offshore patrol vessel, and Thailand’s HTMS Krabi, an offshore patrol vessel, along with Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both navies participated in the CORPAT exercise.

The two navies have been undertaking Coordinated Patrol or CORPAT bi-annually along their International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) since 2005.

This builds up understanding and interoperability between navies and facilitates institution of measures to prevent and suppress unlawful activities like illegal unreported unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy.

Besides holding exercises, the Indian Navy undertakes regular overseas deployments particularly in the maritime areas of primary interest.

These engagements are aimed to further strengthen maritime security in the region and to consolidate combined operations against maritime threats.

With a similar objective, the Indian Navy deployed INS Tabar to make port calls and participate in joint exercises with the navies of Africa, Europe and Russia from June to September this year.

After commencing her prolonged deployment on June 13, INS Tabar has undertaken Maritime Partnership Exercises with Egyptian, Italian and Spanish navies.

INS Tabar will transit across the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Suez Canal, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea and Baltic Sea while making port calls at Djibouti, Egypt, Italy, France, UK, Russia, Netherlands, Morocco, and Arctic Council countries like Sweden and Norway.

In addition to PASSEX with host navies of countries being visited, the ship is also scheduled to participate in bilateral exercises like Exercise Konkan with Royal Navy, Exercise Varuna with French Navy and Exercise Indra with Russian Federation Navy. (India News Network)

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-Top News PAKISTAN

UK court denies Pak corruption defence in Reko Diq case

Balochistan has been maintaining that the mining company opted for illegal means and bribed government officials to get advantage in securing licence in the province…reports Hamza Ameer.

The judge of a UK court has denied Pakistan the right to level corruption allegations as a defence and challenge the jurisdiction of an arbitral tribunal in the Reko Diq mines case.

Judge Robin Khowles of the High Court of Justice, who was hearing the case ‘Province of Balochistan vs Tethyan Copper Company’ (TCC), rejected Balochistan’s position.

Balochistan, referring to a Supreme Court decision, contended that the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) tribunal lacked jurisdiction in the Reko Diq case as the underlying agreement was void due to corruption.
However, it was not sufficient to validate that the accusations of corruption had been raised before the tribunal.

As per the decision, the UK arbitration law stops parties from raising issues before the court, which had not been mentioned during the arbitration.

Balochistan has been maintaining that the mining company opted for illegal means and bribed government officials to get advantage in securing licence in the province.

However, the UK judge highlighted that even though the Supreme Court of Pakistan had declared the joint venture void, its decision was not based on Pakistan’s allegations that the agreement had been secured through bribes.

“Descriptions of or references to corruption are insufficient. The question with which the corruption allegation is concerned is whether the Supreme Court of Pakistan found that the [agreement] and related agreements were void due to the existence of corruption,” Knowles maintained.

“In my judgment, it did not. If the province has evidence relating to corruption that was not before the ICC tribunal… then it is for the province to seek to address those matters with the arbitral tribunal; it does not make it legitimate for the province to raise them with the court as a challenge to the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal,” the judge said.

This is the second time that Pakistan’s claims have been rejected in the case. In 2019, the International Centre of Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) had rejected Pakistan’s allegations that former the Chief Minister of Balochistan province, Nawaz Aslam Raisani, was offered a bribe of $1 million by the Tethyan Copper Company in relation to the Reko Diq mines in 2009.

TCC is a joint venture of Barrik Gold Corporation of Australia and Antofagasta PLC of Chile. The Reko Diq district in Balochistan is well known for its mineral wealth, including gold and copper.

The dispute was taken up by the ICSID tribunal after TCC claimed $8.5 billion when the mining authority of Balochistan rejected its application for a multi-million dollar mining lease in the province in 2011.

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-Top News Defence UK News

Indian Army chief in UK to boost defence ties

Indian Army Chief M.M. Naravane (Photo: Bidesh Manna/IANS)

As per the Ministry of Defence, during the four-day visit, he will be meeting his counterparts and senior military leaders of these countries with an aim of enhancing India’s defence cooperation…reports Asian Lite News.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General MM Naravane is embarking on a four-day visit to the United Kingdom and Italy from July 5 to 8.

He will be inaugurating the Indian Army Memorial in the famous town of Cassino and will be briefed at the Italian Army’s Counter IED Centre of Excellence at Cecchingola, Rome.

As per the Ministry of Defence, during the four-day visit, he will be meeting his counterparts and senior military leaders of these countries with an aim of enhancing India’s defence cooperation.

His visit to the United Kingdom is scheduled for two days (July 5 and 6) during which the COAS will interact with the Secretary of State for Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of General Staff and other dignitaries.

He will also be visiting various army formations where he will exchange ideas on issues of mutual interest.

During the second leg of his tour (July 7 and 8), the Army Chief will be holding important discussions with the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Staff of the Italian Army. (ANI)

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-Top News Asia News India News

India, Vietnam agree on strengthen ties between armed forces

Rajnath Singh said India and Vietnam continue to make forward movement in overcoming the challenges posed by Covid-19…reports Asian Lite News.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday held an online interaction with Minister of National Defence of Vietnam Sr Lt Gen Phan Van Giang and both reviewed the progress in the current initiatives of the two countries in defence areas.

During the interaction, both sides expressed commitment to further enhance engagements between the Defence Forces of the two countries under the framework of India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2016) and under the guidance of the Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People signed during the Virtual Summit between the Prime Ministers of the two countries in December 2020.

Both Ministers acknowledged the significance of the Joint Vision Statement of 2015-20 in strengthening defence cooperation engagements between both the countries thus far and looked forward to concluding the Joint Vision Statement of 2021-25 at the earliest opportunity.

The Ministers agreed to initiate measures to enhance cooperation in Defence Industry and Technology domain and look forward to greater synergy in effectively deepening bilateral cooperative engagements across the spectrum.

Both Ministers expressed satisfaction at the ongoing activities between the two countries despite the limitations imposed by Covid-19.

In a series of tweets, Rajnath Singh termed the relationship between India and Vietnam as “strong and effective”.

He said, “India attaches great importance to its bilateral defence cooperation with Vietnam.”

“Both India and Vietnam share a long-standing tradition of helping each other in difficult times. We have achieved substantial progress in defence industry cooperation in recent years,” the Defence Minister added.

Rajnath Singh said India and Vietnam continue to make forward movement in overcoming the challenges posed by Covid-19.

He thanked Sr Lt Gen Phan Van Giangfor inviting him on an official visit to Vietnam, and he looked forward to it. (INN)

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-Top News Defence EU News

European Commission Launches Defence Fund

Last month, the Commission had proposed a Joint Cyber Unit to address increasing concern around cyber-attacks by bringing together member states’ resources to respond to the threats more rapidly…reports Asian Lite News.

The European Commission has formally launched the first European Defence Fund (EDF), which aims to support the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the EU defence industry.

The EU is earmarking a total of 1.2 billion euros ($1.43 billion) of funding for the year 2021 in support of collaborative defence research and development projects, Xinhua news agency quoted an official statement as saying on Wednesday.

Under the EDF’s precursor program, the European Defence Industry Development Program (EDIDP), 26 new projects with a budget of more than 158 million euros were selected for funding while two major capability development projects received a grant of 137 million euros on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton said that with the EU’s first-ever dedicated defence program, European cooperation in defence will become the norm.

“Public authorities will spend better together, and companies – big or small – from all member states will benefit, resulting in more integrated European defence industrial value chains,” he said.

The 1.2 billion euros will finance projects such as the next generation of aircraft fighters, tanks or ships, as well as critical defence technologies such as military cloud, AI, semiconductors, space, cyber or medical countermeasures, he said.

Last month, the Commission had proposed a Joint Cyber Unit to address increasing concern around cyber-attacks by bringing together member states’ resources to respond to the threats more rapidly.

The unit will provide a virtual and physical platform for European Union (EU) institutions and agencies to collaborate with member states and share resources through secure channels.

It will serve as part of the EU Cybersecurity Incident and Crisis Response Plan, the Commission said in a statement.

Thierry Breton said, “The Joint Cyber Unit is a building block to protect ourselves from growing and increasingly complex cyber threats,”, Commissioner for the Internal Market.”

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