Current Affairs in Defence Category
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Current Affairs in Defence Category Lakshya-1, successfully Test Fired by India As part of a routine trial, India successfully test fired indigenously developed micro-light pilot- less target aircraft 'Lakshya-1' from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) image at Chandipur near Balasore in Odisha. Lakshya-1 has been developed by India's Aeronautic Development Establishment (ADE), Bangalore. Lakshya is a sub-sonic, re-usable aerial target system. It is remote controlled from the ground and is designed to impart training to both air borne and air defence pilots. Lakshya-1 is fitted with an advanced digitally controlled engine. Since 2000, Lakshya has been inducted into the Indian Air Force. On Januray 2012, a successful trial of Lakshya was conducted Lakshya-2 was successfully test flown on January 25 and 27 last. A New Chapter in India China bilateral relations: Maritime Cooperation India and China moved onto a new bilateral relation as they agreed upon a joint-declaration on: 1. Sea Piracy 2. Technological know-how on seabed research. The first offer aims to demand the Coast Guards, the Air-forces and Navies of both the nations to work in unison against the pirates. The modalities to be figured out by a mutual group. The second proposal aims to share technological know-how on sea-bed research falling outside the domain of coastal countries. The aim of this second proposal is to ducking India’s apprehensions after China was allowed by the International Seabed Authority to explore in the south-west Indian Ocean. IAF to induct ‘MI-17 V5 helicopter’ in its fleet Russian Helicopter In 2008, India had signed an agreement with Russia to induct 80 Mi-17 V5 helicopters Falls in the category of armed helicopter Has significant and effectual firepower with the latest and sinewy engines that will deeply heighten its payload carriage capability at higher altitudes. Features of MI-17 V5 Helicopter:- IAF to induct Mi-17 V5 helicopter Mi-17 V5 is an upgrade of Mi-17 Medium -lift category Equipped with state-of-the-art avionics and onboard Navigation Systems Glass cockpit variant Onboard weather radar State of the art autopilot Compatible with the latest Generation (Gen-III) Night vision Goggles Can undertake all-weather, day and night operations in any kind of terrain Equipped with a Bambi-Bucket that can be used for fire fighting Fitted with a powerful winch – a feature useful in the Disaster Relief Operations in restricted areas where landing is not possible. Traditional rear clamshells plus modified loading ramp for faster loading and off-loading A starboard door and a ‘Dolphin’ shaped nose section give it a unique identity The entire airframe has a high degree of ballistics tolerance and is crash-resistant. Equipped with an emergency flotation system Its internal cabin volume is sufficient for transporting fully-equipped infantry soldiers for specialised operations 1 How will MI-17 V5 assist the existing Indian IAF Fleet? Enhance the capabilities of the IAF manifold Now IAF can undertake varied roles to face the challenges thrown in by unforgiving weather, hostile environment and difficult terrain in India. The capability and strength of the helicopter fleet in the IAF will increase significantly. Strengthening IAF’s helicopter fleet for high altitude Air Maintenance Ops, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Mission and Transport Operations. Indian Air Force first inducted helicopters in the year 1954. They have operated in Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world and have also proven their mettle in the UN missions. Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation to be set up by India and Saudi Arabia India and Saudi Arabia agree to set up a Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation. The decision to set up a committee was taken between the two countries in Riyadh. The Committee will evolve plans for cooperation in the following areas Signing of an MoU on defence cooperation High level reciprocal visits at all levels- political, official and Services, ship visits and conducting Passage Exercises during such visits. Possibility of signing an MoU on cooperation in hydrography, Increased participation in training programmes on both sides and examine the possibility of cooperation in defence industries. The navies of the two countries could explore practical cooperation in the fight against piracy and an active role of the Royal Saudi Navy in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). “Cent Vayushakti” – A special scheme by Central Bank of India Central Bank of India, the third largest public sector bank launched a special scheme CENT VAYUSHAKTI for promoting a defence salary package. The scheme aims to provide high end range of banking facilities to the serving and retired Air Force personnel all over India. Salient features of the “Cent Vayushakti” package: 1. Zero balance account with Zero maintenance charges 2. Free ATM cards with two additional cards – one each for spouse and dependent parent 3. Free NEFT/RTGs facility with free internet/Tele banking and mobile banking facilities. 4. Special rates by the bank for Housing loans of Air Force Group Housing at the time of retirement of Air Force Personnel. The Central Bank has already launched a similar package for Navy personnel also. Indigenous Advanced Air Defence (AAD) Ballistic Missile Interceptor’s test Successful An indigenous Advanced Air Defence (AAD) Ballistic Missile Interceptor was successfully tested from a defence base in Odisha. This Test was a part of India’s attempts to create a shield itself against entering enemy missiles. The Ballistic Missile Interceptor was fired from Wheeler Island off the coast near Dhamra in Bhadrak district, about 170 km from Bubneshwar and it was successful in demolishing an entering ballistic missile - a modified variant of the Prithvi fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea in Balasore district, about 70 km from Wheeler Island. The interceptor right away hit the target and destroyed it. 2 Pakistan Test Fires Hatf-II 'Hatf-II' a nuclear capable short range ballistic missile test fired by Pakistan Pakistan test-fired the Hatf-II: Nuclear capable Short range 180 Kms (113 Miles) Surface-to-surface ballistic missile The Hatf-II will furnish an operational level capability to Pakistan's Strategic Forces in addition to the strategic and tactical level capability already possessed by Pakistan. The short range ballistic missile can hit targets in India. It was test-fired as a part of the process of substantiating land-based missile systems of Pakistan. Brahmos Cruise Missile: Second Unit Inducted into Indian Army Second BrahMos cruise missile unit inducted into Indian Army close to Pakistan border The second BrahMos supersonic cruise missile regiment was inducted into the Indian Army in the western sector bordering Pakistan. A successful test of the 290 Km range missile was also conducted in order to validate the unit's operationalization. BrahMos Developed as a joint venture b/we the DRDO-India and the NPOM-Russia (Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPO Mashinostroyenia, Russia) under BrahMos Aerospace Missile named after two rivers, the Brahmaputra (India) and the Moskva (Russia). Capability of attacking surface targets by flying as low as 10 metres above the ground. It can reach a speed of Mach 2.8 (~3 times the speed of sound). Defence Ministry alleges that ‘No U.S. special forces are present in India’ The Defence Ministry abnegated reports which held that the US Special Forces are positioned in India. This was alleged over the remarks attributed of a U.S. Armed Forces official that U.S. Special Forces teams are positioned in five South Asian countries: Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives and India as part of the counter-terrorism cooperation. These teams have been positioned by the U.S. Pacific Command as a component of its attempt to heighten their counter-terrorism capabilities, particularly in the maritime domain. The Defence Ministry held that the reports are faulty to that extent as the mention to India is related since the U.S. Special Forces Teams have neither been posted in India in the past, nor they are positioned in the present. Next Army Chief of India: Lt General Bikram Singh The next Army Chief of India will be Lt General Bikram Singh. He will succeed General V.K. Singh, who retires on May 31, 2012. Lt General Bikram Singh was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment on March 31st 1972. Lt Gen Singh has served in a various kinds of command and staff appointments all through his career, sweeping almost 40 years including Deputy Force Commander of a multi-nation UN Peace Keeping Mission in Congo and also as UN Observer in Nicaragua and El Salvador in the 1990s. 3 Important Facts: Akash Surface to Air Missile Akash: Ingeniously made Akash surface-to-air missile system Developed by DRDO as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) An all-weather, medium-range Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system Akash is mooted as the Indian Patriot (The ‘Patriot’ is a US missile system which was used successfully used in neutralising the Iraqi Skud missiles during the Gulf War in the 1990s). The first batch of the ingeniously made Akash missile system to be inducted into the Indian Air Force. Also Advanced Light Weight Torpedo (TAL) to be inducted into the Indian Navy in Hyderabad. This is a substantial accomplishment for India's aboriginal weapon development series. Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam assumes ISI DG charge In Pakistan, Lieutenant General Zaheerul Islam took over the charge of Director General of ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence). He replaced Lt. Gen. Shuja Pasha who retired. Indian Defence budget shoots up 17% India’s Military spending has gone up by 17% or Rs 28,992 crore, to Rs 1,93,407 Crore (nearly $40 billion) in the Union Budget 2012-13.