May 2020

समाचार पत्र से चियत अंश Newspapers Clippings

A Daily service to keep DRDO Fraternity abreast with DRDO Technologies, Defence Technologies, Defence Policies, International Relations and Science & Technology

Volume: 45 Issue: 121 26 May 2020

रक्षा िवज्ञान पुतकालय Defenceरक्षा िवज्ञान Science पुतकालय Library रक्षाDefence वैज्ञािनक सScienceूचना एवं प्रल Libraryेखन क द्र Defence Scientific Information & Documentation Centre रक्षा वैज्ञािनक सूचना एव ं प्रलेखन क द्र Defence Scientificमेटकॉफ Informationहाउस, िदली -& 110 Documentation 054 Centre Metcalfe House, Delhi - 110 054 मेटकॉफ हाउस, िदली - 110 054

Metcalfe House, Delhi- 110 054

CONTENT

S. No. TITLE Page No. DRDO News 1-11 COVID-19: DRDO’s Contribution 1-5 1. and Israel join forces to develop rapid testing system to fight Coronavirus 1 2. महामार के संकट से नपटने के लए भारत-इजरायल के बीच वाता 2 3. India, Israel discussed joint research & development for COVID-19 diagnosis 3 4. India, Israel to conduct joint research for rapid Covid-19 testing 4 5. India, Israel plan to jointly develop rapid testing tools for covid-19 5 DRDO Technology News 6-11 6. IAF to operationalise second squadron of Tejas; IAF Chief to do it 6 7. AF’s second LCA squadron to spread wings from Sulur in T.N. on Wednesday 7 8. IAF No 18 Squadron to be made operational at Sulur station with Tejas supersonic 7 aircraft 9. IAF confirms: Routine test flight caused Bengaluru sonic boom 8 10. Squadron of IAF's only Param Vir Chakra awardee to fly Tejas jets 9 11. Indian Air Force to operationalise No.18 Squadron at Coimbatore 10 12. तेजस से लैस होगी वायु सेना क 18वीं वान, 27 मई कोयंबटूर से होगी शुआत 11 Defence News 12-19 Defence Strategic National/International 12-19 13. Modi 2.0 anniversary: From MH-60 Romeo Helicopters to R-27 Missiles, Major 12 defence deals inked by NDA govt in last 1 year 14. Delivery date of Indian Navy Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant once again delayed 14 15. Casting doubt on standards of quality control, blaming ordnance factories alone 15 for ammunition-related accidents unfair 16. Private sector willing to work on Indigenous short-range air defense missiles 16 17. How India can end Chinese transgressions: Take conflict to a place Beijing is 17 worried about Science & Technology News 19-26 18. ISRO’s love-hate relationship with private sector – A look back at history 19 19. China on track for July launch of mission 21 20. Largest and hottest shield volcano on Earth discovered 22 21. Working from home, indian-origin Scientist creates Fifth state of matter 23 COVID-19 Research 24-26 22. Research reveals gene role in both dementia and severe Covid-19 24 23. Fujifilm research into COVID-19 drug spills into June, dashing hope of May 26 approval

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DRDO News

COVID-19: DRDO’s Contribution

Tue, 26 May 2020 India and Israel join forces to develop rapid testing system to fight Coronavirus By Indrani Bagchi New Delhi: India and Israel have decided to join forces to develop rapid testing systems that can conduct Covid-19 tests at under a minute, in the highest level of R&D cooperation between the two countries. Officials said the process had started and they hoped to be able to come out with a test that would allow people to safely step out and resume normal life. Announcing the new project, the Israel embassy in India tweeted on Monday, "Discussed joint R&D for rapid diagnosis based on big data and AI technology, to enable a rapid return to routine. This is part of the vision of @IsraeliPM and @PMOIndia for wide-ranging scientific cooperation between India and Israel." PM and Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu have already spoken a couple of times since the pandemic outbreak. The interesting bit about the cooperation is that the premier defence research organisations on both sides will be involved. Indian institutions like the defence research and development organisation (DRDO) and the council for scientific and industrial research (CSIR) are likely to partner Israel’s directorate of R&D in the ministry of defence for the purpose. Another tweet by the embassy spokesperson, Avigail Spira said, "@kvijayraghavan, @DRDO_India, & @CSIR_IND held discussions with Head of Israel’s Directorate of R&D in @Israel_MOD, Dr. Dani Gold, Amb. @DrRonMalka & Amb. Sanjeev Singla @Indemtel about high-level scientific cooperation between India & Israel to address #COVID19." Gold is well known for his work on the development of Israel’s famous Iron Dome rocket interception system. Earlier this month, Israel’s defence minister announced that Israel's institute for biological research institute (IIBRI) had developed a potential treatment for the coronavirus disease, by identifying an monoclonal antibody that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 in vitro or outside of a living organism. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-and-israel-join-forces-to-develop-rapid-testing-system-to- fight-coronavirus/articleshow/75979875.cms

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Tue, 26 May 2020 महामार के संकट से नपटने के लए भारत-इजरायल के बीच वाता COVID19 के मसले पर अब डीआरडीओ ने इजरायल म अपने समक के साथ उचतरय वैानक सहयोग पर बातचीत क है। नई दल: कोवड-19 के कारण उपन हुए संकट पर सोमवार को रा अनुसंधान व वकास संगठन (Defence Research & Development Organisation) ने इजरायल अनुसंधान व वकास संगठन व वहां के राजदतू रॉन मका के अलावा भारत के राजदतू संजीव संगला के साथ उचतरय बैठक क। इसम वैानक सहयोग के मुदे पर चचा हुुई। भारत और इजरायल ने मलकर महामार से नपटने म योजना बनाने क शु आत कर द है ताक कोरोना वायरस के कारण परेशान िजंदगी फर से सामाय हो सके। भारत म लॉकडाउन का चौथा चरण समात होने जा रहा है। नई दल म इजरायल दतावासू ने वीट कर यह जानकार द। वीट म कहा गया है, ' संयु त अनसंधानु व वकास के मुु दे पर चचा हुई। यह भारत व इजरायल के बीच यापक तर पर वैानक सहयोग के तहत उठाया गया कदम है।' माच क COVID19 के मसले पर अब डीआरडीओ ने इजरायल म अपने समक के साथ शआत म जब वव वाय संगठन ने कोरोना वायरस को महामार के तौर पर ु उचतरय वैानक सहयोग पर बातचीत घोषत कया था तब से लेकर अब तक इजरायल के धानमंी बजामन क है। नेतयाहू और धानमंी नर मोद के बीच दो बार फोन पर बात हुई। आज से भारत ने अपने घरेल ू वमान सेवाओं क शु आत कर द है। भारत अब संमत शीष दस देश क सचीू म शामल है। भारत म अब करब 1 लाख 39 हजार मामले ह और करब 4,000 लोग क मौत हो चुक है। नॉवेल कोरोना वायरस (Coronavirus) से लड़ने क भारत क मता को बढ़ाते हुए रा अनसंधानु एवं वकास संगठन (DRDO) ने पछले माह वभन े को सैनटाइज करने क नई तकनीक वकसत करने का ऐलान कया था। इससे पहले DRDO ने सेट सटू , वटलेटर और वशेष कार के माक का नमाण करने म सफलता हासल क थी। महामार से जूझ रहे दु नया के तमाम देश म वैसीन के लए शोध जार है लेकन अब तक कोई कामयाबी नह ं मल है।हाल म ह इजरायल के रा मंालय ने कहा क देश क शीष बायोलॉिजकल लैब ने कोवड-19 के लए एंटबॉडी के डेवलपमट फेज को पराू कर लया। हालांक इसके लए उसने कसी तरह के कागजात या जानकार शेयर नहं कया है। https://www.jagran.com/news/national-drdo-held-discussions-with-head-of-israel-directorate-of-rand- 20306723.html

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Tue, 26 May 2020 India, Israel discussed joint research & development for COVID-19 diagnosis The discussion held between the two countries was the part of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israel counterpart’s vision that focuses on expanding the scientific cooperation between the two countries By Shailaja Tripathi Indian and Israel on May 25 discussed joint research and development on Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology and big data. The discussion held between the two countries was the part of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israel counterpart’s vision that focuses on expanding the scientific cooperation between the two countries. Israel’s PM Netanyahu and PM Modi had earlier held discussions in March 2020, on the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic along with its possible impact on the supply lines in Israel. The news was shared by the Israel Embassy on its official twitter handle in series of tweets mentioning that CSIR and DRDO held discussions with Head of Israel’s Directorate of R&D along with the ambassadors of India and Israel regarding the scientific cooperation to combat COVID-19. Discussion between India and Israel: Even with the fewer details available regarding the discussion between the two countries, it can be still be easily observed that the Indian institutions such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will be collaborating with Israel’s Directorate of Research & Development in the Ministry of Defence for the high-level scientific cooperation between the two countries. Scientific achievement of Israel against COVID-19: Earlier in May 2020, Israel had announced the successful development of a monoclonal antibody that has the potential to neutralize the SARS-CoV2 virus. Israel’s Defence Ministry had stated that the country’s premier biological laboratory had successfully completed the development phase of the COVID-19 antibody. The Defence Ministry did not share any scientific literature on the subject nor there was any information on an evaluation in the laboratory. India-Israel Relations: Background The State of Israel and the Republic of India have extensive military, economic and strategic relationships. The two nations share the strategic and military ties that extend to sharing intelligence on terrorist groups as well as joint military training. In Asia, as of 2014, India is the third-largest trade partner of Israel. Relations with Israel have been encouraged and further extended in Prime Minister Modi’s administration. India had also abstained from voting against Israel in the UN during several resolutions. The two countries have also been negotiating an extensive bilateral free trade agreement that focuses on areas such as biotechnology, Information technology, and agriculture. Israel had also received the help of the Indian government in the evacuation process of around 500 Israelis who were stranded amid the nationwide lockdown. https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/india-israel-discussed-joint-research-development-for-covid- 19-diagnosis-1590411901-1

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Tue, 26 May 2020 India, Israel to conduct joint research for rapid Covid-19 testing The two sides discussed joint R&D for rapid diagnosis of coronavirus based on big data and artificial intelligence, the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor said New Delhi: India and Israel will put in joint research and development efforts for rapid testing of coronavirus to enable normalisation of life amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the embassy of Israel said on Monday. The two sides discussed joint R&D for rapid diagnosis of coronavirus based on big data and artificial intelligence, the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor said. "India and Israel to conduct joint R&D for rapid testing to allow normalisation of life under COVID-19," Avigail Spira, the spokesperson of the embassy, also tweeted. "I'm proud to connect brilliant minds from India Israeli Defence Minister said scientists have made a and Israel so they can jointly develop life changing breakthrough in developing an antibody to the virus solutions for the whole world, and especially in fighting the #COVID19 pandemic," Israel's envoy to India Ron Malka tweeted. On the Indian side, PSA Prof. K Vijay Raghavan, officials from the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Sanjeev Singla and the Indian Ambassador to Israel participated in the discussions with the head of the Directorate of R&D in Israel's Ministry of Defence Daniel Gold and Malka. "Discussed joint R&D for rapid diagnosis based on big data & AI technology, to enable a rapid return to routine. This is part of vision of @IsraeliPM & @PMOIndia for wide-ranging scientific cooperation between India and Israel." "@kvijayraghavan, @DRDO_India, & @CSIR_IND held discussions with Head of Israel's Directorate of R&D in @Israel_MOD, Dr. Dani Gold, Amb.@DrRonMalka & Amb. Sanjeev Singla @Indemtel about high-level scientific cooperation between India & Israel to address #COVID19," the Office of the PSA tweeted. Earlier this month, Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett said scientists at the country's main biological research institute have made a significant breakthrough in developing an antibody to the novel coronavirus. During Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to India in 2018, the two sides resolved to step up cooperation in the field of science and technology, including in the areas of big data analytics in health care and security in cyber space. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/coronavirus-pandemic-india-israel-to-conduct-joint-research-for-rapid- covid-19-testing-2235029

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Tue, 26 May 2020 India, Israel plan to jointly develop rapid testing tools for covid-19 By Elizabeth Roche, Srishti Choudhary  DRDO and CSIR are likely to partner with Israel’s Directorate of R&D in its ministry of defence to develop the rapid testing tools  Israel recently claimed it had developed a monoclonal antibody that may ’neutralize’ SARS- CoV-2 New Delhi: India and Israel will join forces for research and development of rapid testing tools for covid-19, the Israeli embassy in Delhi said on Monday, without giving details. “Discussed joint R&D for rapid diagnosis based on big data and artificial intelligence (AI), to enable a rapid return to routine. This is part of the vision of @IsraeliPM and @PMOIndia for wide-ranging scientific cooperation," the embassy said in a Twitter post. Few details were available on the extent of the cooperation, other than the possibility that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) were likely to partner with Israel’s Directorate of R&D in the ministry of defence. Principal scientific adviser to the Prime Minister Dr K. Vijayraghavan was also part of the discussions between the two sides. “@kvijayraghavan, @DRDO_India and @CSIR_IND held discussions with Head of Israel’s Directorate of R&D in @Israel_MOD, Dr. Dani Gold, Amb. @DrRonMalka and Amb. Sanjeev Singla @Indemtel about high-level scientific cooperation between India & Israel to address #COVID19," said a second post by Israeli embassy spokesperson Avigail Spira. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and PM Narendra Modi have spoken on the phone at least twice since early March when the World Health Organization (WHO) labelled covid-19 a pandemic. Both countries have been collaborating in R&D in quantum computing, artificial intelligence and robotics. Earlier this month, Israel reported the successful development of a monoclonal antibody with the potential to “neutralize" the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes covid-19. Israel’s defence ministry said its premier biological laboratory has completed the development phase of the covid-19 antibody. However, it did not share any scientific literature on the subject. Later, Israel’s ambassador to India Ron Malka confirmed that the research was at an advanced stage, but said the processes were not finalized yet. The details will be shared once the final clinical results were available. One of Israel’s leading pharmaceutical companies, Pluristem Therapeutics, has also been testing the use of human placenta cells for potential treatment of covid-19. The team had initially tested it on seven critical covid-19 patients, and found positive results. It was looking to seek approval to begin early clinical trials. https://www.livemint.com/news/india/india-israel-plan-to-jointly-develop-rapid-testing-tools-for-covid-19- 11590438738068.html

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DRDO Technology News

Tue, 26 May 2020 IAF to operationalise second squadron of Tejas; IAF Chief to do it This event will be conducted at Air Force Station, Sulur near Coimbatore. The squadron will be equipped with LCA Tejas FOC Aircraft and will be the second IAF Squadron to fly LCA Tejas,” the IAF said in a statement By Shaurya Karanbir Gurung New Delhi: The Indian Air Force will operationalise a second squadron of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft this week. IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will operationalize the squadron at Sulur in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. The IAF’s Number 18 Squadron, “Flying Bullets”, will be raised with Tejas aircraft in the Final Operational Configuration. “The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, will operationalise No. 18 Squadron ‘Flying Bullets’ of the Indian Air Force on May 27. This event will be conducted at Air Force Station, Sulur near Coimbatore. The squadron will be equipped with LCA Tejas FOC Aircraft and will be the second IAF Squadron to fly LCA Tejas,” the IAF said in a statement. The 18 Squadron was formed on April 15, 1965 and had actively participated in the 1971 India- Pakistan war with Pakistan and was decorated with the highest gallantry award ‘Param Vir Chakra’ awarded to Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon posthumously. It earned the sobriquet of ‘Defenders of Kashmir Valley’ by being the first to land and operate from Srinagar. The squadron was flying the MiG 27 aircraft before it got number plated on April 15, 2016. Number plating means that a squadron is temporarily wound down and can be revived again with a different aircraft. The squadron was resurrected on April 1 this year at Sulur for the induction of the Tejas jets. The IAF’s first LCA Tejas squadron, Number 45 the Flying Daggers, was raised in 2016. The fourth-generation Tejas has been indigenously designed by the Aircraft Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The IAF had ordered 40 LCAs. The Rajnath Singh led Defence Acquisition Council in March had cleared the procurement of 83 of the more advanced Mk1A version of the aircraft from HAL-- estimated to be Rs 38,000 crore- by finalising the contract. The Mk1A version will have an active electronically scanned array radar, beyond visual range missiles and an electronic warfare suite. The raising of new squadrons is crucial for the IAF, because it is faced with a depleting strength of fighter squadrons from an authorised strength of 42 down to around 30. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/iaf-to-operationalise-second-squadron-of-tejas-iaf- chief-to-do-it/articleshow/75979505.cms?from=mdr

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Tue, 26 May 2020 AF’s second LCA squadron to spread wings from Sulur in T.N. on Wednesday Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria to operationalise the unit By Wilson Thomas Coimbatore: Tamil Nadu’s Sulur-based ‘Flying Bullets’, No.18 squadron of Indian Air Force, will become the second squadron of IAF to operate indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) on Wednesday. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, will operationalise the second squadron in an event scheduled to be held at Air Force Station Sulur near Coimbatore on Wednesday. The second squadron will be equipped with LCA in Final Operations Clearance (FOC) standard, a version that has advanced flight control systems and other features. ‘Flying Daggers’ or the No. 45 Squadron, the first Up in the air: A file photo of a Light squadron armoured with Tejas is also based at Sulur. The Combat Aircraft Tejas in 2017. Somashekar squadron which was shifted from Bengaluru to Sulur became G.R.N. Somashekar G.R.N. operational in 2018. With the operationalisation of the second squadron and being home station for India’s most advanced supersonic fighter aircraft, Sulur will become a strategically important base of the IAF under its Southern Air Command based at Thiruvananthapuram. Sulur will also become the only base of IAF to be equipped with two squadrons that fly Tejas. No. 18 Squadron was formed on April 15, 1965 with the motto ‘Teevra aur Nirbhaya’ meaning ‘Swift and Fearless’. It was flying MiG 27 aircraft before it got number plated on April 15, 2016 and was resurrected on April 1 this year at Sulur. It actively participated in the 1971 war with Pakistan and its Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was honoured with the highest gallantry award ‘Param Vir Chakra’ posthumously. It earned the sobriquet of ‘Defenders of Kashmir Valley’ by being the first to land and operate from Srinagar and was awarded President’s Standard in November 2015. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/iafs-second-lca-squadron-to-spread-wings- from-sulur-in-tn-on-wednesday/article31669867.ece

Tue, 26 May 2020 IAF No 18 Squadron to be made operational at Sulur station with Tejas supersonic aircraft By A Subburaj Coimbatore: The recently resurrected No 18 Squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be made operational at Air Force Station in Sulur on Wednesday with the indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, will operationalise the No 18 Squadron ‘Flying Bullets’ at an event to be conducted at the Sulur Air Force Station near

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Coimbatore. The Squadron will be equipped with LCA Tejas with final operational clearance (FOC) aircraft and will be the second IAF squadron to fly LCA Tejas supersonic aircraft. The 18 Squadron was formed on April 15, 1965 with the motto ‘Teevra aur Nirbhaya’ meaning ‘swift and fearless’. The Squadron was flying MiG 27 aircraft before it got number plated on April15, 2016. The squadron was resurrected on April 01, 2020 at Sulur Air Force station. The squadron actively participated in the 1971 war with Pakistan and was decorated with the highest gallantry award ‘Param Vir Chakra’ awarded to Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon posthumously. It earned the sobriquet of ‘Defenders of Kashmir Valley’ by being the first to land and operate from Srinagar. The Squadron was presented with President’s Standard in November 2015. Tejas is an indigenous fourth generation tailless compound delta wing aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with fly-by-wire flight control system, integrated digital avionics, multimode radar and its structure is made out of composite material. It is the lightest and smallest in its group of fourth generation supersonic combat aircraft. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/iaf-no-18-squadron-to-be-made-operational-at-sulur- station-with-tejas-supersonic-aircraft/articleshow/75973637.cms

Thu, 21 May 2020 IAF confirms: Routine test flight caused Bengaluru sonic boom A loud bang sparked confusion and intrigue in Bengaluru on Wednesday Eager for a chance to discuss something other than COVID-19, many Bengalureans took to social media on Wednesday after hearing a loud 'bang' that could be felt across the city. Police sources ruled out an explosion, while an earthquake was also discounted. Now, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the sound was caused by a military aircraft going supersonic. "It was a routine IAF Test Flight involving a supersonic profile which took off from Bluru Airport and flew in the allotted airspace well outside City limits. The aircraft was of Aircraft Systems and Testing Establishment (ASTE) whose Test Pilots & Flight Test Engineers routinely test out all aeroplanes," a tweet by the PRO Bengaluru, Ministry of Defence said. "The sonic boom was probably heard while the Two IAF Su-30MKI jets flying during Garuda-VI in aircraft was decelerating from supersonic to France | Twitter handle of Indian Air Force subsonic speed between 36,000 and 40000 feet altitude," the MoD added. "The aircraft was far away from the city limits when this occurred. The sound of a sonic boom can be heard and felt by an observer even when the aircraft is flying as far away as 65 to 80 kilometres away from the person." According to their profile, the ASTE "conducts flight testing of aircraft, airborne systems and weapon stores prior to their induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF). Additionally, ASTE

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undertakes flight testing of airborne systems designed and developed by agencies such as DRDO for IAF." The MoD did not confirm which aircraft caused the sonic boom although media reports suggest that it was a SU-30MKI. Among the IAF's arsenal are seven fighter jets capable of going supersonic: The Mig-21, Mig- 29, Su-30MKI, the Mirage-2000, Dassault Rafale and SEPECAT Jaguar. Since ASTE conducts test of aircraft prior to being inducted, the plane is likely one that was either recently upgraded or purchased for the IAF. Both the Su-30MKI and the Mirage-2000 are due upgrades, with the latter's upgrade process having begun. In addition, flight testing of the combat-capable LCA Tejas Mk-1A is estimated to continue until 2022. https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/05/20/iaf-confirms-routine-test-flight-caused-bengaluru-sonic- boom.html

Tue, 26 May 2020 Squadron of IAF's only Param Vir Chakra awardee to fly Tejas jets The Flying Bullets will be the second IAF squadron to operate the Tejas Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria is scheduled to operationalise on May 27 (Thursday) the second squadron of the service that will fly the indigenously built Tejas fighter. The No. 18 'Flying Bullets' squadron of the Indian Air Force will begin formally operating the Tejas from the IAF base at Sulur near Coimbatore. Sulur is also home to the first Indian Air Force squadron that flies the Tejas, the No. 45 'Flying Daggers'. The Tejas jets that the Flying Bullets will receive will be more lethal than the ones operated by the Flying Daggers. The new jets being A collage of Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon and a Tejas jet | inducted will be the first full operational clearance IAF (FOC) versions of the Tejas that are cleared to fire long-range munitions and undertake aerial refuelling. No. 18 Flying Bullets is best known for being the squadron of late Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, the only Indian Air Force officer to be awarded India's highest military honour, the Param Vir Chakra. Sekhon was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his exploits in repelling an attack by a force of Pakistan Air Force F-86 Sabre jets on the Srinagar air field on December 14, 1971, during the India-Pakistan war over Bangladesh. Sekhon and the Flying Bullets were flying the British- designed Folland Gnat light-weight fighter, which was considered the smallest fighter aircraft of its times. The citation for Sekhon notes, "no fewer than six enemy aircraft were overhead, and they began bombing and strafing the airfield. In spite of the mortal danger of attempting to take off during the attack, Flying Officer Sekhon took off immediately and engaged a pair of the attacking Sabres. In the fight that ensued, he secured hits on one aircraft and set another on fire. By this time the other Sabre aircraft came to the aid of their hard-pressed companions and Flying Officer Sekhon’s Gnat was again outnumbered, this time by four to one. Even though alone, Flying Officer Sekhon 9

engaged the enemy in an unequal combat...” However, Sekhon's Gnat was hit and crashed, killing him. Interestingly, the Flying Bullets squadron was formed in 1965 using the Gnat fighters at Ambala. The squadron converted to the Ajeet, an Indian derivative of the Gnat, in 1975. In 1989, the squadron converted to the MiG-27 ground-attack aircraft and was ‘numberplated’ in 2016 with the retirement of those jets. Ironically, the No 18 Flying Bullets, which was formed using a light fighter, will be resurrected with another light fighter, the indigenous Tejas! https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/05/25/squadron-of-iaf-only-param-vir-chakra-awardee-to-fly- tejas-jets.html

Tue, 26 May 2020 Indian Air Force to operationalise No.18 Squadron at Coimbatore The No.18 Squadron, formed in 1965 with the motto 'Teevra aur Nirbhaya' meaning 'Swift and Fearless', was earlier flying MiG 27 aircraft Chennai: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will operationalise its No.18 Squadron at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu on May 27, equipping it with the fourth generation LCA Tejas aircraft. A PIB (Defence Wing) release here said IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will operationalise the squadron "Flying Bullets" at the Sulur Air Force Station near Coimbatore on Wednesday. "The Squadron will be equipped with LCA Tejas FOC (final operation clearance) aircraft and will be the second IAF Squadron to fly LCA Tejas," after the 45 Squadron based at Coimbatore, it said. The No.18 Squadron, formed in 1965 with the motto "Teevra aur Nirbhaya" meaning "Swift and Fearless," LCA Tejas. (File | EPS) was earlier flying MiG 27 aircraft. The Squadron "actively participated" in the 1971 war with Pakistan and was decorated with the highest gallantry award Param Vir Chakra awarded to Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon posthumously. "It earned the sobriquet Defenders of Kashmir Valley by being the first to land and operate from Srinagar," it said. "The Squadron was resurrected on April 1 this year at Sulur," the release added. According to the release, Tejas is an indigenous fourth generation tailless compound delta wing aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with fly-by-wire flight control system, integrated digital avionics, multimode radar and its structure is made of composite material. "It is the lightest and smallest in its group of fourth generation supersonic combat aircraft," the Defence release said. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/may/25/indian-air-force-to- operationalise-no18-squadron-at-coimbatore-2147740.html

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Tue, 26 May 2020 तेजस से लैस होगी वायु सेना क 18वीं क्वान, 27 मई कोयंबटू र से होगी शुआत भारतीय वायु सेना तमलनाडुु के कोयंबटू र म 27 मई को अपने उस 18व बेड़े क लाइंग बुलेट क शुआत करने जा रह है जो चौथी पीढ़ वाले वदेशी हलके् लड़ाकू वमान तेजस से लैस होगा चेननई् : भारतीय वाय ु सेना तमलनाडुु के कोयंबटू र म 27 मई को अपने 18व बेड़े क 'लाइंग बलेटु ' को शु करेगी। समाचार एजसी पीटआइ के मताु बक, यह बेड़ा चौथी पीढ़ वाले वदेशी हलके् लड़ाकू वमान यानी एलसीए तेजस से लैस होगा। भारतीय वायसेनाु के चीफ ऑफ एयर टाफ एयर चीफ माशल आरकेएस भदौरया इस लाइंग बलेटु को ऑपरेशनल करगे। कायम का आयोजन कोयंबटू र के पास सलु रू एयरफोस टेशन पर होगा। रा मंालय क ेस वित म कहा गया है क तेजस को उड़ाने वाल वायसेनाु क यह दसरू वान होगी। इससे पहले 45 वीं स् वान ऐसा कर चुक है। इस 18वीं स् वान क थापना 1965 म क गई थी। यह बेड़ा पहले मग-27 वमान उड़ा चुका है। इसका लय वाय है 'ती और नभय ' के साथ... इस वान को इसी साल पहल अैल को सलु रू म दोबारा शु कया गया था। बेड़े ने भारत और पाकतान के बीच साल 1971 म हुए यु ध म हसा लया था। इस सक् ्वान के लाइंग अधकार नमलजीत संह सेख को भारतीय वाय ु सेना तमलनाडु के कोयंबटू र म 27 मई को अपने उस 18व बेड़े क लाइंग बुलेट क मरणोपरांत सवच वीरता परु कार परमवीर च से समानत कया गया शुआत करने जा रह है जो चौथी पीढ़ वाले था। यह नहं यह वान ीनगर म डफ डस ऑफ कमीर वैल का पहला वदेशी हके लड़ाकू वमान तेजस से लैस होगा ाउंड बनाकर इसको संचालत भी कर चुक है। तेजस एक वदेशी चौथी पीढ़ का टेललेस कंपाउंड डेटा वंग (tailless compound delta wing) लड़ाकूू वमान है। मालमू हो क लड़ाकू वमान तेजस लाई-बाय-वायर लाइट कं ोल सटम, एककृ त डिजटल एवयोनस, मटमॉड रडार से लैस है। यह चौथी पीढ़ के सपरसोु नक लड़ाकू वमान क सीरज का सबसे हका और सबसे छोटा वमान है। हाल ह म देश म नमत हके लड़ाकू वमान तेजस के नौसैनक संकरण ने वमानवाहक पोत आइएनएस वमादय के 'क-जंप' डेक से सफलतापवू क उड़ान भर थी। वमानवाहक पोत पर तेजस क सफल लडंग और टेकऑफ के साथ ह भारत उन चु नंदा देश के समहू म शामल हो गया था जो ऐसे लड़ाकू वमान क डजाइन म सम ह और संचालन वमानवाह पोत से कया जा सकता है। सरकार वमान नमाता कंपनी हंदुु तान एरोनॉटकस लमटेड (एचएएल) भी तेजस उतपादन् मता बढ़ाने पर काम कर रह है। तेजस हलका् होने क वजह से तेजी दशु मन् को छकाने म सम है। https://www.jagran.com/news/national-indian-air-force-18th-squadron-with-lca-tejas-to-be- operational-on-may-27-at-sulur-20307230.html

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Defence Strategic National/International

Tue, 26 May 2020 Modi 2.0 anniversary: From MH-60 Romeo Helicopters to R-27 Missiles, Major defence deals inked by NDA govt in last 1 year Since romping home to power for a second successive term on May 30, 2019 post a landslide win in the General Elections, the PM Modi-led NDA govt better known as ‘Modi 2.0’, has inked some major game changing defence deals to equip, modernize and bolster the armory and arsenal of the armed forces One of the cornerstones of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government’s policy framework has been the strengthening and modernization of the armed forces to safeguard and protect the nation from any external threat or act of war from a foreign adversary. The Modi 2.0 government has been at the forefront in leaving no stone unturned to strengthen the nation’s defense through its policy of equipping and arming the defence forces with the cutting edge weapon systems and augmenting the military might of the nation. While the Modi government continues to push and promote its focus on self reliance and indigenization in defence manufacturing and production through its well crafted 'Make In India' via public private partnership, it has also been proactive in inking major deals to purchase state- AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopters of-art and the best-in-class weaponry from the world leaders (Image: AFP/Getty Images) nations like the United States, Israel, Russia in defense and security system. Since romping home to power for a second successive term on May 30, 2019 post a landslide win in the General Elections, the PM Modi-led NDA govt better known as ‘Modi 2.0’ in political parlance, has inked some major game changing deals to equip, modernize and bolster the armory and arsenal of the armed forces. The 'Modi 2.0' Sarkar has a holistic and long term vision to add muscle and teeth to all the three arms by purchasing attack helicopters, anti-aircraft missiles, rifles and light machine guns. Here are some of the major defence deals signed by Modi 2.0 government during its one year of completion at office – 1. India Inks USD 3 Billion Deal With United States for Buying 24 MH-60 Romeo And Apache Helicopters - Feb 26 The Modi-led NDA government signed a whooping USD 3 billion deal with the United States on February 26 for purchasing 24 MH-60R Romeo helicopters for the Indian Navy and six AH- 64E Apache attack helicopters for the Indian Army.

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The multi-billion helicopter deal will prove pivotal in enhancing the aerial combativeness and surveillance capabilities of both the Indian Navy and Indian Army. The MH-60R Romeo helicopters built by Lockheed Martin will replace India's old fleet of British-made Sea King choppers. The MH-60 Romeo choppers will be acquired by the Indian Navy after several failed attempts to replace their aging Sea King fleet. The Apache helicopters are replacements for the Russian origin Mi-35s and are known for their ability to take down high-value targets. 2. India Inks Rs 1,500 Crore Deal With Russia to Buy R-27 Missiles - July, 2019 The Indian Air Force (IAF) signed a Rs 1500 crores deal with Russia for buying R-27 air-to-air missiles. The missiles will be fitted on the IAF's multi-role Su-30MKI fighter jet. The missiles will further boost the air-to-air combat capability of the Indian Air Force. "A contract has been signed with Russia for the acquisition of R-27 air-to-air missile to be fitted on the Su-30MKI combat aircraft fleet of the Indian Air Force," government sources said. The R-27 missile is designed to destroy air targets in adverse weather conditions at any time of day. 3. India and Israel Sign Rs 880 Crore Defence Deal - March 19, 2020 On March 19, 2020, the Indian Armed Forces operating under the Ministry of Defence signed a Rs 880 crore agreement with the Israel Weapons Industry (IWI) to procure 16,479 Negev Light Machine Guns (LMGs). The Light Machine Gun (LMG) is a very important weapon used by the infantry troops of the Indian Army deployed at the forward post along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) to carry out fire assault on enemy posts, bunkers and vantage points as and when the conditions deem such an action to be taken. First introduced by Israel Weapons Industry in 2012, the Negev NG-7 7.62×51mm is in service with the Israel Defense Forces and several other militaries around the world. With a barrel length of 508 mm, the LMG can be fired in the semi-automatic and fully automatic modes as well be used to lob grenades. 4. Modi Govt Spends Rs 8,500 Crores to Procure Spice-2000, Strum Ataka ATGMs Just after 50 days of completing its second term in office post winning the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with a thumping majority, the Modi government swung into action to fulfill its commitment on strengthening the defence forces by spending Rs 8,500 crores in procuring missiles such as the Spice-2000, Strum Ataka ATGMs and a large number of spares under the emergency procurement route. After the barbaric attack carried out by Pak-backed terrorists on security forces in Kashmir's Pulwama, the Union government had vested emergency powers to the three services to buy whatever equipment is required by them for safeguarding the borders with Pakistan. https://news.abplive.com/news/india/modi-2-0-anniversary-major-defence-deals-inked-by-pm-modi-led- nda-government-1242790

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Tue, 26 May 2020 Delivery date of Indian Navy Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant once again delayed Sea trials of India’s indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant have been delayed again. Senior naval sources say the Covid-19 pandemic has set back the start of trials by at least six months – perhaps more if the lockdown and travel restrictions continue. The first phase of the warship’s trials – termed basin trials – was initially scheduled to begin on March 12 at Cochin Shipyard Ltd, where INS Vikrant has been constructed. However, construction delays caused that to be moved back to April. Then, with the Covid-19 crisis, the navy says trials are unlikely to begin before September/October. The long-delayed warship was scheduled to be Indian Navy Computer Model of INS Vikrant ready by the end of 2018, but due to delay in getting (Picture source: Indian Internet) aviation equipment from Russia, the delivery date has been postponed. For the record, the engines onboard the first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier being constructed at Kochi have been fired up. In his Navy Day press meeting last December, the Navy Chief, Admiral Karambir Singh, said the navy would have a fully operational INS Vikrant before the end of 2022. The Covid-19 pandemic has already pushed that back to 2023 and further delays are possible. About INS Vikrant The INS Vikrant is the first indigenous aircraft carrier design being undertaken by the nation of India. It is one of two planned vessels in the new "Vikrant-class" of surface warships and has seen construction begin in 2009. The Indian Navy’s first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant is currently under the third phase of construction. INS Vikrant is a 260 meters long and 60 meters wide vessel displacing 37,500-tonnes. The maximum speed of the ship is announced at 28 knots, with a range of 7,500 nautical miles at a speed of 18 knots. INS Vikrant is set to receive a large crew complement composed of 160 officers and 1,400 sailors. The aircraft carrier will be able to accommodate up to 30 fighters and helicopters, including Mig-29K fighters jets and Ka-31 helicopters. The Vikrant will be equipped with 4 x 76mm Otobreda dual-purpose cannons and backed by several surface-to-air missile emplacements. For short-ranged work against incoming aircraft or missiles, a digitally-controlled Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) will be installed. A Selex RAN- 40L L-band early warning radar system will be part of the defensive network of sensor and systems processing. https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2020/may-2020/8477-delivery- date-of-indian-navy-aircraft-carrier-ins-vikrant-once-again-delayed.html

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Tue, 26 May 2020 Casting doubt on standards of quality control, blaming ordnance factories alone for ammunition-related accidents unfair The article Indian Army concerns over quality control, weekly ammunition – related accidents: Why Centre is pushing to corporatize OFB published on 23 May 2020 makes a number of sweeping statements which are incorrect and based on an understanding that is incomplete. The article is misleading and unrepresentative of the truth. The article specifically mentions the frequency of accidents, poor quality, irregular supplies, 130 mm ammunition, BMCS, Mine NMM 14 and 40mm UBGL ammunition. Casting doubt on standards of quality control, blaming ordnance factories alone for ammunition- related accidents unfair. The contention that officers of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) did not attend the meeting on 14 February following an accident in Rajasthan is incorrect. The meeting was attended by a senior officer of the OFB and detailed discussions were held regarding the methodology of revalidation which is to be completed by June 2020. The issue of poor quality is incorrect as is evident from the system of early user exploitation introduced in 2013, wherein 1 percent of each lot is subjected to firing in an attempt to identify manufacturing defects. The results of this system have demonstrated a success rate of 99.8 percent which is world-class. The ability of the ordnance factories to produce world-class ammunition is also established by the placement of repeat export orders of ammunition supplied under self- certification. The indication in the article that the ordnance factories get away with substandard products as the army is solely dependant on them for the supply of ammunition is incorrect. The ammunition has to meet the quality assurance (QA) plans approved by the QA agency which are based on documents supplied by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Related to the alleged poor quality of ammunition is the issue of accidents. Defect investigation of accidents is undertaken by multi-agency technical teams where the army is also represented. Recommendations of these committees, some of which are even more stringent than those of the OEMs such as 100 percent X-ray of ammunition and chrome passivation of brass cartridges, have been implemented. Accidents, however, can have a multiplicity of causes which may also relate to aspects of weapon design, deviation from usage protocols, maintenance of weapons, and storage conditions of the ammunition. OFB has always requested for the adoption of a holistic approach which is yet to be fully implemented. The article specifically refers to 130 mm ammunition and the issue of dynamic balancing. Dynamic balancing has been implemented and a number of lots have been accepted by the QA agency after proof firing. Lots of ammunition have been produced under controlled conditions and strict implementation of all the recommendations of the defect investigation committees. Recurrence of accidents after implementation of all the recommendations of these committees indicate a limited understanding of the underlying causes of the accidents and call for a holistic approach to such an exercise. Regarding the comments pertaining to the development of ammunition, OFB would like to state that it has entered into the area of design only since 2006 and has had a number of notable successes.

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Delays in the development occur due to delays in user evaluation trials, often due to infrastructural constraints. In some cases, there have been delays of over a decade. Unrealistic specifications, a fact admitted to recently by the top echelons of the army, and mid-stream alterations of specifications are some of the other usual causes. Any change is specifications including those in packaging have to be subjected to the same rigorous process of user evaluation. A reference was also made to the Bi-Modular Charge System (BMCS) manufactured by the Ordnance Factory Nalanda. The BMCS is a success story of indigenisation under the Make In India policy where after the initial teething troubles were settled by a joint committee, BMCS is being regularly supplied to the Indian Army at a price which is well below the imported price. At this point, it would be well worth mentioning that the ordnance factories have an established tradition of indigenisation with an overall indigenous content of over 90 percent in its products and 97 percent in ammunition. The allegation pertaining to the inability to supply anti-tank mines is not based on an understanding of facts. These mines have not been designed by the ordnance factories. Multiple reviews by all stakeholders have been unable to remove the design deficiencies and the mines have been unable to meet the acceptance criteria for shelf life. Shortage of Mine NMM-14 has been alluded to. The delay in manufacture occurred precisely because they were not “relatively simple” to manufacture as ignorantly asserted in the article. Indigenous vendors were unable to supply mine bodies and supplies have only recently stabilised after the successful multi-pronged vendor development strategy undertaken by the Ordnance Factory Chandrapur. The 40mm UBGL ammunition is not the main weapon of T-72/T-90 tanks as has been incorrectly mentioned in the article. Several variants of 40 mm ammunition have been developed by the Ammunition Factory Khadki and successfully supplied to customers. The user evaluation trials by the army are underway. Statements relating to shortages of ammunition are also incorrect. Adequate stocks exist with the army for all the calibres of ammunition regularly indented by the army. All short term demand surges are also being met. Supply of spare parts is not erratic as claimed by the article as there is no uniform demand for spare parts. https://www.defencenews.in/article/Casting-doubt-on-standards-of-quality-control,-blaming-ordnance- factories-alone-for-ammunition-related-accidents-unfair-840758

Tue, 26 May 2020 Private sector willing to work on Indigenous short-range air defense missiles Some of the Private sector companies in India have approached the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and have requested to give them funding to built Man-portable short-range air defense missiles in a deal worth $ 1.4 billion which Russia has won for its IGLA-S system for Indian forces’ immediate requirement of 800 launchers and more than 5,000 missiles under the VSHORADS (Very Short- Range Air Defence System) program. Under the VSHORADS program all three services, beginning with the Army demanded man- portable and shoulder-fired short-range air defense missiles against low-flying threats from the air 16

with a range of 6-8 km up to a height of 3 km. The combined tri-service requirement will be close to 15000 missiles in a deal worth close to $ 4 billion. VSHORADS program has been in several controversies over the years and the Indian Army has been accused of favoring the Russian system even though it failed to clear all technical trials. idrw.org has been informed that some of the leading Private sector companies are willing to develop a similar product in less than two years and enter testing and technical trials by the third year and enter production their after. With Make in India 2.0 thrust by the Government and MOD in the defense sector, Private sector companies who FIM-92 Stinger have approached MOD are hopeful that they will be allowed to present their concept and project details before actual work on the missile system is sanctioned. (Note: Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of idrw.org in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copyright strikes) https://idrw.org/private-sector-willing-to-work-on-indigenous-short-range-air-defense-missiles/#more- 228057

Tue, 26 May 2020 How India can end Chinese transgressions: Take conflict to a place Beijing is worried about India can't deter China from using Himalayan skirmishes unless it goes on the offensive elsewhere. New Delhi's message must be: 'Do not poke us here and we won't poke you there' By Nitin Pai How should India to another surge in Chinese transgressions at several places along our Himalayan frontiers? Over the past 15 years or so, strategic analysts have recommended two diametrically opposite approaches. The first, advocated by sober defence traditionalists and by hawks, is that we should hold the line along the Himalayas and escalate the conflict if we have to. They point out that Indian troops enjoy favourable positions in many places, and our strength has been bolstered over the past 10 years with more mountain forces and better infrastructure and equipment. The objective of this approach, they contend, is to make the Chinese realise that they can’t ‘win’ this game. The second approach, generally favoured by diplomats, economists and many politicians, is that we should defuse the situation through talks and negotiations, because we cannot afford tensions and adversarial relations with China ‘at this time’. Even before the ongoing coronavirus pandemic crisis, India’s development agenda required that we do not get distracted by military conflicts, not least with a more powerful neighbour, which is also an important economic South China Sea (Representational image) Photo: www.pacom.mil partner. Transgressions are an instrument of Chinese policy The political resultant of these two approaches gives us the situation we have today. There is a pattern of ‘normal’ transgression of the disputed boundary by both India and China to ensure that the respective claims are protected. Over and above this, there is a pattern of creeping but consistent forward movement by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) — which not

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only fortifies new positions on its territory but also transgresses into areas that we presumed were de facto ‘settled’, at least at the local level. When Indian troops resist this and the field-level mechanisms fail to resolve the matter, the situation flares up and becomes a political challenge for the Indian government. We first try to underplay the issue, then official spokespersons exchange strong words and finally top leaders talk to each other. A few formal or informal summits later, things quieten down for a year or so, until it happens all over again. While this keeps the tension levels down for a while, it does nothing to discourage China from expanding its transgressions. Furthermore, it hands Beijing a cheap instrument to apply pressure on the Indian political leadership. Just look at the current discourse — no one knows why the Chinese are doing this now. Beijing won’t tell us, for that would defeat its purpose. Because we do not know what exactly caused the Chinese response, we ask ourselves whether it was due to 5G, FDI policy, the WHO investigation, the Article 370 move, the new road in Nepal, some new military positions on the border and so on. So, a few skirmishes on some remote, barren Himalayan valleys and India starts considering whether it should get onto the back foot on so many issues concerning China. Little wonder the Chinese refuse to tell us where their claim lines are. Little wonder that they don’t tell us why they are upping the ante now. Shift the maritime balance in East Asia We find ourselves in this unhappy situation because we have failed to literally think out of the box. Escalating the conflict on our borders is not in India’s interests beyond a point because having to fight a war will set us back. Relying on talks to kick the can down the road plays into Beijing’s hands. A better approach — as I have argued for well over a decade — is to shift the conflict away from our Himalayan boundaries to the waters of the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. India should demonstrate that it is willing and capable of influencing the maritime balance in East Asia, where China faces off a combination of the United States, Vietnam, Australia, Indonesia and sometimes Malaysia and the Philippines as well. Warning that a cold war is heating up in these waters, James Stavridis, former chief of the US navy, argues that the “key for the U.S. is to gradually bend Chinese behavior without breaking the international relationship in a way that leads into a Cold War or armed conflict. The best way to do that is to bring more international allies into the freedom of navigation patrols…”. Many countries in the region will welcome a stronger Indian role. Given the maritime balance, a relatively small naval expeditionary force can have a disproportionate impact in a theatre that Beijing is acutely worried about. New Delhi’s message should be: “Do not poke us here and we will not poke you there.” Utilise ties with Southeast Asian Nations India should have done this in 2010, but it’s still not too late. We must immediately increase naval operations east of the Malacca Straits and follow up with a rapid tri-service expeditionary capability in the Indian Ocean Region. This should grow into an expeditionary command. Instead of informal summits with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Narendra Modi must meet the leaders of Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore and Timor-Leste. The defence relationships we have built with many Southeast Asian countries over the years can be quietly utilised. I do not think we can deter China from using Himalayan skirmishes to throw us off balance unless we go on the offensive elsewhere. The South China Sea/Indian Ocean Region maritime domain presents us with the best options: they are far from our borders but not too far; we have the military capabilities to pursue the option; naval power is flexible; and the regional geopolitical context is favourable.

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Of course, we can cite many reasons why this is too bold, too aggressive and too risky, and go back to our tried, tested and failed approach. And I can recycle this column again next year. (The author is the director of the Takshashila Institution, an independent centre for research and education in public policy. Views are personal.) https://theprint.in/opinion/india-chinese-transgression-conflict-beijing-worried/429081/

Science & Technology News

Tue, 26 May 2020 ISRO’s love-hate relationship with private sector – A look back at history Why does the private sector love and hate ISRO? By Pallav Bagla The surprising announcement by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman that ‘Indian private sector will be a co-traveller in India’s space journey’ was jarring at one level and music at another. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has had a love-hate relationship with the private sector. There are many legal, regulatory, quality assurance and cultural issues that makes it a clash of cultures. Privatisation of and at ISRO is not a new concept; the first time one heard of hiving off the Polar Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to the private sector was exactly 20 years ago—it never materialised as there are legal hurdles. That said, even today, 75-80% of the components of the launch vehicle are manufactured by the private industry so the industry is already subcontractor but not owner. Many Indian companies want to develop their own rocket and satellite technologies and use the taxpayer paid testing facilities at ISRO to try out their products, for which ISRO can charge a fee. Since ISRO is both the judge and jury by owning technologies and being the regulator for space activities, it is reluctant to give up control. But the new initiative by the government may act as a catalyst. In a statement, ISRO said ‘ will follow government guidelines and enable private players to carry out space activities in the country.’ This is music to many new space start-up initiatives, but there can be many a slip between the cup and the lip. On the other hand, it was jarring to hear Sitharaman talk about ‘future interplanetary exploration’ when India struggles with an unprecedented humanitarian crisis of not being able to provide decent transport to migrants being displaced due to Covid-19. The ‘long march’ (pun intended as the Chinese rockets are named Long March) continues. Space is known to be a risky business and no fainthearted can survive in this sector. Returns are high but liabilities are equally high; the lack of a robust Parliament enacted ‘Indian ’ or as ISRO calls it ‘’ is the biggest stumbling block. For three years it remains just a draft. How liability will be channelled in case of a disaster is not clear. All liabilities are borne by the Indian state or in effect the taxpayer cushions failures. Possibly, rightly so. The Indian private industry, one has repeatedly seen, loves to work with ISRO but mostly as subcontractors, vendors and component suppliers; it is mostly merit that plays out in the tendering process at ISRO and payments are relatively prompt. But big-time private participation with ISRO has often run into hurdles, one of the episodes is so big that, as a fallout, ISRO has started ‘physical

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distancing’ (pardon the pun) from its own flagship PSU Antrix. The last time another private player, then a start-up, tried to make use of ISRO resources, it went belly up—it was TeamIndus. The last time a private player partnered in a big way with ISRO was Devas Multimedia in 2005 in a multi-million dollar contract. But it catapulted by 2010 into what is called the S-band scandal. ISRO was to make and launch two (GSAT 6 and GSAT 6A) and Devas was to provide the ground segment and the connectivity was to be given using the S-band frequency. It was made out to be a Rs 2 lakh crore scandal and finally the contract was annulled. One of our boldest scientists G Madhavan Nair paid the price for this. Devas has been winning cases in international tribunals and the sword of Damocles of coughing up billions of dollars in damages hangs over Antrix with liability passing on to the Department of Space (DOS) and the government of India— the fallout is DOS started treating Antrix as a stepchild. DOS has even floated a new company called New Space India Ltd, and all business is being diverted to it. This is probably part of a well-calculated strategy for Antrix to become a non-entity and to be left only with liabilities and no assets before declaring it bankrupt. But the liabilities of up to $2 billion may still pass on to the government of India. Looking at this unfortunate tug of war in what the famous space scientist Kiran Karnik called ‘a squeaky clean organisation’, one would be surprised if big players may still want to be full but subordinate partners in India’s space ambitions. The other case where a private entity wanted to utilise resources of ISRO was TeamIndus—a group of Bengaluru-based starry-eyed entrepreneurs who dreamt of landing a satellite on the and bagging the Lunar X Prize. They ran out of money and the prize itself was shelved. But in this TeamIndus and ISRO deal, there was constant friction and the falling out between the bold start-up and ISRO was quite bitter, to say the least. The biggest unsaid contention was that puny TeamIndus wanted to achieve what the mammoth Indian space agency wanted to do—i.e. soft land on the moon. ISRO had its own Chandrayaan-2 in preparation, and TeamIndus’s Ek Choti Si Asha (a tiny hope)—as its was named—was all set to steal the thunder from ISRO’s Vikram and space crafts. That both ended with badly bruised egos in trying to become the fourth global entity to soft land on the moon is another story. But again a private entity that had an infatuation with ISRO literally retired hurt. On the other hand, in satellite fabrication, there have been some inroads. Alpha Design Technologies of Bengaluru integrated two satellites for ISRO that have been successfully launched. The design, components and quality control was all with ISRO, only the integration—a precision operation—was done by Alpha engineers. Similarly, a few other private players are working on integration of satellites. Bharat Electronics Ltd and Tata Advanced Systems would also help integrate satellites. In all, 27 satellites are to be integrated with help from the private sector. Experts suggest Indian satellites have about 70% imported components, so an active approach of achieving self-reliance should be adopted. Recently, DOS made an effort to launch a private sector integrated PSLV rocket for which a consortium of industries have been roped in. This is not the same as private sector owning the PSLV launch. There was also talk of forming a JV company for hiving off PSLV, but then the lack of a ‘space law’ is a big hurdle. Another proposal is the private sector manufactures PSLV and then sells it to ISRO, which then launches, and here the liability will remain with ISRO. Many different templates have been there, but nothing has reached the launch-pad. Today, there is not even a ‘space Bill’, only a ‘draft’ was circulated in which the big red rag for the private industry was the fact that it stated that ‘any form of intellectual property right developed, generated or created on board a space object in outer space shall be deemed to be the property of the central government.’ Many small new-age space start-ups have been mastering satellite technology and some even attempted but failed to successfully orbit an Indian made satellite.

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In space fairing who takes care of the risk in event of a disaster is a big challenge, and today since the sole owner of space technologies in India is DOS, all liabilities are channelled to the government of India. It’s for this reason that ISRO does not take the very expensive insurance of its rockets. I recall the failure of a GSLV in 2006 when it veered off trajectory and was destroyed in mid-air over the Bay of Bengal soon after lift-off. The range safety officer who pulled the trigger on the Rs 300 crore mission said ‘I am not a destroyer but a saviour, I saved Chennai’! Who takes responsibility and who pays for ensuing liabilities are a big issue for private partners. The other issue for rocketry is it has dual-use technologies and ISRO seeks to keep control of strategic know-how of the strategic technologies. Launch vehicles and missiles share a lot of technologies and India is jittery of letting the know-how pass on to private players. The technocrats at DOS will have to adopt a whole new work culture if Sitharaman’s pronouncement has to come into full force. ISRO will obviously make favourable noises. If the Indian space agency is serious about this new push for privatisation, then it should introduce the ‘space law’ in Parliament in the Monsoon session or at least before the new Parliament Complex is made. India is a hot spot for developing frugal space missions, but will ISRO embrace the private sector remains an open question. A desi-SpaceX or a desi-Boeing could be a reality if Sitharaman’s wishes gallop on rocket engines rather than horses. (The author has followed India’s space developments for decades; his latest book is ‘Reaching for the Stars: India’s Journey to Moon, Mars and Beyond’ by Bloomsbury. [email protected]) https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/isros-love-hate-relationship-with-private-sector-a-look-back-at- history/1970400/

Tue, 26 May 2020 China on track for July launch of Mars rover mission Beijing has invested billions of dollars in its space programme aiming to catch up with the US and affirm its status as a major world power Beijing: China is targeting a July launch for its ambitious plans for a Mars mission that will include landing a remote-controlled robot on the surface of the red planet, the company in charge of the project has said. Beijing has invested billions of dollars in its space programme in an effort to catch up with its rival the United States and affirm its status as a major world power. The Mars mission is among a number of new space projects China is pursuing, including putting Chinese astronauts on the moon and having a space station by 2022. This artist's concept depicts the rover Curiosity, Beijing had been planning the Mars mission for of NASA's mission, as it uses its Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) sometime this year, but China Aerospace Science and instrument to investigate the composition of a Technology Corporation (CASC) has confirmed it could rock surface. (Representative Image | NASA) come as early as July. “This big project is progressing as planned and we are targeting a launch in July,” CASC said in a statement issued on Sunday. CASC is the main contractor for China’s space programme.

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Called “Tianwen”, the Chinese mission will put a probe into orbit around Mars and land the robotic rover to explore and analyse the surface. It will take several months to cover the roughly 55 million kilometres (31 million miles) distance between Earth and Mars, which is ever-changing due to their planetary orbits. China has already carried out a similar mission to the Moon, and in January 2019 landed a small rover on the dark side of the lunar surface, becoming the first nation to do so. The US, which has already sent four exploratory vehicles to Mars, intends to launch a fifth this summer. It should arrive around February 2021. The United Arab Emirates plans to launch the first Arab probe to the Red Planet on July 15 from Japan. https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/in-other-news/250520/china-on-track-for-july-launch-of- mars-rover-mission.html

Tue, 26 May 2020 Largest and hottest shield volcano on Earth discovered Its size is not related to the thin lithosphere, slow plate motion, or a fertile source By Amit Malewar A team of volcanologists and ocean explorers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) have discovered the largest and hottest shield volcano on Earth. They utilized a few lines of evidence to determine Pūhāhonu, a volcano within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, holds this distinction. Until now, Mauna Loa, a culturally-significant and active shield volcano were thought to be the largest volcano in the world. It is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaiʻi in the Pacific Ocean. Before coming to this conclusion, scientists studied the ocean floor along the mostly submarine Hawaiian leeward volcano chain. They chemically examined the rocks in the UH Mānoa rock collection The only remnants of Pūhāhonu that are above sea and modeled the results of these studies. They found level (Gardner Pinnacles). Credit: NOAA. that Pūhāhonu is nearly twice as big as Mauna Loa. Pūhāhonu means “turtle rising for breath” in Hawaiian. Michael Garcia, a lead author of the study and retired professor of earth sciences at SOEST, said, “It has been proposed that hotspots that produce volcano chains like Hawaiʻi undergo progressive cooling over 1-2 million years and then die. However, we have learned from this study that hotspots can undergo pulses of melt production. A small pulse created the Midway cluster of now extinct volcanoes and another, much bigger one created Pūhāhonu. This will rewrite the textbooks on how mantle plumes work.” In 1974, Pūhāhonu was suspected as the largest Hawaiian volcano based on minimal data. Ensuing investigations of the Hawaiian Islands reasoned that Mauna Loa was the largest volcano. However, they included the root of the volcano that is beneath the seafloor that was not considered in the 1974 study. The new comprehensive surveying and modeling, using methods similar to those used for Mauna Loa, show that Pūhāhonu is the largest.

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Journal Reference: 1. Michael O.Garcia et al, Pūhāhonu: Earth’s biggest and hottest shield volcano. DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116296 https://www.techexplorist.com/largest-and-hottest-shield-volcano-on-earth-discovered/32516/

Mon, 25 May 2020 Working from home, indian-origin Scientist creates Fifth state of matter Its size is not related to the thin lithosphere, slow plate motion, or a fertile source By Ria Das Dr Amruta Gadge, a physicist based in the UK, has reportedly created the fifth state of matter, while working from home, during the coronavirus lockdown. She has reportedly used her computer to conduct the experiments remotely during the ongoing lockdown. According to the Lab News, Dr Gadge, who works in the Quantum Systems and Devices Laboratory at the University of Sussex, has created a Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) — considered to be the fifth state of matter (where cold atoms comprise together like a single entity). Researchers at the university’s quantum department believe this is the first time someone has created BEC remotely in a lab. ndian-origin physicist stays two miles away from the lab. She reportedly used the technology on her computer to control lasers and radio waves and create the BEC. Now, researchers are saying that this achievement could provide a blueprint for operating quantum tech in space or underwater. Key Takeaways: Dr Amruta Gadge from the Quantum Systems and Devices Laboratory has created a Bose- Einstein Condensate (BEC) – considered to be the fifth state of matter. Peter Krüger, professor of experimental physics at the University of Sussex, believes the fifth state of matter is “produced when the atoms in a gas become ionized.” This research is based on the prediction of Albert Einstein and Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose from mid-1920s which stated that quantum mechanics can be used as a force to clump a large number of particles to behave like a single particle, thus the research of fifth matter was introduced. What is the fifth state of matter? The development research of the fifth state of matter follows after the establishment of other four matters — solid, liquid, gas and plasma. Peter Krüger, professor of experimental physics at the University of Sussex, believes the fifth state of matter is “produced when the atoms in a gas become ionized.” Talking about the experiment and having a satisfactory result in hand, he said, “We are all extremely excited that we can continue to conduct our experiments remotely during lockdown, and any possible future lockdowns.” This research is based on the prediction of Albert Einstein and Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose from mid-1920s which stated that quantum mechanics can be used as a force to clump a large number of particles to behave like a single particle, thus the research of fifth matter was introduced. “Enhancing the capabilities of remote lab control is relevant for research applications 23

aimed at operating quantum technology in inaccessible environments such as space, underground, in a submarine, or in extreme climates,” Peter further added. When asked Dr Gadge about her complex experiments and calculations, and how she managed to do it from her home, she explained, “The research team has been observing lockdown and working from home and so we have not been able to access our labs for weeks. The process has been a lot slower than if I had been in the lab as the experiment is unstable and I’ve had to give 10 to 15 minutes of cooling time between each run.” She concluded, “This is obviously not as efficient and way more laborious to do manually because I’ve not been able to do systematic scans or fix the instability like I could working in the lab. But we were determined to keep our research going so we have been exploring new ways of running our experiments remotely.” Why the fifth state of matter is important Researchers claim this is an important feat in modern science as it could help them to operate quantum tech remotely in otherwise inaccessible environments like space or underwater. “This is obviously not as efficient and way more laborious to do manually because I’ve not been able to do systematic scans or fix the instability like I could working in the lab. But we were determined to keep our research going so we have been exploring new ways of running our experiments remotely.” The professor explained, “We use multiple carefully timed steps of laser and radio wave cooling to prepare rubidium gases at these ultra-low temperatures. This requires accurate computer control of laser light, magnets and electric currents in microchips based on vigilant monitoring of environmental conditions in the lab while nobody is able to be there to check in person.” https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/working-from-home-indian-origin-scientist-creates-fifth-state-of-matter

COVID-19 Research News

Tue, 26 May 2020 Research reveals gene role in both dementia and severe Covid-19 Having two copies of e4 variant of ApoE gene linked to double risk of severe Covid-19, study suggests By Nicola Davis People with a genetic mutation that increases the risk of dementia also have a greater chance of having severe Covid-19, researchers have revealed. The study is the latest to suggest genetics may play a role in why some people are more vulnerable to the coronavirus than others, and could help explain why people with dementia have been hard hit: dementia is one of the most common underlying health conditions among those who have died from Covid-19 in England and Wales. “It is not just age: this is an example of a specific gene variant causing vulnerability in some people,” said David Melzer, a professor of epidemiology and public health at Exeter University and a co-author of the study.

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Writing in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, Melzer and colleagues report how they analysed data from the UK Biobank, a research endeavour that has collected genetic and health data on 500,000 volunteers aged between 48 and 86. The team focused on a gene called ApoE – this gives rise to proteins involved in carrying fats around the body, and can exist in several forms. One such variant, called “e4”, is known to affect cholesterol levels and processes involved in inflammation, as well as increasing the risk of heart disease and dementia. The researchers found 9,022 of almost 383,000 Biobank participants of European ancestry studied had two copies of the e4 variant, while more than 223,000 had two copies of a variant called “e3”. The former, the team add, have a risk of dementia up to 14-fold higher than the latter. The study is the latest to suggest genetics may play a role in why some people are more The team then looked at positive tests for Covid-19 vulnerable to the coronavirus than others. between 16 March and 26 April when testing for the Photograph: Anton Vaganov/Reuters coronavirus was largely carried out in hospitals, suggesting the cases were severe. The results reveal 37 people who tested positive for Covid-19 had two copies of the e4 variant of ApoE, while 401 had two copies of the e3 variant. After taking into account various factors, including age and sex, the team say people with two e4 variants had more than double the risk of severe Covid-19 than those with two e3 variants. Melzer said the findings were not down to people with two e4 variants being more likely to be living in a care home – settings that have been hard hit by Covid-19 – since the association remained even when the team excluded participants with a diagnosis of dementia. None of the Covid-19 positive participants with two e4 variants of the ApoE gene had a dementia diagnosis. “It is pretty bulletproof – whatever associated disease we remove, the association is still there. So it looks as if it is the gene variant that is doing it … This association is not driven by people who actually have dementia,” said Melzer. The team say further work is needed to unpick the link. Prof Tara Spires-Jones, an expert in neurodegeneration at the University of Edinburgh who was not involved in the study, said the large number of Biobank participants meant the association between the ApoE genetic variants and Covid-19 risk was robust, but stressed the study did not prove the former caused the latter. Nevertheless, she said, the study was important. “It is possible that the role of ApoE in the immune system is important in the disease and future research may be able to harness this to develop effective treatments,” she said. Fiona Carragher, a director of research and influencing at Alzheimer’s Society, said people with dementia and their families were desperately worried, adding the government must take urgent action to protect people with dementia. But, she said, more research was needed to delve into the possible link between the e4 variant of ApoE and severe Covid-19. “Other factors may contribute, so it is difficult to draw firm conclusions at this stage. But clearly much more in-depth research is urgently needed to fully understand why people with dementia seem to be at a higher risk and to what extent factors like ethnicity and genetics might play a role,” she said. But Prof David Curtis, honorary professor at the UCL Genetics Institute, urged caution. He noted that among the study’s limitations, diagnoses of dementia in recent years are unlikely to be captured, meaning that the link between the e4 variant and severe Covid-19 may still be driven by more people with two e4 variants having dementia than those with two e3 variants. “I’m afraid this study does not really convince me that the ApoE e4 allele [gene variant] is really an independent risk factor for severe Covid-19 infection,” he said. “I would want to see this tested in a sample where dementia could be more confidently excluded, perhaps a younger cohort. I am sure additional data will soon emerge to illuminate this issue.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/26/research-reveals-gene-role-in-both-dementia-and-severe- covid-19 25

Tue, 26 May 2020 Fujifilm research into COVID-19 drug spills into June, dashing hope of May approval Tokyo: Research into Fujifilm Holdings Corp’s (4901.T) Avigan will continue into June, Japan’s government said on Tuesday, effectively dashing hopes by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that the drug would be approved as a COVID-19 treatment this month. Abe had said he hoped the drug would be approved in May if its efficacy and safety could be confirmed. “The company will continue research into next month or so, and if an application for approval is received from the company, it will be promptly reviewed,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a regular briefing when asked about Avigan. Suga said trials of a coronavirus vaccine could begin as early as July, raising expectations about a candidate developed by Osaka University and biopharmaceutical firm AnGes Inc (4563.T). Kyodo News late on Monday reported the government had given up on Avigan’s May timeline. Last week, the news agency said an interim study showed no clear evidence of the drug’s efficacy in COVID-19 cases. During an earnings briefing on May 22, Fujifilm Senior Vice President Junji Okada declined to comment on when Avigan might be approved. The company did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on Tuesday. Avigan is the subject of at least 16 trials worldwide, though there is concern the drug has been shown to cause birth defects in animal studies. File Photo: A tablet of Avigan (generic name: Japan’s government has called on Fujifilm to triple Favipiravir), a drug developed as an anti- national stockpiles of Avigan, approved in 2014 as an influenza treatment by a subsidiary of Fujifilm Holdings, is displayed during a photo emergency flu treatment, and pledged to donate it to opportunity at Fujifilm's headquarters in countries upon request. Tokyo, Oct. 22, 2014. REUTERS/Issei Kato Dozens of clinical trials for COVID-19 treatments and vaccines are ongoing globally. The Nikkei newspaper on Monday said AnGes is set to begin a trial of its DNA vaccine in July, rather than September as initially scheduled. AnGes shares surged 16% in Tokyo morning trade versus the broader market’s 2.2%. Fujifilm was down 0.1%. https://in.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-avigan/fujifilm-research-into-covid-19-drug-spills-into- june-dashing-hope-of-may-approval-idINKBN23126V

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