2018 16-31 May Vol 65 No 10 ` 5 SAINIK Samachar First ever joint Army exercise on Malaysian soil - HARIMAU SHAKTI 2018 The Permanent Secretary (Defence), Republic of Singapore, Mr Chan Yang Kit calling on the Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on May 1, 2018. The Principal Staff Officer, Armed Forces Division, Bangladesh, Lt Gen Md Mahfuzur Rahman calling on the Union Minister for Defence, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, in New Delhi on May 7, 2018. In This Issue Since 1909 BIRTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS President visits Siachen Glacier 4 (Initially published as FAUJI AKHBAR) Vol. 65 q No 10 26 Vaisakha - 10 Jyaistha, 1940 (Saka) 16-31 May 2018 The journal of India’s Armed Forces published every fortnight in thirteen languages including Hindi & English on behalf of Ministry of Defence. It is not necessarily an organ for the expression of the Government’s defence policy. The published items represent the views of respective writers and correspondents. Editor-in-Chief Hasibur Rahman Senior Editor Ms Ruby T Sharma Meeting of MPs and VPs 5 Raksha Mantri 6 Editor Ehsan Khusro of the Cantonment… addresses Naval… Sub Editor Sub Maj KC Sahu Coordination Kunal Kumar Business Manager Rajpal Our Correspondents DELHI: Col Aman Anand; Capt DK Sharma VSM; Wg Cdr Anupam Banerjee; Manoj Tuli; Nampibou Marinmai; Divyanshu Kumar; Photo Editor: K Ramesh; ALLAHABAD: Gp Capt BB Pande; BENGALURU: T Shanmugam; CHANDIGARH: Anil Gaur; CHENNAI: T Shanmugam; GANDHINAGAR: Wg Cdr Abhishek Matiman; GUWAHATI: Lt Col Suneet Newton; IMPHAL: Lt Col Ajay Kumar Sharma; JALANDHAR : Anil Gaur; JAMMU: Lt Col Devender Anand; JAIPUR: Lt Col Manish Ojha; KOCHI: Cdr Sridhar E Warrier ; KOHIMA: Col Chiranjeet Konwer; KOLKATA: 8 Exercise Harimau Shakti 2018… Wg Cdr SS Birdi; Dipannita Dhar; LUCKNOW: Ms Gargi Malik Sinha; MUMBAI: Cdr Photo Feature: Exercise Rahul Sinha; Narendra Vispute; NAGPUR: Wg Cdr Samir S Gangakhedkar; PALAM: 14 Naval Aviation - Industry… Wg Cdr AR Giri; Mahesh Iyengar; G Surendra Babu; Harimau Shakti 2018 10 PUNE: SECUNDERABAD: 16 COAS Visits Headquarters… SHILLONG; Wg Cdr Ratnakar Singh; SRINAGAR: Col Rajesh Kalia; TEZPUR: Lt Col Sombit Ghosh; THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ms Dhanya Sanal K; UDHAMPUR: 17 Chief of the Air Staff felicitates… Col NN Joshi; VISAKHAPATNAM: Capt CG Raju. 18 Army Commanders’ Polo Cup… Published by: 20 FOC-in-C, Southern Naval… Ms SR Rajashekar, Official Spokesperson, MoD 21 Dakota-DC3 VP 905:… Nungsanglemba Ao, Officiating Addl DG (M&C) 22 Passing Out Parade at Guards… 23 India Naval Ships on Overseas… Directorate of Public Relations, South Block, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi-110011 26 Khuga Battalion recovers two… 27 DDG NCC visits Airfield in… Follow us on: 33 Central Command celebrates… www.facebook.com/DefenceMinIndia Regulars 35 Armed Forces Panorama https://twitter.com/spokespersonMoD Editorial Office: L-1 Block, Church Road, New Delhi-110001, Air Chief visits Command Hospital Telefax : 23094668 Telephone : 23092768 12 Email : [email protected] (Air Force), Bengaluru E-in-C: ASCON-32078 [email protected] For subscriptions contact : Business Manager, Sainik Samachar, Telephone : 23092768 Subscription Rates: Inland (Ordinary): One Year Rs 100.00, Overseas (Surface Mail): Rs 450.00 Concessional (per year): Rs 20.00 (Applicable for dependants of service personnel & ex-Servicemen.) For all correspondence subscribers must quote their subscription number For more details visit our website: http://sainiksamachar.nic.in On front cover: Exercise Harimau Shakti 2018 between Indian and Malaysian Armies concluded with a Closing Ceremony at the tropical rainforests of Hulu Langat on May 11, 2018. pic: Photo Editor President visits Siachen Glacier he President of India Shri TRam Nath Kovind, Supreme Commander of Armed Forces visited the world’s highest battle field, Siachen Glacier on May 10, 2018. He was accompanied by Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat and Lt Gen D Anbu, GOC-in-C, Northern Command. After arriving at Thoise airfield, the President flew to Siachen and undertook an aerial survey of the Glacier. He also interacted with troops at one of the forward posts of Siachen Glacier. This was followed by his visit to the Siachen Base Camp where the President laid a wreath at the ‘Siachen War Memorial’ in memory of the gallant soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in service of the Motherland. Subsequently, he addressed troops at the Siachen Base Camp where he praised the efforts of the soldiers deployed in harsh climatic conditions assuring them that their interests are paramount in the heart of the nation. - PRO Srinagar 4 Sainik Samachar May 16-31, 2018 Meeting of MPs and VPs of the Cantonment Boards held meeting with Members of A Parliament representing all the 62 Cantonments in the country together with elected Vice Presidents of the Cantonment Boards on May 4, 2018 was held at National Institute of Defence Estates Management (NIDEM), Delhi Cantonment. A wide range of issues pertaining to administration of Cantonments which have a direct bearing on the development of Cantonments and the quality of life of residents living therein were deliberated upon. The meeting evoked an enthusiastic response with thirty members of Parliament expressing their views on strengthening of the working of Cantonment together with Vice for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare by the stakeholders tasked with Presidents of the Cantonments. Smt Krishna Raj, Dr Murali Manohar policy formulation and review. Present in the meeting were a Joshi and the Chairpersons of Speakers in the meeting were number of dignitaries including the Committees on Petition, Rajya Sabha unanimous in thanking the Raksha Minister of State for Defence Dr and Chairpersons of Committees on Mantri for convening the meeting Subhash Bhamre, Minister of State Privilege, Subordinate Legislation, on Cantonments, which brought for Labour and Employment Shri Committee on Papers laid on the together elected representatives with Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister Table of the Lok Sabha. The meeting all stakeholders in the Government of State for Rural Development Shri provided a number of suggestions including the Army. Ram Kripal Yadav, Minister of State and ideas for further consideration - DPR Defence Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman with Member of Parliament Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr Subhash Bhamre, Members of Parliament Shri Santosh Gangwar and Shri Farooq Abdullah in a meeting with the Members of Parliament and Vice Presidents of Cantonment Boards in New Delhi on May 4, 2018. May 16-31, 2018 Sainik Samachar 5 Raksha Mantri addresses Naval Commanders’ Conference aksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated Rthe first edition of the bi-annual Naval Commanders’ Conference on May 8, 2018. Addressing Senior Leadership of the Navy, the Raksha Mantri commended the men and women of Indian Navy for their professionalism and dedication in performing the duties of safeguarding the maritime interest of the nation. The Raksha Mantri expressed satisfaction with which the Indian Navy has continued to maintain a high operational tempo through regular deployment of ships, submarines and aircraft in the Areas of Responsibility (AOR). During her address, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman said, “I am confident that Navy's Maritime Domain The Union Minister for Defence, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman being Awareness in our Areas of Interests will enable it to introduced by the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba to Naval Commanders, during the Naval Commanders’ Conference. respond effectively to the various contingencies, such as Search and Rescue, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and anti-piracy. I am glad that the efforts have already started showing results, with the Indian Navy responding proactively to numerous crisis situations around the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) in the last few months; including the heavy rains and flooding in Sri Lanka and post Cyclone 'Mora' in Bangladesh and Myanmar. I also compliment the Navy for the efficient HADR operations undertaken in the wake of Cyclone ‘Ockhi’ in November last year.” The Indian Navy, in addition to being the primary instrument and manifestation of the nation's maritime power, has also established itself as a potential tool for The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Subhash Ramrao Bhamre military diplomacy, said the Raksha Mantri. She further being introduced by the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil added that the Navy has been playing an important role Lanba to Naval Commanders, during the Naval Commanders’ in furthering our national and foreign policy objectives Conference. through active cooperation and engagement with not Complimenting the Navy, Smt Sitharaman said that just IOR littorals, but maritime nations across the globe. today India and the Indian Navy have emerged as the first port of call and a dependable partner for IOR littoral navies, to address their maritime security needs. While addressing the Commanders, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman said, “I firmly believe that as a nation we cannot be truly self-reliant until we are able to develop our own weapons and sensors. Indian Navy's active role in engaging with a wide range of R&D and production agencies – Government, Semi Government and private is indicative of its commitment. Towards this endeavour, the Combat Management System for the Indigenous The Union Minister for Defence, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Aircraft Carrier being developed with a private vendor addressing the senior Naval Commanders, during the Naval (M/s Tata Power SEO) is a big step towards