In This Issue Since 1909 BIRTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS Navy’s Long Range Maritime… 4 (Initially published as FAUJI AKHBAR) Vol. 62 q No 23 10 - 24 Agrahayana, 1937 (Saka) 1-15 December 2015 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 Army Colonel Hasibur Rahman Defcom-2015 6 8 Senior Editor Editor Inaugurated Martyred Ruby T Sharma Ehsan Khusro Coordination Business Manager Sekhar Babu Madduri Dharam Pal Goswami Our Correspondents DELHI: Dhananjay Mohanty; Capt DK Sharma; Manoj Tuli; Nampibou Marinmai; Wg Cdr Rochelle D’Silva; Col Rohan Anand; Wg Cdr SS Birdi, Ved Pal; ALLAHABAD: Gp Capt BB Pande; BENGALURU: Dr MS Patil; CHANDIGARH: Parvesh Sharma; CHENNAI: T Shanmugam; GANDHINAGAR: Wg Cdr Abhishek Matiman; GUWAHATI: Lt Col Suneet Newton; IMPHAL: Lt Col Ajay Kumar Sharma; JALANDHAR: Naresh Vijay Vig; JAMMU: Lt Col Manish Mehta; JODHPUR: Lt Col Manish Ojha; KOCHI: Cdr Sridhar E Warrier ; KOHIMA: Lt Col E Musavi; KOLKATA: 10 Another Milestone towards… Dipannita Dhar; LUCKNOW: Ms Gargi Malik Sinha; MUMBAI: Cdr Rahul Sinha; 12 Universal Pilot Plant facility… India-Russia Joint Narendra Vispute; NAGPUR: Wg Cdr Samir S Gangakhedkar; PALAM: Gp Capt SK 16 Chakravyuh - Quiz Army Exercise 13 Mehta; PUNE: Mahesh Iyengar; SECUNDERABAD: MA Khan Shakeel; SHILLONG: Gp Capt Amit Mahajan; SRINAGAR: Col NN Joshi; TEZPUR: Lt Col Sombith Ghosh; 17 COAS Visits Japan THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Suresh Shreedharan; UDHAMPUR: Col SD Goswami; 22 Air Display-2015… VISAKHAPATNAM: Cdr CG Raju. 23 SAC’s Annual Aerospace… Published by: Sitanshu Kar 24 Army Tornadoes Create… Director General (Media & Communication) 26 Veterans’ Rally at Rakhmuthi Directorate of Public Relations, South Block, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi-110011 Regulars Follow us on: 18 Photo Features: Prime Minister Visits Vajra Corps 27 Armed Forces Panorama www.facebook.com/DefenceMinIndia https://twitter.com/spokespersonMoD Relief Operations by 20 Editorial Office: L-1 Block, Church Road, New Delhi-110001, Armed Forces Telefax : 23094668 Telephone : 23092768 Email : [email protected] 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: Defence Minister dedicating Boeing-P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft to the nation Navy’s Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft Dedicated to the Nation host of dignitaries including the Chief given an exposure to various sensors of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan, and other sophisticated state-of-the- and Flag Officer Commanding-in- art equipment and their capabilities. Chief Eastern Naval Command Vice He said the aircraft will provide the Admiral Satish Soni. Indian Navy the necessary reach Mr Parrikar, who flew in to INS and flexibility to undertake extensive Rajali on board a Boeing-P8I from surveillance as also to respond swiftly Port Blair this morning, described and effectively to contingencies in the aircraft as one of the best for areas of interest. surveillance in the world today. Mr Parrikar, in particular During the flight, Mr Parrikar was complimented the Navy and its air The Union Minister for Defence Mr Manohar Parrikar addressing the gathering at the Induction Ceremony of Boeing-P8I Aircraft Squadron. iving a boost to the firepower Gand arsenal of the Indian Armed Forces, the Defence Minister Mr Manohar Parrikar dedicated the Boeing-P8I (Poseidon Eight India) Long Range Maritime Patrol aircraft to the nation on November 13, 2015, at an impressive ceremony held at INS Rajali, Arakkonam, Naval Air Station in southern India, about 70 Km off Chennai. The ceremony was attended by a 4 Sainik Samachar December 1-15, 2015 The Union Minister for Defence Mr Manohar Parrikar interacting with media after the Induction ceremony of Boeing-P8I aircraft at INS Rajali, Arakkonam arm for expeditiously inducting and The P8I aircraft is a variant surveillance and reconnaissance in operationalising this force multiplier, of the P8A (Poseidon Eight Alpha) support of broad area, maritime and which would enable the nation’s aircraft that Boeing developed as littoral operations. Its communication Armed Forces to dominate the a replacement for the US Navy’s and sensor suite includes indigenous future battle space. Taking note of ageing P-3 fleet. Indian Navy equipment developed by defence the spectacular efforts put in by INS became the first international PSUs and private manufacturers. With its high speed and high Rajali and its personnel, Mr Parrikar customer for the P8 aircraft with endurance of about 10 hours, the praised the fact that, even in the the conclusion of the nearly US $ aircraft is capable of thrusting a short phase of trials and testing, the 2.1 billion contract on January 01, punitive response and maintaining 2009 for a total of eight aircraft. The P8I aircraft had achieved a number a watch over India’s immediate and first aircraft arrived in India on May of operational milestones which extended areas of interest. includes participation in the search 15, 2013 and as of date, all eight The aircraft are based at INS effort for Malaysian Airlines Flight aircraft have been inducted into the Rajali, and are operated by Indian Indian Navy and are fully integrated MH 370, the first successful firing Naval Air Squadron 312A under into its operations. of air launched Harpoon Block II the command of Commander missile in the world, torpedo firing The P8I aircraft is equipped for Venkateshwaran Ranganathan. and active participation in major long range anti-submarine warfare, - Sitanshu Kar with Capt DK Sharma naval exercises. anti-surface warfare, intelligence, from Arakkonam, Tamilnadu Admiral RK Dhowan, Chief of the Naval staff presenting a memento to The Union Minister for Defence, Mr Manohar Parrikar at the Induction Ceremony of Boeing-P8I aircraft Sqn at INS Rajali, Arakkonam December 1-15, 2015 Sainik Samachar 5 Defence Minister Inaugurates Defcom-2015 he Defence Minister Mr Manohar TParrikar has stressed the need to enhance the Information, Communications, Technology, Electronics and Cyber (ICTEC) infrastructure capabilities of the Indian Army to ensure protection from disruptive cyber-attacks and manipulations. Addressing the inaugural function of the two day long DEFCOM-2015 in New Delhi on November 23, 2015, Mr Parrikar said, while we progress through the use of ICTEC and make the army more digitalised, the other danger is disruption by the adversaries. “My worry is information black out Union Defence Minister Mr Manohar Parrikar inaugurating the Defcom-2015 The Defence Minister Mr Manohar Parrikar releasing a brochure on Defcom-2015 6 Sainik Samachar December 1-15, 2015 which can result out of disruptive of software development and now technology projects. Confederation mechanisms” he said. The minister there is a need to go into better of Indian Industry (CII) Director said that the future wars may be in the hardware designing and integration General, Mr Chandrajit Banerjee form of cyber wars but he strongly felt in our streams. and CII Chairman, Mr Kiran Karnik also spoke on the occasion. that the conventional armies cannot Lt. Gen Nitin Kohli, Signal be replaced and should be equipped Officer-in-Chief and Colonel The DEFCOM-2015 is jointly by providing them the information to Commandant Corps of Signal in conducted by the Corps of Signal fight in a well decided, equipped and his speech said the Indian Army is (Indian Army) and CII under planned manner. Describing India moving towards net centricity and the theme “leveraging ICTEC Infrastructure and Harnessing the as source of human intelligence he is implementing a large number of Human Capital for Digital Army”. said, we have been in the forefront communications and information The event presents an ideal platform for all participants to understand each other’s capabilities and needs in ICTEC field, synergise their efforts and emerge with a pragmatic way forward. The Defence Minister also inaugurated an exhibition of leading edge equipment by over fifty manufacturers of Indian and International Industry at the venue. The function was attended by the Chief of the Army Staff General Dalbir Singh, Senior Army Officers, distinguished speakers and luminaries from Indian Industry, Academia and R&D organisations. - N Ao December 1-15, 2015 Sainik Samachar 7 Army Colonel Martyred ol Santosh Mahadik attained Cmartyrdom while leading his troops in a fierce encounter with a group of three terrorists in Manigah Forest Area of Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. Col Mahadik, the Commanding Officer of 41 Rashtriya Rifles made the supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Indian Army. The Colonel was a true soldier and had conducted many successful counter terrorist operations. Originally from the Special Forces, the officer was earlier awarded Sena Medal for exhibiting gallantry and leadership in counter terrorist operations. Lt Gen DS Hooda, Army Commander, Northern Command has expressed deep condolences on the loss of this brave Commanding Officer. He said, “we owe a deep debt of gratitude to officers like Santosh who led from the front and were willing to pay the ultimate price in the fight against terrorism.” Col Mahadik leaves behind his wife and two children aged eleven and five years. The Army is committed to providing all support to the family in this hour of grief. - Col NN Joshi 8 Sainik Samachar December 1-15, 2015 olonel Santosh Mahadik, immense work for bringing a positive in Santosh’s heart being an CCommanding Officer, 41 change in the lives of the local outstanding sportsman himself.