Two Years of Russia-Ukraine War -1
While the UN Security Council was discussing the Ukraine crisis, the Russian President, taking the world by surprise, on February 24, declared the launch of a special operation in Ukraine.
While the UN Security Council was discussing the Ukraine crisis, the Russian President, taking the world by surprise, on February 24, declared the launch of a special operation in Ukraine.
Bearing testimony to the growing defence ties between India and Saudi Arabia, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt is on a visit to Riyadh as head of the Indian delegation for the ongoing World Defence Show (WDS) 2024. The five-day show, which commenced on February 04, 2024, is showcasing the latest advancements in defence technology serving as a vital platform for international collaboration amongst the participating companies.
Four flight trials of High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) - ABHYAS were successfully carried out by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur in Odisha during January 30 to February 02, 2024. The trials were conducted with four different mission objectives in a revised robust configuration using a single booster designed by Advanced Systems Laboratory, Hyderabad to provide reduced launch acceleration.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan has stressed that as the country is going through Amrit Kaal, it is time for building a highly capable Aatmanirbhar defence space ecosystem. Inaugurating 'DEFSAT', a three-day Space Seminar and Exhibition at the Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt on Feb 7, 2024, Gen Anil Chauhan underlined that from space augmentation to exploration, the Government has envisioned big targets for the nation.
INS Sandhayak (Yard 3025), the first Survey Vessel Large (SVL) ship, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of defence minister Rajnath Singh at an impressive ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam on February 03, 2024. The primary role of the ship is to carry out full scale hydrographic surveys of ports, harbours, navigational channels/routes, coastal areas and deep seas, towards enabling safe marine navigation.
United States Government, on Thursday, notified US Congress on possible sales of 31 MQ-9B, remotely piloted aircraft, through Foreign Military Sales route for $3.99 billion. The RPAs will come with a weapons package including 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles and GBU-39B/B Laser Small Diameter Bombs (LSDB), said Defense Security Cooperation Agency in a statement.
In a major boost to ‘Make in India’, Airbus Helicopters has announced that it is partnering with the Tata Group to establish a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for helicopters in the country. The FAL will produce Airbus’ best-selling H125 helicopter from its civil range for India and export to some of the neighbouring countries.
On December 28, 2023, DGA awarded Naval Group a framework agreement for the design, production and testing of an Unmanned Combat Underwater Vehicle (UCUV) demonstrator. A first follow-on contract was also signed for the design and development of Naval Group’s Autonomous Decision-Making Process (ADMP) and secure autonomous navigation.
The DGA announced the order for 109 CAESAR 6x6 MkII, a new version currently under development. Thanks to this order planned in the 2024-2030 defence programming law (LPM), the CAESAR 6x6 MkII will first replace the AUF1 self-propelled howitzer at the end of its operational service and gradually phase out the CAESAR 6x6 MkI of the army. The French artillery will thus have an unprecedented capability since the introduction of the CAESAR 6x6 system in 2008. This order also includes support for the CAESAR MkII during their first two years of use.
In the current geopolitical scenario and with the twin objective of promoting self reliance and exports, the Defence Budget has touched Rs 6,21,540.85 crore in the Financial Year 2024-25. This comes out to be 13.04% of total Union Budget, which was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament on February 01, 2024.