Page 14 - Defence Sector

Defence chiefs from US, Oz, Japan, Philippines vow to deepen cooperation

Defence chiefs from the US, Australia, Japan and the Philippines vowed to deepen their cooperation as they gathered on Thursday in Hawaii for their second-ever joint meeting amid concerns about China's operations in the South China Sea. The meeting came after the four countries last month held their first joint naval exercises in the South China Sea, a major shipping route where Beijing has long-simmering territorial disputes with a number of Southeast Asian nations and has caused alarm with its recent assertiveness in the waters. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters at a news conference after their discussion that the drills strengthened the ability of the nations to work together, build bonds among their forces and underscore their shared commitment to international law in the waterway. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said the defense chiefs talked about increasing the tempo of their defense exercises. Today, the meetings that we have held represent a very

Navy should remain ready to deter adversaries: New Chief Admiral Tripathi

The Indian Navy should remain operationally ready at all times to deter potential adversaries at sea, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi said on Tuesday shortly after taking charge as the 26th chief of the Naval Staff. Admiral Tripathi, who is a communication and electronic warfare specialist, assumed charge of the force following the retirement of incumbent R Hari Kumar. The admiral took charge of the Navy at a time various strategic waterways, including the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, are witnessing security challenges, especially in view of Houthi militants targeting various merchant ships in the region. "Over the years, our Navy has evolved into a combat-ready, cohesive, credible and future-proof force," Admiral Tripathi told reporters. "The existing and emerging challenges in the maritime domain mandate that the Indian Navy should remain operationally ready at all times to deter potential adversaries at sea in peace and to win war at and from the sea when asked to do so," he ...

India can't become developed nation without making products: Baba Kalyani

Bharat Forge CMD Baba Kalyani explains what the new government should focus on in its first 100 days of taking office to give Make in India in defence a fillip

DRDO develops country's lightest bulletproof jacket for level 6 threat

A unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully developed the lightest bulletproof jacket in the country for protection against the highest threat level 6, an official statement said on Tuesday. This jacket is based on a new design approach where novel material along with new processes has been used, the statement issued by the Ministry of Defence said. "DRDO's Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur has successfully developed the lightest bulletproof jacket in the country for protection against 7.62 x 54 R API (level 6 of BIS 17051) ammunition. Recently, this bulletproof jacket was successfully tested at TBRL, Chandigarh as per BIS 17051-2018," it said. The front hard armour panel (HAP) of this jacket "defeats multiple hits (six shots) of 7.62x54 R API (sniper rounds) in both ICW (in-conjunction with) and standalone design", the statement said. The ergonomically designed front HAP is made of a monoli

Russia to step up strikes on bases storing Western weapons in Ukraine

In remarks to defence officials, Shoigu said Russia had "dispelled the myth of the superiority of Western weapons" and its forces had gained the initiative along the 1,000 km (600-mile) battle front

MV Ruen rescue boosted our first responder status: Indian Navy chief

Citing a daring mid-sea anti-piracy operation undertaken by the Indian Navy recently, its chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Sunday said this mission further "cemented" India's stature as the "first responder" and "preferred security partner" at sea. In his address at a Naval Investiture Ceremony held at INS Hansa, Goa, he also urged the Navy personnel to "affirm and align all your actions to the vision of Ships First". "As the Indian Navy continues to affirmatively expand its operational footprint, it is the unwavering professionalism and indomitable spirit of our personnel, which ensures our success, always and every time. Our men and women, who don the whites with pride, are the formidable bulwark of our service," the Navy chief said. Towards supporting the Navy's warriors in white, who valiantly fight at sea, patrol the deep reaches of oceans, and soar through the skies, "I urge each one of you to affirm and align all your actions to the vision of 'Ships First', our basic building ..

Bharat Electronics hits new high on strong outlook; zooms 27% in 15 days

In past 15 trading days, the stock of state-owned defence company has surged 27 per cent and zoomed almost 70 per cent in the last six months.

In a first, India posts defence attaches to African states, Philippines

India is deploying 15-16 new attaches to countries such as Poland, Armenia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, and the Philippines

India upgrading strategic military infra in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

The upgrade will enable the deployment of more military forces and provide facilities for a greater number and size of warships, aircraft, troops

UN calls for halt to weapons shipments to Israel on Gaza war concerns

The UN's top human rights body called on countries to stop selling or shipping weapons to Israel in a resolution passed on Friday that aims to help prevent rights violations against Palestinians amid Israel's blistering military campaign in Gaza. The 47-member-country Human Rights Council voted 28-6 in favour of the resolution, with 13 abstentions. The sweeping measure, which takes aim at an array of Israeli actions such as impeding access to water and limiting shipments of humanitarian aid into Palestinian areas, also calls on UN-backed independent investigators to report on shipments of weapons, munitions and dual use items for both civilian and military purposes that could be used by Israel against Palestinians. It is not binding. Western countries were divided, with the US, Germany and others opposing the resolution, several abstaining and some European countries voting in favour. Israel at times joined by the United States has regularly and roundly criticised the council f

Indian Army plans aggressor red team, test-bed units in modernisation drive

A number of foreign militaries employ the opposing force concept, which calls for specialised military units that act as the enemy force in training exercises and war games

The transformation of war

One has to give the US Army credit for trying to be better prepared for war in the future. The Indian Army would do well to follow that example

IAF's Apache attack chopper makes emergency landing in Ladakh; pilots safe

An Apache helicopter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) made an emergency landing during an operational sortie in Ladakh and it sustained damage due to "undulating" terrain and high altitude, the IAF said on Thursday. The IAF said the incident took place on Wednesday and both the pilots on board are safe. It was the first such incident involving an Apache chopper in the IAF, military officials said. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the incident. The IAF had procured 22 Apache attack helicopters and the chopper that had to make the emergency landing was based in the Pathankot Air Force station in Punjab. "An IAF Apache helicopter carried out a precautionary landing during an operational training sortie in Ladakh on April 3. During the process of this landing, it sustained damage due to undulating terrain and high altitude," the IAF said in a brief statement. "Both the pilots on board are safe and have been recovered to the nearest airbase. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to

Amit Kalyani to become Vice-Chairman and Joint MD of Bharat Forge

Auto components major Bharat Forge on Wednesday announced the elevation of Amit Kalyani, son of its Chairman and MD Babasaheb N Kalyani, as Vice-Chairman and Joint Managing Director of the company. The board of directors of the company in its meeting held on April 3, 2024, approved the re-appointment of Amit Kalyani as a whole-time director designated as "Vice-Chairman and Joint Managing Director" for a further term of five years commencing from May 11, 2024 till May 10, 2029, Bharat Forge said in a regulatory filing. Amit Kalyani's present tenure as Joint Managing Director will conclude on May 10, 2024, it added. He was elevated as Deputy Managing Director in 2019 and as Joint Managing Director in 2023. He has been associated with Bharat Forge since 1999, starting his career focusing on operations & manufacturing before moving on to IT and Finance, the company said. Since May 2004, he has been the company's Executive Director and played a key role in strategy and execution of ...

Indian Air Force receives first indigenously designed Crash Fire Tender

The Indian Air Force is promoting indigenisation and has procured many made-in-India items to meet its operational requirements

Hindustan Aeronautics reports highest ever revenue of Rs 29,810 cr in FY24

The company reported that HAL had received fresh manufacturing contracts of Rs 19,000 crore, and repair and overhaul (ROH) contracts of over Rs 16,000 crores during FY24

Defence exports scaled to 'unprecedented heights', says Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the country's defence exports have scaled to "unprecedented heights" and crossed Rs 21,000 crore-mark for the "first time" in the history of Independent India. "Delighted to inform everyone that the Indian Defence Exports have scaled to unprecedented heights and crossed Rs 21000 crore mark for the first time in the history of Independent India!," he said in a post on X. The Union minister also said that India's defence exports have reached to the level of Rs 21,083 crore in the financial year 2023-24 which is a "spectacular growth" of 32.5 per cent over the previous fiscal. During an interaction with members of the Indian diaspora in Nigeria in May 2023, the defence minister had emphasised on the government's focus on 'Aatmanirbharta' and the "significant progress" made in defence exports in the recent years towards achieving the objective of "Make in India, Make for the World".

Tri-service exercise 'Tiger Triumph-24' between India, US conclude

The 14-day bilateral tri-service exercise between India and the US, 'Tiger Triumph-24', has concluded, officials said on Sunday. The exercise that began on March 18 aimed at developing interoperability for conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations and refining standard operating procedures to enable rapid and smooth coordination between the forces of the two countries. The Indian Army's contingent comprising one battalion group took part in the second edition of the tri-service exercise in Visakhapatnam and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, along with the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. The closing ceremony of the amphibious exercise was held on board USS Somerset on March 30, a senior official said. The exercise signifies the "robust strategic partnership" between the two countries and was aimed towards sharing best practices and standard operating procedures in undertaking multinational HADR operations. The harbour phase was conducted in Visakhapat

North Korea supplied 7,000 containers of munitions to Russia, says Seoul

North Korea has shipped around 7,000 containers filled with munitions and other military equipment to Russia since last year to help support its war in Ukraine, South Korea's defense minister said Monday. Shin Won-sik shared the assessment at a news conference hours after the South Korean and Japanese militaries said the North fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern waters, adding to a streak of weapons displays amid growing tensions with rivals. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has used Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a distraction to ramp up its weapons tests and has also aligned with Moscow over the conflict, as leader Kim Jong Un tries to break out of diplomatic isolation and join a united front against the United States. U.S. and South Korean officials have accused North Korea of supplying Russia with artillery shells, missiles and other equipment in recent months to help fuel its war on Ukraine, saying that such arms transfers accelerated after a rar

Indian Navy ship, commandos force pirates to surrender, rescue MV Ruen crew

Merchant vessel MV Ruen was hijacked by Somali pirates on December 14