Page 8 - Defence

Prez Xi urges hi-tech smart system usage to boost China's border defence

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for greater use of technology and the deployment of a smart system for border defence to meet new opportunities and challenges, amidst Beijing's unresolved land and maritime territorial disputes with its neighbours. The instructions were made during a group study session on Tuesday attended by the Communist Party's 24-member Politburo, its top policymaking body. Xi highlighted the need to strengthen technological empowerment in border defence, enhance the development of new methods and conditions for border, maritime, and air defence, and build a comprehensive and smart management and control system," Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Thursday. This aligns with Xi's repeated calls to improve the use of advanced technology in the armed forces to meet modernisation goals by 2027 and achieve the goal of building a world-class military by 2050. Tuesday's meeting lacked details about what the smart systems would entail, the Post

US to upgrade military command in Japan amid growing concerns over China

The two countries agreed Sunday to upgrade the command functions of the US forces in Japan for better coordination of the US-Japan bilateral alliance

Kargil Vijay Diwas: MP to UP, 6 states announce job quotas for Agniveers

The Odisha government on Friday announced a 10 per cent quota and five years of age relaxation for Agniveers in the state's uninformed services. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi made the announcement before leaving for Delhi to attend the governing council meeting of the NITI Aayog on Saturday. "Our soldiers are our pride. Agniveers, who are trained by our defence forces, are qualified to serve the nation in various security-related sectors," he said. "The Agniveer scheme is a historic initiative launched by PM Narendra Modi. This initiative has made our youth able and fearless so that they can face various challenges in life. That is why the Odisha government has decided to recruit Agniveers in the state's uniformed services," he added.

Philippines, Singapore broaden defence ties with new military agreement

The Philippines is signing a defence pact with Singapore on Wednesday that will allow their militaries to broaden their engagement, including holding joint exercises to prepare for humanitarian emergencies and other contingencies, Philippine officials said. Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro will sign the Defence Cooperation Agreement with his counterpart in Singapore, two Philippine officials told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity ahead of the signing. Details of the agreement were not immediately available. Since territorial hostilities between China and the Philippines surged last year at two hotly disputed shoals in the South China Sea, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's administration has taken steps to forge new security alliances with a number of Asian and Western countries and allowed a US military presence at more Philippine bases under a 2014 defense pact. In his state of the nation address before the Philippine Congress on Monday, Marcos stressed that

Houthi sea-drone strikes on vessels require armed-guards review: India

India's Directorate General of Shipping said in a notice on its website that the recent spate of sea-drone attacks has raised the question of how effective some private security providers are

Nation's defence priority, 'aatmaribharta' is what we are riding on: IAF

He further said that, as an Indian Air Force, we are engaged with the DRDO, private industry, communications, command and control, and we already have a very robust Air Defence network

Important to draw right lessons from Kargil war, not repeat mistakes: CDS

CDS Gen Anil Chauhan on Thursday hailed the heroics of Indian bravehearts in the Kargil conflict and said besides recalling memories of a war, it is also important to look at its aftermath and draw the "right lessons" for the future. Speaking at an event held here to mark the 25th anniversary of the Kargil war, he also said "We must not repeat the same mistakes". War and warfare are evolving at a very, very rapid pace. Their character and nature are changing rapidly because of transformation in technology and ongoing geopolitical flux, he said. "The memories of sacrifices made by our soldiers must become a part of our national folklore, as indeed it has become with the Kargil war," Gen Chauhan said. Saga, bravery and fortitude must continue to inspire future generations of the youth as well as soldiers who join the Indian armed forces, the CDS said. Besides recalling memories of war, it is also important to look at its aftermath and draw useful lessons for the future, he said.

India gets one of the most powerful non-nuclear bombs, 2x lethal than TNT

Named SEBEX 2, this explosive has been evaluated, tested, and certified by the Navy under its Defence Export Promotion Scheme

What is the Tibet-China Dispute Act passed by US Congress last week?

China claims that Tibet has been under central Chinese rule for over 700 years

Will Modi 3.0 spur rally in PSU stocks again? Selectively, say analysts

PSU stocks to buy: Analysts caution that premium valuation of PSU stocks may lead to limited upside from here

Pakistan govt announces nearly 15% hike in defence Budget for 2024-25

Pakistan on Wednesday announced a nearly 15 per cent hike in its defence spending and allocated Rs 2,122 billion in the 2024-25 budget, marking a significant increase from last year amidst strenuous efforts to secure a fresh loan from the IMF to meet the cash-strapped nation's external liabilities. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the budget in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, the first budget of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) coalition government which came to power after the February 8 general elections. Last year, the government allocated Rs 1,804 billion for defence, which was higher than the Rs 1,523 billion allocated the previous year. Aurangzeb said the government set a 3.6 per cent GDP growth target for the next year -- higher than the 3.5 per cent set for the outgoing year. The country however missed that target and could only achieve 2.38 per cent growth. He said the total volume of the budget

Who is Lt General Upendra Dwivedi, the new Indian Army chief? Key details

Upendra Dwivedi, who is currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, has vast operational experience in dealing with China and Pakistan and will succeed Gen. Manoj Pande

US shifts focus to China risks; Zelenskyy attends Asia defence meeting

Just hours after Austin spoke at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy arrived in Singapore, where he will address delegates at the security forum on Sunday

Govt extends tenure of Army Chief General Manoj Pande by one month

The government on Sunday extended the tenure of Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande for a period of one month. Gen Pande was to retire from service on May 31. "The Appointments Committee of Cabinet on May 26 approved the extension in service of Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj C Pande for a period of one month, beyond his normal age of superannuation (May 31), i.e. up to June 30, under Rule 16 A (4) of the Army Rules 1954," the defence ministry said in a statement. Gen Pande was commissioned in December 1982 in the Corps of Engineers (The Bombay Sappers). He held the post of Vice Chief of the Army Staff before taking over the reins of the 1.2 million-strong force in April 2022.

Houthi rebels using weapons that can reach Mediterranean Sea, says US

The official said Houthis have access to advanced weaponry and that their deployment of anti-ship ballistic missiles is virtually unprecedented

Agniveers not just soldiers but leaders, innovators, defenders: CDS Chauhan

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Monday visited the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre in Belagavi to address the Agniveers, as they embark on their military journey, an official said. In his address, he underscored the noble purpose of military service and its pivotal role within the military framework. He said the Agniveers are not only soldiers but also leaders, innovators and defenders of the nation's sovereignty. In a statement, the Defence PRO said, "Addressing the evolving nature of warfare, he underscored the complexity and unpredictability of future conflicts to include cyber warfare, Artificial Intelligence and asymmetric threats which are now an integral part of the battlefield." He also spoke about technology integration and continuous learning and mentioned that in addition to staying abreast with the latest advancements, there is also a need to showcase innovative approach towards combat. He expressed his gratitude for the commitment made by Agnive

Intellectual property rights' filing on rise amid local defence push

The target set till March 2025 for IPR is 6900 for all the organisations

India, Indonesia vow to expand overall bilateral defence partnership

India and Indonesia on Friday vowed to expand overall bilateral defence ties, especially in areas maritime security and industrial engagement for production of military equipment. Various aspects of defence and strategic relations between the two countries figured at the seventh India-Indonesia Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting that took place in Delhi. The defence ministry said both sides expressed satisfaction at the expanding scope of defence cooperation. "The progress made on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives deliberated in meetings of working groups on defence cooperation and defence industries cooperation was also reviewed by the co-chairs," it said. The meeting was co-chaired by defence secretary Giridhar Aramane and his Indonesian counterpart Air Marshal Donny Ermawan Taufanto. "The dignitaries identified means to enhance existing areas of collaboration especially in the field of defence industry ties, maritime security and multilateral ...

Swiss Military to invest Rs 56.5 crore on new manufacturing unit in Haryana

Global lifestyle brand Swiss Military on Friday said it will set up its first fully owned manufacturing unit in India in Haryana with an initial investment of Rs 56.5 crore. The company plans to set up its first fully owned manufacturing unit for luggage and travel gear in Faridabad, Haryana, Swiss Military Consumer Goods Ltd said in a statement. Spread over 1.21 acres and a built-up area of about 85,000 sq ft, the proposed plant will have a production capacity of 10 lakh pieces per year, it added. The targeted completion for the manufacturing unit will be within 8 months by Dec 31, 2024 at an initial investment of Rs 56.50 crore, the company said. "Our own manufacturing capabilities will help establish Swiss Military's commitment to modernisation within the travel gear sector in the Indian market and to shorten go-to-market timelines with new products," Swiss Military Consumer Goods Ltd Managing Director Anuj Sawhney said. He further said, "It will also significantly bolster our

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 ...