Page 15 - Indian Air Force

President Droupadi Murmu confers 10 Kirti Chakras, 26 Shaurya Chakras

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday conferred 10 Kirti Chakras, including seven posthumously, to personnel of the Army and paramilitary forces for displaying indomitable courage and extraordinary valour in the line of duty. Kirti Chakra is India's second-highest peacetime gallantry award. President Murmu, who is the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, also presented 26 Shaurya Chakras, including seven posthumously, to the personnel of the armed forces, Central Armed Police Forces and state/Union Territory police during a defence investiture ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the defence ministry said in a statement. Sepoy Pawan Kumar of The Grenadiers, 55th Battalion, the Rashtriya Rifles; Captain Anshuman Singh of the Army Medical Corps, 26th Battalion, the Punjab Regiment; and Havildar Abdul Majid, 9th Battalion, the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) from the Indian Army have been conferred the Kirti Chakra posthumously, according to the list of awardees shared in the ..

Agniveer controversy explained: From Rahul Gandhi's claim to Army response

What is the Agniveer scheme and how has Ajay Kumar's death sparked fresh debate on the controversial army recruitment scheme

India, Russia conduct meeting to further enhance defence cooperation

The third India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) Sub-Working Group meeting was held in the national capital to further enhance defence cooperation and joint exercises between the two nations.The two-day meeting was held on June 26-27, with the Indian Army and Russia's Land Forces participating in it.The meeting focused on defence cooperation, military training, military education and joint exercises between the two Armies."3rd #India #Russia Inter Governmental Commission (IRIGC) Sub Working Group (Land) Meeting between #IndianArmy & #LandForces, Russian Federation was held at #NewDelhi from 26-27 Jun 2024. The Talks focused on defence cooperation, military training, military education & joint exercises between the two Armies," the Indian Army posted on X.Meanwhile, India and Russia are making arrangements for an upcoming visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia, Reuters reported, citing, Russian state news agency RIA.According to RIA, a diplomatic source

IAF to acquire 6 Tapas drones, lead acquisition for Made-in-India UAVs

The Indian Air Force will be the lead agency for the induction and acquisition of the Tapas drones into the defence forces, they said

India, Qatar hold talks on sale of 12 used Mirage-2000 fighter jets

If the deal goes through, the Indian Air Force's fleet of Mirage fighter jets will jump to 60. They have been part of several key missions, including the Balakot airstrikes

Modern warfare no longer solely physical domain: IAF chief V R Chaudhari

Modern warfare is no longer a solely physical domain, but a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape increasingly influenced by complex data networks and advanced cyber technologies, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said on Saturday. Addressing the Combined Graduation Parade of the 213 Officers' Course at the Air Force Academy (AFA) in Dundigal near here, Chaudhari also said tomorrow's conflicts cannot be fought with yesterday's mindset. Modern warfare is a dynamic and ever evolving landscape. It is no longer solely physical domain. It is increasingly influenced by complex data networks and advanced cyber technologies. As leaders you all need to adapt, innovate and leverage technology effectively for proving decisive in winning wars, the Air Chief Marshal said. He further said that professionalism, aggressiveness and initiative are three most admired qualities of a leader and at the same time leaders who are thinkers are also needed. As you embark on this extraordinary journey, let the co

After Kochi, plane ferrying bodies of Kuwait fire victims arrives in Delhi

An IAF aircraft carrying the bodies of 14 of the 45 Indians who died in a devastating fire at a building in Kuwait is expected to land shortly in Delhi from Kerala's Kochi, newly elected MP Yogender Chandolia said on Friday. A C130J aircraft carrying the bodies of 45 Indians, who died in the incident two days ago in Kuwait's Mangaf, landed at the Kochi international airport around 10.30 am. Thirty-one bodies were received at the Kochi airport by Central and state ministers, including Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The remaining 14 bodies were sent to Delhi in the same aircraft as a domestic flight from Kochi, airport authorities said. "Kamaljeet Sehrawat ji, Bansuri Swaraj ji (both MPs from Delhi) and I will be there at the Palam technical area when the bodies arrive. We will offer tributes to them by laying wreaths on the caskets. The flight is expected to land very shortly," Chandolia, the MP from Northwest Delhi, told PTI. The special IAF aircraft had taken off for Koch

IAF played vital role in LS polls, flew over 1,000 hours in 1,750 sorties

From extending the reach of the Election Commission into remote corners of the country to airlifting EVMs, the IAF played a vital role in the recently-held general elections, with its aircraft flying more than 1,000 hours in over 1,750 sorties. The Indian Air Force on Wednesday shared details about the helping hand it lent to the electoral machinery in the conduct of the Lok Sabha polls. "During the general elections 2024, the substantial flying effort has taken place over the last few months by medium-lift helicopters (Mi-17 variants), light utility helicopters (Chetak) and the indigenously manufactured advanced light helicopters (ALH Dhruv)," the IAF said in a statement. The force has been actively involved with the task of airlifting electronic voting machines (EVMs) and deploying Election Commission of India (ECI) personnel on election duties, as has been carried out during previous general or assembly elections, officials said. During the general elections 2024, the IAF played

IAF's Sukhoi fighter jet crashes in Nashik; pilot, co-pilot eject safely

They have been taken to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) hospital for further treatment, Special Inspector General of Nashik Range D R Karale told PTI

China deploys stealth jets close to Sikkim. When will India's answer fly?

As China once again deploys its Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth fighter jets close to its boundary with India, the Indian AMCA fifth-generation fighter project finally appears to be gathering speed

Rafale M fighter deal: How navy's Rafale will be different from air force's

The Indian Navy will operate the Rafale M jets from its INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya aircraft carriers

Pakistani hackers may have hit 3 major Indian defence firms. Find out which

A recent report by Canadian cybersecurity firm BlackBerry claims that India's government and defence and aerospace sectors were targeted by a suspected Pakistan-based hacking group

India would have progressed much faster with safer borders: Ajit Doval

India would have progressed at a much faster pace if its borders had been more secure, defined and not in "adversarial dispossession", National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said, underlining that the country's power has grown immensely in the last 10 years. Delivering the Rustamji Memorial Lecture organised by the Border Security Force (BSF) on its 21st investiture ceremony, Doval said India's economic progress would have been much faster if "we had more secure borders". "In the foreseeable future, I don't think our borders are going to be as secure as we will require for our fast economic growth. So, the responsibility on border guarding forces has become very, very heavy. They have got to remain on alert 24X7 in perpetuity. They have got to see that our national interests and country are protected," he said. Borders are important because that is the limit which "defines our sovereignty", he said. "Jameen par jo kabja hai wo apna hai, baki to sab adalat aur kachehri ka kaam hai, us

'Next level of warfighting': CDS gives Indian theatre commands plan a boost

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan says developing joint culture in the Indian armed forces under 'Jointness 2.0' is the way forward

Indian military theaterisation plans gather pace, but China has 8-year lead

Once rolled out, theaterisation will be the biggest military reform India has ever seen

India's defence capabilities grew substantially in last 10 yrs: VK Saraswat

India's defence capabilities have gone up substantially during the past decade of the Modi government and now the country is dependent on arms import only for immediate requirements of the armed forces, NITI Aayog member VK Saraswat said on Wednesday. Saraswat, a former Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) chief further said at present 60 per cent of India's total arms and ammunition are indigenous. "Indian defence capabilities in the last 10 years have gone up substantially," he told PTI. Prime Minister Modi-led government came to power in 2014 and came back with a thumping majority in 2019. "India's complete ecosystem of defence is largely now indigenous. We are dependent on imports only for immediate requirements of the armed forces or something which we do not have technology for," Saraswat added. He said that now big corporate houses like the Adani Group, Tata Group, and L&T are manufacturing indigenous radar systems and guns. Commenting on Swedish think ...

Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande reviews security arrangement along LAC in Ladakh

General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff, carried out a comprehensive review of the overall security situation along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh on Friday.The COAS was given a detailed briefing about the force's combat readiness at the headquarters of the Fire and Fury Corps in Leh."General Manoj Pande, #COAS visited the Fire and Fury Corps to review the security situation & preparedness in #Ladakh," the Army posted on X."#COAS was given a detailed update by the Commanders on the prevailing situation and ongoing Operational Preparedness. #COAS complimented the Officers and the troops for their professionalism, unwavering commitment & dedication to duty," it added.Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan chaired the Parivartan Chintan 2.0 meeting On May 9.Deliberations were held between Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee Sub-Committees on the way forward towards theaterisation and creation of efficient and effective forces capable of ...

Theaterisation plans: CDS Chauhan emphasises on need to expedite jointness

As India looks at implementing the ambitious theaterisation plan, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan has underlined the need for expediting the process of "jointness" in the three services to create a multi-domain response mechanism. Gen Chauhan made the comments at a two-day conclave of senior military officers who deliberated extensively on rolling out the theaterisation plan. The conclave concluded on Friday. Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and other senior military officials attended the 'Parivartan Chintan '? II' conclave on "jointness and integration" in the armed forces. The defence ministry said Gen Chauhan stressed the need for expediting the jointness process to create "multi-domain response capable Indian armed forces". The conclave was also attended by officers from Department of Military Affairs, Integrated Defence Staff and members of various sub-committees of the Chiefs of Staff Committee ...

Poonch attack: Search operation to track down terrorists enters 6th day

The security forces are yet to get a breakthrough even as the search operation to track down the terrorists responsible for attacking an IAF convoy that claimed the life of a corporal rank personnel, entered the sixth consecutive day on Thursday. The security forces are trying to identify the attackers through four pictures of terrorists released by them. A fresh search operation was launched in the border areas of Akhnoor belt following suspected movement of some persons last night, they said. The Army, police and CRPF are conducting search operations in Shahsitar, Gursai, Sanai, Lasana and Sheendara top and adjoining areas, they said adding that the entire area has been cordoned off. Terrorists targeted an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in the Shaistar area of Poonch district, in which an IAF corporal was killed in the line of duty and four others were injured on Saturday. They are yet to get a breakthrough even after scanning the dense forest in the Surankote belt, they ...

Poonch attack: Search operation to track down terrorists enters 5th day

The cordon and search operation (CASO) to track down terrorists responsible for attacking an IAF convoy, which claimed the life of a corporal rank personnel, entered the fifth day on Wednesday, officials said. Security forces, including the Army, police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), have further intensified combing and search operation in nearly 20 square kilometres area in Surankote belt and over five kilometres of the area has been searched, the officials said. Terrorists targeted an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in the Shaistar area of Poonch district, resulting in the killing of an IAF corporal and injuries to four others on Saturday. Armed with surveillance equipment, including drones and sniffer dogs, the search operation is underway in Shahsitar, Gursai, Sanai, Lasana, and Sheendara top in the Surankote belt and adjoining areas in Poonch district, the officials said. The security forces are seeking identification of the terrorists, whose three to four pictures --