Page 32 - Indian Army

Agnipath woes and military reforms on new defence minister's agenda

A major challenge for the defence minister will be to maintain the momentum gained in the theaterisation of the armed forces

Security forces to take steps to ensure stability along LoC: Army official

The situation along the Line of Control is stable and security agencies will take all necessary steps to maintain it, a senior Army officer said on Sunday. General Officer Commanding (GoC) of Army 15 Corps Lt General Rajiv Ghai was talking to reporters at the Bipin Rawat Stadium in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district after a function to felicitate Kargil War veterans on the 25th anniversary of Vijay Diwas. "The situation on the borders is stable. Whatever is needed to keep the situation stable will be done by the security agencies," Lt General Ghai said. Asked about Director General of Police (DGP) RR Swain's statement that 70 to 80 foreign terrorists were active in the Union Territory, he said the police chief's remark was factual. "As far as the numbers are concerned, the DGP has stated a fact. How the security agencies are proceeding against them, you know very well how the operations are conducted," Lt General Ghai added. DGP Swain on Saturday told reporters in Pulwama that

Explained: Agniveer scheme and points of contention among BJP allies

The JD(U), while assuring the BJP of its 'unconditional support', expressed the need to address the 'shortcomings' in the scheme

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

IAF takes part in US-led Red Flag-Alaska for multi-nation military drills

The Indian Air Force on Thursday joined a 16-day multi-nation mega military exercise in Alaska in the US that is designed to provide realistic training to participating forces in a simulated combat environment. The IAF deployed Rafale fighter jets for the 'Red Flag Alaska' exercise from May 30 to June 14. Approximately 3100 service members are expected to fly, maintain and support more than 100 aircraft during the exercise, the US's Pacific Air Forces said. "An #IAF contingent arrived today at the Eielson AF Base of @usairforce, at Alaska, USA, to participate in the upcoming edition of the multinational exercise Red Flag 24," the IAF said on X. "Ably supported by its IL-78 air to air refuellers and the C-17 transport aircraft, the IAF Rafale fighters took a transatlantic flight with staging halts at Greece and Portugal," it said. The Pacific Air Forces said Red Flag-Alaska is designed to provide realistic training in a simulated combat environment enabling joint combined forces to

The Tejas Mark 2 challenge: Advanced upgrades for superior air power

The third of a four-part series traces the genesis of Tejas Mark 2, which is an improved version of the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft

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

Army collaborates with IOCL for green, sustainable transport solutions

The Indian Army has collaborated with the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) for incorporating green and sustainable transport solutions in the force. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Army and the IOCL in presence of Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande and Indian Oil Chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya on Monday to take forward the initiative. At an event, one hydrogen fuel cell bus was received by the Indian Army under the framework of the collaboration. "This marks the commencement of mutually beneficial partnership between Indian Army and IOCL. The MoU emphasised the commitment to fostering innovation and advancing sustainable transport solutions for the future," the defence ministry said. Hydrogen fuel cell technology offers a clean and efficient alternative by converting hydrogen gas into electricity through an electro-chemical process. The process leaves water vapour as the only by-product, thus ensuring zero emission, the ministry said. The hydrogen fuel ce

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

Agniveer scheme: Army carries out internal review, may propose changes

The Army's survey is gathering feedback from various stakeholders, including Agniveers, as well as recruiting and training personnel at different regimental centres

Army does not want Agniveer scheme, INDIA bloc will throw it: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Agniveer scheme will be scrapped and thrown into dustbin if the INDIA bloc comes to power as he slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "turning Hindustan ke jawan into labourers". In his first election meeting in Haryana for the Lok Sabha polls, the former Congress president also attacked Modi over the issue of farmers. Slamming the BJP government over the Agniveer scheme, he said, "This is Modi's scheme and not Army's scheme, Army does not want it". "When the INDIA bloc forms government, we will throw Agniveer scheme into dustbin," he said at the rally held under the Mahendragarh-Bhiwani Lok Sabha seat. India's borders, he said, are secured by the country's youth and "There is patriotism in DNA of our youth". "Modi has turned Hindustan ke jawan into labourers," he alleged. Further attacking the BJP government, he said, "They say there will be two types of martyrs - one normal jawan and officer, who will get pension, martyr sta

'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

Army exploring India's military heritage under project Udbhav: Gen Pande

The Army has explored the epic battles of the Mahabharata, heroic exploits of eminent military figures and India's rich heritage in statecraft under a project that aims to enrich the nation's outlook in the defence domain, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande said on Tuesday. The project 'Udbhav', launched last year, delved deep into ancient texts such as Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads and Arthashastra, and it has revealed substantial intellectual convergences between eminent Indian and Western scholars, he said. The Army chief made the remarks at a conference titled 'Historical Patterns in Indian Strategic Culture'. The project 'Udbhav' aims to promote indigenous discourse in the Army by integrating India's ancient strategic acumen into contemporary military domain with a focus on making the force "future-ready". "The project has delved deep into ancient texts such as Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads and Arthashastra, which are rooted in inter-connectedness, righteousness and ethical values," the Arm

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 ...

UN launches probe into first international staff killed by strike in Rafah

The staffer, a retired Indian Army officer named Waibhav Anil Kale, was working with the UN Department of Safety and Security and was on route to the European Hospital in Rafah

UN mourns death of ex-Indian Army officer in Gaza, blames Israeli tank

The United Nations condoled and expressed apologies to India over the killing of a former Indian Army officer, who died in war-torn Rafah in Gaza when the vehicle he was travelling in was attacked by shots fired from what it believes was an Israeli tank. Colonel Waibhav Anil Kale, 46, who retired prematurely from the Indian Army in 2022, joined the world body as a Security Coordination Officer in the UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS) two months ago. He was killed, and another DSS staffer from Jordan was injured when their UN-marked vehicle was struck when they were travelling to the European Hospital in war-torn Rafah in Gaza on Monday morning. Kale, who had commanded the 11 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles in Kashmir, is the "first international casualty" for the world body since the Israel-Hamas conflict started last year. We also express our apologies and our condolences to the Government and people of India, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio ...

Govt should strongly condemn killing of ex-Army officer in Gaza: Gokhale

Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale on Wednesday wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, urging that the government strongly condemn the killing of a former Indian Army officer in Gaza. Col Waibhav Anil Kale, 46, who took premature retirement from the Indian Army in 2022, had joined one of the UN agencies three weeks ago. He was killed in war-torn Rafah in Gaza on Monday morning, becoming the "first international casualty" for the world body since the Israel-Hamas conflict started last year. "It is shocking that a retired Indian Army colonel was killed by Israel in Gaza and the shameless Modi Govt hasn't uttered a single word," Gokhale said in a post on X, where he shared the letter written to the External Affairs Minister. Gokhale said the former Army officer was travelling in a clearly-marked UN vehicle when he was killed. "It is clear from reports that Col. Kale was killed when his convoy was attacked in a strike by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). There is ...

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 ...