Current Affairs November 2017 - Defence

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1 - Indian Air force contingent participated in ‘Ex Blue Flag-17’

A 45-member contingent of the Indian Air Force participated in exercise ‘Blue Flag-17’ held in Israel. Blue Flag is a bi-annual multilateral exercise, which aims to strengthen military cooperation amongst participating nations.

This is the first time the Indian Air Force is operating with Israeli AF in a multilateral exercise setting. The IAF participated with the C-130J special operations aircraft along with Garud commandos. The other nations to participate were United States of America, Poland, Italy, Greece, France and Germany.

2 - India and Japan held a three-day anti-submarine drill

The Indian Navy along with the Japanese Navy held a three-day anti-submarine warfare exercise in the Indian Ocean region to deepen their operational coordination in the strategically important sea-lanes around the two nations.

Indian Navy's two P-8 I, long-range maritime reconnaissance anti-submarine warfare aircraft and two P-3C Orion jets of the Japanese Navy took part in the exercise. Japan Navy has participated in the recent trilateral Malabar exercise along with India and the US.

3 - Vice Admiral Karambir Singh takes over as the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, ENC

Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, AVSM took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command (ENC) from Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, PVSM AVSM ADC.

Vice Admiral HCS Bisht retired from the Naval Service. Vice Admiral Karambir is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. He earned his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1982. He is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and from College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai. He has commanded an Indian Coast Guard Ship Chandbibi, Missile Corvette INS Vijaydurg as well as two Guided Missile Destroyers INS Rana and INS Delhi.

4 - Indo - Kazakhstan Joint Exercise “PRABAL DOSTYK 2017”

A fourteen day joint training exercise “PRABAL DOSTYK - 2017” between the Indian Army and the Kazakhstan Army was held at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.

The joint exercise was aimed at enhancing the military ties between the two countries as also at achieving interoperability between the two armies.

The training contingents comprised of platoon strength from the 11^th Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army and a similar strength of the Kazakhstan Army.

5 - PAN Indian Army Release of IQMP Software Application

Integrated Quarter Master Package (IQMP) software application was formally released to the Indian Army by the Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Sarath Chand. IQMP is web-based software developed by Army Software Development Centre in association with M/s TCS Ltd. The application automates various logistics related functions of an Army Unit. The application will replace numerous legacy applications such as ‘Vastra’ and ‘Quarter Master Package’.

The software has been developed with the aim of bringing speed, accuracy and transparency in handing logistics aspects in the unit.

6 - Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P, AVSM VSM assumed charge as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS)

Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P, AVSM, VSM has assumed charge as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff from Vice Admiral Karambir Singh AVSM who has taken over as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command.

Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P, AVSM, VSM is an alumni of the National Defence Academy. He was commissioned in the Indian Navy in July 1981. He did his Naval Higher Command Course from the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island in the USA.

7 - Successful Flight Test of Guided Bombs

Indigenously developed lightweight Glide Bomb, SAAW (Smart Anti Airfield Weapon) was successfully tested from Indian Air Force aircraft in the ranges at ITR, which is in Chandipur, Odisha. The guided bomb released from the aircraft and guided through precision navigation system, reached the targets at greater than 70 km range, with high accuracies.

Three tests with different release conditions and ranges were conducted and all were successful. The guided bomb is developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), DRDO along with other laboratories of DRDO and Indian Air Force.

8 - India Navy to use US aircraft launch mechanism in the ship called CATOBAR

United States’ catapult-based aircraft launch mechanism called CATOBAR is likely to be installed by Indian Navy. CATOBAR is used for aircraft carrier IAC-II. India is also in process to install U.S. electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS). However, India will launch its first domestic carrier, Vikrant, weighing 40,000 tonnes in 2018, which works on STOBAR (Short Take-Off but Arrested Recovery) mechanism.

According to Indian Navy, IAC-II is capable of carrying 50 aircraft. Recently, both the countries discussed plans for future co-operation of aircraft carrier technology, on the side lines of meeting of joint working group.

9 - Indian Army launched Joint Training Node in Shillong

In order to host foreign armies in joint exercises, Indian Army launched Joint Training Node in Umroi, Public Relation Officer (Defence) Shillong Meghalaya. Project was aimed to complete in 1 year, to host “Exercise Milap” a multi nation joint training exercise with the Bangladesh Army.

Joint Training Node has capability of providing optimal training environment. It is ready to host Bangladesh Army, and exercises with Myanmar and Chinese armies, scheduled to be held in 2018. Joint Training Node can also offer conducive weather terrain.

10 - DRDO conducted a successful flight trial of 'NIRBHAY' sub-sonic cruise missile

Defence Research and Development Organisation conducted successful test flight of ‘NIRBHAY’, which is the country’s first indigenously designed and developed Long Range Sub-Sonic Cruise Missile, which can be deployed from multiple platforms. It was successfully test fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), which is in Chandipur, Odisha.

The missile has the capability to loiter and cruise at 0.7 Mach, at altitudes as low as 100 m. The flight test achieved all the mission objectives completely from lift-off until the final splash, boosting the confidence of all scientists associated with the trial.

11 - Two-Day Controllers Conference - 2017 held

Defence Accounts Department under Ministry of Defence (Finance) organized a two-day ‘Controllers Conference - 2017. Chief of Army Staff lauded the initiatives of Defence Accounts Department like defence travel system, E-PPO’s, National compilation system and its benefits to the Indian Army. The theme of the conference was ‘Strengthening Systems and Controls: the Way Forward’. The conference had five business sessions.

The conference focused on issues of using analytics for better decision-making, challenges in implementation of the Integrated Financial Advisor system, change management in core functions of Defence Accounts Department and better stakeholder management in handling defence pension issues.

12 - The US & South Korea started joint naval exercises involving three US aircraft carriers

The United States and South Korea started joint naval exercises involving three US aircraft carriers in what military officials described as a clear warning to North Korea.

The exercises involved 11 US Aegis ships and 7 South Korean naval vessels, including two Aegis ships. The Aegis technology refers to missile defence. Japan also participated in the drill. Japan announced that it would send its largest warship to join three U.S. aircraft carriers in exercises in waters near the Korean Peninsula, a display of military force meant to pressure North Korea as US.

13 - Joint Training Doctrine Indian Armed Forces - 2017 released

Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee & Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba released ‘Joint Training Doctrine Indian Armed Forces - 2017. The document has been prepared in a ‘collegiate manner’ involving all the three Service Headquarters.

The aim of this Doctrine is to promote ‘Synergy’ and ‘Integration’ amongst the three Services and other stakeholders leading to an enhanced efficiency and optimum utilization of resources. The concept includes ‘Joint Training’ as advantage for promoting ‘Diplomacy’ and ‘Civil - Military interface’ issues have also been highlighted in the document.

14 - The second annual conclave of Foreign Defence Attaches

The second annual conclave of Foreign Defence Attaches, jointly organized by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) and defence portal BharatShakti.in, was held in Delhi. This was followed by three technical sessions titled ‘Is India ready to absorb High-End Technology’, ‘Defence Exports: The Indian Experience’ and ‘Defence Technology and Models Abroad’.

Over 60 Foreign Defence Attaches, stalwarts of Indian public and private sector defence companies were expected to attend this conclave besides representatives of Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers. The conclave was designed to facilitate productive engagement between users in foreign countries, defence stakeholders and analysts.

15 - India-Myanmar joint Army exercise held in Meghalaya

The six-day Army warfare exercise between India and Myanmar was held at the Joint Warfare Centre, which is at Umroi near Shillong in Meghalaya. The exercise code-named India-Myanmar Bilateral Army Exercise (IMBAX) was aimed at building and promoting closer relations with armies of the neighboring countries.

The focus was to train the Myanmar army delegation on the tactics, procedures, expertise and methodology required by the contingent of the member nations for serving in UNPKO (United Nations Peacekeeping roles and tasks).

16 - Successful firing of Brahmos Air Launched Missile from Su-30 MKI Aircraft

The Indian Air Force has successfully fired the BrahMos air version anti shipping missile from its frontline Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft off the Eastern Coast.

The air launched BrahMos missile is a 2.5-ton supersonic air to surface cruise missile with ranges of more than 400 kms.

The IAF is the first Air Force in the world to have successfully fired an air launched 2.8 Mach surface attack missile of this category.

17 - Defence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands exercise held

The five-day DANX exercise (defence of Andaman and Nicobar Islands) was conducted under the aegis of Andaman & Nicobar Command. It was aimed at joint planning and integrated approach for synergistic application of forces and practice procedures and drills of all the Command forces for defending Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

The highlights of the exercise were fighter ops, night para jumps at sea, slithering of troops from helicopters and amphibious landings of troops by ships.

18 - Shubhangi Swaroop became Indian Navy's first female pilot

Shubhangi Swaroop created history by becoming Indian Navy's first female pilot. Of the 328 cadets, who passed out from the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala in the first batch of female officers, included Shubhangi Swaroop from Uttar Pradesh.

The three other cadets of the same batch Astha Segal from Delhi, Roopa A from Puducherry and Sakthi Maya S from Kerala also created history by becoming India’s first women officers at the Naval Armament Inspectorate (NAI) branch of the Navy. Shubhangi Swaroop is the daughter of a naval commander. She will be trained at the Air Force Academy at Hyderabad.

19 - IMMSAREX 2017 began in Bangladesh

The 2017 International Multilateral Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) was held in Bangladesh. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina.

Indian naval ships Ranvir, Sahyadri, Gharial and Sukanya along with one maritime patrol aircraft P-8I took part in the IMMSAREX 2017. The exercise took place under the aegis of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) - an initiative of the Indian Navy that was launched in 2008 to bring together littoral states in the region.

20 - Joint Indo-Bangladesh exercise Sampriti 2017 culminated

Joint Indo-Bangladesh Training Exercise SAMPRITI 2017, which is being conducted at Counter Insurgency & Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte in Mizoram culminated with a validation exercise. It is the seventh such exercise in the SAMPRITI series. The exercise was aimed to strengthen and broaden the aspects of interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and Bangladesh Armies.

It was conducted in a progressive manner wherein the participants initially familiarized themselves with each other’s organizational structure and tactical drills. Subsequently, the training advanced to various joint tactical exercises by the two Armies.

21 - INS Sarvekshak reached Dar-Es-Salaam

In an initiative to bolster bilateral relations with friendly foreign countries and navies in the Indian Ocean region, INS Sarvekshak, a hydrographic survey ship of Southern Naval Command, arrived Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania for undertaking joint Hydrographic Survey along with the Tanzanian Navy.

The joint survey was conducted with the naval personnel of Tanzania who have been trained in India in National Institute of Hydrography, Goa. INS Sarvekshak is a specialized survey ship of the Indian Navy presently based at Kochi and is fitted with state-of-the-art survey equipment like Deep Sea Multi beam echo sounder system.