1. Exercise Rahat
• In Rajasthan, Jaipur based Sapta Shakti Command of Indian Army is conducting a two- day Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise “Exercise Rahat”.
• The exercise began in Jaipur. It involves all stake holders at the national and state level. This is the eighth such exercise conducted by the Indian Defence Forces.
• The exercise is being conducted in pursuance of the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Combined Commanders Conference - 2015, to achieve ‘Disaster Resilient India’.
2. Indian Army signed a contract with Sig Sauer of the U.S. for 72,400 SIG716 assault rifles
• Indian Army signed a contract with Sig Sauer of the U.S. for 72,400 SIG716 assault rifles for front-line soldiers deployed in operational areas.
• Of the 72,400 rifles, 66,400 are meant for the Army, 2,000 for the Navy and 4,000 for the Air Force.
• The new rifles will replace the Indian National Small Arms System (INSAS) rifles.
• The Defence Ministry also issued the Expression of Interest (EoI) for a deal to buy 111 naval utility helicopters. This is the first project to be executed through the strategic partnership policy.
• Under this, the chosen Indian private company will team up with the Original Equipment Manufacturer to build the product in India.
3. Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR)
• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested the second indigenously developed ‘Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR)’ propulsion based missile system.
• It is a missile propulsion technology jointly developed by India and Russia.
• It will help both India’s surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles to perform better and enhance their strike range, making them more lethal.
• With it, India can have fastest long-range missiles in two categories, providing full-fledged and multi-layered aerial protection from hostile attacks.
• Its successful use in missiles will mark India’s entry into select club of nations that use next-generation missile technology against manoeuvring targets, compromising effectiveness of conventional missiles.
4. CUTLASS EXPRESS – 19
• Multinational training exercise ‘CUTLASS EXPRESS – 19’ was held recently.
• It is an exercise designed to assess and improve combined maritime law enforcement capacity, promote national and regional security in East Africa as well as information sharing, planning and operating.
• Sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and is conducted by U.S. Naval Forces Africa.
• The aim of the exercise: To improve law enforcement capacity, promote regional security and progress inter-operability between the armed forces of the participating nations.