• India successfully test-fired it`s first indigenously designed and developed long-range sub-sonic cruise missile `Nirbhay` from a test range in Odisha.

• The missile can be deployed from multiple platforms.

• It was test-fired at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur.

• The missile is capable of loitering and cruising at 0.7 Mach at altitude as low as 100 meters.

• Nirbhay  is a long range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile designed and developed in India by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. The missile can be launched from multiple platforms and is capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads. It is currently under development and undergoing flight trials

 

 

• Admiral Sunil Lanba, the Chief of the Naval Staff, inaugurated the maiden ‘state-of-the-art’ Virtual Reality Centre (VRC) at the Directorate of Naval Design, New Delhi.

• This centre would provide a major boost to the Indigenous warship design capabilities of the Indian Navy.

• It will provide impetus to self-reliance and greater fillip to warship construction under “Make in India” initiative of the Indian government.

• This project will facilitate collaborative design reviews for continuous interaction between the designers and the end users to improve design and ergonomics onboard warships.

 

 

• In the backdrop of the growing maritime engagement between India and Vietnam, the Indian Navy undertook the second edition of the bilateral maritime exercise between Indian Navy and Vietnam Peoples` Navy at/ off Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam.

• The maiden edition was conducted from 21 to 26 May 18 at Da Nang, Vietnam. The exercisewas undertaken as a part of the ongoing Overseas Deployment of Eastern Fleet ships to South East Asian countries. IN Ships Kolkata under the command of Capt Aditya Hara and Shakti under the command of Capt Sriram Amur participated in the exercise, comprising a harbour and a sea phase.

• The Indian Navy held the 2nd edition of the bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and Vietnam Peoples’ Navy, (IN – VPN BILAT EX) at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam during 13th to 16th April, 2019.

• The exercise was undertaken as a part of the ongoing Overseas Deployment of Eastern Fleet ships to South East Asian countries.

• INS Kolkata under the command of Captain Aditya Hara and INS Shakti under the command of Captain Sriram Amur participated in the exercise.

 

 

• The Indian Air Force, IAF reiterated that it has irrefutable evidence not only of the fact that the F-16 was used by Pakistan Air Force on 27th February but also that IAF MIG 21 Bison shot down the F-16. 

• Briefing media in New Delhi, Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said, there is no doubt that two aircraft went down in the aerial engagement, one of which was the MIG 21 Bison while the other was F-16 of Pakistan Air Force conclusively identified by its electronic signature and radio trans. 

• He said, certain official statements made by Pakistan`s Director General Inter-Services Public Relations also corroborate the stand of Indian Air Force. 

• Air Vice Marshal Kapoor said, IAF has more credible evidence that is clearly indicative of the fact that Pakistan has lost one F-16. However, he said, due to security and confidentiality concerns, the Indian Air Force is restricting the information being shared in the public domain. 

• The Indian Air Force also released radar images to rebut Pakistan’s claim that it had not lost a US-manufactured F-16 fighter jet in the aerial combat on  February 27.

 

 

• The sixth edition of the joint military training exercise between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army, Exercise Mitra Shakti concluded in Sri Lanka. The two-week long training that commenced on 26th March, came to an end with a grand smart and scintillating joint parade by the two continents.

• During the past 14 days, both the contingents jointly planned and executed a series of tactical operations based on scenarios that are likely to be encountered in the rural & urban environment. Commanders at various levels from both sides exercised to work in close coordination to receive and collate information, jointly plan operations and issue orders to their respective components. 

• Subject experts from both the contingents also held in depth discussions on various facets of counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations. The contingents also honed their tactical and technical skills in a wide spectrum of counter insurgency operations. 

• The two army contingents also shared the best practices of each other to further enhance their learning experiences. Started in 2013, exercise Mitra Shakti is in continuation of a series of joint exercises that is conducted annually as part of military diplomacy to enhance cooperation between the armies of India & Sri Lanka.

 

 

• A three-day joint military exercise between India and Singapore named ‘Bold Kurukshetra–2019’ started in Jhansi’s Babina Cantonment, Uttar Pradesh to strengthen cooperation against terrorism, develop defence technology and boost maritime security.

• Colonel SP Singh led the Indian counterpart, and Lieutenant Colonel Tong Chong Kiat led the Singapore counterpart. Brigadier Ranjan Keron reviewed the march past of both the contingents.

• An official agreement signed between India and Singapore in November 2017 to strengthen defence ties between their respective armed forces and for this agreement, personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces will receive training along with the Indian Armed Forces.

 

 

• The United States said it had approved the sale of 24 MH-60R helicopters to India, significantly boosting its emerging ally`s firepower to target submarines as China expands in the Indian Ocean.

• In a quick reply to a request submitted late last year by India, the State Department said it was informing the US Congress as legally required that it was giving the green light for India to buy the 24 helicopters worth a total of $2.6 billion.

• Nicknamed the Romeo, the MH-60R helicopters manufactured by Lockheed Martin are designed for hunting submarines as well as knocking out ships and conducting search-and-rescue operations at sea.

• "This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defensive partner," the State Department said in a statement.

• It called India "a major defensive partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region."

• In a strategy dubbed by Indian and US observers as the "string of pearls," China has made use of a growing number of naval bases in the Indian Ocean, most notably the Gwadar port it is developing in India`s historic rival Pakistan.

 

• The 33rd IND-INDO CORPAT, also coinciding with 70 years of India-Indonesia diplomatic ties, will contribute towards the Indian Navy’s efforts to consolidate inter-operability and forge strong bonds of friendship across the seas.

• The IND-INDO CORPAT Series of bilaterals seek to underscore India’s peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly Maritime neighbouring countries to ensure good order in the maritime domain, consolidate interoperability and strengthen existing bonds of friendship between India and Indonesia.

• Indian Naval assets have been increasinly deployed in the recent times to address the maritime concerns on the region. In addition, as part of the Indian Government’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has also been involved in assisting countries in the Indian Ocean Region with EEZ Surveillance, Search and Rescue, and other capacity-building and capability-enhancement activities. The 33rd IND-INDO CORPAT, also coinciding with 70 years of India-Indonesia diplomatic ties, will contribute towards the Indian Navy’s efforts to consolidate inter-operability and forge strong bonds of friendship across the seas.  

 

 

• Indian Air Force will participate in Langkawi International Maritime Aero Expo, LIMA 2019.

• The expo will take place in Langkawi, Malaysia from 26th to 30th March.

• Indian Air Force is participating in the Expo for the first time and it will showcase its indigenously developed LCA fighter aircraft.

• The participation of Indian Air Force in LIMA - 2019 will provide an opportunity to air-warriors to interact with their Royal Malaysian Air Force.

• The participation will provide the fighter jets, pilots and other air warriors in LIMA 2019 an opportunity to interact with their Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) counterparts and foster close relationship between the two services, said the IAF. “This will serve as a foundation for any future interaction with the Malaysian Air Force. It will also provide an opportunity to RMAF to assess the capabilities of LCA,” said the IAF.

• Apart from the two Tejas, the IAF contingent also consists of one C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft and one IL-76 plane along with 27 officers, 42 air warriors and 11 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited personnel. The IL-76 and C-130J will provide logistics support for induction of LCA Tejas aircraft to Langkawi.

• Tejas, being the world’s lightest supersonic fighter weighs 6,560 kg while the loaded weight is 9,800 kg with a maximum takeoff weight 13,500 kg.

 

 

• Indian Navy`s `Operation Sahayta` to provide relief to the cyclone-hit African nation Mozambique, treated nearly 500 people at a medical camp, the Navy said in a statement. 

• After Cyclone `Idai` hit Mozambique last week, the Indian Navy deployed its ships Sujata, Sarathi and Shardul to carry out humanitarian and disaster relief activities. 

• The medical camp at Gaura-Gaurathe was terminated based on UN Mission request, as all the 500 people of the village were provided medical treatment till March 22. The medical camp at Beira Harbour Master`s office continued on March 23 and treated a total of 70 persons, the Navy said.

• A Chetak helicopter also rescued four people from Buzi Island and dropped about 180 kg of relief material, including food and water, provided by the World Food Programme. 

 

 

• The joint training exercise MITRASHAKTI - VI between Indian and Sri Lanka Army was held at Diyatalawa in Sri Lanka. An Indian contingent of 120 Army personnel, including 11 officers arrived last evening to take part in the two-week long exercise. The exercise is an annual event held in India and Sri Lanka alternatively. 

• MITRASHAKTI is one of the largest bilateral armies to army exercises conducted in the region. Based on the success of previous exercises, it has been recently upgraded from a platoon level engagement to a full Company level engagement. 

• The exercise is designed to enhance interoperability and mutual understanding between both the armies and build a relationship based on professional respect, personal bonding and extensive training interaction.