SOURCE: PTI

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday displayed its firepower capability at a mega exercise featuring over 120 aircraft, including frontline fighter jets and attack helicopters in Rajasthan’s Pokhran desert. In the Vayu Shakti exercise, the IAF also demonstrated the capabilities of its long-range drones and air-to-air missiles as well as its increasing strength in the rapid deployment of combat assets by airlifting weapons like M-777 ultra-light howitzers and other military platforms.

In keeping with the exercise’s theme ‘Lightning Strike from the Sky’, over 120 aircraft displayed the IAF’s offensive capabilities by day as well as by night.

SOURCE: PTI

Moving ahead on its mission to study the Earth and ocean surfaces, ISRO on Saturday successfully launched its next-generation weather observation satellite INSAT-3DS onboard a GSLV rocket into a precise orbit.

The flawless mission prompted the ISRO to virtually heave a sigh of relief over the challenging GSLV rocket technology, as the director of today’s mission said the “naughty boy has matured into an obedient, disciplined boy,” apparently referring to its past unsuccessful missions. ISRO Chairman S Somanath said the success gave the space agency “greater confidence,” as the GSLV will be next deployed in the NISAR mission, a collaborative effort with the US’ NASA.

SOURCE: PTI

India maintained for many decades that there should be a two-state solution to the Palestine issue and an increasing number of nations are now not only endorsing it but considering it as “more urgent” than before, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday amid concerns over the prevailing situation in Gaza.

S Jaishankar made the remarks at an interactive session at a security conference in Munich in presence of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

SOURCE: PTI

 A drone on way to deliver a package hit the rooftop of a house before falling on the ground, triggering a scare in a residential locality here, police said on Friday. The incident took place in G Block of South City 2 residential area around 5 pm on Thursday, they said. Police said the drone was being flown by Skye Air at a time when prohibitory orders are enforced due to Chief Minister M L Khattar’s visit in the district and a case has been registered against the company.

The RWA of the society informed the Sector 50 police station about the incident and a police team reached the spot.

SOURCE: AFI WITH IDRW.ORG TEAM.

India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has recently approved the procurement of heavyweight torpedoes, marking a significant step towards enhancing the attacking capabilities of its Kalvari-class submarines. This move comes after the cancellation of a previous contract with Italian firm Whitehead Alenia Systemi Subacquei (WASS) due to concerns surrounding alleged bribery practices.

The new acquisition, details of which are yet to be disclosed, aims to equip Kalvari-class submarines with advanced weaponry, bolstering their underwater strike potential. This upgrade is crucial in light of India’s growing maritime ambitions and the need to counter evolving threats in the region.

SOURCE: AFI

Vikram Misri, Deputy National Security Adviser of India, raised concerns about cross-border terrorism and the potential misuse of Afghan territory by proscribed groups during a recent meeting. He emphasized the need for a multi-pronged approach to address the challenges in Afghanistan, focusing on humanitarian aid, inclusive governance, counter-terrorism efforts, and economic development.

Misri highlighted the dangers of cross-border terrorism, specifically mentioning groups like Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, which are designated as terrorist organizations by the UN Security Council. He stressed the importance of preventing Afghan soil from being used for “sheltering, training, planning or financing terrorist acts.” This statement underscores India’s concerns about the potential threat posed by these Pakistan-based groups to its own security.

SOURCE: IANS

 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has done it again. It has skipped the number ’13’ — generally considered “unlucky” — while numbering its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket, which is set to fly on Saturday evening with the weather satellite INSAT-3DS.

Chennai, Feb 17 (IANS) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has done it again. It has skipped the number ’13’ — generally considered “unlucky” — while numbering its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket, which is set to fly on Saturday evening with the weather satellite INSAT-3DS.

SOURCE: ANI

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch its meteorological satellite INSAT-3DS aboard spacecraft GSLV F14 at 5:35 pm this evening from the Sriharikota spaceport. It will study weather forecasts and natural disaster warnings. In its 16th mission, the GSLV aims to deploy the INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Subsequent orbit-raising maneuvers will ensure that the satellite is positioned in a Geo-stationary Orbit.

INSAT-3DS Satellite is a follow-on mission of Third Generation Meteorological Satellite from Geostationary Orbit.

SOURCE: IANS

General Manoj Pande, Chief Of Army Staff (COAS) visited the Defence Innovation Unit (DIU), the forefront military innovation unit of the US Army, in San Francisco. He interacted with Doug Beck, Director of DIU and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defence, the Army said on Saturday.

According to the Indian Army the COAS also visited the California National Guard. The visit by the COAS highlights the shared values and interests that underpin the partnership between India and the US, aimed at further enhancing bilateral cooperation and development in Defence and security domains.

SOURCE: ANI

Indian Naval Warship INS Chennai which rescued the hijacked Bulk Carrier MV Lila Norfolk on January 5, successfully reached Chennai, Tamil Nadu on Friday. Indian naval warship INS Chennai on January 5 reached the hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk off Somalia coast and issued a warning to the pirates on board to abandon the vessel, military officials told ANI.

The Indian warship has also launched its helicopter and the Marine Commandos (MARCOS) are ready for operations. All the Indian crew on board are safe, the officials added.

SOURCE: PTI

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Germany discussed the need to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, highlighting how the US and India play important roles in safeguarding economic stability in the volatile region.

The two leaders met on Friday on the sidelines of the prestigious Munich Security Conference in the German city. “Mr Blinken and Mr Jaishankar discussed the need to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea,” State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a readout of the meeting.

SOURCE: ANI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday (local time). The talks between the two leaders focused on the present state of bilateral ties.

Mr Jaishankar and Melanie Joly also exchanged views on the global situation. The talks between the two leaders come amid strained ties between India and Canada after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made allegations that the Indian government was involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey in June 2023. India has denied the allegations, calling them “absurd” and “motivated.”