SOURCE: PIB

The Indian Navy will commission the newly inducted MH 60R Seahawk (a maritime variant of the Blackhawk helicopter) multi-role helicopter on 06 Mar 2024 at INS Garuda, Kochi marking a pivotal moment in India’s Defence modernisation journey. The Seahawks squadron will be commissioned in the Indian Navy as INAS 334. The helicopters are a part of the 24-aircraft FMS contract signed with the US government in Feb 2020.

The Indian Navy is set to witness a significant surge in its maritime prowess with the induction of the Seahawks. The helicopter is designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and vertical replenishment (VERTREP). The helicopter has been rigorously tested in Indian Reference Atmosphere (IRA) conditions and is fully integrated into the Fleet. The advanced weapons, sensors and avionics suite make the Seahawks ideal for the Indian Navy’s maritime security needs, offering enhanced capabilities for both conventional as well as asymmetric threats.

SOURCE: IANS

Japan Ground Self Defense Force’s Eastern Army commander, Lt General Togashi Yuichi on Sunday visited the Foreign Training Node at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan to witness the ongoing India-Japan joint military exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’.

The primary objective of the visit was to take stock of the progress made in the exercise, encourage both the Japanese and Indian contingents, strengthen the camaraderie between the armies and enhance the collaborative efforts between the two nations, Defence PRO, Col Amitabh Sharma, said.

SOURCE: PTI

The Congress on Sunday attacked the Centre over the Agnipath scheme, alleging that it has “compromised” national security and “severely disrupted” the armed forces’ recruitment processes in India.

The Congress’ attack came after party leader Rahul Gandhi had an interaction with ex-servicemen, potential Agniveer recruits and the youth whose regular recruitment into the armed forces has been disrupted by the introduction of Agnipath during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Madhya Pradesh.

SOURCE: PTI

The parents of Indian Navy sailor Sahil Verma, who has been missing for a week, on Sunday demanded a CBI probe into the circumstances leading to his “mysterious disappearance” at sea from an Indian naval ship while on deployment.

Mr Verma, a seaman in the Indian Navy, went missing from a naval ship on February 27 and a massive search operation has been launched to trace him. His father Subash Chander and mother Rama Kumari — who live in the Ghou Manhasan area of Jammu — have sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to ensure the safe return of their missing son.

SOURCE: IANS

 Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor L-G Manoj Sinha on Sunday handed over the appointment orders under SRO-43 to the next of kin of the civilians killed in Poonch, an official statement said.

The appointment orders were handed over to Zareena Begum, Mohd Kabir and Mohd Razaq, all residents of village Bufliaz, Surankote, District Poonch.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has taken a significant step towards bolstering its presence in Eastern Ladakh with the completion of a paved runway at the Nyoma airstrip, located just 30 kilometers from the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This development mirrors India’s efforts to counter China’s infrastructure advancements in the region.

Situated at an altitude of 13,700 feet, Nyoma offers a strategic advantage due to its proximity to the LAC. The newly paved runway will now allow the IAF to operate transport aircraft and attack helicopters from this location, significantly enhancing its operational flexibility and rapid response capabilities in the region.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has taken a significant leap forward in its space exploration endeavors with the inauguration of a first-of-its-kind large trisonic wind tunnel (TWT) at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. This groundbreaking facility will play a crucial role in optimizing the aerodynamic design of future rockets and spacecraft, paving the way for a more efficient and cost-effective space program.

The TWT is a unique wind tunnel capable of simulating three distinct flight regimes: subsonic (below the speed of sound), transonic (at the speed of sound), and hypersonic (above the speed of sound). This versatility makes it an invaluable tool for testing the aerodynamic performance of scaled-down models of rockets and re-entry spacecrafts under various atmospheric conditions.

SOURCE: AFI

The Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), a leading power producer in India, is exploring a novel approach to clean energy generation. NLC is in talks with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCL) to establish Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) at its coal mines, according to NLC chairman and managing director M Prasanna Kumar.

SMRs are a relatively new technology, featuring nuclear reactors with significantly lower power output compared to traditional reactors. While conventional reactors boast outputs in the gigawatt (GW) range (1,000-1,500 megawatts electrical or MWe), SMRs operate at a capacity below 300 MWe.

SOURCE: AFI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the war game ‘Bharat Shakti’ in Pokhran, Rajasthan on March 12. Participation in this will be done only through indigenously designed weapon platforms and systems. Top officers of the three armies including Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan are going to participate in the exercise to be held in Pokhran. The concept of ‘self-reliant India’ is going to be seen in this exercise. 

According to the Hindustan Times report, Prime Minister Narendra Modi may ask the military leadership to develop a strategy-based revolution in military affairs, at the center of which would be India, Indian geography and a strategy to deal with its security threats. It is believed that Indian-made defense platforms and network-based systems are going to be tested in the exercise being conducted under the name ‘Bharat Shakti’. With this, the strength of indigenous weapons can also be estimated. 

SOURCE: AFI

In a compelling statement, ISRO Chairman S Somanath emphasized the imperative of exploring other planets and celestial bodies for potential human habitation, underscoring the inherent spirit of exploration ingrained within humanity. His remarks, delivered on Saturday, shed light on the pressing need to expand our understanding of the cosmos and consider alternative habitats beyond Earth.

Somanath’s assertion that the exploration of other planets should commence while Earth remains habitable reflects a forward-thinking approach to space exploration. It underscores the importance of proactive measures to ensure the long-term survival and sustainability of humanity. By venturing beyond the confines of our home planet, humans can broaden their horizons and unlock new frontiers in science, technology, and civilization.

SOURCE: DAWN

The Foreign Office on Saturday issued a sharp rebuke in response to India’s interception and seizure of a commercial consignment en route to Pakistan, labelling the action as an “unjustified seizure” and criticising India’s self-assumed role as a regional enforcer.

“Pakistan condemns India’s high-handedness in seizure of commercial goods. This disruption of free trade underscores the dangers inherent in the arbitrary assumption of policing roles by states with dubious credentials,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.

SOURCE: PIB

Taking the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat and ‘Make in India’ initiative forward, the Department of Military Affairs under the Ministry of Defence, is conducting an intensive Brainstorming over the next two days on March 4-5, 2024 between the Service Headquarters and important stakeholders from Department of Defence Production, Defence Industry representatives and other relevant partners.

The implementable way forward derived from consultative and participative processes through high-level deliberations to provide impetus to indigenisation and also devise ways and means to enhance participation of private industry in defence R&D and manufacturing ecosystem will be the key takeaways.

SOURCE: ANI

The Indian Navy has now introduced the kurta-pyjama attire into the naval messes. The recently permitted naval ethnic attire made its debut at a Naval Officers’ Mess in New Delhi. Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, Vice Chief Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi and other naval officers wore the recently permitted naval ethnic attire, Officials said on Sunday.

In a brief statement issued on Sunday, Indian Navy said, “Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, Vice Chief Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi and other naval officers wore the recently permitted naval ethnic attire which made its debut at a Naval Officers’ Mess in New Delhi”.

SOURCE: AFI

The first woman sniper of BSF was prepared after training at the Central Armament and Combat Skills School of BSF (Border Security Force), Indore. After the completion of the sniper course, BSF shared the information of the first female sniper from its X account.

Suman Kumari, posted as sub-inspector in BSF’s Punjab unit, was the only woman in the eight-week sniper training course conducted at the BSF campus in Indore. 57 men also participated in this course. Sniper plays an important role in killing terrorists and criminals with precise aim of gun and in special operations.

SOURCE: PTI

Security forces have been put on alert ahead of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to address a public rally at the Bakshi Stadium here on Thursday, officials said on Sunday.

The deployment of security personnel has been increased around the renovated Bakshi Stadium with barricades set up for checking the vehicles passing through the venue of PM Modi’s rally, the officials said.