SOURCE: PTI

The Quad is a statement that others cannot have a “veto” on choices of like-minded nations and the coalition is here to stay, grow and contribute to global prosperity, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday, amid mounting global concerns over China’s rising assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.

In an address at a think-tank forum, Jaishankar described the coalition of India, the US, Japan and Australia as an “overhead light” that is a “creative, flexible, nimble, responsive and open-minded” enterprise.

SOURCE: IANS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s regime, aided by a brilliant National Security Advisor, has boosted the confidence of national Intelligence agencies about doing their job of protecting the security and integrity of India on a proactive, apolitical and professional note.

Intelligence Bureau (IB), the ‘mother’ organisation that fostered the family of Intelligence entities including SSB, ARC and R&AW, traced its origins in the Central CID established by the British some 135 years ago and the fact that it saw an essential continuity of its functioning after Independence, is an affirmation of its belief that by and large its goal had been to safeguard the country against the doings of its perceived ‘adversaries’ at any point of time.

SOURCE: PTI

India and Japan on Sunday kicked-off a two-week military exercise in Rajasthan’s Mahajan field firing range to foster deeper cooperation in confronting common security challenges. The exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ between the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self Defence Force is being conducted under the broad framework of India-Japan strategic cooperation, officials said.

It is an annual exercise and conducted alternatively in India and Japan. The contingent of both sides comprises 40 personnel each.

SOURCE: PTI

The Maldives has been famous in India especially on social media for wrong reasons, former Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Didi said here on Saturday. The comments come in the backdrop of a recent controversy triggered by social media posts by a minister and other leaders in the Maldives days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Lakshadweep archipelago.

“The Maldives has been famous in India for the wrong reasons, I would say especially on social media. We are not people like that. We love foreigners visiting our country, and we welcome you all to the Maldives,” Didi said at the Firstpost Defence Summit 2024.

SOURCE: ANI

After ISRO’s key cryogenic engine passed certification for missions to transport humans into space, the Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman S Somanathon, on Friday said that it will do similar work for the crew module and other new items that are part of the Gaganyaan program.

With the completion of the final round of ground qualification tests on February 13, ISRO has accomplished a major milestone in the human rating of its CE20 cryogenic engine that powers the cryogenic stage of the human-rated LVM3 launch vehicle for Gaganyaan missions, the space agency had said in a statement earlier.

SOURCE: AFI

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Saturday that Maharashtra is set to overhaul its aerospace and defence manufacturing policy, which was initially formulated in 2017. This update comes as Industries Minister Uday Samant revealed plans for the establishment of four defence manufacturing clusters within the state.

The declarations were made during the MSME Defence Expo held in Pune, where both officials shared insights into Maharashtra’s strategic initiatives in the aerospace and defence sectors.

SOURCE: PIB

In recognition of major contribution to defence sector towards nation building, Government of Maharashtra extended an invitation for participation and capability demonstration of the Indian Air Force during the Maharashtra MSME Defence Exposition at International Exhibition Convention Centre, Moshi, Pune from 24 Feb to 26 Feb 2024.

Participation of large number of MSMEs, private companies, Defence Research and Development Oraganisation (DRDO) laboratories and Defence Public Sector Unit (DPSU) setups in Maharashtra reflected India’s progress towards achieving ‘Atmanirbharta’ in Defence and integration of Armed Forces requirements, R&D and Defence production by public and private players.

SOURCE: PTI

Sixteen officers and a soldier of the Indian Army were felicitated for bravery and exceptional devotion to duty at the South Western Command investiture ceremony held here on Saturday.

The ceremony was held with customary elan and military grandeur at an auditorium at the Hisar Military Station. A total of 10 Sena Medals (Gallantry) and seven Vishisht Seva Medals were presented by Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command, an official statement read.

SOURCE: ANI

The Indian Air Force deployed its Dornier aircraft at short notice to airlift a team of doctors from the Army Hospital in Delhi to retrieve a liver from Pune to save the life of an army veteran.

The mission was crucial given it was conducted at short notice on February 23, the Indian Air Force said on Sunday.BAn IAF Dornier aircraft was activated at short notice to airlift a team of doctors of Army Hospital (R&R), to retrieve a liver from Pune to Delhi during the night on 23 Feb 24.

SOURCE: PTI

Three Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district on Sunday morning, a senior police official said.

The face-off took place in a forest in Koyalibeda area when a joint team of the District Reserve Guard and the Border Security Force was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Kanker Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela said.

SOURCE: PTI

The Manipur Police have recovered a huge cache of arms and explosives during search operations at two villages in Churachandpur district. Security forces seized four firearms, one improvised long-range heavy mortar and ammunition on Saturday from the outskirts of D Haolenjang village, a police statement said.

Fake currency notes with a total face value of Rs 1,200 were also seized from there, it said. During another search operation, a police team recovered 10 guns, eight gelatin sticks and ammunition from Moljang village in Churachandpur, the statement issued by the police control room said.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) concerning the procurement of 3 Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Systems. This move underscores the growing necessity for enhanced intelligence capabilities in contemporary military operations. The systems, to be acquired under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured) and Buy (Indian) provisions of DAP-2020, are slated to bolster India’s defense posture significantly.

The ISTAR systems, once integrated into the Indian Air Force’s arsenal, will serve as a pivotal component in its operational framework. The urgency for such platforms stems from the escalating need for real-time battlefield intelligence and heightened vigilance along India’s borders. As regional dynamics evolve and security challenges become more complex, the acquisition of advanced surveillance technologies becomes imperative for safeguarding national interests.

SOURCE: AFI

According to a military source speaking to APA, the Azerbaijani authorities possess detailed knowledge regarding the technical specifications of the weaponry provided to Armenia by India.

The source emphasized that the military hardware supplied to Armenia by Delhi has not undergone testing within India itself. “It appears that India regards Armenia as a testing ground for its military equipment.

SOURCE: ANI

Indian Air force (IAF) Maintenance Command chief Air Marshal Vibhas Pande said the indigenously developed air defence missile system represents the IAF’s ability to demonstrate that obsolete missiles can be put to effective use by using them as an air defence feature.

Speaking to ANI, Air Marshal Vibhas Pande said, “SAMAR 2 is the next version of the missile system and this whole effort is primarily to ensure that whatever missiles are getting life expired, we can put them to effective use by deploying them as an air defence system.” This is just a demonstration of how we can integrate the R27 missile into the Samar system.

SOURCE: PIB

“The Government, headed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is focusing on long-term gains and not short-term outcomes to make India a developed nation by 2047,” said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at a Defence Summit organised by a private media organisationin New Delhi on February 24, 2024.Shri Rajnath Singhtermed ‘giving priority to long-termism and long-term gains’ as the main difference between the present Governmentand the previous dispensations.

The Raksha Mantri stated that unlike in the past, the present Government has formulated and implemented policies which not only provide short-term gains for just five years. He enumerated the reforms undertaken in the defence sector for long-term gains in the last few years, including creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff and setting up of the Department of Military Affairs which has enhanced jointness, synergy and smooth coordination among the three Services.