SOURCE: IANS

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday said that the identity of the man suspected to be behind the blast at a cafe here has been traced, adding the accused would be arrested “in a few hours”.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier said that the blast that occurred at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru’s IT hub Whitefield on Friday was due to an improvised explosive device (IED). At least 10 people were injured in the blast.

SOURCE: IANS

The contingents of the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self Defence Force are taking part in ‘Dharma Guardian’, a joint military exercise, at the Mahajan field firing ranges in Rajasthan, where they are undergoing intense training in room intervention, close quarter battle firing, obstacle clearance and unarmed combat.

Yoga was also practised during the exercise, highlighting its contributions towards attaining a healthy body and sharp mind, said Col Amitabh Sharma, PRO (Defence), Jaipur.

SOURCE: PIB

Exercise Samudra Laksamana is underway from 28 Feb – 02 Mar 24 at/ off Visakhapatnam. Indian Naval Ship Kiltan and Royal Malaysian Ship KD Lekir are participating in the 3rd edition of this exercise which has harbour professional interactions followed by the operational phase at sea.

At harbour, crew of both ships will have various professional interactions, Subject Matter Expert Exchange on topics of mutual interest, sports fixtures, and other interactions. These interactions are aimed to enhance knowledge base, share best practices and further cooperation on maritime aspects.

SOURCE: IANS

The Nagaland Assembly on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Centre to reconsider its decision to fence the India-Myanmar border and scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between the two countries.

Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton introduced the resolution, which requested the Union Government to work out regulations for movement of people across the borders in close consultation with the people inhabiting the border areas, and for suitably bringing in the village council authorities concerned in the entire system of regulations.

SOURCE: IANS

The annual India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks were held in the national capital on Friday with both sides reviewing the progress of the projects supported by the Indian government in the Himalayan nation.

While the Bhutanese delegation was led by Secretary Aum Pema Choden, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, the Indian side was headed by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. Senior officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) were also present at the talks, which were “held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere in keeping with the excellent bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries”.

SOURCE: AFI

Newspace Research & Technologies (NRT), a pioneering Indian defense startup specializing in drone technology, has achieved a major milestone by securing $52 million in a bridge round of funding. This significant equity raise highlights NRT’s growing prominence in India’s defense sector and underscores investor confidence in the company’s innovative capabilities.

The funding round comprises $33 million in equity investment from prominent investors and $19 million in debt facilities, with support from SBI’s startup hub and SIDBI. This injection of capital will provide NRT with the necessary resources to expand its operations, accelerate product development, and pursue strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing its market position.

SOURCE: LARSEN & TOUBRO

The Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has awarded a major contract to Larsen & Toubro (L&T), for the supply of High Power Radars (HPR) to the Indian Air Force (IAF).

HPR is a static sensor for long range aerial surveillance with higher uptime. Equipped with multiple Next-Gen features and capable of remote operations, they will augment IAF’s capabilities for monitoring special zones of interest, designating and tracking adversaries with optimal accuracy. The project is turnkey in nature and is to be executed across multiple locations.

SOURCE: AFI

Pixxel, a leading player in the space technology domain, has achieved a remarkable feat by clinching the top prize in the DIU & iDEX (India) Maritime ISR Challenge at the prestigious INDUS-X Summit. The recognition underscores Pixxel’s innovative proposal, which leverages hyperspectral imagery to detect ocean surface oil spills, thereby addressing critical environmental and maritime security concerns.

The Maritime ISR Challenge, organized as part of the INDUS-X Summit, brought together industry leaders, innovators, and defense experts to explore cutting-edge solutions for enhancing maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. Pixxel’s groundbreaking proposal stood out for its potential to revolutionize the detection and monitoring of oil spills, offering a proactive approach to environmental protection and maritime security.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Navy is set to enhance its operational capabilities with the induction of six SeaHawk helicopters on March 6, 2024. The acquisition of these multirole helicopters marks a significant milestone in the Indian Navy’s efforts to bolster its presence and dominance in the Indian Ocean region, a strategically vital area of operation.

The squadron of MH-60R SeaHawk helicopters will be commissioned as Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 334 and will be based at INS Garuda, the naval air station located in Kochi, Kerala. This new addition to the Indian Navy’s fleet represents a substantial upgrade in maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, and search and rescue capabilities.

SOURCE: AFI

The recent statement by the Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson, Zhang Xiaogang, regarding the outcomes of the China-India 21st corps commander-level meeting has stirred significant attention and debate. The assertion, made in response to Indian officials’ claims about the meeting’s lack of progress due to China’s firm stance, challenges the narrative put forth by Indian authorities.

According to Zhang Xiaogang, the characterization of the meeting’s outcome as unproductive is not accurate. He emphasized that both China and India have maintained effective communication throughout the dialogue process and have engaged in positive, in-depth, and constructive exchanges during the 21st corps commander-level meeting.

SOURCE: TASS

India’s Defense Ministry has signed a contract with the Russian-Indian company BrahMos Aerospace for the supply of supersonic cruise missiles nearly $2.5 billion worth, the Defense Ministry has said in a news release.

A contract has been signed with BrahMos Aerospace for the supply of BrahMos missiles $2.36 billion worth. These missiles will be used for combat equipment and exercises by the Indian Navy, the news release reads. Another $120-million contract with BrahMos Aerospace was signed for the supply of missile systems for the Navy. This brings the total value of the agreements to $2.48 billion.

SOURCE: PTI

India on Friday sealed five major defence acquisition contracts worth ? 39,125 crore including procurement of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, radars, weapon systems and aero-engines for MiG-29 jets as part of efforts to boost the combat capabilities of the armed forces.

The mega procurement projects were firmed up amid India’s lingering border row with China in eastern Ladakh, and they will be implemented under the broad framework of the government’s policy to boost domestic defence manufacturing.