SOURCE: AFI

The World Defence Show in Riyadh (WDS2024) witnessed a significant moment for gender inclusivity in the Indian Armed Forces. A delegation of three women officers – Colonel Ponung Doming (Indian Army), Lieutenant Commander Annu Prakash (Indian Navy), and Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth (Indian Air Force) – attended the event as special invitees to the “International Women in Defence – Investing in an Inclusive Future” themed seminar.

This participation signifies a positive step towards showcasing the growing role of women in the Indian defense sector. The delegation represented diverse branches of the armed forces, highlighting the expanding opportunities for women across the organization.

SOURCE: PTI

The MQ9-B SkyGuardian Aircraft being sold to India by the US would be equipped with highly sensitive surveillance and lethal attack equipment including hellfire missile, and laser small diameter bombs, according to details sent by the Biden Administration to the US Congress.

The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) wrote a letter to the Congress last week informing it that the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of India of MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of USD 3.99 billion.

SOURCE: ANI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced for “immediate suspension of Free Movement Regime (FMR)” between India and Myanmar to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern states bordering Myanmar. “Since the Ministry of External Affairs is currently in the process of scrapping it, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recommended the immediate suspension of the FMR,” Shah said.

The Home Minister in a post on X, made the announcement, saying that the aim of abolishing the FMR between India and Myanmar is to safeguard the internal security of the nation and preserve the demographic composition of India’s North Eastern states that share borders with Myanmar. “It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve to secure our borders.

SOURCE: UNI

India’s installed nuclear power capacity will increase to 22800 megawatts by 2031–32, the central government announced on Wednesday. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, “The present installed nuclear power capacity is set to increase from 7480 MW to 22800 MW by 2031–32.” The government is taking policy measures to generate electricity through atomic energy as well as other sources to promote these, he said.

To increase the share of nuclear power in total electricity generation in the country, the government has taken several steps, including administrative approval and financial sanction, to set up 10 indigenous 700 MW pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) in fleet mode, the minister said.

SOURCE: ANI

The country is going through Amrit Kaal; it is time to build a highly capable Aatmanirbhar defence space ecosystem, said Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan on Wednesday. He was addressing during inauguration of ‘DEFSAT’, a three-day Space Seminar and Exhibition at the Manekshaw Centre.

Highlighting the vitality of space for mankind and also for the armed forces engaged in combat, the CDS said that space can be used as a force multiplier to enhance combat capabilities in traditional domains of land, air, sea and even cyber.

SOURCE: PTI

India and Saudi Arabia discussed ways to strengthen bilateral defence and strategic cooperation including the scope of increasing joint military training exercises and technology transfer for defence industrial engagement. The issues figured in the talks between Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt and Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Bhatt also met Assistant Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia Khaled Al-Bayari, with whom he discussed ways to further strengthen the long-standing and multi-faceted defence cooperation between the two countries. The talks came amid increasing global concerns over the situation in West-Asia, especially the attacks on commercial cargo vessels by Iran-backed Houthi militants.

SOURCE: PTI

The deteriorating security situation in Myanmar is “worrying” for both India and Bangladesh as it could impact regional peace and stability, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said on Wednesday hours after holding talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Mahmud said the issue figured in his meeting with Doval and that 338 Myanmarese people, mostly belonging to Border Security Guard of Myanmar and Army personnel entered Bangladesh following the escalation of the situation in the Rakhine state.

India on Tuesday asked its citizens in the Rakhine state to leave the troubled-region immediately in view of deteriorating security situation. Mahmud is on a four-day visit to India from Tuesday, in his first bilateral foreign trip since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power for a fifth term after a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections last month.

SOURCE: PTI

Several fast interception crafts (FICs) of the Indian Navy remained non-operational from 2014 to 2019 due to defective engines for extended periods, a parliamentary committee said in its report on Wednesday. In its report, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) also flayed the Navy, saying it is yet to achieve the complete deployment of officers for the Special Prahari Bal (SPB), despite a significant lapse of 12 years since the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) sanctioned it in February 2009.

The SPB is a maritime force envisaged following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack with a primary focus on providing security to all coastal and offshore naval assets by carrying out patrolling through FICs.

SOURCE: PTI

Amid concerns over a string of deaths among Indian students in the US, a prominent community leader has said his organisation is dealing with at least one such tragic case a day and underscored the need for creating awareness among immigrants from India to ensure their safety.

“Not to exaggerate, but we deal with at least one death a day across the country and mostly among young students or H-1B employees who have recently immigrated” to the US from India, Mohan Nannapaneni, founder of volunteer-based nonprofit organisation TEAM Aid, told PTI in an interview on Wednesday.

SOURCE: AFI

Get ready for a triple threat on Mars! The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is pushing the boundaries of space exploration with its ambitious Mars mission, and it’s not just about landing and roving anymore. They’re adding a whole new dimension with their MARtian Boundary Layer Explorer (MARBLE) – a Mars rotorcraft, essentially a drone!

This isn’t just a cool technological feat, it’s a game-changer for Martian science. Imagine a lander setting down, a rover rolling out to explore the surface, and then a drone taking to the skies! With MARBLE, ISRO is aiming for a “landing, driving, and flying” trifecta on the Red Planet.

SOURCE: AFI

Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state arms exporter, has dismissed rumors claiming disruptions in the delivery of S-400 air defense systems to India. Director General Alexander Mikheev confirmed during the World Defense Show that the contract remains on track and unaffected by current events.

The denial comes in response to recent reports, primarily in Western media, citing an anonymous Indian Air Force source. These reports alleged delays in Russia’s “large arms supply” to India due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Western sanctions. Additionally, Ukrainian media outlets echoed similar claims regarding the supposed “disruption” of deliveries for the final two S-400 divisions and spare parts for Russian combat aircraft.

SOURCE: REUTERS

Russia has begun buying bananas from India and will boost such imports, its food safety watchdog said on Tuesday, after a spat with its biggest supplier Ecuador over the latter’s decision to swap Russian-made military hardware with the United States.

The first batch of bananas from India was shipped to Russia in January and the next is planned for end-February, Russian watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said, adding that “the volume of exports of Indian bananas to the Russian market will increase.”

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM.

Munitions India Limited (MIL), a leading Indian defense manufacturer, has secured a significant contract worth $225 million to supply artillery ammunition to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This milestone agreement was facilitated by MIL’s partner, Nadrah Company.

The signing ceremony was graced by distinguished guests, including His Excellency Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, Governor of the General Authority of Military Industries (GAMI) of Saudi Arabia, and the Honorable Raksha Rajya Mantri (Minister of State for Defence) of India, Shri Ajay Bhatt.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has gifted a Total Technical Life Extended (TTLE) MiG-21 aircraft to the Military Institute of Technology (MILIT) in Pune for training purposes. This gesture aims to support and enhance technical training for future generations of armed forces personnel.

The gifted MiG-21 has completed its designated operational lifespan, reaching the end of its Total Technical Life. However, through technical expertise and meticulous efforts, IAF units from Western Air Command (WAC), Repair & Salvage Unit (R&SU), and MILIT staff collaborated to assemble the aircraft for its new role as a training aid.

SOURCE: ANI

In what would be a significant capability boost for defence forces, India is planning to develop three new spy planes that would be capable of keeping a close watch on enemy communications and carry out long-range surveillance missions. The project would be carried out over indigenously and the majority of the technology and equipment to be used would be made in India.

The proposal for getting three new spy planes also known as signal intelligence and communication jamming system aircraft is at an advanced stage and is expected to get clearance in next week, defence officials told ANI. The project is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory and the Indian Air Force where they would be using an Airbus-319 class aircraft, they said.