SOURCE: PTI

The widow of an IAF aviator, who perished along with India’s first CDS General Bipin Rawat in a chopper crash in the Nilgiris, and a civil engineer from an agrarian family were among scores of cadets who underwent gruelling training at the Officers Training Academy here and become commissioned officers in the Indian Army on Saturday.

Shauryan Thapa, the sixth generation member of his family to don the Army uniform and the youngest (21 years) candidate in the academy, too, was among the 184 officer cadets, who completed the training. He was awarded the OTA gold medal at the passing out parade today.

SOURCE: PTI

Three anti-personnel mines were detected and defused near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Saturday, officials said. The powerful mines were noticed by Army troops while patrolling at different locations in forward areas of the Mankote sector in the Mendhar subdivision, the officials said.

They said experts were immediately summoned and the mines defused.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM.

A recent report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) has highlighted a growing concern for India’s air defense capabilities. The report, published in February 2023, stated that China’s production of the J-20A Mighty Dragon, its fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, is outpacing that of the United States’ F-22 Raptor.

The F-22 Raptor was the first operational fifth-generation fighter aircraft globally. However, China’s J-20A program has seen a rapid increase in production, with estimates suggesting China already surpassed the US in the number of operational J-20s by 2023. According to IISS, China had over 150 J-20As by February 2023. Aviation magazine Scramble further reported that China might have built as many as 250 J-20s by the end of 2023, exceeding previous production projections. This rapid expansion of China’s stealth fighter fleet poses a significant challenge to regional airpower dynamics.

SOURCE: AFI

Chennai-based Big Bang Boom Solutions Pvt Ltd (BBBS) has secured a major win, landing one of the largest contracts ever awarded to an Indian startup. The company will be supplying its cutting-edge anti-drone systems to the Indian Air Force and Army for a staggering sum exceeding ?200 crore.

The winning system, named Vajra Sentinel, employs a two-pronged approach to combat drone threats. It offers:

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Army is taking a critical step towards strengthening its artillery capabilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. This move involves the deployment of two new regiments equipped with the indigenously developed Pinaka Multi Launch Rocket System (MLRS).

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Pinaka MLRS is a long-range weapon system designed for swift and precise delivery of firepower. These regiments will significantly enhance the Indian Army’s ability to engage targets deep within enemy territory.

SOURCE: pti

Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari on Saturday said warfare was undergoing a fundamental change with the emergence of new technology and radically newer doctrines.

He was reviewing the passing out parade by the contingents at the Officers Training Academy here. “India’s security dynamics involves multi-faceted threats and challenges. It would require us to build multi-domain capabilities and execute operations simultaneously and in shortened timeframes,” he said and called upon the young officers to stay abreast with technological advancements.

SOURCE: ANI

The purported video footage of the killing of India designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar has surfaced, showing Nijjar being shot by armed men in what has been described a ‘contract killing’, Canada-based CBC News reported. Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by the National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed as he came out of a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on the evening of June 18, 2023. The video has been obtained by The Fifth Estate and has been independently verified by more than one source said CBC news.

The attack that is described as being ‘highly coordinated’ involved six men and two vehicles. The apparent targeted killing of the president of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara ultimately led to accusations from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the government of India had a hand in the killing — a claim that denied by India and led to the deterioration of diplomatic ties between Canada and India.

SOURCE: ANI

In a stern reply to India amid the diplomatic standoff between the two nations, China has said that deploying more troops at the border would not ease tensions. It said that it is committed to upholding peace and tranquility in the border areas.

While addressing a regular press briefing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, “India’s move of strengthening military deployment along the border with China is counterproductive to the two countries’ efforts to ease the situation at the border and not conducive to safeguarding peace and tranquility of the border areas.”

SOURCE: PIB

The first edition of the Biannual Naval Commanders’ Conference 2024 was conducted from 05 to 08 March 2024. The Conference is an institutional forum that enables deliberations on important maritime security issues at the Military-Strategic level. The inaugural session of the Conference was held onboard the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. Follow-on proceedings were conducted at New Delhi, in hybrid format, on 07 and 08 March 2024. The Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh, presided over the inaugural session, with Chief of the Defence Staff, Defence Secretary and other senior MoD officials and Naval Commanders in attendance.

Commending the brave and prompt response by the Indian Navy to recent incidents and developments in West Asia and the adjoining seas, the Raksha Mantri exhorted the Commanders to remain poised for operations across the spectrum of conflict. He underscored the leadership role expected of the Indian Navy towards ensuring peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region. In addition, the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri emphasised the importance of Tri-Services Jointness and Integration to favourably shape and influence the future battlespace.

SOURCE: IANS

Indian Army will conduct a Tri-Services Integrated Firepower Exercise at Pokharan, Rajasthan on March 12. It will be an exercise, based on the indigenously manufactured weapon systems. The Indian Army said that it is all set to organise a Tri-Services Integrated Firepower and Manoeuvre Exercise at Pokharan Field Firing Ranges (Rajasthan) on March 12. The prowess of indigenously manufactured weapons and equipment of Indian Armed Forces will be showcased, in battlefield conditions, under the nation’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

According to the Indian Army, the exercise is aimed at displaying the might of the indigenous weapons and equipment of Indian Armed Forces.

SOURCE: PTI

Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane on Friday held talks with Spanish Secretary of State for Defence Maria-Amparo Valcarce Garcia during which both sides reviewed ongoing projects and discussed future joint plans in maritime and air domains, officials said.

A number of bilateral defence cooperation issues were discussed, with a focus on industrial collaboration, the defence ministry said in a statement issued in the national capital.

SOURCE: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday dedicated to the nation the Sela Tunnel built at an altitude of 13,000 feet in Arunachal Pradesh that will provide all-weather connectivity to strategically located Tawang and is expected to ensure better movement of troops along the frontier region.

The Rs 825 crore tunnel, constructed on the road connecting Assam’s Tezpur to West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, is being billed as the longest bi-lane road tunnel in the world at such an altitude. The Sela Tunnel will provide for better movement of troops and weaponry to various forward locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, according to military officials.

SOURCE: ANI

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), the premier anti-terror probe agency in the country, on Saturday released two videos and pictures of the suspect in Rameshwaram cafe blast case, seeking the cooperation of citizens to identify him.

In a 49-second video released by the NIA, the suspect is seen boarding a BMTC bus. He is shown further to be getting up from the middle seat he sat on, moving towards the rear end of the vehicle and settling into another seat.

SOURCE: ANI

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti engaged in discussions on US-India Defense strategy and foreign policy formulation with India’s military leaders and educators at the Army War College, Mhow. https://twitter.com/USAmbIndia/status/1766030062233751932/photo/1

In an official post on X, US Ambassador Eric Garcetti @USAmbIndia says, “I had a great discussion on #USIndiaDefense strategy and foreign policy formulation with some of India’s military leaders & educators at the Army War College, Mhow. Our joint commitment to a secure, free, and open #IndoPacific is stronger than ever. #USIndiaFWD.” During the dialogue, both sides reaffirmed their joint commitment to fostering a secure, free, and open Indo-Pacific region.

SOURCE: IANS

Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Saturday recovered rusted grenades, bullets and explosives in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district.

Police said that rusted grenades, bullets and explosives were found in Darhal Chokian area of Rajouri, as per the inputs received. Police said following the input a party from police station Darhal and CRPF rushed to the spot and recovered the cache of rusted grenades, bullets and explosives.