SOURCE: PTI

DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat on Saturday said the Indian government’s determination to make India self-reliant in defence production has led to a leap in the sector.

Asked about what made the ‘Make in India’ a success story, Kamat said, “Several factors have made this story possible, the first amongst it is government determination to make Aatmnirbharta happen. I think that is the most important factor which has changed the storyline.” “We have been talking about self-reliance for a long time but there was no determination on the part of the government. Once the present government has come to power they have really made a strong push to enforce Aatmnirbharta,” Kamat said at the Firstpost Defence Summit 2024.

SOURCE: PTI

A private engineering college in Salem district is celebrating the contribution of its students, who built a critical component of the GSLV-F14 rocket which was used in the recent successful launch of a weather satellite by ISRO.

The Bengaluru-headquartered space agency had successfully launched the INSAT-3DS satellite on February 17 from the spaceport of Sriharikota near Chennai. The SonaSPEED (Sona Special Power Electronics and Electric Drives) division of the Sona College of Technology, Salem about 320 kms from Chennai developed the critical magnet stepper motors in the mixture control actuator, which were used in the cryogenic stage of the launch vehicle. The Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) is a three-stage rocket, with an indigenous cryogenic upper stage.

SOURCE: ANI

Terming India as a voice of the Global South, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Iryna Borovets, said that India has to play a “crucial role” in finding a peaceful solution to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

She further said that Ukraine has invited India to the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland in March. Speaking to ANI, Borovets said, “India has a crucial role. First of all, India is a global leader, it is certainly powerful voice of the Global South countries. India respects the territorial integrity of my country. So in that sense, we have full support. But, India could be more vocal on it, could take more action towards finding a peaceful solution.” “India has to be a part of the peace-finding solution. We have invited the Indian government to be present at the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland in March. We very much expect representative of India there,” she added.

SOURCE: PTI

Highlighting the importance of collaboration and interoperability among the coast guards personnel of the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka, Maldivian Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon said the trilateral exercise Dosti’ will unite the troika to address shared maritime security concerns through collaboration. Maumoon was speaking at an event to formally inaugurate the 16th iteration of Dosti, the biennial exercise, which began on Thursday and would continue until Sunday.

Indian Coast Guard ship Samarth and ICGS Abhinav along with Sri Lanka Naval Ship Samudura are participating in the exercise DOSTI-16’ while Bangladesh is participating as an observer. Sri Lanka has described Dosti’ as a trilateral exercise that aims to enhance cooperation, strengthen friendship, improve mutual operational capability, and develop interoperability among the Coast Guard personnel of India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.

SOURCE: ANI

Fleet Master Chief of the US Navy, David Isom, emphasised that India will play a very important role going forward in partnership with the US and all of its other partners and allies. David Isom said on Friday that India has a really important role in helping protect those international commons. Speaking to ANI on India-US defence ties, he said, “The relationship continues to grow.

I think India has a really important role in helping protect those international commons, the free and open Indo-Pacific, the freedom of commerce and the ability for all nations to have access to those open sea lanes.” “I think India will play a very important role going forward in partnership with the US and all of our other partners and allies,” he added.

SOURCE: PTI

An Indian warship provided critical assistance to a Palau-flagged cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden after it caught fire following a missile attack, in the latest in a series of such support missions by the Indian Navy in the region.

The vessel MV Islander came under attack on February 22 and a crew member of the ship sustained injuries, Indian military officials said Saturday. The US military’s Central Command said in a statement that the Houthi militants fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from southern Yemen into the Gulf of Aden on Thursday. It said the missiles impacted British-owned cargo vessel MV Islander causing one minor injury and damage.

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant stride towards enhancing bilateral defense cooperation, the Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia, B.N. Reddy, articulated the shared vision of both nations during the India-Malaysia Defence Industrial Cooperation event. The symposium, held on Thursday (Feb 22), served as a platform for fruitful discussions on mutual interests and potential areas of collaboration. Notably, the event witnessed the participation of Defense Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Isham Ishak, underscoring the official commitment to fostering robust ties in defense and security domains.

During the symposium, High Commissioner Reddy highlighted the depth of the Indo-Malaysian relationship, emphasizing the strategic importance of forging stronger defense partnerships. His remarks echoed the sentiments of cooperation and mutual understanding that underpin the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, is set to make its debut at Milan 2024, the largest-ever multilateral naval exercise hosted by India. This participation marks a significant milestone for the Indian Navy and showcases the nation’s growing capabilities in indigenous defense technology.

INS Vikrant, recently completed its installation of critical systems at Cochin Shipyard Limited, including:

SOURCE: AFI

Get ready for a glimpse of the future! The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is showcasing its cutting-edge Wheeled CBRN 8×8 vehicle for the very first time at the MSME Defence Expo in Pune, India. This powerful machine, designed to tackle chemical, biological, and radiological threats, promises to be a game-changer in the field of defense technology.

Packed with a 600 horsepower engine and an 8×8 wheel configuration, the Wheeled CBRN is built to conquer even the most challenging terrains. Its advanced detection and neutralization capabilities make it a crucial asset for identifying and eliminating CBRN hazards, safeguarding lives and property.

SOURCE: PTI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said arriving at an equilibrium and maintaining it is going to be one of the “biggest challenges” for India-China ties even as he asserted that the immediate issue at hand was Beijing’s departure from laid down norms triggering the border row in eastern Ladakh.

In an interactive session at the Raisina Dialogue, he cautioned against China’s “mind game” to restrict the issues under the bilateral framework and said India must not forgo its rights to harness other factors in the world to get better terms on an equilibrium.

SOURCE: PTI

Russia is a power with an enormous tradition of statecraft and it is turning more towards Asia or non-West parts of the world, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday, delving into current geopolitical developments and their fall-outs.

In an interactive session at the Raisina Dialogue, S Jaishankar, replying to a question on Moscow’s growing proximity with Beijing, said it makes sense to give Russia multiple options and that railroading it into a single option and criticising it for that would be like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

SOURCE: AFI

The Shahpur Kandi Barrage, a major irrigation and hydroelectric project on the Ravi River bordering Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, has finally neared completion after facing hurdles for three decades. This marks a significant development as it diverts 1150 cusecs of water previously flowing to Pakistan towards irrigating over 32,000 hectares of land in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua and Samba districts.

The project, initiated by then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in 1995, encountered numerous delays due to disputes between the J&K and Punjab governments. However, with the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh in 2018, the project was revived after a four-and-a-half-year suspension.

SOURCE: ANI

In a stride towards advancing Odisha’s industrial landscape, Kalyani Steel has inked a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Odisha, underscoring their joint commitment to establish a state-of-the-art Titanium Metal and Aerospace Components Manufacturing, and Integrated Advanced Specialty Steel and Automotive Components Manufacturing Complex in the region.

The MoU signing ceremony, presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, marks a milestone in Odisha’s journey towards becoming a hub for cutting-edge manufacturing and high-tech industries.

SOURCE: PTI

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan on Friday said India is looking at dealing with long-term challenges that may emanate from China besides focusing on the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

He made the remarks at the Raisina Dialogue. The Chief of Defence Staff, especially spoke about bridging any technological deficiencies.

SOURCE: PTI

An Indian warship provided critical assistance to a merchant vessel after it caught fire following a suspected drone or missile attack in the Gulf of Aden, the latest in a series of such support missions in the region.

Palau-flagged vessel MV Islander came under attack on Thursday and a crew member of the ship sustained injuries, Indian military officials said today.