Bangladesh to crackdown on Indian militants
Agartala, April 26 : Bangladesh has assured New Delhi that it would not allow Indian separatists to use its territory to carry out anti-India activities, said an Indian official."The BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) assured us that no Indian separatist would be allowed to operate from their soil," said P.K. Mishra, inspector general of the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Assam-Meghalaya frontier.Mishra was speaking to journalists late Wednesday at Belonia, 120 km south of the Tripura state capital Agartala, after returning from a four-day biannual border coordination meeting at Chittagong in southeast Bangladesh with his BDR counterparts. "We have asked them to take strong action against Indian separatists and destroy 176 camps and hideouts located inside Bangladesh," the BSF commander said. "BDR has launched a crackdown against Indian militants in Bangladesh. They (BDR) had never before been so cooperative and transparent," Mishra said. He headed a 15-member BSF delegation to the meeting with BDR deputy director general S.M. Golam Rabbani leading the Bangladeshi side."A list of 72 wanted Indian insurgent leaders and 79 sympathisers residing in Bangladesh were also handed over to the BDR delegation for taking immediate appropriate action," the BSF official said. Frontier guards of the two countries agreed in the meeting to step up border patrolling and ensure more confidence building measures (CBMs) and share information about insurgents and criminals. Mishra, however, said border fencing works could not be completed in 235 patches along the border with Tripura, Assam, Mizoram and Meghalaya following objection by the BDR."Due to terrain problems and markets and government establishments falling within the 150 yards from the border, fencing had to be constructed close to the border lines. We have convinced the BDR that the fencing is not a defence protection, it is only to curb movement of militants and criminals and check infiltration." Regarding illegal cultivation of Indian land by Bangladeshi nationals at Harinagar and Kinokhal of Silchar in Assam, BDR was requested to instruct Bangladesh farmers not to forcibly enter Indian territory."The leader of the BDR delegation made a mention of killing of unarmed Bangladeshi nationals by BSF and Indian nationals," the official said. BDR also requested the BSF delegation to allow Bangladeshi officers get specialised training in India
e mërkurë, 25 prill 2007
Agni III adds teeth to India’s N-deterrence
Agni III adds teeth to India’s N-deterrence
The nuclear-capable Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) Agni III, with a range of over 3,000 km, was successfully test-fired on Thursday from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at the Wheeler Islands in Orissa. At 10.52 am, the surface-to-surface missile blasted off from a fixed platform with the help of an auto-launcher and soared vertically into the sky in keeping with its pre-determined path.
A defence ministry spokesman said the 15-minute flight path had validated all mission objectives. The flight was tracked from ground stations at Dhamra, ITR in Balasore, Port Blair and two Indian naval ships. The 16-metre long missile, which weighs 48 tonnes, is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes.
Overcoming its "self-imposed restraint," India had test-fired Agni III for the first time on July 9, 2006, but the missile developed a snag and fell into sea. Its second stage had failed to ignite and separate due to "design and material fault."
The successful test has put India’s credible minimum deterrence on a firm footing, as no missile in the Indian arsenal had the range to strike targets in east Chinese city such as Beijing and Shanghai. It also marks the next stage in the natural progression towards the development of an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), which will propel India into the big league of nuclear weapon states.
Agni’s earlier variants, the 700-km Pakistan specific Agni I and the 2,000-km range Agni II, are operational and have been inducted into the armed forces. However, Agni II does not offer credible deterrence against China as it can hit targets only in western China. Strategic analysts said India should increase the frequency of testing to establish the reliability of weapon systems.
The ground range instrumentation at the ITR and the radar gave a perfect evaluation of the missile flight-testing against pre-determined parameters.
The nuclear-capable Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) Agni III, with a range of over 3,000 km, was successfully test-fired on Thursday from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at the Wheeler Islands in Orissa. At 10.52 am, the surface-to-surface missile blasted off from a fixed platform with the help of an auto-launcher and soared vertically into the sky in keeping with its pre-determined path.
A defence ministry spokesman said the 15-minute flight path had validated all mission objectives. The flight was tracked from ground stations at Dhamra, ITR in Balasore, Port Blair and two Indian naval ships. The 16-metre long missile, which weighs 48 tonnes, is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes.
Overcoming its "self-imposed restraint," India had test-fired Agni III for the first time on July 9, 2006, but the missile developed a snag and fell into sea. Its second stage had failed to ignite and separate due to "design and material fault."
The successful test has put India’s credible minimum deterrence on a firm footing, as no missile in the Indian arsenal had the range to strike targets in east Chinese city such as Beijing and Shanghai. It also marks the next stage in the natural progression towards the development of an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), which will propel India into the big league of nuclear weapon states.
Agni’s earlier variants, the 700-km Pakistan specific Agni I and the 2,000-km range Agni II, are operational and have been inducted into the armed forces. However, Agni II does not offer credible deterrence against China as it can hit targets only in western China. Strategic analysts said India should increase the frequency of testing to establish the reliability of weapon systems.
The ground range instrumentation at the ITR and the radar gave a perfect evaluation of the missile flight-testing against pre-determined parameters.
Antony likely to visit Singapore in May
Antony likely to visit Singapore in May
Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony is likely to visit Singapore next month, the first time he will be travelling abroad after assuming office six months ago.During the visit, Antony is likely to hold discussions on concluding a memorandum of understanding - on ramping up military cooperation between the two countries.'The exact dates are yet to be finalised. An advance team is currently in Singapore for this purpose,' an official told IANS.'The visit is likely in the third week of May,' the official added.A Singapore defence officer also confirmed that Antony would be visiting the city-state.The biennial International Maritime Defence Exhibition - is to be held in Singapore May 15-19 but it was not immediately known whether Antony would attend.Two Indian Navy ships, the guided missile destroyer INS Mysore and the guided missile corvette INS Kultar will participate in IMDEX to showcase India's shipbuilding capabilities. The two ships are part of a five-vessel Indian Navy flotilla that conducted a joint drill with the Singapore Navy last month.Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta and his counterparts from 22 nations will attend IMDEX-2007.India and Singapore have been conducting joint naval exercises for the past 12 years. In 2005, they held their first joint army and air force exercises with the Indian Army.The month-long drill conducted in India involved some 500 Singapore soldiers and half-a-dozen F-16 fighters of its air force.Singapore hopes this cooperation can be institutionalised through an MoU - and India has indicated its willingness for this.'New areas of defence cooperation, including joint training facilities are emerging and supplementing existing cooperation between India and Singapore in the naval, maritime and counter-terrorism spheres,' Pranab Mukherjee, the then Indian defence minister, had said while addressing the annual security conference of Singapore's International Institute for Strategic Studies - last year.
Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony is likely to visit Singapore next month, the first time he will be travelling abroad after assuming office six months ago.During the visit, Antony is likely to hold discussions on concluding a memorandum of understanding - on ramping up military cooperation between the two countries.'The exact dates are yet to be finalised. An advance team is currently in Singapore for this purpose,' an official told IANS.'The visit is likely in the third week of May,' the official added.A Singapore defence officer also confirmed that Antony would be visiting the city-state.The biennial International Maritime Defence Exhibition - is to be held in Singapore May 15-19 but it was not immediately known whether Antony would attend.Two Indian Navy ships, the guided missile destroyer INS Mysore and the guided missile corvette INS Kultar will participate in IMDEX to showcase India's shipbuilding capabilities. The two ships are part of a five-vessel Indian Navy flotilla that conducted a joint drill with the Singapore Navy last month.Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta and his counterparts from 22 nations will attend IMDEX-2007.India and Singapore have been conducting joint naval exercises for the past 12 years. In 2005, they held their first joint army and air force exercises with the Indian Army.The month-long drill conducted in India involved some 500 Singapore soldiers and half-a-dozen F-16 fighters of its air force.Singapore hopes this cooperation can be institutionalised through an MoU - and India has indicated its willingness for this.'New areas of defence cooperation, including joint training facilities are emerging and supplementing existing cooperation between India and Singapore in the naval, maritime and counter-terrorism spheres,' Pranab Mukherjee, the then Indian defence minister, had said while addressing the annual security conference of Singapore's International Institute for Strategic Studies - last year.
BrahMos `sub' test likely from Vizag next month
BrahMos `sub' test likely from Vizag next month
BALASORE: After the successful test-firing of the `Army' version of surface-to-surface missile BrahMos, Defence scientists are planning to conduct the first-ever test of its submarine version shortly.According to a top Defence scientist, the success of the test will be a watershed in Indian Defence programme. “The submarine version of BrahMos is ready to be tested, but we are actually waiting for the platform,” A Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace Limited, said.Pillai was here to witness the successful test of the Army version of the supersonic cruise missile.Reliable source told this paper that the missile would be tested as early as next month from Visakhapatnam. Scientists are on a high after tasting success in the test-firing of `Asta' and Dhanush missiles in March and April. While the test of Astra missile in two rounds had successfully met all mission parameters, the successful trial of Dhanush from a naval ship was a great experience for the scientists.India's most powerful intermediate range Agni-III missile also was successfully tested earlier this month.The sources said BrahMos Aerospace has already started talks with Indian Navy to get a kilo-class submarine on loan to launch the missile from under the sea. “The submarine variants alternatively could be tested in Russian waters from a Russian submarine,” sources revealed.For the air-launch version, the missile would be integrated with Sukhoi MKI multi-role fighter aircraft. BrahMos is currently being configured for aerial deployment with the Su-30 MKI as its carrier.The air-launch version has a smaller booster and additional tail-fins for stability during launch.Sources further said the missile had already been inducted into the Navy. After the Navy, which has procured the missile for its warships, the Army will be the second major customer to add the missile to its arsenal.“The BrahMos, with a range of 290 km and Mach 3 speed, will be inducted into the Army this year,” Pillai said. “We are going to deliver the missile to the Army this year as orders have been placed with us,” the CEO said.Many countries have also evinced interest in the missile, which has no equivalent in the world in terms of precision, speed and power, he added.
BALASORE: After the successful test-firing of the `Army' version of surface-to-surface missile BrahMos, Defence scientists are planning to conduct the first-ever test of its submarine version shortly.According to a top Defence scientist, the success of the test will be a watershed in Indian Defence programme. “The submarine version of BrahMos is ready to be tested, but we are actually waiting for the platform,” A Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace Limited, said.Pillai was here to witness the successful test of the Army version of the supersonic cruise missile.Reliable source told this paper that the missile would be tested as early as next month from Visakhapatnam. Scientists are on a high after tasting success in the test-firing of `Asta' and Dhanush missiles in March and April. While the test of Astra missile in two rounds had successfully met all mission parameters, the successful trial of Dhanush from a naval ship was a great experience for the scientists.India's most powerful intermediate range Agni-III missile also was successfully tested earlier this month.The sources said BrahMos Aerospace has already started talks with Indian Navy to get a kilo-class submarine on loan to launch the missile from under the sea. “The submarine variants alternatively could be tested in Russian waters from a Russian submarine,” sources revealed.For the air-launch version, the missile would be integrated with Sukhoi MKI multi-role fighter aircraft. BrahMos is currently being configured for aerial deployment with the Su-30 MKI as its carrier.The air-launch version has a smaller booster and additional tail-fins for stability during launch.Sources further said the missile had already been inducted into the Navy. After the Navy, which has procured the missile for its warships, the Army will be the second major customer to add the missile to its arsenal.“The BrahMos, with a range of 290 km and Mach 3 speed, will be inducted into the Army this year,” Pillai said. “We are going to deliver the missile to the Army this year as orders have been placed with us,” the CEO said.Many countries have also evinced interest in the missile, which has no equivalent in the world in terms of precision, speed and power, he added.
e hënë, 23 prill 2007
India, China To Hold Border Dispute Resolution Talks
India, China To Hold Border Dispute Resolution Talks
India and China Friday held talks on a wide range of bilateral issues and will resume formal negotiations on resolving the border row in the serene environs of Coonoor in Tamil Nadu Saturday.Chinese Special Representative Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo -- Beijing's chief pointsman for the border talks with New Delhi -- met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Friday and discussed with them a wide swathe of bilateral and global issues.Discussions focused on deepening strategic ties and intensifying trade and investment with a view to achieving the bilateral trade target of $40 billion by 2010, official sources said. The two sides also discussed Manmohan Singh's visit to Beijing that likely in September. Dai met National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan, India's Special Representative for border talks, who hosted lunch for him.Dai and Narayanan will head to the tranquil and picturesque Coonoor and the nearby Ooty botanical gardens Saturday for the 10th round of talks on resolving the boundary dispute that has shadowed ties between India and China for over four decades.Border talks between the Asian powers appear to be at an advanced stage and are now often held away from the din of the Indian capital. A brainchild of Narayanan, the two countries had earlier held border talks in the famed Kerala resort of Kumarakom and then again in the backdrop of the erotic temple sculptures of Khajuraho.Dai also met former national security adviser Brajesh Mishra who shepherded border talks when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was in power. The two countries have recently stressed on 'greater vigour and innovativeness' in resolving the boundary question which they declared the chief strategic objective of their burgeoning relations.The focus of the talks will be on clinching a framework agreement as a prelude to a final package deal to resolve this contentious issue. The two special representatives last met here in January and decided to continue their talks based on guiding principles and political parameters for resolving the boundary dispute finalised during the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in 2005.
India and China Friday held talks on a wide range of bilateral issues and will resume formal negotiations on resolving the border row in the serene environs of Coonoor in Tamil Nadu Saturday.Chinese Special Representative Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo -- Beijing's chief pointsman for the border talks with New Delhi -- met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Friday and discussed with them a wide swathe of bilateral and global issues.Discussions focused on deepening strategic ties and intensifying trade and investment with a view to achieving the bilateral trade target of $40 billion by 2010, official sources said. The two sides also discussed Manmohan Singh's visit to Beijing that likely in September. Dai met National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan, India's Special Representative for border talks, who hosted lunch for him.Dai and Narayanan will head to the tranquil and picturesque Coonoor and the nearby Ooty botanical gardens Saturday for the 10th round of talks on resolving the boundary dispute that has shadowed ties between India and China for over four decades.Border talks between the Asian powers appear to be at an advanced stage and are now often held away from the din of the Indian capital. A brainchild of Narayanan, the two countries had earlier held border talks in the famed Kerala resort of Kumarakom and then again in the backdrop of the erotic temple sculptures of Khajuraho.Dai also met former national security adviser Brajesh Mishra who shepherded border talks when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was in power. The two countries have recently stressed on 'greater vigour and innovativeness' in resolving the boundary question which they declared the chief strategic objective of their burgeoning relations.The focus of the talks will be on clinching a framework agreement as a prelude to a final package deal to resolve this contentious issue. The two special representatives last met here in January and decided to continue their talks based on guiding principles and political parameters for resolving the boundary dispute finalised during the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in 2005.
INS Rana, INS Ranjit Call On Qingdao Port in China
INS Rana, INS Ranjit Call On Qingdao Port in China
IN Ships Rana and Ranjit under the command of Capt LV Sarat Babu and Captain DM Sudan respectively, visited Qingdao from 12 to 15 Apr 07 during the course of the ships Overseas Deployment (RAJDOOT 01/07) to the North Pacific Region.The ships visit to Qingdao, China coincided with the concurrent visit of INS Mysore, Jyoti and Kuthar under the operational command of Rear Admiral Ravinder Kumar Dhowan, AVSM, YSM to Yokosuka, Japan.On arrival at Qingdao harbour the ships were welcomed by Her Excellency Mrs Nirupama Rao, Ambassadress of India to China, Vice Admiral R P Suthan, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and Rear Admiral Su Shiliang, Commander North Sea Fleet (NSF) of PLA Navy. A first day postal cover commemorating the first visit of Indian Naval ships to Qingdao was also released on this occasion.During the welcome address Rear Admiral Su Shiliang, Commander North Sea Fleet and H.E. Mrs Nirupama Rao, Ambassadress of India highlighted the strategic significance of Indo-China relations. These views were echoed during the formal interaction between Vice Admiral RP Suthan, Rear Admiral Shu Shiliang and the Commanding Officers of the Indian Naval ships.The Navys' role in the expanding military / diplomatic ties as well as 'Building Bridges of Freindship' between India and China was clearly evident during the ships stay in Qingdao. A reception was hosted for the PLA Navy officers and Defence Attaches of Australia, South Korea, Germany, Brazil, Japan, France and the US on board Rana on 13 Apr.Concurrently the ships were opened for visitors. Prominent amongst those who visited the ship included the small, fledgling yet proud and reassured members of the Indian business community in Qingdao. Additionally, the response of the local populace was overwhelming. The enthusiasm and genuine happiness of these people helped breach the strong language barrier.Further consolidating on the 'Bridges of Friendship' construct, a band concert by the Indian Naval Band was conducted at 'May 4th Square'. The Naval band enthralled the audience, of more than over 2000, in a programme that lasted over two hours. Adulation was readily apparent in enthusiastic crowd participation and requests for encores.The ships departed Qingdao at 0830 hrs on 16 Apr 07 and were led out of harbour by PLAN ship Qingdao. During the passage the ships undertook basic communication and maneuvering exercises. The PASSEX concluded with a steampast by the IN ships wherein IN - PLAN personnel manned respective ship sides.
IN Ships Rana and Ranjit under the command of Capt LV Sarat Babu and Captain DM Sudan respectively, visited Qingdao from 12 to 15 Apr 07 during the course of the ships Overseas Deployment (RAJDOOT 01/07) to the North Pacific Region.The ships visit to Qingdao, China coincided with the concurrent visit of INS Mysore, Jyoti and Kuthar under the operational command of Rear Admiral Ravinder Kumar Dhowan, AVSM, YSM to Yokosuka, Japan.On arrival at Qingdao harbour the ships were welcomed by Her Excellency Mrs Nirupama Rao, Ambassadress of India to China, Vice Admiral R P Suthan, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and Rear Admiral Su Shiliang, Commander North Sea Fleet (NSF) of PLA Navy. A first day postal cover commemorating the first visit of Indian Naval ships to Qingdao was also released on this occasion.During the welcome address Rear Admiral Su Shiliang, Commander North Sea Fleet and H.E. Mrs Nirupama Rao, Ambassadress of India highlighted the strategic significance of Indo-China relations. These views were echoed during the formal interaction between Vice Admiral RP Suthan, Rear Admiral Shu Shiliang and the Commanding Officers of the Indian Naval ships.The Navys' role in the expanding military / diplomatic ties as well as 'Building Bridges of Freindship' between India and China was clearly evident during the ships stay in Qingdao. A reception was hosted for the PLA Navy officers and Defence Attaches of Australia, South Korea, Germany, Brazil, Japan, France and the US on board Rana on 13 Apr.Concurrently the ships were opened for visitors. Prominent amongst those who visited the ship included the small, fledgling yet proud and reassured members of the Indian business community in Qingdao. Additionally, the response of the local populace was overwhelming. The enthusiasm and genuine happiness of these people helped breach the strong language barrier.Further consolidating on the 'Bridges of Friendship' construct, a band concert by the Indian Naval Band was conducted at 'May 4th Square'. The Naval band enthralled the audience, of more than over 2000, in a programme that lasted over two hours. Adulation was readily apparent in enthusiastic crowd participation and requests for encores.The ships departed Qingdao at 0830 hrs on 16 Apr 07 and were led out of harbour by PLAN ship Qingdao. During the passage the ships undertook basic communication and maneuvering exercises. The PASSEX concluded with a steampast by the IN ships wherein IN - PLAN personnel manned respective ship sides.
Germany Pushes For Greater Defence Trade with India
Germany Pushes For Greater Defence Trade with India
Germany on Friday assured India that it will be an open and reliable partner in all areas of defence cooperation and offered technology transfer and joint production of hi-tech weapon systems.The assurance was given by Germany's Federal State Secretary for Defence Peter Eickenboom during the first Indo-German High Defence Committee meeting in New Delhi.The assurance by Germany assumes significance as timely supply of weapon systems and spares have in the past clouded India's defence cooperation with some countries.While India has big arms trade with countries like France and the United Kingdom, defence cooperation with Germany has been lacking in recent years.Among the technologies, German technology is superior in submarine and heavy artillery guns.Eickenboom assured India transfer of technology in armament procurement and joint development of armament platforms wherever possible, an official release said.The two sides agreed to increase defence cooperation in a number of areas including exchange of expertise in peace-keeping operations and exchange of experience in disaster management.Eickenboom also said that Germany shared India's security perspectives and recognised the growing importance of New Delhi in regional stability and peace, the release said."Germany has also assured India that it will be an open and reliable partner in all areas of defence cooperation", it said.This was the first meeting at the level of Defence Secretary after the signing of bilateral defence agreement between the two sides in September last year during the visit of the then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Germany.The Indian side at the talks was led by Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt.
Germany on Friday assured India that it will be an open and reliable partner in all areas of defence cooperation and offered technology transfer and joint production of hi-tech weapon systems.The assurance was given by Germany's Federal State Secretary for Defence Peter Eickenboom during the first Indo-German High Defence Committee meeting in New Delhi.The assurance by Germany assumes significance as timely supply of weapon systems and spares have in the past clouded India's defence cooperation with some countries.While India has big arms trade with countries like France and the United Kingdom, defence cooperation with Germany has been lacking in recent years.Among the technologies, German technology is superior in submarine and heavy artillery guns.Eickenboom assured India transfer of technology in armament procurement and joint development of armament platforms wherever possible, an official release said.The two sides agreed to increase defence cooperation in a number of areas including exchange of expertise in peace-keeping operations and exchange of experience in disaster management.Eickenboom also said that Germany shared India's security perspectives and recognised the growing importance of New Delhi in regional stability and peace, the release said."Germany has also assured India that it will be an open and reliable partner in all areas of defence cooperation", it said.This was the first meeting at the level of Defence Secretary after the signing of bilateral defence agreement between the two sides in September last year during the visit of the then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Germany.The Indian side at the talks was led by Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt.
Air Force Performs Breathtaking Manoeuvres At Air Display In Chennai
Air Force Performs Breathtaking Manoeuvres At Air Display In Chennai
In a scintillating display of manoeuvres, the steel birds possessed by the Indian Air Force treated the family members of airmen and other employees of IAF to a visual feast, at the IAF base near Chennai.As a precursor to the public show here at the marina beach on Sunday, the pilots and other performers warmed themselves up, before a select audience and displayed the skills of flying, marked by precision and controlled by coordination.Aerobatics by the HPT-32 alias Deepak, the mighty jaguar which went air-borne from Bangalore, the dare-devil Sarang helicopter team and a rifle drill by the air warriors were part of the itinerary.The much-awaited Sarang team of choppers, an elite possession of display machines of the IAF, enthralled the audience with their stunts, flying at a height of 20 metres above the ground.However, it was the Suryakiran aerobatic team which turned out to be a big hit with the crowd. Nine Kiran MKII craft delighted the crowd with their manoeuvres, painting the skies with the tricolour or creating the rising sun image using smoke trails.The show culminated with the para-jumpers of the Akash Ganga team descending from an mi-8 chopper, at 7,000 feet, to a smooth touch down.Organised as part of the IAF's platinum jubilee celebrations, the event was an invitation for the youth to join the IAF, a top official told reporters after the event.Air Commodore MS Ahluwalia, Air-Officer-Commanding, IAF, Tambaram, described the show spectacular.
In a scintillating display of manoeuvres, the steel birds possessed by the Indian Air Force treated the family members of airmen and other employees of IAF to a visual feast, at the IAF base near Chennai.As a precursor to the public show here at the marina beach on Sunday, the pilots and other performers warmed themselves up, before a select audience and displayed the skills of flying, marked by precision and controlled by coordination.Aerobatics by the HPT-32 alias Deepak, the mighty jaguar which went air-borne from Bangalore, the dare-devil Sarang helicopter team and a rifle drill by the air warriors were part of the itinerary.The much-awaited Sarang team of choppers, an elite possession of display machines of the IAF, enthralled the audience with their stunts, flying at a height of 20 metres above the ground.However, it was the Suryakiran aerobatic team which turned out to be a big hit with the crowd. Nine Kiran MKII craft delighted the crowd with their manoeuvres, painting the skies with the tricolour or creating the rising sun image using smoke trails.The show culminated with the para-jumpers of the Akash Ganga team descending from an mi-8 chopper, at 7,000 feet, to a smooth touch down.Organised as part of the IAF's platinum jubilee celebrations, the event was an invitation for the youth to join the IAF, a top official told reporters after the event.Air Commodore MS Ahluwalia, Air-Officer-Commanding, IAF, Tambaram, described the show spectacular.
BrahMos Cruise Missile Test Fired From Mobile Launcher
BrahMos Cruise Missile Test Fired From Mobile Launcher
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, was successfully tested from the Interim Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near here today.Fired from a mobile launcher at the ITR, 15 km from here, at 11.21 am, the sleek missile met all mission parameters, defence sources said. This was the 14th launch of the missile, which has a range of 290 km. It has also been tested from a naval destroyer in the past.Taking off vertically from launch pad three of the ITR, BrahMos followed its predetermined course, leaving a trail of thick white smoke, the sources said. After the sophisticated missile blasted off from the launcher, its trajectory was tracked by ground instruments and radars for detailed analysis, they said.BrahMos was developed under an Indo-Russian Joint Venture programme following an agreement signed by the two countries on February 12, 1998. The name BrahMos is derived from the names of the two great rivers of India and Russia -- the Brahmaputra and Moskva -- and the missile is jointly produced by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia under the project codenamed PJ-10.Top missile scientist Sivathanu Pillai, the CEO of BrahMos Aerospace Private Ltd, and about 30 Russian scientists were present during today's launch of the missile in fine weather. BrahMos was fired for the first time on June 12, 2001 while the last trial was conducted on February 4 from the ITR. The two-stage BrahMos is powered with a solid propellant booster and a liquid propellant ramjet system.The eight-metre sleek missile weighing three tonnes has been configured so that it can be launched from the ground, ships, submarines and aircraft.
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, was successfully tested from the Interim Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near here today.Fired from a mobile launcher at the ITR, 15 km from here, at 11.21 am, the sleek missile met all mission parameters, defence sources said. This was the 14th launch of the missile, which has a range of 290 km. It has also been tested from a naval destroyer in the past.Taking off vertically from launch pad three of the ITR, BrahMos followed its predetermined course, leaving a trail of thick white smoke, the sources said. After the sophisticated missile blasted off from the launcher, its trajectory was tracked by ground instruments and radars for detailed analysis, they said.BrahMos was developed under an Indo-Russian Joint Venture programme following an agreement signed by the two countries on February 12, 1998. The name BrahMos is derived from the names of the two great rivers of India and Russia -- the Brahmaputra and Moskva -- and the missile is jointly produced by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia under the project codenamed PJ-10.Top missile scientist Sivathanu Pillai, the CEO of BrahMos Aerospace Private Ltd, and about 30 Russian scientists were present during today's launch of the missile in fine weather. BrahMos was fired for the first time on June 12, 2001 while the last trial was conducted on February 4 from the ITR. The two-stage BrahMos is powered with a solid propellant booster and a liquid propellant ramjet system.The eight-metre sleek missile weighing three tonnes has been configured so that it can be launched from the ground, ships, submarines and aircraft.
Armed Forces Seek 300 to 400 percent pay hike for soldiers
Armed Forces Seek 300 to 400 percent pay hike for soldiers
According to television news channel 'Times Now', the Indian Army is lobbying for a 400% pay hike to the Sri Krishna Sixth Pay Commission. The armed forces - Army, Navy and Air force - have put together a presentation for him, asking for a huge raise. The presentation will be given to justice Sri Krishna who heads the 6th Pay Commission. Here is a brief list of the recommendations:▪ A 300-400 per cent rise in basic pay - 400 per cent more than the current basic, and two and a half times more than basic plus Daily Allowance (DA). ▪ Something called Military Service Pay to compensate the X factor – especially the dangerous nature of the job, staying away from family, and frequent shifts. Across the board, armed forces personnel have demanded a 40 to 50 per cent hike of basic salary. ▪ The forces also want an Incentive Pay, aimed at specialists like engineers and pilots who often quit the Army for better opportunities in the private sector. So, after 15 years, if armed forces officers want to stay on, they will get a year's basic salary extra. What these conditions aim to do is benefit 2 million officers and men of the armed forces and if implemented, could come as a godsend for millions of retired officers and men as pensions would also rise considerably. It will however be up to the Sri Krishna commission to look at the issue and decide on a special package. The Indian Army alone has over 1,300,000 active soldiers. A pay hike however is warranted considering the rising inflation over the past few years. Attractive salaries will also invite some of the countries brightest talent to serve in the Armed Forces.
According to television news channel 'Times Now', the Indian Army is lobbying for a 400% pay hike to the Sri Krishna Sixth Pay Commission. The armed forces - Army, Navy and Air force - have put together a presentation for him, asking for a huge raise. The presentation will be given to justice Sri Krishna who heads the 6th Pay Commission. Here is a brief list of the recommendations:▪ A 300-400 per cent rise in basic pay - 400 per cent more than the current basic, and two and a half times more than basic plus Daily Allowance (DA). ▪ Something called Military Service Pay to compensate the X factor – especially the dangerous nature of the job, staying away from family, and frequent shifts. Across the board, armed forces personnel have demanded a 40 to 50 per cent hike of basic salary. ▪ The forces also want an Incentive Pay, aimed at specialists like engineers and pilots who often quit the Army for better opportunities in the private sector. So, after 15 years, if armed forces officers want to stay on, they will get a year's basic salary extra. What these conditions aim to do is benefit 2 million officers and men of the armed forces and if implemented, could come as a godsend for millions of retired officers and men as pensions would also rise considerably. It will however be up to the Sri Krishna commission to look at the issue and decide on a special package. The Indian Army alone has over 1,300,000 active soldiers. A pay hike however is warranted considering the rising inflation over the past few years. Attractive salaries will also invite some of the countries brightest talent to serve in the Armed Forces.
Armed Forces Top Brass Structure Reforms: Draft Recommendation Submitted
Armed Forces Top Brass Structure Reforms: Draft Recommendation Submitted
Television news channel 'Times Now' reports that the Indian Armed Forces is about to become "top heavy" with a general consensus to appoint 150 more generals, admirals and marshals to the three services.Appointing 150 top officers would translate into a 40 per cent increase over the current force strength at senior levels. Under the plan, the army will get 95 more lieutenant and major generals, the navy 23 admirals and the air force 38 marshals.Though this is a proposal that was first tabled to then defence minister George Fernandes in May 2001, it has been delayed because the Army has serious differences with the Navy and Air Force regarding the exact numbers.The Army felt the Navy and Air Force were getting far too many admirals and marshals considering their smaller size. The issue was also discussed by the three chiefs from 2005 but without much success back then.However the issue seems to have been resolved and the three services have now jointly submitted their proposals with their different views to the government. A cabinet note was forwarded to the defence (finance) authorities earlier this year, but the government is yet to make up its mind.
Television news channel 'Times Now' reports that the Indian Armed Forces is about to become "top heavy" with a general consensus to appoint 150 more generals, admirals and marshals to the three services.Appointing 150 top officers would translate into a 40 per cent increase over the current force strength at senior levels. Under the plan, the army will get 95 more lieutenant and major generals, the navy 23 admirals and the air force 38 marshals.Though this is a proposal that was first tabled to then defence minister George Fernandes in May 2001, it has been delayed because the Army has serious differences with the Navy and Air Force regarding the exact numbers.The Army felt the Navy and Air Force were getting far too many admirals and marshals considering their smaller size. The issue was also discussed by the three chiefs from 2005 but without much success back then.However the issue seems to have been resolved and the three services have now jointly submitted their proposals with their different views to the government. A cabinet note was forwarded to the defence (finance) authorities earlier this year, but the government is yet to make up its mind.
US says no to changing its laws for N-deal with India
US says no to changing its laws for N-deal with India
WASHINGTON: Expressing frustration over the slow pace of negotiations on the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, the Bush administration, however, has made it clear that some of the things insisted upon by India require changing American laws which cannot be accommodated. "Fair to say that there's probably some frustration on the part of the administration as well as the Congress on the pace of these negotiations," State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters here. His comments assume significance as they came days ahead of a scheduled visit of Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon on April 30 and May one to Washington followed by a visit of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns to India in May to speed up the negotiations. Replying to a query on Burns' visit, he said "Nobody's questioning the Indian government's goodwill and good faith in this regard. And it's a useful opportunity to bump up the level of discussions to take stock of where we are right now, so you have essentially a political-level discussion, as opposed to just the experts-level discussion. And they're going to explore ways that we can energise the discussions so that we can get this done." "We still have faith that we're going to be able to get this agreement done, and we believe that the Indian government is committed to that. But we're at a stage in these particular negotiations where we think we need to raise the level of dialogue to a political level in order to move it forward," McCormack added, making the point that he will not go to the extent of saying that all hope is lost.
WASHINGTON: Expressing frustration over the slow pace of negotiations on the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, the Bush administration, however, has made it clear that some of the things insisted upon by India require changing American laws which cannot be accommodated. "Fair to say that there's probably some frustration on the part of the administration as well as the Congress on the pace of these negotiations," State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters here. His comments assume significance as they came days ahead of a scheduled visit of Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon on April 30 and May one to Washington followed by a visit of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns to India in May to speed up the negotiations. Replying to a query on Burns' visit, he said "Nobody's questioning the Indian government's goodwill and good faith in this regard. And it's a useful opportunity to bump up the level of discussions to take stock of where we are right now, so you have essentially a political-level discussion, as opposed to just the experts-level discussion. And they're going to explore ways that we can energise the discussions so that we can get this done." "We still have faith that we're going to be able to get this agreement done, and we believe that the Indian government is committed to that. But we're at a stage in these particular negotiations where we think we need to raise the level of dialogue to a political level in order to move it forward," McCormack added, making the point that he will not go to the extent of saying that all hope is lost.
US frustrated on India nuclear deal
US frustrated on India nuclear deal
WASHINGTON: The United States said on Friday it was frustrated at the pace of negotiations with India on a civil nuclear cooperation agreement and will try to break the impasse in talks next week. US and Indian negotiators are trying to complete an agreement affirming landmark political commitments announced by the two governments in 2005 and 2006 that would let India buy US nuclear fuel and reactors for the first time in 30 years. But New Delhi has balked at provisions Washington considers essential, including a US legal requirement that it halt nuclear cooperation if India tests another nuclear weapon, US officials have said. "There is frustration," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns and Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon will discuss the matter in Washington on Monday and Tuesday, he said. "They're going to explore ways that we can energize the discussions so that we can get this done," McCormack added, saying the State Department believed the agreement will ultimately be carried through. While he declined to go into detail about the differences, McCormack said India had asked the United States to change some of its laws, something he ruled out. The deal aims to overturn a three-decade ban on nuclear trade between the countries and help India meet its soaring energy needs even though New Delhi has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty and has tested nuclear weapons. The pact was approved by the US Congress in December but the countries have since struggled to negotiate a bilateral agreement that lays down the terms of nuclear trade. Apart from the restrictions resulting from another nuclear test, US officials have said India has rejected several other constraints, including US control over the use India makes of uranium or reactor fuel supplied by the United States.
WASHINGTON: The United States said on Friday it was frustrated at the pace of negotiations with India on a civil nuclear cooperation agreement and will try to break the impasse in talks next week. US and Indian negotiators are trying to complete an agreement affirming landmark political commitments announced by the two governments in 2005 and 2006 that would let India buy US nuclear fuel and reactors for the first time in 30 years. But New Delhi has balked at provisions Washington considers essential, including a US legal requirement that it halt nuclear cooperation if India tests another nuclear weapon, US officials have said. "There is frustration," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns and Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon will discuss the matter in Washington on Monday and Tuesday, he said. "They're going to explore ways that we can energize the discussions so that we can get this done," McCormack added, saying the State Department believed the agreement will ultimately be carried through. While he declined to go into detail about the differences, McCormack said India had asked the United States to change some of its laws, something he ruled out. The deal aims to overturn a three-decade ban on nuclear trade between the countries and help India meet its soaring energy needs even though New Delhi has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty and has tested nuclear weapons. The pact was approved by the US Congress in December but the countries have since struggled to negotiate a bilateral agreement that lays down the terms of nuclear trade. Apart from the restrictions resulting from another nuclear test, US officials have said India has rejected several other constraints, including US control over the use India makes of uranium or reactor fuel supplied by the United States.
After Bofors, India is set to lose urea scam money
After Bofors, India is set to lose urea scam money
NEW DELHI: After losing Bofors kickback money in the UK, the CBI now looks set to lose the Rs 133 crore spirited away by the urea scam accused. Thanks to an ingenious ploy by the accused, who listed a dead man as a defence witness causing inordinate delay in completing the trial, a Swiss court has ordered unfreezing of the account holding the money since 1996. The urea scam, perhaps the most sensational of many which tainted the legacy of former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao, involved the payment of Rs 133 crore to a Turkish firm, Karsan Ltd, even when it did not deliver a single bag of the fertiliser it was contracted to supply. The accused, who exploited the greed of public officials to pull off the daring swindle, have now taken recourse to a shrewd strategem to access the money. V M Setrovich, cited as one of the defence witnesses for the foreign accused — Turkish nationals Cihan Karanci and Tunkay Alankus and Brazilian Agnaldo Pinto — passed away in 1998. The fact of his death was, however, kept under wraps, with the accused even organising a fax to be sent from Russia to the trial court in India on his behalf. In the letter purportedly from Setrovich , the witness expressed his willingness to come from Russia and take the stand. While the deception was eventually found out, the ploy delayed the trial — and it was invoked by the accused to seek unfreezing of the account
NEW DELHI: After losing Bofors kickback money in the UK, the CBI now looks set to lose the Rs 133 crore spirited away by the urea scam accused. Thanks to an ingenious ploy by the accused, who listed a dead man as a defence witness causing inordinate delay in completing the trial, a Swiss court has ordered unfreezing of the account holding the money since 1996. The urea scam, perhaps the most sensational of many which tainted the legacy of former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao, involved the payment of Rs 133 crore to a Turkish firm, Karsan Ltd, even when it did not deliver a single bag of the fertiliser it was contracted to supply. The accused, who exploited the greed of public officials to pull off the daring swindle, have now taken recourse to a shrewd strategem to access the money. V M Setrovich, cited as one of the defence witnesses for the foreign accused — Turkish nationals Cihan Karanci and Tunkay Alankus and Brazilian Agnaldo Pinto — passed away in 1998. The fact of his death was, however, kept under wraps, with the accused even organising a fax to be sent from Russia to the trial court in India on his behalf. In the letter purportedly from Setrovich , the witness expressed his willingness to come from Russia and take the stand. While the deception was eventually found out, the ploy delayed the trial — and it was invoked by the accused to seek unfreezing of the account
India, New Zealand to initiate free trade pact
India, New Zealand to initiate free trade pact
India and New Zealand have initiated steps to ink a free trade agreement (FTA) but it could be a while before this becomes a reality.
"We have agreed to a study on eventually concluding a FTA. This study will go into issues like how each side can benefit from such an agreement," New Zealand Trade Minister Phil Goff told the agency.
He was speaking after a meeting with Indian Trade and Commerce Minister Kamal Nath.
"We should be able to launch this study by the end of the year. It will lay down the terms of reference for further negotiations. Based on this, we will proceed ahead," added Goff, who also holds the portfolios of defence and disarmament and is also the associate minister for finance.
Geoff was here over the weekend on a two-day visit during which he also met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister AK Antony, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar.
The minister hoped for greater inflows of tourists and students into his country of four million. New Zealand is home to 105,000 Indians.
India currently has a trade imbalance with New Zealand, with exports of $250 million and imports of $355 million.
"Given our enormous commonalities of democracies and a common language, there is enormous potential for further growth. Our combined trade is only half-a-million dollars compared to $7 billion with China, with which we have very little in common," Goff pointed out.
Food and beverages, commodities like coal and timber and agricultural technologies, as also tourism, were the key areas in which the two countries could improve their interaction, the minister said.
Speaking about the need to reduce trade barriers, Goff pointed out that a bottle of wine that cost $10 in New Zealand attracted customs duties of between 100 and 560 percent in India.
This apart, New Delhi's law relating to the import of agricultural and dairy products and also meats "are far above international standards and need to be lowered", the minister contended.
"Take apples. They attract 50 percent customs duty when we have two growing seasons and we are not in competition with your local produce. I think Indians are well entitled to our very delicious apples!
"In my interaction with (Kamal) Nath, I stressed the need to bring these down to realise the full potential of our economic ties and he promised to examine the issue. It was in this context that we agreed to a study on the feasibility of an FTA," the minister stated.
Speaking about New Zealand's tourism potential, Goff said some 20,000 Indians visited his country but many more could do so.
"Air New Zealand (the country's flag carrier) has shown interest in initially starting a weekly flight out of Mumbai. We hope Air India will also show similar interest," he stated.
On the academic front, some 3,000 Indians are currently enrolled in New Zealand universities where they receive scholarships amounting to 3/4ths of the annual tuition fees - the same as what natives get.
"We are home to three of the top 100 universities in the world. We are a safe, friendly and environmentally conscious country. We hope to see more students and tourists in New Zealand," the minister said.
India and New Zealand have initiated steps to ink a free trade agreement (FTA) but it could be a while before this becomes a reality.
"We have agreed to a study on eventually concluding a FTA. This study will go into issues like how each side can benefit from such an agreement," New Zealand Trade Minister Phil Goff told the agency.
He was speaking after a meeting with Indian Trade and Commerce Minister Kamal Nath.
"We should be able to launch this study by the end of the year. It will lay down the terms of reference for further negotiations. Based on this, we will proceed ahead," added Goff, who also holds the portfolios of defence and disarmament and is also the associate minister for finance.
Geoff was here over the weekend on a two-day visit during which he also met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister AK Antony, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar.
The minister hoped for greater inflows of tourists and students into his country of four million. New Zealand is home to 105,000 Indians.
India currently has a trade imbalance with New Zealand, with exports of $250 million and imports of $355 million.
"Given our enormous commonalities of democracies and a common language, there is enormous potential for further growth. Our combined trade is only half-a-million dollars compared to $7 billion with China, with which we have very little in common," Goff pointed out.
Food and beverages, commodities like coal and timber and agricultural technologies, as also tourism, were the key areas in which the two countries could improve their interaction, the minister said.
Speaking about the need to reduce trade barriers, Goff pointed out that a bottle of wine that cost $10 in New Zealand attracted customs duties of between 100 and 560 percent in India.
This apart, New Delhi's law relating to the import of agricultural and dairy products and also meats "are far above international standards and need to be lowered", the minister contended.
"Take apples. They attract 50 percent customs duty when we have two growing seasons and we are not in competition with your local produce. I think Indians are well entitled to our very delicious apples!
"In my interaction with (Kamal) Nath, I stressed the need to bring these down to realise the full potential of our economic ties and he promised to examine the issue. It was in this context that we agreed to a study on the feasibility of an FTA," the minister stated.
Speaking about New Zealand's tourism potential, Goff said some 20,000 Indians visited his country but many more could do so.
"Air New Zealand (the country's flag carrier) has shown interest in initially starting a weekly flight out of Mumbai. We hope Air India will also show similar interest," he stated.
On the academic front, some 3,000 Indians are currently enrolled in New Zealand universities where they receive scholarships amounting to 3/4ths of the annual tuition fees - the same as what natives get.
"We are home to three of the top 100 universities in the world. We are a safe, friendly and environmentally conscious country. We hope to see more students and tourists in New Zealand," the minister said.
India test fires supersonic cruise missile
India test fires supersonic cruise missile
BHUBANESWAR, April 22: India on Sunday successfully tested a surface-to-surface version of the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile developed jointly with Russia, official sources said.“Sunday's test was just routine. A user trial,” a defence official said. The missile was last successfully tested on February 4.The missile was fired from a mobile launcher from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea, 200 kilometres (125 miles) northeast of Bhubaneswar, official sources said.First tested in June 2001, the missile named after India's Brahmaputra River and Russia's Moskva River has a range of 290 kilometers (180 miles) and can carry a 300-kilogram (660 pound) conventional warhead.The eight-metre (26-foot) missile weighs about three metric tonnes and can be launched from land, ships, submarines or aircraft, travelling at a speed of up to Mach 2.8.Sunday's test came just 10 days after India successfully tested the Agni-III, an intermediate-range missile that for the first time gives New Delhi a device capable of hitting targets inside China, including capital Beijing.The Indian army is set to start deploying the missile this year, the CEO of its manufacturer BrahMos Aerospace A. Sivathanu Pillai said last month.A version of the BrahMos is already used by the Indian navy.Defence sources said India and Russia are now working towards developing a hypersonic missile, a more advanced version of the BrahMos. —AFP
BHUBANESWAR, April 22: India on Sunday successfully tested a surface-to-surface version of the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile developed jointly with Russia, official sources said.“Sunday's test was just routine. A user trial,” a defence official said. The missile was last successfully tested on February 4.The missile was fired from a mobile launcher from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea, 200 kilometres (125 miles) northeast of Bhubaneswar, official sources said.First tested in June 2001, the missile named after India's Brahmaputra River and Russia's Moskva River has a range of 290 kilometers (180 miles) and can carry a 300-kilogram (660 pound) conventional warhead.The eight-metre (26-foot) missile weighs about three metric tonnes and can be launched from land, ships, submarines or aircraft, travelling at a speed of up to Mach 2.8.Sunday's test came just 10 days after India successfully tested the Agni-III, an intermediate-range missile that for the first time gives New Delhi a device capable of hitting targets inside China, including capital Beijing.The Indian army is set to start deploying the missile this year, the CEO of its manufacturer BrahMos Aerospace A. Sivathanu Pillai said last month.A version of the BrahMos is already used by the Indian navy.Defence sources said India and Russia are now working towards developing a hypersonic missile, a more advanced version of the BrahMos. —AFP
e hënë, 16 prill 2007
Developing ICBMs ‘unsuited for India’s interests’ in the world
Developing ICBMs ‘unsuited for India’s interests’ in the world
* Defence organisation plans to build an ICBM with a range of 15,000 kilometres to match Chinese ICBMsNEW DELHI: Buoyed by the successful test of a missile that can hit China, India says it can extend its nuclear range beyond Asia, but experts say it is unlikely to take such a step for fear of upsetting the West.The launch on Thursday of the intermediate-range Agni-III missile capped New Delhi’s drive to produce a device capable of striking targets 3,500 kilometres inside China, which has an unresolved border dispute with India. The government’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) now says it now has the technology to build Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) that would extend nuclear-armed India’s reach beyond Asia.“We have achieved the capability to make missiles with a range of 5,500 kilometres but the decision to develop an ICBM has to be taken by the political leadership,” DRDO chief M Natarajan told reporters in New Delhi on Friday. Natarajan, India’s chief military scientist, said a day after the Agni-III’s test flight that the DRDO, which launched India’s guided missile development project in 1983, had already begun to design an ICBM.“DRDO scientists are working on miniaturising systems of Agni-III so that a third stage can be squeezed into the 16-metre-long missile to enable it to go up to 5,500 kilometres with the same 1.5-tonne payload,” he said.Agni-III project chief Avinash Chander told AFP that a second test of the intermediate-range missile would take place either in August or October. DRDO sources said the agency, which is also jointly developing a supersonic cruise missile with Russia, would seek New Delhi’s clearance before it actually began building an ICBM prototype after the second Agni-III test.India started working secretly on nuclear weapons after China conducted its first atomic test in 1964 - two years after Beijing fought a brief but bloody border war with its neighbour. New Delhi detonated its first atom bomb in 1974 and, 24 years later, declared itself a full-fledged nuclear weapons state following a series of tests including that of a 46-megatonne-yield thermo-nuclear device.Former DRDO chief K Santhanam said while India was capable of building an ICBM, production of one “would unnecessarily affect ties” between India and the United States, which in 2005 agreed on a historic civilian nuclear energy deal.“Even in its wildest dreams, India does not plan to be a global superpower but in the regional perspective a 3,500-plus-kilometre range IRBM is enough to deter adventurism from across our two borders,” Santhanam said, referring to Pakistan and China.Since the subcontinent’s 1947 independence, India has fought three wars with Pakistan, which declared itself a nuclear weapons state after carrying out copycat tests in 1998.“Given our robust economic growth, resurgent markets and our nuclear-tipped stockpile of (1,000-kilometre-range) Agni-Is and (2,000-kilometre) Agni-IIs, we should be satisfied as a leading regional power,” Santhanam said.Kapil Kak, director of the independent Centre for Strategic Studies think-tank, agreed.“Given the international security situation and emerging power configurations, a programme to develop ICBMs is definitely unsuited for India’s interests,” he said.“It would raise hackles in the US,” said Kak, a former air marshal.Sources say the DRDO’s most treasured dream - denied in public - remains the development of an ICBM with a range of 15,000 kilometres, already christened Surya or sun, to match Chinese DF-3 ICBMs that can hit US cities. afp
* Defence organisation plans to build an ICBM with a range of 15,000 kilometres to match Chinese ICBMsNEW DELHI: Buoyed by the successful test of a missile that can hit China, India says it can extend its nuclear range beyond Asia, but experts say it is unlikely to take such a step for fear of upsetting the West.The launch on Thursday of the intermediate-range Agni-III missile capped New Delhi’s drive to produce a device capable of striking targets 3,500 kilometres inside China, which has an unresolved border dispute with India. The government’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) now says it now has the technology to build Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) that would extend nuclear-armed India’s reach beyond Asia.“We have achieved the capability to make missiles with a range of 5,500 kilometres but the decision to develop an ICBM has to be taken by the political leadership,” DRDO chief M Natarajan told reporters in New Delhi on Friday. Natarajan, India’s chief military scientist, said a day after the Agni-III’s test flight that the DRDO, which launched India’s guided missile development project in 1983, had already begun to design an ICBM.“DRDO scientists are working on miniaturising systems of Agni-III so that a third stage can be squeezed into the 16-metre-long missile to enable it to go up to 5,500 kilometres with the same 1.5-tonne payload,” he said.Agni-III project chief Avinash Chander told AFP that a second test of the intermediate-range missile would take place either in August or October. DRDO sources said the agency, which is also jointly developing a supersonic cruise missile with Russia, would seek New Delhi’s clearance before it actually began building an ICBM prototype after the second Agni-III test.India started working secretly on nuclear weapons after China conducted its first atomic test in 1964 - two years after Beijing fought a brief but bloody border war with its neighbour. New Delhi detonated its first atom bomb in 1974 and, 24 years later, declared itself a full-fledged nuclear weapons state following a series of tests including that of a 46-megatonne-yield thermo-nuclear device.Former DRDO chief K Santhanam said while India was capable of building an ICBM, production of one “would unnecessarily affect ties” between India and the United States, which in 2005 agreed on a historic civilian nuclear energy deal.“Even in its wildest dreams, India does not plan to be a global superpower but in the regional perspective a 3,500-plus-kilometre range IRBM is enough to deter adventurism from across our two borders,” Santhanam said, referring to Pakistan and China.Since the subcontinent’s 1947 independence, India has fought three wars with Pakistan, which declared itself a nuclear weapons state after carrying out copycat tests in 1998.“Given our robust economic growth, resurgent markets and our nuclear-tipped stockpile of (1,000-kilometre-range) Agni-Is and (2,000-kilometre) Agni-IIs, we should be satisfied as a leading regional power,” Santhanam said.Kapil Kak, director of the independent Centre for Strategic Studies think-tank, agreed.“Given the international security situation and emerging power configurations, a programme to develop ICBMs is definitely unsuited for India’s interests,” he said.“It would raise hackles in the US,” said Kak, a former air marshal.Sources say the DRDO’s most treasured dream - denied in public - remains the development of an ICBM with a range of 15,000 kilometres, already christened Surya or sun, to match Chinese DF-3 ICBMs that can hit US cities. afp
India to further boost missile shooting power
India to further boost missile shooting power
NEW DELHI: After testing the Agni-III missile last week, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is now gearing up for the second test of its fledgling ballistic missile defence (BMD) system. DRDO officials said the BMD system test to be held in May-June will be that of an "endo-atmospheric interceptor missile" this time, on the lines of the US Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) system. "We intend to shoot down an incoming ballistic missile with the endo-atmospheric missile at about 30-km altitude," said an official. The first test of the proposed two-tier BMD system took place on November 27 last year when an "exo-atmospheric" hypersonic interceptor missile was used to destroy an incoming Prithvi missile at an altitude of 50-km. The "endo-atmospheric" test is needed since a BMD system to be effective must be capable of targeting hostile missiles both inside (endo) or outside (exo) the Earth's atmosphere. "The exo-atmospheric interceptor missile was designed by taking Prithvi's propulsion system and adding a second stage to it to ensure it could go up to a height of 90-km," said an official. "The endo-atmospheric missile, in turn, has been developed to engage targets at about 30-km. After its test, we will test both exo and endo together. The BMD system will have to be tested for a variety of flight envelopes," he added. That India needs a multi-layered missile defence system with an overlapping network of early-warning sensors, command posts and anti-missile land and sea-based missile batteries to tackle both ballistic and cruise missiles is a no-brainer. Pakistan, for instance, is surging ahead with its 'Ghauri' and 'Shaheen' ballistic missiles as well as the 'Babur' land-attack cruise missile. It will, however, take at least five years for DRDO's BMD system, or even a medium range surface-to-air missile system (MRSAM), to become operationally ready. India has been discussing missile defence with both US and Israel for the past few years. With the US keen to sell the PAC-3 system to India, the first meeting of Indo-US defence Joint Working Group on April 10 saw the two sides talk missile defence yet again. Interestingly, the crucial long-range tracking radar used in the "exo-atmospheric" BMD system test was based on two Israeli Green Pine early-warning and fire control radars imported by India in 2001-02. An integral part of the Israeli Arrow-2 BMD system, Green Pine radars can detect incoming missiles up to 500-km away and guide interceptor missiles to them accurately. A ballistic missile can be targeted at all the three points in its trajectory boost or launch phase, mid-course in space or terminal phase during atmospheric descent. While the PAC-3 system intercepts hostile missiles in the lower atmosphere, the Arrow-2 system destroys them in stratosphere. DRDO, on its part, is designing the BMD system to intercept an incoming missile at both the "second mid-course and terminal phases", with a "very high" kill probability. "The aim is to first engage in exo and then whatever remains, in endo," the official said.
NEW DELHI: After testing the Agni-III missile last week, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is now gearing up for the second test of its fledgling ballistic missile defence (BMD) system. DRDO officials said the BMD system test to be held in May-June will be that of an "endo-atmospheric interceptor missile" this time, on the lines of the US Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) system. "We intend to shoot down an incoming ballistic missile with the endo-atmospheric missile at about 30-km altitude," said an official. The first test of the proposed two-tier BMD system took place on November 27 last year when an "exo-atmospheric" hypersonic interceptor missile was used to destroy an incoming Prithvi missile at an altitude of 50-km. The "endo-atmospheric" test is needed since a BMD system to be effective must be capable of targeting hostile missiles both inside (endo) or outside (exo) the Earth's atmosphere. "The exo-atmospheric interceptor missile was designed by taking Prithvi's propulsion system and adding a second stage to it to ensure it could go up to a height of 90-km," said an official. "The endo-atmospheric missile, in turn, has been developed to engage targets at about 30-km. After its test, we will test both exo and endo together. The BMD system will have to be tested for a variety of flight envelopes," he added. That India needs a multi-layered missile defence system with an overlapping network of early-warning sensors, command posts and anti-missile land and sea-based missile batteries to tackle both ballistic and cruise missiles is a no-brainer. Pakistan, for instance, is surging ahead with its 'Ghauri' and 'Shaheen' ballistic missiles as well as the 'Babur' land-attack cruise missile. It will, however, take at least five years for DRDO's BMD system, or even a medium range surface-to-air missile system (MRSAM), to become operationally ready. India has been discussing missile defence with both US and Israel for the past few years. With the US keen to sell the PAC-3 system to India, the first meeting of Indo-US defence Joint Working Group on April 10 saw the two sides talk missile defence yet again. Interestingly, the crucial long-range tracking radar used in the "exo-atmospheric" BMD system test was based on two Israeli Green Pine early-warning and fire control radars imported by India in 2001-02. An integral part of the Israeli Arrow-2 BMD system, Green Pine radars can detect incoming missiles up to 500-km away and guide interceptor missiles to them accurately. A ballistic missile can be targeted at all the three points in its trajectory boost or launch phase, mid-course in space or terminal phase during atmospheric descent. While the PAC-3 system intercepts hostile missiles in the lower atmosphere, the Arrow-2 system destroys them in stratosphere. DRDO, on its part, is designing the BMD system to intercept an incoming missile at both the "second mid-course and terminal phases", with a "very high" kill probability. "The aim is to first engage in exo and then whatever remains, in endo," the official said.
Denying India veto at UNSC is an insult: Belarus
Denying India veto at UNSC is an insult: Belarus
The erstwhile Soviet state of Belarus has offered to share with India laser-optical technology that is crucial for civil and defence applications, including in the guidance systems of smart weapons and missiles.
Belarus will be setting up a laser-optical research centre in India under an agreement to be signed during the visit of its President Alexander Lukashenka to India beginning Sunday.
India will be training Belarus personnel in Information Technology with the prospect of setting up a technology park in Minsk, 52-year-old Lukashenka said in an exclusive interview in the ornate Blakitny (blue) hall of the massive Stalin era Presidential Palace.
"We have a huge technological potential, much more than our own requirements and we are ready to share it with India," he said.
Lukashenka said strategic relations with nuclear powers -- India, China and Russia-- are the cornerstone of his country's foreign policy.
"Relations with India are the pride of our foreign policy. I underscore that we are proud of our close and friendly ties with India, dating back to decades and centuries," said the Belarus strongman, dubbed as the last dictator in Europe.
Lukashenka said Belarus backs India's candidature for the permanent membership of the UN Security Council with full veto rights.
"In 1998, speaking from the rostrum of the UN General Assembly, we had declared that in the changed world without India the mandate of Security Council is fractured to some extent," said Lukashenka responding to a question on New Delhi's bid for the permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
"Almost ten years back we had declared that it was highly unjustified that a country with the population of over a billion, possessing high technologies and like China, a nuclear power, is not represented in the Security Council," Lukashenka said.
He said that his nation of 10 million people, sandwiched between NATO and powerful Russia, will vote for India, whenever its candidature for the UNSC is put on vote.
"Depriving a nuclear power like India of the right of veto or other attributes of a permanent member as enjoyed by other permanent five will be an insult to the nation," Lukashenka said.
Lukashenka also sounded very optimistic about trilateral defence cooperation among India, Russia and Belarus. "Here we are not competitors with Russia. Moscow has involved us in several defence projects with India and more are in the pipeline," said Lukashenka, who has managed to preserve the potent military-technical complex inherited from the ex-USSR and banned the defence enterprises from churning out casseroles and spades under the so-called policy of conversion adopted by many former Soviet republics, including Russia.
Replying to questions, Lukashenka said India must take a lead in rejuvenating the Non-Aligned Movement. "I have requests from many NAM Heads of State that I talk to India to play a more active role," he said.
The erstwhile Soviet state of Belarus has offered to share with India laser-optical technology that is crucial for civil and defence applications, including in the guidance systems of smart weapons and missiles.
Belarus will be setting up a laser-optical research centre in India under an agreement to be signed during the visit of its President Alexander Lukashenka to India beginning Sunday.
India will be training Belarus personnel in Information Technology with the prospect of setting up a technology park in Minsk, 52-year-old Lukashenka said in an exclusive interview in the ornate Blakitny (blue) hall of the massive Stalin era Presidential Palace.
"We have a huge technological potential, much more than our own requirements and we are ready to share it with India," he said.
Lukashenka said strategic relations with nuclear powers -- India, China and Russia-- are the cornerstone of his country's foreign policy.
"Relations with India are the pride of our foreign policy. I underscore that we are proud of our close and friendly ties with India, dating back to decades and centuries," said the Belarus strongman, dubbed as the last dictator in Europe.
Lukashenka said Belarus backs India's candidature for the permanent membership of the UN Security Council with full veto rights.
"In 1998, speaking from the rostrum of the UN General Assembly, we had declared that in the changed world without India the mandate of Security Council is fractured to some extent," said Lukashenka responding to a question on New Delhi's bid for the permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
"Almost ten years back we had declared that it was highly unjustified that a country with the population of over a billion, possessing high technologies and like China, a nuclear power, is not represented in the Security Council," Lukashenka said.
He said that his nation of 10 million people, sandwiched between NATO and powerful Russia, will vote for India, whenever its candidature for the UNSC is put on vote.
"Depriving a nuclear power like India of the right of veto or other attributes of a permanent member as enjoyed by other permanent five will be an insult to the nation," Lukashenka said.
Lukashenka also sounded very optimistic about trilateral defence cooperation among India, Russia and Belarus. "Here we are not competitors with Russia. Moscow has involved us in several defence projects with India and more are in the pipeline," said Lukashenka, who has managed to preserve the potent military-technical complex inherited from the ex-USSR and banned the defence enterprises from churning out casseroles and spades under the so-called policy of conversion adopted by many former Soviet republics, including Russia.
Replying to questions, Lukashenka said India must take a lead in rejuvenating the Non-Aligned Movement. "I have requests from many NAM Heads of State that I talk to India to play a more active role," he said.
India Set To Increase Energy, Oil Cooperation With Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan
India Set To Increase Energy, Oil Cooperation With Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan
Latest PIB reports coming in suggest that India is all set to co-operate with two Central Asian nations - Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan - in the Energy, Oil & Gas sector.Government Press ReleaseIndia and Azerbaijan have agreed to cooperate in several areas including oil & gas sector and Indian companies are set to play a greater role in the development of Azerbaijan's rapidly expanding oil and gas industry. This was the result of a meeting last week between the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev and the visiting Minister of State for Commerce, Shri Jairam Ramesh at Baku. At the end of a 45-minute discussion, Mr. Aliyev consented to ONGC Videsh and SOCAR, the state-owned oil and gas exploration company of Azerbaijan starting talks for cooperation for ONGC Videsh's investments in hydrocarbon-rich Azerbaijan.ONGC Videsh has already invested close to $ 5 billion in 15 countries around the world, half of which is in Russia alone and that ONGC Videsh has much to offer to Azerbaijan, particularly in fields where production is declining. Mr. Aliyev sought India's assistance in enhanced oil recovery and deep sea drilling. Shri Ramesh also offered GAIL's expertise in gas-based petrochemicals and city-gas distribution. To begin with, ONGC Videsh and GAIL will participate in the Caspian Sea Oil and Gas Exhibition being held in Baku, June 3-4, 2007. Shri Ramesh also briefed the President of India's interests in exploring for gold in Azerbaijan, particularly since India is now the world's largest importer of gold. MMTC and NMDC will work with their Azerbaijani counterparts to identify specific areas where prospecting and appraisal work can be undertaken.Mr. Aliyev also expressed deep appreciation for India's offer to help establish a centre for education and training in IT in Baku. The President agreed with the observations made by Shri Ramesh that India's great strength lies in skills training and human resource development, particularly in management, law and science and technology. Of the 100 Azeri students who are to be sent abroad for higher education this year, it is expected that 20 will come to India.Shri Ramesh also offered India’s assistance in tapping the high wind energy potential in Azerbaijan. The Minister informed the Azerbaijan President that Indian companies like Vestas and Suzlon have become globally prominent and already about 4500 MW of wind energy capacity has been established in India. Azerbaijan President and other leaders also expressed hope that Indian pharmaceutical companies would consider moving beyond distribution and set up manufacturing facilities in Azerbaijan.During his visit, Shri Jairam Ramesh and Mr. Haiyder Babayev, the Minister for Economic Development of Azerbaijan also signed an agreement that sets up a Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Investment and Economic Cooperation. The Agreement, which has been on the anvil for almost five years, is expected to provide a fillip to both commercial and cultural exchanges between the two countries. India has also offered technical assistance to Azerbaijan to facilitate its entry into the WTO. Meanwhile, President Aliyev accepted the invitation from Shri Ramesh to visit India at the earliest.Uzbekistan: GAIL AgreementUzbekistan has agreed to open technical talks with GAIL for enabling the Indian company to start exploration activity in natural gas in the gas-rich Central Asian country . This materialised after meetings between the Prime Minister of Uzebekistan, Mr. Savkit Mirziyayev and the visiting Minister of State for Commerce, Shri Jairam Ramesh on April 13, 2007 at Tashkent. India has also offered to help establish a training institute for gas technology in Tashkent, along the lines of the Jawaharlal Nehru IT Centre in the Uzbek capital that was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh last year. GAIL has identified 4 specific blocks for gas exploration. So far Russia, China and South Korea have invested in gas exploration in Uzbekistan. Shri Jairam Ramesh was accompanied in his meetings with the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan and other senior ministers by Shri Mukund Chaudhury, Managing Director of CLC Textiles which has recently invested $ 81 million in cotton spinning and yarn in Uzbekistan. A further investment of $ 40 million is planned by CLC Textiles over the next two years. The Uzebk Prime Minister appreciated the operations of CLC Textiles and expressed Uzbekistan's keenness for similar investments by Indian companies in pharmaceuticals and leather. Shri Jairam Ramesh promised to talk to Indian companies in this regard soon.Shri Jairam Ramesh also conveyed to the Uzbek Prime Minister, India's interest in exploring for gold in gold-rich Uzbekistan since India is now the world's largest importer of gold. The Uzbek government has agreed to consider a proposal from MMTC/ National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) for gold exploration but wants this proposal to include value-addition investments in Uzebekistan itself, like in gold jewellery. MMTC and NMDC will now formulate a proposal for submission to the Uzbek government in the next 30 days.The Uzbek Prime Minister underscored the special cultural and political relationship that exists between India and Uzbekistan. He also mentioned the great personal regard and respect that the President of Uzbekistan has for Dr. Manmohan Singh whom he has known personally for over a decade and a half. He felt that the time was now ripe for taking the bilateral economic relationship to a whole new level and that Shri Jairam Ramesh's visit will contribute significantly to this.
Latest PIB reports coming in suggest that India is all set to co-operate with two Central Asian nations - Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan - in the Energy, Oil & Gas sector.Government Press ReleaseIndia and Azerbaijan have agreed to cooperate in several areas including oil & gas sector and Indian companies are set to play a greater role in the development of Azerbaijan's rapidly expanding oil and gas industry. This was the result of a meeting last week between the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev and the visiting Minister of State for Commerce, Shri Jairam Ramesh at Baku. At the end of a 45-minute discussion, Mr. Aliyev consented to ONGC Videsh and SOCAR, the state-owned oil and gas exploration company of Azerbaijan starting talks for cooperation for ONGC Videsh's investments in hydrocarbon-rich Azerbaijan.ONGC Videsh has already invested close to $ 5 billion in 15 countries around the world, half of which is in Russia alone and that ONGC Videsh has much to offer to Azerbaijan, particularly in fields where production is declining. Mr. Aliyev sought India's assistance in enhanced oil recovery and deep sea drilling. Shri Ramesh also offered GAIL's expertise in gas-based petrochemicals and city-gas distribution. To begin with, ONGC Videsh and GAIL will participate in the Caspian Sea Oil and Gas Exhibition being held in Baku, June 3-4, 2007. Shri Ramesh also briefed the President of India's interests in exploring for gold in Azerbaijan, particularly since India is now the world's largest importer of gold. MMTC and NMDC will work with their Azerbaijani counterparts to identify specific areas where prospecting and appraisal work can be undertaken.Mr. Aliyev also expressed deep appreciation for India's offer to help establish a centre for education and training in IT in Baku. The President agreed with the observations made by Shri Ramesh that India's great strength lies in skills training and human resource development, particularly in management, law and science and technology. Of the 100 Azeri students who are to be sent abroad for higher education this year, it is expected that 20 will come to India.Shri Ramesh also offered India’s assistance in tapping the high wind energy potential in Azerbaijan. The Minister informed the Azerbaijan President that Indian companies like Vestas and Suzlon have become globally prominent and already about 4500 MW of wind energy capacity has been established in India. Azerbaijan President and other leaders also expressed hope that Indian pharmaceutical companies would consider moving beyond distribution and set up manufacturing facilities in Azerbaijan.During his visit, Shri Jairam Ramesh and Mr. Haiyder Babayev, the Minister for Economic Development of Azerbaijan also signed an agreement that sets up a Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Investment and Economic Cooperation. The Agreement, which has been on the anvil for almost five years, is expected to provide a fillip to both commercial and cultural exchanges between the two countries. India has also offered technical assistance to Azerbaijan to facilitate its entry into the WTO. Meanwhile, President Aliyev accepted the invitation from Shri Ramesh to visit India at the earliest.Uzbekistan: GAIL AgreementUzbekistan has agreed to open technical talks with GAIL for enabling the Indian company to start exploration activity in natural gas in the gas-rich Central Asian country . This materialised after meetings between the Prime Minister of Uzebekistan, Mr. Savkit Mirziyayev and the visiting Minister of State for Commerce, Shri Jairam Ramesh on April 13, 2007 at Tashkent. India has also offered to help establish a training institute for gas technology in Tashkent, along the lines of the Jawaharlal Nehru IT Centre in the Uzbek capital that was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh last year. GAIL has identified 4 specific blocks for gas exploration. So far Russia, China and South Korea have invested in gas exploration in Uzbekistan. Shri Jairam Ramesh was accompanied in his meetings with the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan and other senior ministers by Shri Mukund Chaudhury, Managing Director of CLC Textiles which has recently invested $ 81 million in cotton spinning and yarn in Uzbekistan. A further investment of $ 40 million is planned by CLC Textiles over the next two years. The Uzebk Prime Minister appreciated the operations of CLC Textiles and expressed Uzbekistan's keenness for similar investments by Indian companies in pharmaceuticals and leather. Shri Jairam Ramesh promised to talk to Indian companies in this regard soon.Shri Jairam Ramesh also conveyed to the Uzbek Prime Minister, India's interest in exploring for gold in gold-rich Uzbekistan since India is now the world's largest importer of gold. The Uzbek government has agreed to consider a proposal from MMTC/ National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) for gold exploration but wants this proposal to include value-addition investments in Uzebekistan itself, like in gold jewellery. MMTC and NMDC will now formulate a proposal for submission to the Uzbek government in the next 30 days.The Uzbek Prime Minister underscored the special cultural and political relationship that exists between India and Uzbekistan. He also mentioned the great personal regard and respect that the President of Uzbekistan has for Dr. Manmohan Singh whom he has known personally for over a decade and a half. He felt that the time was now ripe for taking the bilateral economic relationship to a whole new level and that Shri Jairam Ramesh's visit will contribute significantly to this.
Failed ULFA Terror Attack In Arunachal Pradesh; Grenade Blast Injures One
Failed ULFA Terror Attack In Arunachal Pradesh; Grenade Blast Injures One
ULFA terrorists hurled a grenade near a Buddha temple in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh, injuring one person, official sources said on Monday.The terrorists probably tergetted a few army vehicles parked there but the grenade hit an auto rickshaw coming from the opposite direction, the sources said.The grenade was lobbed on Sunday by two motorcycle-borne ultras near the temple at Namsai, a sub-divisional headquarters town. The injured has been hospitalised.A combing operation by security forces was launched to trace the ultras who managed to escape.Namsai was the scene of an encounter on April 10 when eight ULFA minilitants, including two women belonging to its 28th battalion, were killed.Army para-troopers were airdopped at different points of the Manabhum Reserve Forest in the district to intercept cadres of their banned outfit and prevent them from escaping to their base in Myanmar using the forest as a corridor.The operation against the outfit was intensified in the wake of the killing of 70 Hindi speaking people in Tinsukia district of Assam recently.
ULFA terrorists hurled a grenade near a Buddha temple in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh, injuring one person, official sources said on Monday.The terrorists probably tergetted a few army vehicles parked there but the grenade hit an auto rickshaw coming from the opposite direction, the sources said.The grenade was lobbed on Sunday by two motorcycle-borne ultras near the temple at Namsai, a sub-divisional headquarters town. The injured has been hospitalised.A combing operation by security forces was launched to trace the ultras who managed to escape.Namsai was the scene of an encounter on April 10 when eight ULFA minilitants, including two women belonging to its 28th battalion, were killed.Army para-troopers were airdopped at different points of the Manabhum Reserve Forest in the district to intercept cadres of their banned outfit and prevent them from escaping to their base in Myanmar using the forest as a corridor.The operation against the outfit was intensified in the wake of the killing of 70 Hindi speaking people in Tinsukia district of Assam recently.
Royal Navy Frigate HMS Monmouth Concludes Four-Day Goodwill Visit to the Andaman and Nicobar
Royal Navy Frigate HMS Monmouth Concludes Four-Day Goodwill Visit to the Andaman and Nicobar
Royal Navy frigate HMS Monmouth has concluded a four-day goodwill visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) during which the vessel's officers and sailors interacted with their counterparts here.The ship had been accorded a traditional welcome on arrival here April 11. During the visit, the ship's commanding officer, Commander T.J. Peacock, called on Rear Admiral P.K. Nair, the ANC chief of staff. He also called on Naval Officer-in-Charge (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Commodore A.V.S. Ramesh.'The officers and sailors of the ship interacted with officers and men of the command at various social and sports activities,' an ANC statement said Sunday. 'They also visited various places of tourist interest and historical importance at Port Blair,' the statement said.The ship, named after Britain's Duke of Monmouth, is a Type-23 Duke class frigate with a displacement of 3,500 tonnes and is equipped with modern armaments for anti-submarine, surface and air warfare roles. Commissioned in the Royal Navy on Sep 24, 1993, the vessel is presently based at Durban in South Africa.HMS Monmouth has a complement of 21 officers and 125 sailors on board.
Royal Navy frigate HMS Monmouth has concluded a four-day goodwill visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) during which the vessel's officers and sailors interacted with their counterparts here.The ship had been accorded a traditional welcome on arrival here April 11. During the visit, the ship's commanding officer, Commander T.J. Peacock, called on Rear Admiral P.K. Nair, the ANC chief of staff. He also called on Naval Officer-in-Charge (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Commodore A.V.S. Ramesh.'The officers and sailors of the ship interacted with officers and men of the command at various social and sports activities,' an ANC statement said Sunday. 'They also visited various places of tourist interest and historical importance at Port Blair,' the statement said.The ship, named after Britain's Duke of Monmouth, is a Type-23 Duke class frigate with a displacement of 3,500 tonnes and is equipped with modern armaments for anti-submarine, surface and air warfare roles. Commissioned in the Royal Navy on Sep 24, 1993, the vessel is presently based at Durban in South Africa.HMS Monmouth has a complement of 21 officers and 125 sailors on board.
United States Keen To Win Indian Defense Contracts: Franklin Lavin
United States Keen To Win Indian Defense Contracts: Franklin Lavin
The United States will compete for multi-billion dollar deals to sell multi-role combat aircraft to India in a bid to further firm up ties with New Delhi after the landmark nuclear deal."This nuclear agreement is a significant step ahead. The next opportunity to take the step ahead beyond the nuclear agreement is the competition in India for multi-role combat aircraft because historically the US has not been able to compete for Indian defence procurement," US Under Secretary of Commerce Franklin Lavin said on Friday.Addressing a meeting jointly organised by the Woodrow Wilson Centre and the Federation of the Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Lavin said, "Now it's a new era, it's is a new relationship, the defence relationship is improving. We have had a number of discussions with counterparts in the Indian side and our major providers intend to compete for this."Lavin argued that with India looking for the best frontline combat aircraft in the world, it would force the US to look for ways to move the relationship forward. "I would argue that this is a healthy exercise," he said. Lavin favoured reassessment of the US export control policies to enable American companies to bid for Indian contracts."From the Indian perspective, they have access to very fine products and from a US perceptive, this helps our system think through this licensing and export control system because they have a specific proposal in front of them that they have to respond to. So that is a healthy development as well," he said.U.S. based companies - including Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Bell - are competing for major multi billion dollar military aviation contracts such as the Air Force M-MRCA and the Army Combat Helicopter Contracts.
The United States will compete for multi-billion dollar deals to sell multi-role combat aircraft to India in a bid to further firm up ties with New Delhi after the landmark nuclear deal."This nuclear agreement is a significant step ahead. The next opportunity to take the step ahead beyond the nuclear agreement is the competition in India for multi-role combat aircraft because historically the US has not been able to compete for Indian defence procurement," US Under Secretary of Commerce Franklin Lavin said on Friday.Addressing a meeting jointly organised by the Woodrow Wilson Centre and the Federation of the Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Lavin said, "Now it's a new era, it's is a new relationship, the defence relationship is improving. We have had a number of discussions with counterparts in the Indian side and our major providers intend to compete for this."Lavin argued that with India looking for the best frontline combat aircraft in the world, it would force the US to look for ways to move the relationship forward. "I would argue that this is a healthy exercise," he said. Lavin favoured reassessment of the US export control policies to enable American companies to bid for Indian contracts."From the Indian perspective, they have access to very fine products and from a US perceptive, this helps our system think through this licensing and export control system because they have a specific proposal in front of them that they have to respond to. So that is a healthy development as well," he said.U.S. based companies - including Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Bell - are competing for major multi billion dollar military aviation contracts such as the Air Force M-MRCA and the Army Combat Helicopter Contracts.
Major Reshuffle In Pakistan Army; Top Corps Commanders Replaced
Major Reshuffle In Pakistan Army; Top Corps Commanders Replaced
In a major reshuffle in the Pakistan Army, President General Pervez Musharraf has changed the corps commanders of Peshawar, Quetta and Bahawalpur.Deputy Chief of General Staff Lt-Gen Khalid Shamim Wyane has been appointed corps commander of Quetta in place of Lt-Gen Hamid Nawaz, who will take charge as inspector general for training and evaluation, to replace Lt-Gen Masood Aslam. Lt-Gen Masood Aslam has been appointed corps commander of Peshawar in place of Lt-Gen Hamid Khan, who has been made commandant of the National Defence University, Islamabad, in place of Lt-Gen Raza Khan. Lt-Gen Raza Khan has been transferred to Bahawalpur as corps commander.Quetta General Officer Commanding (GOC) Maj-Gen Haroon has been made director general of Rangers, Lahore, in place of Maj-Gen Hussain Mehdi. Maj-Gen Jamil Haider has been ordered to take charge as deputy chief of general staff. GOC Maj-Gen Rashid has been transferred to ISI Headquarters, Islamabad.Brig Javed Sultan Khan, Pakistan’s defence attaché in New Delhi, has been promoted to major general and posted GOC Kohat. Defence Attaché in Libya Brig Khalid has been promoted to the rank of major general and posted director general of military land and revenue.Brig Tariq Rasheed Khan has been promoted to major general and posted GOC of 33 Division, Quetta. Brig Muhammad Khalid, deputy military secretary in MS Branch, GHQ, has been promoted to major general and posted GOC of the 17 Division, Kharian.Brig Kaleem Sabir Taseer, director of military operations, GHQ, has been promoted to major general and posted commandant of the School of Artillery, Naushehra. Brig Muhammad Mansha of the National Defence University has been promoted to major general and posted director general of logistics, GHQ. Brig Ghulam Dastgir of the National Defence University has been promoted to major general and posted chief instructor at the War College, National Defence University, Islamabad. Brig Javed Iqbal, who went for studies to the United States, has been promoted to major general and posted GOC, Karachi.Brig Ziauddin Najam of the Army Strategic Force Command has been promoted to major general and posted GOC of strategic force, chief of staff southern, Sargodha. Mangla Corps Brig Tahir Habib Siddiqui has been promoted to major general and posted GOC Armoured Division, Kharian.Vice Commander of Logistic Secretariat Maj-Gen Waqar Ahmed Kangarwi has been posted GOC of Army Aviation Command, Rawalpindi. GOC of Strategic Force Maj-Gen Iftikhar Raja Chaudhry has been posted as director general of welfare, GHQ. GOC 41 Division Quetta Maj-Gen Muhammad Farooque has been posted director general of depots.Maj-Gen Ulfat Hussain, director general of military land and revenue, has been posted vice commander of logistic secretariat. School of Artillery Commandant Maj-Gen Athar Hussain Shah has been posted GOC of 12 Artillery Division, Gujranwala. Kohat GOC Maj-Gen Gul Muhammad has been posted director general of personnel and administration at GHQ. Commandant of the Military College of Engineering Risalpur Maj-Gen Tariq Mehmood has been transferred to ISI, GOC 6 Armoured Division Kharian Maj-Gen Athar Abbas has been posted director general of quartering and lands. staff report
In a major reshuffle in the Pakistan Army, President General Pervez Musharraf has changed the corps commanders of Peshawar, Quetta and Bahawalpur.Deputy Chief of General Staff Lt-Gen Khalid Shamim Wyane has been appointed corps commander of Quetta in place of Lt-Gen Hamid Nawaz, who will take charge as inspector general for training and evaluation, to replace Lt-Gen Masood Aslam. Lt-Gen Masood Aslam has been appointed corps commander of Peshawar in place of Lt-Gen Hamid Khan, who has been made commandant of the National Defence University, Islamabad, in place of Lt-Gen Raza Khan. Lt-Gen Raza Khan has been transferred to Bahawalpur as corps commander.Quetta General Officer Commanding (GOC) Maj-Gen Haroon has been made director general of Rangers, Lahore, in place of Maj-Gen Hussain Mehdi. Maj-Gen Jamil Haider has been ordered to take charge as deputy chief of general staff. GOC Maj-Gen Rashid has been transferred to ISI Headquarters, Islamabad.Brig Javed Sultan Khan, Pakistan’s defence attaché in New Delhi, has been promoted to major general and posted GOC Kohat. Defence Attaché in Libya Brig Khalid has been promoted to the rank of major general and posted director general of military land and revenue.Brig Tariq Rasheed Khan has been promoted to major general and posted GOC of 33 Division, Quetta. Brig Muhammad Khalid, deputy military secretary in MS Branch, GHQ, has been promoted to major general and posted GOC of the 17 Division, Kharian.Brig Kaleem Sabir Taseer, director of military operations, GHQ, has been promoted to major general and posted commandant of the School of Artillery, Naushehra. Brig Muhammad Mansha of the National Defence University has been promoted to major general and posted director general of logistics, GHQ. Brig Ghulam Dastgir of the National Defence University has been promoted to major general and posted chief instructor at the War College, National Defence University, Islamabad. Brig Javed Iqbal, who went for studies to the United States, has been promoted to major general and posted GOC, Karachi.Brig Ziauddin Najam of the Army Strategic Force Command has been promoted to major general and posted GOC of strategic force, chief of staff southern, Sargodha. Mangla Corps Brig Tahir Habib Siddiqui has been promoted to major general and posted GOC Armoured Division, Kharian.Vice Commander of Logistic Secretariat Maj-Gen Waqar Ahmed Kangarwi has been posted GOC of Army Aviation Command, Rawalpindi. GOC of Strategic Force Maj-Gen Iftikhar Raja Chaudhry has been posted as director general of welfare, GHQ. GOC 41 Division Quetta Maj-Gen Muhammad Farooque has been posted director general of depots.Maj-Gen Ulfat Hussain, director general of military land and revenue, has been posted vice commander of logistic secretariat. School of Artillery Commandant Maj-Gen Athar Hussain Shah has been posted GOC of 12 Artillery Division, Gujranwala. Kohat GOC Maj-Gen Gul Muhammad has been posted director general of personnel and administration at GHQ. Commandant of the Military College of Engineering Risalpur Maj-Gen Tariq Mehmood has been transferred to ISI, GOC 6 Armoured Division Kharian Maj-Gen Athar Abbas has been posted director general of quartering and lands. staff report
Indian Army To Acquire Integrated Vehicle Mounted Electronic Warfare Systems
Indian Army To Acquire Integrated Vehicle Mounted Electronic Warfare Systems
According to latest 'Defense News' reports, the Ministry of Defence is said to have invited bids for integrated electronic warfare systems (IEWS) for the Indian Army.The number of systems to be acquired is said to be undisclosed at this stage. The Army is to utilize the vehicle-mounted system in the mountainous terrain near India's northern, north eastern borders with Pakistan and China, the report said.Western, Israeli and Russian defense firms have been asked to submit price and technical bids by June 2007, and a short list of contenders is to be invited to bring their IEWS early next year for winter and summer trials in the Kashmir valley and the mountainous north east.Electronic warfare (EW) is the use of the electromagnetic spectrum to deny its effective use by an adversary while optimizing its use by friendly forces. Electronic warfare has three main components: electronic support, electronic attack, and electronic protection.An Army official said a contract is likely to be awarded in early 2009 with deliveries starting in 2011.The IEWS will completely secure the communications systems of the Army which is crucial especially in terrorism hit regions. They will also help listen in to enemy and terrorist networks, as radio communications and data are excellent sources of intelligence.Thus the IEWS would play the role of a force multiplier for the Army in trouble hit regions as it will improve the speed, tempo and depth of operations.However the use of IEW Systems needs to be cultivated in the Indian Army as it will have to be built into operational and tactical planning.The Army official said one typical Indian terrain-specific IEWS will include:• A countermeasure control center.• One command post.• A special information warfare operations unit.• One psychological operations shelter.• A satellite interception system.• Four control centers.• Twenty relay/repeater stations for radio signals.• Five mobile stations.• Seventy-nine 2.5-ton and high-mobility light vehicles.
According to latest 'Defense News' reports, the Ministry of Defence is said to have invited bids for integrated electronic warfare systems (IEWS) for the Indian Army.The number of systems to be acquired is said to be undisclosed at this stage. The Army is to utilize the vehicle-mounted system in the mountainous terrain near India's northern, north eastern borders with Pakistan and China, the report said.Western, Israeli and Russian defense firms have been asked to submit price and technical bids by June 2007, and a short list of contenders is to be invited to bring their IEWS early next year for winter and summer trials in the Kashmir valley and the mountainous north east.Electronic warfare (EW) is the use of the electromagnetic spectrum to deny its effective use by an adversary while optimizing its use by friendly forces. Electronic warfare has three main components: electronic support, electronic attack, and electronic protection.An Army official said a contract is likely to be awarded in early 2009 with deliveries starting in 2011.The IEWS will completely secure the communications systems of the Army which is crucial especially in terrorism hit regions. They will also help listen in to enemy and terrorist networks, as radio communications and data are excellent sources of intelligence.Thus the IEWS would play the role of a force multiplier for the Army in trouble hit regions as it will improve the speed, tempo and depth of operations.However the use of IEW Systems needs to be cultivated in the Indian Army as it will have to be built into operational and tactical planning.The Army official said one typical Indian terrain-specific IEWS will include:• A countermeasure control center.• One command post.• A special information warfare operations unit.• One psychological operations shelter.• A satellite interception system.• Four control centers.• Twenty relay/repeater stations for radio signals.• Five mobile stations.• Seventy-nine 2.5-ton and high-mobility light vehicles.
Indian Navy Conducts Trilateral Military Exercises With Japan, United States
Indian Navy Conducts Trilateral Military Exercises With Japan, United States
The Indian Navy Monday conducted its first trilateral exercise with its counterparts from the US and Japan off the Japanese coast in an effort aimed at sharing operational and doctrinal expertise.The guided missile destroyer Mysore, the guided missile corvette Kulthar and the tanker Jyoti participated in the day-long exercise conducted off Yokosuka in Chiba prefecture, an Indian Navy officer here said.Two destroyers of the US Seventh Fleet and three vessels of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force also participated in the drill.The Indian ships are part of a flotilla of five frontline vessels that are on an extended deployment in Southeast and East Asian waters for exercises with regional navies, as also those from China and Russia, apart from the US and Japan.The other two vessels, the guided missile destroyers Rana and Ranjit, will Tuesday conclude a five-day exercise with the Chinese Navy off Quingdao before the flotilla reassembles and heads for a drill with the Russian Navy off Vladivostok April 22-26.The Indian Navy's eastern fleet commander, Rear Admiral R.K. Dhowan, leads the flotilla. On the return leg, the Indian ships will exercise with the navies of the Philippines and Vietnam. Two ships, Mysore and Kultar, will thereafter proceed to Singapore to participate in the biennial International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) May 15-19.'This would provide us with an opportunity to showcase our shipbuilding capability through these ships that are designed and built indigenously, as also our ability to align and keep pace with the rapid technological advances in the field of military hardware and systems,' said Indian Navy assistant chief Rear Admiral Pradeep Chauhan.The Indian Navy chief, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, and his counterparts from 22 nations will also attend IMDEX-2007. The two-month deployment began March 18 and was meant 'to spread the message of goodwill, present a microcosmic mosaic of India, and build bridges of friendship with India's littoral neighbours', Chauhan said.'The deployment is an intrinsic part of the ongoing effort at constructive engagement being undertaken by the Indian Navy in concert with other instruments and mechanisms of the nation's diplomacy,' he added. The Indian Navy has already engaged with its US counterpart in a bilateral exercise April 6-11 off Japan, and prior to that with the Singapore Navy.'The port calls and the opportunities to engage and exercise with the navies of the region would enable the Indian Navy to gain and share operational and doctrinal expertise and transformational experiences, examine and imbibe international best practices, promote inter-operability, and enhance maritime domain awareness,' Chauhan pointed out.
The Indian Navy Monday conducted its first trilateral exercise with its counterparts from the US and Japan off the Japanese coast in an effort aimed at sharing operational and doctrinal expertise.The guided missile destroyer Mysore, the guided missile corvette Kulthar and the tanker Jyoti participated in the day-long exercise conducted off Yokosuka in Chiba prefecture, an Indian Navy officer here said.Two destroyers of the US Seventh Fleet and three vessels of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force also participated in the drill.The Indian ships are part of a flotilla of five frontline vessels that are on an extended deployment in Southeast and East Asian waters for exercises with regional navies, as also those from China and Russia, apart from the US and Japan.The other two vessels, the guided missile destroyers Rana and Ranjit, will Tuesday conclude a five-day exercise with the Chinese Navy off Quingdao before the flotilla reassembles and heads for a drill with the Russian Navy off Vladivostok April 22-26.The Indian Navy's eastern fleet commander, Rear Admiral R.K. Dhowan, leads the flotilla. On the return leg, the Indian ships will exercise with the navies of the Philippines and Vietnam. Two ships, Mysore and Kultar, will thereafter proceed to Singapore to participate in the biennial International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) May 15-19.'This would provide us with an opportunity to showcase our shipbuilding capability through these ships that are designed and built indigenously, as also our ability to align and keep pace with the rapid technological advances in the field of military hardware and systems,' said Indian Navy assistant chief Rear Admiral Pradeep Chauhan.The Indian Navy chief, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, and his counterparts from 22 nations will also attend IMDEX-2007. The two-month deployment began March 18 and was meant 'to spread the message of goodwill, present a microcosmic mosaic of India, and build bridges of friendship with India's littoral neighbours', Chauhan said.'The deployment is an intrinsic part of the ongoing effort at constructive engagement being undertaken by the Indian Navy in concert with other instruments and mechanisms of the nation's diplomacy,' he added. The Indian Navy has already engaged with its US counterpart in a bilateral exercise April 6-11 off Japan, and prior to that with the Singapore Navy.'The port calls and the opportunities to engage and exercise with the navies of the region would enable the Indian Navy to gain and share operational and doctrinal expertise and transformational experiences, examine and imbibe international best practices, promote inter-operability, and enhance maritime domain awareness,' Chauhan pointed out.
India Pushes Nuclear Deal At Nuclear Suppliers Group Meet
India Pushes Nuclear Deal At Nuclear Suppliers Group Meet
As the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) begins its plenary meet in Cape Town Monday, India will make a strong pitch to the doubters in the nuclear cabal to back its civilian nuclear deal with the US and invigorate its sluggish negotiations on a bilateral pact with Washington.India's High Commissioner to Singapore S. Jaishankar, a key diplomat who was previously involved in nuclear negotiations with Washington, will be leading the Indian delegation to Cape Town for this 'charm NSG' mission.Although the India-US civil nuclear deal is not part of the official agenda of the five-day meeting of the NSG, it will have an invisible presence at the meeting.The NSG can only take a formal view of the India-US civil nuclear deal after the two countries have finalised a bilateral 123 Agreement and New Delhi concludes a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).The NSG, which operates by consensus, holds the key to facilitating global civil nuclear commerce with India by amending its guidelines in favour of New Delhi.In its informal meetings with key NSG members, Indian diplomats will underline India's impeccable record in nuclear non-proliferation and the country's burgeoning needs for energy as its economy continues to grow at the rate of nearly eight percent per year.The focus will be on winning over sceptics like Norway, Sweden, Finland and Japan, countries known for their uncompromising views on nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear energy.Indian diplomats will also be meeting top US officials on the sidelines of the NSG meet in Cape Town to pick up the threads from where they left last month in the Indian capital.The crucial meeting comes against the backdrop of reports in a section of the US media about the 123 Agreement floundering over critical issues like India's insistence on the right to test nuclear device, if required, and the transfer of reprocessing technologies.Jaishankar is likely to meet with Richard Stratford, the director of Nuclear Energy, Safety and Security in the State Department, in Cape Town and narrow down differences over these contentious issues in order to put in place a viable 123 Agreement that can pass muster with the establishments in both countries.
As the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) begins its plenary meet in Cape Town Monday, India will make a strong pitch to the doubters in the nuclear cabal to back its civilian nuclear deal with the US and invigorate its sluggish negotiations on a bilateral pact with Washington.India's High Commissioner to Singapore S. Jaishankar, a key diplomat who was previously involved in nuclear negotiations with Washington, will be leading the Indian delegation to Cape Town for this 'charm NSG' mission.Although the India-US civil nuclear deal is not part of the official agenda of the five-day meeting of the NSG, it will have an invisible presence at the meeting.The NSG can only take a formal view of the India-US civil nuclear deal after the two countries have finalised a bilateral 123 Agreement and New Delhi concludes a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).The NSG, which operates by consensus, holds the key to facilitating global civil nuclear commerce with India by amending its guidelines in favour of New Delhi.In its informal meetings with key NSG members, Indian diplomats will underline India's impeccable record in nuclear non-proliferation and the country's burgeoning needs for energy as its economy continues to grow at the rate of nearly eight percent per year.The focus will be on winning over sceptics like Norway, Sweden, Finland and Japan, countries known for their uncompromising views on nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear energy.Indian diplomats will also be meeting top US officials on the sidelines of the NSG meet in Cape Town to pick up the threads from where they left last month in the Indian capital.The crucial meeting comes against the backdrop of reports in a section of the US media about the 123 Agreement floundering over critical issues like India's insistence on the right to test nuclear device, if required, and the transfer of reprocessing technologies.Jaishankar is likely to meet with Richard Stratford, the director of Nuclear Energy, Safety and Security in the State Department, in Cape Town and narrow down differences over these contentious issues in order to put in place a viable 123 Agreement that can pass muster with the establishments in both countries.
Army Commander's Conference
Army Commander's Conference: Minister Stresses On Optimum, Efficient Funds Usage
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has called upon the Armed Forces to reduce revenue expenditure, while utilizing more funds for capital acquisitions and modernisation.Addressing the Army Commanders’ Conference here today, Shri Antony called upon the top brass to embrace austerity and shun profligacy to ensure optimum and efficient utilization of funds. He suggested the Forces may adopt the motto of “Service with Simplicity”.“We have been allotted an enhanced budget for the current financial year. We need to ensure optimum and efficient utilization of funds. Our Armed Forces would do well to embrace austerity and shun profligacy. I would like the slogan of our Armed Forces to be “Service with Simplicity”. The emphasis should be more on reducing revenue expenditure, while utilizing more funds for capital acquisitions and modernisation”, he said.The Defence Minister spoke on a wide range of issues relating to the security situation in the country and in the region. He said, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is by and large under control. The violence has been brought down to a large extent by effective operations by our Security Forces, along the Line of Control as well as in the hinterland. The policy of the Security Forces of ‘Iron Fist with Velvet Glove’, as enunciated in the recently released doctrine on sub-conventional operations, is paying dividends. Shri Antony said, the cease fire along the Line of Control is holding. Though various political and diplomatic developments and initiatives on both sides have increased the levels of expectancy, there is no change in Pakistan’s support to cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. This remains a cause of concern to us, he said. Referring to the Indo-Pak talks, he said, Islamabad will have to put an end to cross-border terrorism for the dialogue to be successful. Shri Antony said, Pakistan has continued to increase its defence budget and receive military assistance from various countries. “Although we wish to continue the talks process with Pakistan, it is imperative for us to keep a close watch on various developments and maintain constant vigil”, he said.Turning to the North-East, the Defence Minister said that the conducive security environment there manifested itself in the peaceful conduct of elections in Manipur and smooth organizing of National Games in Guwahati. Shri Antony said, while more and more groups are entering into a “suspension of operations” agreement with the Government, the peace talks with ULFA got disrupted because of its ‘intransigence’. He said due to sustained pressure of the Security Forces, against the ULFA cadres, its ability to influence and intimidate the people has been considerably reduced.The Defence Minister called upon the Armed Forces to take utmost care so that incidents of violation of human rights do not take place, while they are fighting against terrorism. “Our Armed Forces also need to guard against any incidence of violation of human rights in their fight against terrorism. While the need to exert pressure on the terrorists is necessary, utmost care needs to be taken to avoid any act, which may be exploited by the terrorists and separatist elements to alienate the population. This has an adverse impact on the gains made so painstakingly”, he said.Turning to Afghanistan, Shri Antony said, prospects of an early conclusion of the ongoing operations by the International Security Assistance Force appears to be remote. He said, it is important that the efforts to bring stability to this country troubled by terrorism proves successful. Otherwise it is bound to have dangerous implications not only for the entire region, but also for the world.Shri Antony said that India is following a policy of positive engagement with China in an attempt to forge better ties. The institutionalization of confidence building measures and the signing of an agreement on political parameters and guiding principles for settlement of the India-China boundary question have provided an added impetus to the process, he said.The Defence Minister also touched upon the myriad issues affecting the Armed Forces. He said, that the number of suicide and fratricide cases continues to be a cause of concern and must be addressed urgently. All possible steps must be taken to reduce stress on Jawans. He urged upon the top brass to lay adequate emphasis on the humanitarian side through better and more humane man-management. This, he said can be done through enhanced interaction between senior and junior officers – both in qualitative and quantitative terms.He also called upon the Service Headquarters to constantly monitor statutory and non-statutory complaints so that timely redressal is provided to all concerned. Since Army Commanders deliberate on the personnel profiles of the senior officers in the zone of consideration at the time of promotion, he advised them to look into various aspects of officers’ profiles keeping in view their meritorious record so that there is no room for inconsistencies or arbitrariness, while grading the officers.Shri Antony said, that after the setting up of the Pay Commission last year, separate pay commission cells have been established for the three Services, which are working to formulate proposals to be submitted directly to the commission in respect of the Armed Forces personnel. After the Services submit their proposals to the Pay Commission, the Ministry will also follow up the proposals in the right earnest, he said
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has called upon the Armed Forces to reduce revenue expenditure, while utilizing more funds for capital acquisitions and modernisation.Addressing the Army Commanders’ Conference here today, Shri Antony called upon the top brass to embrace austerity and shun profligacy to ensure optimum and efficient utilization of funds. He suggested the Forces may adopt the motto of “Service with Simplicity”.“We have been allotted an enhanced budget for the current financial year. We need to ensure optimum and efficient utilization of funds. Our Armed Forces would do well to embrace austerity and shun profligacy. I would like the slogan of our Armed Forces to be “Service with Simplicity”. The emphasis should be more on reducing revenue expenditure, while utilizing more funds for capital acquisitions and modernisation”, he said.The Defence Minister spoke on a wide range of issues relating to the security situation in the country and in the region. He said, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is by and large under control. The violence has been brought down to a large extent by effective operations by our Security Forces, along the Line of Control as well as in the hinterland. The policy of the Security Forces of ‘Iron Fist with Velvet Glove’, as enunciated in the recently released doctrine on sub-conventional operations, is paying dividends. Shri Antony said, the cease fire along the Line of Control is holding. Though various political and diplomatic developments and initiatives on both sides have increased the levels of expectancy, there is no change in Pakistan’s support to cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. This remains a cause of concern to us, he said. Referring to the Indo-Pak talks, he said, Islamabad will have to put an end to cross-border terrorism for the dialogue to be successful. Shri Antony said, Pakistan has continued to increase its defence budget and receive military assistance from various countries. “Although we wish to continue the talks process with Pakistan, it is imperative for us to keep a close watch on various developments and maintain constant vigil”, he said.Turning to the North-East, the Defence Minister said that the conducive security environment there manifested itself in the peaceful conduct of elections in Manipur and smooth organizing of National Games in Guwahati. Shri Antony said, while more and more groups are entering into a “suspension of operations” agreement with the Government, the peace talks with ULFA got disrupted because of its ‘intransigence’. He said due to sustained pressure of the Security Forces, against the ULFA cadres, its ability to influence and intimidate the people has been considerably reduced.The Defence Minister called upon the Armed Forces to take utmost care so that incidents of violation of human rights do not take place, while they are fighting against terrorism. “Our Armed Forces also need to guard against any incidence of violation of human rights in their fight against terrorism. While the need to exert pressure on the terrorists is necessary, utmost care needs to be taken to avoid any act, which may be exploited by the terrorists and separatist elements to alienate the population. This has an adverse impact on the gains made so painstakingly”, he said.Turning to Afghanistan, Shri Antony said, prospects of an early conclusion of the ongoing operations by the International Security Assistance Force appears to be remote. He said, it is important that the efforts to bring stability to this country troubled by terrorism proves successful. Otherwise it is bound to have dangerous implications not only for the entire region, but also for the world.Shri Antony said that India is following a policy of positive engagement with China in an attempt to forge better ties. The institutionalization of confidence building measures and the signing of an agreement on political parameters and guiding principles for settlement of the India-China boundary question have provided an added impetus to the process, he said.The Defence Minister also touched upon the myriad issues affecting the Armed Forces. He said, that the number of suicide and fratricide cases continues to be a cause of concern and must be addressed urgently. All possible steps must be taken to reduce stress on Jawans. He urged upon the top brass to lay adequate emphasis on the humanitarian side through better and more humane man-management. This, he said can be done through enhanced interaction between senior and junior officers – both in qualitative and quantitative terms.He also called upon the Service Headquarters to constantly monitor statutory and non-statutory complaints so that timely redressal is provided to all concerned. Since Army Commanders deliberate on the personnel profiles of the senior officers in the zone of consideration at the time of promotion, he advised them to look into various aspects of officers’ profiles keeping in view their meritorious record so that there is no room for inconsistencies or arbitrariness, while grading the officers.Shri Antony said, that after the setting up of the Pay Commission last year, separate pay commission cells have been established for the three Services, which are working to formulate proposals to be submitted directly to the commission in respect of the Armed Forces personnel. After the Services submit their proposals to the Pay Commission, the Ministry will also follow up the proposals in the right earnest, he said
e mërkurë, 11 prill 2007
Stone India gets defence order
Stone India gets defence order
Kolkata, April 9 (PTI): Duncan-Goenka group company Stone India Limited has received an order from the Defence ministry valued at Rs 14 crore.
A spokesman said that the company had got the order for refurbishment and upgradation of 1,115 wagons.
Stone India, a manufacturer and supplier of brake systems and train lighting alternators for the railroad industry, has recently diversified into projects and services.
Kolkata, April 9 (PTI): Duncan-Goenka group company Stone India Limited has received an order from the Defence ministry valued at Rs 14 crore.
A spokesman said that the company had got the order for refurbishment and upgradation of 1,115 wagons.
Stone India, a manufacturer and supplier of brake systems and train lighting alternators for the railroad industry, has recently diversified into projects and services.
'Chinese test added debris in space'
'Chinese test added debris in space'
BANGALORE: The Chinese anti-satellite missile test has added 600 "objects" (debris) in space and Beijing needs to be restrained from carrying out similar attempts in future by international space powers, Indian space officials said. "They (China) have added 600 objects (debris) by just one shot, which according to international guidelines, they are not supposed to have done," Secretary in the Department of Space, G Madhavan Nair said. "If every country tries to attempt and destroy another satellite and (space-based) resources, it's almost like a war-like situation," Nair added. "It has to be tackled at the international level and convince (Beijing) that it should not be attempted (again)." China launched a missile in January to kill a satellite. Reports said Beijing shot down an ageing weather satellite with a ground-based missile, about 860 kms above Earth. Nair, also Chairman of India's Space Commission, said the Chinese test has contributed significantly to space debris. "Today in the 500-1000 km orbit, nearly 9,000 objects are there flying in their own trajectory. So the probability of hitting any satellite is there," he said. Nair said countries are supposed to keep the space free of debris, though generation of some debris in the natural course cannot be avoided. He indicated that carrying out a test of this scale is no big deal. "Any rocket which reaches an altitude of 500-600 km can do this job. You know that our (Indian) rockets are much more powerful than that." Nair said while space debris doesn't pose a very serious problem to satellites in orbit at present, things could change if more objects are added. "The probability of hit (debris hitting satellites) is one in six, similar to the probability of a road accident." Asked if the Indian satellites had the ability to spy any location in the world, he said, "I will not say 'spy'. It's observing locations." "We are a peace-loving country and so, we don't get into such (spy) activities. Any satellite which has earth observation capability can look at anything." "You are getting satellite image of a railway station or bus stand or something. As a passenger, your interest is different. As a security man, his interest is different. So, you view from a different angle," he added
China's Anti-satellite
China's anti-satellite test set to dominate Indo-US talks
NEW DELHI: China and its rapidly-growing military power, including its recent anti-satellite (Asat) weapon test, will loom large during the first defence joint working group meeting between India and US next week. Diplomatic sources say the US delegation, led by deputy under-secretary of defence for Asia and Pacific, Richard P Lawless, will brief India about China's Asat test and its "serious" implications during the meeting on Tuesday. Apart from holding talks with foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and defence secretary Shekhar Dutt, sources said the American delegation will also present the "preliminary findings" of its annual report to the US Congress about China's escalating military capabilities. Lawless, in fact, in a recent testimony, said the US remained quite apprehensive about China's actual intentions since it continued "to invest heavily in the modernisation of its military, particularly in strategic weapons and capabilities to support power projection and access denial operations". The Indian side at the defence JWG, set up as a result of the expansive 10-year Indo-US defence framework signed in June 2005, in turn, will give its assessment of the Chinese maritime strategy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). "The JWG, in which the Indian side will be led by director-general (acquisitions) S Banerjee, will also review the progress of the Indo-US defence ties, including missile defence, Afghanistan and other security issues," said the sources. China, however, will figure prominently on the radar screen. Its Asat test on January 11, in which a missile was used to destroy a weather satellite in orbit, really rattled Washington since it shook the overpowering US military dominance of space. Though the US itself tested Asat weapons in the 1980s, it contends that China is developing a wide array of space weapons and will eventually move towards deploying nuclear weapons in space.
NEW DELHI: China and its rapidly-growing military power, including its recent anti-satellite (Asat) weapon test, will loom large during the first defence joint working group meeting between India and US next week. Diplomatic sources say the US delegation, led by deputy under-secretary of defence for Asia and Pacific, Richard P Lawless, will brief India about China's Asat test and its "serious" implications during the meeting on Tuesday. Apart from holding talks with foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and defence secretary Shekhar Dutt, sources said the American delegation will also present the "preliminary findings" of its annual report to the US Congress about China's escalating military capabilities. Lawless, in fact, in a recent testimony, said the US remained quite apprehensive about China's actual intentions since it continued "to invest heavily in the modernisation of its military, particularly in strategic weapons and capabilities to support power projection and access denial operations". The Indian side at the defence JWG, set up as a result of the expansive 10-year Indo-US defence framework signed in June 2005, in turn, will give its assessment of the Chinese maritime strategy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). "The JWG, in which the Indian side will be led by director-general (acquisitions) S Banerjee, will also review the progress of the Indo-US defence ties, including missile defence, Afghanistan and other security issues," said the sources. China, however, will figure prominently on the radar screen. Its Asat test on January 11, in which a missile was used to destroy a weather satellite in orbit, really rattled Washington since it shook the overpowering US military dominance of space. Though the US itself tested Asat weapons in the 1980s, it contends that China is developing a wide array of space weapons and will eventually move towards deploying nuclear weapons in space.
China's growing military clout worries India, US
China's growing military clout worries India, US
NEW DELHI: India and the US came together on Tuesday to discuss China's massive modernisation of its military capabilities, its spreading arc of influence in the Asia-Pacific region and the basic uncertainty about its long-term aims. Coming as it does just before the India-US-Japan trilateral exercise off Yokosuka near Tokyo Bay on April 17, the move is likely to ruffle feathers in Beijing. China is already suspicious at the emergence of what is being called the ``axis of democracy'' in the Asia-Pacific region, with India, US, Japan, and Australia upgrading their defence ties. India, however, would like to be viewed as a ``neutral'' player rather than being projected as a counterweight to China or being part of any grand strategy to ``contain'' China. It has steadily improved its bilateral relationship with China, with several military CBMs being implemented along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control. But yes, India continues to remain apprehensive about China's deep strategic ties with Pakistan, its rapid modernisation of the 2.5-million-strong People's Liberation Army and military infrastructure build-up in Tibet. This was reflected in defence ministry's presentation to the visiting US delegation, led by deputy under-secretary of defence for Asia and Pacific, Richard P Lawless, during the first Indo-US defence joint working group meeting on Tuesday. "We gave the US side our assessment of China's maritime strategy and growing naval expansion in the Indian Ocean Region. China is rapidly increasing military and maritime links with countries like Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar," said a source. India, of course, is trying to counter these moves. The latest one came on Tuesday itself, with Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta holding talks with his visiting Indonesian counterpart, Admiral Slamet Soebijanto. With the Indonesian parliament recently ratifying a defence agreement with India, the two nations will now hold a joint naval exercise next year. The US, of course, is deeply worried about China, viewing it as the one country with the ``greatest potential to compete militarily'' with it. Lawless, in fact, recently held that China's strategic forces modernisation -- including development of DF-31 and DF-31A road-mobile ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles), a new SLBM (submarine-launched ballistic missile) and "qualitative upgrades" of older systems is "altering the historical nuclear calculus". China's anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon test on January 11 has only aggravated the concerns. The US, during the JWG meeting, stressed the ASAT test posed a danger to the assets of all space-faring nations, including India. "The US delegation gave a detailed presentation to us on China's ASAT test as well as the initial projections of the 'military power of China' report to be submitted to the US Congress," said the source.
NEW DELHI: India and the US came together on Tuesday to discuss China's massive modernisation of its military capabilities, its spreading arc of influence in the Asia-Pacific region and the basic uncertainty about its long-term aims. Coming as it does just before the India-US-Japan trilateral exercise off Yokosuka near Tokyo Bay on April 17, the move is likely to ruffle feathers in Beijing. China is already suspicious at the emergence of what is being called the ``axis of democracy'' in the Asia-Pacific region, with India, US, Japan, and Australia upgrading their defence ties. India, however, would like to be viewed as a ``neutral'' player rather than being projected as a counterweight to China or being part of any grand strategy to ``contain'' China. It has steadily improved its bilateral relationship with China, with several military CBMs being implemented along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control. But yes, India continues to remain apprehensive about China's deep strategic ties with Pakistan, its rapid modernisation of the 2.5-million-strong People's Liberation Army and military infrastructure build-up in Tibet. This was reflected in defence ministry's presentation to the visiting US delegation, led by deputy under-secretary of defence for Asia and Pacific, Richard P Lawless, during the first Indo-US defence joint working group meeting on Tuesday. "We gave the US side our assessment of China's maritime strategy and growing naval expansion in the Indian Ocean Region. China is rapidly increasing military and maritime links with countries like Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar," said a source. India, of course, is trying to counter these moves. The latest one came on Tuesday itself, with Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta holding talks with his visiting Indonesian counterpart, Admiral Slamet Soebijanto. With the Indonesian parliament recently ratifying a defence agreement with India, the two nations will now hold a joint naval exercise next year. The US, of course, is deeply worried about China, viewing it as the one country with the ``greatest potential to compete militarily'' with it. Lawless, in fact, recently held that China's strategic forces modernisation -- including development of DF-31 and DF-31A road-mobile ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles), a new SLBM (submarine-launched ballistic missile) and "qualitative upgrades" of older systems is "altering the historical nuclear calculus". China's anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon test on January 11 has only aggravated the concerns. The US, during the JWG meeting, stressed the ASAT test posed a danger to the assets of all space-faring nations, including India. "The US delegation gave a detailed presentation to us on China's ASAT test as well as the initial projections of the 'military power of China' report to be submitted to the US Congress," said the source.
e hënë, 9 prill 2007
End of the Road for Air Force's MiG 23 MF
End of the Road for Air Force's MiG 23 MF
The MiG-23MF fighters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will take to the skies for one last time on March 20 before being phased out.
Four of the only five existing MiG-23MF fighters of the IAF will fly for the last time from the frontline Jamnagar airbase in Gujarat before entering the annals of Indian military aviation history, official sources said today.
The fifth aircraft will be kept on display, they said.
Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi and South Western Air Command chief Air Marshal P K Mehra will be among those present to bid adieu to the fighters that were inducted into the IAF in the 1980s.
The MiG-23MF is a swing-wing interceptor able to vary the angle of its wings in three different positions to increase or decrease flying speeds, the sources said.
The fighter has a top speed of 2.35 Mach (approximately 2,500 km per hour) and was the first IAF aircraft to be equipped with beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missiles.
The last flight of these aircaft is special as they are part of the 224 squadron (nicknamed the Warlords) which was among the only two units (the other being 223 squadron) to have ever operated the swing-wing variant of the MiG-23s in countering possible threats from Pakistan's F-16s.
While 223 squadron switched over to MiG-29ASF jets in May 89, the Warlords continued operating the jets till date.
After this last symbolic flight, the 224 squadron will take a brief hiatus till the IAF buys new aircraft to equip the formation, sources said.
The sources these MiG variants, which are arguably the world's most powerful single-engine fighter jets, will be kept as gate-guardians or become part of the IAF's aviation history.
Some of the aircraft will be sent to the Air Force Academy at Dundigul in Hyderabad and the Air Force Museum in New Delhi. One each will be given to Vadodara and the army while another will be put up as a gate-guardian in Jamnagar, the sources said.
The MiG-23MFs carried 96 rockets or 1.5 tonnes of bombs of 100, 250 or 500 kg and had the ability to also assume air defence and ground attack roles.
With their MiG-23s, the Warlords had participated in various operations including the air defence of the Siachen glacier during 1985-86.
The 224 squadron was adjudged the best overall fighter unit of the Western Air Command in the same year.
The Warlords had the unique distinction of operating the first fighter aircraft from Thoise airfield in Ladakh on October 28, 1995.
During Operation Safed Sagar, the IAF's participation in the 1999 Kargil confilct, the squadron operated a six- aircraft detachment in the western sector and undertook round-the-clock air defence of Saurashtra and Kutch regions in Gujarat.
The MiG-23MF fighters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will take to the skies for one last time on March 20 before being phased out.
Four of the only five existing MiG-23MF fighters of the IAF will fly for the last time from the frontline Jamnagar airbase in Gujarat before entering the annals of Indian military aviation history, official sources said today.
The fifth aircraft will be kept on display, they said.
Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi and South Western Air Command chief Air Marshal P K Mehra will be among those present to bid adieu to the fighters that were inducted into the IAF in the 1980s.
The MiG-23MF is a swing-wing interceptor able to vary the angle of its wings in three different positions to increase or decrease flying speeds, the sources said.
The fighter has a top speed of 2.35 Mach (approximately 2,500 km per hour) and was the first IAF aircraft to be equipped with beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missiles.
The last flight of these aircaft is special as they are part of the 224 squadron (nicknamed the Warlords) which was among the only two units (the other being 223 squadron) to have ever operated the swing-wing variant of the MiG-23s in countering possible threats from Pakistan's F-16s.
While 223 squadron switched over to MiG-29ASF jets in May 89, the Warlords continued operating the jets till date.
After this last symbolic flight, the 224 squadron will take a brief hiatus till the IAF buys new aircraft to equip the formation, sources said.
The sources these MiG variants, which are arguably the world's most powerful single-engine fighter jets, will be kept as gate-guardians or become part of the IAF's aviation history.
Some of the aircraft will be sent to the Air Force Academy at Dundigul in Hyderabad and the Air Force Museum in New Delhi. One each will be given to Vadodara and the army while another will be put up as a gate-guardian in Jamnagar, the sources said.
The MiG-23MFs carried 96 rockets or 1.5 tonnes of bombs of 100, 250 or 500 kg and had the ability to also assume air defence and ground attack roles.
With their MiG-23s, the Warlords had participated in various operations including the air defence of the Siachen glacier during 1985-86.
The 224 squadron was adjudged the best overall fighter unit of the Western Air Command in the same year.
The Warlords had the unique distinction of operating the first fighter aircraft from Thoise airfield in Ladakh on October 28, 1995.
During Operation Safed Sagar, the IAF's participation in the 1999 Kargil confilct, the squadron operated a six- aircraft detachment in the western sector and undertook round-the-clock air defence of Saurashtra and Kutch regions in Gujarat.
BAe Hawk Jet Trainers to be Operational by September 2007
BAe Hawk Jet Trainers to be Operational by September 2007
The acquisition of 24 advanced jet trainers (AJT) from Britain is likely to begin by July and the aircraft are expected to start flying operations from September, the IAF chief said today.
These aircraft will be part of the total of 66 AJTs that the IAF is going to acquire, Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi told reporters on the sidelines of a function organised to phase out the MiG-23MF jets after their last ceremonial flight here.
The acquisition of AJTs has been under consideration for the past two decades. These are small agile aircraft capable of flying at trans-sonic speed and can be of great help in imparting training in air combat techniques and air-to-ground weapon delivery.
The IAF's target is to modernise technology and improve its prowess regularly to ensure peace and stability, which are important for economic growth, Tyagi said.
Noting that the IAF plays a vital role in defence, Tyagi said the aim is not to go to war but to avert war by having a strong defence.
He said historically, the basic threat has come from neighbours like Pakistan and China. "Though India is trying to better its ties with these two countries, peace can exist only when the country is strong enough to counter any threat," he pointed out.
To a question on suicides in the armed forces, Tyagi said statistically there has been no change in the suicide rate. It is only that there is more awareness about such cases among the people now because of the media, he said.
Most suicides were because of domestic stress rather than any official reasons, Tyagi said, adding that the defence minister had written to chief ministers to ask them to ensure that the problems of defence personnel were taken care of to prevent stress.
About the phasing out of the IAF's MiG-23 aircraft, Tyagi said these fighters needed to be phased out as maintaining them had become a problem because of difficulty in procuring spare parts and mounting costs.
He said eventually other MiG variants will also be phased out.
About crashes involving fighter aircraft, Tyagi said there is a "wrong" notion among people that the rate of crashes in the IAF is high.
"On the contrary, it (the number of crashes) has declined. It is only that the awareness among people has increased because of a spurt in the media, especially television channels," he said.
The acquisition of 24 advanced jet trainers (AJT) from Britain is likely to begin by July and the aircraft are expected to start flying operations from September, the IAF chief said today.
These aircraft will be part of the total of 66 AJTs that the IAF is going to acquire, Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi told reporters on the sidelines of a function organised to phase out the MiG-23MF jets after their last ceremonial flight here.
The acquisition of AJTs has been under consideration for the past two decades. These are small agile aircraft capable of flying at trans-sonic speed and can be of great help in imparting training in air combat techniques and air-to-ground weapon delivery.
The IAF's target is to modernise technology and improve its prowess regularly to ensure peace and stability, which are important for economic growth, Tyagi said.
Noting that the IAF plays a vital role in defence, Tyagi said the aim is not to go to war but to avert war by having a strong defence.
He said historically, the basic threat has come from neighbours like Pakistan and China. "Though India is trying to better its ties with these two countries, peace can exist only when the country is strong enough to counter any threat," he pointed out.
To a question on suicides in the armed forces, Tyagi said statistically there has been no change in the suicide rate. It is only that there is more awareness about such cases among the people now because of the media, he said.
Most suicides were because of domestic stress rather than any official reasons, Tyagi said, adding that the defence minister had written to chief ministers to ask them to ensure that the problems of defence personnel were taken care of to prevent stress.
About the phasing out of the IAF's MiG-23 aircraft, Tyagi said these fighters needed to be phased out as maintaining them had become a problem because of difficulty in procuring spare parts and mounting costs.
He said eventually other MiG variants will also be phased out.
About crashes involving fighter aircraft, Tyagi said there is a "wrong" notion among people that the rate of crashes in the IAF is high.
"On the contrary, it (the number of crashes) has declined. It is only that the awareness among people has increased because of a spurt in the media, especially television channels," he said.
Indian Air Force To Gain Global Combat Ability: Fali Major
Indian Air Force To Gain Global Combat Ability: Fali Major
Indicating that an Aerospace Command will take shape soon to give India means to exploit its space assets for military purposes, new Air Force chief Fali Homi Major on Monday said IAF has chalked out a plan to give it a truly global combat reach.
In his maiden interaction with the media after taking over as the Air Chief on March 31, he said a time-bound plan was already underway to induct top-of-the-shelf fighters, force multipliers and other strategic assets to help the force on its way to have worldwide reach.
Denying that delay in floating international tenders for purchase of 126 Medium Range Combat Aircraft could hit the country's defence preparedness, Fali Major said that all threat perceptions in the present geo-political scenario around the country has been 'catered to.'
Saying that the RFP for the fighters will be out soon, the Air Chief said the tenders involved certain complex issue like life cycle costs, transfer of technology and framing of integrity pact, which was being worked out.
"It is for the first time that IAF as well as Ministry of Defence has come up with concepts like life cycle costs. So it is taking a little longer," he said. But, he asserted that IAF was going in for upgradation of its top-of-the-shelf fighters like Mig-29 and Mirage 2000 to ensure the country's air power retained the cutting edge in the region in the meantime.
Along with purchase of fighters, Major said IAF was in various stages of acquiring more radar, surveillance platforms and other strategic assets. On Aerospace command, like his two predecessors, the new Air Chief pointed to it as an 'urgent requirement' and said he would pursue the concept with the government.
"It will be a Tri-service command, with the Air Force having the lead role as it is the force, which would operate space-based assets being planned and being inducted," he said. "As the geo-political environment changes and as we induct newer systems, it is our endeavour to re-orient our minds and adapt our doctrines to keep pace," he said.
On the proposed collaboration with Russia for the 5th generation fighters, Major said the concepts were still on drawing board stage and would take about ten years more. IAF, he said, along with boosting up its fighter squadron strength was also going in for upgrading the numbers of medium lift helicopters as well as transport aircraft.
"A RFP on government to government basis is almost finalised for setting up the first ever squadron of C-130J Hercules transport aircraft for the special forces," he said. Admitting that their were gaps in the country's radar coverage specially in the peninsular regions in the South, he said major plans were underway to acquire different kinds of radar to set up a comprehensive radar coverage of the entire peninsular India.
Asked if the IAF will acquire high altitude gunships against insurgents, Major said IAF had the power and means to carry out such mission, but it was for the government to determine whether or not to use air power against terrorists.
While admitting that IAF assets like helicopters and transport aircraft were being used to ferry paramilitary forces for anti-insurgent and anti-Naxalite operations, the new Air Chief termed these as 'security missions' for which IAF is tasked for. Turning to flight safety, the new Air Chief said in 2006-07, IAF had achieved the lowest accident rate of 0.36 per cent since its inception.
Patting the Directorate of Flight Safety for this, Major attributed the fall in accident rate to modifications in flying technique, framing better work ethos, carrying out better analysis of snags and framing better training pattern for pilots. Flying safely is our utmost concern, Major said, adding, "At every step, we must strive to fly hard, fly well and fly safe."
Indicating that an Aerospace Command will take shape soon to give India means to exploit its space assets for military purposes, new Air Force chief Fali Homi Major on Monday said IAF has chalked out a plan to give it a truly global combat reach.
In his maiden interaction with the media after taking over as the Air Chief on March 31, he said a time-bound plan was already underway to induct top-of-the-shelf fighters, force multipliers and other strategic assets to help the force on its way to have worldwide reach.
Denying that delay in floating international tenders for purchase of 126 Medium Range Combat Aircraft could hit the country's defence preparedness, Fali Major said that all threat perceptions in the present geo-political scenario around the country has been 'catered to.'
Saying that the RFP for the fighters will be out soon, the Air Chief said the tenders involved certain complex issue like life cycle costs, transfer of technology and framing of integrity pact, which was being worked out.
"It is for the first time that IAF as well as Ministry of Defence has come up with concepts like life cycle costs. So it is taking a little longer," he said. But, he asserted that IAF was going in for upgradation of its top-of-the-shelf fighters like Mig-29 and Mirage 2000 to ensure the country's air power retained the cutting edge in the region in the meantime.
Along with purchase of fighters, Major said IAF was in various stages of acquiring more radar, surveillance platforms and other strategic assets. On Aerospace command, like his two predecessors, the new Air Chief pointed to it as an 'urgent requirement' and said he would pursue the concept with the government.
"It will be a Tri-service command, with the Air Force having the lead role as it is the force, which would operate space-based assets being planned and being inducted," he said. "As the geo-political environment changes and as we induct newer systems, it is our endeavour to re-orient our minds and adapt our doctrines to keep pace," he said.
On the proposed collaboration with Russia for the 5th generation fighters, Major said the concepts were still on drawing board stage and would take about ten years more. IAF, he said, along with boosting up its fighter squadron strength was also going in for upgrading the numbers of medium lift helicopters as well as transport aircraft.
"A RFP on government to government basis is almost finalised for setting up the first ever squadron of C-130J Hercules transport aircraft for the special forces," he said. Admitting that their were gaps in the country's radar coverage specially in the peninsular regions in the South, he said major plans were underway to acquire different kinds of radar to set up a comprehensive radar coverage of the entire peninsular India.
Asked if the IAF will acquire high altitude gunships against insurgents, Major said IAF had the power and means to carry out such mission, but it was for the government to determine whether or not to use air power against terrorists.
While admitting that IAF assets like helicopters and transport aircraft were being used to ferry paramilitary forces for anti-insurgent and anti-Naxalite operations, the new Air Chief termed these as 'security missions' for which IAF is tasked for. Turning to flight safety, the new Air Chief said in 2006-07, IAF had achieved the lowest accident rate of 0.36 per cent since its inception.
Patting the Directorate of Flight Safety for this, Major attributed the fall in accident rate to modifications in flying technique, framing better work ethos, carrying out better analysis of snags and framing better training pattern for pilots. Flying safely is our utmost concern, Major said, adding, "At every step, we must strive to fly hard, fly well and fly safe."
Arjun Tanks To Be Inducted Into Army Soon: Army Chief J.J. Singh
Arjun Tanks To Be Inducted Into Army Soon: Army Chief J.J. Singh
Indian Army Chief General J J Singh today said that the Army would receive 14 Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun very soon. "The minor problems of these tanks have been communicated to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which we hope will be rectified soon," General Singh said while inaugurating the Reunion of the Maratha Light Infantry (MARATHA LI).
Originally intended to be a 40-ton MBT armed with a 105 mm gun, the Arjun’s project requirements were upgraded to 58.5 tons with a 120 mm gun. The project has had a protracted developmental time, thanks to the design needing to be adapted for the harsh operational conditions in India, the ever-changing Requirements from the Army and the lack of a prior heavy tank building industry in India.
In the process of developing the Arjun, India established the infrastructure to develop and manufacture modern armour. The Heavy Vehicles Factory located in Avadi, India is the facility that has been producing prototypes and pre-production models. The HVF has produced T-72s and Vickers medium tanks in the past, and the Arjun is seen as a significant challenge. The Indian Army has 124 Arjuns on order.
The first 15 tanks of the 124 have already been activated. Of the remaining 109 tanks, the Indian Army is currently putting the first five tanks from the production lines at Avadi, through accelerated build quality and reliability trials. The intent is to verify whether the Arjun production has stabilized, with the requisite quality and performance requirements. Upon successful completion, the remaining 104 tanks will be manufactured in batches. The planned production rate is currently pegged at thirty tanks per year, with the Army requesting fifty per year as the ideal.
On Oct. 13th 2006, the Indian Minister of Defence reported that the Arjun was slated for full scale production soon.
* A 155 mm self-propelled howitzer variant of the Arjun (labelled 'Bhim') has been prototyped by fitting the South African Denel T6 turret, which comes with the G5 howitzer to the Arjun chassis. This project has been delayed as DENEL has become embroiled in a corruption scandal in India, and hence the Indian Ministry of Defence has suspended the Bhim.
* A bridge layer based on the Arjun chassis has also been displayed by the DRDO. Developed in cooperation with Indian industry, this bridge layer is deemed superior to the T-72 based units, as it can handle a larger load and uses a "scissors type" bridgelaying method, which does not raise the bridge high up into the air, and hence make it visible from afar.
* Armoured engineering vehicles based on the Arjun are also assumed to be in development, as the Arjun induction will require units of a similar power to weight ratio or powerful enough to tow it, or recover it on the battlefield.
Indian Army Chief General J J Singh today said that the Army would receive 14 Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun very soon. "The minor problems of these tanks have been communicated to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which we hope will be rectified soon," General Singh said while inaugurating the Reunion of the Maratha Light Infantry (MARATHA LI).
Originally intended to be a 40-ton MBT armed with a 105 mm gun, the Arjun’s project requirements were upgraded to 58.5 tons with a 120 mm gun. The project has had a protracted developmental time, thanks to the design needing to be adapted for the harsh operational conditions in India, the ever-changing Requirements from the Army and the lack of a prior heavy tank building industry in India.
In the process of developing the Arjun, India established the infrastructure to develop and manufacture modern armour. The Heavy Vehicles Factory located in Avadi, India is the facility that has been producing prototypes and pre-production models. The HVF has produced T-72s and Vickers medium tanks in the past, and the Arjun is seen as a significant challenge. The Indian Army has 124 Arjuns on order.
The first 15 tanks of the 124 have already been activated. Of the remaining 109 tanks, the Indian Army is currently putting the first five tanks from the production lines at Avadi, through accelerated build quality and reliability trials. The intent is to verify whether the Arjun production has stabilized, with the requisite quality and performance requirements. Upon successful completion, the remaining 104 tanks will be manufactured in batches. The planned production rate is currently pegged at thirty tanks per year, with the Army requesting fifty per year as the ideal.
On Oct. 13th 2006, the Indian Minister of Defence reported that the Arjun was slated for full scale production soon.
* A 155 mm self-propelled howitzer variant of the Arjun (labelled 'Bhim') has been prototyped by fitting the South African Denel T6 turret, which comes with the G5 howitzer to the Arjun chassis. This project has been delayed as DENEL has become embroiled in a corruption scandal in India, and hence the Indian Ministry of Defence has suspended the Bhim.
* A bridge layer based on the Arjun chassis has also been displayed by the DRDO. Developed in cooperation with Indian industry, this bridge layer is deemed superior to the T-72 based units, as it can handle a larger load and uses a "scissors type" bridgelaying method, which does not raise the bridge high up into the air, and hence make it visible from afar.
* Armoured engineering vehicles based on the Arjun are also assumed to be in development, as the Arjun induction will require units of a similar power to weight ratio or powerful enough to tow it, or recover it on the battlefield.
Indian Army To Acquire 100 Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters In Five Years
Answering a question on the Advanced light helicopters, he stated that approximately 100 of these would be required in next three to five years. However, some finer aspects as concerning their configuration have to be looked into.
Army Chief Gen J.J. Singh inaugurated the Reunion of the Maratha Light Infantry (MARATHA LI) here today. The four day Reunion is being held at the Regimental Centre located here, which also is the training centre and ‘home’ to the Maratha soldiers. On arrival Gen JJ Singh was presented a Guard of honour.
This is the 13th Reunion since the country attained its independence. It is organized twice a decade and serves as an opportunity for retired officers to meet the present generation and reminiscence their nostalgic memories and also pass on their experiences. Approximately 225 serving and Retired Officers, Retired Foreign Officers and 500 Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks are participating in the celebrations. Besides them, widows and parents of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the cause of the nation have also been invited.
The history of the Maratha Regiment, spanning over two hundred years, has been written in blood and sweat, with deeds of great valour and sacrifice. The 1st Battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry was raised in 1768 and from then on, the Regiment has grown from strength to strength. The Regiment has the unique distinction of being affiliated with both Indian Navy (INS-MUMBAI) and Indian Air Force (20 AF Sqn -Sukhoi).
Gen JJ Singh, who is also the Colonel Commandant of the MARATHA LI, while addressing the officers and men of the Regiment complimented them on their excellent performance in operations and safeguarding the frontiers of the nation.
The Army Chief also released a first day cover to commemorate the event. The first day cover displays the sketch of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Incidentally, the war cry of this regiment is “Bol Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai”.
The regiment also has the proud legacy of Sepoy Namdev Jadhav, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his valour while fighting the Germans in the Second World War in Italy. Gen JJ Singh later unveiled a bust of this Maratha war hero.
Gen JJ Singh also gave away badges of sacrifice to the widows and next of kin of the martyrs to include Smt Laxmi and Mrs Rekha, both of Bekkinkere Village of Belgaum District, Smt Sunitha ( Kavathe Mahankal, Sangli) and Smt Archana (Sillod, Aurangabad), amongst others.
Gen JJ Singh also answered questions by the media on this occasion. On the aspect of MBT Arjun he stated that the Army will soon be receiving 14 tanks which will be put through a training exercise. The minor problems of these tanks have been communicated to DRDO, which he hoped will be rectified soon.
As regards Army's stance on Siachen he stated that these have been communicated to the Government and the issue of Siachen will be taken up in the composite dialogue between the two nations, the outcome of which will be known in a few days.
On the level of forces in J&K, Gen JJ Singh stated that these are decided based on the process of constant review. The postures and counter infiltration strategies also depend on seasons such as winter and summer. The Army’s efforts are always directed to bring down the levels of violence and restore normalcy.
As for other events relating to the Reunion, on Friday, 6th April 2007 a team of Pilots from Indian Air Force will perform Suryakiran display at Argan Talao Location from 1130 to 1200 hours. General JJ Singh, will also inaugurate the Slithering Training on Saturday and thereafter preside over the Biennial Conference with all senior officers and battalion commanders of the Regiment during which important decisions on various issues of the regiment will be taken.
Answering a question on the Advanced light helicopters, he stated that approximately 100 of these would be required in next three to five years. However, some finer aspects as concerning their configuration have to be looked into.
Army Chief Gen J.J. Singh inaugurated the Reunion of the Maratha Light Infantry (MARATHA LI) here today. The four day Reunion is being held at the Regimental Centre located here, which also is the training centre and ‘home’ to the Maratha soldiers. On arrival Gen JJ Singh was presented a Guard of honour.
This is the 13th Reunion since the country attained its independence. It is organized twice a decade and serves as an opportunity for retired officers to meet the present generation and reminiscence their nostalgic memories and also pass on their experiences. Approximately 225 serving and Retired Officers, Retired Foreign Officers and 500 Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks are participating in the celebrations. Besides them, widows and parents of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the cause of the nation have also been invited.
The history of the Maratha Regiment, spanning over two hundred years, has been written in blood and sweat, with deeds of great valour and sacrifice. The 1st Battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry was raised in 1768 and from then on, the Regiment has grown from strength to strength. The Regiment has the unique distinction of being affiliated with both Indian Navy (INS-MUMBAI) and Indian Air Force (20 AF Sqn -Sukhoi).
Gen JJ Singh, who is also the Colonel Commandant of the MARATHA LI, while addressing the officers and men of the Regiment complimented them on their excellent performance in operations and safeguarding the frontiers of the nation.
The Army Chief also released a first day cover to commemorate the event. The first day cover displays the sketch of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Incidentally, the war cry of this regiment is “Bol Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai”.
The regiment also has the proud legacy of Sepoy Namdev Jadhav, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his valour while fighting the Germans in the Second World War in Italy. Gen JJ Singh later unveiled a bust of this Maratha war hero.
Gen JJ Singh also gave away badges of sacrifice to the widows and next of kin of the martyrs to include Smt Laxmi and Mrs Rekha, both of Bekkinkere Village of Belgaum District, Smt Sunitha ( Kavathe Mahankal, Sangli) and Smt Archana (Sillod, Aurangabad), amongst others.
Gen JJ Singh also answered questions by the media on this occasion. On the aspect of MBT Arjun he stated that the Army will soon be receiving 14 tanks which will be put through a training exercise. The minor problems of these tanks have been communicated to DRDO, which he hoped will be rectified soon.
As regards Army's stance on Siachen he stated that these have been communicated to the Government and the issue of Siachen will be taken up in the composite dialogue between the two nations, the outcome of which will be known in a few days.
On the level of forces in J&K, Gen JJ Singh stated that these are decided based on the process of constant review. The postures and counter infiltration strategies also depend on seasons such as winter and summer. The Army’s efforts are always directed to bring down the levels of violence and restore normalcy.
As for other events relating to the Reunion, on Friday, 6th April 2007 a team of Pilots from Indian Air Force will perform Suryakiran display at Argan Talao Location from 1130 to 1200 hours. General JJ Singh, will also inaugurate the Slithering Training on Saturday and thereafter preside over the Biennial Conference with all senior officers and battalion commanders of the Regiment during which important decisions on various issues of the regiment will be taken.
Agni III Long Ranged Ballistic Missile To Be Tested Next Week
According to 'Press Trust of India' the homegrown nuclear capable long ranged ballistic missile Agni-III from Chandipur Testing Range in Orissa next week, official sources said Saturday.
Hectic preparations are on for the test launch of the missile at the Integrated Test Range of Chandipur in Balasore district, about 230 km from Bhubaneswar, the sources said.
The missile, having a range of over 3,000 km, is expected to be test-fired from launching complex No. 4 of Inner Wheeler Island, a new launch site of the integrated test range (ITR) at the Chandipur defence base.
Agni-III was last tested on July 9, 2006 from the same base. After the launch, it was reported that the second stage of the rocket had failed to separate from the missile quickly and had fallen short of its target.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had attributed the failure to 'material-related fault', besides problems with the protective heat shield, design and propulsion.
'We are not taking any chance this time and hope the new test would be successful,' a scientist told IANS.
Agni-III, one of the Agni series missiles, is capable of carrying warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes, is 16 metres tall and weighs 48 tonnes. While Agni-I is a short-range missile of 750-800 km, Agni-II has a range of more than 1,500 km.
'Agni-III, however, falls short of the range of ICBMs (inter-continental ballistic missiles), which have ranges over 5,000 km,' he added.
Agni-III is critical to Indian Credible Minimum Nuclear Deterrence. This missile is designed for heavy duty strategic role and capable of launch from multiple platforms. A successful test flight will signal a major watershed to realizing the elements of India's nuclear triad.
The Agni-III features two solid fuelled stages and with overall diameter of 1.8 meters. This diameter is compatible with a recently tested Indian sub-surface launch system, which has a 2.4 meter diameter launch tube aperture.
According to 'Press Trust of India' the homegrown nuclear capable long ranged ballistic missile Agni-III from Chandipur Testing Range in Orissa next week, official sources said Saturday.
Hectic preparations are on for the test launch of the missile at the Integrated Test Range of Chandipur in Balasore district, about 230 km from Bhubaneswar, the sources said.
The missile, having a range of over 3,000 km, is expected to be test-fired from launching complex No. 4 of Inner Wheeler Island, a new launch site of the integrated test range (ITR) at the Chandipur defence base.
Agni-III was last tested on July 9, 2006 from the same base. After the launch, it was reported that the second stage of the rocket had failed to separate from the missile quickly and had fallen short of its target.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had attributed the failure to 'material-related fault', besides problems with the protective heat shield, design and propulsion.
'We are not taking any chance this time and hope the new test would be successful,' a scientist told IANS.
Agni-III, one of the Agni series missiles, is capable of carrying warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes, is 16 metres tall and weighs 48 tonnes. While Agni-I is a short-range missile of 750-800 km, Agni-II has a range of more than 1,500 km.
'Agni-III, however, falls short of the range of ICBMs (inter-continental ballistic missiles), which have ranges over 5,000 km,' he added.
Agni-III is critical to Indian Credible Minimum Nuclear Deterrence. This missile is designed for heavy duty strategic role and capable of launch from multiple platforms. A successful test flight will signal a major watershed to realizing the elements of India's nuclear triad.
The Agni-III features two solid fuelled stages and with overall diameter of 1.8 meters. This diameter is compatible with a recently tested Indian sub-surface launch system, which has a 2.4 meter diameter launch tube aperture.
India, Singapore working on defence pact
SINGAPORE: India and Singapore "are working on a long-term defence cooperation agreement quite expeditiously now."
Indicating this, Minister of State for Defence Production, Rao Inderjit Singh, has said here that the proposed memorandum of understanding would entail a "plus" over the existing bilateral accord in this domain.
Mr. Singh, who called on Singapore Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean, said that during the weekend they discussed this issue. An aspect of the new initiative was the possibility of "a little more presence of Singapore armed forces" in India for exercises and training. In a reciprocal gesture for such a greater access to India, Singapore could consider "investing" on upkeep of the facilities now being used by its armed forces.
Noting that Singapore was not on India's radar as a source of high-end know-how for defence production, Mr. Singh said the City-State could, under the proposed accord, "help develop our facilities" for exercises and training. New Delhi was now "getting nothing in return" except "a good hand-shake," for allowing Singapore access to the Indian military facilities, he said.
India's High Commissioner to Singapore, S. Jaishankar, and the Defence Advisor in the Indian Embassy here, G. Ashok Kumar, participated in Mr. Singh's meeting with Mr. Teo. Mr. Singh, who was here to seek Singapore's support for the Indian bid to host the 2014 Asian Games, later left for Myanmar on a similar mission.
On India's defence ties with Myanmar, Mr. Singh drew attention to the ongoing anti-terror cooperation along their border. Myanmar was now responding to the Indian requests for such cooperation by either acting "unilaterally" or allowing New Delhi the right of "hot pursuit" to nab the terror-suspects.
On India's role in maintaining security along the Straits of Malacca, Mr. Singh said: "Whatever help is required of us [by the littoral states of Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia], we are ready to give - whether it is in terms of sharing of costs [as suggested by Malaysian Foreign Minister] or in terms of patrolling [the waterway] physically."
SINGAPORE: India and Singapore "are working on a long-term defence cooperation agreement quite expeditiously now."
Indicating this, Minister of State for Defence Production, Rao Inderjit Singh, has said here that the proposed memorandum of understanding would entail a "plus" over the existing bilateral accord in this domain.
Mr. Singh, who called on Singapore Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean, said that during the weekend they discussed this issue. An aspect of the new initiative was the possibility of "a little more presence of Singapore armed forces" in India for exercises and training. In a reciprocal gesture for such a greater access to India, Singapore could consider "investing" on upkeep of the facilities now being used by its armed forces.
Noting that Singapore was not on India's radar as a source of high-end know-how for defence production, Mr. Singh said the City-State could, under the proposed accord, "help develop our facilities" for exercises and training. New Delhi was now "getting nothing in return" except "a good hand-shake," for allowing Singapore access to the Indian military facilities, he said.
India's High Commissioner to Singapore, S. Jaishankar, and the Defence Advisor in the Indian Embassy here, G. Ashok Kumar, participated in Mr. Singh's meeting with Mr. Teo. Mr. Singh, who was here to seek Singapore's support for the Indian bid to host the 2014 Asian Games, later left for Myanmar on a similar mission.
On India's defence ties with Myanmar, Mr. Singh drew attention to the ongoing anti-terror cooperation along their border. Myanmar was now responding to the Indian requests for such cooperation by either acting "unilaterally" or allowing New Delhi the right of "hot pursuit" to nab the terror-suspects.
On India's role in maintaining security along the Straits of Malacca, Mr. Singh said: "Whatever help is required of us [by the littoral states of Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia], we are ready to give - whether it is in terms of sharing of costs [as suggested by Malaysian Foreign Minister] or in terms of patrolling [the waterway] physically."
India to test long-range ballistic missile.
India will test its longest-range nuclear-capable missile this week, almost a year after an unsuccessful attempt of the same rocket system, a defence ministry spokesman has said.
"There are plans to conduct the test this week," the spokesman said, declining to give details.
Preparations to test the 3,500-kilometre range Agni-III have been completed, the Press Trust of India reported, quoting unnamed defence sources.
India first tested the missile last July, when the prototype veered off course after travelling vertically 12 kilometres and crashed into the sea without hitting its designated target.
The failure was attributed to a snag in a strapped-on solid fuel booster rocket.
The missile can be tipped with a one-tonne nuclear warhead and India intends it to become the most lethal guided weapon system in the national arsenal.
It has two solid fuel stages and has an overall diameter of 1.8 metres.
The Agni is one of four missiles being developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation.
Rivals Pakistan and India routinely conduct missile tests and give advance notice as part of a series of confidence building measures designed to reduce the risk of accidental nuclear war.
India will test its longest-range nuclear-capable missile this week, almost a year after an unsuccessful attempt of the same rocket system, a defence ministry spokesman has said.
"There are plans to conduct the test this week," the spokesman said, declining to give details.
Preparations to test the 3,500-kilometre range Agni-III have been completed, the Press Trust of India reported, quoting unnamed defence sources.
India first tested the missile last July, when the prototype veered off course after travelling vertically 12 kilometres and crashed into the sea without hitting its designated target.
The failure was attributed to a snag in a strapped-on solid fuel booster rocket.
The missile can be tipped with a one-tonne nuclear warhead and India intends it to become the most lethal guided weapon system in the national arsenal.
It has two solid fuel stages and has an overall diameter of 1.8 metres.
The Agni is one of four missiles being developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation.
Rivals Pakistan and India routinely conduct missile tests and give advance notice as part of a series of confidence building measures designed to reduce the risk of accidental nuclear war.
Pakistan, India end Siachen talks without agreement
Pakistan and India wrapped a two-day meeting on Saturday without any agreement on withdrawal of troops from the mountainous Siachen glacier, officials said.
The talks between their top defence ministry officials were held in Rawalpindi near the capital Islamabad as part of the ongoing peace dialogue between the nuclear-armed south Asian rivals.
"There was no significant breakthrough in the talks," a Pakistan defence ministry official said.
The official said the Indian side did not budge from its position that Pakistan should disclose the current location of its forces on the 6,300 metre (20,800-feet) high glacier before any withdrawal of troops.
Pakistani side said such a move would mean acceptance of "their occupation" of the barren heights. Pakistan wants to go back to the pre-1987 positions.
"The two sides have agreed to continue the dialogue process," the official said.
The Indian side was led by Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt while Pakistani side was headed by Kamran Rasool.
The Indian army, which has occupied most of the high-altitude battlefield since 1987, wants "iron-clad" evidence of existing troop positions to dissuade Pakistan from moving its soldiers forward in the event of a pull-out.
Kashmir is divided between Pakistan and India and is claimed by both in full. It has caused two of the three wars between the neighbours since their independence in 1947 from Britain.
Analysts say the value of Siachen itself is mostly symbolic rather than strategic.
Indian premier Singh on Thursday called a meeting of his security cabinet to chalk out a framework for the Siachen talks. He was later quoted as saying he was "hopeful" of a positive outcome.
Experts say India has around 5,000 troops on the glacier while Pakistan has less than half the number on the frigid wasteland where temperatures plummet to minus 50 degrees Celsius (minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit).
Pakistan and India wrapped a two-day meeting on Saturday without any agreement on withdrawal of troops from the mountainous Siachen glacier, officials said.
The talks between their top defence ministry officials were held in Rawalpindi near the capital Islamabad as part of the ongoing peace dialogue between the nuclear-armed south Asian rivals.
"There was no significant breakthrough in the talks," a Pakistan defence ministry official said.
The official said the Indian side did not budge from its position that Pakistan should disclose the current location of its forces on the 6,300 metre (20,800-feet) high glacier before any withdrawal of troops.
Pakistani side said such a move would mean acceptance of "their occupation" of the barren heights. Pakistan wants to go back to the pre-1987 positions.
"The two sides have agreed to continue the dialogue process," the official said.
The Indian side was led by Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt while Pakistani side was headed by Kamran Rasool.
The Indian army, which has occupied most of the high-altitude battlefield since 1987, wants "iron-clad" evidence of existing troop positions to dissuade Pakistan from moving its soldiers forward in the event of a pull-out.
Kashmir is divided between Pakistan and India and is claimed by both in full. It has caused two of the three wars between the neighbours since their independence in 1947 from Britain.
Analysts say the value of Siachen itself is mostly symbolic rather than strategic.
Indian premier Singh on Thursday called a meeting of his security cabinet to chalk out a framework for the Siachen talks. He was later quoted as saying he was "hopeful" of a positive outcome.
Experts say India has around 5,000 troops on the glacier while Pakistan has less than half the number on the frigid wasteland where temperatures plummet to minus 50 degrees Celsius (minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit).
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