DRDO Nishant

The DRDO Nishant is an Unmanned Aerial VehicleIndia's ADE (Aeronautical Development Establishment) a branch of DRDO for the Indian Armed Forces. (UAV) developed by The Nishant UAV is primarily tasked with intelligence gathering over enemy territory and also for recon, surveillance, target designation, artillery fire correction, damage assessment, ELINT and SIGINT. The UAV has an endurance of 4 h 30 min. Nishant has completed development phase and user trials.

India wary of China’s increasing role in Lanka

The growing influence of China in Sri Lanka, which may upset New Delhi’s geo-political interests in South Asia, appears to have compelled the South Block weigh the pros and cons of removing restrictions on arms sales to the island nation. Official sources said the enhancement of defence ties between India and Sri Lanka figured in talks between the two sides during the recent visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to New Delhi. “Both leaders agreed to promote dialogue on security and defence issues of relevance to their bilateral relationship, and enhance high-level military exchanges and training of military personnel as well as impart additional training in Indian institutions for the newly recruited police personnel.

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India Worried Over Myanmar’s Nuclear Ambition

Reports of Myanmar’s nuclear ambition have raised concerns of international community regarding nuclear proliferation regime. A former major, Sai Thein Win, has publicised photographs of Myanmar’s nuclear programme. He was among one of the army officers who was sent to Russia for training in missile technology. He showed photographs of secret nuclear facility, 11 km from Thabeikkyan. He described it as the army’s nuclear battalion and mentioned that Burma is also trying to build nuclear reactor for uranium enrichment.

More Indian Army Oficers Suspected to be in Espionage Racket

NIA is now probing the possible involvement of other Army officers in “supplying” the highly classified data to the Major.The scope of the NIA probe is being widened for two reasons. First, most of the 2,500 files recovered from Major’s personal computer related to commands other than his own, such as Western and Northern Commands, and put out strategic details such as deployment patterns and operational contingency plans. There is no way a Major, that too posted with the Andamans and Nicobar tri-service command, would have access to such information. Though the CFSL did recover the nearly 2,500 files deleted by the Major before the hard disk was seized, it has been unable to trace back the nearly 600 files that were deleted “in a far more professional manner” while the Major was still being questioned by the Army.

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Indian Govt to oppose permanent commission women

For those pushing for gender parity in the forces, there is a mixed bag of news. Women Indian Air Force (IAF) officers can now serve their full term, made possible by a Delhi High Court order in March that directed the armed forces to give permanent commission (PC) to women in the army and IAF, which they were not doing until then. .....................Source

Defence key Focus of India-US Strategic Dialogue

India and the United States begin their first strategic dialogue on Wednesday with both sides keen to move beyond symbolism to concretise cooperation in areas ranging from energy, agriculture, science and technology and education to defence and counter-terrorism.

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, who would lead the inaugural ministerial level dialogue with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, would outline his vision of India-US relationship transformed by the landmark India-US civil nuclear deal in an address at the India Business Council (USIBC). Krishna's address at the 35th anniversary meeting of the USIBC, representing some 300 US companies investing in India, will focus on the theme of emerging opportunities in India-US cooperation in the field of innovation and knowledge industries, which is one of the sunrise areas of engagement between the two countries.

Admiral Gorshkov to be Handed Over to India by December 2012

After closely examining the ongoing refit work on Admiral Gorshkov in Russia, the Navy is now confident the aircraft carrier will be ready for harbour trials by early-2011 to ensure it can be handed over to India by December 2012 or so. India earlier this year agreeing to the revised refit cost of $2.33 billion for Gorshkov.

 

"There has been substantial progress since the last examination in September 2009. Around 99% of the structural work and almost 50% of the cabling work has been completed on the carrier. Almost all large-size equipment, like engines, diesel generators and the like, has been installed,'' said an officer. The Navy plans to deploy two carrier-battle groups (CBGs) by 2014-2015, as reported by TOI earlier. 

 

The first CBG will be centred around Gorshkov, rechristened INS Vikramaditya, while the second will be on the 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) being constructed at the Cochin Shipyard, which Navy hopes to get by 2014.

India is 10-15 years Behind China in Missile Technology: China

A Communist Party-backed Chinese newspaper has quickly refuted a top Indian scientist’s claims that India’s ballistic missile defence technology is superior to that of China. India is 10-15 years behind China in missile technology, Chinese Rear Admiral Zhang Zhaozhong was quoted saying on the Global Times front page on Friday.The report was prominently reproduced across the Chinese media. “India’s technology for its measurement and control system, which is used to trace launched missiles, remains at a very low level, and they are unable to constitute a complete and reliable missile defense system,” Zhang said.He was reacting to claims of India’s superior missile technology by V K Saraswat, who heads the Defence Research and Development Organisation..........................................HindustanTimes

Indirect Army Involvement in Anti-Maoist Fight

Barak-2 MR-SAM Successfully Test Fired by Israel

Barak-2 surface-to-air missile (MR-SAM)which is being developed jointly by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under a Rs2,600 crore deal was successfully test fired by Israel . "The 70-km missile was fired at an electronic target and met with its initial objectives," DRDO chief Dr Vijay Saraswat said.The second test of the Barak-2 missile is scheduled to be held in India later this year. Barak-2 MR-SAM will equip the three Project 15 Guided Missile Destroyers.

• DRDO chief Dr Vijay Saraswat has said that DRDO will deliver the missile system to the Indian armed forces in 2013. A second variant of this missile LR-SAM is also being developed for Indian Air Force under a Rs 10,000 crore project signed in 2009. IAF version will replace IAF's ageing Soviet era Pechora surface-to-air missile systems.

In July 2005, during the visit of Indian Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash to Israel, Israel offered India to jointly develop the next generation Barak-II ship defense missiles. India and Israel signed an agreement on 27 Jan 2006 to jointly develop the two missiles over the next 5 years. Both India and Israel hold a 50/50 stake in this venture. The Barak-2 MR-SAM will equip Naval Ships while the Barak-2 LR-SAM will be shore based for use by the IAF. Barak-2 LR-SAM version will have a longer range of 120Km in comparison to the Barak MR-SAM, which has a range of 70 km. Since 2000, Indian Navy has already confirmed orders for atleast 11 Barak-1 systems, including more than 250 missiles Barak-1 missile systems from Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)/Rafael.

Infosys becomes first pvt firm to get CISF cover

CISF personnel stand guard at the Infosys building in Electronic City in Bangalore on July 31, 2009. Photo courtesy: AFP

Infosys becomes first pvt firm to get CISF cover

Fri-Jul 31, 2009

Bangalore / Press Trust of India

Software giant Infosys on Friday came under the security blanket of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), becoming the first private firm to be protected by the force which usually guard government installations.

The commencement of the CISF deployment at the Infosys campus was marked with the hoisting of the CISF flag by company chairman and chief mentor NR Narayana Murthy followed by a ceremonial guard of honour by the force and the official handing over of the security keys by the Infosys.

The Bangalore-headquartered Infosys, which was reported to be on terror radar, had approached the Union Home Ministry earlier this year for a protective cover over and above the capabilities of their own private security wings and agencies.

This is the CISF's first assignment after the force was mandated to protect the private sector with an amendment in the CISF Act in January this year following the Mumbai terror attack.

"This is the first time, since its creation in 1969, that the CISF will be providing security cover to a corporate organisation in India," CISF Inspector General R K Mishra said.

India on an adventurous and dangerous path: Pakistan Army Chief

January 2, 2010

Paush Krushna Dwitiya, Kaliyug Varsha 5111

Responding to Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor's statement that the Indian Armed forces were ready to fight Pakistan and China simultaneously, Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervz Kayani said the situation in the region could get out of control due to such "dangerous adventurism".


"The proponents of conventional application of military force, in a nuclear overhang are chartering an adventurous and dangerous path, the consequences of which could be both unintended and uncontrollable," Kayani said while addressing the military's top brass at the General Headquarters.

The Inter Services Public Relations quoted Kayani as saying the Pakistan Army was fully alert and alive to the 'full spectrum of threat, which continued to exist in conventional and unconventional domains.'

He said the Pakistani army duly supports and is contributing to bring peace and stability in the region, but added that necessary action would be taken to thwart any challenge facing the country.

"But at the same time, it (the military) will continue to maintain the necessary wherewithal to deter and, if required, defeat any aggressive design, in any form or shape such as a firmed up proactive strategy or a cold start doctrine," The Daily Times quoted Kayani, as saying.

"An army supported by 170 million people, with faith in Allah, is a formidable force to reckon with," he added.

Source: Rediff