- Current Affairs August 2020
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Current Affairs August 2020 - Defence
1 - India not to participate in Kavkaz 2020 exercise in Russia
India has withdrawn its participation in the multilateral military “Russian Kavkaz 2020” strategic command-post exercise to be held in Astrakhan, Russia. Eighteen other countries including China, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey will participate in the exercise. The Kavkaz 2020 is also referred to as Caucasus-2020.
The exercise is aimed at assessing the ability of the armed forces to ensure military security in Russia’s southwest, where serious terrorist threats persist and preparing for the strategic command-staff drills.
2 - DAC approved procurement proposals worth over Rs. 8,722 crore
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved procurement proposals worth over Rs. 8,722 crore including 106 Basic Trainer Aircraft for Indian Air Force. It will help strengthen the Armed Forces by relying on indigenous capability. The major procurement approvals are −
Basic Trainer Aircraft (HTT-40) from HAL to address the basic training requirements of the Indian Air Force
An upgraded version of Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) from BHEL to improve the fire power of Indian Navy
25 mm Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) ammunition for Indian Army
AK 203 and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle upgrades
3 - Government launched Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation. The NIIO puts in place dedicated structures for the end users to interact with academia and industry towards fostering innovation and indigenisation for self-reliance in defence.
The NIIO is a three-tiered organisation. Naval Technology Acceleration Council (N-TAC) will bring together the twin aspects of innovation and indigenisation and provide apex level directives. A working group under the N-TAC will implement the projects. A Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC) has also been created for induction of emerging disruptive technology in an accelerated time frame.
4 - Indian Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessel ‘Sarthak’ launched
An Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) for the Indian Coast Guard was launched and re-christened as Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Sarthak’. OPV Sarthak is the 4th in the series of five OPVs. It has been designed & built indigenously by M/s Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).
The Ship is fitted with state-of-the-art Navigation and Communication equipment, sensor and machinery. It can attain a maximum speed of 26 knots, with an endurance of 6000 Nautical Miles.
5 - AFK Pune hands over first consignment of 40 mm UBGL ammunition to BSF
The Khadki Ammunition Factory in Pune has sent the first consignment of 40 mm UBGL ammunition to the Border Security Force. It is fired from a launcher fitted under the barrel of 5.56 mm Rifle (INSAS).
The trigger system of the launcher is fitted to the rifle in such a way that the soldier can fire both the rifle bullet and the grenade from the same posture. The launcher can fire the grenade up to a range of 400 metres. The 40 mm UBGL is one of the 101 items on the import embargo list of defence systems.
6 - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched SRIJAN portal
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has launched a portal SRIJAN which is a one stop shop online portal that provides access to the vendors to take up items for indigenization. The portal, srijandefence.gov.in, gives 'opportunities for Make in India' in Defence.
The DPSUs, Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and headquarters of the armed forces (SHQs) can display on SRIJAN those items that are being imported currently so that the Indian industry can design, develop and manufacture them domestically as per its capability.
7 - MoUs signed by defence public sector undertakings for indegenisation of defence manufacturing
An MoU on development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones was signed between BEML Limited and IIT Kanpur. The Mazgaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) signed an MOU for "indigenous overhauling of main motor of SSK Class Submarines" with Medha Servo Drives Private Limited.
The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) issued an EOI for indigenisation of 46 items having a total value of Rs 100 crores. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) issued an EOI for indigenisation of five items having a total value of Rs 31 crore. Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) issued an EOI for indigenisation of 11 items having a total value of Rs 15 crore.
8 - India successfully test fired multi-barrel Pinaka Rockets
India successfully test fired multi-barrel Pinaka Rockets as part of the final developmental trials at Pokhran, Rajasthan. The rockets are fully manufactured by the private sector company “Economic Explosives Ltd (EEL)”, thus becoming the first munition of its kind made by the private sector in India to be test-fired.
Pinaka rockets have been manufactured on the lines of the transfer of technology (ToT) agreement between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and private sector, five years ago.
9 - Indian Coast Guard launched interceptor boat ‘ICGS C-454’
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) launched a newly-built "Interceptor Boat `ICGS C-454'" in Surat. It was built by Larsen and Toubro. The 27-meter-long boat has a maximum speed of 45 nautical miles or 83 kilometers per hour.
Until now, L&T handed over 51 out of 54 interceptor boats ordered by the Indian Coast Guard. The ships are intended for patrol and rescue operations in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The interceptor boats are designed by the L&T Marine & Ship Design Division.
10 - IAF launched Mobile Application ‘MY IAF’
The Indian Air Force has launched a mobile application ‘MY IAF’ as a part of Digital India initiative. The application is developed in association with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). It provides career related information and details for those desirous of joining the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The user friendly format of the app serves as a single digital platform interfacing the users with the details of selection procedure, training curriculum, pay and perks, etc., for both officers and airmen in the IAF.