Current Affairs November 2016 - Defence

News 1 - 10^th Indo-Nepal Joint Exercise Surya Kiran began

Indo-Nepal Joint Military Exercise Surya Kiran-X commenced at Army Battle School, Saljhandi, Nepal. It is the tenth in the series of such exercise between the two nations and is scheduled from 31 October to 13 November 16.

Notably in the series of military training exercises undertaken by India with various countries, Surya Kiran series with Nepal is the largest in terms of troop’s participation.

The Joint Battalion Level Exercise will enhance defence co-operation and relations between the two nations. It is an ideal platform for the contingent of both nations to share their experience and gain mutually.

News 2 - India-Bangladesh joint military exercise SAMPRITI-2016

As part of the ongoing India Bangladesh defence cooperation, a joint military training exercise SAMPRITI 2016 was conducted at Tangail, Dhaka, Bangladesh from 05 to 18 November 2016.

Exercise SAMPRITI is an important bilateral defence cooperation endeavor between India and Bangladesh and will be the sixth edition of the exercise which is hosted alternately by both countries.

The joint exercise SAMPRITI 2016 simulated a scenario where both nations are working together in a Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorism environment under the UN Charter.

News 3 - DRDO Signs MoU with IIT Delhi to Establish JATC

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi to establish a ‘Joint Advanced Technology Centre’.

The JATC will enable Directed, Basic & Applied Research and will engage with premier research institutes through multi-institutional collaboration.

DRDO will support JATC in equipping it with advanced and unique research facilities that will enable the faculty and scholars to conduct advanced research. The objective for creation of JATC is to undertake and facilitate multidisciplinary directed basic and applied research in the jointly identified research verticals.

News 4 - Indo Sri Lanka Joint Military Exercise Mitra Shakti - 2016 Concludes

The Indo-Sri Lankan military exercise ‘MITRA SHAKTI 2016' was culminated after fourteen days of intense military training. The joint exercise was conducted from 24 October to 06 November 2016 and focused on enhancing inter-operability while carrying out Counter Insurgency (CI) and Counter Terrorism (CT) operations under a UN mandate.

The exercise also provided an opportunity to both the armies for greater cultural understanding, sharing experiences and strengthening mutual trust and co-operation.

News 5 - Defence Ministry approved new blacklisting policy

Ministry of Defence approved a new blacklisting policy that will seek to lay down the guidelines for suspension of firms that resort to unscrupulous means to grab defence deals.

The Council also approved purchase of 83 Light Combat Aircraft at a cost of more than 50 thousand crore rupees for the Indian Air Force.

Under this category, procurement and development will be done locally under the Make in India programme. The Defence Acquisition Council also gave in-principle approval to 15 Light Combat Helicopters for the Air Force and Army at a cost of over 2,911 crore rupees.

News 6 - MoS for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre inaugurated 58^th conference of IMTA

Dr. Bhamre inaugurated the 58^th Conference of International Military Testing Association (IMTA) at New Delhi, to take adequate steps to counter stress-related manifestations in soldiers. 4-day conference was held on theme ‘Psychological Assessment: Shaping the future Soldier’. Over 127 delegates from 21 countries including hosts India are participated in the conference.

Vision statement was “Soldier preparedness and well-being of the soldier” for mental and physical well-being of the soldier. Conference would provide an excellent platform for all delegates to share the unique challenges that soldiers face in their respective countries.

News 7 - Indian Amphibious Warship INS Shardul arrived at Port Louis, Mauritius

In a demonstration of India’s commitment to its ties with Mauritius and to promote maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region, Indian Naval Ship Shardul arrived at Port Louis on a three-day visit. INS Shardul, an amphibious ship of the Indian Navy. INS Shardul’s visit is part of its mission to carry out surveillance in the Mauritius EEZ with NCG personnel embarked onboard.

The visit by INS Shardul would further reinforce the cultural and ethnic ties between the two countries and contribute towards peace and maritime security in the region.

News 8 - DRDO Conducted the 4^th Young Scientists Meet

The 4^th Young Scientists Meet (YSM), organized by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), New Delhi along with other Delhi based laboratories of the DRDO, held in Delhi.

YSM 2016 is a two-day technical event with participation of around 200 young scientists of DRDO coming from various laboratories from all over India.

The core theme of the event was ‘Convert Challenges into Opportunities’. All the events starting from innovative ideas, poster presentation, team building activities, interactive quiz, open interaction and discussion amongst the scientist received tremendous responses from the participants.

News 9 - Indo-Nepal Joint Training Exercise ‘Surya Kiran’ Culminates

Indo-Nepal Joint Military Training Surya Kiran’ was conducted at Army Battle School (NABS), Saljhandi, Nepal from 31 October to 13 November 2016 wherein the troops of the Kumaon Regt and Jabar Jung Battalion of Nepal Army participated.

Surya Kiran-X, which was the tenth such IndoNepal joint training exercise between the two nations, provided an ideal platform for troops of the two countries to share their experiences on Counter Terrorists Operations and Disaster Management. Other activities conducted during training included basic familiarization with each other’s weapons & equipment.

News 10 - Indo China Joint Military Exercise Hand –in- Hand 2016 held in Pune

Sixth India China Joint Training Exercise “Hand – in – Hand 2016” was held in Pune. The aim of the joint exercise was to acquaint both the Armies with each other’s operating procedures in the backdrop of counter terrorism environment.

The 13-day schedule focused upon training on crossing of obstacles, special heliborne operations, firing of various weapons, handling & neutralization of improvised explosive devices and conduct of cordon & search operations in insurgency and terrorism environment.

News 11 - Four indigenous sonars inducted by Indian navy

The Indian Navy inducted four types of indigenously developed sonars. It will help boost the navy's underwater surveillance capability.

The systems have been designed and developed by Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory, a Kochi-based laboratory of DRDO.

Abhay − a compact hull mounted sonar for shallow water crafts
Humsa UG − an upgrade for the Humsa sonar system
NACS − the Near-field Acoustic Characterization System
AIDSS − the Advanced Indigenous Distress sonar system for submarines.

News 12 - Guided Missile Destroyer INS Chennai inducted into Indian Navy

Guided Missile Destroyer INS Chennai was on 21 November 2016 commissioned into the Indian Navy by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.

The ship was indigenously designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design and was constructed by Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai.

INS Chennai is the last of the Project 15 A class Destroyers and measures 163m in length, 17.4m in breadth with a displacement of 7500 tonnes. It is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots.

News 13 - India successfully conducts trial of Prithvi-II missile

India has successfully conducted the twin trial of the all-new nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile. The missile was test-fired twice from the mobile launcher from launch complex III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at around 9:35 AM in Odisha.

It has a strike range of 350 kms and strength to carry 500 to 1,000 kgs of warhead. Prithivi II is India’s first missile to be developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

News 14 - IAF’s Upgraded Jaguar DARIN III aircraft receives IOC

The upgraded Jaguar DARIN III aircraft of the Indian Air Force has received Initial Operation Clearance (IOC).

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has upgraded 3 DARIN I Standard Jaguars to DARIN III Standard. The upgraded aircraft incorporates new state-of-the-art avionics architecture including the Open System Architecture Mission Computer (OSAMC), Fire Control Radar, Autopilot with Alt Select & HNAV etc. DARIN I Standard Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet attack aircraft.

News 15 - Indian Navy launched seventh landing craft utility L-57

Indian Navy has launched the seventh ship of LCU MK IV project at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, Kolkata. LCU-L57 is the seventh vessel in the series of eight Landing Craft Utility Ships being designed and built by GRSE for the Indian Navy.

The ship will be extremely useful for joint operations carried out by the Indian Navy and Indian Army for ensuring maritime security and protection of remote islands.

News 16 - Joint Military Exercise Hand-In-Hand 2016 Culminates

The Sixth India China Joint Training Exercise, Exercise Hand-in-Hand 2016, culminated on 27^th November with a closing ceremony which was held at Aundh Military Camp, Pune. Thirteen days of Joint Training included understanding of each-others’ operational methodology, developing interoperability and conduct of a joint tactical operations controlled by a Joint Command Post.

The exercise concluded with a validation exercise by Indian Army & the Peoples’ Liberation Army of China. The exercise also demonstrated the determination of the two Armies in working closely with each other to eradicate the menace of terrorism in all its forms.

News 17 - Lt Gen AK Bhatt appointed new DGMO

Appointment Committee of Cabinet has approved Lieutenant General A K Bhatt to be appointed as new Director General of Military Operations (DGMO). He will replace Lt General Ranbir Singh who has been appointed as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Mathura-based Strike 1 Corps.

Lt Gen A K Bhatt will be in charge of all army operations including on the LoC. Bhatt is at present posted in the Army Headquarters as the Additional Director General of CAB (Complaint and Advisory Board).