Monthly Archives: August 2018

Cmde Srikant B KEsnur (Retd)

Amid the hype and hoopla of the IPL, a significant sporting achievement has been relegated to the margins. On April 21, Lieutenant Commanders Dilna K and Roopa A, two Indian Navy officers, completed a historic transoceanic voyage on the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini. In the process, they became the first Indian women to achieve the distinction of undertaking a transoceanic expedition in double-handed mode.

The two travelled by sea, to Mauritius and back, propelling on wind power alone. They spent nearly two months on a small sailing vessel braving rough seas, strong winds, high waves, treacherous currents and much else that nature throws at you in the wilderness of oceans.

While India has in its ocean sailing catalogue feats of solo sailing and sailing by a group of people (usually six), this is the first time it has been done double-handed — crewed by only two — over such a long distance.

Dilna and Roopa will now prepare for their next big challenge. The Navy is preparing to flag off the ‘Sagar Parikrama IV’expedition, a circumnavigation of the globe, on INSV Tarini, scheduled to commence in September.

Interestingly, both have an armed forces background — Dilna’s father was in the Army while Roopa’s served in the Air Force. Both were also actively involved in the NCC before joining the Navy and have led Navy’s Republic Day marching contingents. Dilna is a commerce graduate who joined the Logistics branch in the Navy. She has also been a national-level shooter. Roopa has been a university rank holder in aeronautical engineering who joined the Navy’s Armament Inspectorate branch. She is an active marathon runner. Both have logged an impressive 38,000 nautical miles of sailing under their belt.

Ever since they volunteered for ‘Sagar Parikrama IV’ in 2022, both women have made INSV Tarini their home. They often stay on the ship even when it is berthed alongside its home port in Goa and they are the ones who clean its decks and sweep its floors and do all the ‘ship’s husbandry’ tasks. The Navy’s Ocean Sailing Node in Goa gives them a full range of off-shore support, infrastructure and academic guidance. INS Mandovi acts as the mothership nurturing the vessel and the sailors, and the Indian Naval Sailing Association at Delhi handles the overall development of sailing in the Indian Navy.

The Navy has exhaustively trained these officers in all aspects of ocean sailing. Further, a full-fledged medical support team, which includes a psychologist and sleep medicine specialist, monitors their health and medical fitness. Above all, they have an ace in the form of the legendary Abhilash Tomy, who joined them as a mentor in August 2023.

In praise of the sailors, Tomy says, “My job was tremendously reduced thanks to the willingness and effort that the women have put in… Personally, I think they have done well, especially in comparison to the other crew who have sailed the route. They have been safe and quite professional in dealing with defects in the boat and navigating it, and have brought the boat back in an excellent state of preservation.”

Quite fascinatingly, in Cowes, UK, on April 22, a sailing yacht appropriately called ‘Maiden’ won the McIntyre Ocean Globe Race, becoming the first all-women crew to win an around-the-world yacht race. The crew included two Indians who sailed in different legs. Lt Cdr Payal Gupta is a serving Navy officer and Dhanya Pilo is the daughter of a retired Navy officer. Their triumph needs a separate telling.

Modernisation vital for enhancing defence skills

n an era defined by rapid technological advancements and evolving security challenges, the Army’s proactive shift towards technology absorption marks a pivotal moment in its modernisation journey. Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande’s announcement on Wednesday underscores the imperative need for equipping soldiers with the skills to leverage emerging technologies effectively. The integration of simulation and virtual reality training modules into the Army’s curriculum signifies a departure from traditional methodologies towards immersive, tech-driven learning experiences. This move not only enhances the technical acumen of soldiers but also cultivates a culture of innovation and adaptability within the ranks. Additionally, the incorporation of cyber specialists and linguists into the Territorial Army underscores the recognition of the multi-dimensional nature of modern warfare. As cyber threats become increasingly all-pervasive, empowering soldiers with expertise in this domain is crucial to safeguarding national security interests.

Amidst geopolitical tensions, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on the eve of Independence Day last year, asserted that world-class equipment and training would be provided to the armed forces. The emphasis on modernisation and innovation resonates with the Army’s strategic goal of countering emerging threats.

Significantly, the Army is embracing cutting-edge technologies which not only enhance operational efficiency but also enable it to counter hybrid threats and grey-zone aggression. However, this transition entails several challenges. Investment in training holds the key to a seamless integration of technology into the existing operational framework. Its success depends on the Army’s ability to stay true to its core principles of courage, integrity and dedication to national defence even as it embraces modern warfare techniques.

New Delhi: The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, conferred Presidential awards on 51 air warriors on Friday.
The recipients included three Yudh Seva medallists, seven Vayu Sena medallists (Gallantry), 13 Vayu Sena medallists, and 28 Vishisht Seva medallists.
The awards were conferred during the Air Force Investiture Ceremony held near the Param Yodha Sthal, a part of the National War Memorial (NWM) complex in Delhi.
The ceremony began with the awardees paying homage to the country’s fallen heroes by laying wreaths at the Amar Chakra of the NWM.
This ceremony was followed by the conferring of Presidential awards on 51 air warriors.
The CAS complimented each awardee for their gallant actions and distinguished service in the truest traditions of the Indian Air Force.
The IAF said this is the first time any service conducted its Investiture Ceremony at the NWM complex.

Los Angeles: Yemen’s Houthis said on Saturday their missiles hit the Andromeda Star oil tanker in the Red Sea, as they continue attacking commercial ships in the area in a show of support for Palestinians fighting Israel in the Gaza war.
The ship’s master reported damage to the vessel, British maritime security firm Ambrey said.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarea said the Panama-flagged ship was British owned, but shipping data shows it was recently sold, according to LSEG data and Ambrey.
Its current owner is Seychelles-registered. The tanker is engaged in Russia-linked trade. It was en route from Primorsk, Russia, to Vadinar, India, Ambrey said.
Iran-aligned Houthi militants have launched repeated drone and missile strikes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden since November, forcing shippers to re-route cargo to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa and stoking fears the Israel-Hamas war could spread and destabilize the Middle East.
The attack on the Andromeda Star comes after a brief pause in the Houthis’ campaign that targets ships with ties to Israel, the United States and Britain.
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier sailed out of the Red Sea via the Suez Canal on Friday after assisting a U.S.-led coalition to protect commercial shipping.
The Houthis on Friday said they downed an American MQ-9 drone in airspace of Yemen’s Saada province.

PTI

jammu, April 27

Eighteen underprivileged students scripted history by cracking JEE Phase-II (exam) on the back of intensive coaching provided at Army’s White Knight Corps-run ‘Petronet Super 30’ in Reasi district, a defence spokesperson said on Saturday.

The second batch of 27 students from the remote areas of the region had appeared in the JEE Mains Phase-I exams from January 27 to February 1.

Eighteen of them exhibited superlative performance in the exam, the results of which were declared on February 13, the spokesperson said.

All these 18 students were put through rigorous coaching and they have scripted history by clearing tough JEE Mains Phase-II exams, the official said.

Among those who made it to elite engineering institute were Aditya Kumar of Arnia village in Other Social Caste (OSC) category who topped the centre with 99.07 per cent and is also among the top 10 students in all CSRL centres, the spokesperson said.

PTI

Srinagar, April 26

Two terrorists were killed while as many Army personnel got injured on Friday as a gunbattle between the militants and security forces continued for the second day in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said.

Two terrorists have been killed so far, according to the officials.

Two Army personnel injured in the gunfight have been shifted to a hospital for treatment, they said.

A civilian was also injured near the site of the encounter on Thursday.

The operation to flush out the terrorists from the area is under way, they added. PTI

Mendhar/Jammu, April 27

A three-day special training camp for Village Defence Guards (VDGs) was organised by the Army here, ahead of Lok Sabha elections, officials said on Saturday.

Poonch along with the adjoining Rajouri district is part of the Anantnag Parliamentary constituency which is going to polls in the third phase of

The training camp began on Thursday at Mendhar, Harni and Jaran to hone the weapon handling and firing skills of the VDGs, as part of efforts to maintain peace and stability in the forward areas, the officials said.

The training assumes significance given the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and efforts of security forces to maintain peace and provide assurance to the people in minority pockets as well as in far-flung areas, they said.

The training has helped the VDGs in reorienting their training prowess and skills in weapon handling and firing, they said.

Comprising of local volunteers, the VDGs are equipped with .303 and bolt action rifles and were enthusiastic in sharpening their skills, they said, adding the weapons were inspected, cleaned and firing practice was carried out during the camp under the supervision of army trainers.

They said a lecture-cum-demonstration on weapon handling, musketry and firing positions was also conducted as part of the training.

The Army assisted the members of VDGs in further improving their self-defence capabilities and emphasised their greater role in maintaining peace and harmony in the area of responsibility, particularly in the minority pockets, the officials said.

Moscow may seize private US assets if Washington takes frozen reserves: Security officer

Kyiv, April 27

A Russian missile attack pounded power facilities in the centre and west of Ukraine on Saturday, mounting pressure on the ailing energy system as the country faces a shortage of air defences despite a breakthrough in U.S. military aid.

The strike using ballistic missiles and cruise missiles fired by Russian strategic bombers based in the Arctic Circle was the fourth large-scale aerial assault targeting the power system since March 22. “The enemy again massively shelled Ukrainian energy facilities,” said DTEK, the largest private electricity company, adding that four of its six thermal power plants had suffered new damage overnight.

In President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih, the supply of running water was disrupted after strikes on energy facilities in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, officials said. Ukrainian air defences were able to bring down 21 of the 34 incoming missiles, the commander of the air force said in a statement. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has called for more air defence supplies, faster deliveries and decisive actions from Kyiv’s allies. The US approved a major aid package for Ukraine this week, overcoming a congressional deadlock that dragged on for six months as Kyiv’s weapon stocks became depleted.

Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, a senior security official, said Russia may respond to any US confiscation of its currency reserves frozen in the West by seizing the assets, including property and cash, of US citizens and investors in Russia.

The US House of Representatives has passed a Bill allowing the Biden administration to confiscate Russian assets held in American banks and transfer them to Ukraine, something the Kremlin has said would be illegal and trigger retaliation.

In response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the US and its allies prohibited transactions with Russia’s central bank and finance ministry and blocked about $300 billion of sovereign Russian assets in the West, most of which are in European not American financial institutions. — Reuters

Ties with Beijing to continue: Kremlin

• The Kremlin has shrugged off a trip to China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during which he raised concerns about Chinese support for Russia’s military, saying Moscow and Beijing will continue to develop their own ties.
• China has said that it has not provided weaponry to any party. However, it says that normal trade between China and Russia should not be interrupted or restricted.

Capacity affected

Ukraine has lost 80% of its thermal power generation and 35% of its hydroelectric capacity due to Russian attacks. Though the core of the energy system comes from nuclear power, that lost capacity serves a balancing function in the grid.

More supplies sought

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has called for more air defence supplies, faster deliveries and decisive actions from Kyiv’s allies. The US has already approved a major package for Ukraine this week, overcoming a congressional deadlock.

Vessel, engaged in ‘Russia-linked trade’, suffers minor damage

Jerusalem, April 27

Ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels caused a “minor damage” to a Panama-flagged oil tanker travelling to India through the Red Sea on Friday, authorities said. The attack follows an uptick in assaults launched by the Houthis in recent days after a relative lull in their months-long campaign over Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The rebels fired three missiles in the attack, one of which damaged the Panama-flagged, Seychelles-registered Andromeda Star, the US military’s Central Command said. Private security firm Ambrey described the tanker as being “engaged in Russia-linked trade”. The vessel was travelling from Primorsk, Russia, to Vadinar, India, Ambrey said.

Houthi military spokesman Brig Gen Yahya Saree later claimed the attack early Saturday in a pre-recorded statement aired by the rebels. He described the tanker as being “directly hit”.

Another vessel, the Antiqua-Barbados-flagged, Liberia-operated Maisha, was also nearby at the time of the assault, the US said. The attack occurred off Mocha, Yemen, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sank another since November, according to the US Maritime Administration.

Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a US-led airstrike campaign in Yemen. Shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat. American officials have speculated that the rebels may be running out of weapons as a result of the US-led campaign against them and after firing drones and missiles steadily in the last months.

However, since Wednesday, there have been at least two other attacks claimed by the Houthis. The first targeted the MV Yorktown, a US-flagged, owned and operated vessel with 18 US and four Greek crew members. Another targeted the MSC Darwin.

The Houthis have said they will continue their attacks until Israel ends its war in Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians there. The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage. — AP

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 24

The Army is now training its soldiers to make technology-driven decisions. For this, necessary changes are being made to training modules by incorporating technologies to be used in future.

Army Chief General Manoj Pande today said, “In order to enhance the technical threshold of soldiers and to align with technological requirements, training establishments have modified syllabi.”

Aim to empower troops

Empowering the soldier remains at the core of all pursuits of technology infusion. — General Manoj Pande, Army chief

2 soldiers injured in Bandipora gunfight

Srinagar: Two soldiers were injured in an encounter with militants in Bandipora on Wednesday. Helicopters had been pressed into service to aid security operations in the area, said officials.

He was speaking at a day-long seminar organised by the Army and the Army-funded think-tank — the Centre for Land Warfare Studies — to study the needs of the soldiers. The theme of the seminar is ‘The Year of Technology Absorption — Empowering the Soldier’.

The Army Chief said simulation and virtual reality training modules had been already incorporated into the force. Equipment manufacturers for the niche technology now have to comply with a clause to train the soldiers.

In order to bring in domain-specific competencies, cyber specialists and linguists were being commissioned in the Territorial Army, he said. “Empowering the soldier remains at the core of all pursuits of technology infusion. Apart from training, soldiers are being encouraged to take ownership of the technology they use,” said General Pande. The Army Chief explained that consequent to technology adoption, it was imperative to tailor doctrines and strategies to the prevalent operational needs. This will include employment of tactics that accrue from new technologies.