Current Events :
Suryapet: A statue of Col Santosh Babu, who died in the Chinese army attack at the Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh in June last year, was unveiled at Suryapet by Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao on Tuesday. Col Babu was a native of Suryapet, 140 km from the state capital Hyderabad. PTI
China has created several man-made islands to extend its claims at the sea
Rajnath Singh addressed the ADMM-plus meeting virtually.
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 16
Without naming China, India on Wednesday once again said it stood for a rule-based order in the Indo-Pacific based upon respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and adherence to international rules and laws.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking at the eighth ASEAN Defence Ministers’ plus meeting (ADMM-Plus) said: “India calls for a free, open and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific.”
The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is a group of 10 countries and five of those nations — Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam – are locked in a dispute with China over claims in the hydro-carbon rich South China Sea.
China has created several man-made islands to extend its claims at the sea.
Rajnath Singh addressed the ADMM-plus meeting virtually.
With regards to developments in the South China Sea, he said it has attracted attention in the region and beyond. “India supports freedom of navigation, over flight and unimpeded commerce in these international waterways,” he said.
He hoped that the Code of Conduct negotiations will lead to outcomes that are in keeping with international law, including the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and do not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of nations that were not party to these discussions.
A few years ago, China lost its case on claims at a hearing under the UNCLOS, it did not accept the verdict and forced other parties to the dispute to enter into negotiations.
He said the maritime security challenges were another area of concern to India.https://ba0aaf8a968633d922e67047f2e8e32a.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
The Sea lanes of Communication were critical for peace, stability, prosperity and development of the Indo-Pacific region.
He said: “India has strengthened cooperative engagements in the Indo-Pacific based on converging visions and values for promotion of peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.”
The centrality of ASEAN and utilisation of ASEAN-led mechanisms are important platforms for implementation of our shared vision for the Indo-Pacific, he added.
The event was attended by Veterans, NCC Cadets and senior Army officers of Udhampur Military Station
To commemorate the decisive and historic victory of the Indian Armed Forces over the Pakistan Army in December 1971 and to pay homage to the Swarnim Vijay Mashaal (Victory Flame), a solemn Wreath Laying Ceremony was held at ‘Dhruva Shaheed Smarak’ at Headquarters Northern Command in the Udhampur Military Station on Monday.
Lt General YK Joshi, Army Commander, Northern Command, laid the wreath to honour the Swarnim Vijay Mashaal lit in remembrance of the valiant soldiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service of our nation. The event was attended by Veterans, NCC Cadets and senior Army officers of Udhampur Military Station.
The Swarnim Vijay Mashaal had arrived at Udhampur on 13 June from Nagrota and was received with full ceremonial honours. The Victory Flame was then escorted to the local unit quarter guard.
On 14 June after the customary ‘Last mile run’ the Victory Flame was handed over to the Station Commander, Udhampur Military Garrison who placed the Victory Flame at Dhruva War Memorial. The wreath-laying was thereafter carried out by JCOs and Veterans followed by Wreath Laying by the Army Commander, Northern Command.
On culmination of the Wreath Laying Ceremony, the Swarnim Vijay Mashaal was further handed over to the Counter Insurgency Force (Delta) where it will be taken to various units to commemorate the unforgettable victory of 1971.
The year 2021 has been named “Swarnim Vijay Varsh” by the government of India and the Nation started the celebrations of the 50 years of the Indo-Pak War which had resulted in the largest military surrender after World War II. The inaugural event was held at the National War Memorial (NWM) in New Delhi on 16 December 2020 where Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff and Tri-Services Chiefs laid a wreath and paid homage to the fallen soldiers.
Modi lit the ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashaal’ from the eternal flame of NWM on the occasion. Four Victory Mashaals (flames) lit from the Eternal Flame of NWM were then carried to various parts of the country including to villages of Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra Awardees of the 1971 War. Soil from the villages of these Awardees and from areas where major battles were fought in 1971 is being brought to the NWM.
It was on the intervening night of 15-16 June 2020 that India lost 20 soldiers in the Galwan valley due to aggressive actions by the Chinese side
New Delhi: A remembrance ceremony will be undertaken this week in honour of Galwan bravehearts with the officiating commander of the Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps laying a wreath at the Leh Memorial. The officiating commander will be the senior most Indian Army officer in Leh. It was on the intervening night of 15/16 June 2020 that India lost 20 of its troops in the Galwan valley of eastern Ladakh due to aggressive actions by the Chinese side.
This was the worst ever loss of life at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China in the last 45 years. The development came after the Chinese build-up in the area that started in April of 2020. February saw a positive development, with disengagement at Pangong lake. But disengagement in areas like Gogra, Hot springs, and Depsang plans is still to happen.
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi last week said, “We have repeatedly stressed that completion of disengagement in other areas would pave the way for the two sides to consider de-escalation of forces and ensure full restoration of peace and tranquillity and enable progress in bilateral relations.”
Both countries continue to hold talks with each other but the situation remains precarious. March 12 saw a diplomatic round of talks – Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC), followed by the 11th India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting that took place on April 9.
Indian Army has moved the latest indigenous K9 “Vajara” howitzers to the line of actual control
New Delhi: A year after 20 Army soldiers had lost their lives in the violent faceoff with Chinese troops in the Galwan valley, the Indian defence forces have strengthened themselves in the entire Ladakh sector through multiple initiatives.
These include building infrastructure to enhance connectivity and deploying additional troops to tackle any possible aggression by the Chinese.
The strengthening of positions has taken place at all levels in the armed forces including both the Indian Army and Air Force.
“Surprised shortly by the sudden Chinese aggression in the Ladakh sector, the forces have now strengthened themselves significantly,” government officials said here.
The biggest achievement has been from the infrastructure point of view as road connectivity to all the forward locations have been improved, they said.
“Whether it is the Zojila pass, the world’s new highest motorable road Umling La, Marsmik La, or Khardung La, they have been kept open for troops movement throughout the year, courtesy the Border Roads Organisation,” officials said.
They added that connectivity has also helped to keep up the supplies at the forward locations throughout the year and provided us the capability to deploy troops in no time.
The Indian Army has also strengthened its deployments in Ladakh as well as the entire Line of Actual Control (LAC) as it has now deployed an additional strike corps to tackle the China border.
“The Mathura-based One Strike Corps has been reoriented towards the northern borders in Ladakh and the 17 Mountain Strike Corps has been given the charge of the entire north-eastern states along with providing it an additional Division comprising over 10,000 troops, they said.
The Indian Air Force, on its part, is also strengthening itself with the arrival of its Rafale fighter jets every couple of months, officials added.
Along with the Rafales, the MiG-29s and the Su-30 fleets have been dominating the skies all along the Northern borders and the second squadron or the planes would be ready for operations by the end of this month.
The biggest achievement of the defence forces has been in creating accommodation for the troops as the Military Engineers have created facilities planned to have been built in the next five years within the last 11 months, they added.
Officials said the preparedness of the armed forces is now at a level where the Chinese or any other adversary cannot surprise us in any way.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the second production line for LCA Tejas in Bengaluru | File photo | By special arrangementText Size: A- A+
New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved budgetary support of nearly Rs 499 crore for research and innovation in the defence sector for the next five years.
The Defence Ministry on Sunday said the funds will be used to provide financial support to nearly 300 start-ups, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and individual innovators with a larger goal of ensuring self-reliance in the defence sector.
The scheme is in sync with the government’s push to cut imports of military hardware and weapons and make India a hub for defence manufacturing.
“Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the budgetary support of Rs 498.8 crore to Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)-Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) for the next five years,” the ministry said in a statement.
It said the iDEX DIO has the primary objective of self-reliance and indigenisation in the defence and aerospace sector.
The ministry said the setting up of the iDEX framework and establishment of the DIO by the Department of Defence Production (DDP) is aimed at creating an ecosystem to foster innovation and technology development in the defence and aerospace sector.
“The scheme, with budgetary support of Rs 498.8 crore for the next five years, is aimed at providing financial support to nearly 300 start-ups/MSMEs/individual innovators and 20 partner incubators under the DIO framework,” the ministry said.
It said the DIO will enable the creation of channels for innovators to engage and interact with the Indian defence production industry.
“The scheme aims to facilitate rapid development of new, indigenised and innovative technologies for the Indian defence and aerospace sector to meet their needs in shorter timelines,” it said.
In the last couple of years, the government has unveiled a series of reform measures and initiatives to make India a hub of defence manufacturing.
Last August, Defence Minister Singh had announced that India will stop the import of 101 weapons and military platforms like transport aircraft, light combat helicopters, conventional submarines, cruise missiles and sonar systems by 2024.
A second negative list, putting import restrictions on 108 military weapons and systems such as next-generation corvettes, airborne early warning systems, tank engines and radars, was issued this week.
In May last, the government announced increasing the FDI limit from 49 per cent to 74 per cent under the automatic route in the defence sector.
India is one of the largest importers of arms globally.
The government now wants to reduce dependence on imported military platforms and has decided to support domestic defence manufacturing.
The ministry has set a goal of a turnover of USD 25 billion (Rs 1.75 lakh crore) in defence manufacturing in the next five years that included an export target of USD 5 billion (Rs 35,000 crore) worth of military hardware. — PTI
Also read: Under new policy, India could declassify military operations within 25 years unlike earlier
Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Manoj Pande with Air Marshal Amit Dev in Shillong on 13 June 2021 | Twitter | ANIText Size: A- A+
Kolkata: Eastern Command GOC-in-C Lt Gen Manoj Pande on Sunday visited the Eastern Air Command (EAC) headquarters at Shillong in Meghalaya and discussed defence preparedness with EAC’s AOC-in-C Air Marshal Amit Dev, a Defence official said here.
This was the Eastern Army Commander’s first visit to the EAC headquarters since assuming charge on June 1.
“Joint operations and jointmanship were the main focus of discussions,” the official said about the deliberations between the two commanders, who trained together at the National Defence Academy and graduated from the same batch in December, 1981.
Lt Gen Pande was briefed on the details of operations by the Indian Air Force in support of the Indian Army in the Eastern Sector, he said.
“Decisions were taken on the conduct of realistic joint training exercises on a regular basis to draw out lessons for actual operations,” the official added.
Also read: Army buys 17 boats to move troops faster at Pangong Tso amid India-China stalemate at LAC
The 18-tonne amphibious Sprut-SDM1 is capable of being airlifted, parachuted with crew inside and can even disembark from a ship.
Representational image. A file photo of light Sprut-SDM1 tank in Moscow. | Photo: CommonsText Size: A- A+
New Delhi: India has set its eyes on procuring the Russian-made Sprut-SDM1 light tanks, to counter China in the mountainous terrain along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and will also take part in the trials of the system starting late summer.
This will be a first for Russia because no other country has witnessed trials of a product that is under development.
According to sources in the security and defence establishment, India is keen on the 18-tonne Sprut because it shares the gun of the T-90 tank and fires the same kind of ammunition. India is currently operating T-90 and T-72 tanks, which are also Russian-origin, besides Arjun.
This will mean logistics and maintenance systems of the Sprut tanks will not have to be drastically different for the Armoured Corps.
While it is largely believed that the Russian forces have already inducted Sprut, sources said the tanks are still undergoing trials and are in the last stages of development.
Russia’s approval to include India in the trials of the light tanks — which can be airlifted, parachuted with crew inside and can even disembark from a ship — came after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke about India’s need for light tanks during his visit to Russia in August 2020.
As reported by ThePrint then, Russia had offered India the light Sprut SDM1 tanks during Singh’s visit. The move came as India had deployed the T-90 tanks, weighing about 46 tonnes, in Ladakh during the prolonged standoff with China.
This was besides the T-72 tanks, which weigh around 45 tonnes, deployed earlier. Conversely, China had deployed its new lightweight tanks, Type 15, besides other armoured elements.
After India’s request, sources familiar with the matter said, discussions were held at various levels within the Russian establishment and a final go-ahead for inclusion in trials was given by the “very top”.
Accordingly, a team of the Indian Army will visit Russia later this year, and witness the firing and mobility trials of the tank.
Meanwhile, India has also floated a Request for Information (RFI) for 350 light tanks, which should not weigh more than 25 tonnes. This weight criteria will rule out many of the light tanks currently available in the market.
Also read: India calls for complete disengagement at remaining friction points of eastern Ladakh
Sprut-SDM1 is the only light amphibious fighting vehicle in the world that possesses the
firepower of a main battle tank, a 125mm main gun. The other unique future is the ability to fire a cannon afloat, sources said.
Other similar products are Chinese Type 15 light tank and the Turkish Kaplan MT medium tank. However, both these tanks have 105mm main guns unlike the Sprut’s 125mm main gun.
Furthermore, only the Sprut-SDM1 can fire guided missiles and has a potent armament suite that includes a 125mm gun, a 7.62mm remote-controlled machine gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.
The tank’s onboard guided missile weapon system can engage armoured targets, including explosive reactive armour (ERA)-equipped ones at ranges up to 5km, besides being able to engage low-flying helicopters by the roof-mounted machine-gun mount.
“The Sprut is a genuine light tank in terms of weight. The Chinese and Turkish tanks are heavier. Sprut should give greater mobility and combat edge over its rivals. The trials would show whether it lives up to the promise or not,” a source told ThePrint.
The Sprut can also travel over a distance of 500 km without refuelling and can be transported by military transport aircraft and landing ships besides being parachuted with a crew inside the vehicle.
Also read: National Defence Academy to add 2 squadrons to address officers’ shortage in Army, Navy & IAF
While India has set its eyes on the Russian Sprut, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larson & Toubro are in talks with each other to possibly convert another tank — the K9 Vajra 155mm/52 calibre Tracked Self-Propelled Howitzer — into a light- or medium-weight tank that could be used in mountain regions like Ladakh.
DRDO and L&T are looking to reduce the tank’s weight by replacing the heavy 155mm gun with a 105mm or 120mm gun.
This will also change the tank’s turret design and the overall weight will reduce from its current 47 tonnes. More weight-reducing technology and material can also be used, which is expected to make the tank at least 10 tonnes lighter.
The aim is for the Vajra tank to actually weigh around 30 to 35 tonnes or somewhere close, which can be deployed in the mountains.
The Armoured Directorate of the Army had first moved a proposal for light tanks in 2009. However, the Army’s top brass shot down the proposal as they felt that light tanks were not needed.
“The proposal had been kept in cold storage since then. But the Ladakh tensions showed how light tanks can play a critical role in areas where traditional main battle tanks cannot operate,” noted a source.
“Why did China deploy light tanks besides its heavier variants. This is despite the fact that China has a flatter terrain along the LAC than India, which is more mountainous. The tanks in front provide the infantry with the biggest fire power and light tanks are needed for the mountains,” he told ThePrint.
India has had light tanks in the past, which were used during the 1947-48 Kashmir operations (M 5 Stuart tank weighing about 16 tonnes) and then the 1962 and 1971 wars (PT 76 tanks weighing around 15 tonnes).
However, these paved the way for heavier tanks as the focus has been fixed on Pakistan and the plains ever since.
Also read: LoC is silent but at least 40 youths joined terror ranks in Kashmir this year, 50 ‘missing’
UT Volleyball Assn to name annual tourney after Nirmal Milkha Singh
Nirmal Milkha Singh with Milkha Singh and their son Jeev Milkha Singh after the latter won a golf tournament.
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 14
Local sports fraternity today mourned the death of Nirmal Milkha Singh, one of the founding members of the UT Sports Department.
Nirmal, who breathed her last on Sunday evening after fighting Covid-19, will always be remembered as one of the strongest pillars of sports infrastructure in the city.
While the Chandigarh Volleyball Association announced to name a tournament after her, the UT Sports Department decided to propose a tournament in its annual calendar.
“We have decided to conduct a junior (U-18) volleyball championship for boys and girls in her memory. The annual tournament will be named after her. This is the least we can do in the memory of our former president and former patron,” said Vijaypal Singh, Secretary, Volleyball Federation of India and Chandigarh Volleyball Association. He added, “The volleyball court at the Sector 26 Police Lines is also the brainchild of Nirmal. She proposed to have this court so that police personnel could spend quality time post-duty hours.”
Tejdeep Singh Saini, Director, Sports, UT, said a proposal would be sent to the higher authorities to remember Nirmal’s contribution forever. “It is a huge loss for the sports fraternity of Chandigarh. The department will propose an annual championship (hockey and volleyball) named after her,” said Saini.
“I have a special regard for her as she was just like a younger sister of my father the late SN Vohra. She always called him ‘Praaji’,” said Anil Vohra, general secretary, Hockey Chandigarh.
“I still remember my first meeting with her. After we got selected to the national shooting team, we did not receive our kits. We directly went to her (Nirmal’s) office and she not only resolved our issues but offered us a diet. We were unknown to her but she still treated us so well,” said Dr Aman Mann, Dean, Research, DAV College, Sector 10.
“The association hosted many championships, national games and three Asian championships under her supervision. The city still enjoys the infrastructure built under her guidance and support,” said Rajiv Sharma, honorary secretary, Chandigarh Rowing Association.
“The city has lost a gem. I have served under her. She was an extraordinary person who believes in promoting sports and welfare of sportspersons at any cost,” said Inder Pal Singh, former roller skating coach, UT.
