http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-two-major-defence-deals-that-couldn-t-fructify-during-narendra-modi-s-visit-to-russia-2159531
Two major defence
deals that couldn't fructify during Narendra Modi's visit to Russia
Even as a $1 billion
worth contract over manufacturing Kamov KA 226 light helicopters turns out the
mainstay of India-Russia defence cooperation achieved during prime minister
Narendra Modi's latest visit to Moscow that concluded on Thursday, two other
prominent defence deals that were being looked at failed to get formalised.
According to
sources, proposal for four Talwar class frigates – stealth warships with guided
missiles - were on agenda for summit meeting between Modi and Russian president
Vladimir Putin but didn't find mention in the two countries; joint statement.
Four frontline
warships, sources said are to be built built at a cost of around Rs 30,000
crore at a private shipyard in Gujarat and a formal agreement was expected
during PM's visit.
A partnership for
refit and modernisation of all Indian Navy surface ships of Russian and Soviet
origin too was expected on the discussion table but no announcement was made in
this regard.Currently, there are 35 Russian / Soviet-origin surface ships in
the Indian Navy fleet. The value of this business is estimated to be over Rs
35,000 crore. And the combined value of above two opportunities exceeded USD 10
Bn ( INR 66,000 Cr) over next ten years.
Besides, India's
recent decision for purchase of nearly Rs 40,000 crore Russian S-400 Triumf air
defence missile systems too didn't form a part of the joint declaration.
Ministry of
Defence's Dfenec Acquisition Council had given a go-ahead for the Russian air
defence systems on December 17.
Twin engine Kamov
choppers are believed to become mainstay of Indian Army in mountaneous sectors
for their unique utility and an agreement over them is the 'first major
platform under Make in India.
A total of 16
agreements were signed between the two countries.
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/joint-training-exercise-of-india-us-special-forces-to-be-held-after-four-years/
Joint training
exercise of India, US Special Forces to be held after four years - See more at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/joint-training-exercise-of-india-us-special-forces-to-be-held-after-four-years/#sthash.6IXlg6yc.dpuf
In another sign of
increasing military cooperation between India and the US, the Special Forces of
the two countries are resuming their joint training exercise, Vajra Prahar,
after a gap of four years. The new edition of exercise will be hosted next
month by the First Special Forces Group of the US Army at Joint Base
Lewis-McChord, Washington.
The last edition of
Vajra Prahar was hosted by the Indian Army at Nahan in Himachal Pradesh in
2012.
Indian Army’s
Special Forces will be sending a 40-member team to take part in the exercise,
which is scheduled for the last two weeks of January. According to defence
ministry sources, the purpose is to improve interoperability and
familiarisation of each other’s tactics.
The exercise comes
on the heel of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s visit to the US earlier this
month where he became the first Indian defence minister to visit the
headquarters of the Pacific Command in Hawaii and witnessed a naval aviation
display from the US aircraft carrier, USS Dwight D Eisenhower. During the
visit, India announced its participation in the US Air Force’s Exercise Red
Flag and world’s largest maritime exercise RIMPAC hosted by the US Navy. The
Indian Air Force had last participated in Exercise Red Flag in 2008, and the
Indian Navy was an observer in Exercise RIMPAC last year.
Earlier this year,
India, US and Japan had agreed for a permanent participation in annual naval
exercise Malabar, which is alternatively held in the Bay of Bengal and the Sea
of Japan. That has been ostensibly done to counter the Chinese influence in the
region.
- See more at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/joint-training-exercise-of-india-us-special-forces-to-be-held-after-four-years/#sthash.6IXlg6yc.dpuf
http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/send-your-daughters-to-fight-for-india-appeals-indian-army-chief_1838859.html
Send your daughters
to fight for India, appeals Indian Army Chief
New Delhi: Stressing
on the need to empower girls, Indian Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag on
Saturday said that he wants maximum girls to join armed forces.
"Give your
daughters the best education and opportunities that are at par with boys to
prepare them as future soldiers of the country," Suhag was quoted as
saying by Time of India during his first visit to his native village Bishan in
Haryana's Jhajjar district after assuming the office of Indian Army chief.
Well received by his
fellow villagers, Suhag also sought blessings from his clan deity. He was
accompanied by his wife and children.
Suhag said that if
he could become army chief after studying under the trees in Bishan, then they
could achieve anything in life. Suhag said that he wants to see more defence
officers from the village on General rank. He also announced to institute two
scholarships of Rs 2,100 each which would be given to the meritorious students
of the school every year. The scholarship would continue till his lifetime, TOI
report stated.
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/along-india-china-border-dominance-is-best-claim-on-territory-says-army-1259054
Along India-China
Border, Dominance Is Best Claim On Territory, Says Army
Along the
India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh:
"You will be out for the next five days," the Indian Army
Major said in a matter of fact tone. The group of 12 men he was addressing sat
on a Mountain ridge. It had been snowing since morning. The brown rocky sliver
of land was slowly turning white. "Your job will be maintain the sanctity
of the Line of Actual Control, watch out for movement of Chinese troops, take
note of their new locations and report back," was his brief.
No matter how bad
the weather is, long-range Foot Patrols of the Indian Army are regular along
the nearly 900 km McMohan line - drawn by the then British Foreign Secretary
Henry McMohan in 1914 to demarcate the border - that is now the de-facto border
between Indian and China. There are several areas along the line claimed by
both, often leading to face-offs and transgressions.
On mountain peaks
over 14000 feet high, a literal cat and mouse game plays out every day. "We have to ensure that the Chinese not
only know we present but that we constantly watch them," a senior military
commander told NDTV.
In the past, China
has claimed not only Tawang but the entire Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, as a
counter, India tries to dominate every ridge and mountain pass through foot
patrols and border posts. The Chinese People's Liberation Army instead is
positioned deep inside Chinese territory.
"Our aim is to
meet Chinese patrols whenever they cross what we consider our territory. This
gives a clear message that we are serious about our claims," the commander
said.
On average, every
foot patrol covers over at least 25 km of mountainous territory often climbing
over several peaks. For the past few years, Indian soldiers are also being
trained to speak Chinese dialects. "It is easier to tell them that they
have crossed over to our territory," an official said.
India and China
signed the Border Defence Cooperation (BDCA) in 2013 - an agreement to reduce
misunderstandings and improve communications between the two nuclear-armed
states along their disputed border. Both
sides now meet regularly. "The agreement has helped us solve local
issues," Brigadier Kushwaha adds.
Back in Tezpur, the
4 Corps Headquarters - which protects Tawang and the western Arunachal Pradesh
- the assessment is that as India bridges the infrastructure, military and
economic gap - the Chinese will become more aggressive.
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