Current Affairs April 2016 - Defence
News 1 - India’s first indigenous composites sonar dome flagged off at Goa
India’s first indigenous composites sonar dome, a ship’s underwater eyes and ears, was today flagged off by the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar during the DefExpo 2016 in Goa.
The sonar dome is a first of its kind in the country and has been manufactured by a composites manufacturing company, designed by DRDO. All anti-submarine warfare ships have a sonar array fitted to the ship structure below the waterline. The sonar functions as the ship’s underwater eyes and ears.
The success in manufacturing the sonar done will now pave the way for realizing more ambitious naval structures such as entire ship hulls as well as land based and aerospace applications.
News 2 - India becomes the fourth largest spender on defence expenditure
According to IHS analysis, short-term pressures, caused by increases to military pay and the introduction of one rank, one pension (OROP) are the main reasons for the higher rate of growth in budget allocation to defence. As a result, spending on the acquisition of military equipment remained largely static in real terms and remains lower than its 2013-14 peak, despite an increase in the overall budget.
“Growth in the Indian budget is expected to outpace that of all other major defence spenders over the next five years. This position is only likely to strengthen further,” said Craig Caffrey, principal analyst at IHS.
News 3 - Indian Air Force to participate in the Red Flag exercise in US
The IAF will take part in the Air Exercise, "Ex-Red Flag-16-1" along with the US, NATO and allied Air Forces which is scheduled from April 28 to May 13, 2016 at the Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska.
Four Sukhoi-30MKIs, four Jaguars, two C-17 Globemaster III transport planes and two mid-air refuellers Ilyushin-78 will go to the US for air combat exercise. It will cost India over Rs.100 crores and it will also see over 150 IAF personnel in action.
News 4 - A ‘K-4’ Submarine-launched ballistic missile successfully test fired from INS Arihant
The Submarine-launched undersea ballistic missile, code called K-4, was successfully test fired on 31st March 2016 from an untold location in the Bay of Bengal with the aim to test the capability of this newly built underwater warship to fire long range nuclear capable missiles and the killing efficiency of the most advanced state-of-the-art weapon system.
The test was conducted nearly 45 nautical miles away from Vishakhapatnam coast in Andhra Pradesh with the support of personnel of Strategic Forces Command (SFC) while the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) provided all the logistics.
News 5 - Akash surface-to-air missile (SAM) successfully test fired
Surface-to-air supersonic Akash missile System was successfully test fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipuri in Odisha. It is a multi-target, multi-directional, all weather air-defence system consisting of surveillance and tracking radars with the capability to carry a warhead of 60 kgs and with speeds ranging from Mach 2.8 to 3.5. It is powered by a Ramjet-rocket propulsion system which renders thrust for the missile to intercept the target at supersonic speed without any retardation.
This nuclear capable supersonic missile is indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided-Missile Development Program (IGMDP).
News 6 - Indian Army conducts “Shatrujeet” exercise in Rajasthan
The Indian Army conducted a major Exercise ‘Shatrujeet’ by the elite STRIKE 1 in deserts of Rajasthan, wherein the capability to strike deep in the enemy territory in an integrated Air-Land battle environment is being tested.
It is an operationally oriented exercise. The focus of the exercise is on validating integrated theater battle fighting concept incorporating new age technologies, weapon platforms and systems. About 30,000 soldiers were in action in the exercise.
News 7 - India to Purchase 145 M777 Howitzers for US$ 750 Million
The Ministry of Defence is planning to buy 145 M777 ultra-light Howitzers produced by BAE Systems. The matter is being finalized as India and the US are in agreement on its “Make in India” component. The gun will come with laser inertial artillery pointing systems (LINAPS), maintenance, personnel training and training equipment, technical assistance, engineering and logistics support services.
In India, the BAE Systems had tied up with Mahindra as its business partner for its proposed in-country assembly, integration and test (AIT) facility for the M777 Howitzer.
News 8 - Japan successfully tested its first X-2 jet stealth fighter
Japan has successfully tested a prototype of their first stealth fighter jet, X-2 Jet. It now joins the league of a select group of world military powers wielding the radar-dodging technology.
This twin-engine jet, manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, took off from Japan's Nagoya airport and completed various test maneuvers including climbing, descent and circling before finally landing at Gifu airbase. Japan began the project in 2009 and spent 39.4 billion yen ($332 million).
News 9 - Veer and Nipat Decommissioned at Mumbai
Missile boats INS Veer and Nipat of the Indian Navy were decommissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, after completing 29 and 28 years of service respectively. Both are 1241 RE class missile vessels.
INS Veer is presently led by Commander B Charish K Pal and INS Nipat is managed by CDR D Chakrapani. The decommissioning ceremony was held in the presence of Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command. These have been put in action off Gujarat coast and International Maritime Borderline to ensure security of important assets.
