Current Affairs July 2018 - Defence
1 - Tejas commences operations from Sulur Air Force Station
Indigenous fighter aircraft Tejas of No 45 Squadron 'The Flying Daggers' formally commenced operations from the Air Force Station at Sulur near Coimbatore under Group Captain S Dhankhar.
Tejas is the first advanced fly-by-wire fighter aircraft designed, developed and manufactured in India by Bengaluru headquartered HAL. It is equipped with a satellite aided Inertial Navigation System. It can fire Air-to-Air Missiles, carry bombs and Precision Guided ammunition.
2 - BrahMos supersonic missile successfully test-fired
India's indigeneously developed surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile BrahMos was successfully test-fired from the Chandipur Test Range off the Odisha coast. The missile, developed with the help of Russia, has a 290-km target efficiency, which is going to be extended upto 400 kilometres.
The previous test firing of the missile was conducted on 21st May when it was launched from a mobile launcher under life extension program. BrahMos is the first Indian missile whose life has been extended from 10 to 15 years.
3 - Indo-US delegation meeting on Defence Cooperation
As part of Indo-US Bilateral Defence Cooperation, the 7th Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) meeting was held between India and the US delegation in New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired by, Secretary (Defence Production), Dr Ajay Kumar and Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment, DoD, US Government Ms Ellen M Lord.
The meetings are held twice a year, alternately in India and the USA with the aim to bring sustained leadership focus to the bilateral defence trade relationship and create opportunities for co-production and co-development of defence equipment.
4 - IAF participated for the First Time in Exercise Pitch Black
An Indian Air Force contingent, for the first time, participated in a multinational air exercise called Exercise Pitch Black-18 in Australia with Royal Australian Air Force. This exercise involves over 100 aircraft from around the globe and will provide a unique opportunity to the air-warriors to operate in a dynamic warlike environment.
The IAF had participated in the recently concluded Exercise Gaganshakti-2018, with Indonesian and Malayasian Air Forces.
