Current Affairs May 2020 - Defence
1 - Rajnath Singh approved launch of Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the launch of Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) with an outlay of Rs 400 crore for creating state of the art testing infrastructure. It would run for five years and envisages to setup 6-8 new test facilities in partnership with private industry.
The projects under the Scheme will be provided with up to 75% government funding in the form of ‘Grant-in-Aid’. The remaining 25% of the project cost will have to be borne by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) whose constituents will be Indian private entities and State Governments.
2 - Landing Craft Utility Ship 'INLCU L57' commissioned into Indian Navy
Landing Craft Utility Ship 'INLCU L57' was commissioned into Indian Navy in Port Blair. The indigenously designed ship has been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilder and Engineers, GRSE, Kolkata. This is the seventh Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK-IV class to be inducted into Indian Navy.
The ship is an amphibious vessel with a designated primary role of transporting and deploying main battle tanks like Arjun, T72 etc. armoured vehicles, troops and equipments from ship to shore. The ship is fitted with state-of-art equipment and advanced systems, like Integrated Bridge System (IBS) and Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).
3 - DRDO developed UV Disinfection Tower
Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with the help of M/s New Age Instruments and Materials Private Limited, Gurugram has developed a equipment named UV blaster. It is an Ultra Violet (UV) Disinfection Tower for rapid and chemical free disinfection of high infection prone areas.
The UV based area sanitiser is useful for high tech surfaces like electronic equipment, computers and other gadgets in laboratories and offices that are not suitable for disinfection with chemical methods.
4 - DRDO lab developed automated UV systems for sanitisation
Hyderabad based Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO lab, has developed automated Ultraviolet systems to sanitise electronic gadgets, papers and currency notes. The device - Defence Research Ultraviolet Sanitiser, DRUVS has been designed to sanitise mobile phones, iPads, laptops, currency notes, cheque leafs, challans, passbooks, paper and envelopes. Bundles of currency notes can be sanitised using
DRUVS has contactless operation. It provides 360 degree exposure of Ultra Violet to the objects placed inside the cabinet.
5 - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved abolition of 9,304 posts in Military Engineering Service
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the proposal of Engineer-in-Chief of Military Engineering Services (MES) for optimisation of more than 9,304 posts in the basic and industrial workforce. It is in line with the recommendations of the Committee of Experts, headed by Lt General Shekatkar.
The committee had recommended measures to enhance combat capability and rebalance defence expenditure of the Armed Forces. The recommendation was aimed at making MES an effective organisation with a leaner workforce, well equipped to handle complex issues in the emerging scenario in an efficient and cost effective manner.
6 - Indian Coast Guard ships Sachet, C-450 and C-451 commissioned
Indian Coast Guard ships Sachet, C-450 and C-451 were commissioned into the Indian Navy at Goa. Ship ICGS Sachet is the first in a series of five offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) being built by the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL). The Interceptor Boats (IBs) - C-450 and C-451, are designed & built by the Larsen & Toubro Shipyard, Hazira.
Sachet is fitted with communication equipment, navigation, sensor, and machinery. The IBs are capable of achieving speeds in excess of 45 knots and designed for high-speed interception, close patrol and low intensity maritime operations.
7 - Patent filed for low cost Personal Protective Equipment by Navy
Intellectual Property Facilitation Cell, IPFC, of Ministry of Defence in association with National Research Development Corporation, NRDC, an enterprise under Ministry of Science and Technology, has filed a patent for Medical Personal Protective Equipment, PPE developed by the Indian Navy. The low-cost PPE has been developed by a Doctor posted in Innovation Cell at Institute of Naval Medicine, Mumbai.
The PPE is made of a special fabric which affords high-level of protection and breathability as against other PPEs. The technology has also been tested and validated by ICMR approved Testing Lab.
8 - Indian Army to implement “Tour of Duty”
The Indian Army is considering a proposal that entails allowing common citizens to voluntarily join the force for three years as part of a model called “Tour of Duty”. ToD is for those persons who do not wish to take defence services as a career, but still want to experience adventure and thrills in armed forces.
The proposed model of ToD will be on a trial basis/ internship for officers and other ranks in the army for a limited number of vacancies. With this scheme, the army is trying to attract youth from top academic institutes such as IITs.
9 - GoI to convert world’s only horse serving cavalry into regular armoured regiment
The Government of India has approved a proposal to equip the 61st Cavalry with tanks. With this, the Indian Army’s only mounted cavalry regiment, one of the world’s last remaining horse-mounted cavalry regiments, is enroute to an end of an era. The Jaipur-based 61st Cavalry is likely to be equipped with T-72 tanks.
The 61st Cavalry is being converted into a regular armoured regiment on the basis of a recommendation made by the Lieutenant General DB Shekatkar (retd) committee. The regiment’s 300-odd horses will become part of a new equestrian node.
10 - Indian Air Force announced to suspend three major acquisition projects
Indian Air Force announced to suspend three major acquisition projects worth 8000 crore rupees owing to higher costs and support ‘Make in India’. The suspended projects include the Air force’s plan to buy 38 Swiss Pilatus basic trainer aircraft from Switzerland, 20 additional Hawk planes from Britain, and a plan to upgrade 80 Jaguar fighter planes with engines from America.
Since Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in advanced stage of development of HTT-40 trainer planes, Indian Army would
11 - IAF inducts Tejas Mk-1 FOC aircraft in Squadron “Flying Bullets”
The Indian Air Force (IAF) inducted first Tejas Mk-1 FOC aircraft into the recently resurrected No 18 Sqn, the “Flying Bullets” at Air Force Station Sulur. The Squadron is the first in the IAF to induct this platform.
Tejas Mk-1 FOC is a single engine, light weight, highly agile, all weather multi role fighter aircraft. cSeveral advanced technologies have been incorporated into the Tejas FOC including Air-to-Air refueling and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile system.
