In a bid to bolster the 'Aatmanirbharta in Defence' and promote the Make-in-India campaign, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) inked five capital acquisition agreements totalling Rs 39,125.39 crores on March 1, 2024, in New Delhi. Among the five agreements, one involves Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for procuring Aero-engines for MiG-29 aircraft, two pertain to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Limited for Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) and High-Power Radar (HPR) procurement, while two others concern BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL) for acquiring BrahMos missiles and Ship-borne BrahMos systems for the Indian Defence Forces. These contracts will bolster indigenous capabilities, save foreign exchange, and decrease reliance on foreign equipment manufacturers. For instance, the agreement with HAL involves obtaining RD-33 Aero Engines for MiG-29 aircraft, which are crucial for sustaining the Indian Air Force's operational capability. The procurement of CIWS and HPR from L& T is geared towards enhancing terminal and terrestrial air defence capabilities, respectively. Likewise, the BrahMos missiles and Ship-borne BrahMos system agreements BAPL aim to meet the combat needs of the Indian Navy, thereby fostering indigenous manufacturing and generating significant employment opportunities. Click here to read… [2]
The 3rd iteration of India - Malaysia Bilateral Maritime Exercise Samudra Laksamana was conducted from February 28 to March 2, 2024, off the coast of Visakhapatnam, with the participation of Indian Naval Ship Kiltan and Royal Malaysian Ship KD Lekir. Comprising both harbour professional interactions and an operational phase at sea, wherein the crews of both ships engaged in diverse professional interactions, including Subject Matter Expert Exchanges on topics of mutual interest, sports events, and other engagements and collaboratively refined their skills by conducting various operations at sea. Overall, the objective of the exercise was to fortify ties and improve interoperability between the Indian and Royal Malaysian Navy. Click here to read… [3]
MoD has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BEML Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) to indigenously develop an Advanced Fuelling and Control System for heavy-duty. Signifying a commitment to indigenous development, the collaboration aims to harness domestic capabilities for the design, testing, and production of an advanced system that promises improved efficiency, performance, and reliability. By integrating cutting-edge engine technology and control systems, the initiative seeks to bolster expertise in engine systems, ensuring self-sufficiency in Combat vehicles. The agreement aligns with the government's vision of fostering complex technologies domestically under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative. Click here to read… [4]
The inaugural two-day Brainstorming session, titled 'Impetus to Indigenisation', convened by the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), MoD in collaboration with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), concluded on March 5, 2024. The session yielded highly productive results, generating insights for policy reform aimed at expediting the indigenisation process and fostering greater involvement of the private sector in India's Defence Manufacturing Sector.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan emphasised the ongoing transformative journey in defence reforms, stressing the necessity for collaborative efforts across government bodies, services, R&D, and defence production ecosystem to drive innovation towards achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing, aligning with India's 'Vision 2047'.
The Brainstorming Session, chaired by the CDS, saw active involvement from key stakeholders across various entities, including MoD, DMA, Service HQs, Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Dept of Defence Production (DDP), DGQA, Academia, Industry Partners, and tri-services field units. Discussions encompassed multiple facets of indigenisation, including addressing policy challenges, boosting indigenisation efforts with a focus on sustenance, Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) issues affecting Aviation, Maritime, and Land Assets. The discussions aimed at identifying areas for indigenous technology and product development while reducing reliance on imports to ensure high operational readiness of the Armed Forces.
Highlights from the first day included discussions on private sector participation in Defence R&D, enhancing the effectiveness of Make, iDEX, Positive Indigenisation List (PIL), and Technology Development Fund (TDF) schemes, incentivizing private sector involvement in defence manufacturing, ensuring a level playing field, developing and managing Defence Industry Corridors, mapping the capacity of all defence manufacturers nationwide, incentivizing MSMEs, exploring PPP/GOCO models, and addressing Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). The second day focused on outlining the MRO requirements of Services and ICG. Click here to read… [5]
INS Jatayu was commissioned at Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep on March 06, 24. This milestone event strengthens Indian Navy's foothold in the Lakshadweep Island while extending capacity building, operational reach and sustenance in the region. The establishment of Naval Base at Minicoy will augment connectivity with the main land focusing towards comprehensive development of the islands. INS Jatayu will be functioning under the operational control of Naval Officer in Charge (Lakshadweep), Southern Naval Command. Click here to read… [6]
On March 9, 2024, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the Sela Tunnel project, constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). This tunnel, situated at an altitude of 13,000 feet on the road linking Tezpur, Assam to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh's West Kameng district, was completed at a cost of Rs 825 crore. Its inauguration aims to enhance all-weather connectivity to Tawang through Sela Pass on the Balipara - Chariduar - Tawang Road, bolstering the readiness of the Armed Forces and fostering socio-economic growth in the border region. The Prime Minister highlighted the government's dedication to Northeast development and emphasized the tunnel's significance in easing travel for Tawang residents. The tunnel, completed in five years despite challenging terrain and weather, utilizes advanced Austrian Tunnelling Method and adheres to rigorous safety standards, emphasizing its strategic importance for the nation. Click here to read… [7]
The first edition of the Biannual Naval Commanders’ Conference 2024, which serves as a vital platform for discussing key maritime security issues at the Military-Strategic level, took place from March 5 to March 8, 2024. While the initial part was convened aboard the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, subsequent sessions were held in New Delhi on March 7 and 8, 2024. The opening session, chaired by Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, saw the participation of CDS, Defence Secretary, senior MoD officials, and Naval Commanders.
Praising the Indian Navy's swift response to recent events in West Asia and adjacent seas, the defence minister urged Commanders to maintain readiness across all conflict scenarios. He emphasized the Indian Navy's leadership role in ensuring peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region, stressing the significance of Tri-Services Jointness and Integration.
Discussions during the New Delhi sessions encompassed operational, material, infrastructure, logistics, and personnel-related initiatives. Naval leadership also reviewed plans for capability enhancements in island territories to address present and future maritime challenges. Indian Army and the Air Force Chiefs shared their perspectives on the operating environment and readiness levels.
Furthermore, Naval Commanders engaged with various 'Think Tanks' during a 'Sagar Manthan' event, exploring avenues to promote Aatmanirbharta initiatives and bolster self-reliance in defence production through interactions with MSMEs, innovators, and academia. Click here to read… [8]
The 'Sea Defenders-2024' maritime security exercise between the ICG and United States Coast Guard (USCG) concluded at Port Blair on March 9, 2024. The exercise aimed to bolster maritime cooperation and interoperability between the two forces, encompassing diverse scenarios such as Pollution Response Demonstrations and simulated Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) Operations to combat illegal activities at sea. Demonstrations by the ICG ships and aircraft showcased expertise in responding to environmental hazards and conducting Search & Rescue missions. Additionally, the exercise simulated responses to asymmetric threats like drone attacks on merchant traffic and included training in firefighting and damage control. These joint exercises serve to enhance operational capabilities and strengthen the partnership between the US and ICG, contributing to a safer maritime environment. Click here to read… [9]
DRDO successfully conducted the inaugural flight test of the indigenous Agni-5 missile equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology. Designated as Mission Divyastra, the test took place at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, achieving all set parameters. Prime Minister and Defence Minister commended the DRDO scientists for their remarkable achievement. Click here to read… [10]
To meet the growing demand for NCC enrolment across educational institutions nationwide, the defence minister has approved a proposal to expand the National Cadet Corps (NCC) by incorporating an additional three lakh vacancies. Originally comprising just 20,000 cadets in 1948, the NCC will now have an authorized strength of 20 lakh cadets, making it the world's largest uniformed youth organization. With NCC offered as an elective subject under the National Education Policy 2020, this expansion aligns with the youth's aspirations to assume significant roles as future national leaders. The far-reaching impact of this extension will result in a proportional distribution of vacancies across all States and Union Territories, thereby reducing waiting lists for NCC enrolment in institutions.
The expansion entails the establishment of four new Group Headquarters and the incorporation of two new NCC units. A notable aspect of the expansion plan involves proposing the employment of ex-servicemen as NCC instructors, thereby leveraging their expertise and extensive experience. This initiative ensures high-quality training for NCC cadets and creates employment opportunities for veterans. The expansion underscores a commitment to nurturing future leaders embodying discipline, leadership, and service, ultimately contributing to nation-building endeavours. The NCC aims to make a transformative impact by fostering an environment where youth actively contribute to nation-building efforts. This initiative will broaden the base of motivated, disciplined, and patriotic youth of the ‘Amrit Peedhi’, aligning with the vision of 'Viksit Bharat.' Click here to read… [11]
India’s Defence Secretary and Italian Secretary General of Defence & National Armament Director co-chaired the 10th India-Italy Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting in New Delhi on March 13, 2024. Discussions encompassed various defence industrial and military collaboration matters, including Indo-Pacific affairs and security concerns. The primary focus was on enhancing defence industrial cooperation, following the signing of a defence cooperation agreement in October 2023. Both sides explored avenues to facilitate joint projects and co-production ventures, aiming to integrate Indian vendors into the global supply chains of Italian defence companies to bolster supply chain resilience and mutual benefits. Click here to read… [12]
The MoD inked two contracts worth Rs 8073.17 crore with HAL, Bengaluru, on March 13, 2024 for the acquisition of 34 Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Dhruv Mk III, including Operational Role Equipment for the Indian Army (25 ALHs) and the Indian Coast Guard (09 ALHs). Procured under the Buy (Indian-IDDM - Indigenously Designed, Developed & Manufactured) category, this marks a significant step towards indigenisation in defence manufacturing.
The ALH Dhruv Mk III UT (Utility) variant, tailored for the Indian Army, is engineered for various missions such as Search & Rescue, Troop Transportation, Internal Cargo, and Recce/Casualty Evacuation, with demonstrated effectiveness in high-altitude regions like the Siachen Glacier and Ladakh. The ALH Mk III MR (Maritime Role), designed for the Indian Coast Guard, specializes in Maritime Surveillance, Interdiction, Search and Rescue, Rappelling Operations, Cargo & Personnel Transportation, and Pollution Response. Its proven performance in adverse atmospheric conditions over sea and land underscores its reliability.
The project is anticipated to generate around 190 Lakh Man-Hours of employment and involve supply from over 200 MSMEs and 70 local vendors, contributing positively to employment generation in the sector and aligning with the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. Click here to read… [13]
On March 15, 2024, the MoD signed a contract with HAL for Rs. 2,890 crores for the Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) of 25 Dornier Aircraft, including associated equipment, for the Indian Navy. This upgrade involves integrating advanced Avionics Systems and Primary Role sensors, substantially enhancing the aircraft's operational capacity for tasks like Maritime Surveillance, Coastal Surveillance, and Electronic Intelligence. Additionally, it enables secondary roles such as Search and Rescue and Medical/Casualty Evacuation. This initiative is expected to create 1.8 Lakh Man-days of employment over 6.5 years, emphasizing indigenous sourcing and supporting the 'Atmanirbharta' in Defence and the Make-in-India initiative. Click here to read… [14]
On 14 March, al-Shabaab terrorists attacked and laid siege to SYL hotel in Mogadishu. Somali security forces carried out anti-terror operations and killed all five terrorists. In the attack, three soldiers fell in the battle, and 27 people were injured, including three members of Parliament and the government spokesperson. “We first heard a huge blast, and then gunfire followed. We understand the fighters are inside [the hotel], for we hear an exchange of gunfire,” said Farah Ali, a resident who lives near the President’s office. Click here to read… [15]
On 10 March, without giving further details, the al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) announced that its leader— Khalid al-Batarfi, was dead. Khalid al-Batarfi had a USD 5 million bounty on his head from the US government. Leading the AQAP through years saw al-Batarfi imprisoned, freed in a jailbreak, and leading forces in Yemen amid that country’s grinding war. Al-Qa’ida released a video showing al-Batarfi wrapped in a white funeral shroud and al-Qa’ida’s black-and-white flag. Click here to read… [16]
On 05 March, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided multiple locations in seven States— Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Punjab, Gujarat, and West Bengal, in connection with the Bengaluru ‘Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Prison Radicalisation’ case. The NIA also recovered 25 mobile phones, six laptops, and four storage devices, besides various incriminating documents and cash, apart from currency notes of various countries. Click here to read… [17]
On 07 March, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) designated Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative— Mohammad Qasim Gujjar, presently living in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A], 1967. According to the MHA’s announcement, Qasim is involved in carrying out a wide range of terrorist activities, including coordinating, supplying, and identifying locations of drones for dropping arms, ammunition, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and cash, as well as delivering and managing consignments from across the border. Click here to read… [18]
On 11 March, the NIA filed charges against a top leader of CPI (Maoist)— Sanjoy Deepak Rao, in the ‘Telangana LWE conspiracy’ case about promoting LWE in Bharat. Sanjoy had actively recruited and radicalised other individuals to join the CPI (Maoist) in a systematic process and manner to carry out acts related to terror and violence in conspiracy with other Maoist cadres, as per NIA investigations. NIA had found that Sanjoy had been involved in organising terror camps in the Western Ghats Special Zonal Committee/WGSZC of CPI (Maoist) as part of the conspiracy. Click here to read… [19]
On 10 March, security forces killed a Maoist belonging to the Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC) and arrested three others during a gunfight with a Maoist group at Ureej forest under Barkagaon police station in Hazaribagh district in Jharkhand. Click here to read… [20]
On 03 March, the NIA charge sheeted two Maoists— i) Pramod Mishra and ii) Anil Yadav, in the ‘CPI (Maoist) Magadh Zone revival’ case. The NIA investigations have revealed that Mishra was involved in promoting and propagating Maoist ideology, for which he was also motivating and recruiting cadres in his area. Besides, he raised funds and organised meetings with the old Naxal cadres. Anil Yadav, a Sub-Zonal Committee Member and an active cadre of the outfit was actively involved in raising funds by collecting levies from Brick Kiln owners and contractors. Click here to read… [21]
On 11 March, at least 80 radical Sikhs supporting ‘Khalistan’ propaganda raised derogatory slogans against Bharat’s High Commissioner to Canada— Sanjay Kumar Verma, while he was attending an event organised by the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. “pro-Khalistan elements tried to disrupt the event, but did not succeed,” said Amb Verma. Click here to read… [22]
On 13 March, the NIA filed a chargesheet against five Islamic State (IS) operatives in the ‘Pune ISIS arms and explosives seizure’ case. The five IS operatives were identified as— i) Mohammad Shahnawaz Alam, ii) Rizwan Ali, iii) Abdullah Shaikh, iv) Talha Liyakat Khan, and v) Shamil Nachan. All the accused were members of the Islamic State and were involved in the conspiracy for terror attacks in and around Pune in Maharashtra. It was also found that the charge sheeted operatives were in touch with their foreign-based handler via secret communication applications. They also raised terror funds by carrying out armed robberies and thefts and receiving money from their handlers for their activities. Click here to read… [23]
On 02 March, the NIA arrested an absconding Popular Front of India (PFI) secretary (Telangana)— Abdul Saleem, in the ‘Nizamabad PFI’ case involving anti-Bharat conspiracy to carry out terror acts in the country. An integral part of the conspiracy of the PFI and its cadres was to make Bharat into an Islamic nation by 2047. Abdul Saleem has been on the run since the case came to light, and the NIA had subsequently declared the reward for his arrest. He was nabbed from Mydukur in the Kadappa district of Andhra Pradesh based on an intelligence-led operation. Click here to read… [24]
On 12 March, the NIA raided 30 locations in four States— i) Punjab, ii) Haryana, iii) Madhya Pradesh, and iv) Rajasthan, and one Union Territory (UT)— Chandigarh, in connection with the ‘terror-gangster nexus’ case about designated terrorist/gangster Arshdeep Singh aka Arsh Dala and other operatives of the banned terrorist group— Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). The premises at the locations raided were linked to various Dala associates. Incriminating materials, including digital devices, were seized during the searches. Click here to read… [25]
On 05 March, the NIA Special Court, Lucknow, convicted and sentenced an accused— Mohammad Rashid, to Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) and a fine in an espionage case involving passing on audio/visual material of sensitive Bharatiya installations and details regarding the movement of armed forces to operatives working for Pakistan’s defence establishments and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Directorate. Acting on the directions of ISI agents, he had also arranged Bharatiya SIM cards fraudulently, along with OTPs, for operatives of the Pakistani spy agency to facilitate the activation of WhatsApp accounts with Bharatiya numbers in their country. As part of the conspiracy, he received funds and gifts from the ISI agents to supply information, including photos and videos of places of strategic, tactical, and religious importance. Click here to read… [26]
[30]
Links:
[1] https://www.vifindia.org/defensenationalsecurityterrorism/2024/march/21
[2] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2010528
[3] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2010643
[4] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2011274
[5] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2011614
[6] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2012143
[7] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2012962
[8] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2012965
[9] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2013097
[10] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2013549
[11] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2014014
[12] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2014219
[13] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2014340
[14] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2015025
[15] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68569023?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9305238_
[16] https://apnews.com/article/yemen-al-qaida-leader-dies-b96205a1ac2faaca4bfa3104ef8088e6
[17] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1669_1_Pr.pdf
[18] https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mha-designates-let-member-mohammad-qasim-gujjar-as-terrorist-under-uapa-101709810189767.html
[19] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1672_1_Pr.pdf
[20] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/maoist-killed-3-held-in-jharkhand-encounter/articleshow/108374061.cms
[21] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1668_1_Pr1.pdf
[22] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pro-khalistan-protesters-greet-indian-high-commissioner-in-canada/article67944128.ece
[23] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1674_1_Pr.pdf
[24] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1667_1_Pr.pdf
[25] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1673_1_Pr.pdf
[26] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1670_1_Pr1.pdf
[27] http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?title=VIF News Digest : National Security- Defence Studies & Terrorism (01-15 March 2024)&desc=&images=&u=https://www.vifindia.org/defensenationalsecurityterrorism/2024/march/21
[28] http://twitter.com/share?text=VIF News Digest : National Security- Defence Studies & Terrorism (01-15 March 2024)&url=https://www.vifindia.org/defensenationalsecurityterrorism/2024/march/21&via=Azure Power
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[30] https://www.vifindia.org/author/Anurag-Bisen