VIF News Digest: National Security- Defence Studies & Terrorism (Vol 2 Issue VI)

April 16 – 30, 2018

Contents

Defence

• Conclusion of Exercise Gaganshakti-2018;

• First Ever Joint Army exercise on Malaysian Soil Commences;

• LCA Tejas Achieves yet another Milestone;

• DAC Approves Capital Acquisition Proposals Worth Rs 3,687Crore.

International Terrorism

• Anti-Daesh Operations in Ninveh;

• Airstrikes against Daesh in Syria;

• Afghanistan-Joint Special operation by ANA and US Special force at Balkh;

• Terror strike in Kandahar Province;

• Twin Suicide Bombing Kabul;

• Voter Registration Bombing Kabul;

• Pakistan-FIA Special Prosecutor removed;

• Suicide Attack at Quetta;

• Canada-Pro-Khalistan rally in Toronto;

• Africa-Terror strike in Maiduguri.

Domestic Terrorism

• Hawala operator arrested in Foreign Remittance Scam;

• Jammu and Kashmir-Jaish Op Commander Mufti Yasir Killed;

• Rising JeM footprints in Tral;

• HM Commander Sameer Bhat Killed;

• Left Wing Extremism-Gadchiroli anti-LWE Operation;

• 60 LWE Cadre Surrendered in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh.

Defence

Conclusion of Exercise Gaganshakti-2018
The Indian Air Force conducted pan India Exercise Gagan Shakti-2018 from 08-22 Apr 2018. The aim of the exercise was real-time coordination, deployment and employment of air power in a short and intense battle scenario. The exercise was conducted in two phases so that all Commands get adequate opportunity to test the efficacy of their preparedness. Re-deployment for Phase-II involved relocating the forces so as to be effective at the new locations within a short span of 48 hours. During the exercise, more than 11000 sorties were flown, which include approx. 9000 sorties by fighter aircraft. The operations were conducted in a Network Enabled scenario. IAF was able to achieve 80% serviceability of aircraft while radars and surface to air guided weapons maintained a serviceability of 97%. [Back to Contents ]

First Ever Joint Army exercise on Malaysian Soil Commences
Exercise Harimau Shakti 2018, between the Indian and the Malaysian Army, commenced on April 30 at Wardieburn Camp, Kuala Lumpur. The first phase of the two-week-long joint military exercise is a positive step in the bilateral relations between the two nations. The conduct of such exercises will enable mutual capacity enhancement and assist in building strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Malaysia. [Back to Contents ]

LCA Tejas Achieves yet another Milestone

Tejas, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) successfully fired Derby Air-to-Air Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile to expand the firing envelope. The missile was launched from LCA Tejas on April 27, 2018, from the firing range off the Goa coast. Tejas has been designed & developed by DRDO’s autonomous society – Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). Integration of Derby, a BVR class missile, is one of the major objectives of Final Operational Clearance (FOC) of LCA Tejas. [Back to Contents ]

DAC Approves Capital Acquisition Proposals worth ₹ 3,687 cr
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), on April 27, 2018, accorded approval to Capital Acquisition Proposals of the Services valued at over ₹ 3,687 cr. This includes the DRDO designed and developed NAG Missile System (NAMIS) at the cost of ₹ 524 cr and thirteen 127 mm calibre guns for the Navy from BAE Systems of the United States of America under the categorisation of Buy (Global) at an approximate cost of over ₹ 3,000 cr. [Back to Contents ]

International Terrorism

Anti-Daesh Operations in Ninveh
The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) conducted shelling over Al-Sabaya region of Iraq located in the border region between Iraq and Syria. In a statement, ISF claimed that many Daesh militants were killed during this attack. The Iraqi Syrian border region is manned jointly by ISF and border guards. Despite liberation of Iraq and Syria, Daesh remained a potent threat to the stability of Iraq. For More information - https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/several-islamic-state-militants-killed-in-shelling-on-iraqi-syrian-borders/ [2] [Back to Contents ]