India Strategic – The authoritative monthly on Defence and Strategic Affairs

HEADLINES:

Emirates begins daily Airbus 380 Dubai-New York flights from June 3 । India grieves passing away of Sir Anerood Jugnauth, former President and Prime Minister of Mauritius । Etihad Airways ang United Nations join forces to boost Global Volunteering । Biden Unveils US Strategy for sharing 80 million Covid Vaccines Globally । Biden says US will help other countries to Expand Their Own Capacity to Produce Vaccines । Govt bars retired security and intelligence officers from disclosing critical details । A sweeping new order restrains any information on ‘domain of the organization’ and its personnel । Unauthorized information, even through books, would attract penalties like withdrawal of pension । Happy International Flight Attendants Day । MoD Notifies 2nd positive Indigenization list of 108 items । Croatia selects French Rafale Jet । IAF gets 23 Rafales, more expected । IAF’s second Rafale Squadron to be formed in June । India to make Jhonson & Jhonson vaccine for Corona । Indian Army to shortly get four Israeli Heron TP drones for ISR । US strongly supports India in its Covid Relief effort । Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, IPS 1985 batch, is new CBI Director । India’s DRDO develops anti-Covid drug, it’s officially announced । The soluble powder-form drug will be made in India shortly by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories । Drug Controller appproves its emergency use initially । Biden supports waving Patent Protections on Covid 19 vaccines to ease global health crisis । Three more Rafale jets arriving today for IAF’s second MMRCA Squadron । The Rafales will fly direct to India after midair refueling by French and UAE tankers । US Vice President Kamala Harris Swears in new NASA Administrator Sen. Bill Nelson । Biden appoints top diplomat Daniel Smith as Charge d’Affaires at US Embassy in New Delhi । NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter will begin new trials on Mars mid-May । China commissions three warships in one day । India’s eminent nuclear scientist K Santhanam, 84, passes away । He was a key player in India’s 1998 nuclear tests । Santy, as he was known, was also a Board Member of India Strategic । US approves 12 Armed General Atomics MQ 9B Predators for Australia । Missing Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala 402 has sunk, announces Navy Chief Yudo Margono । Indian Armed Forces to import 23 mobile Oxygen Generation Plants from Germany । IAF’s First Rafale Squadron Now Fully Operational with 18 Aircraft । Germany bids Farewell to Angela Merkel as Chancellor । Merkel steps down voluntarily in Sep 2021 । Merkel is Germany’s first Woman Chancellor, elected in 2005 । NASA Creates History by Flying its Ingenuity Helicopter on Mars, Another Planet । Boeing to introduce short range Electric planes in 10 years । And later bigger planes as Electrification technology progresses । Boeing 737 Max back in service with 182 aircraft already operating now । India domestic recovery in Civil Aviation is leading globally, says Boeing । Secretary Austin echoed India’s stand on Free, Open and Inclusive Indo-Pacific । Wider, global cooperation between the Indian and US forces mooted । India-US partnership a priority for Biden Administration, and we will build on it further, says Secretary Austin । And Quad is about Free and Fair rights of navigation for all in the Indo-Pacific । US Defense Secretary Lloyd J Austin arrives in India । Career diplomat William J Burns is new CIA Director । Burns was till 2014 predecessor of Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is now US Secretary of State । President Joe Biden is apparently getting the Obama team back । KRAS rolls out the first delivery of 1000 MRSAM Missile Kits for the Indian Army and Air Force । US, India, Australia and Japan hold their first-ever QUAD Summit । Prime Minister Modi said QUAD is a force of global good । President Biden and Prime Ministers Modi, Scott Morrison of Australia and Yoshihide Suge of Japan echoed solidarity for a Peaceful, Rules-based Indo-Pacific region । QUAD partners agreed to pool their manufacturing capacities to bolster production of Covid and any critical Vaccines later । China was not named but QUAD is clearly a response to its threatening manoeuvres against its neighbours । Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla said there will be a Joint Summit Statement, signifying the QUAD is now established as a formal Indo-Pacific grouping । UAE’s Hope probe reaches Mars Orbit । The Big Achievement marks 50 years of United Arab Emirates’ independence in 1971 । Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates Aero India 2021 । IAF signs big contract for 83 LCA Mk 1A with HAL । Happy Republic Day । Indian Army, Air Force and Navy hold a grand Parade, and Salute the President, their Supreme Commander । IAF’s newest Rafale Omni Role combat jet takes part in the Parade for the first । The Republic Day Parade had limited official and visitor participation due to Covid । Joe Biden Is 46th President of the United States । And Kamala Harris, of Indian and Jamaican descent, is the First Woman Vice President । Former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton attended the Oath Ceremony । But outgoing President Donald Trump did not । The Swearing in was historical for many reasons, including for the masks that all wore due to the Covid । The Oath was about Equality, Freedom and Inclusion of All, and Dream Together । US-based Indian Narinder Singh Kapany, father of Fiber Optics, passes away at 94 । He was among the couple of physicists responsible for ‘bending the light’ through fibers । Optical Fibers have led to lightening speeds in communication technologies । Trump says transition to Joe Biden’s presidency will be orderly । The new US President will take charge January 20 as always । We Wish Everyone Simply A Safer, Happier 2021 । India Approves Export of Akash Surface to Air Missile System, Creates Committee for Faster Clearances । Joe Biden calls Covid 19 the biggest crisis for US and promises 100 million vaccines in his first 100 days as President । Biden takes over the US presidency from Donald Trump on January 20 । Aero India 2021 confirmed for Feb 3-5, Three Business Days । Two public days, Feb 4-5, now deleted from schedule । Qatar celebrated its National Day Dec 19 with an impressive military parade and festivities । Boeing offers US Navy Capability Super Hornet Block III to the Indian Navy । Pfizer’s Covid vaccine released for patients at NYU Langone in New York Dec 14 । Paris Air Show 2021, scheduled for June 21-27, cancelled due to the China virus । It will now be held in June 2023, as scheduled once every two years । In 2020, the Farnborough Air Show was also cancelled due to the virus । Chuck Yeager, the first pilot to break sound barrier, passes away at 97 । Chuck Yeager flew supersonic in a bullet shaped Bell XS-1 rocket plane 14 Oct 1947 । India set to Approve 30 General Atomics MQ 9B Predators for Army, Navy and IAF । Saudi Arabia, US Conduct Joint Military Drills । Army Chief Gen Naravane visiting UAE and Saudi Arabia Dec 9-14 । This is the first visit of an Indian Army Chief to UAE and Saudi Arabia । On the agenda is enhancing bilateral Defence Relations । Jet Airways to take off again next year । SpaceX Dragon Cargo Craft Joins at the ISS: NASA । India Celebrates Navy Day । Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh describes it as Combat Ready, Credible and Cohesive । Indian Navy RFP for P 75 i submarines likely soon, OEMs selected । Indian Navy coordinating with Army and Air Force on tensions around our borders । Navy Chief Adm Karambir Singh says IN coordinating with foreign Navies towards Reach and Sustainability । Two leased MQ 9 General Atomics drones deployed in Indian Ocean for Maritime Recce । Indian Navy Boeing P 8Is also deployed on Himalayan borders for Recce । 24 Ships and Submarines have been built indigenously during last 6 years । Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant is at an advanced stage of construction । Greetings to all Emiratis and Residents on the UAE National Day Dec 2 । HAL Delivers Biggest Ever Cryogenic Propellant Tank to ISRO । An Indian Navy MiG 29K Trainer crashes into Arabian Sea, One pilot rescued । Search on by Aircraft, S&R Helicopters and Ships for the other pilot । The MiG 29K was operating from INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier । Happy Thanksgiving to All Our American Friends । QUAD Navies four-day Malabar Exercise Phase II Underway in the Arabian Sea। INS Vikramaditya and USS Nimitz are in the Forefront of the Exercise । Ships from Australia and Japan are also Taking part in the Non-contact but High Intensity Exercise । Trump blocks Americans from investing in companies linked to Chinese military । The highly significant ban applies on US businesses and residents । Virgin Hyperloop creates transport history by ferrying passengers first time in a Test Tunnel in US । Two top Virgin executives travelled at 160 KM/h, aiming eventually to reach 1000 kmph । USS Nimitz and INS Vikramaditya carrier groups to hold Malabar Exercise Nov 17-20 । India issues new Guidelines for international Arrivals । Azerbaijan and Armenia agree to ceasefire over Nagorno-Karabakh । President Trump fires his Defense Secretary Mark Esper, through a Tweet । Chris Miller, Director National Counter Terrorism Centre, will be Acting Secretary of Defense । President Trump fires his Defense Secretary Mark Esper, through a Tweet । Chris Miller, Director National Counter Terrorism Centre, will be Acting Secretary of Defense । Boeing, Lockheed Martin and BAE enter Japan’s Future Fighter FX Competition । The Winner will Collaborate with Mitsubishi to deliver the FX in 2030s । Democrat Joe Biden wins US Presidential Election । He won 290. Electoral College votes against 214 of President Trump । Republican Trump though has declared he would challenge the result । US Navy awards General Dynamics Electric Boat $9.47b contract for new Columbia Class SSBNs । Three more Rafale Fighter Jets arrive Nov 4 and join Indian Air Force । They flew nonstop for 8 hrs with midair refueling and landed at Jamnagar airbase । Four-nation Malabar 2020 Naval Exercise Underway in Bay of Bengal । Indian, US, Japanese and Australian, or QUAD, Navies are Holding the Exercise । USIBC inducts Dr Vivek Lall into its Global Board of Directors । Sean Connery, the James Bond who throbbed many a heart in spy thrillers, dies at 90 । IAF SU-30 flies 4000 km to destroy target ship with BrahMos missile । The sortie was a practice mission to test endurance in different scenarios । Multi polar world must have Multi polar Asia: India । First Etihad flight lands in Israel’s Tel Aviv and returns to Abu Dhabi । Israeli delegation flues on board to promote bilateral tourism with UAE । Japan Launches New Taigei Class Larger and Quieter Submarine । Belgian and Austrian Foreign Ministers test positive for China virus । Germany to start Corona virus vaccination by April 2021 । Big hope towards economic, public health and global strategic security । Indian Air Force Celebrates 88th Anniversary with Pride and Grand Flypast

June 05, 2021

DEFENCE INDUSTRY

Northrop Grumman Helps to Enable Decision Superiority

Bombardier Specialized Aircraft Confirms Deal with US Air Force for up to Six More Global Aircraft in Special Mission Configuration

Using 5G for command & control

Going Agile: Lockheed Martin Integrating Air Battle Management Capabilities Into US Air Force Software Factory Environment

INDIAN ARMY

136 TA (Eco), various units at Pune conduct massive eco conservation projects

Mumbai. On the occasion of World Environment Day, Southern Command reinvigorated its resolve of continuing with its mega initiative of planting over one and a half lakh saplings and one lakh...

CINCAN visits units of ANC in Nicobar Group of Islands

INDIAN NAVY

INS Airavat arrives at Visakhapatnam with COVID Relief Material from Vietnam and Singapore

New Delhi. As part of Operation Samudra Setu II, INS Airavat of the Eastern Naval Command arrived at Visakhapatnam on June 3 with COVID Relief stores including Cryogenic Oxygen Tanks, Oxygen...

World Environment Day 2021: Indian Navy – Blue Water Operations With A Green Footprint

INDIAN AIR FORCE

Armed Forces prepare to mitigate Cyclone Yaas

New Delhi. The Armed Forces have commenced preparations to mitigate the impact of Cyclone Yaas, which is expected to hit the Eastern Coast on May 26. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has...

Rajnath Singh lauds three Services, Indian Coast Guard for Cyclone Tauktae SAR operations

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Assistance to Sri Lanka - Operation Sagar Aaraksha II

New Delhi. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) since May 25, in coordination with Sri Lankan authorities has been tirelessly engaged in fighting a major fire onboard the Chemical laden container vessel MV...

Prime Minister Modi speaks to US Vice President Kamala Harris on vaccine allocation

GULF

EDGE Group Statement on UAE Armed Forces Unification Day

Dubai, UAE. On the 45th UAE Armed Forces Unification Day, we at EDGE salute all those who have contributed to the safety and security of our nation. We honour the steadfast...

Etihad Airways Starts IATA Pass Trial on Flights from Abu Dhabi to North America

APPOINTMENTS

Rear Admiral Kapil Mohan Dhir appointed Joint Secretary (Navy & Defence Staff)

New Delhi. Rear Admiral Kapil Mohan Dhir has taken over as the Joint Secretary (Navy & Defence Staff) in the Department of Military Affairs. He is the first Armed Forces officer...

Lockheed Martin Elects Patricia E. Yarrington To Board Of Directors

SPACE

General Atomics Partners with Space Development Agency to Conduct Space-to-Air Optical Communication Experiment

SAN DIEGO. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced on June 2 that it was awarded a contract by the Space Development Agency to demonstrate space-to-air optical communication using GA-EMS’ Laser Interconnect and...

NASA’s Perseverance rover completes 100 days on Mars

NUCLEAR

More power and updated design revealed as nuclear power team targets first place in the assessment queue in Autumn 2021

The consortium, led by Rolls-Royce, which is creating a compact nuclear power station known as a small modular reactor (SMR), has revealed its latest design and an increase in power as...

General Atomics Awarded DARPA Contract to Design Nuclear Thermal Propulsion System for DRACO Mission

HOMELAND SECURITY

COAS reviews security along LOC in Kashmir

New Delhi. On the second day of his two-day visit to the Kashmir Valley, General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) reviewed the security situation along the Line of Control on...

Army Chief reviews security in Kashmir Valley

MISSILES

Shoring up Defense over the Horizon

The NATO member recently signed an agreement to acquire Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense Systems built by Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a business of Raytheon Technologies, in partnership with the Norwegian...

Lockheed Martin's First Modernized SBIRS Missile Warning Satellite Now Under US Space Force Control

TALKING POINTS

136 TA (Eco), various units at Pune conduct massive eco conservation projects

Mumbai. On the occasion of World Environment Day, Southern Command reinvigorated its resolve of continuing with its mega initiative of planting over one and a half lakh saplings and one lakh...

Assistance to Sri Lanka - Operation Sagar Aaraksha II

INTERVIEW

Ankur Kanaglekar, Head India Fighters Sales, Boeing Defense, Space and Security

Boeing began its campaign to offer advanced systems to India from 2006 after the US Departments of State and Defense cleared some high technologies for export to India, thanks to the...

General Atomics is about Formidable Technologies: Dr Vivek Lall

COMMENT

Boeing’s P-8 program shows health of 737 program, says GlobalData

Following the news that the US Navy placed an order $1.6bn for 11 P-8 aircraft;Mathew George, Ph.D, Analyst, Aerospace, Defense and Security at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view: “The present order for the US...