DEFENCE:

• Major boost to ‘Make in India’: MoD signs contract with BEML for procurement of 1,512 Mine Plough for T-90 tanks.
• Indian Air Force Commanders' Conference.
• DRDO establishes COVID-19 Testing Facility at Dihar, Leh.
• Grant of permanent commission to women officers in Indian Army.
• 17th Meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs
• Raksha Mantri and Israeli Defence Minister telephonically discuss strengthening defence ties.
• India and Indonesia agree to further enhance bilateral defence cooperation in Defence Ministers’ Dialogue today.
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh pays homage to fallen heroes at National War Memorial on 21st anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
• Second draft of Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 placed in the public domain inviting suggestions
• Induction of Rafale in Indian Air Force.

International Terrorism:

Afghanistan

• ANSF killed 31 terrorists, including 13 JeMs in Nangarhar.

Pakistan

• Pakistan & China signed “secret deal” to expand Bio-Warfare tools.

Domestic Terrorism:

Jammu and Kashmir

• Security forces killed six terrorists in Kulgam and Shopian;
• Security forces killed two terrorists in Ranbirgarh;
• JeM’s hideout busted in Pulwama;
• Security forces arrested three JeM associates from Budgam;
• Pakistan conspired and trained 20 Taliban terrorists to attack in J&K.

Left-Wing Extremism

• NIA arrested a Delhi professor in connection with Bhima Koregaon case;
• 12 new-Maoist Committees formed in Telangana.

Khalistan-inspired Extremism

• DSGMC condemned the SFJ’s call for “Khalistan Referendum 2020”.

Islamist Extremism in India

• Around 200 Islamic State terrorists are in Kerala and Karnataka, claimed UNSC Report;
• Islamic State urged Indian Muslims to be Coronavirus carriers;
• IS operative was planning lone-wolf attacks in Delhi and J&K, claimed NIA.

Cyber & Artificial Intelligence (Security Perspective)

• US Army Cyber Chief outlined 10-year plan for IW;
• Australia to spend AUD One billion to boost Cyber Security.

Defence

Major boost to ‘Make in India’: MoD signs contract with BEML for procurement of 1,512 Mine Plough for T-90 tanks.

The Acquisition Wing of Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a Contract with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) for procurement of 1,512 Mine Plough (MP) for Tank T-90 S/SK at an approximate cost of Rs 557 crore. The contract has Buy and Make (Indian) categorisation with a minimum of 50 per cent indigenous content in make portion of the contract. These mine ploughs will be fitted on T-90 Tanks of Indian Armoured Corps which will facilitate individual mobility to Tanks while negotiating mine field. Mobility of Tank Fleet will enhance manifold, which in turn would extend the reach of Armoured Formation deep into enemy territory without becoming mine causality. With the induction of these 1,512 mine ploughs, planned to be completed by 2027, the combat capability of the Army will be further enhanced.
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Indian Air Force Commanders' Conference.

The Air Force Commanders’ Conference (AFCC) was conducted from 22-24 Jul 20, at Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan) New Delhi. The theme of the conference was "IAF in the Next Decade".The Air Force Commanders’ Conference (AFCC) was inaugurated by the Raksha Mantri. In his address the Raksha Mantri appreciated the proactive response by the IAF in bolstering its operational capabilities over the past few months. He stated that the professional manner in which IAF conducted the air strikes in Balakot as well as rapid deployment of IAF assets at forward locations in response to the prevailing situation in Eastern Ladakh has sent a strong message to the adversaries. Raksha Mantri said that the nation’s resolve to defend its sovereignty stands firm on the faith its people have in the capability of its Armed Forces. He alluded to the ongoing efforts for de-escalation on LAC and urged the IAF to stand ready to handle any eventuality.

He praised the stellar contribution by IAF in supporting the nation’s response to COVID-19 pandemic and the role played during several HADR missions. He highlighted the need to achieve self-reliance in defence production and noted that the theme chosen for this AFCC – ‘IAF in the Next Decade’ - was very apt for enhancing efforts towards indigenisation in the days to come. He lauded the progress made towards enhancing synergy and integration within the three services since the appointment of CDS and creation of DMA. The Raksha Mantri concluded by acknowledging IAF’s role in adapting to changes in technology and adopting emerging capabilities in Nano Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber and Space domains. He assured the commanders that all requirements of the Armed Forces, whether financial or otherwise, would be fulfilled.

The AFCC concluded after a series of discussions and reviews on operational preparedness and strategies for countering security threats envisaged across the entire spectrum. They discussed the current situation and thereafter carried out a thorough review of the IAF’s transformation roadmap for the next decade.
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DRDO establishes COVID-19 Testing Facility at Dihar, Leh.

DRDO has established a COVID-19 testing facility at the Leh based laboratory Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) to enhance the rate of testing to identify the Corona cases in the Union Territory of Ladakh. The facility meets the safety standards and guidelines of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The centre was inaugurated by on 22nd July 2020 and has the testing facility is capable of screening 50 samples per day. The facility can also be utilized for training manpower for COVID testing and will be of great help to address future bio-threats and carrying out R&D activities pertinent to agro-animals diseases.
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Grant of permanent commission to women officers in Indian army.

Ministry of Defence has issued the formal Government Sanction Letter for grant of Permanent Commission (PC) to Women Officers in the Indian Army, paving the way for empowering Women Officers to shoulder larger roles in the organisation. The order specifies grant of PC to Short Service Commissioned (SSC) Women Officers in all ten streams of the Indian Army i.e. Army Air Defence (AAD), Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), Army Service Corps (ASC), Army Ordnance Corps (AOC), and Intelligence Corps in addition to the existing streams of Judge and Advocate General (JAG) and Army Educational Corps (AEC).
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17th Meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation &Coordination(WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs.

The 17th meeting was held on 24 July 2020. The two sides reviewed the situation in the India-China border areas and the ongoing disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector. They agreed that early and complete disengagement of the troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and de-escalation from India-China border areas in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols and full restoration of peace and tranquility was essential for smooth overall development of bilateral relations.

The two sides noted that this was in accordance with the agreement reached between the two Special Representatives (SRs) during their telephonic conversation on 5 July 2020. They agreed in this regard that it was necessary for both sides to sincerely implement the understandings reached between Senior Commanders in their meetings till date. The two sides agreed that another meeting of the Senior Commanders may be held soon so as to work out further steps to ensure expeditiously complete disengagement and de-escalation and restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas.
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Raksha Mantri and Israeli Defence Minister telephonically discuss strengthening defence ties.

Raksha Mantri had a telephonic conversation with Defence Minister of Israel Lt Gen Benjamin Gantz on 24th July 2020. Both the Ministers expressed satisfaction at the progress of strategic cooperation between the two countries and discussed possibilities of further strengthening the defence engagements. Raksha Mantri invited greater participation of Israeli defence companies under new liberalised foreign direct investment (FDI) regime in defence manufacturing. The two Ministers exchanged views on regional developments. Defence Minister of Israel responded positively to an invitation from Shri Rajnath Singh to visit India at the earliest opportunity.
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Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh pays homage to fallen heroes at National War Memorial on 21st anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Raksha Mantri along with Raksha Rajya Mantri, Chief of Defence Staff & Secretary Department of Military Affairs, Chief of Army Staff General, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal paid homage to the fallen heroes at National War Memorial on the 21st anniversary of India’s victory in ‘Operation Vijay’ also known as Kargilconflict. Indian Armed Forces’ victory in Kargil on 26 July 1999 is a saga of strong political, military and diplomatic actions. The Nation is celebrating this day with pride, honour and inspiration.
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India and Indonesia agree to further enhance bilateral defence cooperation in Defence Ministers’ Dialogue today.

Indian delegation was headed by Raksha Mantri while the Indonesian delegation was led by its Defence Minister General Prabowo Subianto, who is in India for strengthening the ties between the two maritime neighbours. Shri Rajnath Singh indicated that the defence cooperation between India and Indonesia has witnessed an upswing in the recent years, which is in consonance with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two sides. Potential areas of cooperation in the field of defence industries and defence technology were identified by the two countries. Both the Ministers committed themselves to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in these areas and take them to the next level of deliverables.
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Second draft of Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 placed in the public domain inviting suggestions.

The second draft of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2020, which is titled as ‘Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020’, has been uploaded on the website of Ministry of Defence (MoD) inviting suggestions/comments from the various stakeholders and general public (https://mod.gov.in/dod/sites/default/files/Amend270720_0.pdf). After an analysis of these comments received from various agencies, specific interactions were also carried out with the entire spectrum of stakeholders, both in person and via web conferences in order to understand their precise concerns.The amended second draft has since been finalised by the review committee driven by tenets of defence reforms announced as part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ and has been placed in the public domain. Specific comments on the same are once again solicited on the amended draft latest by August 10, 2020.
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Induction of Rafale in Indian Air Force.

The first five Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale aircraft arrived at Air Force Station, Ambala on 29th July 2020. The aircraft got airborne from Dassault Aviation Facility, Merignac, France on the morning of 27 Jul 20 and reached India this afternoon with a planned stopover en-route at Al Dhafra airbase in the UAE.The ferry was planned in two stages and was undertaken by IAF pilots. The aircraft covered a distance of nearly 8500 km from France to India. First stage of the flight covered a distance of 5800 km in seven and a half hours.

French Air Force (FAF) Tanker provided dedicated Air-to-Air Refuelling support during the flight. The second stage of the flight covering over 2700 km was carried out with Air-to-Air Refuelling by IAF Tanker. IAF deeply appreciates the proactive support provided by the French Government and Industry in France to ensure timely delivery. The tanker support extended by French Air Force during the ferry was crucial in ensuring that the long haul flight was accomplished successfully and in a time bound manner. The aircraft will be a part of 17 Squadron, the “Golden Arrows”, which was resurrected on 10 Sep 19.
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INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Afghanistan

ANSF killed 31 terrorists, including 13 JeMs in Nangarhar.

On 24 July, the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and Afghan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) carried out a joint Counter Terrorism (CT) operation and killed 31 terrorists, including 13 of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Mirza Khel area in Khogyani district in Nangarhar province in Afghanistan. Rest of the 18 terrorists killed in the operation were belong to Taliban. Anonymous intelligence sources have reported that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been orchestrating terror attacks in Afghanistan and India. This development highlighted Pakistan’s involvement in aiding Taliban to create unrest in Afghanistan.
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Pakistan

Pakistan & China signed “secret deal” to expand Bio-Warfare tools.

According to an Australia based investigative journalist—Anthony Klan, Pakistan and China may have entered a “secret deal” to expand their Bio-warfare arsenal, including on-going research projects related to “deadly” agent Anthrax. In a covert deal, Pakistan military’s Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DESTO) and China’s infamous Wuhan Institute of Virology will be operating “covert operations” to create “anthrax-like” pathogens. The covert China-Pakistan project has conducted “successful soil sampling tests” to isolate Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT), which has a “striking similarity” to Bacillus Anthracis – or anthrax, as quoted in the report at The Klaxon.
For more information: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/china-pakistan-enter-secret-deal-to-expand-bio-warfare-tools-says-an-australian-investigative- journalist/articleshow/77164486.cms" target="_blank">Click here to read....

DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir

Security forces killed six terrorists in Kulgam and Shopian.

On 18 July, security forces killed three unidentified terrorists in Amshipora village of Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). During the Cordon and Search Operation (CASO), exchange of fire took place and security forces killed all three terrorists.

A day before, on 17 July, security forces acted upon credible information and killed three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists, including Pakistani commander—Waleed, in Kulgam district. In June, security forces neutralised 48 terrorists in various incidents; most of them in south Kashmir. Since January 2020, 136 militants have been killed in different incidents across Kashmir.
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Security forces killed two terrorists in Ranbirgarh.

In the exchange of fire on 25 July, security forces killed two unidentified terrorists in Ranbirgarh on the outskirts of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). After receiving inputs about terrorists’ presence in the area, the joint operations team of the Army, the CRPF and SOG (Special Operation Group) of J&K Police carried out CASO. During the CASO, hiding terrorists fired upon the personnel. In the gunfight, both terrorists were killed.
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JeM’s hideout busted in Pulwama

On 25 July, security forces carried out a Cordon-And-Search Operation (CASO) and busted a hideout of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in the forest area of Chinphadi Machama in Tral area of Pulwama district. During the search, police recovered incriminating material from the hideout.
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Security forces arrest three JeM associates from Budgam.

On 22 July, the joint patrolling team of the Indian Army, Budgam police and the CRPF arrested three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) associates from Chadoora area in Budgam district. Upon arrest, security forces recovered incriminating material, 40 rounds of AK-47, two detonators, and three JeM matrix sheets. The associates were involved in providing logistic support and shelter to JeM terrorists.
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Pakistan conspired and trained 20 Taliban terrorists to attack in J&K.

According to anonymous intelligence sources, Pakistan Army’s Special Service Group (SSG) has trained 20 Taliban terrorists in Jalalabad and conspiring to attack in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Pakistan Army is aiding 20-25 terrorists to infiltrate from the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC), and another group of 5-6 terrorists from India-Nepal Border. According to the report, Pakistan has conspired to carry out a terrorist attack at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh on 15 August 2020.

On 05 August, the Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. Notably, this is also the same day when Section 370 was removed from Kashmir in the year 2019.
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Left-Wing Extremism

NIA arrested a Delhi professor in connection with BhimaKoregaon case.

On 28 July, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Hany Babu Musaliyarveetil Tharayil—an associate professor in the Department of English in University of Delhi, in connection with the investigation of 2018 Maharashtra’s Bhima Koregaon case. Over two years, 12 prominent activists, scholars and lawyers aligned with ‘Maoist ideology’ have been arrested and awaiting trials.
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12 new-Maoist Committees formed in Telangana.

The Maoist party has formed 12 new area committees and reconstituted the State committee with seven leaders in Telangana. The party has appointed Yapa Narayana aka Haribhushan aka Jagan as the secretary in state. Jagan has now implemented the decision of the central committee by forming 12 new area committees.
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Khalistan-inspired Extremism

DSGMC condemned the SFJ’s call for “Khalistan Referendum 2020”.

The United States-based pro-Khalistan organisation—Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has urged the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) to facilitate the registration of the voters for “Khalistan Referendum 2020” at two Gurdwaras in Delhi in November 2020. Responding to the request of SFJ, the DSGMC passed a resolution, on 16 July, stating that the committee has nothing to do with the “Referendum 2020” and strongly opposed SFJ’s Khalistan propaganda. “SFJ is trying to create a communal unrest in India on behest of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) which is instigating the ‘false’ phenomenon of Khalistan and referendum movement in Delhi, said Manjit Singh GK—former president of DSGMC.
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Islamist Extremism in India

Around 200 Islamic State terrorists are in Kerala and Karnataka, claimed UNSC Report.

The 26th report of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team on Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda has stated that al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) operates under the shadows of Taliban from Nimruz, Helmand and Kandahar provinces in Afghanistan. The report also emphasised that around 200 IS terrorists are active in Kerala and Karnataka. Islamic State’s Indian branch—Wilayah of Hind has between 180 and 200 members.
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Islamic State urged Indian Muslims to be Coronavirus carriers.

In its special “lockdown” edition of “Voice of Hind” magazine—an English-language online magazine issued during the lockdown in India, Islamic State (IS) urged Indian Muslims to take the opportunity to attack India by being Coronavirus [COVID-19] carriers. “Keep yourselves armed at all times to never miss a chance to kill as many Kuffars as you can. Keep chains, ropes, and wires ready to choke them or beat them to death. Any sharp object like glass will kill easily," stated the IS magazine.
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IS operative was planning lone-wolf attacks in Delhi and J&K, claimed NIA.

Islamic State’s (IS) operative—Sadiya Anwar Sheikh, 20-year-old student of journalism course in Pune and was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), is “highly” radicalized extremist who had undergone de-radicalisation programme twice. According to the interceptions of her communication on Telegram messenger application, Sadiya was procuring explosives and conspiring lone-wolf attacks in Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).
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Cyber & Artificial Intelligence (Security Perspective)

US Army Cyber Chief outlined 10-year plan for IW.

In a special edition of the Cyber Defence Review, commander of the US Army Cyber Command (ACC)—Lt Gen Stephen Fogarty provided a roadmap with three phases that would prepare US Army for Information Warfare (IW) over next ten-year.

“The stunning social media-powered rise of ISIS [the Islamic State] in 2015, Russia’s interference in the 2016 US Presidential election, Iran’s increasing digital belligerence, and China’s disinformation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic are upending that perception and igniting a conversation across the defence establishment regarding appropriate roles for the uniformed armed services in this environment of unprecedented information warfare,” wrote Fogarty and co-author Bryan Sparling, an adviser in the Cyber Defence Review.
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Australia to spend AUD One billion to boost Cyber Security.

To effectively deal with the concerns of cyber-attacks, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, on 30 June 2020, has announced that Australia will spend AUD 1.35 billion (USD 926.1 million approx.) over the next 10 years to boosts its cyber security defences. "The federal government's top priority is protecting our nation's economy, national security and sovereignty. Malicious cyber activity undermines that," stated PM Morrison.

The package will include AUD 470 million to hire an extra 500 security experts in the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD)—Australia's cyber intelligence agency.
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