India’s Defence exports have touched a record Rs 21,083 crore (approx. US$ 2.63 Billion) in the Financial Year (FY) 2023-24, a growth of 32.5% over the last fiscal when the figure was Rs 15,920 crore. The figures indicate that the defence exports have grown by 31 times in the last decade.
The defence Industry, including the private sector and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), have made tremendous efforts, contributing to about 60% and 40% respectively in defence exports. Additionally, there has been a rise in the number of export authorisations issued to the defence exporters, from 1,414 export authorisations recorded in the previous fiscal year to 1,507 in FY 2023-24.
The remarkable growth has been possible with the policy reforms and ‘Ease of Doing Business’ initiatives brought in by the Government, in addition to the end-to-end digital solution provided to the Indian industries for promoting defence exports. This growth is a reflection of global acceptability of Indian defence products and technologies. Click here to read… [2]
The Army Commanders’ Conference concluded in New Delhi on 2nd April 2024. The biannual event, commenced with a virtual session chaired by General Manoj Pande, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), and was followed by in-person discussions. The senior leadership of the Army brainstormed a wide array of security-related aspects, concluding with takeaways relating to ongoing transformation initiatives, leveraging technology and innovation along with inter-ministerial coordination for capability development, enhancing operational preparedness, addressing emerging security and HR-related issues.
Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri (RM), in his keynote address acknowledged Indian Army’s indispensable role in national security. The RM exhorted the Army leadership to constantly review doctrinal, structural, & organisational reforms to meet future challenges in view of the evolving security dynamics. Further underscoring the importance of investing in modernisation, he acknowledged the progress made towards the aim of achieving ‘Modernisation through Indigenisation’.
The senior leadership of the Army was also addressed by General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Manoj Pande, COAS, Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS).
The CDS complimented formations and the soldiers for dealing with border security challenges and embracing the transformational changes and also exhorted the senior leadership to embrace the aspects of jointness, integration, and technological absorption in sync with the call of the ‘Third Revolution in Military Affairs’. Whereas, the COAS called upon the senior leadership to continue pursuing the process of transformation and technology absorption besides adopting the best practices of sister services and modern armies. He also emphasised the need to ensure seamless situational awareness between commanders and troops at all levels.
On the other hand, the CNS and CAS emphasised the importance of enhanced jointness given the lessons emerging from contemporary conflicts. They underscored the importance of synergy at the grass-roots level between the services for optimum operational outcomes. Click here to read… [3]
Strategic Forces Command (SFC), along with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), conducted the successful flight-test of New Generation Ballistic Missile Agni-Prime from the coast of Odisha. The test met all the trial objectives validating its reliable performance, as confirmed from the data captured by a number of range sensors deployed at different locations.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, SFC and the Armed Forces for the successful test. He stated that the successful development and induction of the missile will be an excellent force multiplier for the Armed Forces. Click here to read… [4]
In a swift operation on 04 April 24, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) rescued 27 Bangladeshi fishermen, stranded on their fishing boat. The ICG Ship Amogh during patrol at Indo-Bangladesh International Maritime Border Line (IMBL), sighted a Bangladeshi fishing boat (BFB) Sagar II, inside Indian waters. ICG ship after investigation found that the boat had a steering gear breakdown, which had 27 crew onboard.
With the rudder of the boat completely damaged and the sea state and weather conditions being conducive, it was decided to handover the distressed boat over to another Bangladeshi fishing boat operating across IMBL, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indian Coast Guard and Bangladesh Coast Guard.
Meanwhile, Indian Coast Guard Regional Headquarters at Kolkata established communication with Bangladeshi counterpart, which deployed a ship for towing of BFB. ICGS Amogh handed over the 27 Bangladeshi fishermen to BCG ship Kamaruzzaman. Click here to read… [5]
A Tri-service Conference, ‘Parivartan Chintan’, curated as a brainstorming discussion to generate new ideas, initiatives and reforms to further propel jointness and integration in the Armed Forces, with the intention of being “Future Ready”, was held in New Delhi on 08 April 2024. The conference was organised by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff. (HQIDS).
CDS Gen Anil Chauhan initiated the ‘Chintan’ by highlighting the need for developing a Joint Culture for the Armed Forces, which while respecting the uniqueness of each service, distils the best of each service to give a de-novo approach to traditional concepts. He also stressed upon the need to integrate the capabilities of each service by creating structures to enhance our war fighting ability and interoperability.
Officers from all the three Services and HQIDS, with diverse service experience, also attended the discussion and contributed ideas towards initiating the next generation of reforms related to modernization, procurement, training, adaptation and collaboration, while embracing emerging and innovative technologies. Click here to read… [6]
‘Steel Cutting’ ceremony of first of the five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) was held at Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, on 10 Apr 24, in presence of Shri Giridhar Aramane, Defence Secretary.
Contract with HSL for acquisition of five FSS was signed in Aug 2023 and the ships are scheduled to be delivered to the Indian Navy, commencing mid-2027. On induction, the FSS will bolster the ‘Blue Water’ capabilities of the Indian Navy. The ships will carry and deliver fuel, water, ammunition and stores enabling prolonged operations without returning to harbour, thus enhancing the Fleet’s strategic reach and mobility. In secondary role, these ships would be equipped for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief operations.
With a completely indigenous sourcing of majority of the equipment from indigenous manufacturers, this shipbuilding project is in consonance with GoI initiative of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Click here to read… [7]
Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) Weapon System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), has been field evaluated in different flight configurations several times with the objective of proving the technology with high superiority. The system consists of the MPATGM, Launcher, Target Acquisition System, and the Fire Control Unit.
Adequate number of missile firing trials have been successfully conducted towards achieving compliance of complete operational envelop as stipulated in the General Staff Qualitative Requirements. The Warhead Flight Trials were successfully conducted at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, Rajasthan on April 13, 2024., and the performance was found to be remarkable, capable of defeating modern armour protected Main Battle Tank.
The ATGM system is well-equipped with day/night and top attack capability. Dual mode seeker functionality is a great value addition to the missile capability for tank warfare. With this, technology development and successful demonstration have been concluded and the system is now ready for Final User Evaluation Trials leading towards its induction into the Indian Army.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has termed the development as an important step towards achieving self-reliance in advanced technology-based defence system development. Click here to read… [8]
As part of Exercise Gagan Shakti-24, Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft recently operated from the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) in the northern sector in Kashmir valley. A large number of troops were airlifted and subsequently air landed utilising Chinook, Mi-17 V5 and ALH Mk-III helicopters.
Various IAF fixed and rotary wing platforms were scheduled to carry out coordinated landing and operations at these ELF, requiring good planning and coordination with civil administration employing Whole-of-the-Nation-Approach (WNA). ELF operations provide an opportunity for IAF aircraft to undertake operations from such restricted landing surfaces while also being able to undertake Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Relief operations during times of natural calamities. The capability to operate by night at these stretches of highways, and to transfer troops from such surfaces will greatly enhance the operational capabilities of Indian Armed Forces. Click here to read… [9]
On 12 April, Russia launched counter-terrorism (CT) operations in various parts of the city of Nalchik and the Cherek district of its Southern Kabardino-Balkaria region. “A group of gunmen has opened fire on security forces who had surrounded them outside Nalchik,” said Russia’s National Anti-Terrorist Committee (NATC). Later, Russian Special Forces (SFs) eliminated two terror operatives for conspiring terror attacks in the southern region. Earlier, on 22 March, terrorists attacked and killed 145 people in the Moscow Concert Hall. An affiliate group of the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack. caucasus-e45880063422a665962eb7a38d36108c"target="_blank"> Click here to read… [10]
Somali army, assisted by international security partners, carried out an airstrike and killed 50 al-Shabaab terrorists, including a commander, in Baraagta Gurguurte near Harardhere district in the Mudug region. Click here to read… [11]
On 11 April, Pakistan proscribed Iran-backed terrorist group— Zaynabiyoun Brigade on a government list of 79 other proscribed organisations. “Pakistan has banned the activities of an Iran-backed Shiite militant group allegedly involved in recruiting and sending young Pakistanis to fight in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime,” read a directive released by Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior. Click here to read… [12]
Security forces, on 11 April, arrested three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists— i) Owaiz Ahmad Waza, ii) Basit Fayaz Kaloo, and iii) Faheem Ahmad Mir, from Baramulla district in Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Click here to read… [13]
On 06 April, the NIA raided multiple locations in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in connection with the “CPI (Maoist) ant-Bharat conspiracy” case. NIA searched the premises of suspected persons at 11 different locations in Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh, and one in Kaimur district, Bihar, in connection with the case registered by the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), UP. NIA seized several digital devices and incriminating documents during searches. Click here to read… [14]
In two separate anti-Naxal operations carried out on 4-5 April, security forces eliminated four Maoists in Bastar region in Chhattisgarh. On 05 April, three Maoists were killed in the Bijapur district in the Doligatta jungle on the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border area. Earlier, on 04 April, one Maoist was killed in the jungle on the Dantewada-Bijapur border. In total, 50 Maoists have been killed this year, which is more than twice the number of Maoists killed in 2023. Click here to read… [15]
The NIA, on 12 April, arrested two absconding terrorists, including the mastermind of the Rameswaram Café blast, from their hideout near Kolkata in West Bengal. After the explosion, terrorists— i) Abdul Matheen Taha and ii) Mussavir Hussain Shazeb were on the run. NIA identified that Shazeb planted the IED in the café, whereas Abdul was the mastermind behind the attack. The NIA Special Court, Kolkata, granted the federal agency a three-day transit remand. Click here to read… [16]
[20]
Links:
[1] https://www.vifindia.org/defensenationalsecurityterrorism/2024/april/23
[2] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2016818
[3] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2017141
[4] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2017114
[5] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2017267
[6] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2017419
[7] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2017617
[8] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2017876
[9] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2017167
[10] https://apnews.com/article/russia-terror-suspects-north-<br
[11] https://www.gulf-times.com/article/680401/international/50-al-shabab-militants-killed-in-airstrike-in-center-of-somalia
[12] https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-bans-iran-backed-shiite-group-fighting-in-syria-/7566593.html
[13] https://www.indiatvnews.com/jammu-and-kashmir/jammu-and-kashmir-three-terror-associates-of-lashkar-e-taiba-outfit-arrested-in-baramulla-encounter-in-pulwama-police-reactions-latest-update-2024-04-11-925793
[14] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1690_1_Pr2.pdf
[15] https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maoists-separate-encounters-chhattisgarh-telangana-9254796/
[16] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1696_1_Pr2.pdf
[17] http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?title=VIF News Digest : National Security- Defence Studies & Terrorism, (01-15 April 2024)&desc=&images=&u=https://www.vifindia.org/defensenationalsecurityterrorism/2024/april/23
[18] http://twitter.com/share?text=VIF News Digest : National Security- Defence Studies & Terrorism, (01-15 April 2024)&url=https://www.vifindia.org/defensenationalsecurityterrorism/2024/april/23&via=Azure Power
[19] whatsapp://send?text=https://www.vifindia.org/defensenationalsecurityterrorism/2024/april/23
[20] https://www.vifindia.org/author/Anurag-Bisen