BILATERAL MARITIME EXERCISE BETWEEN ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AND INDIAN NAVIES – AUSINDEX-19
The third edition of AUSINDEX commenced on April 2, 2019. The aim of the exercise is, “To strengthen and enhance mutual cooperation and interoperability between the Indian Navy and Royal Australian Navy, and provide opportunities for interaction and exchange of professional views between the personnel of the two navies”. The first edition of the exercise was held in September 2015 at Visakhapatnam. Australia hosted the second edition of the exercise off Freemantle in June 2017. This third edition would involve exercises in all three dimensions with focus on Anti-Submarine Warfare. The number of units being fielded by both navies in the bilateral exercise is the highest till date. The increased scale of participation signifies the importance attached to the exercise by both countries while the enhanced complexity is indicative of the interoperability between the two navies. Overall, the exercise underscores India’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and shared objectives of the two countries towards ensuring good order in the maritime domain and solidarity with friendly and harmonious countries.
SRI LANKA NAVY COMMANDER VISITS INDIA
Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva, Commander, Sri Lanka Navy during a visit to India last week called upon and interacted with Lieutenant General D Anbu, Vice Chief of the Army Staff and discussed issues of mutual and strategic concern.
VISIT OF COMMANDER OF THE QATAR EMIRI NAVAL FORCES
The Staff Major General (Navy) Abdullah Hassan Al-Sulaiti, Commander of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (CQENF), accompanied by two staff officers from the Qatar Navy is on an official visit to India. During the visit he called on Vice Admiral AK Chawla FOC-in-C (South) at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi and held discussions on bilateral issues.
BRIDGE OF FRIENDSHIP CONSTRUCTED BY ENGINEERS OF INDIAN ARMY ON RIVER INDUS
On April 1, 2019, ‘Maitri Bridge’—bridge of friendship, constructed by the Engineers of the Indian Army on River Indus in Leh, was opened to the public by senior Ladakhi War Veterans in the presence of Lieutenant General YK Joshi, Corps Commander of the Fire and Fury Corps. Locals thanked Army for building this much required bridge.
ISRO’S PSLV-C45 PLACES EMISAT AND 28 FOREIGN SATELLITES IN ORBITS
On April 1, 2019, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) placed an electronic intelligence satellite ‘Emisat’ and 28 foreign satellites in orbit. ‘Emisat’, developed by the Defence Research Development Organisation weighs 436 Kg and is meant for helping the armed Forces locate hostile radars.
The other 28 foreign satellites placed in the orbit belonged to the US, Lithuania, Spain and Switzerland. This was the 47th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. Reports indicate that the ISRO is planning 30 more missions this year.
VISIT OF CHIEF OF THE ARMY STAFF TO USA
General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff is on an official visit to the US from April 2 to April 5, 2019. During the visit, he will interact with senior military hierarchy of the US Armed Forces with an aim to take forward the military to military cooperation. The Army Chief will also visit the US Military Academy at West Point and the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. General Bipin Rawat will also interact with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Chief of Staff of the US Army to discuss military cooperation issues of mutual interest. The visit to US aims to give impetus to the military ties and enhance strategic engagements. The functional experience gained during the visit shall further enhance Indo-US relationship.
INDIAN NAVY ACCEPTED THE COMBAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CMS)
On March 29, 2019, the Indian Navy accepted the Combat Management System (CMS) for its Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) developed by M/s Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division (TPSED), in collaboration with Weapon & Electronics System Engineering Establishment (WESEE) & M/s MARS, Russia. Mr Sukaran Singh, CEO and MD, M/s Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. hands over the system to Vice Admiral GS Pabby, Chief of Materiel at M/s TPSED, Bengaluru, on successful completion of all tests and trials.
INDIAN AIR FORCE MIG-27 CRASH
An Indian Air Force MiG-27 (Upgrade) aircraft, which got airborne from Air Force Station Uttarlai in Rajasthan at 1127 hrs on March 31, 2019 for a routine sortie, crashed at 1145 hrs, approximately 120 km south of Jodhpur. The pilot ejected safely and has been recovered by Search and Rescue helicopter. The pilot is safe and preliminary investigations have revealed no damage to any person or property on ground. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the accident. The IAF has lost nine aircraft so far this year. Details of the same are: January—one Jaguar, February—one Mirage (Flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan), one Mig-27, two Hawks ( Suryakant) and a Mi-17 helicopter, March—one Mig-21 and Mig-27 each.
