President Shri Ram Nath Kovind conferred one Kirti Chakra (Posthumous) and 14 Shaurya Chakras, including eight posthumous, to the personnel of the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces and State/Union Territory Police during Defence Investiture Ceremony (Phase-2) at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 31. The Gallantry awards were given to the personnel for displaying conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage and extreme devotion to duty. The President also conferred 13 Param Vishisht Seva Medals and 29 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals for distinguished service of exceptional order.
CONTRACT WITH BDL FOR PROCUREMENT OF ASTRA MK I BEYOND VISUAL RANGE AIR TO AIR MISSILE SYSTEM & ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT
In a major boost to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’, MoD, on May 31, 2022, signed a contract with BDL for supply of ASTRA MK-I Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Air to Air Missile (AAM) and associated equipment for the IAF and Indian Navy at a cost of Rs 2,971 crore under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category. Till now, the technology to manufacture missile of this class indigenously was not available. ASTRA MK-I BVR AAM has been Indigenously Designed & Developed by DRDO.
11th INDIA-ITALY MILITARY COOPERATION GROUP MEETING
The 11th edition of India-Italy Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting was held from May 31 to 01 June 2022 at Rome, Italy. India-Italy MCG is a forum established to boost defence cooperation between the both countries through regular talks at the strategic and operational levels between Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff and the Joint Staff HQ of Italian Armed Forces. The group meeting focused on new initiatives under the ambit of existing bilateral defence cooperation mechanism and further strengthening ongoing defence engagements.
