INS Rajput decommissioned today, US Air Force 6th Gen Engine Test, India to receive S400 in Oct-Dec

INS Rajput to be decommissioned today

On Friday, a glorious era will come to an end with the decommissioning of the first destroyer of the Indian Navy, INS Rajput. INS Rajput, the lead ship of the Kashin class destroyers built by the erstwhile USSR was commissioned on 04 May 1980 and has rendered yeoman service to the Indian Navy for over 41 years.

INS Rajput will now be decommissioned at a solemn ceremony at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.

INS Rajput was constructed in the 61 Communards Shipyard in Nikolaev present day Ukraine under her original Russian name ‘Nadezhny’ meaning ‘Hope’. The keel of the ship was laid on 11 Sep 1976 and she was launched on 17 Sep 1977.

The ship was commissioned as INS Rajput on 04 May 1980 at Poti, Georgia by IK Gujral, the Ambassador of India to USSR with Capt Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani as her first Commanding Officer.

Over her four decades of glorious service to the nation, the ship has the distinction of serving in both Western and Eastern Fleets.

With the motto “Raj Karega Rajput” firmly etched in their minds and indomitable spirit, the gallant crew of INS Rajput have remained ever vigilant and always ‘on call’ to protect the maritime interest and sovereignty of the nation.

The ship has participated in several operations aimed at keeping the nation secure.

Some of these include Operation Aman off Sri Lanka to assist IPKF, Operation Pawan for patrolling duties off the coast of Sri Lanka, Operation Cactus to resolve hostage situation off the Maldives, and Operation Crowsnest off Lakshadweep.

In addition, the ship participated in numerous bilateral and multi national exercises. The ship was also the first Indian Naval Ship to be affiliated with an Indian Army regiment, the Rajput Regiment.

In her glorious 41 years, the ship had 31 Commanding Officers at her helm with the last CO taking charge of the ship on 14 Aug 2019. As the sun sets on Friday 21 May 21, the Naval Ensign and the Commissioning Pennant will be hauled down for the last time onboard INS Rajput, symbolising the decommissioning.

US Air Force’s sixth generation fighter engine completes testing

A new engine that will power the F 35 and the US Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance NGAD programme has completed testing. The GE engine, called XA100, uses an adaptive cycle design that provides a high thrust mode for maximum power and a high efficiency mode for fuel savings and loiter time.

NGAD is a family of systems currently in development by USAF and industry partners. At the centre of this programme is a sixth generation fighter to replace the F 22 commonly referred to as FX. Last September it was revealed that the fighter had been designed, developed and tested in the space of a year and flown.

More recently, concept art of the new combat jet appeared in a USAF biannual report on acquisition.

GE initiated testing of the engine at its Evendale, Ohio, altitude test facility in December last year. The engine’s performance and mechanical behaviour were consistent with pre test predictions and fully aligned with USAF’s Adaptive Engine Transition Program objectives.

GE says this successful test validates the ability of the engine to deliver “transformational propulsion capability” to fighter aircraft.

India will receive S 400s in October December, everything going according to schedule: Rosoboron Export CEO

India will receive the first batch of the sophisticated S 400 anti aircraft surface to air missile system from Russia in October December this year, a top official of the Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Thursday.

The S-400 is known as Russia’s most advanced long range surface to air missile defence system. The ‘Triumf’ interceptor based missile system can destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km.

Indian specialists have arrived in Russia and began training with the S 400 in January 2021.

In October 2018, India had signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S 400 air defence missile systems.

In 2019, India made the first tranche of payment of around USD 800 million to Russia for the missile systems. The S 400 is known as Russia’s most advanced long range surface to air missile defence system.

In December, Russia had said that implementation of its ongoing defence deals with India including the supply of a batch of S 400 missile systems is advancing well not withstanding the threat of US sanctions.