Ministry of Defence places supply order for 118 new ‘Main Battle Tanks’ for Indian Army
Ministry of Defence placed an order with Heavy Vehicles Factory at Chennai for the supply of 118 Main Battle Tanks Arjun Mk-1A for the Indian Army on September 23, 2021.
The order, worth Rs 7,523 crore, will provide a further boost
to the ‘Make in India’ initiative in defence sector and is a big step towards
achieving ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi. The Prime Minister had handed over the MBT Arjun Mk-1A to Chief of Army
Staff General MM Naravane in Chennai on February 14, 2021.
Infused with 72 new features and more indigenous content from
the Mk1 variant, the tank would ensure effortless mobility in all terrains,
besides precise target engagement during day and night.
The MK-1A is equipped with accurate and superior firepower,
all terrain mobility and invincible multi layered protection provided by an
array of advanced technology systems. It can take on the enemy during day and
night conditions and in both static and dynamic modes.
No plans to conduct test of nuclear capable Agni 5 missile
for next 20 days: DRDO
DRDO on Thursday denied reports of a possible test flight of
the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Agni 5. DRDO Chief G Satheesh Reddy said
there are no plans to test the nuclear-capable missile for another 20 days.
The latest development comes weeks after the DRDO handed over
Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) System to the Indian Air Force. The
Agni 5 test in the coming days could indicate an early induction of the system
into the armed forces.
The missile will be tested with Multiple Independently
Targetable Re-entry Vehicles MIRV.
The Agni 5 ICBM has been developed by DRDO and Bharat
Dynamics Limited. It weighs close to 50,000 kilograms. The missile is 1.75
meters tall with a diameter of 2 metres. A 1,500 kilogram warhead will be
placed on top of the three stage rocket boosters that are powered by solid
fuel.
Scientists have said that at its fastest the ICBM will be 24
times faster than the speed of sound travelling 8.16 kilometres per second,
achieving a high speed of 29,401 kilometers per hour.
Government likely to seal Rs 22,000 Crore deal to buy 56 C-295
military transport planes
The defence ministry is likely to finalise nearly Rs 20,000
crore Airbus Tata deal to procure 56 C-295 medium transport aircraft to replace
the Avro-748 planes of the Indian Air Force in the next few days.
Under the deal, 16 aircraft will be delivered in a flyaway
condition by the Airbus Defence and Space of Spain within 48 months of the
signing of the contract. The remaining 40 planes will be manufactured in India
by a consortium of the Airbus Defence and Space and the Tata Advanced Systems
Limited within 10 years of the signing of the contract.
The C-295MW aircraft is a transport plane of 5-10 tons
capacity. This is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft
will be manufactured in India by a private company.
All 56 aircraft will be installed with indigenous electronic
warfare suite. A large number of detail parts, sub-assemblies and major
component assemblies of aerostructure are scheduled to be manufactured in
India.
The ministry had said that before the completion of the
deliveries, a servicing facility for the C-295MW aircraft is scheduled to be
set up in India. It is expected that this facility will act as a regional MRO
(maintenance, repair and overhaul) hub for various variants of the C-295
aircraft.
As India Tries to Acquire Predator Drones, Makers Suggest PM
Modi a ‘Dedicated UAV Hub’ in India
General Atomics chief executive officer Vivek Lall told Prime
Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday that India is an attractive destination for
manufacturing of drones.
The meeting gains importance as the prime minister is trying
to acquire 30 Predator drones, which are manufactured by General Atomics, to
muscle up India’s military capability.
General Atomics CEO suggested that a dedicated drone hub can
be created in India to support the entire eco system of drones.
MQ-9 Reaper, the Predator-B is a Remotely Piloted Aircraft,
the drone has the capabilities to be used for long endurance intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance missions over a wide area.
Easy configuration of the drone makes it easier to operate
the aircraft during missions.
