After J-20 Mighty Dragon, China Introduces WZ-7 ‘Soaring Dragon’ Meant To Keep A Hawk Eye On Indian Troops
The high altitude reconnaissance drone, considered China’s answer to the US’ Global Hawk, meets a similar role, particularly to scan the Western Pacific, Taiwanese and Japanese naval assets, and by extension reconnaissance missions at the Himalayan border with India.
Featuring a tandem diamond wing design, the large WZ-7 has a
long endurance, single jet engine, most likely believed to be the WS-10 that
was earlier used to power the J-10 and J-20 fighter jets, Artificial
Intelligence enabled networking and sensor fusion, highly encrypted jamming
resistant data links to share battlefield information with fighting forces and
ISR links with Chinese satellites.
This will give China unprecedented surveillance capabilities,
in line with its ‘Intelligentized Warfare’, The drone is being displayed in
public means it has been inducted in service with PLA Navy and PLA Airforce
units.
China Deploying S-400 Missile Defence System, Building New
Accommodations Along LAC
In a move that is possibly aimed at conveying its willingness
to remain deployed along the frontier with India in large numbers, the People's
Liberation Army of China has built new troop shelters and fortifications along
the Line of Actual Control with India.
According to a report based on latest intelligence and
surveillance accounts, China has built new modular container-based
accommodations for its soldiers at at-least eight forward locations along the LAC.
The new shelters have been seen in Wahab Zilga near the Karakoram
Pass in the north, and in Piue, Hot Springs, Chang La, Tashigong, Manza and
Churup, moving south along the LAC.
China has also deployed two batteries of S-400 surface to air
missiles and other air defence assets in the region.
Satellite images recently revealed that China is also
building a helicopter base in Aksai Chin.
The PLA base is located only 130 kilometres away from the
Galwan Valley in north eastern Ladakh, where 20 Indians were martyred and
dozens of Chinese soldiers were killed in clashes on 15 June last year.
Moscow claims India may buy Russian S-500 anti-space weapon
defense system in world first arms deal, despite risk of US sanctions
An advanced new anti-aircraft rocket system hailed as the
first ever capable of taking out incoming missiles from low space orbit could
be snapped up by Indian defense chiefs in a move likely to anger the US. Deputy
Prime Minister Yuri Borisov told journalists on Thursday that New Delhi could
“potentially” become the first foreign capital to place an order for the S-500.
However, he said, equipping Russia’s own troops with the latest technology
would have to be completed before it is considered for sale overseas.
The S-500 is a cutting-edge rocket system capable of taking
out fighter jets flying at the fastest speeds, as well as reportedly being
capable of hitting even hypersonic weapons in near Earth space. It represents
the first generation of anti-space weapons, and that no other such systems
currently exist.
However, the US has attempted to block international sales of
the rocket system’s predecessor, the S-400, even imposing sanctions for placing
an order.
Despite the threat of sanctions, more than a dozen nations
placed orders for the S-400, including India.
Need a robust and reliable gun, says Army as artillery
modernisation plan faces hiccups
22 years after the Army finalised the Field Artillery
Rationalisation Programme, under which a mix of around 3,000-3,600 howitzers
were to be procured by 2025-27, the modernisation plan is facing hiccups as two
major indigenous programmes have failed to fire off fully.
At a media briefing Monday on the eve of Gunners’ Day, Lieutenant
General TK Chawla, Director General Artillery, weighed in on the challenges
facing the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System Atags, and Dhanush, known as the
‘desi Bofors’, as he emphasised the importance of indigenous defence
manufacturing.
The more important of the two projects is Atags, being
developed by the DRDO along with private firms Bharat Forge and TATA Powers
SED.
A lot of handholding has been done by the Army, both for Atags
and Dhanush, Army wants both the programmes to succeed. There are advantages in
going indigenous and technology being developed within the country.
