Pinaka Mk-I (Enhanced) Rocket System (EPRS) and Pinaka Area Denial Munition (ADM) rocket systems have been successfully flight-tested by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Army at Pokhran Firing Ranges. A total of 24 EPRS rockets were fired for different ranges during the last fortnight. Required accuracy and consistency was achieved by the rockets meeting all trial objectives satisfactorily. With these trails, the initial phase of technology absorption of EPRS by the industry has successfully been completed and the industry partners are ready for user trials/series production of the rocket system. 

 

The Pinaka rocket system has been developed by Armament Research and Development Establishment(ARDE), Pune supported by High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, another Pune-based laboratory of DRDO. 

 

The EPRS is the upgraded version of Pinaka variant which has been in service with the Indian Army for the last decade. The system has been upgraded with advanced technologies enhancing the range to meet the emerging requirements. After establishing the performance efficacy of the enhanced range version of Pinaka, the technology was transferred to the industries viz. Munitions India Limited (MIL) and Economic Explosives Limited Nagpur. Rockets manufactured by MIL under Transfer of Technology from DRDO were flight tested during this campaign. Different variants of munitions and fuzes which can be used in the Pinaka rocket system were also successfully test evaluated in the Pokhran Field Firing Range. 

 

Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO "Dr G Satheesh Reddy" has congratulated the teams for completing the flight trials of new design rockets based on advanced technologies in record time.

Source : PIB

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Friday(8th Apr 2022) successfully flight tested the Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) booster at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. As informed by the Ministry of Defence, the flight test successfully demonstrated the reliable functioning of all critical components involved in the complex missile system and further met all the mission objectives as ascertained. 

 

Notably, the flight test of the SFDR booster was conducted around 8:30 a.m on Friday(8th Apr 2022). With this successful trial, India now joins a handful number of countries having such technology in the world. Earlier in March 2021, DRDO had carried out a successful flight demonstration based on Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology. The demonstration further provided the DRDO with an advantage enabling it to develop long-range air-to-air missiles, informed the Defence Ministry after the test. 

 

Meanwhile, following a successful trial of SFDR on Friday(8th Apr 2022), Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO calling it an "important milestone" towards the development of critical missile technologies in the country. On the other hand, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy complimented the teams involved in the designing, development, and testing of the Ramjet booster adding that the successful trial will help to enhance the range of air-to-air-missiles. 

 

 

The Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) is a missile propulsion system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India (DRDO). The project was initiated to develop critical technologies required in the propulsion systems of future Indian long-range air-to-air missiles...

Source : Republicworld

Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have signed an agreement related to the possible conversion of commercial aircraft into tankers in India.

 

The memorandum of understanding comes under the auspices of prime minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ policy to increase indigenous production capabilities, says HAL.

 

“Under the pact signed recently, HAL will convert pre-owned Civil (Passenger) aircraft into air refuelling aircraft with cargo and transport capabilities,” it says.

 

“The move will provide India’s defence ecosystem with new capabilities and cost effective solutions in the market.”

 

The Multi-Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) agreement was signed in Delhi by representatives of HAL and IAI.

 

“We are proud to come together with our counterparts to bring our best value MMTT solution in India, while utilising local resources to manufacture and market the platform,” says IAI president and chief executive Boaz Levy.

 

“By collaborating with HAL and bringing conversion directly to India, we are supporting the ‘Make in India’ campaign”.

 

HAL did not state the type of aircraft that would undergo conversion, but previously IAI has proposed converting Boeing 767s for Indian tanker requirements..

Source : Flight Global

The 9th Edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise which commenced on 25th of March at Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh culminated on Wednesday(6th Apr 2022).

 

Over the past two weeks, Special Forces contingents from India and Kyrgyzstan shared their expertise and best practices of tactics, techniques and procedures to counter existing and emergent threats across the entire spectrum of conflict. Combat shooting, sniping, survival in mountains, hostage rescue drills and unarmed combat were practiced extensively during the Exercise.

 

Besides sharing special skills and techniques between participating Special Forces contingents, the joint training further strengthened the existing bond between India and Kyrgyzstan that has fostered over years of mutual respect for strategic autonomy, democratic values and zero tolerance for terrorism.

Source : News On Air

Vice Chief Lieutenant General, Manoj Pande is all set to become Chief of the Army Staff as the incumbent Army Chief General M.M. Naravane, who is being seen as the frontrunner for the Chief of Defence Staff’s post, is due to retire by the end of this month. Being senior-most in the office after General Naravane, Lt Gen Pande will take over the reign.

 

Lt Gen Pande became the senior-most after a few top officers retired in the last three months. The incumbent Lt Gen Raj Shukla who was commanding Army’s training command (ARTRAC) retired on March 31.

 

Meanwhile, present Army Chief, Gen MM Naravane is ahead in the race for the post of Chief of Defence Staff after the post fell vacant in December last year as the then Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat passed away in a helicopter crash near Coimbatore.

The 20th edition of the Bilateral Naval Exercise between the Indian Navy and French Navy named ‘VARUNA’ is being conducted in the Arabian Sea from March 30 to April 03, 2022. The Bilateral Naval Exercises between the two Navies is being held since 1993 and the exercise was christened as ‘VARUNA’ in 2001. Various ships, submarines, maritime patrol aircraft, fighter aircraft and helicopters of the two navies will be participating in the VARUNA-2022 exercise.

 

About the exercise : VARUNA series of exercises continue to provide both the navies opportunities to learn from each other’s best practices. The exercise has been a principal driver for operational-level interactions between the two navies and has underscored the shared commitment of both nations to security, safety and freedom of the global maritime commons.

The first edition of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Maritime Exercise 2022 (IMEX-22) was held from March 26 to 30, 2022, in Goa and in the Arabian Sea. The objective of the exercise was to enhance the interoperability of the navies of member nations in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. The exercise is seen as a significant stepping stone for regional navies to collaborate and respond collectively to natural disasters in the region and paves way for further strengthening regional cooperation.

 

About the exercise : The navies from 15 out of the 25 member nations of IONS, participated in the exercise. The Harbour Phase of IMEX – 22 was held at Marmugao port, Goa on March 26 and 27 while the Sea Phase took place in the Arabian Sea from March 28 to 30, 2022.

 

 

The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is a series of biennial meetings between the littoral states of the Indian Ocean region, to increase maritime security cooperation, discuss regional maritime issues, and promote friendly relationships among the member states. The forum was established in 2007.

The United States military and the military of the Philippines kicked off the military drill Balikatan 2022. The Philippine-led annual exercise will take place across Luzon in the Philippines region near Taiwan, from March 28 to April 8, 2022. Around 8,900 Filipino and American troops are participating in the military drill, making it the largest Balikatan military exercise ever.

 

According to the military, the drills will focus on “maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief”. The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) gives US troops a legal basis to be in the Southeast Asian country for bilateral exercises and governs the conduct of American armed force personnel.