Indian Navy to commemorate 1000th-year of coronation of Rajendra Chola

Indian Navy on 3 November 2014 announced to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the coronation of ancient Tamil King Rajendra Chola with a series of activities. 
Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah would flag off the ship from the Chennai Port Trust premises to Nagapattinam. It will symbolize the achievements of the Chola Navy. Nagapattinam is believed to be one of the naval bases of Rajendra Chola’s navy.
Indian Navy will join hands with the National Maritime Foundation and the Tamil Nadu government for the celebration.
As part of the celebrations, INS Sudarshini is being brought to Chennai and its journey will conclude till Nagapattinam. 
INS Sudarshini is a sailing and training ship of the Indian Navy. It is now on its voyage around the world or circumnavigation and is on its way back to Kochi. It is only fitting that a circumnavigating ship is being involved in the celebrations of a king, whose navy has gone beyond boundaries even in those ancient times.
Boats belonging to Tamil Nadu Sailing Association and Royal Madras Yacht Club would escort INS Sudarshini out of Chennai harbour, while the local elite and dignitaries would welcome her on her calling the Nagapattinam port.

About Rajendra Chola 
Rajendra Chola I considered as one of the greatest rulers and military leaders of the Indian Tamil Chola Empire. He succeeded his father in 1014 CE as the Chola emperor.

During his reign, he extended the influences of the already vast Chola Empire up to the banks of the river Ganges in the north and across the ocean. Rajendra’s territories extended coastal Burma, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Maldives, conquered the kings of Srivijaya and Pegu islands with his fleet of ships. 
He defeated Mahipala, the Pala king of Bengal and Bihar, and to commemorate his victory he built a new capital called Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The Cholas became one of the most powerful dynasties in Asia during his reign. 
The successful invasions of Rajendra Chola were applauded by several medieval Tamil poets like Jayamkondan in his text Kalingattupparani andOttakkoothar in his text Ula.
He received the titles Gangai Kondan (He who took the Ganges river in north India) and Kadaram Kondan (He who took kedah in Malaysia).

India successfully test-fired nuclear capable Nirbhay cruise missile

India on 17 October 2014 successfully  test fired its first long range subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay with a strike range of over 1000 km from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Orissa.
This 6 meter tall low altitude flying missile was fired from a mobile launcher. Carrying a dummy payload of n350 kg, the missile also demonstrated the critical ability to zero-in on its target by diving towards a pre-designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal.
This was the second flight trial of the missile as the first test was aborted mid way in March 2013 when the missile deviated from its path.

Nirbhay cruise missile
•    The missile was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at its aeronautics R&D laboratory ADE (Aeronautical Development Establishment) based in Bengaluru. 
•    The avionics of the missile was provided by the Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad. The DRDL has also contributed to the development of the missile.
•    Nirbhay cruise missile can carry conventional and nuclear war heads. 
•    Nirbhay has good loitering capability, good control and guidance, high degree of accuracy in terms of impact and very good stealth features.
•    Nirbhay is very manoeuvrable and can fly at tree-top level, making it difficult to be detected on radar.
•    It can strike the targets more than 700 km away carrying nuclear warheads giving India the capability to strike deep into enemy territory.

Pakistan test fired short range nuclear capable missile Hatf IX

Pakistan on 26 September 2014 test fired the Hatf IX -short range surface-to-surface missile. The nuclear capable missile also called as Nasr was tested with successive launches of four missiles from a Multi Tube Launcher with Salvo Mode.

It is a nuclear capable ballistic missile with a maximum range of 60 kilometers can cover western parts of India. With in-flight manoeuvre capability Hatf IX is a quick response system with shoot and scoot capability.

Earlier Pakistan had tested the Hatf IX missile in 2011 and 2012. The development of the missile is in line with Pakistan’s objective of developing a full spectrum of deterrence against the prevailing threat spectrum.

Commentary
The test fire of Hatf IX is in line with the Pakistan’s objective of developing a second strike capability if a catastrophic nuclear attack destroyed all its land-based weapons.

In line with above objective Pakistan has repeatedly tested Babur cruise missile their indigenously produced, nuclear-capable. It has a range of 640 km and can strike targets at land and sea.

Besides, Pakistan is said to be developing shorter-range cruise missiles that can fly lower to the ground and can evade ballistic missile defences and developing sea-based missiles.

Nuclear push of Pakistan comes amid heightened tension with US intelligence and congressional officials over the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons.

Board of Inquiry recommended decommissioning INS Sindhurakshak

The second Board of Inquiry (BOI) in September 2014 recommended decommissioning of INS Sindhurakshak, in its report. The second BOI was constituted by the Union Defence Ministry to probe the feasibility of reusing INS Sindhurakshak.

The BOI has also found out that the massive fire on the submarine caused by its missiles and torpedoes would have damaged the hull of the submarine making it unfit for the sea.

The BOI has recommended that the submarine INS Sindhurakshak is not seaworthy, hence not fit to sail again thus it should be decommissioned.

Background 
In August 2013, a massive fire broke out on INS Sindhurakshak followed by a series of explosions, killing 18 Navy personnel, including three officers, aboard. The 3000-tonne submarine sank in the South Breakwater in naval dockyard of Mumbai within hours of the incident.

In January 2014, the Navy entered into a contract with the Indian arm of the US-based firm Resolve Marine to conduct salvage operations of the submarine. In June 2014, the submarine was retrieved from the water and anchored at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. In April 2014 the first BOI submitted a report detailing six probable causes of the accident.

Thereafter two set of tests were performed on the Submarine – one to ascertain the cause of the accident and the other to decide the scope of the work needed to make it seaworthy.

India’s 1st Air Veteran Rally inaugurated by IAF Chief

India’s first Air Veteran Rally was held on 7 September 2014 at the Air Force Auditorium, Subroto Park in New Delhi. The event was inaugurated by the Indian Air Force Chief Marshal Arup Raha. It organised by the Directorate of Air Veterans, Air Headquarters. 
This event was organised to resolve pension anomalies of the air veterans. The programme commenced with the lighting of the lamp by Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS). The inaugural address was given by Air Commodore AK Patra, Principal Director, Directorate of Air Veterans, Air HQs. The event was inaugurated in presence of Air Veterans and four retired Chief of the Air Staff.

India’s 1st Air Veteran Rally inaugurated by IAF Chief

India’s first Air Veteran Rally was held on 7 September 2014 at the Air Force Auditorium, Subroto Park in New Delhi. The event was inaugurated by the Indian Air Force Chief Marshal Arup Raha. It organised by the Directorate of Air Veterans, Air Headquarters. 
This event was organised to resolve pension anomalies of the air veterans. The programme commenced with the lighting of the lamp by Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS). The inaugural address was given by Air Commodore AK Patra, Principal Director, Directorate of Air Veterans, Air HQs. The event was inaugurated in presence of Air Veterans and four retired Chief of the Air Staff.

INS Kamorta, India's first indigenously built stealth warship commissioned into Indian Navy

India’s first indigenously-built stealth Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) INS Kamorta was commissioned in Indian Navy by Union Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on 23 August 2014. It was commissioned at naval dockyard in Vishakhapatnam.
 INS Kamrota is India’s first vessel in the navy whose all weapon systems are manufactured indigenously. 
INS Kamrota was handed over to Indian Navy by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) on 12 July 2014. The super-sophisticated frontline warship was formally handed over to the Commanding Officer of the ship Cdr. Manoj Jha by GRSE Chairman and Managing Director, Rear Admiral (Retd) AK Verma, VSM.

About anti-submarine warfare INS Kamorta
• The warship has been built by the state-owned Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. in Kolkata
• Kamrota is the first of four ASW stealth corvettes designed by Indian Navy's in-house organisation, Directorate of Naval Design (DND), and built by GRSE
• INS Kamorta has enhanced stealth features that make it less susceptible to detection
• It will form part of the Vishakhapatnam-based Eastern Command
• Kamrota would carry short-range Surface-to-Air missiles (SAM) 
• It carries Active Towed Array Decoy System (ATDS)
• It can also carry an integral ASW helicopter 
• It has been built with indigenously developed special grade high-tensile (DMR249A) steel produced by SAIL (Steel Authority of India)
• Rail-less helicopter traversing system gives a significant edge to the corvette over existing platforms of other warships 
• It also has foldable hangar door
• Work on the warship was started in 2006

Earlier in June 2014, the Prime Minister dedicated India’s indigenously designed warship INS Kolkata (D63) as well as India’s largest warship INS Vikramaditya to the nation.

First indigenous air-to-air missile Astra successfully test fired over Arabian Sea

First indigenously developed air-to-air missile Astra successfully test fired on 4th May from a Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet over the Arabian Sea off Goa.

• Astra is India's first Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Air-to-Air missile.
• It was designed and developed indigenously by the DRDO.
• India becomes the fifth country to have BVR missile.
• Only a few countries like the US, Russia, France and Israel have managed to develop BVR missiles till now.

The 60-km plus range missile possesses high Single Shot Kill Probability (SSKP) which makes it highly reliable. Astra is an all-weather missile with active radar terminal guidance. Astra is a highly advanced state of the art missile with excellent ECCM (electronic counter-counter measures) features, smokeless propulsion and process improved effectiveness in multi-target scenario. The project was first sanctioned in March 2004 at an initial cost of 955 crore rupees.

While Astra is designed to take care of enemy aircraft, BrahMos will give surgical land-strike capability against hostile targets. India is slated to begin testing the 290-km supersonic BrahMos cruise missile from the heavy-duty Sukhoi-30MKIs by the end of 2014. Once fully operational, Astra will be much cheaper than contemporary BVR missiles.

DRDO is now confident that it will be able to meet the revised project completion date of December 2016. Astra is to initially have a 44-km range with high single-shot kill probability. The current version of the Astra will be followed by a longer-range Astra Mark II, which can be launched at enemy fighters 80 km away. The Mark II, which will have a state-of-the-art ring-laser gyro, is expected to be flight tested at the end of 2014.

South Korea developed ballistic Missile to counter North Korea

South Korea on 4 April 2014 developed a ballistic missile capable of striking most of North Korea. The missile was launched from a test site in Taean, a coastal town southwest of Seoul.
The test came a day after North Korea raised tensions by test-firing 30 short-range rockets off its east coast on 22 March 2014. 
The new missile with a range of 310 miles (500 Km) is able to carry a warhead of up to one-tonnes.
The missile was developed under an agreement of 2012 with the United States. Under the agreement, South Korea decided to almost triple the range of its ballistic missile systems.

South Korea is developing new missiles since Washington and Seoul revised their defence treaty in 2012. Under the defence treaty, it was decided to extend the range of South Korea’s ballistic missiles from 186 to nearly 500 miles to cope better with North Korea’s increasingly sophisticated missile and nuclear programs.
The tensions between the two Koreans have risen in recent weeks despite some signs of thaw between the two nations in February 2014. In February 2014, the two rivals held the first reunion in more than three years for families divided by the 1950-53 Korean War.
Even when annual South Korean-US military exercises began at the end of February, the protests from Pyongyang were relatively muted, and there was talk of further high-level meetings and greater cooperation.

Indo-Nepal joint military exercise started at Sailahandi

India and Nepal on 6 March 2014 started a joint military exercise at Saljhandi in Rupandehi district of Nepal. The two week exercise named Ex-Surya Kiran Drills VI was inaugurated by Nepal’s Army Major General Victor SJB Rana. 

Participants of the exercise 
• 250 personnel from Indian Army 
• 200 personnel from Nepal Army

During the sixth Indo-Nepal war games that will end on 18 March 2014, the armies participating in will work to upgrade their practical and principle aspects of jungle warfare, anti-insurgency operations and rescue operations. The exercise also includes a detailed training in organisation and conduct of disaster response, management and rescue operation. The two sides will also share experiences on counter-terrorist operations.

Similar such a joint exercise Ex- Surya Kiran-V (5th Indo-Nepal war games) between the two armies was held from 23 September to 6 October 2013 at Pithoragarh district of Uttrakhand in India. This exercise was conducted with an aim at training troops in counterterrorism operations and enhancement of defence cooperation and military relations between the two nations.

Background
The joint training between the armies of the two countries started following an agreement reached during the 7th India-Nepal Bilateral Consultative Group on Security in 2011. First two exercises of the armies (numbered 30 each) focused mainly on the jungle warfare and counter-insurgency operations at Vairangate in Mizoram and a similar school at Amlekhganj in Nepal. 

In 2012 the level of the joint training was upgraded to company level (numbered approximately 120 people each). The revision was based upon the experience gained in previous two exercises of 2011. The aim of the two company-level joint training of 2012 focused mainly on counter insurgency and jungle warfare operations in hilly terrain in Himalayan region of India-Nepal border.

Indian Navy started largest combat exercise Tropex 2014

The Indian Navy has started their largest combat exercise called “Tropex”, the theatre-level readiness and operational exercise which is taking place in the Bay of Bengal. 

Over 50 Indian warships are partaking in the exercise, including the flagship of the Indian Navy, INS Viraat, and nuclear submarine INS Chakra.

The combined Eastern and Western Fleets are currently engaged in the “Tropex”, which will last for a month. The exercise will be conducted against the backdrop of two completely networked fleets operating in a dense maritime environment.

But what is new this year is that the month-long exercise is being held for the first time under the gaze of India's first dedicated military satellite GSAT-7 or "Rukmini", which has a 2,000-nautical mile footprint over the critical Indian Ocean region (IOR).

This geostationary naval communication and surveillance satellite, launched in August last year, is beaming signals from its UHF, S, Ku and C-band transponders to network all Indian warships, submarines and aircraft with operational centres ashore through high-speed encrypted data-links. 

Fast Patrol Vessel Abhinav commissioned in Kochi

The Indian Coast Guard Ship Abhinav was commissioned in Kochi on 15 January 2014 by the Director General of Coast Guard Vice Admiral Anurag G. Thapiyal. Abhinav is the third in the series of twenty Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) and has been designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
The ship has been named ICGS Abhinav (which literally means Modern). It will be based at Kochi under the administrative and operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (West). The ship is commanded by Commandant (JG) Raman Kumar and has complement of 5 officers and 34 other ranks.

First Integrated Checkpost along India-Bangladesh border inaugurated

The first Integrated Checkpost along Agartala-Akhaura, India-Bangladesh border was jointly inaugurated on 17 November 2013 by Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir. The chief Mister of Tripura, Manik Sarkar was also present on the occasion.
The integrated checkpost has been created to facilitate easier movement for the goods and passengers across the border and this will help in promoting the relations between India and Bangladesh. The Agartala-Akhaura Integrated checkpost is the first of the seven Land Customs Border Stations has been upgraded by the Land Port Authority of India along the 4096 km border. The Integrated Checkpost houses all regulatory agencies, which includes Immigration, Customs and Border Security and it constitutes a single complex equipped with the state-of-art facilities with dedicated cargo and passenger terminals, ware-housing and banking. 
Trade between India and Bangladesh has improved significantly after India granted zero-customs and zero-quota trade concessions to all Bangladeshi products, except 25 items. Bangladeshi exports to India hit a record of 562 million dollar during 2012-13.

INS Vikramaditya commissioned in Indian Navy

INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier was inducted into the Indian Navy on 16 November 2013 giving a boost to the India’s maritime warfare capabilities. The INS Vikramaditya (44500 tonne carrier Admiral Gorshkov) was commissioned by the Union Defence Minister, AK Antony and the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitry Rogozin in a ceremony at the sub zero temperature in the wind-swept Sevmash Shipyard in the city of Severodvinsk port in the northern Arctic region of Russia. 

At the time of commissioning, the Russian flag on the 2.3 billion dollar vessel was lowered and the flag of the Indian Navy was raised in its place. The transfer deed of the aircraft carrier was signed by commanding officer of Vikramaditya Captain Suraj Beri and Deputy Director of Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport Igor Sevastyanov.

The commissioning of the INS Vikramaditya will enhance the reach and capability of Indian Navy and its induction with its integral MiG 29K fighters and Kamov-31 helicopters will add a new dimension to the operational capabilities of the Navy.

Pakistan successfully test fired surface-to-surface Hatf IX missile

Pakistan successfully test-fired Hatf IX (Nasr) missile, a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 60 km on November 5.  Nasr, with a range of 60 Kilometer and in-flight maneuver capability is a quick response system, with shoot and scoot attributes. 
The test firing of short range surface-to-surface missile Hatf IX (Nasr) was a part of medium-range ballistic missiles [MRBM] and short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile [SRBMs]. The missile has the capability to carry nuclear weapons.

Hawk 132 inducted into the Indian Navy

Indian Navy on 6 November 2013 inducted the fourth generation advanced jet trainer aircraft Hawk 132 at a ceremony held at the Naval Air Station INS Dega at Visakhapatnam. Hawk 132 is an aircraft operating with over 24 countries around the world. The aircraft was built by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with Transfer of Technology from M/s British Aerospace, UK. Hawk 132 is equipped with advanced and reliable navigation systems and it is able to deploy an impressive array of weaponry including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground rockets, bombs and guns.

The HOTAS (Hands on Throttle and Stick) system on the control column enables the pilot to make weapon selections without maneuvering his hands. The Indian Air Force is also operating these aircraft for training of their pilots.

The induction of the sophisticated aircraft will boost the training of combat pilots in the Navy for helping them learn advanced fighter flying.

India developed Surface-to-Surface Missile Pragati

India developed a new tactical surface-to-surface missile Pragati which has a range between 60-170 km. The missile is on offer to India’s friendly countries. The Pragati missile is based on the Prahaar missile and it has been developed by the DRDO for the Army. It was put on display at a defence exhibition at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (ADEX 2013).

Besides 'Pragati' tactical missile, DRDO showcased, 'Akash' missile system and 'Tejas' LCA and its variants.

The LCA is a DRDO project which remains to be completed and the aircraft has not been inducted by the IAF so far. ADEX 2013 hosted more than 300 companies from 33 nations. DRDO's participation in ADX 2013 commemorates the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and South Korea.

India's First Naval and Maritime Exposition Conference

India's first ever Naval and Maritime Exposition and Conference, NAMEXPO 2013 concluded on 27 September 2013 at Cochin, Kerala with a demonstration and visits to Naval ships, INS Satpura, INS Kabra and INS Sudarshini. All these ships are indigenously made in Indian shipyards.

The five-day NAMEXPO witnessed participation from 50 domestic and international exhibitors, 2000 business visitors, 15 official delegations besides 6500 general visitors.

Indian Naval and Coast Guard officers and personnel and Naval officers from more than 25 countries also visited the Exposition and interacted with exhibitors and participants.

India-US Joint Declaration on Defence Cooperation

India-United States defence cooperation and engagement has increased significantly over the past decade, in step with the overall deepening of India-US relations. We continue to work towards achieving the full vision of expanded defence cooperation set forth in the 2005 New Framework Agreement. 

In this context, India and the United States endorse the following general principles for fulfilling this vision:

• The United States and India share common security interests and place each other at the same level as their closest partners. This principle will apply with respect to defence technology transfer, trade, research, co-development and co-production for defence articles and services, including the most advanced and sophisticated technology. They will work to improve licensing processes, and, where applicable, follow expedited license approval processes to facilitate this cooperation. The U.S and India are also committed to protecting each other’s sensitive technology and information. 

• The U.S. continues to fully support India's full membership in the four international export control regimes, which would further facilitate technology sharing. 

• The two sides will continue their efforts to strengthen mutual understanding of their respective procurement systems and approval processes, and to address process-related difficulties in defence trade, technology transfer and collaboration. 

• The two sides look forward to the identification of specific opportunities for cooperative and collaborative projects in advanced defence technologies and systems, within the next year. Such opportunities will be pursued by both sides in accordance with their national policies and procedures, in a manner that would reflect the full potential of the relationship. 

Agni-V successfully test fired from Chandipur Test Range

India’s most deterrent nuclear capable ballistic missile, Agni-5 was successfully test fired from Chandipur Test Range in Balasore district off Odisha coast on 15th September. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Agni-5 can carry a single nuclear warhead of over 1,000 kg and can strike with precision targets in China and Europe. The complex missile weighs about 50 tons and is 17.5 meters long.
The first test flight of the Agni-5 on 19 April 2012 was a phenomenal success after which India joined the select club of the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China who have such capabilities. Agni-5 will give India the ability hit back or have second-strike capability even after a nuclear attack. The missile is India's fastest-travelling object and the first one to cross the Equator when launched from India. The versatile missile system has the capacity to be launched from a road mobile vehicle or even from a special railway bogey where it can be kept hidden and moved around at will. Agni-5 can be a very fast reacting missile which is a major asset for response to a nuclear strike. After about half a dozen successful tests, this latest missile system will be ready to be inducted into the arsenal of India's strategic forces.