MOBILIZATION OF TROOPS
The mobilization
of troops in January in indo-Pak border exerted immense military
pressure on Pakistan and resultantly infiltration came down considerably
this year compared to the figures of the corresponding period
of the previous year.
The elections to
the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly were successfully
conducted in September and October this year despite terrorist
violence and intimidation. In addition the mobilization focused
the attention of the international community on Pakistan as a
state sponsoring terrorism, thereby pressurizing it to shun cross
border terrorism. The experience gained during the mobilization
has enabled the Indian Army to reassess and revalidate its operational
plans and procedures.
In national interest
and on taking into account the improvement in the overall security
situation, the government decided on strategic relocation of the
armed forces without any compromise to our capacity to respond
aggressively and decisively to meet any emergency and without
lowering the vigil in Jammu & Kashmir.
Marshal of
the Air Force
In recognition of
the most valuable services rendered to the Air Force and the Nation,
the rank of marshal of the Air Force has been conferred on Air
Chief Marshal Arjan Singh (retd) with effect from 26th
January 2002.
Agni
A variant of AGNI
surface-to-surface missile was flight tested successfully on 25th
January. The mission objectives were fully met as confirmed by
data from the network of ground radars, telemetry stations and
visual observations from the Naval ships positioned at the impact
point. The mission was flawless and enhanced India’s capability
in deployment of surface-to-surface missile systems.
The Indo- US
Executive Steering Group
The Indo-US Executive
Steering Group met in February to promote military to military
cooperation between the two armed forces. The meeting is a path
breaker, which aims at bringing closer the Armed Forces of the
two largest democracies of the world. The deliberations covered
a large canvass of diverse military issues encompassing training,
joint exercises, counter terrorism, intelligence sharing, peace
keeping operations and disaster management.
India-Russia
Inter Governmental Commission
To formalize defence
relationship with Russia, the Indo-Russian Inter Governmental
commission on Military Technical cooperation was set up. The second
meeting of the India-Russia Inter Governmental Commission on Military
Technical Cooperation met in February. A number of initiatives
taken at the first meeting of the Commission are already bearing
fruit. The decree recently signed by Russian President Putin enabling
the Indian side to have direct links with Original Equipment Manufacturers
in Russia is seen as a very positive gesture.
The meeting explored
the potential for comprehensive repair and maintenance facilities
in India for defence equipment of Russian and Soviet origin acquired
by the Indian armed forces. A large number of acquisitions from
the Russian federation such as the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier,
Amur submarine, SMERCH multi-barrel rocket launcher and AWACS
and MI 17 helicopters were discussed.
DEFEXPO 2002
The second exhibition
of land and naval systems, DEFEXPO- India 2002 was held in February.
The exhibition showcased India’s technological capabilities in
land and naval systems. A large number of companies from 20 countries
participated in the exhibition in recognition of the market potential
in India for their products and technologies. The exhibition also
created awareness about the opportunities India offers for joint
ventures, technology transfers and co-production facilities for
export to other markets.
Gun & Shell
Factory Cossipore
The Gun & Shell
Factory, Cossipore in Kolkata- the oldest surviving factory in
India celebrated its 200th year of existence in March.
A commemorative stamp was released and the ISO: 9001:2000 was
presented to the factory.
Brahmos
The second successful
flight test of world’s first supersonic cruise missile Brahmos
was carried out in April. With a range of upto 300 km, the Brahmos
is likely to enter production phase by the end of next year and
will be inducted by 2004.
Indo US Defence
Policy Group
The second meeting
of the Indo-US Defence Policy Group held in Washington in May
emphasized the development of a defence supply relationship through
government-to-government foreign military sales programme. It
was also decided to resume technical cooperation in defence research
and work closely for speedier approvals of export licenses in
the United States.
Indo-US Joint
War Exercise
A Indo –US Joint
War exercise was conducted in May involving joint para-drop in
Agra. The para-drop was conducted for training in interoperability
and to inculcate the advantages of the techniques and technology
employed by US forces.
Another Indo-US Army
joint training exercise named Geronimo Thrust was held
in Alaska in September.
Indian Parachute
Brigade and IL-76 aircraft of the Indian Air Force participated
with the Para Infantry Regiment of the US Army, Alaska, C-130
aircraft and Chinook helicopters of the US Pacific Air Force.
Joint Exercises
with foreign Navies
The fourth of the
Malabar series bilateral exercises between the Indian and the
United States Navy were held in September this year after a gap
of six years. The exercise was tactical in nature and covered
all the dimensions of warfare. The resumption of the Malabar series
of exercises is indicative of the growing bilateral cooperation
between the two Navies.
Another joint exercise
was conducted off Goa in May with the French Navy. This was for
the first time that a French aircraft carrier took part in a joint
exercise with the Indian Navy.
Light Combat
Aircraft
The indigenously
developed Light Combat Aircraft (Technology Demonstrator II) was
successfully flight tested in June at Bangalore. So far 41 flight
tests have been successfully conducted on two technology demonstrators
of the LCA. The LCA has been designed and developed to replace
the existing fleet of MiG-21 aircraft.The unit fly-away cost of
LCA during manufacturing is estimated to be Rs 85 crore at last
year’s price level.
Indian Army
victorious in Airborne Exercise
The Indian Army team
bagged the first position in Endurance, Navigation and Casualty
Evacuation and was declared overall winners in Exercise Airborne
Africa held in Botswana in June this year. Twenty eight Army teams
from twelve countries including UK, USA and France participated
in the competition. Initiated by the South African national Defence
Forces in 2001 it is purely an endurance and tactical competition
amongst airborne units of African Armies and invited overseas
countries. The purpose of the exercise was to foster goodwill
amongst airborne units of participating nations and promotions
of tourism in Botswana.
BEL Conferred
Mini Ratna
The Bharat Electronics
Ltd has become the first public sector undertaking of the Ministry
of Defence to acquire category I Mini Ratna status. By attaining
the Mini Ratna status, the undertaking will have more autonomy
with regard to capital expenditure, establishment of joint venture
companies, entering Transfer of Technology agreements and implementation
of schemes relating to human resources management.
Pilotless Target
Aircraft Lakshya
The limited series
production of indigenously designed Pilotless Target Aircraft
Lakshya has commenced. The aircraft has been inducted into
the Air Force and the Navy this year. It is a surface/ship launched
high subsonic reusable aerial target system, remotely piloted
from ground. It provides training to the gun/missile crew and
to air defence pilots
SU-30 MKI Induction
With the induction
of SU-30 MKI in the Indian Air Force in September, the Indian
Air force became the first Air Force in the world to have inducted
this most potent weapon platform. SU-30 MKI is an advanced multi-role
aircraft which has been developed to suit the specific requirements
of IAF. This was the first time when the country was involved
in the development phase of the aircraft with Russia., with some
of the indigenous systems also being part of the new aircraft.
The first squadron of SU-30 is now fully operational.
Encroachment
on Defence land
In October this year,
the Defence Minister stressed the need to carry out a detailed
study of the nine thousand acre Defence estate land presently
under encroachment. The Defence Estate Department has over 17
lakh acres of land spread over 60 cantonments and other places.
It was proposed to dispose off surplus land if any, as this was
otherwise a frozen asset of the government, which needed to be
properly utilized.
International
Maritime Search and Rescue Conference
The Defence Minister
inaugurated the International Maritime Search and Rescue Conference
organised by Coast Guard at Chennai in November. This conference
was held as a part of India’s recent accession to International
Maritime Organisation Search and Rescue convention 1979 and designation
of maritime search and rescue status on the coast guard. Twenty-four
countries participated in the conference to which the main invitees
were the neighboring countries sharing their Search and Rescue
Regions (SRR) with India. India’s strategic location and having
more than nine neighboring SRRs, it is natural that India should
take a lead role for regional cooperation measures.
Presidents
Colours to Coast Guard
The
President presented colours to Coast Guard in December. The occasion
came in the silver jubilee year of the Coast Guard. The President
Shri APJ Abdul Kalam said that it is the Coast Guard that will
ensure prevention of foreign invasion and strengthen the economic
and political firmament of our country.
