Boeing Completes Delivery of 37 Military Helicopters to India

The United States-based multinational Aerospace Company- Boeing had completed the delivery of all 37 Military Helicopter in the month of June 2020 that were ordered by the Defence Ministry for the Indian Armed Forces in 2015. This was informed by Boeing through a news release statement on their website on 10^th July 2020.

• Out of the 37 Military Helicopter- 22 were AH-64E Apache Helicopter and 15 were CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift Helicopter. 
• The last five of the 22 Apache Helicopters were delivered in June 2020 to the Indian Air Force at the Air Force Station in Hindan while the delivery of Chinook Helicopters was completed in the month of March 2020.

Background

• On 22^nd September 2015, the Union Cabinet Committee on Security had approved the procurement of the 37 Military Helicopters from Boeing.  
• A week later on 29^th September 2015, the contract for the purchase of the 37 Military Helicopters was signed.
• The contract has a follow on orders clause as per which apart from the 22 Apache and 15 Chinook, India can place an order for 11 more AH-64E Apache Helicopter and 7 additional CH-47F(I) Chinook Military Helicopters.

New Helicopters Deal Signed in February 2020

• During the visit of the United States President to India in February 2020, a combine USD 3 billion deal has been signed for the purchase of 24 MH-60 Romeo Seahawk Helicopter(built by Lockheed Martin’s subsidiary company-Sikorsky Aircraft) for the Indian Navy at USD 2.6 billion and another 6 AH-64E Apache Military Helicopters.

Line of Actual Control: ITBP sanctions twin commands

On June 5, 2020, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police launced twin commands in Guwahati and Chandigarh ti supervise its deployment of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Highlights

• The recent standoff between India and China in the regions of Ladakh and also in other parts of LAC is the main reason for the initiation commands. 
• The western regions of the LAC are to be administered from the Chandigarh headquarters and the eastern from Guwahati.

What is the plan?

• Around 90,000 personnel have been deployed in the border region. 
• The commands that are being deployed were already sanctioned in October 2019. 
• Around 35 to 28 batallions are to be deployed across the LAC border.

Functions

• The commands deployed will administer movement of ITBP personnel. 
• The commands will also streamline deployment, operations, intelligence and administrative movements of ITBP personnel in the region.
• It is to be noted that the ITBP being deployed is trained for mountain warfare. 
• The troops were also present with the Army during the recent stand off with the Chinese in the Ladakh area.

E-Conclave for Defence MSMEs held

On May 21, 2020, the Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the E-Conclave of Defence MSME (Micro Small and Medium Enterprises).

Highlights

• The E-conclave was organized by CII (Confederation of Indian Industry), SIDM (Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers) and Department of Defence Production. 
• Around 800 Defence MSMEs participated in the conclave that was held through video conferencing.
• The Conclave identified the fact that the US Defence industry developed within a short span of two years during World War II.

Background

• The GoI recently announced that, the defence sector will focus on indigenization of defence raw materials to boost its defence production. 
• This was announced to help economic growth during COVID-19 crisis. 
• To achieve this, the GoI had imposed import ban on certain goods during its announcement of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. 
• The Indian Air Force recently announced its stalling of three main projects of buying aircrafts from foreign countries. 
• Instead, the IAF is to tie up with HAL to achieve those projects.
• Thus, the conclave was conducted to let the MSMEs learn about the current requirements of defence sector. 
• It also focused on how MSMEs can help boost defence production.

India’s Target

• The Conclave will certainly help India achieve its target of 25 billion defence production by 2025.

Defence Ministry signs MoU with TATA Power to modernize 37 airfields

On May 8, 2020, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with the TATA POWER SED to modernize infrastructure of 37 airfields of Indian Air Force. The cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs 1,200 crore.

The Plan

• Under Phase-1 of the Modernization of Airfield Infrastructure, the airfields of the Indian Air Force were upgraded. 
• The contract has been signed under phase-2 of the programme. 
• Under Phase-2, the navigational aids and infrastructure are to be upgraded.
• The second phase also includes installation and commissioning of modern airfield equipment such as Cat-II Instrument Landing System and Air Field Lightning System.
• The modern equipment are to be directly connected to Air Traffic Control. 
• This will provide excellent control of airfield system.

Modernization of Airfield Infrastructure

• Under the project, the first modern airfield system was set up at Bhatinda. 
• The project was worth Rs 2,500 crores. 
• Under Phase I, around 30 airfields were modernized. It was signed in 2011 at a total cost of Rs 1,219 crores.
• The phase I was also signed with the TATA Group. 
• Under phase I, distance measuring equipment, Automated air traffic management system, omni-directional radio range and technical air navigation were implemented.

Operation “Samudra Setu” launched by Indian Navy

On May 5, 2020, the Indian Navy launched Operation “Samudra Setu” to bring back the Indians that are stranded in Maldives. They are stranded in the foreign land due to the grounding of airlines.

Samudra Sethu means Sea Bridge.

Highlights

• The Indian ships Jalashwa and Magar are being sent to the port of Male, Maldives. 
• The plan is to bring around 1000 persons during the first trip. 
• The list of Indians to be evacuated from the Maldives is being prepared by the Indian Mission in the Republic of Maldives.
• The INS Jalashwa is to reach Maldives on May 8, 2020. 
• It is capable of displacing 17,521 tonnes. 
• INS Magar will reach Maldives on May 10, 2020. 
• It is an amphibious warfare vessel that is capable of displacing 5,750 tonnes.

What is the plan?

• After evacuation, these people from Maldives are to be kept in quarantine at Kochi.

INS Jalashwa

• INS Jalashwa was formerly known USS Trenton. The USS Trenton was bought from the Unites States in 2006. 
• The ship was renamed as INS Jalashwa after the purchase. 
• Jalashwa in Sanskrit means “Hippopotamus”. 
• INS Jalashwa is an amphibious warfare ship.

What is an amphibious ship?

• An amphibious warfare ship is an amphibious vehicle warship that is employed to land and support ground forces.

Significance of Amphibious Assault Ships

• In 2018, the Government of India initiated Rs 20,000 crore project. 
• Under the project, four amphibious ships are to be built in India. 
• Each of these ships weigh 30,000 tonnes. 
• After INS Vikrant, these four ships will be the largest to be built in the country.

India-China Ceremonial Border Meet on “Labour Day” cancelled due to COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian and Chinese ceremonial border personnel meet that is usually conducted on Labour Day was cancelled.

Highlights

• On May 1, every year the Indian and Chinese Army personnel hold a meeting at five border locations. 
• During their meet, the army personnel discuss sports activities and also about activities to ensure peace at the LAC (Line of Actual Control).
• However, this year the meet has been cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Instead, the army personnel are to exchange their greetings through phone lines established at five locations.

Locations

• Usually the armies hold discussions at 5 locations. 
• All the five are along the Line of Actual control. 
• It includes Daulat Beg Oldie and Chushul in Ladakh, Nathu La in Sikkim, Bum La and Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh.

Other Auspicious occasions

• The armies also hold discussions on other auspicious occasions such as republic day, Independence Day, PLA Day (People’s Liberation Army Day-August 1).

PLA Day

• The PLA Army of china is the armed force of China and of its communist party. 
• There are five branches of the PLA army that includes Navy, Ground force, Rocket Force, Air Force and Strategic Support Force.
• PLA is one of the Potential Military Super Power

Potential Military Super Power

A state that is speculated to have gained complete potential to become a super power is called potential super power. The countries that are called Potential Military Super Power are India, China, Brazil, USA, Russia, European Union.