Indian Defence Forces

HAL will try to deliver around 6-8 LCA Tejas-FOC variant aircraft this year, Madhavan told The Hindu. He further added that they can deliver the entire quota of LCA Tejas this year provided certain crucial systems are delivered from Israel on time. Commenting on the Tejas MK-1A order by the Indian Air Force (IAF), he said that once the aircraft is configured with specific operational enhancements, it will take flight by the middle of this year which will be followed by 20-24 months of rigorous testing and evaluation.

INS Vikrant is a 44000-tonne aircraft carrier built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and cost around ₹23000 crores. It will be India’s second operational aircraft carrier after INS Vikramaditya. Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal, in a PTI report quoted by Economic Times (ET), said that “The IAC now sails to undertake complex manoeuvres to establish specific readings of how the ship performs in various conditions.”

Addressing Indian Army's annual conference, Naravane said, "We will continue to deal with the PLA (People's Liberation Army) in a firm, resolute and peaceful manner, while ensuring the sanctity of our claims. Necessary safeguards are in place." The army chief said that there have been positive developments, both along the country's Northern and Western borders in the last one year.

The test missile had precisely hit the target ship, according to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).  This particular missile variant is developed and designed to launch both in vertical and horizontal mode from either a stationary or moving vehicle at both land or/and sea-based targets. The Indian Navy has lauded the twin achievement by the Indian defence ecosystem

The highly advanced surface-to-air missile system has the ability to restrict hostile Chinese and Pakistani air-borne operations within their own borders. The S-400 has the capability to neutralise any aerodynamic target within 400 km range, be it cruise missiles or aircrafts, thereby providing a secure defence bubble to military bases and crucial national assets.

The ministry launched several major initiatives during the year to make India self-reliant in the field of defence manufacturing. Self reliance in defence is aimed at enhancing domestic manufacturing and making the country a net exporter in this field. The 'Make in India' and 'atmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives have been given major impetus during planning and procurement of equipment for the army, wherein there has been an endeavor to support the emerging defence industry in the country.

As per the reports, India is currently negotiating with several other nations as well and could likely get more orders from them for the missile system. The deal is currently in its advanced stage of negotiations and could be a major success for the Narendra Modi-led government as the export deal would take the government closer to its aim of excelling in defense exports and manufacturing defense items in India.

The move comes as another major impetus to the country's defence manufacturing infrastructure and indigenization ecosystem by the govt. The government aims to allocate as well as augment investments in local defence research and development programs while promoting participation from the private sector.  

Officials of the Central Reserve Police Force said that in view of the recent incidents of fratricide and suicide in the force, several steps have been taken to motivate the personnel and the guidelines will be issued for setting up of 'Chaupals (village-like get-togethers) and 'Sanskarshala' (morals classes) where the jawans can freely speak to their senior officials and explain their problems.

However, India's second main defence partner, the United States, had expressed its disapproval towards the S-400 missile deal between India and Russia and tried to threaten India to impose sanctions pertaining to its Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) law. Amid this opposition, in early December, foreign secretary Harsh V Shringla had announced that Russia had started deliveries of the surface-to-air long-range missile system.