Two-day bi-annual Senior Maintenance Staff Officers’ Conference from 12 -13 Sep 2011

A two-day bi-annual Senior Maintenance Staff Officers’ Conference from 12 -13 Sep 2011 was inaugurated by the Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarter yesterday. Delivering Inaugural address by, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne highlighted the operational imperatives and Maintenance challenges of the IAF, due to wide spectrum of weapon systems and associated infrastructure. He urged SMSOs to be pro-active and address the issues in right earnest. He emphasized the core values of IAF and vision of “People First Mission Always”. He deliberated on the issues of Modernisation, challenges to security and ethos of IAF. He reiterated the importance of human element and working as a team to gain the synergy in modern times

Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance (AOM) Air Marshal J Neri carried out a brief overview of various fleets and covered actions initiated by Air HQs to enhance maintainability for safe operations.

The two-day Conference is meant to dwell over complex maintenance issues in IAF due to different environmental conditions, legacy systems with obsolescence and vintage related problems, state-of-the-art systems and requirement of infrastructure etc.

Representatives from HAL and BEL would interact and present their perspective on Maintenance of equipment supplied by them.

Director General (Aircraft) Air Marshal RK Vashisht, Air Marshal P Kanakraj and other high officials of Air HQs participated in the discussions.

DR. KALAM SEEKS MENTOR'S ROLE FOR FORMER SCIENTISTS IN SCHOOLS

Former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has favoured an active teaching role for retired scientists in schools and colleges. Delivering the inaugural address to an international workshop here today on "Emerging frameworks and issues for Science and Technology (S&T) recruitments," Dr. Kalam suggested scientific organisations to utilize their services. Dr. Kalam said the role of scientific institutions would be vital in the years to come as the share of manufacturing and services sector in India's GDP has risen sharply. To realise the India Vision 2020, envisioned by Dr. Kalam himself, the contribution of these two sectors has to grow up to 94 percent by 2012, he added.

Talking to reporters, Dr. Arun Kumar, Director, Recruitment and Assessment Center (RAC) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), allayed concerns of brain drain with the premier defence research institution. DRDO's attrition rate of 15 percent was lower than 20 percent for the private sector, he said. In fact, the DRDO is attracting talent from abroad and 15 NRI scientists were picked up last year through video conferencing, added Dr. K.V. Raghavan, RAC Chairman.

About 27 experts including seven foreign participants from the US, UK, Germany, Australia and Israel are participating in the four-day workshop that began at DRDO's Metcalfe House. Dr. M. Natarajan, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and Director-General, DRDO, presided over the inaugural session. Dr. W. Selvamurthy, Chief Controller (R&D) – Life Sciences and Human Resources, DRDO, was also present at the inaugural session.

On the occasion, Dr. Kalam released the first issue of RAC's journal 'Good Assessment Practices' and a book 'In search of the right personnel', written by Dr. Manas K. Mandal, Director of the Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR).

Keynote Address delivered by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony to the seminar on 'Indian experience in force projection,'

Press Release

September 15, 2008

Following is the extract of the Keynote Address delivered by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony to the seminar on 'Indian experience in force projection,' organized by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) here today:

The term 'Force projection' provides an interesting context to the role of all the three wings of the Armed Forces in furtherance of National aims. Let me congratulate CENJOWS for choosing such a significant and relevant topic.

The world has changed drastically in the last century, living as we do, in a more integrated and globalised world. The comfort offered by national boundaries no longer constitute effective defence. On the other hand the quality of life is visibly improving, poverty rates have declined. Regional and international cooperation have grown, the benefits of technology are increasingly enjoyed by many, and a sense of global norms and interdependence has taken root.

India and Indians are increasingly becoming drivers of the global change and prosperity. Our exposure to external world trade has tripled in the last few years, as have our investments abroad. The Indian Diaspora who live and work abroad has also grown significantly. We find there is a new interest on the part of many countries in partnering India on security cooperation.

With its vibrant democracy and strong individualism, India has a natural ability to relate across cultures. We have developed the need and a legitimate interest and capability in securing our supplies of external natural and energy resources. An India specific waiver from NSG is a recognition of India's relevance and profile in world affairs.

For its further growth and prosperity, India clearly needs a secure and peaceful periphery and unrestrained sources of energy. India is strategically located, overlooking the important sea lanes and in a very unstable region of the continent. We have unsettled territorial disputes with our largest neighbours. Some of them are seriously afflicted by terrorism, itself a cause for our concern as a neighbour. This is further aggravated when that terrorism spills over into India, through state sponsorship or otherwise.

A large number of non-state armed groups have sanctuaries in our neighbouring states who use these bases and resources to carry out acts of terrorism across India. The combination of these and other issues such as nuclear weapons proliferation compel us to be on constant vigil and preparedness to defend our vital interests and values. Even at a global level though the situation appears stable and tension free it is intricately complicated with divergent ideological beliefs, competing demands for scarce resources and conflicting goals which can become a basis for differences and burst into a conflict.

The real threats to international security would arise from states that would avoid interdependence, particularly with neighbours, and from non-state actors like the Taliban and LTTE.

India's growing integration with the world economy imposes its own responsibilities on our defence forces. The long-term challenge for India, as indeed for every other major nation, is its ability and willingness to contribute to international peace and stability. With a long and distinguished record in UN peace-keeping operations to our credit India has demonstrated her commitment and willingness.

Our quick response to the Asian Tsunami, the Myanmar earthquake and evacuation of Indians from Lebanon and other parts of Middle East, demonstrated India's ability to respond to a crisis anywhere in the world across the spectrum of emergencies, thereby raising the world's expectation from us. This ability will, no doubt, rise with time and with our own economic growth. I would also like to congratulate the armed forces for their role during the initial stages of rescue and relief in flood-hit Bihar.

All operations of this nature would require greatest coordination between the three services and there can be no better forum than the CENJOWS to consolidate the lessons learnt and, as always, useful lessons can be drawn from the presence of distinguished soldiers who have been on the forefront in managing these operations.

Nishant UAV a step closer to Army induction

India's indigenous pilotless aircraft, 'Nishant', has moved a step closer to induction into the Army.
A pre-induction trial carried out by the Indian Army along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on friday has been successful, DRDO officials said. "The confirmatory trials were successful," they said.
Army troops which would work with the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) took out 'Nishant' for trials at Kolar in Karnataka.
"Nishant has completed development phase and user trials. The present flight tests are pre-confirmatory trials before induction into the Services," officials said.
The flight test was witnessed by user (Army) representatives, in the presence of senior scientists of DRDO.
The UAV will give Indian Army capabilities for discrete aerial reconnaissance and target acquisition on land and air. The Indian Army would put 'Nishant' to use in forward areas in Jammu and Kashmir, for gathering electronic intelligence and for electro-optical reconnaissance.
In a battlefield, 'Nishant' can help Army units to direct heavy artillery shelling and for guiding fighter aircraft to fire rockets and drop precision bombs at enemy positions. It can also be used in anti-tank role.
Nishant is one of the few UAVs in the world in its weight class capable of being catapult launched and recovered by using parachute, thus eliminating the need for a runway as in case of conventional take-off and landing with wheels.

Violation of truce rules irks Army

Infuriated with the violation of ground rules of the ceasefire agreement between the Government and the insurgent groups, the Indian Army has decided to tighten the noose round the erring cadres. The Indian Army, in a latest move, met the leaders of the banned National Democratic Front of Bodoland, who are on ceasefire with the Government of India since 2005, and warned them not to move out of their respective designated camps with arms.“We have sent a clear-cut message to the NDFB leaders not to encourage its cadres to move out of their camps with arms. If they continue to do so, they should not expect any ‘mercy’ from us,” said Major General Chander Prakash, General-Officer-Commanding of Army’s Red Horns Division while talking to the mediapersons today at Chaygaon.A team of Army officials, it may be mentioned, recently met the NDFB leaders based in Lower Assam urging them to adhere to the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement.“We have been informed about such movements with arms and now we have decided to keep a close vigil on them,” he informed, adding that strict action would be taken against the violators.Chander Prakash was speaking during the re-dedication programme of a community hall in Chaygaon area organised under the aegis of Gajaraj Corps’ Op Sadbhavana programme.A cultural programme was also organised on the occasion by the local committee.
Meanwhile, a senior Army official informed that Lieutenant General VK Singh, GOC-in-C Eastern Command, who was on a two-day visit to the State, had expressed his satisfaction with the Indian Army’s preparation and high state of readiness for flood relief operations in the State in the wake of the impending monsoons.The GOC-in-C also reviewed the internal security system in the State with specific reference to the status and activities of the terrorist groups still operating in the region.“The aspect of synergizing counter-insurgency operations amongst the Army, the Central Police Organisations and the State police was also dwelt upon during his interaction with GOC 4 corps BS Jaswal and other senior Army officials,” the senior official informed.

Indian Army got dozens of Tunguska,100s of T90s INSAS Fire

Indo-Saudi Defense Ties on Upswing, Says Gen. Naidu

Lt. Gen. Milan Naidu, vice chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army, who completed a two-day official visit to Riyadh, said relations between the Saudi and Indian military are on the upswing.
“The visit was primarily aimed at fostering deeper understanding, developing mutual confidence and identifying fresh avenues of cooperation in the field of defense relations,” Col. R.S. Yadav, defense attaché of the Indian Embassy, told Arab News.
Gen. Naidu met Prince Khaled ibn Sultan, assistant minister of defense and aviation, Vice Adm. Prince Fahd ibn Abdullah, officiating chief of General Staff, Gen. Qubayel, commander of Land Forces, Prince Khaled ibn Bandar, deputy commander of Land Forces, Gen. Hameed Al-Touri, commander of Air Defense Forces, and Dr. Khalil Al-Khalili, chairman of the Committee on Security Affairs in the Majlis Al-Shoura.
Gen. Naidu also visited the Armed Forces Command and Staff College. “The visit was well received by both sides and is likely to result in increased interactions and better cooperation in the fields of training, technical assistance and military hardware,” Col. Yadav said.
A number of Saudi officers are currently attending training courses in India.
An Indian officer will also be coming to Saudi Arabia next year, Col. Yadav said, adding that Saudi officers have also attended military exercises in India as Observers.
Naidu’s visit follows similar visits to the Kingdom by Pranab Mukherjee, external affairs minister of India, and Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of Planning Commission. Likewise, Vice Adm. Prince Fahd ibn Abdullah, who is also commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, and Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal were part of Saudi delegations that visited India in February this year to attend a symposium on the Indian Ocean and a visit to a defense exhibition.
A series of high level regular bilateral visits, following the visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to India in 2006, clearly signifies the desire of both nations to give new dimensions and meaning to the friendly ties