Indian Defense
An Agreement For Disengagement At The Next India-China Round of Talks Expected: Officials
The effort is to resolve the ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh
In the next round of talks between India and China, there could be an agreement for disengagements from some of the friction points along the Line of Actual Control.
Though no dates have been announced for the 12th round of Corps Commander-level talks which is expected to focus on resolving the ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh, sources have indicated that these could take place anytime.
“No specific date has been set. And the talks could take place either this week or early August,” said a senior officer.
According to a senior official, “Though they are within striking range, no attempts have been made by the Chinese to re-occupy the vacated peaks. The situation on the ground is stable, which is a positive sign. There is a sense that the Chinese side is ready to disengage from other places. The talks are going on at various levels with the Chinese and there is indication that the next round of disengagement will start soon.”
It has been fifteen long months of standoff between the armies for India and China. Besides the Corps Commander Level talks, in the background preparations are going on for having a Major General level talk. This is expected to take place at the end of the 12th round of talks between the two sides.
How many rounds of talks so far?
From the time the standoff between the two armies started, there have been around 1,450 calls over the two hotlines; 10 Major General level talks, and 55 Brigadier level talks. There are two hotlines for communication at Chushul and Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO).
What to expect in the 12th round?
The effort is to resolve the ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh. This means, at the end of this round of talks there could be an agreement for disengagement at Gogra and Hot Springs.
Update … where do things stand?
“India has been urging the opposite side to make sure that the troops which are in close proximity should disengage first. And this will be followed by de-escalation and de-induction later”, said the official quoted above.
However, China has been saying the opposite. It insists that de-escalation and de-induction should take place first, and the troops who are in close `proximity’ can disengage later. As reported earlier Indian and Chinese armies have deployed around 75,000 troops on either side of the 832-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
Three step process suggested by India:
To disengage from areas where troops are within close proximity.
This should be followed by de-escalation and de-induction. This means pulling back not only troops but also equipment to the pre-April 2020 home bases. India is not keen on the Chinese sequence, due to different terrain on the other side –which is the flat Tibetan Plateau. This will make it easy for the PLA to induct troops faster.
However on the Indian side, the terrain does not allow rapid induction as there are several high passes, which get snowbound from October. And this can hold back the infantry.
Earlier this year, on February 10, troops of either side had started “disengagement” along the banks of 135 km Pangong Tso Lake. After this round the process remains stalled.
Which are the friction points?
There are other friction points that have yet to be resolved and these include: Demchok, Gogra, Hot Springs and Depsang. Both sides have two mutually agreed disputed areas: Trig Heights and Demchok — and 10 areas of differing perception. According to officials since the standoff in 2020, additional five friction points have emerged.
Indian Defense
INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’
The solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its under-development sister vessels. INS Arihant, which became fully operational in November 2018 to complete India’s nuclear triad, is currently armed with the much shorter K-15 missiles with a 750 km range.
“The K-4 is now virtually ready for its serial production to kick-off. The two tests have demonstrated its capability to emerge straight from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory,” said a source.
India has the land-based Agni missiles, with the over 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile now in the process of being inducted, and fighter jets jury-rigged to deliver nuclear weapons. But INS Arihant gives the country’s deterrence posture much more credibility because nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles are considered the most secure, survivable and potent platforms for retaliatory strikes.
Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India narrow the gap with countries like the US, Russia and China, which have over 5,000-km range SLBMs. The K-4 missiles are to be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range class.
The 6,000-ton INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, in turn, is to be followed by INS Arighat, which was launched in 2017. The next generation of nuclear submarines, currently called S-4 and S-4*, will be much larger in size.
Indian Defense
After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%
India has received clearance to upgrade 84 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will result in 78% indigenization after the upgrade
In a significant step towards bolstering its military might with indigenously developed technology, India is poised to witness its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets evolve into a domestic platform. Speaking at a recent lecture.
The upgrade program is being led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with the Indian Air Force and other partners. The upgrade is expected to cost US$7.5 billion.
This initiative is a part of a larger effort by the Indian Air Force to modernize its ageing fleet. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari asserted the critical role of an offensive air force as demonstrated in current global conflicts and emphasized India’s move towards an indigenized arsenal. To this end, the IAF has been proactive, from upgrading its Mirage 2000 to enhancing its MiG-29 fleet.
In summary, the IAF’s commitment to updating their combat forces with the latest technology, including shifting to fifth-generation fighter jets, ensures operational preparedness and a strong deterrence capability. The gradual indigenization of its air fleet marks a pivotal shift in India’s defence landscape, reducing dependency on foreign imports and fostering technological sovereignty.
Indian Defense
Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace
According to unconfirmed reports, Armenia is a top contender for an export order for Akash SAM system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
The Akash export version will also be slightly different from the one inducted by the armed forces. The 100-km range air-to-air Astra missiles, now entering production after successful trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, also have “good export potential”, said sources.
Akash is a “tried, tested and successfully inducted systems”. Indian armed forces have ordered Akash systems worth Rs 24,000 crore over the years, and MoD inked a contract in Mar 2023 of over Rs 9,100 crores for improved Akash Weapon System
BDL is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence that was established in 1970. BDL manufactures surface-to-air missiles and delivers them to the Indian Army. BDL also offers its products for export.
Akash Weapon System
The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In order to meet aerial threats, two additional Regiments of AWS with Upgradation are being procured for Indian Army for the Northern borders. Improved AWS has Seeker Technology, Reduced Foot Print, 360° Engagement Capability and improved environmental parameters.
The project will give a boost to the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem as a whole. The project has overall indigenous content of 82% which will be increased to 93% by 2026-27.
The induction of the improved AWS into the Indian Army will increase India’s self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability. This project will play a role in boosting the overall economy by avoiding outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries, increasing employment avenues in India and encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing. Around 60% of the project cost will be awarded to the private industry, including MSMEs, in maintaining the supply chain of the weapon system, thereby creating large scale of direct and indirect employment.
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