Indian Defense
India In ‘Close Touch’ With Sri Lanka Amid Concerns Over New Colombo-Beijing Bonhomie
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar with his Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena
Foreign Minister Jaishankar speaks to Sri Lankan counterpart Gunawardena Monday. Interaction comes days after MEA asked Sri Lanka to be ‘mindful’ of bilateral ties between Delhi and Colombo
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke to his Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena Monday amid India’s growing concerns over the proposed Colombo Port City project, which has Chinese funding.
In a Twitter post, Jaishankar said the two countries will “continue to remain in close touch”.
The interaction comes days after the Ministry of External Affairs asked Sri Lanka to be “mindful” of the bilateral ties between New Delhi and Colombo, as it weighed in on the proposed Colombo Port City project, which is part of a $1.4 billion deal funded by China.
Jaishankar last visited Sri Lanka in January this year. In February, Colombo scrapped a $500 million deal with India and Japan to develop the East Container Terminal and subsequently handed over the development of the West Container Terminal to the Adani Group in March.
Meanwhile, the relationship between Sri Lanka and China appears to be strengthening despite certain concerns within the island nation about the prospect of greater Chinese control over the country.
Chinese President Xi Jinping Sunday wrote a letter to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa wishing him on his birthday.
“In face of major challenges in the world, #China and #SriLanka have been looking out for each other and working closely with each other,” Xi wrote. “I attach great importance to the development of #China-#SriLanka relations, and would like to continue to work with you to promote our strategic partnership for more fruitful outcomes, and bring more benefits to our two countries and peoples.”
Last week, as many as 12 leading Sinhalese political parties, including the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Party, participated in an event hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China. Speaking at the event, Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa lauded China as a friend of the country.
“The friend will be always there, both in sorrow and pleasure. Like the murals on a wall, they never look away. We appreciate the commitments made by the Chinese Government for our independence during and after the war, forever,” he said.
Parties representing the Tamilian minority – Tamil National Alliance and the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) – were absent from the virtual event.
India’s Renewed Focus On Lankan Tamils
India has begun putting a renewed focus on the issue of facilitating the reconciliation of Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority by giving them greater representation through the implementation of the 13th amendment to the country’s constitution.
The 13th amendment became part of the local statute as a direct result of the Indian intervention in 1987, under the India-Sri Lanka Accord.
It proposes the establishment of a provincial council system and devolution of power for nine provinces in Sri Lanka. However, successive governments in Sri Lanka have not implemented it.
Issues relating to the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka were discussed last week between India’s High Commissioner Gopal Baglay and a senior delegation from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
“Various aspects of devolution and developmental aspirations of the people from the North and East were also discussed. The TNA delegation apprised high commissioner on progress regarding provincial council elections which constitute integral part of Sri Lankan polity and constitution,” said a press release issued by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka.
The release also said the high commissioner “reiterated India’s support for devolution within the framework of a united Sri Lanka on the basis of full implementation of the 13A, which would be in line with Tamil aspirations for equality, justice, peace & reconciliation and would strengthen Sri Lanka”.
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.
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.
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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