Indian Defense
India-UAE ‘Historical Relationship’ Rooted In People-To-People Contact, Trade, Investments…: Indian Envoy
Dubai: Emphasising on India-UAE “historical relationship,” Indian Ambassador to UAE, Sanjay Sudhir, said on Wednesday that both countries’ relations are rooted in terms of people-to-people contact, trade, investments, education, or health.
“Although it is a very historical relationship and it goes back centuries, it has never been as strong as you know and is firmly rooted in so many areas, whether there’s people-to-people contact, trade, investments, education, health, you name it, and it is there in this relationship,” he said.
Sudhir further highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the UAE in July this year, noting that it was a bilateral visit.
Moreover, PM Modi visited the UAE in June 2022 as well. “So leaders have been meeting very regularly because there’s content; there’s so much content in the relationship.”
Sudhir also underscored the MoU signed between India and the UAE to establish the IIT-Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi.
“In the last visit of the Prime Minister, we signed an MoU to establish a campus of IIT-Delhi in Abu Dhabi. We also signed another MoU on linking our messaging systems,” he said.
Sanjay Sudhir also highlighted the agreement between both nations on settling trade in local currencies, the rupee and the Dirham.
The two leaders, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and PM Modi, witnessed on July 15 the exchange of MoUs between the Reserve Bank of India and the UAE Central Bank for the establishment of a framework to promote the use of local currencies (INR-AED) for cross-border transactions and another one for bilateral cooperation on interlinking their payment and messaging systems.
Additionally, he also told ANI about the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that was signed last year.
“The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed last year in February, and we can also already see the good results. Last year, trade shot up by about 16 per cent, and I think CEPA has a big role to play in that.”
While answering about the expectations from the two leaders’ discussions this year, Sudhir told ANI that this visit is more in a multilateral context.
“The fact that there will be more than 130 leaders also gives an opportunity for our Prime Minister to interact with so many other world leaders here,” he added.
The World Climate Action Summit, the High-Level Segment of COP28, is scheduled from November 30 to December 12 under the UAE’s presidency in Dubai. The host country hopes for a deal on tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, focusing on phasing out fossil fuels, climate finance, and the Global Goal on Adaptation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the summit, having announced specific climate targets during COP26 in Glasgow. His visit includes bilateral meetings with leaders, and it’s at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
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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