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Kenya To Guam, India Outlines Sphere of Interest In The Indo-Pacific With String of Naval Exercise

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Kenya To Guam, India Outlines Sphere of Interest In The Indo-Pacific With String of Naval Exercise

New Delhi: Keen on demonstrating its sphere of interest mainly in the Indian Ocean, but also with a spur in the Pacific, the Indian navy has carefully deployed its warships for exercises with like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Indian navy’s state-of-the art stealth frigate, Talwar has just finished participation in Cutlass Express 2021 of the East African coastline of the Indian Ocean. The warship exercised in massive multinational manoeuvres steered by the Africa Command of the United States. The participants included 12 East African countries, the UK, European Union Naval Force Somalia (EUNAVFOR), Critical Maritime Routes Indian Ocean (CRIMARIO), EUCAP Somalia, and Interpol, apart from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),

The exercise was a combined effort to enhance familiarity with Indian Ocean waters in a critical zone extending from the Horn of Africa to the Gulf of Aden — a prime route for commercial shipping heading to Europe, Africa and Asia. International concerns have heightened as this area has been badly hit by piracy and international terrorism, triggering the need for international collaboration.

This year, the exercise was held in close proximity to Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, and the Seychelles — areas of prime interest to India.

The manoeuvres take place as a follow up to the visit to Kenya in June by External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar. India, during that visit had discussed the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, including Horn of Africa, especially the rise of international terrorism in the littoral states.

“Kenya is in fact India’s maritime neighbour and is an important stakeholder in the geopolitics of the Western Indian Ocean. Moreover, just like India, it is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2021-2022 term. Therefore, EAM’s visit to Kenya is an opportunity for India to engage on a range of bilateral, regional as well as multilateral issues,” said Sankalp Gurjar, a research fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in an article published in India Narrative ahead of Jaishankar’s visit.

Having identified Kenya as a partner in the Indian Ocean, New Delhi reinforced its special relationship with Nairobi by deploying the Talwar in a separate exercise with Kenya following the Cutlass Express manoeuvres.

The Indian warship exercised with Kenya Navy Ship Shujaa off the port of Mombasa.

“Post conclusion of exercise Cutlass Express 2021 INS Talwar undertook a Maritime Partnership Ex with Kenya Navy Ship Shujaa,” an Indian navy spokesperson in Mumbai tweeted.

India’s Ministry of Defence said that the Talwar’s visit is further going to strengthen “India’s commitment to the countries along the East Coast of Africa and the Western IOR”.

While the Talwar was engaged in manoeuvres in the Western Indian Ocean, two other naval ships were steaming into Brunei, marking India’s stakes across the strait of Malacca in part of the West Pacific as well.

During their stay in Brunei, the Indian ships participated in an exercise with ships of the Royal Brunei Navy.

“Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt arrived at Muara, Brunei as part of their deployment to South East Asia on 09 Aug 21,” India’s defence ministry said in a statement.

Both the ships belong to the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet. Based in Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command, the fleet has acquired high importance in tune with India’s ASEAN-centric Act East policy.

From Brunei, the ships will head to Guam, for the much larger Malabar-21 exercises with the US, Japan and Australia.

The Malabar-21 off Guam, which is the headquarters to the Indo-Pacific command of the US, has a message for China, which is flexing its muscles in the South China Sea, riding on disputes with several countries belonging to the 10-nation ASEAN. But Indian officials insist that India’s visible presence from the East African coastline to Guam is an elaboration of the inclusive doctrine summed up by the acronym SAGAR — Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

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INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’

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INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’


NEW DELHI: India tested its nuclear capable K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), designed to have a strike range of 3,500 km, for the second time in six days on Friday. The missile test, as the one conducted on January 19, was undertaken from an undersea platform in the shape of a submersible pontoon off the coast of Andhra Pradesh according to a report by Rajat Pandit of TOI.

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.





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After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%

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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.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the upgrade. The upgrade is part of India’s efforts to improve the capabilities of its primary fighter aircraft, it refers to as the “Super Sukhoi”.

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.





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Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace

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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).

While there is no official confirmation because of the sensitivities involved, documents suggest that the order for the same has already been placed the report further added.
There are nine countries, in turn, which have shown interest in the indigenously-developed Akash missile systems, which can intercept hostile aircraft, helicopters, drones and subsonic cruise missiles at a range of 25-km. They are Kenya, Philippines, Indonesia, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Vietnam and Algeria reported TOI.

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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