India rules out deploying troops in Afghanistan, Iraq

New Delhi, Oct 28 (IANS) India Wednesday ruled out deploying its troops in Afghanistan and Iraq — either now or in the future.

Talking to reporters, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said that despite the enhanced military-to-military ties between India and the US, there was no possibility of deploying troops in the two countries.

‘I do not foresee such a situation, not now or in the future. As far as we are concerned we are helping Afghanistan for humanitarian purpose and for reconstruction and rehabilitation.

‘I am telling you categorically that there is no question of using the military in Afghanistan or other parts,’ Antony said when he was asked if Indian troops could be sent to these countries.

India and the US undertaken one of their largest-ever ground combat joint exercises at Babina in Uttar Pradesh.

 

http://trak.in/news/india-rules-out-deploying-troops-in-afghanistan-iraq/18004/

Army last resort in rebel fight: Antony

New Delhi, Oct. 28: Defence minister A.K. Antony is always emphatic in his rejections. There were two from him today: one unqualified and categorical, the other with a but-and-an-if.

“I can tell you categorically that there was and there is no question of (Indian) military involvement (in Iraq or Afghanistan) now or in future,” he shot back when pointed out that a top US Army general had said during war games this week that “I would be comfortable going with the Indian Army anywhere, anytime”.

Indian and US army mechanised forces are currently engaged in an exercise named “Yudh Abhyas” (preparing for war) at Babina near Jhansi.

In the same breath, almost, Antony rejected cabinet colleague Mamata Banerjee’s demand for an immediate deployment of the army in Lalgarh but said the Centre had intensified its monitoring of measures against Maoists.

The army was to be used only as “a last, last, last resort”. The army can only be called to aid the civil authority after a state government has requested.

In Bengal, despite the rejection of Mamata’s request, the issue of using the army against Naxalites is still open in the ruling CPM but not as favoured by its partners in the Left Front government.

CPM state secretariat member Benoy Konar had said in Calcutta on September 25: “Let the Centre decide and put the proposal before the state. But there is little scope for debate on this issue among us. The Maoists are operating as a regular army and they can be dealt with effectively by an army response.”

That was before the Maoists had abducted police officer Atindranath Dutta and the PCPA picketed the Rajdhani Express — both events hammering into Writers’ Buildings and North Block that security forces in Lalgarh have a long way to go. Antony said: “The government is aware of the seriousness of the Naxalite threat.” He even used the word “alarming” once but indicated that the Centre felt it had not yet crossed the threshold beyond which New Delhi would have to push the army into the troubled zones.

Antony’s re-statement today of not deploying army boots on the ground in the offensive against Naxalites reflects the views of the armed forces top brass. The Indian Air Force is already involved in the offensive and is set to create a task force for the purpose.

With heavy deployments in Jammu and Kashmir and in the Northeast, the army top brass are worried about being over-stretched if called to do duty in the hinterland.

But the defence minister has left the question open on what the Centre would do if the Bengal — or any other state — government were to formally request for army assistance.

“Law and order is the responsibility of the state governments and we are there only to give support. Whether in Bengal or any other area, our view is that employing armed forces for internal security is the last resort,” he said.

Antony was replying after being asked for his response to Mamata Banerjee’s request to the Union home minister P. Chidambaram in Delhi on Tuesday. The Trinamul leader and railway minister said she had told the home minister: “Don’t use the assistance of the state government to combat Maoists. Only use the army for the task.”

Contrasting with Antony’s qualified statement on using the army in internal security “only as a last resort” was his categorical denial of the suggestion that Indian troops may operate alongside US forces in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. The question arose because of the largest army exercise now on with troops, tanks and armoured vehicles. 

 

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091029/jsp/nation/story_11672904.jsp

Dhruv helicopter crash; HAL team in Ecuador

New Delhi: The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has asked its team in Ecuador to look into the reasons behind the crash of a Dhruv helicopter during a military parade in Quito today in which two pilots were injured.

"Our team is stationed in Ecuador to support their Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) fleet and it is looking into the reasons behind the crash," HAL spokesperson Anantha Krishnan said over phone from Bengaluru.

"We don't have any further details of the incident," he added.

After the crash, Ecuadorian authorities grounded their fleet of the remaining six ALHs, a report from Ecuador said.

The chopper was destroyed in the accident and the crew members, who had trained in India, were injured, it added.

An ALH helicopter crashed before the start of the Aero India exhibition in 2007, killingpilot.

Ecuador had procured seven ALHs from India and one of them was being used in their Presidential fleet also. In 2005, Indian armed forces had grounded the ALH fleet after one of the choppers made a forced landing due to problems in its tail rotors.

 

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_dhruv-helicopter-crash-hal-team-in-ecuador_1304192

Boeing offers Apache and Chinook helicopters to India

Boeing has submitted two procurement proposals to the Indian Air Force (IAF), offering its AH-64D Apache and the CH-47F Chinook for the country's attack and heavy-lift helicopter competitions, it announced on 23 October.

India is seeking 22 attack helicopters and 15 heavy-lift transport helicopters worth approximately USD1.3 billion. The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has not set a date for when it will announce the winning proposals, nor announced suggested production rates and delivery schedules.

Boeing's offer is the latest development in the IAF's protracted helicopter procurement programmes.

On 6 February 2008 the head of the IAF, Air Chief Marshal F H Major, announced that the air force was to acquire two new squadrons of attack helicopters and a competition was launched shortly afterwards.

In October that year Boeing withdrew from the bidding as the company felt that it was unable to address India's requirements and formulate a proposal in the time allowed by the MoD.

Bell Helicopters pulled out at about the same time as the AH-1Z Cobra it was offering was only available for export through the US Government's Foreign Military Sales programme. The MoD had previously stated that it did not want to purchase its helicopters through FMS but by direct sale from the manufacturer.

In March of this year the competition was cancelled as, according to the MoD, the companies bidding were unable to meet some of the IAF's key requirements.

 

http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jdw/jdw091026_1_n.shtml

India plans homegrown aviation sector

India has strategic ambitions to develop self-reliance in military aviation manufacture as it seeks to modernise its air defence with a $10bn contract for jet fighters, the head of India’s air force said on Tuesday.
Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, the chief of staff of the Indian air force, said India had the intellectual prowess and industrial expertise to grow its own aircraft manufacturing sector. But he acknowledged that it would be a “Herculean task” to wean the country’s military establishment off a heavy reliance on foreign expertise in some of its core competencies.
In the coming years, Chief Marshal Naik expected Indian metallurgy, turbine blades, communications, encryption technology and microchips to form a domestic industry that could supply the design, building and service of ­aircraft.
India has traditionally turned to Russia for the needs of its air force. The country is seeking to buy 126 jet fighters and has begun year-long trials of the aircraft. Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, France’s Dassault Rafale, Lockheed Martin’s F-16, Russia’s Mig-35, Sweden’s Saab JAS-39 Gripen and the Eurofighter Typhoon are all vying for the prize contract.
India, one of the world’s fastest-growing large economies, is also one of its biggest arms importers. The government plans to spend more than $30bn (€20bn, £18bn) over the next five years to overhaul its arsenal in the face of possible threats from Pakistan and China.
The comments by the head of the air force echo those of senior officers in the navy, which aims to add almost 100 warships to its fleet over the next decade, and develop its own low-cost shipbuilding capabilities.
Air Commodore Jasjit Singh, the director of the Centre for Air Power Studies, told the Financial Times that he foresaw Indian participation in the upgrading of existing aircraft rising rapidly over the next 15 years to between 50 per cent to 70 per cent, with greater Indian design and joint research and development.
In 40 years, with the introduction of a new generation of aircraft, he said that could rise to 80 per cent.
In the meantime, India faced the choice of joining the US and Europe as a partner in defence manufacture or teaming up in an eastern triumvirate with China and Russia, Air Commodore Singh said.
Some analysts have been encouraged by the achievements of India’s space programme as evidence that it has the ability to develop a larger aviation industry. Last year India sent a rocket to orbit the moon and has developed considerable expertise in satellite launches.
But some industry executives say the country is lagging far behind neighbouring China in its technological support for commercial and military aircraft in spite of sizeable orders from Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher for new fleets.
“The [Indian] aerospace industry is not at all energised. It is a bit [active] in space, but it’s not energised in defence or commercial areas,” Arunakar Mishra, the chief executive of Bangalore-based Genser Aerospace and Information Technologies, said.
“People coming out of the Indian air force help foreigners to sell equipment to India [and don’t develop local capacity].”

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/67f53350-c312-11de-8eca-00144feab49a.html

Indian Navy deploys two warships for anti-piracy patrol

New Delhi: With spurt in incidents of piracy, Indian Navy has deployed two warships off the coast of Seychelles and Mauritius to carry out patrols to counter threat from Somali pirates there.

"INS Shardul, an amphibious warship and Indian Coast Guard ship Varuna, an offshore patrol vessel, had gone to Seychelles and Mauritius for training purposes, but we have asked the ships to remain in the area for a longer duration to carry out surveillance and anti-piracy patrols," Navy officials said here.

The two ships will be in addition to the Talwar Class guided missile frigate deployed in the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy patrols.

India started deploying its warships for anti-piracy operations in October last year and since then, they have been escorting Indian ships safely through the pirate-affected areas. They have also carried out actions against pirate mother ships.

Indian ships have also been coordinating informally with warships of other countries and groupings for securing the ships from pirates.The IAF may also be possibly inducted into the anti-piracy operations where pirates are widening their area of operations.

 

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_indian-navy-deploys-two-warships-for-anti-piracy-patrol_1303802

Wreath Laying at Amar Jawan Jyoti on Infantry Day

Infantry the largest fighting arm of the Indian Army popularly known as “QUEEN OF THE BATTLE” celebrates its 62nd Infantry Day today. As part of the celebrations, ‘Wreath Laying’ ceremony is held at ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’ at India Gate to honour those members of the Infantry fraternity who have made the supreme sacrifice for the honour and safety of the country. This year, Lieutenant General Arvind Sharma, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC (Retired) laid wreath on behalf of all infantry veterans. Vice Army Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General PC Bhardwaj, PVSM, AVSM, VrC, SC, VSM laid the wreath as the senior most serving Infantryman in the station. All the Colonels of the Regiments assisted by smartly attired soldiers representing their regiments also laid wreath to honour all the fallen gallant soldiers. The ceremony was conducted in a very somber and dignified manner, so characteristic of the Infantry. Lieutenant General Jasbsir Singh, AVSM, VSM Director General Infantry and head of the Infantry fraternity hosted the ceremony and laid wreath to commemorate the event. On the occasion, Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General PC Bhardwaj PVSM, AVSM, VrC, SC, VSM also released the ‘Infantry Plus’ magazine published by Infantry Directorate.

This day has a unique significance for Infantry, as it was on this day in 1947, that Infantrymen first air landed at Srinagar and reversed the tide of a fierce battle in Kashmir that saved the State of Jammu and Kashmir from falling into the hands of Pakistani mercenaries, thereby creating a legacy for independent India. Infantrymen find a special mention not only the history of Armed Forces but also of India, in form of its gallant contribution in preserving the sovereignty and integrity of our Mother Land and further providing conducive environment for its peace, prosperity and growth. To commemorate their heroic deeds, gallant actions and supreme sacrifice, Infantry Day is celebrated on 27 October every year.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=53620

CoAS invites Indian Army chief for visit To be given honorary title

KATHMANDU, Oct 27: The Chief of Army Staff Chhatra Mansingh Gurung has extended a formal invitation to the Chief of Staff of the Indian Army, General Deepak Kapoor, for a visit to Nepal. A letter to this effect was sent by General Gurung on October 23 soon after the cabinet meeting held the same day gave a go ahead for the proposal of the Ministry of Defense to invite General Kapoor.

It has been said in the invite that General Deepak Kapoor, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC, will be presented with the title of Honorary General of the Nepal Army by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at the time of the visit. Bestowing of such honorary title is a routine affair and is usually reciprocal. The former Nepal Army chief Rookmangud Katawal was conferred with the title of Honorary General of Indian Army by India´s President Pratibha Patel in December 2007.

The NA Chief has also extended the invitation to General Kapoor´s wife and other staff officers of the Indian Army. Although the date of his arrival has yet to be confirmed, the visit will hold high significance in the light of ongoing negotiations with India on resumption of both lethal and non-lethal weapons for NA.

General Kapoor took over as the Chief of Army Staff on September 30, 2007 and as Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee on August 31 this year. 

http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=11147