Statement of Account for October 2009 being uploaded . Please check your salary after 1500 hrs.Source : CDA(O)Pune
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
PAY : OCT 2009
Statement of Account for October 2009 being uploaded . Please check your salary after 1500 hrs.Source : CDA(O)Pune
Armies of India, US display military might
Denials about the intention of sending a “strategic message” notwithstanding, the Indian and US armies today concluded their biggest ever joint military exercise amidst a display of brutal firepower using top-of-the-line weaponry.
This indicated at an improved comfort level between the two armies. The fact that T-90 tanks, latest combat vehicles, anti-tank missiles, choppers and UAVs were used in the exercise, code named ‘Yudh Abhyaas-09’, suggest the methods of hitting out the “enemy”. This was the first time that US and India had jointly deployed its mechanised infantry in an exercise.
As expected, this time too the top brass of Indian and US armies played safe with their words: “There is no message (for China or Pakistan) in the exercise. We are just conducting a training exercise.”
However, the growing trust between the two armies was visible. Lt Gen Benjamin R Mixon, Commander of US Army, Pacific, and head of the US delegation, when asked if Indian forces were capable of being deployed alongside US troops in Afghhanistan or Iraq, said: “A decision in this regard has to be made by the Indian government… We will be comfortable going with the Indian Army anywhere, anytime.”
The Indian Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Lt Gen AS Sekhon, while replying on whether the exercise was part of counter-insurgency operations, clarified: “We are not training for joint operations and nor is this exercise for any specific contingency within India. This is part of an exercise for peacekeeping operations under the UN charter.”
In the morning, the US troops, most of whom have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, showed the easy to use technique to fire its anti-tank “javelin” missile. The same is used extensively by US. The Indian Army, however, presently uses the French-made Milan anti-tank missile. The US Army also fielded its combat vehicle, ‘sryker’, which is being used in Afghanistan.
As part of the firepower today, the forces were given a target. The 20 sq km firing range was divided into three make-believe countries -- Jhansi, Karera and Datia -- which the troops were to get vacated from the “enemy” and also ensure peacekeeping. The US troops used a camera-fitted UAV, which was packed in small backpack. The hand-held UAV, controlled from the ground, flew over the area and conveyed a real time picture for the ground troops to fire with precision.
The historic exercise was held at Babina, which draws its name from history. In fact, Babina is an abbreviation for British army’s base in North Asia.
Soldiers are heroes for Gen Next: Dikshit
Addressing a civic reception held here to honor the three surviving Param Veer Chakra awardees, Honorary Captain Bana Singh, Havildar Yogender Singh Yadav, and Naik Sanjay Kumar and the first Indian who traveled in the space Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, Dikshit said:The brave soldiers of our armed forces are the real heroes for our young generation and they need to follow the ideals of these young men.
Civil society should not forget that Indias armed forces make supreme sacrifice for our (society) better tomorrows, she added.
Marshal of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh said: The soldiers fight for two reasons, one for the self motive and another to keep the glory of his unit at the highest level.
Recalling his memories of World War II when he was with the Royal Indian Air Force, in Imphal, Air Chief Marshal Singh said: We just obeyed the orders of our superiors.
We didnt know who were those people killed by our bombing. But later our (RAF) intelligence informed that they were INA soldiers, he added.
FICCI Secretary General Dr. Amit Mitra said the aim of the programme was to build a vibrant civil society.
Our civil society has become despondent and demoralized. There is a need to regenerate collective self-confidence and self esteem by showing them that all is not lost, Mitra said.
We have adopted two slogans; we are all Indians first, and we are proud to be Indian. Our aim in holding this function and to follow up with more is to show that we still have much to be proud of. Our brave soldier is the best example, he added.
Netaji Subhash INA Trust secretary, Brigadier R.S. Chhikara said: Its an occasion for eminent members of civil society to come together and bestow appreciation and honor on our bravest of the brave Param Veeras who have set examples of selfless commitment to national well being.- ANI
Russia setting, US rising in Indian air force
New Delhi: Russia's eclipse and the US' rise in the Indian militarywill soon stand out in the air force's transport division.
Sources said the government is moving in to seal yet another government-to-government deal with the US for a military purchase. They are ordering ten C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft.
The deal is worth over $2 billion (Rs10,000 crore). When inducted, C-17 Globemaster would replace the Russian-made IL-76 as the biggest transport aircraft of India. C-17, a Boeing product, can carry almost 80,000 kg, against IL-76's 50,000 kg.
Sources said the C-17 deal was discussed and "almost finalised" at a recent meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council, under the defence minister, and the deal could be signed in a few months.
Globemaster can be operated by just two pilots and another crew, whereas the much smaller IL-76 needs a crew of six. Comfort levels, too, are dramatic. The deal finalisation comes even as the air force readies to induce six C-130J Super Hercules transport planes, that can carry a payload of 20,000 kg, in 2011.
Presently, the IAF's fixed-wing fleet comprises 20 Russian made IL-76 and over a 100 AN-32s. The Globemaster and C-130J are set to significantly alter Russian dominance.
Meanwhile, US firms are making an aggressive pitch to corner contracts for transport helicopters, dominated by Russians all these decades. Boeing today said it submitted two proposals to the IAF this week -- the AH-64D Apache and the CH-47F Chinook for attack and heavy-lift helicopter operations.
Air force is enthusiastic about the Chinooks.
Navy proposes to build an Airport in Karwar
Karwar: While Karwar already has a rail, road and port connection; another thing that will be added into this list is the airport. The Indian Navy has proposed to build an airport near Karwar which could be used for civilian and military purposes. The airport would enhance the commercial prospectus in and around Karwar, said Rajiv Jaiswal, Commodore, INS Kadamba, Karwar.
While addressing the presspersons at the naval base on Friday, he asserted that the required land for the airport has been identified and the State Gavernment would have to get hold of more land for this purpose. He requested the local people and State Government to cooperate with this regard.
Mr. Jaiswal notified that Karwar received 230 mm of unprecedented rainfall in just three hours on 2nd October, 2009. At this time, few had claimed that the walls built by the naval authorities led to flash flood around the naval base area. While clearing these claims, he averred that the wall in question had actually blocked the water and prevented loss of more lives and property. He further affirmed that the navy authorities would be more prepared to tackle such situation in future.
The torrential rains and floods that occurred in the beginning of the month this year caused the 700 metres of the wall built by the navy to collapse. Roads in the naval base had been washed away in the floods. Among all these losses, many of the navy personnel's houses were also inundated.
Capt. Manohar Nambiar, Chief Public Relations Officer (Defence), Mumbai, denied allegation that illegal quarrying was being carried out in the navy land.
Inflation may reach 10 percent by March: Assocham
New Delhi: Inflation is likely to touch 10 percent in India by March 2010 due to rising prices of manufacturing goods and food, according to industry lobby Assocham (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India).
The fact that inflation is starting from a low base will add to the problem. In its report, Assocham predicted that wholesale price index (WPI) will keep rising to touch the 252-mark on March 27, 2010, and inflation will reach 10 percent.
The WPI inched to 1.21 percent for the week ended October 10, highest since May 30. The build-up in inflation between March 28 and October 10 is 5.95 percent. According to Assocham, the high base established during January-September 2008 had caused negative or low inflation during the like period this year and now this low base will cause higher inflation in the coming months.
The strong build-up has been observed in the category of primary articles. Food articles have shown 14.13 percent inflation during the period.
"Although there is a hope that with the kharif crop coming to the market, food prices will start cooling off, we believe that the impact may not be much significant to offset the increasing prices. It is estimated that the significantly deficient (about 20 percent) monsoon performance could impact kharif production by about 15-20 percent," said Assocham.
Assocham warned that rising commodity prices is a matter of concern for the economy. The prices of aluminium have increased almost 23 percent, while sugar prices have gone up nearly 90 percent in the last three months. Crude prices surged nearly 10 percent and the prices of copper have also skyrocketed about 111 percent.
"As the government has to borrow large amount to finance the high fiscal deficit (6.8 percent), any knee-jerk reaction on inflation could cause sharp rise in interest rates and crowding out of private investments," said Assocham.
Indian soldiers use Chinese mobile services at border in Arunachal
Kibithu (Arunachal Pradesh): An Indian soldier on duty at the India-China border town in Arunachal Pradesh thanks Chinese mobile operators every time he has to send an SMS to his family back home. The nearest BSNL phone is 30 kilometers away, reports The Telegraph.
Alongside the rise in tensions between the two nations, wireless technology has also taken its ground at the India-China border. China had set up Airtel and Vodafone towers in May, as one of the towers at Sama village on the other side is clearly visible from Kibithu, the easternmost town on the eastern front.
A Delhi Airtel connection with a Correspondent displayed 'CHN CMCC Airtel' on the screen, but without international roaming, the mobile was not able to send a message.
Indian defence personnel and intelligence agencies use telephone for all kinds of official communications. "For all official work, we are still compelled to send couriers or use the good old wireless network to send messages," said an Intelligence Agent at the border.
Internet seems be a dream for the Indian soldiers here. The nearest 'satellite phone' which India had set up three months ago is about 30 kilometers away in Walong, a small cantonment and administrative town in Anjaw district.
About 160 kilometers away in Chaglagam, taking time off from acclimatizing patrols, a Lieutenant Colonel queued up at the BSNL satellite phone system branded 'Halo' phone, to call his family. These satellite phones had been installed in a low key reaction to the mobile telephone network that 'got very strong' from the Chinese side.
The Indian defence personnel, who are far away from their homes, often use Chinese connection for sending messages to their families. "Please write about the lack of telephone network here, many people in the area even use the Airtel network on the other side," said a soldier of the 20 Sikh regiment.
Even after 47 years from the Battle of Walong, when the Indian Army battled Chinese advances in what turned out to be one of the bloodiest fights in the 1962 war, the Indian government has not even built roads in several border areas.
The road from Walong to Kibithu was built a few years ago. In places like Tuting and Taksing, soldiers have to walk six days to reach the border outposts. The already sparse population in border areas of Arunachal Pradesh has been tapering further because of this lack of infrastructure. But argument from Delhi has been that vast swathes of this mountainous terrain are uninhabited.But there are some counter-arguments to it. "Within a year, I have seen the number of villages increase from 14 to about 30. They are farming in communes, I believe," said a source in Kibithu.
About two villages, one of them called Nazong, in Anjaw district have ended because of lack of infrastructure. Sources inform that many residents of the border areas have movDigaru-Mismi tribes of Lohit and Anjaw districts.
The Finance Minister and Legislator from Anjaw, Kalikho Pul said, "Make roads, construct power projects and give me the resources, and I will convince people to settle in border areas."
Bonding over war games
At Camp Bundela, barely five kilometres from the Indian Army’s Babina firing ranges in Uttar Pradesh, Sergeant Donald Jeik of the US army is enjoying a game of pool with an unlikely partner, an Indian soldier who has just developed fancy for the cue.
The 29-year-old mortar man, assigned to 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, is one of the 300 American soldiers who have come from Hawaii to take part in Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2009, an annual Indo-US military drill from October 12-29.
More than 1,000 soldiers are taking part in the war games, aimed at promoting cooperation between the two militaries while sharing training, cultural exchanges, and building joint operating skills.
This year’s Yudh Abhyas features 17 Stryker vehicles— the largest deployment of these armoured combat vehicles outside of Iraq and Afghanistan.
On Monday, the two armies showed what they could achieve together as they went about the business of enforcing peace in a fictitious country (called Karera) torn apart by terrorism. Its neighbours were exporting its miseries.
The exercise involved T-90, combat vehicles, anti-tank missiles, US army’s mini UAVs and live firing of Javelin anti-tank guided missiles.
Lieutenant General A S Sekhon, the army’s director general of military operations said India had a lot to learn from the US experience — especially in the field of technology — in Afghanistan and Iraq.
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