NATIONAL
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Air Chief visits DRDO, HAL, TASL in Hyderabad, lauds indigenisation efforts towards self reliance
- Deputy Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit visited the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in Telangana's Hyderabad in a two-day visit from July 23-24, an Indian Air Force (IAF) statement said.
- During his visit, the Deputy Air Chief interacted with the Chief Executive of the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) APVS Prasad, the Director General of Missiles and Strategic Systems (MSS) U Raja Babu, and the team of Airbus and TASL.
- During his interaction with the officials, Air Marshal Dixit lauded the indigenization efforts towards self-reliance by several organisations.
- The highlights of the Deputy Chief's visit included granting production clearance for ASTRA missiles at the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), reviewing avionics indigenization at HAL, and inspecting the C-295 aircraft production line at TASL.
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Indian Army contingent to participate in joint military Ex Khaan Quest 2024 in Mongolia
- The Indian Army contingent will participate in the 21st edition of the multinational joint military exercise Khaan Quest 2024, which is scheduled to be held in Mongolia later this week.
- The joint military exercise will be held from July 27 to August 9.
- Khaan Quest 2024 will be aimed at enhancing the interoperability of the participating nations during peacekeeping missions in a multinational environment.
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India successfully flight-tests Phase-II ballistic missile defence system
- India successfully flight-tested the second phase of its ballistic missile defence system, demonstrating home-grown capabilities to defend against hostile missiles having a range of 5,000 km. The flight test fully met all the trial objectives validating complete network centric warfare weapon system, the defence ministry said.
- The missile was tested at the integrated test range (ITR) in Odisha's Chandipur.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the successful flight test and stated that it has again demonstrated India's ballistic missiles defence capability.
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After PM's visit, Russia expedites supply of super long-range surface-to-Air missiles
- Close on the heels of PM Narendra Modi's Moscow trip for the annual summit, Russia is supplying 120 super long-range Surface-to-Air missiles to India that will give the country's military an edge over Pakistan.
- The order was placed following the Balakot air strike when it was felt that India required such long-range missiles to have an edge over Pakistan. Subsequently, an order was placed with Russia for supplies of long range Surface-to-Air missiles.
- The supply of missiles may have been delayed till now for multiple factors, including the Covid pandemic and subsequently the Ukraine conflict. The PM's Moscow visit gave the political push to certain pending defence supplies, including remaining two S-400 systems from Russia.
- The Surface-to-Air missiles being supplied are considered among the best in the world and have a range of about 400 kms. Russia has been responding to India's requests on defence requirements during critical junctures and requirement of this missile is crucial for maintaining an edge over Pakistan, an expert explained.
INTERNATIONAL
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US, Vietnam discuss supplying Hanoi with C-130 military transport planes, sources say
- The United States and Vietnam are discussing the sale of Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules military transport planes to Hanoi, two people familiar with the discussions said, in a sign of closer security cooperation between the two former foes.
- The talks could lead to a supply agreement this year, the sources said, in what would represent Vietnam's largest military deal since it said publicly at the end of 2022 that it intended to diversify its defence supplies, which have for decades relied heavily on Russian gear.
- The C-130 can carry soldiers, military equipment and other supplies, and would boost Vietnamese defence capabilities at a time of rising South China Sea boundary tensions with China and other countries in the region.
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China's secretive spaceplane likely testing 'dual use' technology
- China's shadowy, uncrewed reusable spacecraft, which launches atop a rocket booster and lands at a secretive military airfield, is most likely testing technology but could also be used for manipulating or retrieving satellites, experts say.
- The spacecraft, on its third mission, was in June observed releasing an object, moving several kilometres away and then manoeuvring back to within a few hundred metres of it. "It's obvious that it has a military application, including, for example, closely inspecting objects of the enemy or disabling them. "But it also has non-military applications. Gaining experience with this kind of grab and release is good if you want to for instance refuel your own satellites." As militaries worldwide develop complex satellite networks, a reusable spacecraft that can interfere with them could have immense value, experts said.
- China has never disclosed what technologies the spacecraft has tested, nor has the spaceplane been publicly photographed since it began operating.
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Myanmar violence, South China Sea tensions are top issues as Southeast Asian diplomats meet in Laos
- Southeast Asian foreign ministers and top diplomats from key partners including the United States and China were gathering in the Laotian capital on July 25 for the start of three days of talks expected to focus on the increasingly violent civil war in Myanmar, tensions in the South China Sea and other regional issues.
- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are expected to hold one-on-one talks on the sidelines of the meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Vientiane, which come as both Beijing and Washington are looking to expand their influence in the region.
SPORTS
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Flag bearers
- Tennis star Coco Gauff will join LeBron James as a flag bearer for the U.S. Olympic team at July 26th’s opening ceremony.
- Gauff, the reigning U.S. Open champion, is set to make her Olympic debut at the Paris Games and will be the first tennis athlete to carry the U.S. flag. She and James were chosen by Team USA athletes.
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World Junior Squash Championships
- India boys finished sixth and the girls’ seventh in the team events of the world junior squash championships which concluded in Houston on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
