Category: Defence Services (Air,Land,Sea)
** Ian Cardozo, who amputated his own leg on the battlefield, writes about the 1971 Indo-Pak War
Indian Army officer Major General Ian Cardozo marks 50 years of the war that defined him and India in his book ‘1971 – Stories of Grit and Glory from the Indo-Pak War’
It is one of the 14 stories that Cardozo, a recipient of the Sena Medal (he was India’s first) and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, has penned for his latest 1971 – Stories of Grit and Glory from the Indo-Pak War (published by Penguin).
Cardozo, who was the first National Defence Academy cadet to win the gold and silver medals for best all round performance and merit — a rare feat.
first war-disabled Indian Army officer to command a battalion, brigade and a division.
Goa/Bombay
** Indian seaman makes $1mn in Dubai sitting at home
An Indian citizen, who purchased his ticket online from Thane, won the $1 million first prize in the latest Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw.
On Wednesday, ticket number 0207, which was the chosen one in the 363rd Millennium Millionaire draw, belonged to a 36-year-old seaman, Ganesh Shinde.
** Operation Sankalp: Sixteen Indian-flagged vessels provided safe passage everyday
Operation Sankalp was started in June 2019 after there were explosions on board two oil tanker ships in the Gulf of Oman amid increased tensions between Iran and the U.S.
The Indian Navy’s Operation Sankalp has provided safe passage to an average 16 Indian-flagged merchant vessels in the Gulf region everyday, an official statement said on July 14.
Operation Sankalp was started in June 2019 after there were explosions on board two oil tanker ships in the Gulf of Oman amid increased tensions between Iran and the U.S.
“Since then, an Indian Navy ship with an integral helicopter embarked has been continuously deployed in the north-west Arabian Sea [off R’as al Hadd], Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf from June 2019, to show presence, instil confidence in Indian maritime community and provide assistance to Indian-flagged merchant vessels,” the statement said.
** 147 more women Army officers get Permanent Commission
Army grants it to 424 women since 2020
The Army said on Wednesday that 147 additional women officers had been granted Permanent Commission (PC) taking the total number of women officers granted it to 424 out of the 615 officers considered since the landmark judgment by the Supreme Court last year.
Following the judgment on grant of PC to women officers in the Army, a special selection board was constituted and 277 women short service commission officers received it after medical scrutiny.
** Boeing delivers 10th P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to Navy
This is the second of the four additional aircraft contracted under an optional clause in 2016.
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing on Tuesday delivered the 10th long-range maritime reconnaissance anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Navy. This is the second of the four additional aircraft contracted under an optional clause in 2016.
The remaining two were expected to be delivered in the last quarter of this year, a defence official said.
The patrol aircraft was an integral part of the Indian Navy’s fleet and had surpassed 30,000 flight hours since its induction in 2013, Boeing said in a statement.
** HAL set to deliver first batch of 3 Light Combat Helicopters to IAF
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is gearing up to deliver the first batch of three Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) to the Indian Air Force (IAF) once acceptance tests are completed. These are part of the 15 Limited Series Production (LSP) helicopters approved for the Army and the IAF.
“HAL has received Letter of Intent for five Air force and five Army LCH for delivery pending contract finalisation of 15 Limited Series Production (LSP) LCH. HAL has produced and signalled out three LSP LCH for the IAF. Same will be subjected to customer acceptance and training shortly,” a HAL source said.
** Army Chief to inaugurate Indian Army memorial in Italy
Gen. Naravane to visit U.K. and Italy this week
Army Chief Gen. Manoj Naravane will inaugurate an Indian Army memorial in the Italian town of Cassino during an official visit to U.K. and Italy from July 5-8, the Army said on Sunday.
Italy has pushed for a central role for India in the European Union’s Indo-Pacific Initiative which is congruent with India’s own vision for the region.
** Army inducts 10m bridging system developed by DRDO
The fully decked roadway will ensure faster movement of troops, says Defence Ministry
The Army on Friday inducted the first production lot of 12 Short Span Bridging System (SSBS)-10m, designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in association with Larsen & Toubro Limited, the production agency.
“The SSBS-10m plays a crucial role of bridging the gaps up to 9.5m as a single span providing a 4m wide, fully decked roadway, ensuring faster movement of the troops,” a Defence Ministry statement said. The project involved the development of two prototypes of 5m SSBS on Tatra 6×6 chassis and another two prototypes of 10m SSBS on Tatra 8×8 re-engineered chassis, it stated.
** Navy, IAF begin passage exercise with U.S. carrier group in Indian Ocean
U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group Ronald Reagan is making its transit through Indian Ocean Region.
The Indian Navy and the Air Force began a two-day passage exercise on Wednesday with U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Ronald Reagan during its transit through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
“The Indian Naval warships along with aircraft from Navy and Indian Air Force (IAF) are engaged in joint multi-domain operations with the US Carrier Strike Group…,” the Navy said.