Defence Services (Air,Land,Sea) – Page 25

** IAF transports oxygen containers from Chandigarh to Bhubaneshwar, Ranchi

** Air Marshal Sandeep Singh takes charge as chief of South Western Air Command

A key player in the induction of Su-30 MKI aircraft in the Indian Air Force, Air Marshal Sandeep Singh was commissioned in the Fighter Stream on December 22,1983.

** Indian Air Force presses 50 transport aircraft and 20 helicopters in COVID pandemic duty

While the force has augmented Aircrew for all fleets to ensure round-the-clock operations, IAF has taken stringent measures to preserve its combat potential in the face of COVID 19.

** COVID-19: Indian Navy deploys seven warships to bring liquid oxygen from abroad

The ships which are deployed to bring liquid oxygen and associated medical equipment from abroad under operation ‘Samudra Setu II’ are Kolkata, Kochi, Talwar, Tabar, Trikand, Jalashwa and Airavat.

** U.S. okays proposed sale of six P-8I patrol aircraft to India

Deal is estimated to be worth $2.42 billion.

The U.S. State Department on Friday approved the proposed sale of six P-81 patrol aircraft and related equipment, a deal estimated to cost $2.42 billion.

In November 2019, the Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the procurement of the long-range maritime surveillance aircraft manufactured by Boeing.

The original proposal was for 10 more aircraft but was cut down to six due to budgetary constraints as well as because the Navy had adopted some fleet rationalisation measures and was considering long-endurance unmanned platforms.

** LCA Tejas adds 5th gen air-to-air missile to its weapons capability

Indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LAC) Tejas added the 5th generation Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) to its air-to-air weapons capability after successful trials, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said on Wednesday.

“Trials were also aimed to validate enhanced capability of already integrated Derby Beyond Visual Range (BVR) AAM on Tejas. The test firing at Goa completed a series of missile trials to validate its performance under extremely challenging scenarios,” a DRDO statement said.