Defence Current Affairs And Updates 13 July 2020

Hemanth Kasturi
July 13, 2020
1455

Learning from Galwan clash, Indian Army to procure RQ-11 UAV Raven for reconnaissance missions

The Indian army is keen to procure RQ-11 UAV Raven – unmanned aerial vehicle from the US besides Israeli Spike Firefly “loitering” munition to support its ground soldiers.
Quoting officials in New Delhi claim that the Indian army is set to procure 200 pieces of RQ-11 Raven UAV, which can help the Indian Army soldiers to conduct reconnaissance.
After the Indian army acquired Spike Mark III ATGM (anti-tank guided missiles) from Israel as part of emergency procurements due to India-China border standoff, it now plans to acquire firefly munitions that can hit an enemy target with precision.
The RQ-11 Raven is a lightweight, low-altitude, remote-controlled, man-portable UAV that can perform intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) operations. The UAV captures and transfers medium-resolution imagery to a ground control unit through a digital data link.
Flying at an altitude of 100ft to 500ft, the Raven UAV provides real-time colour or infra-red imagery to the ground control and remote viewing units. It aids in offering surveillance and target acquisition over a large area while presenting infra-red laser rays illuminated or emitted by the ground targets.

Indian Army to place order for 72,000 American assault rifles

Amid the ongoing dispute with China over boundary issue, the Indian Army is going to place another order of 72,000 SiG Sauer 716 assault rifles from the United States.
The order for the second batch of the assault rifles would be coming after the first lot of 72,000 rifles, has already been delivered to the Army for use by troops in Northern Command and other operational areas.
India had acquired the rifles under the fast-track procurement (FTP) programme.
The new rifles will replace the existing Indian Small Arms System (Insas) 5.56x45mm rifles used by the forces and manufactured locally by the Ordnance Factories Board.
As per the plan, around 1.5 lakh imported rifles were to be used by the troops in the counter-terrorism operations and frontline duties on the Line of Control (LoC), the remaining forces would be provided with the AK-203 rifles, which are to be produced jointly by India and Russia at Amethi ordnance factory.
The work on the project is yet to start due to several procedural issues faced by the two sides. The Indian Army had been trying to replace their standard INSAS assault rifles for many years, but the attempts failed due to one reason or the other.
Recently, the Defence Ministry placed an order of 16,000 light machine guns (LMGs) from Israel to do away with the shortage of these guns.

Indian Army neutralizes 6 active militants near India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh

The Indian Army in a joint operation with Assam Rifles and Arunachal Police killed six rebels belonging to NSCN (IM) in Longding district.
The NSCN-IM said it is outrageous for the Indian Army to vent out the frustration of their embarrassing confrontation with Chinese PLA by targeting the Naga Army.
NSCN-IM which is engaged in peace discussions with New Delhi said that this is the repeat of another state-sponsored terrorism against the ceasefire party.

Germany to buy new spy planes as a replacement for cancelled Triton project

The German government has approved an $847 million funding for the procurement of three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft that will be used for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).
The decision to buy new Global 6000 aircraft comes after Berlin cancelled plans to buy American Triton high-altitude long endurance unmanned aerial system to the tune of $2.5 billion.
The Aviation International News reported that the German Ministry of Defense to conclude that Triton UAS was unlikely to be able to meet the safety standards required for flying in European airspace by 2025, and would be subject to onerous restrictions that required it to fly only in segregated airspace and dedicated corridors.
The procurement of three Global 6000s with ISR capability will be a replacement for the cancelled Triton project of the Luftwaffe. The contractor for the ISR system will be Hensoldt Sensor Solutions. It is not yet known where the ISR modifications will be done, but the headquarters is in Taufkirchen, near Munich (Germany).
The Bombardier Global 6000 was the Luftwaffe’s preferred choice because they have already three Global 6000s VIP variants in their inventory (serials 14+05, 14+06, 14+07). These have been purchased to complement and replace one Global 5000. The procurement of additional aircraft will save maintenance and personnel costs.

U.S. Army deploys Abrams tanks to Poland

The U.S. Army has begun deploying Abrams main battle tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles to Poland as part of the final phase of training linked to DEFENDER-Europe 20, July 14 – Aug. 22.
The Baltic Security has reported that the equipment, to include approximately 55 Abrams main battle tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles, was originally moved from Army Prepositioned Stock sites in Germany and Belgium to Bergen-Hohne Training Area, Germany, in February as part of the original DEFENDER-Europe 20 exercise. The equipment will move via commercial and military line-haul to Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, for the 2^nd phase of the modified exercise.
As part of the training, the unit will also mount the Trophy system on Abrams tanks. Trophy is an active protection system that is designed to detect and defeat rocket propelled grenades, recoilless rifles and anti-tank guided missiles. The fielding of Trophy systems provides the U.S. Army’s logistics teams with the opportunity to assess and experience the dynamics of moving and installing the system in a field environment.
DEFENDER-Europe 20 was designed as a deployment exercise to build strategic readiness in support of the U.S. National Defense Strategy and NATO deterrence objectives. In response to COVID-19, DEFENDER-Europe 20 was modified in size and scope. The first phase was linked exercise Allied Spirit, which took place at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, June 5-19, with approximately 6,000 U.S. and Polish Soldiers.

U.S. Air Force deployed MQ-9 Reaper drone to Estonia for first time

During mid-June 2020, some 15 months after becoming Fully Operational Capable in Europe, MQ-9 Reapers from USAF’s 52nd Expeditionary Operations Group Detachment 2 at Mirosławiec Air Base (Poland) deployed to Ämari Air Base (Estonia).
The purpose of the deployment is to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions within the European theatre, and is made possible through the utilization of Amari AB.
The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper is an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems primarily for the United States Air Force.
Top speed: 482 km/h; Range: 1,850 km; Wingspan: 20 m

Chinese People’s Liberation Army receives battalion set of new Type 99A2 tanks

The new Type 99A2 main battle tank is an improved version of the Type 99 with a longer barrel main gun, which in theory should impart higher muzzle velocity to sabot shells and improve their armor penetration and accuracy.
Significant improvements of Type 99A2 make it a new tank altogether. Some of the upgrades are an information terminal and aiming system. It also includes bigger turret with a bigger tail chamber and arrow-shaped armour. It has a periscope for the commander and an integrated propulsion system with an active protection system which is set on turret. It is a third-generation main battle tank and the most modern tank in service with the Chinese armed forces.

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