Defence Current Affairs And Updates 22nd June 2020

Indian Army to get 100 per cent Made in India ‘Sarvatra Kavach’ body armour The Indian Army is on the verge of inducting ‘Sarvatra Kavach’, a full body armour suit,...

Hemanth Kasturi
June 22, 2020
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Indian Army to get 100 per cent Made in India ‘Sarvatra Kavach’ body armour

The Indian Army is on the verge of inducting ‘Sarvatra Kavach’, a full body armour suit, for its soldiers which will not carry any Chinese raw material and is designed, developed, and manufactured in India, said sources on Friday.
The complete research and development of this armour suit was undertaken by the Indian Army itself. Major Anoop Mishra, a serving Army officer, who has faced bullets during military operations, is the man behind ‘Sarvatra Kavach’. It provides protection to the neck, torso, upper arms, groin, and thighs from all kinds of small arms ammunition.
The material for Sarvatra Kavach is the most advanced in the world, is lighter, water and UV rays-resistant and lasts longer than other comparable products in the world, said sources. The ‘Sarvatra Kavach’, when compared with similar products developed worldwide, is lighter, costs almost 50 per cent lesser and offers far superior protection.
“The ‘Sarvatra Kavach’ is production-ready and will be completely ‘Made in India’. It has minimal requirement of imported raw material, none of it coming from China,” said sources in the Indian Army. They said that once indigenous manufacturing commences, the entire range of raw material will also be procured from India.
“There are only handful countries in the world that have indigenously developed full body armour suit,” said a senior official.
The official said that room intervention and ensuing close quarter gunfights are the most dangerous anti-terrorist operations. Major Mishra’s innovation has been recognised with an award of Vishisht Seva Medal by Army and a Letter of Appreciation from the Prime Minister.

New Rules of Engagement with China – ‘Free to use weapons’: India gives soldiers freedom along LAC

A significant change in Rules of Engagement (ROE) by the Indian Army following the Galwan Valley skirmish that left 20 Indian soldiers dead gives “complete freedom of action” to commanders deployed along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) to “handle situations at the tactical level,” two senior officers said on Saturday on condition of anonymity.
The commanders will no longer be bound by restrictions on the use of firearms and will have full authority to respond to “extraordinary situations” using all resources at their disposal, said one of the officers cited above.
The amendment in ROE comes after Indian and Chinese soldiers engaged in their first deadly conflict in 45 years in Galwan Valley on June 15, resulting in death of 20 Indian army troops and several Chinese casualties.

India’s Submarines Make Strategic Move to Dominate Indian Ocean

The Indian Navy is discretely building up its submarine capabilities. The most visible aspect of India’s programs are new nuclear-powered submarines that are being built, but beneath the surface there are other strategic steps to help ensure its Navy’s dominance of the Indian Ocean. The Navy is also reinforcing its presence in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, close to the strategically vital Strait of Malacca.
These look as if they could turn explosive at any moment despite efforts to deescalate. Most recently a border clash in the Galwan Valley left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead. The Indian Navy may be playing an active part in that crisis, far away from the sea, but its focus remains the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Malacca.
This is critical because China’s naval power is growing, and with it the ability to project power into the Indian Ocean. Analysts see a massive increase in the Chinese Navy, known as the PLAN, over the coming years. Writing in a famous news, Captain James E. Fanell of U. S. Navy, recently predicted that the PLAN will have 110 submarines by 2030. But the Strait of Malacca will remain a bottleneck between China’s home waters and the Indian Ocean.

INS Airavat sails from Male to Tuticorin

INS Airavat sails from Maldives capital Male carrying 198 Indian nationals to Tuticorin; this is the fifth voyage by Indian Navy ships as part of Opn. Samudra Setu program to bring back Indian nationals from neighbouring country.

3 terrorists gunned down in encounter in J&K’s Srinagar

Three local terrorists were killed by security forces in Zadibal area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar in a gun battle, the second in the just over a month in the city, officials said on Sunday.
Vijay Kumar, inspector general of police in Kashmir, said they were involved in the killing of two personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) near Pandach Chowk on May 20 during Ramzan.
The encounter between terrorists and security forces had erupted after a cordon and search operation was launched in the morning in Zadibal and Zoonimar Pozwalpora localities following inputs about their presence in the areas.

US Aircraft Carriers Commence Exercise in Philippine Sea; Could lead to Conflict, Warns China

The USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Nimitz strike groups commenced dual carrier flight operations in the Philippine Sea yesterday in an exercise that appears aimed at demonstrating US muscle to China. While at sea, the strike groups will support air defense drills, sea surveillance, replenishments at sea, defensive air combat training, long range strikes, coordinated manoeuvres and other exercises.
Meanwhile, China warned that US military activity in Asia-Pacific including repeated trespassing into China’s territorial waters in the South China could increase the possibility of a conflict between the US and Chinese navies, according to excerpts of a report by China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies (CNISCSS) that appeared in China’s state-controlled media.
CSG 11 consists of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 53) and guided-missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, which includes USS Sterett (DDG 104), USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17.
CSG 9 consists of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 53) and guided-missile destroyers from Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23, USS Russell (DDG 59), USS Rafaela Peralta (DDG 115), and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11.

Turkey First Indigenous Helicopter Engine to be Ready for Integration This Year

Turkey’s first indigenous helicopter engine, that will power the T-625 Gökbey utility helicopter and the ATAK combat chopper will be delivered to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for integration this year.
In September 2018, T-625 rotorcraft powered by two CTS-800-4A turboshaft engines made its maiden flight. Certification trials of the T-625 began last October. Deliveries are scheduled to begin next year.
The T129 ATAK gunship, built by TAI under license from the Italian-British company AgustaWestland, also uses the CTS-800-4A engine.
Earlier, it was equipped with two LHTEC T800-4As built by Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company (LHTEC), a joint venture between Rolls-Royce and Honeywell. Each engine can produce 1,014 kilowatts of output power. The T800-4A is an export version of the CTS800 engine, which Turkey selected to power Turkish Light Utility Helicopter (TLUH) in 2015.

Rheinmetall signs 2B Euro Contract to Supply 4,000 Trucks to German Army

Germany’s Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has entered a framework contract with Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) for delivery of up to 4,000 trucks featuring swap body systems, many of which will be equipped with armoured driver’s cabs.
Running from 2021 to 2027 for Rheinmetall the framework contract represents around €2 billion in total sales volume. To begin with, the Group will supply the Bundeswehr with an initial tranche of 540 vehicles. Worth around €348 million.
Of these 540 vehicles, 230 will be protected. Delivery will start early next year, making sure that the Bundeswehr has an adequate number of vehicles in 2023 when Germany takes over leadership of NATO’s spearhead: The Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, or VJTF.
The protected swap body systems enhance the survivability and sustainment capability of the Logistics Corps, as well as strengthening its tactical flexibility. Unlike the Unprotected Transport Vehicle (UTF), likewise supplied by RMMV, these systems will be predominately deployed in forward operating areas, where, for instance, they will be used for supplying ammunition to frontline combat units.
RMMV’s robust, all-terrain-capable HX 8×8 vehicles can be optionally fitted with a protected cab. Standard features include a hook loader developed by the Hiab company, which can quickly lift and set down the accompanying flat racks.
In addition, the vehicles can accommodate an interchangeable platform or a container via the standardized 20-foot ISO interfaces. Identical operator interfaces and a high degree of commonality and component uniformity with the UTF vehicle family facilitate training, operations, and logistics.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

Name of Made in India Body Armour:
Sarvatra Kavach
Sarvada Kavach
Sashastra Kavach
Shaktishali Kavach

ANSWER: A

Which ship sails from Maldives capital Male carrying 198 Indian nationals to Tuticorin, a fifth voyage of COVID Evacuation from that country?
INS Magar
INS Jalashwa
INS Airavat
Both A & B

ANSWER: C

The USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Nimitz strike groups commenced dual carrier flight operations in which sea yesterday?
Red Sea
Philippine Sea
Mediterranean Sea
Caspian Sea

ANSWER: B