Navy Inducts Indigenously Developed Torpedo Decoy System

• Anti – Submarine Warfare capability of the Indian Navy has received a major boost today with the conclusion of a contract for Advanced Torpedo Decoy System Maareech capable of being fired from all frontline warships.
• Design & Development of this anti-torpedo decoy system has been undertaken indigenously DRDO labs (NSTL and NPOL). Bharat Electronics Limited, a Defence PSU, would undertake the production of this decoy system.
• The prototype of this system installed onboard a nominated naval platform had successfully completed all user evaluation trials and demonstrated the features as per the Naval Staff Qualification Requirements.
• This induction not only stands testimony to the joint resolve of the Indian Navy and DRDO towards indigenous development of Defence technology but has also given a major fillip to the Government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and the country’s resolve to become ‘Atmanirbhar’ in niche technology.

German, Spanish Eurofighters will receive the world’s most capable fighter jet radar

• As noted by the company Airbus, it marks the so far largest order for the world’s most modern electronically scanned array radar, Captor-E. The contract signature followed the approval by both governments in recent weeks.
• Eurofighter Captor-E is the world’s most advanced electronically scanned array radar for fighter aircraft. The design of the front fuselage airframe allows Eurofighter to deliver the largest electronically scanned array for increased detection and tracking ranges, advanced Air-to-Surface capability and enhanced electronic protection measures. The large antenna surface also allows a wider field of regard than any other platform pushing the aircraft’s performance and guaranteeing its role as a valuable asset within the Future Combat Aircraft System environment.
• The contract foresees the delivery and integration of 110 Captor-E radars for Germany and an initial batch of 5 radars for Spain to be delivered by 2023. The new sensor will equip Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 Eurofighters as well as new aircraft. Whereas the Airbus sites in Manching, Germany and Getafe, Spain will act as overall integration Hub.

Russia started testing its new spy plane

• The new surveillance plane is a modified AN-140-100 light military transport aircraft designed for the Russian Air Force. Tests are carried out to confirm the safety and reliability of the design, as well as the operability of the installed equipment.
• The Antonov AN-140-100 aircraft, modernized for executing cartography and aerial survey missions, is capable of photographing the terrain with high resolution. High-quality images obtained from the aircraft will find wide applications in various fields of activity.
• The aircraft is fitted with various cameras and sensors in the fuselage section to accomplish surveillance and photographic missions over a large area.
• The initial aerial survey data can later be used to digitize information about the terrain and create electronic and digital maps, spatial and three-dimensional models of the surface and bottom of reservoirs, plans for the shelf and inland reservoirs.

Indian Army alert to PLA build-up in hotspot Depsang

• India is keeping a close watch on China’s military mobilisation in the Depsang Plains region, a major hotspot after Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley and Hot Springs areas, which can conceivably threaten a vast swathe of Indian territory in north-eastern Ladakh.
• Army chief General M M Naravane, during his trip to forward areas of eastern Ladakh over the last couple of days, directed further strengthening of patrolling to the 65 points on the Line of Actual Control to plug all gaps, while reviewing the operational situation in all sectors from Daulat Beg Oldie-Depsang in the north to Demchok-Chumar in the south.
• The Indian Army has also counter-deployed an adequate number of acclimatised troops and heavy weaponry in order to prevent any further Chinese ingress in the strategically important Depsang Bulge area located at an altitude of over 16,000 feet.
• In a show of strength, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has also deployed over 10,000 troops, with tanks and artillery guns, from its 4th Motorised Infantry Division and 6th Mechanised Infantry Division within its territory near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

‘Chinese troops spotted carrying iron rods in backpacks in eastern sector of LAC’

• Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops in the eastern sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) were earlier this week spotted carrying iron rods in their backpacks, a report said on Friday. This reasserts the belief of the Indian defence establishment that the PLA troops defy protocols frequently but hide behind them in case they get hurt.
• Earlier this week, iron rods were seen in the Chinese soldiers’ backpacks during their encounter with the Indian counterparts along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh’s Kameng sector. PLA soldiers come prepared and routinely break the protocol that there will be no use of force during faceoffs. But when they get hurt in the ensuing scuffles, they wrongly accuse Indian soldiers of breaking the protocol.
• PLA soldiers were similarly armed with iron rods and stones during the faceoff on the north bank of Pangong Tso on May 5-6. If the PLA is indeed serious about following the protocol, it should pinpoint responsibility and take strict action against its commanders who allow such objectionable tactics.
• Reports suggested that while the Indian troops did not use the firearms they were carrying in accordance with the two bilateral agreements between India and China, the Chinese troops attacked their Indian counterparts with iron rods, stones, clubs embedded with nails and batons wrapped in barbed wire.
• India had later termed the killing of Indian troops in Galwan Valley a “premeditated and planned action” by the Chinese troops. In fact, US intelligence agencies have claimed that it was General Zhao Zongqi, the head of the Western Theater Command, who had okayed the operation.

Back from Leh, Army chief to brief govt on LAC situation

• In the course of his two day visit to Ladakh, Army chief General MM Naravane — who returned to Delhi on Thursday — was briefed on the army’s preparations and ability to respond to threatening actions by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and the latest developments along the contested border, said three officers who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The army chief will now brief the top political leadership.
• The security review of the Ladakh sector, where tensions rose sharply after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash in the Galwan Valley on June 15, saw the chief tour forward army bases at Durbuk and Chushul, interact with commanders on the ground and undertake aerial surveys of the army’s deployments in some sensitive sectors, said one of the officers cited above.
• The sectors where Indian soldiers hold forward positions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) include Depsang, Gogra Post-Hot Springs, Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Chumar, and military negotiations for disengagement in some of these areas are in progress.

Pakistan Summons Senior Indian Diplomat over ‘Ceasefire Violations’

• Pakistan on Friday summoned a senior diplomat from the Indian High Commission to register its protest over the alleged ceasefire violations by the Indian forces along the Line of Control.
• The Foreign Office claimed that the Indian forces started “indiscriminate and unprovoked firing” in Karela Sector on Thursday, resulting in serious injuries to a 28-year-old villager.
• The Indian side was urged to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions, it said.
• India has maintained that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control (LoC).

Security forces gun down 3 terrorists in Chewa Ullar village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Tral, encounter ends

• Reports stated that all three terrorists were local residents of the Valley. With this, the near 15-hour long gunbattle between security forces and terrorists came to an end.
• The killed terrorists have been identified as Mohammad Qaasim Shah alias Jugnu, Basit Ahmad Parray and Haris Manzoor Bhat. Qaasim, a Madoora Tral resident and son of Gh Mohammad Shah, was pursuing a B.Tech Degree in Civil Engineering prior to joining militancy. He was carrying out terror-related activities in the Valley since March 2017.
• Basit Ahmad, son of Mohammad Parray, was resident of Laribal, Tral. He had joined militant ranks recently, on May 27, 2020 and had a degree in Bachelor of Science in Information Technology.
• Haris Manzoor Bhat, son of Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, was resident of Koil Shikragah, Tral. He had disappeared in April 2020 and was believed to have joined militancy.
• The encounter between forces and terrorists in the Chewa Ullar area had started on Thursday evening but was put on hold during the night. The encounter resumed in the early morning on Friday with a fresh exchange of fire between the two sides, in which one terrorist was killed.
• Earlier today, a police official confirmed the report of killing of one terrorist saying his body was visible at the encounter spot and searches were being carried out to nab others, if any.
• This is 12th encounter in south Kashmir in the month of June alone in which 38 terrorists have so far been eliminated in the valley. The total number of terrorists killed in Kashmir this year is now 109.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Name of the indigenously developed Indian Navy’s Advanced Torpedo Decoy System:
2. Maareech
3. Shatrughna
4. Hawk Eye
5. Retro Vision

ANSWER: A

• Which Defence PSU would undertake the production of Maareech Torpedo decoy system?
• Bharat Dynamics Limited
• Bharat Electronics Limited
• Ordinance Factories Board
• Defence R&D Organisation

ANSWER: B

• What is the world’s most advanced electronically scanned array radar for fighter aircraft:
• AN/APG-81 AESA
• F-35 AESA
• Eurofighter Captor-E
• None of the above

ANSWER: C

• The new surveillance spy plane of USSR is a modified:
• Sukhoi SU-30 multirole fighter
• Il-78 heavy light transport helicopter
• Lavochkin 1953 unmanned aerial vehicle
• AN-140-100 light military transport aircraft

ANSWER: D

• India has maintained that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the:
• Karachi Agreement
• Simla Agreement
• Tashkent Agreement
• Panch Sheel

ANSWER: B