Defence Current Affairs And Updates – 2nd May 2020

Defence current affairs from 2nd May 2020. Defence current affairs for NDA CDS AFCAT INET and SSB interview.

New Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Intelligence)

Lt. General KJS Dhillion assumed his new charge as Director General Defence Intelligence Agency & the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Intelligence) under the Chief of Defence Staff

New Chief of Army Training Command

Lt Gen Raj Shukla appointed as the new Army Training Command Chief at Shimla. He is presently posted at the Army Headquarters and would be in-charge of looking after training aspects of the force.

U.S. Marines showcase new Osprey weapon system

The DWS is remotely operated and incorporates a gunner station, targeting sensor and the GAU-17 minigun.
The unique weapon is mounted in the aft cargo hole of the Osprey and is operated via remote control from inside the aircraft using an interface like a video-game.

India to acquire MH-60 Sikorsky Romeo helicopters

Under the $2.12bn deal, 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters will be purchased to replace Sea King helicopters. The signing comes after the Indian Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the procurement last week.
Out of the 24 choppers, the delivery of the first six is expected to take place early Jan 2021 – USA Lockheed Martin company.

Lockheed Martin to provide India with electro-optical fire-control system for AH-64 attack helicopters

M-TADS/PNVS is the advanced electro-optical fire-control system for the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow and AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter that crews use for targeting and pilotage in day, night, and bad weather.

China Enters Indian Ocean at Time of COVID-19 Crisis

The Chinese Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced the deployment of the 690 naval personnel-strong 35th Task Force of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday in order to carry out anti-piracy patrols in the Indian Ocean, which is considered India’s geopolitical sphere of influence.

Kleos Space awaits ISRO’s launch announcement for its satellites

Kleos Space said it eagerly awaits announcement of the launch date for PSLV-C49 by the ISRO. The launch is currently delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions outside its control.
The company said the satellites once launched will cover crucial shipping regions for defence and security customers including the Strait of Hormuz, South China Sea, Australian coast, Southern US coast as well as the East and West African coast.

Pune-based Defence Institute Develops Microwave Sterilizer That Can Disintegrate Coronavirus

Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) has developed a microwave sterilizer ‘Atulya’ that can disintegrate the novel coronavirus. The virus gets disintegrated by differential heating (of Atulya) in the range of 56 degrees to 60 degrees Celsius”.

SIPRI is incorrect; India is world’s 5th largest defence spender, not 3rd largest

PM Modi Pushes for Reduction in Imports in Defence Sector

India should reduce dependence on imports and take forward the “Make in India” initiative to build its domestic capabilities for designing, developing and manufacturing state-of-the-art defence equipment.

Fly-pasts by fighter jets, lit up warships in military plan to honour Covid-19 warriors

Briefing reporters in South Block in the presence of the three service chiefs, Rawat said military helicopters will shower petals over Covid-19 hospitals and the armed forces will lay wreath at the police memorial to show support for corona warriors.

Will bleed Pakistan by 1001 cuts: Army Chief

Chief of Army Staff Mukund Naravane of Indian Army while speaking to bharatshakti.in amid increased attempts by the Pakistani Army to infiltrate trained Terrorist across Line of Control (LOC) has warned Pakistani military that their policy of trying to bleed India with 1000 cut for last two decades will not work and is failing.

In Pak’s push to delete its terrorists from UNSC list, China’s support is key

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government has approached the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for deletion of six terrorists sanctioned by the world’s top security panel.

Can’t locate UNSC listed terrorists in Pak, Imran Khan govt tells UNSC panel

The decision by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government to delete nearly 4,000 names from its terror watch list was part of a well-orchestrated effort to scrub its terror record clean not just at home, but also at the UNSC.
Islamabad has told a visiting team of a UNSC monitoring committee that it had been unable to act against numerous individuals listed in its sanctions list because the UN panel had given “insufficient information”.

Other important updates…

12 more jawans of CRPF of the same battalion which has recorded maximum COVID-19 cases, tested positive today. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the battalion crosses 60.
Three soldiers hurt as Pakistan violates ceasefire, resorts to unprovoked firing in J&K’s Baramulla
Pakistan Slams ‘Baseless’ Media Reports of Jihadi Camps in PoK, Says Ploy to Divert Attention from J&K.
J&K opposes restoration of 4G internet services, tells SC terrorists inciting people via fake news
J&K leader, who contested 2014 assembly election, arrested for alleged terror links
Pakistani soldier killed in India’s retaliatory fire along LoC in J&K’s Poonch

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla has been appointed as the Commander in Chief of which Army Command?
Southern Command
South Western Command
Training Command
Central Command

ANSWER: C

Under the recent US-India defence deal, the Seahawk helicopters will replace which helicopters?
Seaking helicopters
AH-64 Apache helicopters
Dhruv helicopters
Chetak helicopters

ANSWER: A