With ski jump, naval light combat aircraft takes off from INS Vikramaditya for 1st time

NEW DELHI, Jan 12: A day after a prototype of the naval version of the light combat aircraft (LCA) made its maiden landing on aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, the technology demonstrator plane on Sunday took off from India’s only aircraft carrier for the first time, a navy official said. It’s a significant step towards India developing its own deck-based fighters.

“The developmental LCA (N) MK1 achieved another important #milestone today by successfully undertaking the maiden Ski Jump Take-Off from #INSVikramaditya,” the Indian Navy tweeted. The carrier is currently deployed in the Arabian Sea and operates Russian-origin MiG-29K fighters.

The LCA Navy is expected to carry out 20 landings and takeoffs over the next eight to 10 days. It uses the ski jump to take off and is recovered by arrestor wires on the carrier or STOBAR (short takeoff but arrested recovery) in navy parlance.

Only the US, the UK, Russia, France and China have built fighter jets that can operate from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Carrier strike groups help a country project maritime power thousands of miles away from its shores. Such groups are escorted by destroyers, frigates, submarines and supply vessels.

Last September, the LCA Navy successfully executed its first-ever arrested landing at a shore-based test facility (SBTF) in Goa.

“With this feat, the indigenously developed niche technologies specific to deck-based fighter operations have been proven, which will now pave the way to develop and manufacture the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter for the #IndianNavy,” the Navy tweeted on Saturday after the maiden landing.

India has a requirement for 57 deck based fighters for its carrier operations.

Gen Bipin Rawat Asks Officials For Air Defence Command Plan By June 30

NEW DELHI, Jan 3: In one of his first decisions, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat has issued directions to prepare a roadmap by June 30 to create an air defence command to enhance security of India's skies.

He also underlined that efforts will be made to cut out infructuous ceremonial activities which are manpower intensive, officials said.

Some of the areas identified for bringing in tri-services jointness and synergy include setting up of common "logistics support pools" in stations where two or more services have their presence, they said.

General Rawat took charge as the country's first Chief of Defence Staff on Wednesday in what is seen as a watershed moment for India's military planning to bring in convergence among the three services for effectively dealing with future security challenges.

After taking charge, he held a meeting with important functionaries of Integrated Defence Staff and directed heads of various wings to come up with recommendations to bring in inter-service synergy and jointness in a time bound manner, officials said.

As CDS, General Rawat will be the Principal Military Advisor to the defence minister on all tri-services matters besides helming the newly set up Department of Military Affairs (DMA).

"The CDS directed that a proposal to create Air Defence Command be prepared by June 30," said an official.

General Rawat also set out priorities for execution of various initiatives by December 31.

"Emphasising collegiate system of functioning, Gen Rawat directed that all three services and Coast Guard must be consulted and their views obtained in a time bound manner. Decisions will, however, be taken to ensure optimisation of resources," the defence ministry said.

It said the CDS stressed that all must work towards accomplishing desired results and coming up with healthy views and ideas.

The CDS will have a key role in ensuring optimum utilisation of allocated budget, ushering in more synergy in procurement, training and operations of the services through joint planning and integration.

The other major mandate of the CDS is to facilitate indigenisation of weapons and equipment to the maximum extent possible while formulating the overall defence acquisition plan for the three Services.

On India China border dispute, Army chief Naravane hints at eventual solution

NEW DELHI, Jan 1: The new army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Wednesday said maintaining peace and tranquillity along the India-China border could lead to an eventual resolution of the border dispute.

Addressing mediapersons on Wednesday, Naravane stressed that military capabilities along the northern borders will be strengthened.

“We have the Line of Actual Control with China. The border question is yet to be settled. However, we have made a lot of progress in maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border. And by maintaining peace and tranquillity, we will be able to set the stage for an eventual solution,” he said.

He also said that the armed forces were fully ready to deal with any security challenge facing the nation.

“I am assuring the people of the country that armed forces are fully prepared to keep the country secure. We will not allow any harm to come to the country. We are fully alert round-the-clock. Our forces are fully capable of dealing with any challenge,” he said after a ceremonial Guard of Honour.

He said the army will enhance its capabilities along the northern borders as the focus in the past had been on the western boundary with Pakistan.

“While we have been giving attention in the past to our western front (border with Pakistan), the northern front also requires equal amount of attention. And it is in that context we are now going in for enhancement of our capacities along the northern border,” he told reporters, adding that the armed forces were fully prepared to deal with any challenge.

The India-China border dispute covers 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet, while India contests it.

Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

General Naravane said his priority would be to keep the Army operationally prepared at all times.

“This will happen as a result of modernisation. We will continue to build capabilities, particularly in north and northeastern regions. We will also lay emphasise on raising security awareness among our rank and file and also pay special attention to the issue of human rights,” he said.

In his 39-year military career, Naravane has commanded a Rashtriya Rifles battalion, raised an infantry brigade, led a strike corps and headed the Army Training Command. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Naravane was part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka and has also served as India’s defence attache to Myanmar.

Naravane is considered to be a China expert and also has vast experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and India’s North-east.