India set to begin delivery of BrahMos missiles to Philippines

NEW DELHI, Jan 25: India is set to begin the delivery of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines, two years after the two countries signed a deal worth almost $375 million to equip the Philippine Marines with three batteries of the missiles.

The ground systems will reach the southeast Asian country in the next 10 days followed by the missiles that will be delivered by March, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Samir V Kamat told a section of the media on Thursday.

This is the first export order for the BrahMos missile developed by India and Russia.

India has set a defence export target of ₹35,000 crore by 2024-25. In November 2022, Indian defence firm Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited won an export order worth $155.5 million for supplying artillery guns to Armenia, the first order won by a local company for the 155mm weapon system. Kalyani will execute the order by 2025. That order came on the back of Armenia choosing to buy the Pinaka rocket system from India.

Military exports have risen sharply, and imports have recorded a drop on the back of policy initiatives and reforms during the past nine years, the officials said. Exports grew 23 times between 2013-14 and 2022-23 (from ₹686 crore to ₹16,000 crore), while the spending on imported weapons and systems dropped from 46% of the total expenditure in 2018-19 to 36.7% in December 2022, according to defence ministry data.

India is currently exporting military hardware to more than 85 countries, with around 100 domestic firms involved. The hardware includes missiles, artillery guns, rockets, armoured vehicles, offshore patrol vessels, personal protective gear, a variety of radars, surveillance systems and ammunition.

India is exporting bullet-proof jackets to 34 countries including Australia, Japan, Israel and Brazil, ammunition (ranging from 5.56mm to 155mm) to around 10 countries including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Indonesia and Thailand, fast interceptor boats to Mauritius, Seychelles and the Maldives, and defence electronics to countries like the US, the UK and France, as previously reported.

Countries in south America, Africa, central Asia and southeast Asia have also shown interest in weapons and systems manufactured by India, the officials said.

Aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) plans to create a new vertical to push exports as it pursues opportunities to sell fighter jets and helicopters to several countries. HT was the first to report on the organisational restructuring at HAL, which will set up the new vertical under a CEO-ranked officer. It is currently eyeing exports to countries including Argentina, Nigeria, Egypt and the Philippines, which are interested in the light combat aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A and the advanced light helicopter (ALH).

India has taken several measures during the last five to six years to boost self-reliance. These include imposing phased bans on import of weapons, creating a separate budget for buying locally made military hardware, increasing foreign direct investment from 49% to 74% and improving ease of doing business. India is eyeing a turnover of ₹1.75 lakh crore in defence manufacturing by 2025.

In October 2023, the defence ministry slapped an import ban on 98 weapons and systems including futuristic infantry combat vehicles, shipborne unmanned aerial systems, medium-range precision kill systems, a variety of ammunition, radars, sensors, and equipment for fighter jets, maritime surveillance planes, warships, helicopters and tanks.

The fifth positive indigenisation list, released by defence minister Rajnath Singh in October, took the number of defence items placed under an import ban during the last three years to 509.

In May 2023, India announced that the value of defence production in the country had crossed ₹1 lakh crore for the first time on the back of key reforms to spur growth in the sector. The value of defence production by state-run companies and the private sector has almost doubled over the past five years.

India, France, UAE Hold Mega Air Exercise Over Arabian Sea

NEW DELHI, Jan 24: India, France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) carried out a mega air exercise over the Arabian Sea against the backdrop of the rising global concerns over Houthi militants targeting several commercial vessels in the strategic waterways in the region.

The exercise 'Desert Knight', conducted on Tuesday, featured several frontline aerial assets and combat jets of the air forces of the three countries, officials said.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) component at the drills consisted of Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar fighter jets besides AWACS (airborne early warning and control aircraft, C-130-J transport plane and air-to-air refuelling aircraft.

"The main focus of exercise 'Desert Knight' was on enhancing synergy and interoperability between the three air forces," the Indian Air Force said.

The exercise took place in the Indian FIR (Flight Information Regions) and with IAF aircraft operated from several bases in India.

All airspace worldwide is divided into FIRs and each of them is managed by a controlling authority responsible for ensuring that air traffic services are provided to aircraft flying within it.

The exercise came amid increasing attacks on commercial vessels by Houthi militants in the Red Sea.

"On January 23, the Indian Air Force conducted exercise Desert Knight along with French Air and Space Force (FASF) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force," the IAF said.

"While the French participation included the Rafale fighter aircraft and a multi role tanker transport, the UAE Air Force fielded the F-16," it said in a statement.

The aircraft of the French and the UAE air forces operated from the Al Dhafra air base in the UAE.

"The interactions during the exercise facilitated the exchange of operational knowledge, experiences and best practices amongst the participants," the IAF said.

"Such exercises are indicative of the growing diplomatic and military interactions in the region, apart from showcasing the prowess of the IAF," it added.

The trilateral exercise came days before India's Republic Day celebrations where two Rafale fighter jets and an Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft of the French air force will also feature.

A 95-member marching contingent and 33-member band contingent from France will also take part in the parade.

French President Emmanuel Macron will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations on January 26 that would make him the sixth leader from France to grace the prestigious annual event.

India, China Clashed Twice Near LAC After 2020 Galwan Incident: Report

NEW DELHI, Jan 16: At least two previously unknown incidents of skirmishes between the Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have come to light with citations for gallantry awards conferred on Indian Army personnel mentioning them.

The citations, read out at an investiture ceremony by the Army's Western Command last week, provided brief details of how the Indian troops responded firmly to the aggressive behaviour of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers along the LAC.

The Army's Western Command, which has its headquarters in Chandimandir, had uploaded a video of the January 13 ceremony featuring the commentary on the gallantry award on its YouTube channel but deactivated it on Monday.

The incidents mentioned in the citations had taken place between September 2021 and November 2022.

There was no immediate comment on the matter by the Army.

The Indian Army has been maintaining a very high level of combat readiness along the 3,488 km-long LAC following the clashes in Galwan Valley in June 2020.

There were multiple incidents of skirmishes along the LAC between the Indian and Chinese troops in the last three-and-a-half years following the eruption of the eastern Ladakh border row in May 2020.

The Chinese troops attempted transgression in the Tawang sector of the LAC as well.

On December 9, 2022, PLA troops tried to transgress the LAC in the Yangtse area of Tawang Sector and unilaterally changed the status quo, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Parliament four days after the incident.

Singh said the Chinese attempt was contested by the Indian troops in a firm and resolute manner.

Sources said several Indian Army personnel who were part of the team that responded firmly to the attempted Chinese transgression were also conferred gallantry awards at the investiture ceremony.

"The ensuing face-off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts," Singh said on December 13 that year.

The clash led to injuries to a few personnel on both sides, he said.

"I would like to assure this House that our forces are committed to protecting our territorial integrity and will continue to thwart any attempt made on it. I am confident that this entire House will stand united in supporting our soldiers in their brave effort," Singh said.

2024 Military Strength Ranking: US Tops, India At No. 4

LONDON, Jan 16: The United States has the most powerful military globally, followed by Russia and China in second and third place, respectively. India holds the fourth position, as reported by Global Firepower, a website that keeps track of global defence information.

Global Firepower's Military Strength Rankings for 2024 assess 145 countries, taking into account more than 60 factors such as the number of troops, military equipment, financial stability, geographic location, and available resources. These factors together determine a PowerIndex score, where lower scores indicate stronger military capabilities.

Global Firepower said in a release that "our unique, in-house formula allows for smaller, more technologically advanced nations to compete with larger, lesser-developed powers, and special modifiers, in the form of bonuses and penalties, are applied to further refine the list, which is compiled annually."

This multi-faceted approach aims to paint a more complete picture of military capabilities beyond raw firepower. By factoring in economic strength, logistical efficiency, and even geography, Global Firepower hopes to offer a more nuanced understanding of global military landscapes.

The report includes 145 countries and also examines how each nation's ranking has changed from one year to the next.

Here are the top 10 countries with the most powerful militaries in the world:

United States
Russia
China
India
South Korea
United Kingdom
Japan
Turkiye
Pakistan
Italy

Here are the 10 countries with the least powerful militaries in the world:

Bhutan
Moldova
Suriname
Somalia
Benin
Liberia
Belize
Sierra Leone
Central African Republic
Iceland

Understanding military power is a complicated and multifaceted matter. Even though the Global Firepower Ranking is a useful starting point to grasp global military situations, it's crucial to be critical and look beyond just numbers and rankings, considering the broader context.