Page 5 - Army

Indian Army raises its first squadron of Apache attack helicopters

The Indian Army raised its first squadron of Apache attack helicopters in Rajasthan on Friday seeking to support ground operations in the western sector, officials said. Sources said the squadron has been raised in Jodhpur. The Indian Army raised its first squadron of Apache attack helicopters today in the presence of Army Aviation Corps' Director General, Lt Gen Ajay Suri, officials said. The squadron will support ground operations in the western sector, they added. The delivery of the Apache attack helicopters is expected to start in May, officials said. Manufactured by American aerospace major Boeing, Apache is one of the world's most advanced multi-role combat helicopters and is flown by the US Army. The Indian Air Force already operates a fleet of these attack helicopters.

Denmark to expand conscription, draft women into military in rare move

The goal of the updated strategy, according to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, is to boost the proportion of young people enlisting in the military

Around 7,500 central forces personnel deployed in Odisha for elections

Around 7,500 central forces personnel have been deployed in Odisha in view of the Lok Sabha polls and the assembly elections, which are held simultaneously in the state, an official said on Monday. A total of 75 companies of CAPF have been deployed in Odisha for the smooth conduction of the elections, said CRPF IG Archana Shivhare, who has been appointed as the state coordinator of the forces by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. She said that 35 companies each of the CRPF and BSF along with five companies of CISF have been deployed in two phases since March 1. One company consists of nearly 100 personnel. "The forces have been deployed in sensitive and hyper-sensitive districts from an election point of view," Shivhare said. The central forces are conducting area-dominating exercises, including patrolling and flag marches in the Maoist-affected areas, to instill confidence among the people, she added. "We are continuously coordinating with the state police in all sensitive and

Women's day: Indian army to launch 2 sports companies for 'Nari Shakti'

In sync with the national vision of "women empowerment" & demonstration of "Nari Shakti", the Indian Army is raising two Army Girls Sports Companies (AGSC) in a phased manner.The AGSCs will be located at two Army's Centre of Excellence nodes i.e. Army Marksmanship Unit, Mhow in Madhya Pradesh and Army Sports Institute, Pune.The AGSC will be fully functional with effect from April 2024.The AGSC will train young girls from all parts of the country in Shooting, Archery, Athletics, Boxing & Weightlifting.To identify the young talent, provide them with formal education apart from other administrative requirements & train them to be champions in their respective sporting discipline.These two locations have world-class training infrastructure, sports medicine centre, rehabilitation facility and related coaching facilities.Indian Army has rich experience in scouting for young talent as demonstrated by the success of Boys Sports Companies.This young talent will also benefit ..

Maldives military to have control of helicopter crew from India: MNDF

The Maldivian defence force on Thursday said it will have operational authority over the helicopter given by India to the island nation and the civilian crew that will pilot it. Addressing a press conference, the Principal Director of Plans, Policy, and Resources Management for the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Colonel Ahmed Mujuthaba Mohamed said that discussions are underway for withdrawing Indian troops from the Maldives. He emphasised that the government of President Mohamed Muizzu has decided not to permit any foreign troops to remain stationed in the Maldives beyond May 10, PSM News, the state broadcaster reported. Last week, India said its first civilian team of technical experts has reached the Maldives to replace the military personnel operating an advanced light helicopter in the island nation. "The first team of technical personnel to operate the advanced light helicopter has reached the Maldives. It will replace the existing personnel who were operating this .

Hyderabad man, duped into working as 'helper' for Russian army, dies

A man from Hyderabad, who was among the Indians "duped" by agents on the promise of jobs and taken to Russia and forced to work as a "helper" for the Russian Army, has died. The Indian Embassy in Moscow on Wednesday confirmed the death of the man, identified as Mohammed Afsan, adding that they are in touch with the family here. "We have learnt about the tragic death of an Indian national Shri Mohammed Asfan. We are in touch with the family and Russian authorities. Mission will make efforts to send his mortal remains to India," Indian embassy in Moscow said in a post on 'X'. When contacted, Afsan's brother Imran said the Indian embassy in Moscow informed the family about the 30-year-old's death. He requested the Central government to help them get back his brother's mortal remains. AIMIM sources said the party's chief Asaduddin Owaisi had contacted the Indian embassy in Moscow after Afsan's family approached him in this regard recently. An official from the Indian embassy in Mosco

SC directs Centre to clarify process of empanelling of Army officers

Noting a discrepancy in the process of empanelling of Army officers, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to clarify the procedure for male officers as compared to their female counterparts. A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra asked Attorney General R Venkataramani to file an affidavit explaining the central government's position. The direction came after senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for women Army officers, alleged discrimination in the empanelment of women officers. He referred to an earlier order passed by the apex court last year on November 3 and submitted that it required the consideration of all women officers who are considered by the earlier special selection board 3B (for promotion as colonel) except for those officers who are already empanelled. Hence, it is submitted that considering other empanelled officers would amount to a breach of the directions, he said. Venkataramani stated that the concept of empanel

US Army slashing 5% jobs in major revamp to prepare for future wars

The US Army is slashing the size of its force by about 24,000, or almost 5 per cent, and restructuring to be better able to fight the next major war, as the service struggles with recruiting shortfalls that made it impossible to bring in enough soldiers to fill all the jobs. The cuts will mainly be in already-empty posts not actual soldiers including in jobs related to counter-insurgency that swelled during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars but are not needed as much today. About 3,000 of the cuts would come from Army special operations forces. At the same time, however, the plan will add about 7,500 troops in other critical missions, including air-defence and counter-drone units and five new task forces around the world with enhanced cyber, intelligence and long-range strike capabilities. According to an Army document, the service is significantly overstructured and there aren't enough soldiers to fill existing units. The cuts, it said, are spaces not faces and the Army will not be .

Security can neither be outsourced nor dependent on others' largesse: Army

The security of the nation can neither be outsourced nor be dependent on the "largesse" of others, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande said on Saturday, asserting that becoming self reliant in critical military hardware will be essential to deal with future challenges. In an address at a defence conclave, he said weaning away from import dependencies for capability development requirements of the Army remains pivotal in its strategic planning to be "future ready". "As the guardians of the nation's security, we are seized of the need to completely wean away from import dependencies for our capability development requirements. This aspect remains pivotal in our strategic planning to be future ready," he said. The COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing conflicts world over have shown the impact of external dependencies for critical military components, the Army chief said at the Firstpost Defence Summit. "Technology is emerging as the new strategic arena of geopolitical competitions. The impact of

3 services worked in 'silos', now they have better coordination: Rajnath

India's annual defence production is expected to touch a whopping Rs 3 lakh crore and exports of military hardware is poised to reach Rs 50,000 crore, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday. In an address at a defence conclave, Singh, delving into structural defence reforms, said the three services used to work in "silos" earlier but now they are ready with better coordination to deal with every challenge jointly. He said capital acquisition projects worth more than Rs 4,35,000 crore have been given in-principle approval in the financial year 2023-24, and the government is aiming for production of high-end systems like aero-engines and gas turbines in India in the next five years. Singh noted that the government has been focusing on jointness among the Indian Army, the Navy and the Indian Air Force that would ensure enhanced coordination in times of "crisis". "Earlier, the three Services used to work in silos. We focused on their integration which was an out-of-the-box ste

SC orders Rs 60 lakh in compensation for Army nurse fired over marriage

The Supreme Court ordered the Centre to pay Rs 60 lakh to the petitioner within eight weeks

Policy on progression of women army officers to be in place by Mar 31: Govt

The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Monday a detailed policy on career progression of women officers in the Indian Army will be in place by March 31, 2024. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud took note of the submission of senior advocate R Balasubramanian, appearing for the Centre, and directed that an updated status report be filed on this by April 1. "By March 31, 2024, a detailed policy will be in place on career progression of women officers and command in regular major unit," Balasubramanian told the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. Senior advocate V Mohana, representing some women officers, said all 225 male officers who were promoted have been granted command position in regular major units. She said out of 108 women officers, only 32 were granted command position in regular units. On December 4 last year, the apex court was told that deliberations were underway to formulate a policy to deal with the issue of career progressio

Rwanda rejects US calls for withdrawal of missiles, troops from Congo

Authorities in Rwanda on Monday rejected US calls for the withdrawal of troops and missile systems from eastern Congo, saying they are defending Rwandan territory as Congo carries out a "dramatic military build-up near the border. Rwanda's Foreign Ministry in a statement spoke of threats to Rwandan national security stemming from the presence in Congo of an armed group whose members include alleged perpetrators of the 1994 genocide. The rebel group, known by its initials FDLR, is fully integrated into" the Congolese army, the statement said. Although Rwanda has long cited a threat posed by FLDR, authorities there had never admitted to a military presence in eastern Congo, whose authorities accuse the tiny central African country of actively supporting the violent armed group known as M23. The US State Department in a statement Saturday criticised the worsening violence caused by M23, describing it as a Rwanda-backed armed group. That statement also urged Rwanda to immediately withd

'Pak Army gave 2 options to Sharif, premiership or CM slot for daughter'

Nawaz Sharif sacrificed his ambition to become Pakistan's prime minister for a record fourth term and nominated his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif for the plum post as the powerful Army gave him two options either to choose the premiership or leave it to allow his daughter to become the chief minister of Punjab, according to party insiders. The nomination of Shehbaz Sharif for the slot of prime minister by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif has stirred quite a debate among the PML-N ranks who are questioning why the 74-year-old three-time premier was "sidelined" despite the earlier announcement on the premiership. Sources in the PML-N told the Press Trust of India here that Nawaz Sharif decided to withdraw himself from the race for the prime minister's office for his daughter and political heir, Maryam Nawaz, 50. "Nawaz Sharif could have become the prime minister to lead the coalition government for the fourth time but then his daughter would have no chance to ...

Defence ministry clears procurement of military hardware worth Rs 84,560 cr

The procurement proposals were cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

World faces dangerous decade as instability, military spending rise: Report

The world has entered an era of increasing instability as countries around the globe boost military spending in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Hamas attack on Israel and China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. That's the conclusion of a new report Tuesday from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, which also highlighted rising tensions in the Arctic, North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons and the rise of military regimes in the Sahel region of Africa as contributing to a deteriorating security environment. The London-based think tank has compiled its annual estimate of the global military situation for the past 65 years. "The current military-security situation heralds what is likely to be a more dangerous decade, characterized by the brazen application by some of military power to pursue claims evoking a 'might is right' approach as well as the desire among like-minded democracies for stronger bilateral and multilateral defense ties in

President Murmu witnesses ceremonial change-over of Army Guard Battalion

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday witnessed the ceremonial change-over of the Army Guard Battalion stationed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here. During the ceremony, the 6th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment on completion of its tenure as the ceremonial Army Guard Battalion handed over the charge to the 1st Battalion of 5th Gorkha Rifles. Different infantry units of the Army function as the ceremonial Army Guard at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by rotation. The Army Guard Battalion performs ceremonial duties at various important events such as the Guard of Honour to dignitaries, the Republic Day parade, the Independence Day parade and the Beating the Retreat Ceremony, apart from performing ceremonial guard duties at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. During the event, the president appreciated the officers and soldiers of 6th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment for following the highest standards of military traditions and for performing their duty with full dedication at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. She welcomed

Indian troops in Maldives will be replaced by 'technical personnel': MEA

The Mohamed Muizzu-led Maldives government has formally requested that India withdraw its troops from Male

Will not compromise over India's border security, says HM Amit Shah

The government wants friendly relations with all countries but it will not compromise with India's border security and the safety of its people, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday. Shah also said that the Modi government has successfully tackled the three internal security hotspots -- 'Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast and the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas'? -- in its 10 years of rule. "Our external and internal policy is clear. We want friendly relations with other countries. But there will be no compromise on the country's border security and the security of its people," he said while participating in a discussion on the subject 'Security Beyond Tomorrow: Forging India's Resilient Future' here. Shah said other countries have respected this policy of the government. He said due to the appeasement policy, the previous governments have created many internal security problems. The three internal security hotspots of the country 'Jammu and Kashmir, Northeast and L

Havildar Preeti Rajak becomes first woman to hold Subedar rank in Army

Havildar Preeti Rajak, who is a champion trap shooter, has become the first woman to hold the rank of Subedar in the Indian Army after she was promoted on Sunday. Subedar Rajak joined the Army in the Corps of Military Police in December 2022. "In a proud moment for the Indian Army as well as women of the country, today Havildar Preeti Rajak, trap shooter, was promoted to the rank of Subedar," the Army said. "Subedar Preeti Rajak is now the first woman Subedar of the Indian Army. Her achievement is an extraordinary display of Nari Shakti," it said. Subedar Preeti Rajak joined the Army in the Corps of Military Police on December 22, 2022. She was the first meritorious sportswomen in the shooting discipline enrolled in the Army as a Havildar. During the 19th Asian Games, held at Hangzhou in China, Rajak won a silver medal in the trap women team event. Based on her extraordinary performance, she was awarded the first out of turn promotion to Subedar, the Army said in a statement. S