..:: India Strategic ::. Air Force: Air Chief Arup Raha Visiting Malaysia

British Prime Minister David Cameron resigns | Theresa May takes over as new UK PM | May becomes second British woman PM after Margaret Thatcher | Cameron announced resignation following Brexit, a referendum for UK's exit from EU June 23 | International Tribunal demolishes China's claims over South China Sea | Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague says China has no legal basis to claim regional waters and build islets | The Tribunal also held China guilty of damaging coral reefs and natural environment | China has border maritime problems with all its neighbours | China rejected the decision, saying it is invalid and has no binding force | India, Tanzania agree to deepen overall defence and security partnership, especially in the maritime domain | Both nations agreed to work closely, bilaterally, regionally and globally to combat twin threats of terrorism, climate change | Prime Minister visiting Tanzania in the last leg of his visit to 4 African nations July 7-11 | Boeing, Mahindra Defence open C-17 Training Centre for IAF | Terrorism is the gravest security threat facing the world today, says PM Modi during Mozambique visit | Terrorism impacts India and Mozambique equally | NASA spacecraft Juno reaches Jupiter | Juno crossed violent radiation and flew 130,000 miles/hour | Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system | Juno should be in Jpiter orbit for 20 months to send data | The $1.1 billion Juno mission took five years to reach Jupiter | LCA 'Tejas' joins Indian Air Force | Tejas is an indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft | The single-seat, single-engine, multi-role light fighter is designed by ADA and manufactured by HAL | India test-fires new surface-to-air missile from a defence base in Balasore off Odisha coast | The new missile is jointly developed by India and Israel | Abdul Majeed Al Khoori appointed Acting CEO of the Abu Dhabi Airports | Eng. Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei becomes Advisor to the Abu Dhabi Airports Chairman | Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar hands over 'Varunastra' to Indian Navy | Varunastra is an advanced heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo | It is indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by DRDO | India officially joins Missile Technology Control Regime | With this India becomes 35th member of the MTCR | Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar signed the document of accession into MTCR in Seoul June 27 | The document was signed in presence of Ambassadors of France, the Netherlands and Luxembourg - the Chair and two co-chairs of the Regime | India had applied for the membership in 2015 | India finalises deal for 145 BAE Systems M777 artillery guns | This is Indian Army's first artillery deal in 30 years | Britain votes to leave EU, Pound crashes | 52 per cent voted Leave and 48 Remain in historic referendum | British Prime Minister David Cameron announces to resign before October over UK's exit | Leave process will take about two years though | Markets hit worldwide, including in India | China scuttles India's NSG bid | India joins SCO | India, apart from Pakistan, was admitted as full member of SCO during its Ufa Summit in July 2015 | After completing certain procedures, India now technically entered into SCO | India had an observer status for past 10 years prior to entering into six member regional bloc | No consensus on India's membership in NSG | China and five other countries oppose India's entry as New Delhi has not signed NPT | China insists Pakistan must also enter NSG if India's application is accepted | Pakistan is China's only military ally and is also known as a nuclear, missile and terror proliferator (NMTP) | Indian Space Agency ISRO successfully launches 20 satellites in one rocket | This is the biggest launch in ISRO's history | The satellites were launched onboard PSLV C-34 from SDSC (SHAR) Sriharikota | PSLV C-34 was carrying 17 satellites from US, Canada, Germany, Indonesia and 3 from India | Government of India approves 100% FDI in defence and civil aviation sectors | In defence, foreign investment beyond 49% (and up to 100%) permitted through the government approval route | This is in cases of access to modern technology in the country | For aviation, the government allowed 100% FDI in India-based airlines | The decision on FDI reforms taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Modi | India confident of getting into NSG, says External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj | India is working with China to win support | India will not oppose any country's membership proposal, EAM told a news conference |

Home

Editorial

Air Chief Arup Raha Visiting Malaysia

Published: December 2015

New Delhi. Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha has been on a three-day visit to Malaysia for the SASEAN Defence Chiefs dialogue beginning December 6.

Air Chief Raha addressed the gathering of fellow Defence Chiefs from ASEAN, SAARC and the observers from China, Russia and United States of America on the second day (December 7) of the event. The topic of the talk was on “Addressing Dynamic Challenges’ from the perspective of Indian Armed Forces.

Speaking on the subject ‘Regional Security Environment’, he said a broad scan of the evolving geo-political environment clearly indicates a pre-eminent shift in Global strategic centre of gravity to the Asian - Pacific regions. As India is strategically located in South Asia the Air Chief said, “We hope to see increased cooperation and collective action to exchange information, build infrastructure and strengthen capabilities. In this manner, we would gain from each other’s strengths and understand each other better towards lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the ASEAN region”.

The Air chief further said, “Indian Armed Forces being the 3rd largest military force has the largest volunteers Army. The professionalism and the apolitical nature of the Indian Armed Forces is a major stabilising factor in the Indian Subcontinent. The terrain and climate in India is quite diverse and offers a unique opportunity to our Armed Forces to train and operate in some of the most hostile environments in the world. India has the highest air field in the world, Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) in the Mighty Himalayas which is at an elevation of 17,000 feet, two lakh sq km of deserts, inhospitable tropical forest in the North East, and vast coastline with added challenges posed by high humidity, salinity and corrosion.”

Talking on the challenges, the Air Chief spoke on exploitation of technology by the Armed Forces mentioning that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working towards self reliance in defence systems and strategic independence. On promoting affordable and cogent Military solutions, he said India has decided to accelerate indigenous defence manufacturing through its Make in India initiative. It has already given a boost to the Indian Defence industries for manufacture of Ships, Artillery Guns, Aircraft, repair and overhaul, Radars, sensors, communication system etc.

“The next dynamic challenge in HADR which is closely linked with the theme of the day. Indian Armed Forces have rendered invaluable assistance during floods, cyclones, earthquakes, forest fires and evacuations to give an idea of the magnitude of relief work undertaken in 2014 -15 itself, the Indian Armed Forces have airlifted more than 6500 tonnes of supplies and 38000 passengers. The Indian Armed Forces have adapted to short notice requirement to provide immediate succour to the affected along with NDRF with systematic procedures and techniques in place.”

He envisioned that the Indian Armed Forces are operating state-of-art platforms and equipment, with cutting edge technology and a large indigenous content. “Our Armed Forces are transforming into a modern, flexible and credible Power with Full Spectrum Capability to safeguard India’s National Interests and Objectives. “We wish to collaborate and engage effectively with SASEAN nations to enhance the security of our region and further our mutual interests of economic development and progress,” he concludes.