<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b> Indian Navy to achieve unique feat by conquering North Pole</b>
Mar 5, 2008
<b>New Delhi, Mar 5 (ANI): The Indian Navy is all set to enter the record books by becoming the first ever organisation in the world to conquer all the three poles - Mount Everest, South Pole and North Pole.</b>
Till now, only 23 persons have achieved the rare feat of visiting all three poles, and only 64 people in the world have visited one of the poles and Mt. Everest. Therefore, any organisation or nation in the world cannot rival the feat.
The Navy had already achieved the feat of conquering Mt. Everest under the leadership of Commander Satyabrata Dam on May 19, 2004. The Naval team successfully completed their ski traverse to the Geographic South Pole on December 28, 2006.
The success of the above two missions made the Navy team the first Indian Team to Ski Traverse to the Geographic South Pole, the first submariners in the World to reach the South Pole and first Indian Everest Summiteers to reach the South Pole.
After this stupendous success, the Indian Navy again under the leadership of Commander Dam, is set to conquer the North Pole. The team will leave India on March 24 and reach the North Pole around the second week of April.
<b>This expedition would unfurl the flags of India and the Navy at the final frontier of adventure activity that challenges the human spirit of courage and survival.</b>
The North Pole expedition team comprises of Commander Satyabrata Dam, Lt Avinash Khajuria, Surgeon Lt Ajay Sharma, MCERA 1 Raj Kumar, POMA Rakesh Kumar, POMA Vikas Kumar, LME R Pandey, SEA 1 B Singh, Sea 1 Manoj Vats, MA 1 Sonam Tamchos.
Commander Dam, Vikas Kumar and Rakesh Kumar were also part of the Navy team, which conquered Mt. Everest and the North Pole. Eight members of the North Pole team were also part of the South Pole expedition.
Surgeon Lt Ajay Sharma will become the only doctor in the world to go to both poles. The oldest member of the team is Commander Dam, who is 43, and the youngest member is Sonam Tamchos, who is yet to celebrate his 21st birthday.
<b>Among the challenges the team will have to face are temperatures ranging between minus 30 to minus 35 degrees Celsius, and average wind speeds of 80 km an hour.
The team, which includes members from West Bengal, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, represents a microcosm of India.
The expedition would involve very little rest, reserves of determination, stamina, skill and team spirit. The team will take about 15 days, walking 10 to 12 hours a day.</b>
To communicate with the rest of the world the team would be carrying an Iridium hand held satellite phone.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
X-Post
<b> BrahMos Naval version tested successfully</b> <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<b>A naval version of the BrahMos cruise missile was successfully tested off Andamans coast this morning.</b>
The missile was launched from the decks of INS Rajput at 10.30 AM and precisely hit a land target in one of the islands of Andaman and Nicobar.
The missile met all flight parameters during its launch, flight and zeroed in on the designated target among the group of targets, destroying it with a thunderous blast.
This mission is very important as it has established the sea to land attack capability of the formidable weapon system. It was the 15th successive successful launch of the Brahmos missile, developed jointly by India and Russia.
The Indian Navy's Andaman & Nicobar Command provided the logistics support to the missile test. The command deployed ten ships, three aircraft and three helicopters for mission support.
<b>The parameters set for the mission were kept extremely difficult including the positioning of the target to achieve maximum output. The 100 percent success of the launch once again demonstrated the tremendous capability of BrahMos weapon system.</b>
The launch was witnessed by Dr.A. Sivathanu Pillai, CEO & MD of BrahMos Aerospace, along with the officiating Commander in Chief of the Andaman Command, Rear Admiral P.K. Nair along with other senior naval officers and defence scientists. The Defence Minister Shri A.K. Antony congratulated the Navy and team of scientists for the successful launch of BrahMos.
<b> Indian Army With IAF To showcase it's Manoeuvre Warfare Doctrine</b>
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Exercise BRAZEN CHARIOTS, a Fire and Manoeuvre, Army - Air Force, combat exercise will be conducted by one of Indiaâs Desert Formations in the Desert Sector on 19 March. The exercise will be witnessed by a host of foreign dignitaries and Defence Attaches of friendly foreign countries.
The exercise has been set to project the Manoeuvre Warfare Doctrine which has since been promulgated in the Indian Armed Forces and is seen as a breakaway from the traditional attritionist approach of the Army.
<b>The Army is putting to test all of its latest weapon system acquisitions, to include the state of the art missile firing tanks T-90 (Bhishma), all weather Air Defence Gun Missile Systems, Searcher UAVs and other electronic sensors and surveillance equipment. The Indian Air Force during this Exercise would be closely supporting the surface forces with its frontline fighter aircraft like the SU-30 Mk I and Jaguar, unleashing variety of ordnance.</b>
The exercise will also involve deployment of a comprehensive communication and data linking systems incorporating Battlefield Surveillance System and Force Multiplier Command Post.
While the acquisition of hi-tech weaponry and war fighting support systems is an essential pre-requisite to success in battle, honing human skills to be able to apply infinite technology advancements in military hardware is a never ending challenge faced by modern armies of the world, the Indian Army being no exception.
During the conduct of Exercise BRAZEN CHARIOTS, combat decisions taken at each level of command will be analysed for their ability to synergise the application of state-of-the-art weapon platforms to achieve optimum results aimed at causing pre-emption, disruption and dislocation of opposing forces.
<b> Chief Of Defence Staff</b>
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
The Group of Ministers (GoM) report on âReforming the National Security Systemâ was presented to the Government in February 2001 in which amongst others, it was recommended to create the institution of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
The <b>Government approved the recommendations contained in the GoM report except those pertaining to institution of CDS</b> for which it was decided that Government would take a view after consulting various political parties.
The process of consultation with political parties was initiated in March 2006 when the Defence Minister wrote a letter to leaders of various national level political parties. Only five parties have replied. Reminders were issued to the parties that did not respond on this issue.
This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri A K Antony in a written reply to Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Rajya Sabha today.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>India, Russia ink MiG-29 upgrade deal</b>
NEW DELHI: Faced with a declining aerial combat edge against Pakistan, which is getting spanking new F-16s from US, India on Friday signed a huge $960 million (Rs 3,840 crore) contract with Russia to upgrade its five squadrons of MiG-29 fighters inducted in mid-1980s.
<b>The upgrade of the 69 Indian MiG-29s , apart from extending their life from the present 25 years (2,500 flight hours) to 40 years (3,500 hours), will turn these air-superiority fighters into far more lethal all-weather multi-role jets.</b>
<b>"They will also be capable of beyond-visual-range combat,"</b> said a senior officer, adding that while the first six MiG-29s will be upgraded in Russia, the rest will be retrofitted at the IAF base repair depot at Nashik.
The upgrade, expected to be completed within three years, will include the advanced multi-functional Zhuk-ME radar and a new weapon control system. "The package will include state-of-the-art avionics and cockpit ergonomics, as also fuel capacity increase. Some sub-systems will be sourced from Israel," he said.
The upgraded twin-engined MiG-29s will also have sophisticated air-to-air missiles, high-accuracy air-to-ground missiles and 'smart aerial' bombs.
The Russian RAC MiG company, on its part, will plough back 30% of the contract value into India by setting up MiG consignment depots and service centres, along with simulator centres with training aids.
With the number of its fighter squadrons (each has 12 to 18 jets) dipping below 30 for the first time, IAF is obviously worried that it's nowhere near even its sanctioned strength of 39.5 squadrons.
This when IAF has identified a requirement of 44 squadrons to meet the 'possible contingency' of 'a full conflict' with Pakistan and 'a dissuasive posture' against China. A simultaneous conflict with Pakistan and China, with the capability to hold Pakistan and defend against China, will require 55 squadrons.
The previous IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi, in fact, had warned the government that "unless immediate steps are taken to arrest the reduction in IAF's force levels, the nation will for the first time in its history lose the conventional military edge over Pakistan."
With Pakistan gearing up to induct 36 more F-16s, coupled with its plans to induct as many as 250 JF-17 'Thunder' fighters from China, IAF is making up its shortfalls through new inductions as well as upgrades in its existing MiG, Jaguar and Mirage-2000 fleets to enhance their combat potential.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b> Indian Army to focus on modernisation efforts</b>
The Army is focusing on areas like improved night-fighting capability, better command and control and precision-guidance systems for modernisation of the force, the results of which will be visible in the next two years, a top officer today said.
"Improving missile capability and all-weather battlefield surveillance are other thrust areas we are looking at. In the next two years, we may see the fructification of our efforts in modernisation," Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Planning and Systems) Lt Gen Z U Shah said at an army-industry interaction organised by the FICCI here.
Stressing on the importance of increased self-reliance in defence production, he assured the private sector of ensuring a "level-playing field". Shah said with the revision of the defence procurement policy 2006, the status of "grey areas" like the offset policy may also be cleared.
Replying to concerns raised by the industry, he said the Army will ensure "total transparency" on defence goods requirement and look into the issue of sharing information with the industry at the early stages of products.
The Army is planning to acquire artillery guns, air defence missiles and T-90 tanks, request for proposals (RFP) for which should be issued this year, he told reporters later.
"We are also looking for light helicopters, may be in the range of 200. We may need to import some and HAL also may step in at a later stage. The RFP may come in two months," Shah said.
<b> NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL</b>
Monday, March 10, 2008
A concept plan for the National War Memorial, which envisages its location at India Gate Complex, has been presented before the regulatory bodies namely, Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC), the Central Vista Committee (CVC) and the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC).
Ministry of Urban Development has also been approached to assign the land around 'Chhatri' in the India Gate Complex to Ministry of Defence for proceeding in the matter.
This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri M M Pallam Raju in a written reply to Shri Ravi Prakash Verma and others in Lok Sabha today.
********
Atlast an national war memorial for the soldiers who sacrificed their lives to safeguard our country.
<b> Indian Navy Chief to inspect MiG 29K fighter assembly near Moscow</b>
03/12/2008
Moscow, Mar 13 (UNI)
Visiting Indian Navy Chief Admiral Suresh Mehta, who arrived here today on a week-long visit to discuss military cooperation with Russia, will inspect tomorrow the assembly of MiG-29K Fulcrum-D fighters at a plant near the city.
''After talks with Russian Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky in Moscow, Admiral Suresh Mehta will visit tomorrow a MiG assembly plant, where MiG-29K naval fighters are being built,'' a Russian military official told RIA Novosti news agency.
He said the agenda of Adm Mehtaâs current visit also includes discussion of the controversial contract on modernisation of the Admiral Gorshkov heavy aircraft carrier.
<b> Larger role in Indian army for women officers</b>
NEW DELHI: The Indian Army will soon see women commanding platoons and companies in the signals, air defence, army supply corps and similar units. Until now, women were mostly restricted to duties in safe offices and other fringe posts. Command of infantry units will, however, remain out of bounds for them.
Starting April, women joining the Officers Training Academy in Chennai will under a 49-week training module like the men, though overall their course will be âsofterâ, according to army sources. So far women underwent 24 weeks training before being commissioned as officers.
The increased training will result in opening up several posts to women. And to top it all, they will get to attend key career development courses.
<b> Weeklong workshop for Commandoes near Gwalior</b>
Mar 16, 2008
Tekanpur (Gwalior), March 16 (ANI) :
<b>Commandoes from 17 States including para-military forces are displaying their skills in workshop-cum-competition being organized by the Border Security Force Academy in Tekanpur near Gwalior.</b>
There are 17 different units each of them comprising 22 commandoes.
These commandoes are displaying their professional skills in different fields like tackling obstacles and countering adversaries.
<b>"The objective is to counter threat which the security forces are facing. Hence we want the State and the Central police organisations to be prepared in advance. Preparing the commando teams which can face the threat against equally trained and motivated adversaries will be dealt in detail at this camp," said Arvind Ranjan, the Director of BSF Academy in Tekanpur.</b>
These commandoes are being trained to strike targets in least possible time.
The para-military forces participating in the programme include the Assam Rifles, the National Security Guard, the Border Security Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Force and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
Commandoes from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Central Reserve Police are also participating in the programme.
This workshop that was inaugurated by the Special Secretary (Internal Security) M.L. Kumawat of the Ministry of Home will conclude tomorrow.
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Ashoke Oraon of Bihar Regiment of the Army drives a motorbike with a football placed on his back, in Siliguri on Sunday. Oraon, who can do this at a stretch of 27 hours, aspires for the Guiness record. PTI
<b> SENIOR NAVAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED</b>
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Vice Admiral Nirmal Verma will take over as the Flag officer commander-in-chief of the Eastern Naval Command from Vice Admiral Raman P Suthan, who in turn will take over as Vice Chief of Naval Staff on completion of an illustrious tenure as C-in-C of the Eastern Naval Command.
The Eastern seaboard has gained prominence in the recent past and this is witnessed by the increasing engagement with immediate regional neighbours like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and other states of South East Asia.
Vice Admiral Nirmal Verma was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 1970. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he is a specialist in Communications and Electronics Warfare. During his career spanning over 37 years, he has served in various afloat and shore appointments.
As a Communications specialist, he has served as the Fleet Communication Officer of the Western Fleet, and at the Directorate of Naval Signals. His command tenures include INS Udaygiri (Leander Class Frigates), INS Ranvir (Destroyer) and the Aircraft Carrier INS Viraat. He has also commanded the Indian Naval Academy, INS Mandovi.
The Flag Officer is a graduate of the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, UK, and thereafter served as the Head of the Training Team at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He is also a graduate of the US Naval War College, after which he has served as Senior Directing Staff (Navy) at the National Defence College, New Delhi.
He has been the Chief of Staff of the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command and the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area. The Flag Officer later served at Naval Headquarters as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans).
On being promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral, he was appointed Chief of Personnel in Nov 2005. He took over as Vice Chief of Naval Staff on 30 Nov 06. Vice Admiral Suthan, who was earlier the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and at present is the C-in-C of the Eastern Naval Command, brings with him excellent operational training and admin planning experience that would be crucial to shaping the Navy of tomorrow.
The Admiral was born on 14 Aug 1949. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasala and was commissioned in the Indian Navy in July 1970. He saw action early in life as the Navigating Officer of INS Kavaratti, which took active part in Eastern Fleet operations off erstwhile East Pakistan in 1971. After specialisation in Navigation and Direction, he has held various staff, instructional, operational and command appointments. The Flag Officer is a graduate of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. During his long and illustrious career, Vice Admiral Raman P Suthan has commanded five ships of different size and capabilities. His other important assignment at sea includes Fleet Navigation Officer of Eastern Fleet. As Flag Officer, he has been Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, one of the two sword arms of the Navy.
Ashore, his appointments include Chief Staff Officer (Training) in Southern Naval Command in 1991-92 and Defence Advisor at High Commission of India, Singapore from 1993-96. The Flag Officer has been widely associated with the personnel policies of the Navy, having held the appointments of the Director of Personnel, Assistant Chief of Personnel (Human Resources Development) and Controller Personnel Services at Naval Headquarters for over four years. He has had the unique distinction of being Chief of Staff of two Commands, Southern and Eastern Naval Command and hence had a wide range of administrative, training and operational experience. It was during his appointment as Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command that the successful and highly acclaimed post-tsunami relief operations on the Eastern seaboard were undertaken.
VAdm Raman P Suthan is a recipient of Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishist Seva Medal (VSM) for his highly distinguished service.
<b> PRIVATE SECTOR IN DEFENCE PRODUCTION</b>
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
In May 2001, the defence sector was opened up to 100% for Indian private sector participation with FDI permissible up to 26%, both subject to licensing. A very large number of Indian private sector companies are already working with Defence Public Sector Undertakings and Ordnance Factories and supplying input materials to them. Providing access to the private sector in defence production introduces an element of competition so that defence industry as a whole upgrades and improves its functioning. This will also facilitate utilization of resources available both in the public and private sector to accelerate the pace of self-reliance in defence production.
Capacity utilization of Ordnance Factories and Defence Public Sector Undertakings during last three years is indicated below:-
<!--c1-->CODE<!--ec1-->
Year   2004-2005  2005-2006  2006-2007
DPSUs:
HAL Â Â Â 95.00% Â Â Â 97.00% Â Â Â 100.00%
BEL Â Â Â 52.00% Â Â Â 59.00% Â Â Â 62.00%
BDL Â Â Â 44.00% Â Â Â 42.00% Â Â Â 37.00%
BEML Â Â 78.00% Â Â Â Â 87.50% Â Â Â 94.10%
MDL Â Â Â 75.86% Â Â Â Â 79.41% Â Â Â 93.43%
GSL Â Â Â 53.43% Â Â Â Â 65.91% Â Â Â 88.00%
GRSE Â Â Â 91.00% Â Â Â 92.80% Â Â Â 64.02%
MIDHANI Â 49.00% Â Â Â 44.52% Â Â Â 46.24%
OFB Â Â Â 74.29% Â Â Â Â 78.97% Â Â Â 76.11%
<!--c2--><!--ec2-->
<b> Indian Army to test-fire Agni-I</b>
Tuesday March 18 2008
BALASORE: After the successful test of submarine-launched ballistic missile K-15 and Naval version of BrahMos cruise missile, India is all set to carry out a test of Agni-I missile by the end of this week.
"As the missile had already been inducted in the Army, the test will be conducted by the Army personnel of missile group raised for the purpose.
This will be a limited-stock-production test of Agni-I, which will be selected at random from a bunch of missiles," a source at the defence base in Chandipur said on Monday.
The test, however, will be conducted from a missile testing range that falls under Integrated Test Range off the Orissa coast.
Massive preparation is on for the last one month by both the defence scientists and Army personnel and heavy security arrangements have been made along the sea coast.
The missile was first test-fired on January 25, 2002 and since then several trials have been conducted.
<b>Exercise Brazen Chariots</b>
The exercise involved the engagement of an air target by shoulder fired air defence missiles, special heliborne operations, firing of multi-barrel launcher batteries, firing of a mortar battery and conduct of airborne operations. Brazen Chariots was witnessed by senior military dignitaries from more than 60 countries.
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A target destroyed by Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft is seen during the joint army and air force Air-Land battle exercise named 'Brazen Chariots' at the Pokharan firing range in India's desert state of Rajasthan March 19, 2008.
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An Indian air force fighter aircraft MiG 21 deploys a weapons system during a joint army and air force Air-Land battle exercise named 'Brazen Chariots' at the Pokharan firing range in India's desert state of Rajasthan March 19, 2008.
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Indian paratroopers jump from transport aircraft during the joint army and air force Air-Land battle exercise named "Brazen Chariots" at the Pokharan firing range in India's desert state of Rajasthan March 19, 2008.
<b>Indian Army soldiers take up positions at an exercise code named 'Brazen Chariots' at the Pokharan firing ranges, Western Rajisthan, India, Wednesday, March 19, 2008.</b>
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<b>Indian paratroopers jump from transport aircraft during the joint army and air force Air-Land battle exercise named 'Brazen Chariots' at the Pokharan firing range in India's desert state of Rajasthan March 19, 2008.</b>
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<b>An Indian army multi-barrel rocket launcher fires during the joint army and air force Air-Land battle exercise named "Brazen Chariots" at the Pokharan firing range in India's desert state of Rajasthan March 19, 2008.</b>
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<b>An army jeep is lowered by a Dhruv helicopter during the joint army and air force Air-Land battle exercise named 'Brazen Chariots' at the Pokharan firing range in India's desert state of Rajasthan March 19, 2008.</b>
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<b>The Indian air force's Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft fly during the joint army and air force Air-Land battle exercise named 'Brazen Chariots' at the Pokharan firing range in India's desert state of Rajasthan March 19, 2008.</b>
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<b> Appeal to trace Kerala PoW</b>
Kozhikode: Even as efforts are being made at governmental level to save Sarabjit Singh, who is in a jail in Pakistan facing death sentence, an appeal has been sent to the Ministry of External Affairs to find out the fate of Flag Officer K.P. Muralidharan of Nilambur, in Malappuram district missing in action during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
Flight Officer Kottiyezhathu Puthiyaveettil Muralidharan is the son of Padmanabhan Thirumulpad of Nilambur Kovilakam and Malathi. He belonged to 20th squadron A7 of the Indian Air Force, his sister Lalitha Krishnakumar said.
She and other close relatives believe he is languishing in a Pakistan jail and could be released if the government intervened.
Muralidharanâs name appeared in the list of Prisoners of War (PoWs) in Pakistan.
According to information received by his relatives, an A 482 Hunter fighter plane he flew was shot down by Pakistan on December 4, 1971.
What has revived hopes of his return is a report from Lahore and published in a Malayalam newspaper, Madhyamam.
It quotes a report in Pakistan newspaper Daily Times that said 54 Indian soldiers were interned in Pakistan jails. The Pakistan newspaper published a list of these soldiers and Muralidharanâs name was in it, the Madhyamam report said.
In a letter faxed from Kozhikode to the Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed, Lalitha Krishnakumar said â this uncertainty [about the fate of her brother] is very hard to live with. My father had made many representations to get a confirmed report. He passed away 13 years ago..... My mother who is 86 years old is bedridden for the past couple of months following a surgery..... Her condition is grave.â
<b> India's armed might on display</b>
March 21, 2008
From Kalyan Ray, DH News Service
Pokhran : The Indian Army and Indian Air Force jointly displayed the lethality of their firepower from ground and air to crush and pulverise any enemy force here on Wednesday.
As many as 103 military observers from 59 countries including China Iran, USA, UK, Russia and France, witnessed the impressive âExercise Brazen Chariotâ with bated breath.
However, Pakistan was deliberately kept out of the exercise though it took place barely 75 km from the international border. But, Islamabad was informed about heavy military build up so close to the border.
âIt (the exercise) shows that with new technologies in the mechanised column, we are at 2.5 times ahead of the enemy,â said Lt Gen Noble Thamburaj, the commander-in-chief of Pune-based Southern Command of the Army.
The exercise â the biggest ever planned by the armed forces involving 37,000 officers and soldiers â was a mock war game between two imaginary forces â Red force and Blue force. They were engaged to each other to capture a critical communication hub, Manglewali Dhani, which provides the first access to the enemyâs territory.
Foreign military observers declined to make specific comments on the exercise.
But chief of army staff Gen Deepak Kapoor said, âThe exercise achieved its objective which was to try modern weapons and find out a synergy of functioning with the IAF.â
The Armyâs Southern Command and IAF South Western Command had worked together in planning and executing the mammoth exercise.
âIt shows jointness is not merely a doctrinal concept but a reality,â said Air Marshal K D Singh, commander-in-chief of the IAF South Western Command.
While frontline IAF fighters like Su-30 MKI, MiG-21 Bison, MiG-27 and Mi-35 attack helicopters unleashed the firepower from the air, T-90 tanks, infantry combat vehicles, Bofors guns and Russian Smerch multi-barrel rocket launchers matched them with awesome prowess on the ground. Air defence support was provided by Armyâs Tunguska air defence system and IAFâs Steller guns and OSA-AK systems.
There were elaborate reconnaissance and surveillance mission involving aerial surveillance from aircraft, satellite and helicopter, human intelligence gathered through para-dropping advance team in the enemy zone and final matching from the imageries obtained by an unmanned aerial vehicle flying at an altitude of 8 km.
âThe exercise also proves the effectiveness of the fast sensor-to-shooter network through the decision makers. Even in the days of nuclear warfare, there is always space for conventional battle,â said Gen
Thamburaj.
<b> India successfully test fires Agni-1 missile</b>
March 23, 2008
Balasore (Orissa), PTI : India on Sunday successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Agni-1 missile from the Wheelers' Island, a defence base in the Bay of Bengal on Orissa coast.
<b>"It was the second user's trial of this sophisticated missile,"</b> officials associated with the trial said.
The last trial was conducted on October 5, 2007 from the same launch site.
<b>The indigenously built sleek missile with a range of 700-800 km and mounted on a mobile launcher, had a perfect launch from the launch complex no. 4 of the Integrated Test Range at 1015 hrs hours, defence sources said.
The 15 metre tall Agni-1 missile, weighing about 12 tonnes, is capable of carrying both conventional as well as nuclear warheads of 1000 kg.</b>
<b>Personnel from the country's newly raised Strategic Forces Command (SFC) along with scientists from the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) carried out today's trial in order to ensure familiarisation with the end operator, that is a special missile group 334 raised by the Indian Army, the sources said.</b>
The single-stage Agni-1 missile powered by solid propellant fuel can be blasted off from both rail and road mobile launcher, the sources said.
Unlike Prithvi missile, which has a range of only 300 km, <b>Agni-1 incorporated new guidance and control systems with significant improvements in its re-entry technology and manoeuverability.</b>
Agni-1 is a single stage version of Agni-II missile, they said adding that detailed results of today's trial would be analysed on the basis of the data from the network of ground radars, telemetry stations and observations from intended impact point.
The first trial of this missile was carried out from the Wheelers Island on January 25, 2002.
<b>There were considerable improvements in its re-entry and manoeuverability since Agni's first trial</b> was conducted from the same launching site six years ago, the sources said adding this was the fifth test-firing of the surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
"The prime objective of the trial was to finetune and reconfirm the technical parametres set for the users' launch," sources said.
Yet another report on the Agni-I missile with some more details.
Agni-1 fully operational after test-fire success
Hyderabad, March 23 Agni-1, Indiaâs workhorse missile with a range of 700 km, has attained full operational capability following a successful test-fire from the Wheeler Island, off Orissa coast on Sunday.
At 10.15 a.m. scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Indian Army (main user) launched the surface-to-air Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM). <b>In about nine minutes</b>, the missile attained its desired distance, trajectory and demonstrated its operational capabilities.
Describing the test as a âcomplete successâ, Dr Avinash Chander, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) and Programme Director of Project Agni, said, â<b>The terminal data tracked by two naval ships and total performance from the radars at the Interim Test Range (ITR) showed that the missile performed to its optimum capacity exactly as expected.â </b>
The significance of the test was that the Agni-1 missile <b>had met the full specifications and requirements of the user,</b> alongside meeting the mission objectives, Dr Chander told Business Line from the Wheeler Island.
Agni-1 has already been inducted into the Indian Army. Sundayâs test-fire is <b>also a demonstration of the userâs preparedness in handling the missile system</b>. The all-composite body, indigenous missile was developed by Indian defence scientists and produced by the public sector Bharat Dynamics Ltd.
Indiaâs prestigious Agni Project, launched in the mid-1980s and first successfully test-fired in 1989, currently has three variants of the surface-to-air missile â Agni-1 (700 km); Agni-2 (1,500 km); and Agni-3 (beyond 3,000 km).
The Union Minister of State for Defence, Mr M.M. Pallam Raju, and the Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri, Dr M. Natarajan, congratulated the Army and the DRDO scientists for the successful test-fire.
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