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News relating to Defence Achievements 2013
Defence News Developments in Army, Navy, Air Force including Missiles, Submarines,
Aircrafts in 2013
(A)Under Water Missile : India successfully test fired underwater missile
On January 27, 2013, India successfully test-fired the underwater ballistic missile, K-15 (code-
named B05), off the Visakhapatnam coast. The successful test firing was achieved after series of
developmental trials which took place in earlier years.
In the twelfth flight trial, this 10-metre tall Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) lifted off
from a pontoon, rose to an altitude of 20 km and reached a distance of about 700 km as it
splashed down in the waters of the Bay of Bengal near the predesigned target point.
India is only the fifth country to have such a missile the other four are the United States,
Russia, France and China.
(B)Submarine variant of Brahmoh test fired successfully
The maiden flight of the submarine variant of the Supersonic cruise missile, BrahMos, was
successfully test-fired on 20
th
March 2013. from a pontoon off Visakhapatnam in the Bay of
Bengal. It marked a global first in the vertical launched of a supersonic cruise missile from an
underwater platform.
(C ) BrahMos supersonic Missile successfully test fired off Goa coast
On 22
nd
May, 2013 India successfully test fired its 290-km range BrahMos supersonic cruise
missile from the Navys latest guided missile frigate INS Tarkash off the coast of Goa. [INS
Tarkash is an advanced Talwar Class frigate which was commissioned in November, 2012.

(D) Agni-II soars to success
On 8
th
April, 2013, the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) II Ballistic Missile lifted off from a mobile
launcher on Wheeler Island, off the Odisha coast, and successfully reached the target after
travelling its entire range of 2000 km in the Bay of Bengal, with an accuracy of a few meters. It
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was a perfect mission which saw no holds and the entire flight lasted for about 10 minutes.
(E ) India test fires Prithvi-II missile from Odisha as a part of practice drill.
On 7
th
October, 2013, India test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile
with a strike range of 350 km from a test range at Chandipur, about 15 km from Balasore. The
surface-to-surface missile was test fired from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch
complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range. The missile was randomly chosen from the
production stock and total launch activities were carried out by the specially formed SFC and
monitored by the scientists of DRDO a part of practice drill.
(F) GSATs to work as anti-missile shield
In May 2013 India launched an ambitious programme to use its array of geostationary satellites to
monitor missile activities in a 6000 km radius. With this, the countrys GSATs will become the first
line of defense in its anti-missile shield. This programme is independent of the observation grid
installed by defense and intelligence agencies. The advantage of using geostationary satellites is
their fixed position at a height of 36,000 km, which is synchronized with the Earths movement.
The plan to use GSATs is based on a similar system deployed by the US. Given its position, the
GSATs can monitor a country or a region. Their capability to map anything to a resolution of one
metre will allow India to capture the slightest of movements.

(A)India successfully test-fired indigenously developed MBLR Pinaka
PInaka is a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL). Since 1995, the Pinaka has undergone several
tests has been inducted in the armed forces. In December 2013, India successfully test-fired
the indigenously developed Pinaka from a base at Chandipur-on-sea near Balasore, off the Odisha
Coast. Six rounds of Pinaka were successfully tested from the proof and experimental
establishment at Chandipur. The tests were conducted by personnel from Armament Research and
Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune unit. These trials were conducted with some
improvement in the system. To supplement the artillery guns, rockets with a range of 40 kilometer
capable as a force multiplier have been developed. The quick reaction time and high rate of fire of
the system will give an edge to the Army during a low-intensity conflict situation.
Earlier in July, 2013, more advanced second generation Pinaka Mark II Multi-Barrel Rocket
Launcher System had undergone successful firing trials at Chandhan area in Pokharan field firing
ranges in western Rajasthan.

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(1)IAF inducted Basic Trainer Aircraft Pilatus PC 7 MK II
The IAFs premier Academy located at Dundigal, Hyderabad on May 31 inducted basic trainer
aircraft Pilatus PC 7 MK II. This aircraft will be used for Basic Training of all pilots of the Indian
Air Force, in addition to the pilots of the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard. Till now this role was
being performed by HJT 16 Kiran aircraft.

(2) Antony inducts C-17 Globe master III Aircraft in Indian Air Force
On 2
nd
September, 2013 IAFs inducted its C-17 Globe Master III, into Airforce service at the
Hindon Air Base near Delhi. This is a large, versatile military transport aircraft capable of carrying
heavy, oversize loads long distances and unprepared surfaces. It is a lift transport aircraft
capable to carry around 80 tonnes of load and around 150 fully geared troops. This new aircraft
will replace the Rusian IL-76. The IL-76 had the capability to carry loads upto around 40 tonnes.
In October, 2013, the Indian Air Force (IAF) received its fourth Boeing C-17 Globe master III.
Once India receives its full complement of ten aircraft, it will be the largest C-17 operator outside
the US.

(3) Forth Generation LAC Tejas received operational clearance-II
India and the US finalized a Rs. 3000 crore deal for supplying 99 jet engines to be used in the
indigenous Light combat Aircraft Tejas. In January 2013, DRDO reported that as per the
contract, the order could be for 99 engines initially but India would have the option of ordering
another 100 engines in the future.
The fourth generation Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas received its second operational clearance
on 20 December 2013 in Bangalore (The Initial Operational Clearance-I of Tejas was achieved on
10 Jan 2011). The attainment of initial operational clearance is an important milestone towards
indigenization through self-reliance and several programs like inclusion of fifth generation of fighter
aircrafts. The Production of Tejas was taken up by Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) and it
would be ready for battle by December 2014. The salient features of IOC-II include Safe flying up
to High angle of Attack as mandated and enhance the combat performance of the aircraft.
(5) MiG 21 bids adieu: The MiG-21s, were inducted into IAF with its first batch in March-April
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1963. This was the began of the supersonic era in Indian Air Force. However, the first air
combat in the subcontinent occurred only during the 1971 war with Pakistan, in which they
proved their mettle commendably. Now After five decades, the journey of MiG-21 ended on
December 11, 2013, with its last flight at Kalaikunda airbase in Medinipur district, West Bengal.
IAF has informed that the light combat aircraft Tejas will replace the iconic MiG-21.
(6) Armed chopper Rudra gets operational clearance
Indigenously produced armed helicopter Rudra has been accorded the initial operational clearance
in February 2013. The Centre for Military a Airworthiness and certification (CEMILAC), a body
under the ministry of defense, presented the same to the HAL.


(A)Game-Changer INS Vikramaditya joins Indian Navy:
After a five-year- long wait, $2.33 billion aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, was inducted into the
Indian Navy on November 16, 2013, giving a strategic boost to Indias Maritime warfare
capabilities. In a handing over ceremony, attended by Defense Minister Mr. A.K. Antony and
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Drimity Rogozin, the 44,500-tonne carrier was handed over to
India at the Sevamash Shipyard in Severodivinsk in Russia.
Going to be largest warship of India, Vikramaditya, formerly known as Admiral Gorshkov, was a free
gift from Russia in 1955 but ended up costing India $2.33 billion for its extensive refit. It is the
costliest single military platform India has ever bought. After its historic journey of 60 days, it will
reach newly-developed Karwar naval base, named Project Seabird, in Karnataka by January 2014.
Presently, India operates just one aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, a British warship inducted in 1987.
Much delayed, 40,000-tonne INS Vikrant, which is being built at the Cochin Shipyard is expected
to be ready by end-2018.
Hailed as a game-changer, the carrier is envisaged to boost the countries capability to deliver air
power from sea.
At present, the US tops in having highest number of aircraft (11). With induction of Vikramaditya,
India is going to climb to the second position, having two operational carriers, followed by Russia,
UK, France, China (1 each).
(B) Navy flies high with addition of Boeing P-81
The Boeing P-81 Long- range Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine Warfare (LRMRASW)
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aircraft was inducted into Indian Navy when it touched down at the Arakkonam Naval Air Station
(NAS) in Tamil Nadu, on May 15, 2013. This was the first of eight Boeing P-81 LRMRASW aircraft
to be inducted into the Indian Navy. The remaining seven would be delivered over the next two
years. The aircraft is equipped with foreign and indigenous sensors for maritime reconnaissance,
anti-submarine operations. And electronic intelligence missions. The aircraft is fully integrated with
state-of-the art sensors and highly potent anti surface and anti-submarine weapons.
(C) Third anti-submarine warfare Corvette launched:
This third antisubmarine warfare (ASW) Corvette designed under the ambitious Project-28 (P-28)
by the Navys Directorate of Naval design was launched in Kolkata in March 2013. It is a major
step towards indigenization and making the Navy self-reliant. Aimed at enhancing the Navys
underwater warfare capabilities, the warship, in a first of its kind, will be fitted with indigenous
state-of-the-art weapons and sensors. It has been named after an island Kiltan in the
Lakshadweep archipelago of India.

Other News Items Relating to Defence Forces :
(a)India begins training Vietnam sailors in submarine warfare:
Taking the strategic partnership with Vietnam to next level, India kicked off the training of a large
number of Vietnamese sailors, in the intricate art of submarine operations and underwater warfare.
The training is part of the agreements signed between India and Vietnam, to boost the strategic
ties and participation between the two countries, during the visit of top leader of Vitnam, Mr.
Nguyen Phu Trong, and General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party, to New Delhi, on
November 20, 2013.
(b) PM lays foundation for defense varsity
It was in May 2013, that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid the foundation for the first Indian
National Defense University (INDU) at Binola village near Gurgaon.
(c) Submarine INS Sindhurakshak sinks after blasts
In one of the worst naval accidents in India, submarine INS Sindhurakshak sank on August 14
2013
(d) Four major acquisitions for Army and Navy approved:
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The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) of the Ministry of Defense gave approval for four major
acquisitions worth nearly Rs. 16000 crore for the Indian Army and Navy on December 23, 2013. In
the wake of August 14, 2013 mishap of INS Sindhurakshak, in which fourteen personnel were
killed, two deep-sea rescue vessels (DSRV) for the Indian Navy are approved, in order to improve
the countrys response to any disaster at sea. The DSRVs would improve the navys response in
time of disaster. DAC also approved a Rs. 13,000-crore project for the indigenous development of
a 700-tonne Anti Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, which will enhance the anti-submarine
warfare capability of the Indian Navy. These vessels would watch over foreign submarines
operating close to the Indian coastline. After five years of deep freeze over some investigation
issues, finally, the Defense Ministry has cleared the proposal to procure 262 Barak-1 missile,
costing Rs. 880 crore, which will pave the way for the development of nine-km range air defense
missiles on Indias two aircraft carriers-INS Virat and INS Vikramaditya. The DAC also gave nod to
proceed with the acquisition of 41 Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters at the total cost of Rs. 300
crore.