We have placed our trust in indigenous light combat aircraft. In the next five years, we will see induction of 83 LCA Mk1A: IAF Chief @ThePrintIndia We have put our faith in indigenous 5th generation aircraft AMCA. It will be our mainstay after a decade: IAF chief @ThePrintIndia

Two Pakistani drug peddlers have been shot dead by 91 Bn BSF at 0040h on 9 Sep in Anupgarh sect in Rajasthan. These Pakistani nationals had thrown 5 packets across fence and were trying to cross IB fence.
On being challenged they ran back when they were shot dead. @ThePrintIndia One of the dead was identified as Shahbaz Ali s/o Mushtaq Ahmed from the Identity card recovered from the individual.
Eight Kgs of heroin, two pistols and one night sight enabled binoculars were recovered from the slain Pakistani smugglers.

French Defence Minister Florence Parly says today is a stellar achievement for both countries. #Rafale means gust of wind if you are poetic and can also means burst of fire in a battlefield. @ThePrintIndia In strategic terms, India will have an edge in the region with the #Rafale aircraft: French Defence Minister.

CDS Gen Bipin Rawat says India and #China have border management protocols with China but we have been seeing aggressive actions by the Chinese. But we are capable of dealing with this in all possible ways. @ThePrintIndia #Quad is a good arrangement to ensure that Indian Ocean enjoys freedom of navigation: CDS Gen Rawat @ThePrintIndia

Breaking: Fresh clash between India and Chinese troops in Pangong Tao on the intervening night of 29/30 August. @ThePrintIndia Indian Army issues statement: On the Night of 29/30 August 2020, PLA troops violated the previous consensus arrived at during military and diplomatic engagements during the ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh and carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo.

PM @narendramodi says: India has been for years been one of the highest defence importers in the world. In the last few years, our aim is to break all chains that restricts domestic defence manufacturing. @ThePrintIndia Our aim is to give level playing field to the private sector in defence manufacturing. This sector was a closed one earlier. We are opening up the defence sector to 74% FDI in defence: PM Modi

Just finished watching #GunjanSaxenaTheKargilGirl. Superb movie. What I loved was the realistic way the movie was made. It shows the struggle of the first Indian Lady officer to see combat. The IAF was the first service to give chance to women in combat. Full credit to it. (More) There were some in the force who doubted the capability of the lady officer. I don’t blame them. That is result of years of ingrained belief that defence is the domain for men. However, others in the IAF supported her, gave her wings to touch the sky with glory. (More)

The Defence Ministry has prepared a list of 101 items for which there would be an embargo on the import beyond the timeline indicated against them. @ThePrintIndia RM @rajnathsingh says list of 101 embargoed items comprises of not just simple parts but also some high technology weapon systems like artillery guns, assault rifles, corvettes, sonar systems, transport aircraft, LCHs, radars and many other items

Thank you @Leopard212 for reminding me about this article that I wrote on #China in January. I always speak the same and hence had forgotten I wrote this

Indian Army under Gen Naravane is correcting history – shifting focus from Pakistan to China theprint.in/opinion/brahma… There is no denying that China, with its huge military and economy, is a bigger threat than Pakistan, though the latter may hog all the headlines.

Make in India or ‘aatmanirbarta‘ cannot merely be a lip service. The government, along with the armed forces and the private industry, besides the state-run manufacturers and the DRDO, will have to walk the talk. My column #Brahmastra
theprint.in/opinion/brahma… The hollowness of indigenous defence manufacturing can be gauged from the fact that when tensions have risen with China at LAC, forces have 2 depend on foreign suppliers in US, Russia, France, Israel, among other countries, 2 shore up their fire power and operational capability

Indian and Chinese troops begin disengagement in Ladakh

Army remains very cautious

No tangible movement in Pangong Lake area

China will be closer to LAC than India after mutual withdrawal

theprint.in/defence/indian… Important to note that NSA Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart on border affairs spoke spoke for nearly two hours on Sunday.

The overall process of de-escalation would be a long process

IMP: @MEAIndia gives account of what happened in #Galwan, “The position with regard to the Galwan Valley area has been historically clear. Attempts by the Chinese side to now advance exaggerated and untenable claims with regard to LAC there are not acceptable. @ThePrintIndia They are not in accordance with China’s own position in the past.
Indian troops are fully familiar with the alignment of the LAC in all sectors of the India-China border areas, including in the Galwan Valley.

Army says that 20 Indian soldiers have been killed in clashes with PLA in Galwan. @ThePrintIndia Official Statement by Army: Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020

Imp: Ahead of military talks tomorrow, there was a Video Conference between Joint Secretary (East Asia) and Director General in Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. @ThePrintIndia The two sides reviewed state of bilateral relations including the current developments. They recalled the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, that peaceful, stable and balanced relations will be a positive factor for stability in the current global situation.

India says any suggestion that Indian troops had undertaken activity across the #LAC in the Western Sector (of LAC) or the Sikkim sector is not accurate. Indian troops are fully familiar with alignment of the LAC in the India-China border areas and abide by it scrupulously.

https://twitter.com/sneheshphilip/status/1263448091652288513

All Indian activities are entirely on the Indian side of the LAC. In fact, it is Chinese side that has recently undertaken activity hindering India’s normal patrolling patterns. Indian side has always taken a very responsible approach towards border management: @MEAIndia

Indian Naval Ship Kesari has been sent to Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles, carrying on board two Medical Assistance Teams, consignments of Covid related essential medicines and essential food items: MEA @ThePrintIndia The Medical Assistance Teams will be deployed in Mauritius and Comoros, helping their Governments deal with Covid emergency and dengue fever (in case of Comoros).

Imp: @MEAIndia on #Nepal’s objecting to opening of road link via Lipulekh: India is committed to resolving outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue and in the spirit of our close and friendly bilateral relations with Nepal. @ThePrintIndia India says the road section in Pithoragarh district in the State of Uttarakhand lies completely within the territory of India. The road follows the pre-existing route used by the pilgrims of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. @ThePrintIndia

A Mi-17 Helicopter of IAF crash landed with six on board in Sikkim. Damaged to helicopter but all reported to be safe with one injured. Rescue teams on way to the site. @ThePrintIndia IAF says the chopper was on routine air maintenance sortie from Chaten to Mukutang in Sikkim today.
The Helicopter got Airborne at 0645 and enroute, the helicopter has force landed 10 NM short of designated helipad due to bad weather. @ThePrintIndia

#Vishakapatnam: Styrene chemical leaked from LG Polymers factory on the outskirts. DGP Gautam Sawant tells @ThePrintIndia that 5 people have died of which two died after falling down trying to escape. More people rushed to hospitals. Says gas is not lethal but more of irritant Disturbing visuals from the area. Video courtesy my friend @payalmehta100

The @indiannavyhas launched Operation “Samudra Setu” - meaning “Sea Bridge”, as a part of national effort to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas. @ThePrintIndia

https://twitter.com/sneheshphilip/status/1257541636336300032

INS Jalashwa and Magar are presently enroute to the port of Malè to commence evacuation operations from 08 May 2020 as part of Phase-1.
The Govt has been closely monitoring situation with respect to effect of COVID-19 pandemic on our citizens abroad: Indian Navy

IMP: While earlier Army was assisting, from 16 April, it has taken over management of Narela quarantine camp from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm relieving the Delhi Government Doctors and medical staff to manage the facility only during the night. @ThePrintIndia theprint.in/india/in-a-fir… Initially 250 foreign nationals arriving from friendly foreign countries were kept in this centre, later an additional strength of approximately 1000 more were brought at Narela camp from Nizamuddin Markaz. #TablighiJamaat