DEFENCE CL's Connect to Current-Daily Current Capsules (Prelims Prep. Prominence) 10th November 2018 - Career Launcher

CL’s Connect to Current-Daily Current
Capsules (Prelims Prep. Prominence)
10th November 2018

DEFENCE
M777 Ultra Light Howitzers and K9 Vajra-T self-propelled artillery gun
inducted into the force

What
    The Army inducted its first artillery gun systems in three decades.
    The M777 Ultra Light Howitzers from the U.S. and K9 Vajra-T self-
     propelled artillery gun from South Korea were inducted at the Devlali
     Field Firing Ranges in Maharashtra.
    The third equipment inducted is a common gun tower.
    The Army last inducted an artillery gun system — the Bofors guns
     procured from Sweden — in the early 1980s. Attempts to buy new guns
     did not make progress.
    The Army will get 10 K-9 guns this year.
Third equipment
    A third equipment is also being inducted today — The common gun
     tower, a 6x6 vehicle with cross-country capability. Required to tow the
     medium guns. These are made by the Indian company Ashok Leyland
Connect to K9 Vajra
    In April 2017, the Indian engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro
     (L&T) and South Korea’s Hanwha Techwin signed a contract to make the
     K9 Vajra-T guns.
    The gun was short-listed by the Army after extensive trials.
The deal is worth ₹4,500 crore for 100 guns.
    The K9 Vajra-T is a 155-mm, 52-calibre self-propelled gun with a
     maximum range of 40 km.
    It has been customised from the original K9 Thunder. Its fire control
     system has been customised for desert conditions.
    Under the agreement, the first 10 guns will be imported from South
     Korea and the rest will be made by L&T in India.
    The first regiment will be in place by July 2019 and all 100 guns will be
     delivered by November 2020.
Connect to M777
    India signed a $737-million deal with the U.S. in November 2016 under
     the Foreign Military Sales Programme for 145 M777 Ultra Light
     Howitzers.
    Twenty-five guns will be imported and the rest will be assembled in India
     in partnership with Mahindra Group.
    Deliveries will be completed by mid-2021.
    The M777 brings a new level of capability to the artillery unit by offering
     rapid deployment and extreme accuracy

 The M777 is a 155-mm, 39-calibre towed artillery gun. It weighs just four
    tonnes, making it transportable underslung from helicopters.
   The Army’s Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan, 1999, envisages
    induction of 3,000 guns of various types for 220 artillery regiments.

Rafale fighter made for India takes maiden flight

First aircraft is named after Air Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria

What
   The first aircraft built by Dassault Aviation for the IAF, a two-seater
    variant, made its maiden flight on October 30 in France and is designated
    RB 008
RB 008
   RB stands for Air Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria as he had a major role in the
    contract negotiations
   Air Marshal Bhadauria was the Deputy Chief of the IAF during the
    contract negotiations for 36 Rafale jets
   In September 2016, India and France signed a €7.87 billion Inter-
    Governmental Agreement (IGA) for 36 Rafale multi-role fighter jets in
    fly-away condition.

 The surprise announcement for the 36 aircraft was made by Prime
    Minister Narendra Modi during a visit to Paris in April 2015, citing
    “critical operational necessity” of the IAF.
   RB 008 will be the 36th aircraft to be delivered to the IAF in 2022, 67
    months after the contract is signed

United Nations
United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA)

What
   United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) has issued special stamps
    with Diyas lamps (special event sheet) to commemorate India Hindu
    festival of Diwali.
   It contains ten stamps and tabs featuring festive lights and symbolic
    lamps known as diyas.
   The background of sheet features United Nations Headquarters building
    illuminated with message of “Happy Diwali” to celebrate the spirit of the
    festival.
   The description accompanying information about stamps mentioned that
    Diwali, also known as Deepawali is joyous and popular festival of lights,
    which is celebrated in India and by followers of many faiths across the
    world.
United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA)
    It is postal agency of United Nations.
    It issues postage stamps and postal stationery, denominated in United
     States dollars for United Nations offices in New York, in Swiss francs
     for offices in Geneva and in euros for the offices in Vienna.

India and its neighbourhood
India to join Afghanistan peace talks

What
    The government announced it would participate at a “non-official” level.
     Two former senior diplomats will attend talks on the Afghanistan peace
     process to be held in Russia
Moscow format
    The talks, known as the “Moscow format” will include a “high-level”
     delegation from the Taliban as well as a delegation of Afghanistan’s
     “High Peace Council”, along with representatives of 12 countries, and
     will mark the first time an Indian delegation has been present at the table
     with the Taliban representatives based in Doha.
Role of India in establishing peace
    India supports all efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan that
     will preserve unity and plurality, and bring security, stability and
     prosperity to the country.
    India’s consistent policy has been that such efforts should be Afghan-led,
     Afghan-owned, and Afghan-controlled and with participation of the
     Government of Afghanistan

Defence
Bilateral Exercise Between Indian & Republic of Singapore Navies –
SIMBEX 18

Marks Silver Jubilee this Year
What
    The 25th edition of SIMBEX, an acronym for “Singapore-India Maritime
     Bilateral Exercise” is scheduled from 10th to 21st November 2018 off
     Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.
    Bilateral cooperation between Singapore and India was first formalised
     when RSN ships began training with the Indian Navy in 1994.

Connect to the bilateral relations
    Complementing India’s ‘Act-East’ policy, there have been a number of
     agreements and high level visits in the recent past between the two
     countries.
    Indo-Singapore bilateral relations have been on an upswing in the recent
     past. Both countries have a full calendar of more than 20 bilateral
     mechanisms, dialogues and exercises, many of which take place
     annually.
    In November 2015, the robust relationship between the two countries was
     elevated to ‘Strategic Partnership’.

SIMBEX 2018
    The 2018 edition marks the Silver Jubilee of SIMBEX.
    To mark the historical occasion, both navies are undertaking exercises
     over an extended geography.
    SIMBEX 2018 will be the largest edition since 1994 in terms of scale and
     complexity.
    The initial harbour phase will be held at Port Blair, the capital of
     Andaman and Nicobar Islands from 10 to 12 November followed by Sea
     Phase from 12 to 16 November in the Andaman Sea.
    The second harbour phase from 16 to 19 November will be held at
     Visakhapatnam – ‘the City of Destiny’.
    Silver Jubilee Commemoration Ceremony, various professional and
     training interactions, 10 Km ‘Friendship Run’ during the Annual Vizag-
     Navy Marathon, social evening and joint cultural programmes would be
     held during the harbour phases to commemorate the 25 th anniversary.
    The final sea phase would be held in the Bay of Bengal from 19 to 21
     November.
    The 25th edition will witness a diverse range of exercises at sea ranging
     from live weapon drills including multiple missile firings, Heavy Weight
     Torpedo (HWT) and Medium Range Gun/ Anti Submarine Rocket
     firings; advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercises, Submarine
     Rescue demonstrations; integrated Surface and Anti-Air Warfare (AAW);
     Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations and Cross Deck Helicopter
     flying among others.

Science & Technology
Global Cooling Innovation Summit
What
   Two-day Global Cooling Innovation Summitwill be inaugurated in New
    Delhi on 12th November 2018.
Connect to the summit
   The Summit is a first-of-its-kind solutions-focused event that will bring
    together leaders from around the world to explore concrete means and
    pathways to address the climate threat that comes from the growing
    demand from room air conditioners.
   The event is jointly organized by the Department of Science and
    Technology, Government of India, along with Rocky Mountain
    Institute, Alliance for An Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE),
    Conservation X Labs and CEPT University.
   The summit will also see the launching of Global Cooling Prize—
    Mission Innovation challenge that aims to spur development of a
    residential cooling solution that has at least five times (5x) less climate
    impact than today's standard.
   Global Cooling Prize is a competition with global reach and participation
    to achieve dramatic breakthroughs in cooling technologies.
   The objective of this competition would be to develop a cooling
    technology that requires radically less energy to operate, utilizes
    refrigerants with no ozone depletion potential and with low global
    warming potential, and has the potential to be cost-effective at scale.
   The Global Cooling Prize and Innovation Summit will see distinguished
    speakers from around the world- including innovators, philanthropists,
    venture capitalists, and other industry leaders - converge to participate in
    discussions over a two day period.
                        . Powered by Summit exclusively for The Hindu