SP's Military Yearbook 2013 - Calendar of Events

Calendar of Events

TM

Calendar of Events // Asia-Pacific Region // April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012

Asia-Pacific Region Strategic Dialogues/Talks/ Negotiations

41 issue

(April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012)

: November 2011

n December 9: The fourth India-China Annual Defence Dialogue was held in New Delhi following a brief period of breakdown after talks held in January 2010. The dialogue was held in a cordial atmosphere with a resolution for constructive engagement.

: July 2011

Defence Minister A.K. Antony presenting a memento to his Japanese counterpart,Yasuo Ichikawa at the end of bilateral talks in, Tokyo on November 2, 2011

n November 1-3: Defence Minister A.K. Antony visited Japan for a defence dialogue to strengthen defence cooperation and expand engagement.

Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna with Secretary Hillary Clinton in New Delhi July 19, 2011

n July 19: Indo-US Strategic Dialogue on defence, space, counter- t­ errorism, bilateral economic ties and cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy were the areas of focus. n July 22: North Korea and South Korea dialogue at ASEAN meet in Bali aimed at engaging Pyongyang on the nuclear issue held. n July 28-29: North Korea and the United States exploratory talks in New York to determine if North Korea was willing to restart nuclear talks.

It ended on a cordial note but there was no progress throughout the year. : September 2011 n September 2-3: Istanbul meet on Afghanistan reaffirmed commitment and cooperation of regional countries to peace and stability in Kabul.

: December 2011 n December 5: The Second Bonn Conference on Afghanistan in Germany reaffirmed the commitment of international community to peace and stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan, the key regional actor’s absence, was noticeable due to differences with the US and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) over Salala incident in which 26 Pakistani soldiers were killed in November 2011 in NATO air strikes.

Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma and Deputy Chief of General Staff of Chinese PLA, General Ma Xiaotian, fourth Annual Defence Dialogue in New Delhi, on December 9, 2011

Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Director M.A. Dmitriev signing an agreement for the Su-30MKI aircraft licensed production expansion in India

n December 16: India signed fresh agreements with Russia for the licensed production of 42 Sukhoi fighters, taking the total Sukhoi MKI fleet for the IAF to 272 numbers. n December 28: India and Oman extended validity of existing bilateral memorandum of understanding on military cooperation for a further period of five years. : January 2012

Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai at the Sherpa Meeting for the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit in New Delhi on January 16, 2012

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Calendar of Events // Asia-Pacific Region // April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012 n January 16-17: Meeting of Sherpas for the second Nuclear Security Summit in New Delhi finalised the agenda for the Summit in March. n January 30: Japanese delegation led by Admiral Hisayasu Suzuki, the Commandant, Japan Coast Guard, held the XI the High Level M ­ eeting and Combined Exercises with the Indian Coast Guard, expanding joint interaction on coastal security. : March 2012

Dr Manmohan Singh with the leaders of the Nuclear Security Summit, in Seoul on March 27, 2012

n March 26-27: Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) was held in South Korea with 53 global leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Medvedev. The summit committed to ensure measures to prevent nuclear material from falling in the hands of terrorist groups and non-state actors.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta in New Delhi on June 6, 2012

n June 6: Indo-US defence dialogue chaired by the Minister of Defence A.K. Antony and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta reaffirmed the engagement giving India a pivotal role in the US policy of shift to the Asia Pacific. n June 11-12: India-Pakistan talks on Siachen failed to make headway due to differences. However, both countries committed to hold continuous dialogues. n June 18: The India-Pakistan 12th round of talks on Sir Creek held an agreement to engage further. Analysts envisage this as a security doable between the two countries. n June 13: India-US Strategic Dialogue chaired by External Affairs Minister and the US Secretary of State highlighted wide-ranging partnership between the two countries in multiple spheres from education to health care and services sectors. n June 28: The second India-South Korea strategic dialogue reaffirmed commitment for mutual cooperation. n June 29: The first India-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Dialogue in New Delhi marked the commencement of a new engagement between Asia’s biggest democracies.

Dialogue was held in Tokyo on October 22, 2012. Bilateral security and defence cooperation was reviewed. n October 29: Third India-US-Japan trilateral dialogue was held. Strategies to combat piracy, bolster maritime security and leverage strengths to shape the Asia-Pacific architecture was discussed. : November 2012 n November 2: The Twelfth Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Member States of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORARC) was held at Gurgaon, India. Six priority areas for cooperation identified to include, maritime security, piracy and disaster risk reduction. n November 20: East Asia Summit was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It was attended by global leaders including Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, US President Barack Obama and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. n November 30: Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs met in New Delhi. Review of border affairs were discussed and reduction in transgressions highlighted.

High Level Defence Visits : July 2011

: June 2012 n June 6-7: Afghanistan was admitted as an observer in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony with US

: July 2012 n July 8: Tokyo Conference for long-term commitment of funding for Afghanistan assured President Hamid Karzai’s Government of continued donor support but also demanded effective measures to control corruption. : October 2012 n October 4: India-Russia InterGovernmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation meets in New Delhi. Delay in handing over of Gorshkov aircraft carrier announced. n October 22: Second India-Japan 2+2

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A.K. Antony and Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbaeva inaugurated Kyrgyz Indian Mountain Biomedical Research Centre, Kyrgyzstan, July 5, 2011

Calendar of Events // Asia-Pacific Region // April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012 n July 4-5: India’s Defence Minister A.K. Antony visited Kyrgyzstan and inaugurated the Kyrgyz-Indian Mountain Biomedical Research Centre in Bishkek. : September 2011 n September 7: Indian Chief of the Army Staff General V.K. Singh went on a three-day visit to Mongolia in early September, underlining increased Indo-Mongolian defence cooperation.

Kyrgyzstan Defence Minister, Maj Gen Abibilla Kudaberdiev paying homage to the martyrs at Amar Jawan Jyoti, New Delhi on September 09, 2011

n September 9: Kyrgyz Defence Minister Major General Abibilla Kubaderdiev visited India in early September, heralding the growing Indo-Kyrgyz defence relations.

M.M. Pallam Raju in New Delhi and exchanged views on defence acquisitions.

General of Army Americo Salvador de Oliveira, Commander of Ground Operations of Brazilian Army, calls on General V.K. Singh, New Delhi September 26, 2011

n September 26: General of Army Americo Salvadar de Oliveira, Commander of Ground Operations of Brazil, called on Indian Army Chief General V.K. Singh in New Delhi and made a commitment to increase defence relations between the two Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) and India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) partners.

Mohammed Nasser Mohamed Al Rasbi, Defence Secretary of Oman and head of delegation, calls on Defence Minister A.K. Antony, New Delhi, September 26, 2011

Commissioner of DAPA of Republic of Korea, Noh Dae-Lae called on the Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju, New Delhi, September 19, 2011

n September 19: Noh Dae-Lae, Commissioner of Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) of the Republic of Korea called on the Minister of State for Defence

Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation underlining continuing military technical cooperation in the annual event, unique in India’s special relationship with Russia.

n September 26: A delegation from Oman, headed by Defence Secretary Mohammed Nasser Mohamed Al Rasbi, visited India for talks with Indian Defence Ministry officials on expanding mutual cooperation, including training and exercises. : October 2011 n October 4-5: Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony was in Russia for the Eleventh India-Russia Inter-

Joint Chief of Staff of Defence Services, Myanmar, Lt Gen Hla Htay Win meets the Army Chief General V.K. Singh, New Delhi on October 14, 2011

n October 14: Lt General Hla Htay Win, Joint Chief of Defence Services of Myanmar, called on Chief of Army Staff General V.K. Singh in New Delhi, seeking expansion of defence relations. n October 19: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma participated in the 20th International Sea Power Symposium at New Port, Rhode Island, USA, highlighting Indian and international efforts for containing piracy in the Indian Ocean region. n October 12: Lt General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Vice Minister of Defence of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, called on the Minister of State for Defence Dr M.M. Pallam Raju in New Delhi.

Both nations committed for greater defence cooperation. : November 2011 n November 7-9: Singapore Chief of Defence Force Lt General Neo Kian Hong was in India to discuss regional and global security issues, terrorism threats and counter action, and scope for expanding bilateral military-to-military ties, including joint exercises.

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Calendar of Events // Asia-Pacific Region // April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012

PLA military delegation from Tibet Autonomous Region in Kathmandu held talks with Nepal military officials on issues of mutual interest.

: February 2012 n February 13: Defence Minister A.K. Antony visited Saudi Arabia establishing understanding for the formation of India-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation : April 2012 n April 11: IONS Symposium 2012 inaugurated at Cape Town, South Africa, by Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Government of South Africa. The Indian Navy was represented by Admiral Nirmal Verma, Chief of the Naval Staff. n April 30: India-Seychelles enhanced defence and security cooperation was discussed during the visit of President Pratibha Devisingh Patil providing support for surveillance and anti-piracy operations. : August 2012 n August 29: China’s Defence Minister General Liang Guanglie went on an official visit to Sri Lanka granting aid and assistance to military institutions and thus building the foundation of partnership for the future.

logue held. Issues discussed include regional and global security, bilateral exercises involving Services, training, co-production of defence equipment and ammunition. : November 2012 n November 19-21: General Haruhiko Kataoka, Chief of Staff, Japan Air Self Defence Force, on a three-day goodwill visit to India. Military-to-military cooperation issues discussed. n November 26-29: India’s Chief of the Air Staff and Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne visits Myanmar. Areas for expansion of defence cooperation identified.

Tests and Trials : July 2011 n July 21: New surface-to-surface tactical missile Prahar was successfully launched by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, India. : August 2011 n August 15: Two Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA [Perspective Frontline Aviation Complex] stealth fighters conducted first public display including flight at the Tenth International Aviation and Space Show, MAKS-2011. : September 2011

n September 26: Flight-testing of surface-to-surface strategic missile Prithvi was successful. n September 24: Flight-test of the 700-km-range Shourya missile was successful. n September 27: Engine ground run of LCA Tejas (Navy) at Bengaluru was successful. n September 30: Flight-testing of surface-to-surface strategic missile AgniII was successful. : October 2011 n October 28: Pakistan test-fired HatfVII, a land-attack cruise missile. : November 2011 n November 11: Fifth flight of UAV Rustom-I near Hosur, Karnataka, was a success. n November 15: Launch of 3,500-km range Agni-IV ballistic missile was successful. : December 2011 n December 1: Sixth test launch of AgniII ballistic missile from Wheeler Island by armed forces was successful. : January 2012 n January 27: Two tests of advanced version of Lakshya-II pilotless target aircraft was successfully carried out.

: September 2012 n September 2: China’s Defence Minister General Liang Guanglie was in India on an official visit with plans for expansion of military engagements between the two countries.

: February 2012 n February 10: DRDO conducted successful test-launch of the interceptor missile hitting the ballistic missile and destroying at a height of 15 km off the coast of Odisha, near the Wheeler Island.

: October 2012 n October 2-5: Indian Army Chief General Bikram Singh visits Bangladesh. Discusses enhanced military cooperation. n October 15-17: Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony visits Indonesia. First Ministerial level biennial defence dia-

: March 2012 n March 4: Flight trial by Second Regiment of the BrahMos Army Unit for operationalisation in desert successfully conducted. n March 5: Pakistan successfully testfired a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, Hatf-II (Abdali).

Prithvi missile successfully flight-tested from launch complex, Chandipur, Balasore, Odisha, on September 26, 2011

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Calendar of Events // Asia-Pacific Region // April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012 n March 28-29: Multi-barrel rocket launcher Pinaka was test-fired from Interim Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha. : April 2012 n April 12: North Korea’s controversial launch of Unhaa 3 rocket carrying weather satellite fails. The launch was condemned by international community, including the key ally China.

and Hatf-IX missiles during the month. : June 2012 n June 5: Pakistan successfully tested a fifth nuclear-capable missile, Hatf-VII cruise missile. n June 22: Trial of Indian Arjun Mark II tanks start at Rajasthan’s Pokhran field firing range. : July 2012 n Mid July: Aviation trials of INS Vikramaditya started for three months in Russia. n July 24: China’s 2nd Artillery Corps test-launched ICBM presumably DF-41. : August 2012

Odisha, by Strategic Forces Command. n October 7: Indian Navy successfully test-fired 290-km-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from guided missile frigate INS Teg. : November 2012 n November 23: India successfully tested the Interceptor Missile from Wheeler Island, Odisha. Interceptor destroys incoming ballistic missile at an altitude of 15 km. n November 25: China declared successful testing of J-15, a carrier-based multirole fighter for deployment on aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. n November 28: Pakistan test-fired Hatf-V. Ghauri nuclear-capable ballistic missile having a range of 1,300 km.

Some Pakistani media reports state that the test was a failure. : DECEmber 2012

Long range ballistic missile Agni-V was launched from Wheeler island, in Odisha on April 19, 2012

n April 19: The Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully tested the Agni-V long-range ballistic missile by indicating entry of India into an exclusive club capable of strategic missile launch. n April 27: First test-flight of Indian naval light combat aircraft (LCA) was successful. n April 5: Maiden test-flight of second indigenous Indian airborne early warning and control system aircraft in Brazil was successful. n April 25: Pakistan test-fired Hatf IV (Shaheen 1A) nuclear-capable intermediate-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile (2,500 to 3,000 kilometres). : May 2012 n May 29: Pakistan successfully testfired nuclear-capable Hatf III, Hatf-VIII

Agni-II successfully flight-tested for the Strategic Forces Command from Wheeler Island on August 9, 2012

n August 9: India successfully flighttested Agni-II by Strategic Forces Command. : October 2012 n October 4: India’s Strategic Forces Command, successfully test-fired 350-km-range Prithvi missile at Chandipur, off the Odisha coast. n October 5: Dhanush, India’s 350-kmrange surface-to-surface ballistic missile successfully launched from a naval ship off the coast of Balasore,

Agni-I ballistic missile was successfully launched on December 11, 2012

n December 11: Agni-I ballistic missile was successfully launched by the Strategic Forces Command. The DRDO developed medium-range ballistic missile was launched as part of regular training exercise by the armed forces from the Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha. n December 12: North Korea’s successful launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on December 12, 2012. The missile is believed to have

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Calendar of Events // Asia-Pacific Region // April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012 a range of 6,212 miles, enough distance to reach the west coast of the United States.

: February 2012

sioned the third Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Squadron in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, the INAS 344, known as ‘Spirited Shadower’. n April 24: Pakistan Navy inducted first fast attack craft PNS Azmat at the Xingang Shipyard, China.

Mi-17 V5 helicopter

: June 2012 n June 22: Pakistan’s first fast-attack craft (missile) PNS Azmat was formally inducted into Pakistan Navy.

Induction of Major Platforms/Technologies : August 2011

Commissioning INS Satpura, Indian Navy

n August 20: Indian Navy commissions INS Satpura, the second in the Shivalik class of multi-role frigates with stealth features being built for the Indian Navy. n August 3: Eleven naval versions MiG jets delivered to India. Russia signed a contract in 2004 to supply 16 MiG-29K/KUB jets as part of its agreement to modernise the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov for the Indian Navy. n August 12: Analysis of commercial satellite photos find four new assembly facilities constructed at a missile production complex in North Korea’s Pyeongannam Province, Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile believed to have been assembled. : November 2011 n November 9: Second regiment of the 290-km-range supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles with 16 weapon systems commissioned. : January 2012 n January 23: Russia handed over Nerpa nuclear-powered submarine to India on a 10-year lease in the far eastern port of Primorye.

n February 17: Defence Minister A.K. Antony inducted the advanced Mi-17 V5 helicopter into IAF. Mi-17 V5 is the best helicopter in its class and will add to the flexibility and operational muscle to the Indian armed forces. : March 2012 n March 3: Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony handed over indigenous Akash missile and TAL Torpedo to defence forces : April 2012

: September 2012 n September 25: China’s first aircraft carrier Liaoning was commissioned into the PLA Navy. China claims that the main systems and equipment have been independently manufactured and refitted in the country. : November 2012 n November 9: Russian-built multi-role stealth frigate, INS Tarkash carrying BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was handed over to the Indian Navy by Russia’s United Shipping Corporation at Kaliningrad.

Major Training Exercises

INS Chakra Indian Navy

n April 4: Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony received INS Chakra, the nuclear powered submarine in Visakhapatnam. The submarine will provide much needed training to Indian Navy in the running of nuclear-powered submarines. n April 26: India’s first indigenous radar imaging satellite, RISAT-I, was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. RISAT-I will provide coverage to the Indian Navy. n April 11: Indian Navy commis-

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: July 2011 n July 4: Exercise Deniz Aslan -II (Sea Lion) Pakistan and Turkey naval exercise was conducted to build interoperability. : August 2011 n August 16-26: Exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2011—on Korean Peninsula—ROK-US Combined Forces Command annual exercise was conducted amidst tensions on the Korean Peninsula. : October 2011 n October 9-21: The Indo-French Army Exercise Shakti expanded the IndoFrench defence cooperation in the area of training with all services

Calendar of Events // Asia-Pacific Region // April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012 now conducting inter-operability exercises. n October 14: Pakistan Army and Royal Saudi Land Forces concluded the joint exercise near Jhelum Ex AL-Samsaam-IV-2011 to include combined training at unit and brigade level to practice drills and procedures in low intensity conflict operations. n October 17-21: Joint exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) at Air Force Station Jamnagar. This is now an annual feature greatly expanding interoperability.

India-Mongolia Army Exercise was held in Mongolia focusing on counterinsurgency training. : November 2011 n November 25: Exercise Sudarshan Shakti, the joint exercise of India’s Southern Army and South Western Air Command, contributed substantially to jointness and interoperability. n November 14: Pakistan-China joint military Exercise Youyi-IV in midNovember to practise techniques and procedures involved in low-intensity conflict (LIC) operations environment was held. : December 2011 n December 5: Exercise Sudarshan Shakti was witnessed by Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, the President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil. n December 20: The prestigious Presidential Fleet Review (PFR) by Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, the President of India, off the Mumbai coast. : January 2012 n January 30: Eleventh High-Level meeting and combined exercises between Japan and Indian Coast Guard expanded cooperation on coastal security between the two countries.

: February 2012

: April 2012

Defence Minister A.K. Antony flanked by the then Navy Chief, Admiral Nirmal Verma and the C-in-C, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Anil Chopra aboard INS Viraat, during TROPEX 2012

Exercise Malabar 2012

n February 7-8: Defence Minister A.K. Antony participated in Indian Navy’s annual Theatre Level Readiness and Operational Exercise (TROPEX) with Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral A.K. Chopra. n February 29: IAF’s Eastern Air Command Exercise, code named “Pralay’, was witnessed in Brahmaputra and rest of the Eastern region of India. : March 2012 n March 1: Armies of India and Indonesia concluded a week-long joint military exercise, Garuda Shakti, at the Indian Army’s elite Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School in Vairengte, Mizoram. n March 21-April 1: India-Singapore Exercise Simbex, an annual maritime bilateral exercise expanding engagement between the two militaries was held. n March 5-19: Indian and the US Army company-level Exercise Yudh Abhyas was held in Mahajan field firing ranges in Rajasthan desert including ‘Desert Lark’, a counterinsurgency war game.

n April 7- 9: Harbour phase of India and the US Exercise Malabar in Bay of Bengal. The annual exercise has greatly contributed to interoperability and expansion of navy-to-navy contacts over the years. n April 19: A contingent of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles flew to California to participate in Exercise Shatrujeet further affirming army-to-army training engagements between the two countries. n April 23-27: The India-Maldives-Sri Lanka Joint Coast Guard exercise— DOSTI XI was held off the coast of Male (Maldives). : May 2012

Hercules C-130J aircraft practicing low level tactical formation over desert of Rajasthan in preparation for Ex Shoorveer May 3, 2012

n May 3: Final phase of Indian Army Exercise Shoorveer was witnessed

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Calendar of Events // Asia-Pacific Region // April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012 in the Rajasthan deserts with high level of integration with the IAF. : August 2012 n August 7-17: Indra 2012, the fourth round of India-Russia army-to-army exercise was held. n August 20: Exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2012—on Korean Peninsula—ROK-US Combined Forces Command, exercise led to tensions on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea objected to the annual event. : September 2012 n September 24: Pakistan Southern Command War Game held as part Azm-e-Nau 2012 series. II Corps (also known as Army Reserve South) validated operational plans in the light of current threat spectrum. : October 2012 n October 15: Indian, Brazilian and South African navies launched maritime war games in the international waters off Simon’s town, the main base of the South African Navy near Cape Town in the IBSAMAR exercise series. n October 15: India-US Army Exercise Vajra Prahar. Special Forces conducted joint operating drills. n October 25: South Korea held annual exercise Hoguk; operational readiness rehearsed. : November 2012 n November 12-25: Fourth Joint Military Training Exercises between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force was held in Belgaum to enhance defence cooperation.

Defence Conferences : November 2011 n November 16-18: Armoured Vehicles India 2011 conference was held in New Delhi.

: February 2012 n February 1-2: The first Annual Defence Exports Asia conference was held in Singapore n February 21-24: CBRN-E Asia Pacific was held in Singapore : April 2012 n April 16-19: Defence Services Asia was held in Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia

n September 26-28: The Fourth annual Armoured Vehicles Asia 2012 was held at Singapore : October 2012 n October 3-5: Counter IED India, Mumbai : November 2012

: May 2012 n May 9-10: MilSatCom Asia, Singapore : June 2012 n June 5-6: Air and Missile Defence India, New Delhi n June14-15: Geo Intelligence Asia 2012, New Delhi n June 26-28: The International Conference on Cyber Security, Cyber Warfare and Digital Forensic (CyberSec2012) was held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia n June 26-27: Seminar on Airborne Early Warning and Control was held in New Delhi n June 26-28: Conference on Future Artillery India 2012 was held in New Delhi : July 2012 n July 9-10: Military Airlift: Rapid Reaction and Tanker Operations Asia Pacific 2012 was organised in Singapore : September 2012 n September 11-13: Conference on Soldier Modernisation India 2012 in New Delhi n September 11-13: Submarine Networks World 2012 was held at Singapore n September 12-13: The fifth Annual GDI APAC: Geospatial Defence & Intelligence Asia-Pacific was held at Thailand n September 24: Smart Border Technology Forum Conference was held at Al Bustan Rotana, Dubai, UAE

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General Bikram Singh presenting a memento to the Defence Minister, A.K. Antony at the inauguration of DEFCOM India on November 08, 2012

n November 8-9: International Seminar and Exposition Defcom India-2012 was held in New Delhi. n November 29-30: Defence Modernisation India Summit was held in New Delhi.

Defence Exhibitions : August 2011 n August 16-21: MAKS Air Show, Moscow, Russia : October 2011 n October 18-23: Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition : November 2011 n November 13-17: Dubai Air Show n November 16-21: China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition. : February 2012 n February14-19: Singapore Air Show

Calendar of Events // Asia-Pacific Region // April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012 : March 2012

Defence Minister A. K. Antony lighting the lamp to inaugurate the Defexpo 2012 in New Delhi on March 29, 2012.

n March 29-April 1: Defexpo in New Delhi. : July 2012

chairmanship of Naresh Chandra, former Cabinet Secretary. n July 19-28: Indian Navy ship INS Airavat visited Vietnam to show the flag in the South East Asian region. n July 22: South China Sea-Indian NavyINS Airavat, “buzzed” by PLA Navy, however both sides play down the incident. : November 2011 n November 14: New Officers Training Academy at Gaya, Bihar, was inaugurated by Army Chief General V.K. Singh. : December 2011 n December 17: Sudden demise of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il lead to concerns of instability in Korean Peninsula. : January 2012

n July 9-15: Farnborough UK Airshow

: November 2012 n November 7-11: International Defence Exhibition and Seminar 2012 in Pakistan. n November 13-18: China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Air Show China) held.

Miscellaneous : July 2011 n July 11: Indian Government sets up Task Force to review existing processes, procedures and practices in the national security system under the

PC-7 MkII by Pilatus

n May 11: Indian Ministry of Defence enhances service HQs financial powers, approves induction of 145 light howitzers while the Cabinet Committee on Security approves 75 Pilatus trainer aircraft. n May 23: India Task Force on National Security submitted the Report to the Prime Minister for a permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and Special Operations Command flagged as recommendations. : August 2012 n August 2: India’s Ministry of Defence issued new Defence Offsets Guidelines greatly expanding the potential for indigenous industry while providing greater options for foreign companies.

Farnborough Airshow 2012

: August 2012 n August 21: National Outreach Conference on Global Nuclear Disarmament in New Delhi.

: May 2012

Rafale

n January 31: French fighter Rafale declared L1 (lowest cost) in the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) in commercial bid process.

Eurofighter Typhoon fails to make the mark due to higher assessed cost. : February 2012 n February 9: Indian Union Cabinet approves guidelines for establishing joint venture companies by defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs). n February 13: Motorcycle-borne terrorist attaches magnet bomb to an Israeli diplomat’s wife’s car in New Delhi, injures and gets away.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma dedicating the Indian Navy’s FIS to the nation, New Delhi on August 11, 2012

n August 11: Indian Navy’s Financial Information System (FIS) was inau-

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Calendar of Events // Asia-Pacific Region // April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012 gurated. FIS is set to streamline the financial management of offsets. n August 25: Coastal radar network operationalised off the Mumbai coastline to enhance early warning and surveillance n August 28: Announcement of joint venture with Russia for production of SMERCH ammunition was inked.

On implementation, it will boost the indigenous production of artillery ammunition. : November 2012 n November 8: In one of the biggest reshuffles in China People’s Liberation Army (PLA), there was a change in some of the top posts including head of the PLA Army, Air Force and General Armaments Department at the 18th Communist Party Congress.

: DECEMBER 2012

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meeting the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in New Delhi on December 24, 2012

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n December 24: Russian President Vladimir Putin was on a daylong visit to New Delhi, meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and signing a agreements aimed at strengthening military-technical cooperation between Russia and India. Defence deals to procure 71 Mi-17 medium-lift helicopters worth $1.3 billion and technological kits worth $1.6 billion to assemble 42 new Su-30MKI combat aircraft were the takeaways for Moscow. Russian Helicopters and Elcom Systems Private Limited also signed an agreement to set up in India a modern industrial facility for manufacturing of Russian helicopter models—Ka- and Mi- brands.

Compiled by SP’S TEAM