By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, Nov 16:
Chief of Defence Staff of Indian Armed Forces, General Bipin Rawat, visited Head Quarters Maintenance Command Indian Air Force, located at Vayusena Nagar in Nagpur in Eastern Maharashtra on Monday.
He was received by Air Marshal Shashiker Choudhary, Air Officer Commanding- in- Chief of Maintenance Command.
During the visit, the CDS was briefed about the role of Maintenance Command in maintenance of the wide variety of assets held by IAF and the associated logistics support. He was apprised of the efforts initiated towards achieving self-reliance in the assigned tasks, thereby reducing dependence on foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEM).
He was also briefed on efforts undertaken on issues pertaining to obsolescence, life enhancements and reliability. Aircraft and equipment related parts and LRUs which have been indigenised by the Base Repair Depots were demonstrated. The CDS appreciated the efforts of Maintenance Command in its contribution towards achieving the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
India-Singapore-Thailand Trilateral Maritime Exercise (SITMEX)
The third edition of the India-Singapore-Thailand Trilateral Maritime Exercise (SITMEX-21) began at Andaman Sea on Monday.
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Karmuk, an indigenously built Missile Corvette, is participating in a two day the exercise. Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is being represented by RSS Tenacious, a Formidable Class Frigate and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) by His Majesty’s Thailand Ship (HTMS) Thayanchon, a Khamrosin Class Anti-submarine Patrol Craft.
SITMEX is being conducted annually since 2019 with an aim to enhance mutual inter-operability and imbibing best practices between Indian Navy (IN), RSN and RTN. The maiden edition of SITMEX was hosted by Indian Navy off Port Blair in September 2019. RSN hosted the second edition of the exercise in November 2020. The 2021 edition of the exercise is being hosted by Royal Thai Navy in Andaman Sea.
The exercise is being conducted as a ‘non-contact, at sea only’ exercise in view of COVID-19 restrictions and highlights growing synergy, coordination and cooperation in the maritime domain between the three friendly navies. The two days of maritime drills will witness the three navies engaged in a various tactical exercises including naval manoeuvres and surface warfare drills.
SITMEX-21 will fortify the long-standing bond of friendship and further enhance the cooperation between the participating navies towards augmenting the overall maritime security in the region, Defence Pro Cdr Mehul Karnik said.