IT Correspondent
Mumbai, Nov 24:
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in its meeting headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved a proposal worth Rs 2236 crore for modernization and operational needs of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday.
The modernisation will be carried out and equipments will be procured under the category of “Make in India”. The DAC accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for Capital Acquisition proposal in the meeting.
The proposal includes acquisition of GSAT-7C Satellite and Ground Hubs for real-time connectivity of Software Defined Radios (SDRs) for IAF. The project envisages complete design, development and launching of satellite in India.
Induction of GSAT-7C Satellite and Ground Hubs for Software Defined Radios (SDRs) will enhance the ability of Indian Armed Forces to communicate beyond Line of Sight (LoS) among one another in all circumstances in a secure mode, an official statement here said.
French air defence frigate visits Mumbai
In another development, the French air defence frigate FNS Chevalier Paul paid three day good will visit between Nov 18 and Nov 21 to Mumbai. The ship was received by Captain Kartik Srimal, Commanding Officer, INS Mumbai, on behalf of the Western Naval Command (WNC).
The visiting ship is an advanced air defence frigate in the French Navy and is based at Toulon, Southern France. She was operating in the Indian Ocean Region and arrived at Mumbai from Djibouti after participating in various anti-piracy and anti-smuggling operations.
The Commanding Officer of the visiting ship, along with the French Defence Attaché, called on Vice Admiral K Swaminathan, Chief of Staff, WNC. During the call, operational issues of mutual interest were discussed. The visiting ship hosted a reception onboard for Indian Navy personnel and local civilian dignitaries on Nov 18.
On its part, the Indian Navy extended to the visitors the opportunity for a number of leisure and sports activities, including the Indian Food Festival, cultural tour of Mumbai and a friendly football match. Besides, a dinner was hosted by the Western Fleet for the visiting team.
PVSM to Vice Admiral Pawar
In the meanwhile, the President Ramnath Kovind awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal to Vice Admiral Murlidhar S Pawar, who recently retired as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday.
Pawar was promoted as the VCNS on February 01,2019 and retired on May 31,2021. He has had wide ranging experience of over 25 years in sea going billets – the maximum amongst all officers in the Navy, onboard diverse platforms ranging from small ships to aircraft carrier. He was the Navigating Officer of INS Magar during Op Pawan in Sri Lanka, the Fleet Navigating Officer of Western Fleet during Kargil War and the Fleet Operations Officer of Western Fleet when the Indian Navy commenced anti piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden and undertook the largest deployment to the Atlantic Ocean.
Pawar an alumnus of Sainik School Korukonda(Andhra Pradesh) and the 60 th course of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune (Maharashtra), was commissioned on July 01, 1982. During the abinitio naval training he was adjudged ‘Best all round Cadet’ and also stood first overall in the year long Sub-Lieutenant Technical Courses. He later specialised in Navigation and Direction topping the coveted and highly competitive course. He was awarded commendations by the CNS in 1998, also by the Commissioner of Police, Mauritius in 2003, Vishisht Seva Meda in 2010, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2016.
