#SecurityScan 63: Indian Navy gets its third stealth destroyer, Israel-Hamas War & much more

This article is a summary of important events that have taken place in last one week affecting, India's national security

Pakistan a Failed State

Targeted Killings Of Designated Terrorists By Unknown Assailants In Pakistan

There has been recent targeted killings of designated terrorists by unknown assailants on Pakistani soil. The security forces in the country are failing miserably.

Recently Sarfaraz bugti has blamed the recent blasts of Balochistan on RAW. Pakistan amid its failure is blaming India to shift attention from its own security collapse.

There are a number of factors that may be contributing to these security challenges. One factor is the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. The withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan has created a power vacuum that has been exploited by terrorist groups, such as the Taliban and the Haqqani Network. These groups have used the safe haven they have found in Afghanistan to launch attacks on Pakistan.

Another factor is the sectarian violence that has plagued Pakistan for many years. This violence is often rooted in deep-seated religious tensions between Sunni and Shia Muslims. It has been exacerbated by the rise of extremist groups, such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

The recent attacks on army personnel have also raised concerns about the morale and effectiveness of the Pakistan military. The military has been under a great deal of strain in recent years, due to the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and the sectarian violence within Pakistan. This strain may be making it more difficult for the military to effectively counter security threats.

It is possible that the recent attacks on terrorists in Pakistan could be orchestrated by other terrorist groups. There is a long history of infighting and rivalry between terrorist groups in Pakistan, and it is possible that one group is trying to gain prominence by attacking another.

One possibility is that the attacks were motivated by revenge. The terrorist groups that have been targeted by these attacks have been responsible for numerous atrocities, including the killing of civilians and the destruction of property. It is possible that other terrorist groups wanted to retaliate for these attacks.

Another possibility is that the attacks were motivated by competition for resources and territory. The terrorist groups that have been targeted by these attacks control lucrative drug trafficking routes and other sources of revenue. It is possible that other terrorist groups wanted to seize control of these resources and territory.

The terrorist groups that have been targeted by these attacks hold a variety of different ideological beliefs. It is possible that other terrorist groups carried out the attacks to eliminate their ideological rivals.

The country is on the way to a security collapse because it has been harbouring terrorism for a long time without considering the consequences. Pakistan has a long history of blaming India for its domestic problems.

External Security & Internal Security

After Ladakh, Indian Army plans to deploy fast boats, landing craft at other border areas

The Army plans to acquire six fast patrol boats and eight landing craft assault for border areas. The boats will be deployed in areas like Sir Creek, Brahmaputra river basin, and Sundarban delta areas. The fast patrol boats will be rugged and versatile, capable of carrying eight fully-armed soldiers for various tasks. The landing craft assault will have the capacity to transport 35 soldiers along with their weapons and equipment.

Indian Navy gets its third stealth destroyer

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has delivered the third stealth destroyer of Project 15B Class guided missile destroyer, 'Imphal', to the Indian Navy, four months ahead of schedule. This warship is the first to have accommodation for women officers and sailors. It is armed with supersonic 'Brahmos' and 'Barak-8' missiles, as well as anti-submarine weapons and sensors. The ship has completed all sea trials and is equipped with advanced automation systems. The indigenous content of the P15B class destroyers is 72%, reflecting the government's focus on the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' program.

India plans to equip Russian-origin Su-30MKIs with indigenous 'Virupaaksha' radar

The Indian Air Force is planning to upgrade its fleet of Su-30 MKI combat aircraft with an indigenous advanced radar called 'Virupaaksha'. This forms part of a larger upgrade program worth over Rs 65,000 crore, which will see 84 planes equipped with advanced made in India radars and weapon systems. The upgrade is seen as an opportunity for export, as many countries in South East Asia and Africa also operate the Su-30MKI fighters. The Su-30MKI fleet is currently the mainstay of the Indian Air Force.

Crypto's role in terrorist financing

The role of crypto currency in terrorist financing has been highlighted once again after a deadly attack by Hamas in Israel. Crypto currencies provide anonymity and instant cross-border transactions, making them appealing to illegal activities. While block chain creates a public record of transactions, it can still be difficult to trace individuals or groups.

Deceased Agniveer's family to get over Rs 1 crore financial assistance: Indian Army

The government has announced that the next of kin of Agniveers who sacrifice their lives in the line of duty will receive over Rs 1 crore. This includes non-contributory insurance, ex-gratia payment, Seva Nidhi contribution, and interest on contributions. The family will also receive pay for the remaining tenure and a contribution from the Armed Forces Battle Casualty Fund.

Focus on SPV model to manufacture fighters, tanks, copters, missiles

While two projects have already been earmarked for the model - the Advanced Multi Role Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and the Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) -- the list is likely to be expanded. Among the projects proposed under the model are Twin Engine Deck based fighters (TEDBF), Long Range Surface to Air Missiles (LRSAM), Main Battle Tanks and Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV).

5-day Army commanders' conference gets underway

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the conference on October 18. Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari are among those addressing the Army commanders. Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, delivered a talk on "Leveraging Technology for National Security".

Canada says no sign India tensions are impacting military ties

The diplomatic standoff between India and Canada over the killing of a Sikh separatist leader has not affected military cooperation between the two nations, according to the Commander of Canadian Fleet Pacific, Commodore David Mazur. He stated that there have been "friendly meetings" with Indian officials regarding regional security matters and priorities for their respective navies.

Defence Ministry signs contract worth Rs 2,310 cr with Mazagon Dock for training ship

The Indian Defence Ministry has awarded a contract to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders for the construction of a training ship for the Indian Coast Guard. The ship, equipped with advanced surveillance and monitoring systems, will provide training to 70 Coast Guard officers and international trainees. The majority of equipment and systems will be sourced from indigenous manufacturers, supporting the objectives of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and boosting the country's shipbuilding capabilities.

Eleventh edition of SAMPRITI-XI bilateral military exercise takes place between India & Bangladesh

The closing ceremony of the joint military exercise between the Indian and Bangladesh Army, called Exercise SAMPRITI-XI, was held at Joint Training Node, Umroi. The aim of the exercise was to achieve interoperability and familiarize each other with the use of joint task forces in sub-conventional operations. The exercise was conducted in two phases, including command post exercises and field training exercises. The soldiers shared their experiences and participated in activities to promote camaraderie. The exercise has helped strengthen relations between the two countries and their armies.

India a significant hub where we design products for global markets, will double by 2027: Thales CEO

Thales, the French military and cyber security software group, sees India as a promising market due to increasing orders from the defence sector and airline operators. The company also views India as a hub for research and development, thanks to its abundance of engineering talent. Thales already has engineering centres in India and plans to expand its presence in the country.

Countering Chinese Multi domain War

China Rattles Foreign Firms With New Arrests, Foxconn Probe

Probe into critical Apple supplier over taxes and land use, WPP employees arrested; Japan trading firm worker detained.Apple Supplier Foxconn Working With China on Probes. Source: Chinese authorities are again shaking the confidence of foreign companies in the country with a series of arrests across industries and an investigation into Foxconn Technology Group, Apple Inc.’s most important partner and one of the largest employers in China.

Over the weekend, state media said that regulators are conducting tax audits and reviewing land use by Foxconn, the Taiwanese company that makes the vast majority of iPhones at factories in China. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Foxconn’s public arm, said it will collaborate with authorities.

Concerns grow among foreign companies in China over police raids, detentions, moves to block employees from leaving

Shanghai police detained one current and two former employees of GroupM, a unit of London-based advertising giant WPP, citing suspicions that they accepted bribes.

Harvard Criticized by Klarman and Romney Over Antisemitism

University has ignored safety of Jewish students, alumni say, Fallout from Hamas attacks on Israel has roiled campuses. 'Sickened' by Harvard's Silence on Israel Attack: Summers.

Five Harvard Business School alumni including US Senator Mitt Romney and hedge fund manager Seth Klarman accused Harvard University of ignoring the safety of Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests on campus.

In an open letter published Monday, the alumni cited “threatening” demonstrations and said Jewish students have locked themselves in dorm rooms out of fear for their own safety. Romney, Klarman and three co-signers urged Harvard to “restate and enforce the university’s existing moral code of conduct” required of students, employees and faculty.

Spies Bring Their China Warnings in From the Cold

We live in a world where an informal chat on LinkedIn can harm national security.

Spies are supposed to operate in the shadows, not parade before the world’s media like a boy band. If nothing else, the sight of security service heads from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand sharing a stage in California is a reminder of how radically the world has changed since the cloak-and-dagger days of the first Cold War.

The spy chiefs maintained a pitch-perfect harmony to rival BTS. Chinese industrial espionage poses an “unprecedented threat” to innovation in the countries of the Five Eyes, Christopher Wray, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, told the first public summit of the intelligence-sharing alliance at Stanford University. Ken McCallum, director-general of Britain’s MI5, told the BBC that China’s spying was on an “epic scale.” Mike Burgess, head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, accused the Chinese government of being engaged in the “most sustained, scaled and sophisticated theft of intellectual property and expertise in human history.

The next Huawei? U.S. think tank calls for scrutiny of battery giant CATL

Chinese power storage system installed at key Marine base in North Carolina, FDD says

The U.S. government should scrutinize and potentially limit Chinese battery maker CATL's joint ventures and partnerships with American companies, especially in sectors deemed critical to national security, according to a report released Monday by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

The Washington-based conservative think tank cited the battery storage system at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina as an example of how CATL devices have penetrated American infrastructure.

France dangles top-of-the-line Scorpene before Indonesia

‘Scorpene Evolved’ marks substantial upgrade on earlier sub variants and would significantly extend Indonesia’s reach and power in South China Sea.

South China Sea: Why the Philippines and China are on a collision course

Take a close look at a video of Sunday's "collision" between a Philippine coastguard ship and a Chinese maritime militia vessel in the South China Sea.

As the stern of one bumps the deck of the other, right in the middle of the frame is a Filipino television crew scrambling to get what in the business is called an "action piece to camera".

The confrontation between Manila and Beijing over submerged shoals in the South China Sea has been going on for decades.

The spats at sea are now unfolding in the full glare of the television media. This is the second time in weeks Philippine journalists have filmed a close encounter near a particularly sensitive reef known variously as Second Thomas Shoal, Ayungin Shoal or Ren Ai Reef.

Crypto's role in terrorist financing

Crypto currency's role in terrorist financing and funding militant groups has come under renewed scrutiny following a deadly attack in Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israel has seized crypto accounts it says are linked to Hamas. U.S. lawmakers have urged the government to crack down on the use of cryptocurrencies by Hamas and its affiliates.

But crypto currencies are just one way that violent militant groups and groups designated as terrorist organisations get and use money.

EAM S Jaishankar pitches for Vietnam partnership in Indo-Pacific region amid China’s aggression

Jaishankar, who arrived in Vietnam on Sunday on a four-day official visit, made the remarks during his address to the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam on “India in the Indo-Pacific”.

Xi Urges Vietnam to ‘Not Forget’ Roots of Its China Friendship

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Vietnam not to forget the roots of the friendship between the two Communist countries during a meeting with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong in Beijing.

“In the face of the ever-changing international situation and arduous domestic development tasks, the two countries should not forget the original intention of traditional friendship,” states a readout of the meeting posted by Chinese state-media outlet Xinhua.

Hamas Israel War

Gaza protests: Suella Braverman to question Met over jihad chants

Home secretary wants to know why men were not arrested at demonstration

Suella Braverman will ask the head of the Metropolitan Police to explain his force’s response after protesters who chanted “jihad” during a pro-Palestinian rally in London were not arrested.

The home secretary will tell Sir Mark Rowley on Monday that there can be “no place for incitement to hatred or violence” on Britain’s streets and that the police “must crack down on anyone breaking the law”.

A new war tactic: Hamas hijacked victims' social media accounts to spread terror

Hamas has seized the social media accounts of kidnapped Israelis and used them to broadcast violent messages and wage psychological warfare, according to interviews with 13 Israeli families and their friends, as well as social media experts who have studied extremist groups.

Google Maps Disables Live Traffic Data in Israel, Gaza at Military Request

Israeli army asked tech giant to limit real-time information

Google took similar action in Ukraine during war with Russia

Alphabet Inc.’s Google is disabling live traffic conditions in Israel and the Gaza Strip for its Maps and Waze apps at the request of the Israeli military, ahead of a potential ground invasion into Gaza.

“As we have done previously in conflict situations and in response to the evolving situation in the region, we have temporarily disabled the ability to see live traffic conditions and busyness information out of consideration for the safety of local communities,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement.

Urban battle from past Gaza war offers glimpse of what an Israeli ground offensive might look like

As Israeli forces prepare to enter Gaza to punish Hamas, a battle from nearly a decade ago provides insight into the type of fighting that may occur. During Israel's third war against Hamas in 2014, the densely populated neighborhood of Shijaiyah in Gaza City became a battleground. Despite warnings to leave, many civilians stayed, resulting in heavy casualties.

Amir Avivi, a retired Israeli general said this time ,It will be a massive maneuver with a lot of air and artillery — a very, very strong entrance. We’re going to try to minimize as much as possible our troops’ casualties, and for this, we need a lot of cover.” The tremendous firepower may have stemmed the army's losses, but it took a heavy toll on civilians and flattened much of the neighborhood. Some 670 buildings were destroyed and nearly 1,200 were moderately to severely damaged, the U.N. report said. Investigators counted 270 craters.

Israel tests new cheaper laser-based missile defense system amid Hamas rocket attacks

Israel is testing a new laser-based missile defense system called 'Iron Beam' to address concerns about missile stockpiles and the costs associated with the Iron Dome system. The Iron Beam offers advantages such as lower costs per shot, unlimited firings, reduced operational costs, and less manpower. It operates by using a fiber laser to generate a laser beam that can destroy airborne targets.

What you need to know about Hezbollah, the group backing Hamas against Israel

Lebanon's Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has engaged in a deadly exchange of fire with Israel, escalating tensions in the region. Hezbollah, a Shi'ite Islamist group, has a powerful military with advanced weapons and has played a role in conflicts in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. It has deep ties to Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon is controversial, with supporters viewing it as a defender against Israel, while opponents accuse it of undermining the state. Western countries, including the US, consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization.

EU debates how to handle rising security challenges as Israel-Hamas war provokes new concerns

European Union interior ministers met to discuss the impact of the war between Israel and Hamas on the bloc, following recent incidents of violence in Belgium, France, and Germany. The meeting focused on handling incidents where the Quran is burned and addressing rising tensions between religious communities in Europe. The war between Israel and Hamas has resulted in high casualties on both sides.