#SecurityScan 54: Inauguration of 'Vindhyagiri', HAL-Safran Chopper joint venture & much more

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

External Security

In one of its rarest admissions, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has lauded India's economic growth, as it lamented the crises in Pakistan. In Independence Day message, the terrorist outfit blamed Pakistani military and elite for the economic crisis in the country. While the two countries started out with nearly identical figures, India’s GDP per capita is nearly 50% more than that of Pakistan.

Huge cache of arms recovered near LoC in J-K's Kupwara

Army has recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, the Army said on Friday.

Smart fences set up along LoC to thwart infiltration attempts

The Indian Army has implemented smart fences with advanced sensor and CCTV camera technologies along the Line of Control to prevent infiltration attempts. The smart fences use state-of-the-art sensors and CCTV cameras that pick up the slightest movement and send immediate alerts to the control centre making them difficult to bypass.

India inducts new strike-capable drones at forward air base in Northern sector

The four new Heron Mark-2 drones, which can be equipped with long-range missiles and other weapons systems, have been deployed at a forward air base in the northern sector.

Army orders Rs 7,300 cr emergency buy from desi companies to counter China

A range of equipment was ordered mainly from the private sector. They include drone and counter drone systems, armaments, simulators, communication systems and vehicles, according to people in the defence establishment.

Government clears Rs 20,000 cr deal to build five warships for Indian Navy

The order will come as a boost for HSL, which has been struggling with getting orders from the government. The yard has delivered a missile tracking vessel and has carried out refit and upgrades of Kilo class submarines.

After Galwan, IAF's airlift led to quick deployment in Ladakh

In 2020, the Indian Air Force quickly airlifted troops, tanks, combat vehicles and air defense weapons to forward areas in eastern Ladakh in response to increased tensions with China. Fighter squadrons were put on combative posture, with fighter jets like Su30MKIs, Rafales and MiG29 deployed on operational readiness and sent on combat patrols. The IAF also deployed unmanned aerial vehicles and fighter jets like Jaguar, while working to upgrade its advanced landing ground in Nyoma to a full-fledged airbase capable of operating fighter jets, in an effort to cut down the reaction time during border tensions.

Russia supplying S-400 air defence systems to India on schedule

Russia will deliver an order of S-400 anti-aircraft systems to India within the agreed timeframe. India is the world's biggest arms importer and still mostly uses Russian technology for traditional arms, but officials in New Delhi have expressed concern that Russia's war in Ukraine could delay planned deliveries of weapons and equipment.

India gained new strategic strength in recent years: PM Modi

The prime minister emphasised that the people of the country feel safe today as there has been a drastic decline in the number of terrorist attacks. When the country is peaceful and secure, new goals of development are achieved, he said.

PM Modi says borders "far more secure", calls for young, battle-ready armed forces.Indian troops thwarted a similar alleged misadventure by the Chinese forces at Yang Tse near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh in December 2022. .

INS Kulish participates in celebration of 77th Independence Day in Singapore

The corvette of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) at Port Blair is visiting Singapore from August 14 to August 18 to take part in the Harbour Phase of multinational exercise SEACAT 2023 aimed at enhancing interoperability and collaboration on maritime security challenges with the participating nations, scheduled between August 14 and August 17, followed by the sea phase till August 25.

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates advanced Naval stealth frigate 'Vindhyagiri' in Kolkata

President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Kolkata to inaugurate an advanced stealth frigate named 'Vindhyagiri' for the Indian Navy built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE). The frigate marks the sixth vessel out of seven that are part of 'Project 17 Alpha' aimed at strengthening the Navy's fleet. This initiative includes enhanced stealth features, advanced weaponry, sensors and platform management systems. The move comes as India takes steps to bolster its naval capabilities amid increasing challenges posed by assertive China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Carborundum Universal, Idea Forge to jointly develop cutting-edge nanomaterial reinforced products for drones

Carborundum Universal Ltd, the Indian manufacturer of industrial ceramics has partnered with IdeaForge Technology to manufacture lighter and sturdier drones using composite parts reinforced with nanomaterials. The nanomaterial composite materials offer higher mechanical strength, toughness, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity than standard composites.

India's first long-range revolver "Prabal" to be launched this week on August 18

PSU Advanced Weapons and Equipment India is set to launch India's first long-range revolver, Prabal, on August 18. The .32 bore revolver has a firing range of up to 50 meters, which is two times longer than other revolvers in India, and a side swing cylinder, which is an innovative feature. Prabal can be booked starting August 18 by civilians with valid licenses.

Coast Guard evacuates Chinese national after he suffers cardiac arrest on Arabian Sea

The Indian Coast Guard successfully evacuated a Chinese national from a Panama-flagged research vessel in the Arabian Sea, after he suffered a heart attack. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mumbai received information about the situation and began communicating with the vessel en route from China to UAE. The patient was then airlifted by the Coast Guard and administered first aid before being transferred to a medical management team.

NIA raids 8 locations in J-K terror conspiracy hatched to target minorities, security personnel using cyberspace

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday conducted raids at eight locations in Jammu and Kashmir pertaining to a case of criminal conspiracy to carry out terrorist and subversive activities hatched by the cadres of various proscribed organizations and their affiliates for carrying out terrorist attacks by using cyber-space in Jammu and Kashmir targeting of minorities, security personnel and spreading communal disharmony.

HAL-Safran Chopper joint venture to be in place within 3 months

India is expediting work on a new military helicopter, Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH), led by Hindustan Aeronautics and in partnership with French aerospace firm Safran and foreign aircraft manufacturers like Airbus and Sikorsky. The JV with Safran to co-develop the engine will be in place within three months, with the IPR remaining within India. Officials have said that a funding proposal will be submitted soon.

AF PAKISTAN

At least three killed, seven wounded in blast at hotel in Afghanistan

The cause of the blast was not immediately clear though the region, near the border with Pakistan, has long been plagued by violence between Islamist militants and their enemies.

Indian Soft Power-Cambridge Hindus 'brimming with pride' as PM speaks at Ram Katha

Rishi Sunak spoke during the nine day recital of the scripture Ram Katha by the spiritual preacher Morari Bapuat at Jesus College, University of Cambridge. It was the largest gathering of the UK Hindu community. People attending were "overwhelmed" at hearing from the UK's first Hindu prime minister. It is the first time that a Hindu spiritual event has been held at Cambridge University.

Securing India's Internal Security

954 police medals, including 230 for gallantry, announced on Independence Day eve

The Central Reserve Police Force's Assistant Commandant Loukrakpam Ibomcha Singh has been awarded the President's Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG). Among the awardees, 229 police personnel have received the Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG), 82 personnel have received President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service (PPM) and 642 personnel have received the Police Medal for Meritorious Service (PM).

Naxal couple involved in big ambushes surrenders in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh

Kiran Chavhan, Nanda belonged to the Konta Local Organisation Squad (LOS) and was also an Area Agriculture team member. The woman, was a member of Jagargunda LOS. The couple took part in many Naxal attacks and carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh each on their heads. He joined the Naxalite organisation as a 'Bal Sangham' member in 2012 and Nanda became a part of the banned organisation in 2015.

Five Naxalites arrested by UP ATS

The ATS said they had received information that some prominent members of the banned Naxalite organisation, CPI (Maoist), were recruiting new members and propagating Naxalite ideology through proxy organisations for the expansion of their activities in the state districts bordering Bihar and Jharkhand. This was being done with an aim of establishing an armed rebellion and direct rule of their ideology within the country.

Countering Chinese Multi Domain War

Why are China’s young people so disillusioned?

Xi Jinping wants them to focus on the party’s goals. Many cannot see why they should? Young Chinese have little hope for the future. Xi Jinping wants them to toughen up.

Taiwan's Foxconn to invest 'billions' in India expansion push

Key iPhone assembler Foxconn plans to invest "several billion" dollars in India to increase production of electronics components in the country as global tech companies push to diversify their supply chains and suggested even more investment could follow.

Speaking to investors on Monday, Foxconn Chairman Young Liu said the company's India operations have grown many times bigger since it entered the country in 2005, and the next step will be expanding production capacity for key components used in consumer electronics.

Eastern Ladakh row: India, China hold fresh military talks

The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area. The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

Chinese defence minister's warning: 'Playing with fire on Taiwan question...'

Taiwan question is China's internal affair that brooks no external interference. "The reunification of China is an inevitable," The Chinese Defence Ministry said in an official statement. "Playing with fire on the Taiwan question and attempting to 'contain China with Taiwan' will undoubtedly end in failure," The statement quoted Li as saying. Li’s comments echoed previous statements by Chinese officials.

Germany Has Drafted Chinese Investment Curbs

Germany plans to further restrict Chinese influence in Europe’s biggest economy with legislation that expands screening of foreign investment, Handelsblatt reported. Economy Minister Robert Habeck is spearheading the proposed measures, which expand the conditions under which the government can prohibit the participation of non-European Union investors in German companies, according to the newspaper.

Vietnam said to plan military buildup on South China Sea footholds

Vietnam reportedly plans to fortify its military presence on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, where it is locked in territorial disputes with China. The project, led by Vietnam's Defense Ministry and navy, involves constructing and expanding military and other facilities on Pearson Reef and Pigeon Reef, over which Hanoi holds effective control, the Manila Times reports. By building up Hanoi's presence in the Spratlys, "military pressure to neighbor countries can be increased," the document reportedly says. The plan, with an estimated budget of 6.4 trillion dong ($270 million), reportedly includes dredging and landfill work to create land for a massive dock, as well as upgrades to missile and anti-aircraft installations. Hanoi reportedly intends to build housing for not only military personnel, but also civilians, along with transportation, energy systems, and facilities for wastewater treatment and waste disposal.

Indonesia taps local fishers to boost Natuna Islands defense-Modernizing industry emerges as priority in deterring Chinese maritime claims

Once an idyllic archipelago of fishing villages, Indonesia's Natuna Islands in recent years have transformed into the front lines of the country's remote island defenses, amid increased Chinese activity in the area.Earlier this month, staffers from Indonesia's Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry were seen flying drones at a fishery center on Natuna Besar, the archipelago's largest island located around 1,100 km from Jakarta.

China bankrolls Africa railroad to cut Australia iron-ore reliance

Costly infrastructure in Guinea will unlock world's largest untapped source.While China-Australia relations seem to be thawing, Beijing is slowly but surely moving to cut its dependence on Australian iron ore.

Last Friday, mining giant Rio Tinto and a consortium of Chinese state-owned enterprises announced that they had concluded key agreements with the government of Guinea to build a trans-Guinean railway capable of carrying iron ore from the west African nation's inland to the coast.

China claims laser weapon gain on US space dominance

New cooling system may allow China’s ground-based laser weapons to paralyze US satellites in a Taiwan contingency.

China expands farmland in bid to cut foreign food reliance

More than 170,000 hectares have been reclaimed in a drive to cut imports amid global supply chain fears.

Chinese Data Warfare with UK

Chinese hackers want UK secrets .Big data breaches show how UK is vulnerable to attack and how valuable records are to Beijing.Two breaches in one week have exposed the potentially lethal danger of data leaks.Start with the foreign spies who for more than a year ran riot in the Electoral Commission’s computer networks, accessing its email system and the details of 40 million voters registered between 2014 and 2022.

US, South Korea, Japan to launch new defense steps at Camp David

The United States, Japan and South Korea will launch a series of joint initiatives on technology, education and defense when the countries' leaders gather at Camp David this Friday .While the summit is unlikely to produce a formal security arrangement that commits the nations to each others' defense, they will agree to mutual understanding about regional responsibilities and set up a three-way hot line to communicate in times of crisis.

Taiwan Vice President Defiance Against China During U.S. Stopover

For decades, Taiwan has looked to its east coast as a safe haven to survive a Chinese invasion until allies, particularly the U.S., can arrive to assist. But PLA activity around the island’s east has thrown that strategy into question. Taiwan’s vice president vowed not to back down in the face of threats from China during a brief stopover in New York, part of a U.S. visit.

India and Thailand jockey for spot on Asia's chip making map

The full-fledged entry of India and Thailand into the race for semiconductor-manufacturing investment has symbolized the flurry of activity to redraw the industrial map in Asia. At the opening of the Semicon India 2023 industry event in late July, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi played up the strengths his country has to offer the global chip industry. "Who can be a more trusted partner than the world's largest democracy?" he asked in a speech. As the U.S. and China wrangle over controls on transfers and exports of advanced semiconductor technology, India has been angling for opportunities to benefit from major players reorganizing the supply chain. Modi's cabinet approved a 760 billion rupee ($9.14 billion at current rates) program to support domestic semiconductor and display manufacturing.

Japan scrambles jets amid Russian and Chinese naval patrol in Pacific

Japan said on Friday it scrambled fighter jets after two Russian IL-38 information-gathering aircraft were spotted flying between the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea where Russia is holding a joint naval patrol and exercise with China.

Who wants to fly over Taliban-held Afghanistan? New FAA rules allow it, but planes largely avoid it

The United States has eased rules that could allow commercial airlines to fly over Afghanistan in routes that cut travel time and fuel consumption for East-West travel. The move could shorten flight routes for India and Southeast Asia, but raises concerns about how airlines will deal with the Taliban's strict rules for women and their use of anti-aircraft weapons. Despite the lifting of restrictions, airlines will still need to manage the risks of flying over uncontrolled airspace in the country where anti-aircraft weaponry remains. Currently, only Afghan and Iranian carriers are using the country's airspace.

Americans back tariffs, military prep against China:

The two-day poll, which concluded on Tuesday, revealed deep worries among Americans about China's global influence at a time when U.S.-China relations have fallen to their lowest point in decades.

Why China’s $2.9 Trillion Trust Industry Is Sparking Fears of Contagion

Chinese regulators have sought for years to get to grips with the $2.9 trillion trust industry, a corner of the country’s shadow banking sector that offers bigger returns than regular bank deposits but can be fraught with risk. Their fears were underlined in August when trust companies linked to financial giant Zhongzhi Enterprise Group Co. missed payments on several high-yield investment products. The revelation comes at a sensitive time, with many investors already worried about the state of the world’s second-largest economy.

They are loosely regulated firms that pool household savings to offer loans and invest in real estate, stocks, bonds and commodities. No other Chinese financial companies operate across all of these asset classes. The sector was once seen as a safe place for wealthy Chinese to park their money for hefty returns.

But trust firms have defaulted on billions of dollars of investment products in recent years and the industry has shrunk by about 20% from its peak in 2017, when regulators began clamping down on the nation’s shadow-banking excesses.

Ukraine War Effect on India

Would F-16s have made the difference in Ukraine's counteroffensive?

Some experts said the dearth of air power had put Ukraine at a disadvantage this summer against Russian attack, helicopters that have picked off Ukrainian tanks and armored vehicles. At least some of the helicopters are equipped with anti-tank missiles that are too low to be intercepted by Ukraine's air defenses.

Drone shot down in central Moscow

"Debris of the UAV fell down in the area of Expo center," he said referring to a big exhibition space in central Moscow.

Ukraine war giving China pause on Taiwan

Ukraine war has likely focused minds in Beijing on the inherent unpredictability and potential disaster of a miscalculated military invasion.