Army/Navy/Airforce

[dwarakesh]

Indian Army refuses to release spectrum

The indefinite delay of the 3G spectrum auction now looks imminent with Indian Army making it clear that it cannot vacate the spectrum as per the agreed phased manner based on progress of the alternative network.

The government has been asking the defence forces to release the spectrum for commercial use but nothing has materialized yet.

The Defence ministry and the communications ministry have earlier agreed to release the radio frequencies from its three wings – Indian Army, Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy - as per the progress.

But, changing its line - the Army has now said that the spectrum will be vacated for commercial use only after the state telco, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) completes building the alternate networks for the three defence wings. BSNL is scheduled to finish building it in 2011.

BSNL is scheduled to finish the Air Force Network (AFNET) by the middle of this year which will connect about 160 locations at the cost of $221 million (Rs 1,077 crore).

The communication ministry wants Air Force to vacate the airwaves within the given time frame. IAF is likely to release 40 MHz of the spectrum after the completion of building the alternate network which would give some respite to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) as well as the telecom industry.

The crunch in the radio frequencies has been causing great worry for the telcos. The unavailability of required spectrum means poor quality services with a big increase of call drops causing hindrances in the expansion of their subscriber base.

The onus is now on the group of ministers (GoM) to resolve the spectrum crisis. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has recently passed the spectrum auction ball to GoM's court.

The GoM is also expected to endorse the fund of $3 billion (Rs 14,623 crore) to build this alternative network. The CCEA would pass the approval only after GoM endorses it.

The Government has granted licences to quite a number of new telecom players to offer services in 2G spectrum though these players haven't yet managed to launch services with the inadequate or no frequencies.

Existing players have also been demanding more spectrum to usher the growth of their subscriber base.

Source: Telecomtiger

[dwarakesh]

700 attend Territorial Army recruitment

TIRUCHI: Around 700 candidates appeared for the recruitment to the posts of Soldier General Duty, Soldier Clerk General Duty and Soldier Tradesmen conducted by the Territorial Army (TA) here on Tuesday.

The candidates took part in the physical tests comprising one mile run, pull ups and crossing the ditch - all of which were held inside the premises of 117 Infantry Battalion (TA) The Guards, Tiruchi.

At the end, around 70 candidates were short-listed, TA authorities here said adding that the documents of these candidates would be verified on Wednesday followed by medical test on Thursday.

Source: Hindu

[sajiv]

Indian Army ready to face any threat

Thiruvananthapuram, Defence Minister A K Antony today made it clear that the Indian Army was capable of facing any threat from any quarter.

Replying to questions on Al-Qaeda issuing a threat to India, he said, "I have not seen any such report.

"One thing I can tell you...whatever threat is coming from any quarter or in any shape, our Armed forces are ready to face them." To another question about the delay in Pakistan taking action on perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attack even after India submitted its dossier to them, the defebce minister said "my senior colleague, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had already categorically stated the government's view on the issue." Asked about Pakistan's new demand for more evidence, Mr Antony said "Mr Mukherjee had already explained the government's position on the matter. We are one government and one voice on the issue."

[dwarakesh]

Army recruitment rally

COIMBATORE: An Army recruitment rally for Soldier Technical category (on trial basis) will be conducted by the Army Recruiting Office, Coimbatore, from March 5 to 7.

According to an official release, the rally will be to enrol candidates from the districts of Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, Salem, Madurai, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Erode, Namakkal, Theni and Dindigul.

Candidates must be between 17 and a half to 23 years of age. They must have passed Plus-Two with physics, mathematics, chemistry and English as subjects. Married candidates below the age of 21 are not eligible to apply.

Selection for candidates from Coimbatore, Theni, Dharmapuri and Salem will be held on March 5.

Those from Madurai, the Nilgiris and Erode should attend on March 6 and those from Krishnagiri, Dindigul and Namakkal should attend on March 7.

Interested candidates should report to the Army Recruiting Office at 6 a.m.

Written test for selected candidates will be held at the Nehru Stadium, Coimbatore, on March 29 at 5 a.m.

Physical fitness test for successful candidates will be held at the Police Recruiting School, Coimbatore, from April 8 to 10.

[sajiv]

US warships are here

KOCHI: Two US Ships, USS The Sullivans and USCGC Boutwell, are in Kochi on a goodwill visit..During the visit, the crew of more than 500 sailors and coast guards will interact with the people and experience the culture of western seaports of the country. Crew members of both ships will participate in a social reception for the local community leadership, cultural activities, community service projects, military-to-military skills training and sporting events while in port.Commanded by Caption Kevin J Cavanaugh, USCGC Boutwell is named after US Secretary of the Treasury George Boutwell who served under US President Ulysses S Grant. Boutwell serves in a wide range of missions including search and rescue, law enforcement, maritime security, protection of natural resources and national defence.

The Sullivans, commanded by Commander Ryan C Tillotson, is named after the five Sullivan brothers, George, Francis, Joseph, Madison and Albert, who were killed in action aboard the USS Juneau during World War II.

The Sullivans is assigned to Destroyer Squadron 24 and has been deployed to the 7th Fleet area of responsibility since November to conduct routine operations.

[dwarakesh]

Army recruitment rally from March 1

GUNTUR: The Indian Army will hold 'Army Recruitment Rally' for soldier technical category in a revised procedure announced on a trial basis at Guntur from March 1 to 4 at the Army Recruiting Office, according to Director Recruiting Sanjay Kumar Thakur.

The recruitment rally would be organised for candidates from Nellore, Krishna and Chittoor on March 1; for those from Guntur on March 2; for Prakasam applicants on March 3 and on the last day those hailing from Anantapur and Kadapa would be scruitinised. Eligible candidates with Intermediate (10+2) level would be enrolled on these specified dates at the office.

Those candidates wishing to appear at the Common Entrance Examination to be held on March 29 at Secunderabad, must get their physical measurements checked along with certificates on in Guntur.

Medical examination would also be held later at Guntur office. For details candidates could contact offices at Guntur or Secunderabad over phone No. 0863-2230008 and 040-27886916.

[dwarakesh]

Army recruitment rally in Tiruchi from March 4

TIRUCHI: An Army recruitment rally for the posts of Soldier Technical will be conducted at Tiruchi from March 4 to 7.

Male candidates from Tiruchi, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Karur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari districts in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal in the Puducherry Union Territory are eligible to attend the recruitment rally to be held at the Army Recruiting Office in City, an official Press release said.

Candidates must be between 17-and-a-half and 23 years of age and should be of a minimum height of 165 centimetres and weight of 50 kg. The minimum chest expansion should be from 77 to 82 cm. A pass in Plus Two with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English will be the minimum educational qualification. Candidates with vocational subjects are not eligible.

Candidates from Tiruchi, Ramanthapuram, Virudhunagar and Karaikal have to appear for the initial physical measurement tests and screening of documents on March 4 and candidates from Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Perambalur and Ariyalur districts should appear for the same on March 5. Candidates from Tuticorin, Thanjavur, Sivagangai, Tiruvarur and Karur districts should appear for the screening and tests on March 6. March 7 will be a reserve day.

Candidates were required to produce the original SSLC and Plus Two marksheets and submit two photo copies of each, attested by a gazetted officer.

Nativity and community certificates have to be produced in English and Tamil and they should be affixed with the candidates' photographs also attested by the concerned authority. In case of sons of servicemen/exservicemen/widow/war widows, candidates should produce relationship certificates. NCC certificates, if any, and 10 latest colour passport size photographs should also be submitted.

A common entrance examination for successful candidates, who clear the screening, would be held on March 29 at the Army Recruiting Office in Coimbatore.

Physical fitness and medical tests for successful candidates will be held at the Army Recruiting Office in Coimbatore as per the dates furnished by the office, the release said.

[dwarakesh]

Army selection examination held

COIMBATORE: A new procedure will be implemented on a trial basis from April this year for recruitment of soldier technical in the Army, according to Brig. Ravi Varman, Deputy Director General (Recruiting), Headquarters Recruiting Zone, Chennai.

He told presspersons here on Sunday that with the adoption of higher levels of technology in the Army, technically qualified personnel were needed at the soldier level. The candidates should have passed Standard X, Plus-Two (Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry). Normally, the candidates go through documentation tests, physical tests, physical fitness tests, medical examination and then the written examination. In a move to remove the fear among some of the technically qualified candidates that they might not get through the physical fitness tests, the documentation and physical tests would be conducted at the district level. The candidates would then go for the written tests. The physical fitness test would be held after this.

Mr. Varman said though a number of candidates were interested in joining the army, awareness on details of the syllabus and eligibility criteria had to be improved. The Army Recruitment Office at Coimbatore covered 11 districts, including the new Tirupur district. The office organised a selection rally at Namakkal last November and about 9,000 candidates participated. Nearly 800 of the short-listed candidates appeared for the common entrance test last month. Another 325 took the tests here on Sunday.

In order to create awareness about officer-level recruitment, it had suggested to the State Government that photographs could be published on the covers of school notebooks and text books with qualification details. This would help create awareness at school-level, he said.

[dwarakesh]

Army recruitment

DHARMAPURI: Recruitment of soldiers for the technical wing of the military will be held in Coimbatore on Thursday (March 5).

According to a release issued here by the Director, Col. Rajesh Thakkar, Coimbatore, aspiring youths should have passed Physics, Chemistry, Maths and English subjects in Plus-Two. The age should be between 17 and 23.

Selection test

Candidates are directed to appear for selection test at the Nehru Stadium, Coimbatore, along with their original and Xerox copies of certificates of mark sheets of SSLC, Plus-Two, community certificate and birth certificate, the released added.

Source: Hindu

[dwarakesh]

Army recruitment on March 7

KRISHNAGIRI: Recruitment of soldiers for the technical wing of the Army will be held in Coimbatore on Saturday (March 7) for the candidates residing in Krishnagiri district.

According to a release issued here by the Director, Col. Rajesh Thakkar, Coimbatore, those who have selected in physical test would be asked to participate in the entrance examination which will be held on March 29 at the Nehru Stadium, Coimbatore.

Aspiring youths should have passed Physics, Chemistry, Maths and English subjects in Plus-Two.

Candidates are directed to appear for selection test at the Nehru Stadium, Coimbatore, along with their original and photo copies of certificates of mark sheets of SSLC, Plus-Two, community certificate and birth certificate, the released added.

[dwarakesh]

Air Force Academia Meet

COIMBATORE: An Air Force Academia Meet on "Production and Leadership Methods" will be held at the 5 Base Repair Depot (5 BRD), Air Force Station, Sulur, on March 6.

According to an official release, it will be inaugurated by Air Commodore P.K. Srivastava, Air Officer Commanding, 5 BRD, and will be chaired by R. Radhakrishnan, Vice-Chancellor, Anna University, Coimbatore.

Representatives and heads of institutions are expected to attend the meet meant to create awareness among academicians.

[dwarakesh]

Army recruitment rally begins

SALEM: The Indian Army is conducting a recruitment rally for the Soldier Technical category at Coimbatore from March 5.

Candidates from Namakkal, Krishnagiri and Dindigul districts can attend the rally onl March 7.

They should report to the Army Recruiting Office premises at 6 a.m. for pre height check, documents check, physical measurement test and issue of admit card., a press release here has said

Persons aged between 17 years and 6 months and 23 years are eligible to attend the rally.

They should have completed Plus-Two with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English.

The common entrance examination for the successful candidates will be held on March 29 at Nehru Stadium, the release said.

The physical fitness test would be conducted in police recruiting school ground in Coimbatore from April 8 to 10. Candidates should bring in original educational certificates, the release said.

[dwarakesh]

IAF likely to get first Israeli Phalcon radar in May

After over a year of delay in delivery, the Indian Air Force is likely to receive in May 2009 the first of the three Israeli Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) that will enhance the country's surveillance capability.

The all weather system capable of logging 60 targets simultaneously and having a range of 400 kms, will be mounted on Russia delivered Ilyushin-76 aircraft.

"Indian Air Force officials have been regularly checking the system and final details are being worked out which will enable the delivery of the system by second half of May," defence sources here said.

"The remaining two deliveries are likely to come through by Mid of next year or by the third quarter of 2010 if everything works out on schedule," they said.

As per the deal inked in March 2004 at a whopping cost of USD 1.1 billion, all the three 'eye in the sky' airborne radar systems should have delivered by the end of this month.

Technical difficulties involved in integrating the whole system is said to have contributed to the delay in delivery.

The system will provide the IAF with intelligence inputs, helping it to maintain air superiority, improve strike capabilities and conduct tactical surveillance deep into neighbouring countries without violating their airspace.

The United States had earlier pressurised Israel to cancel a similar deal with China in 2000 but gave green light to the deal with India in May 2003.

Meanwhile, the IAF is said to have been in advanced talks with Israel over the procurement of three more Phalcons which it plans to integrate with other air and ground assets through data link.

The Israeli defence ministry last year announced that New Delhi was its single largest importer of defence equipment, constituting about 50 per cent of Israel's defence exports and about 30 per cent of India's imports.

The heads of all the three Indian defence forces visited Israel during the past two and a half years demonstrating the strong ties between the two countries.

source: businessstandard

[dwarakesh]

'IAF will have BrahMos in 2012'

COIMBATORE: The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile will be inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2012, BrahMos Aerospace Chief Executive Officer A. Sivathanu Pillai told presspersons here on Sunday.

The missile was first provided to the Navy and then to the Army after the successful test of the surface-to-surface version.

Efforts were on make some modifications to suit the requirements of the Indian Air Force. The missile would be loaded onto the Sukhoi 30 aircraft, he said.

On the failure of the first surface-to-surface test, Mr. Pillai said it could not be called a failure. During a test, it was possible that a missile might not find the target.

It provided an opportunity to understand the problem and correct it.

This Block II BrahMos missile programme was complicated because the country had to depend on others for GPS (global positioning system) satellites.

Mr. Pillai said that other countries might have begun efforts to develop a supersonic missile after India had developed the BrahMos. Therefore, the next focus for the country was on developing a hypersonic one.

[sajiv]

Maritime seminar to focus on piracy

KOCHI: The threats posed to the seafaring profession by piracy will be the focus of a seminar to be conducted in Kochi as part of the 46th National Maritime Day and Merchant Navy Flag Day celebrations to be observed on April 5. The day is celebrated at all major and minor ports in the country to recognise the role played by the shipping industry in Indian economy and to create awareness about career opportunities related to the shipping sector. Experts from the shipping industry, Indian Navy and maritime law will present papers.

A run will be organised on Saturday from the High Court Junction to Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training.

[sajiv]

465 youth join IAF as Airmen

TAMBARAM: After a passing-out parade at the Indian Air Force Station in Tambaram on Friday, 465 young men joined the IAF as Airmen.

Air Commodore K.N. Kumar, Command Technical Training Officer, Headquarter Training Command, reviewed the parade, addressed the young Airmen and also gave trophies to outstanding Airmen in various trades.

He gave the best all rounder trophy to Vijay Krishnan of Mechanical Training Institute and D.K.Joshi of Workshop Training Institute.

At IAF, Avadi
A passing out parade of automobile technician and automobile fitter trainees was organised at the Mechanical Transport Technician Institute, IAF, Avadi, on the same day.

A press release said that a total of 27 trainees were directly awarded leading aircraftsman grading due to their outstanding performance during the 36 weeks of military training. R.R. Singh and Pawan Kumar were presented best all rounder trophies for Automobile Technician-09 and Automobile Fitter-09 courses respectively.

Air Commodore AV Maini, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Jalahalli, Bangalore, was the chief guest.

Source:hindu

[sajiv]

National Maritime Day celebrated

Dredging Corporation CMD reviews parade at Sailors' Maritime Academy

VISAKHAPATNAM: The 46th National Maritime Day was celebrated at Sailors Maritime Academy at Modavalasa on Sunday.

Dredging Corporation of India CMD S.S. Tripathi reviewed the parade and took salute from the cadets. A renowned senior mariner G.M. Peter participated in the celebration.

As part of the celebration, academy chairman K. Akkiraju felicitated Capt. Peter and parents of cadets who were present on the occasion.

Prizes were given away to the winners in sports and games competitions conducted to mark the occasion. Capt. Tripathi and Capt. Peter advised the trainees to work hard and be disciplined.

Mr. Akkiraju felicitated cadet Aditya Avinash, first batch of DNS, who had gone through the second mate examination, drawing an annual salary of Rs.20 lakhs in a shipping company.

Director of the academy K.V.S. Sridhar, principal Sreedharan, manager K.M. Rao and other staff members were present.

Dignitaries from various organisations, mariners and parents of the trainees participated.

At Coast Guard
The Coast Guard District Headquarters Number 6 celebrated the occasion on its premises by organising painting, elocution and essay-writing competitions on the theme 'Piracy and criminalisation of seafaring profession'.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Commander of the Coat Guard District Headquarters G.P. Raj stated that the nation had made rapid strides in transportation of cargo by the sea route.

However, a lot of technological and infrastructure development with regard to shipbuilding and ship repair was still needed to ensure that India was amongst the top five seafaring economies.

He stressed the need to put down the menace of piracy with an iron hand.

The efforts of the Coast Guard in the past were well recognised and had led to international recognition for the service in combating piracy.

Criminalisation of the seafaring profession could be tackled if measures were taken to improve the conditions of the seafarers.

Cargo handling
At Visakhapatnam Port Trust, its Chairman Ajeya Kallam, at a meeting held on the occasion, said that India, with a large area, long coastline and huge population, was lagging behind in terms of shipping, maritime transport, trade and other related areas.

Shanghai port in China handles more cargo than the cargo handled by all Indian major ports put together. A strong merchant navy was essential for a country to become strong and self-reliant, he said. DIG of Coast Guard G.P. Raj, Chief Vigilance Officer of VPT P.M. Mohan, Surveyor in-charge of Merchant Marine Department S.K. Sinha, Secretary of VPT D. Naresh Kumar, Deputy Conservator of VPT S. Mathur, Chief Mechanical Engineer of VPT S.F. Mumford, Heads of Departments, senior mariners and others participated in the programme.

Earlier, they laid wreaths at the Sailors' Memorial and paid tributes to the seamen who laid down their lives while on voyage in the service of the country.

Prizes were distributed to the winners of essay writing, elocution, photography and painting competitions held for students of colleges and students. Representatives of trade, VPT employees and students attended.

[sajiv]

INS Vikramaditya delivery in 2012: Indian Navy chief news

Panaji: India is likely to take delivery of the long-delayed INS Vikramaditya (ex- Admiral Gorshkov\) aircraft carrier by 2012, according to Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta. He indicated that the matter was on track and only some  ''small monetary issues'' needed to be resolved.

We hope to have the ship in the next two years. There are certain small monetary issues which are being tackled by the government,'' the admiral said on the sidelines of a function organised by Goa Shipyard Limited in the Goa port town of Vasco.

Adm Mehta said that the process of the carrier's transfer was ''progressing satisfactorily''.

The function marked the launch of the largest Indian-built offshore patrol vessel INS Saryu,

Meanwhile in Russia, media reports have quoted Anatoly Isaikin, CEO of Rosoboronexport Corporation, the Russian arms export monopoly, as saying, "Negotiations are currently underway about the setting up of delivery in 2012 and finalising increasing cost of warship."

Isaikin said the Indians understood that the initial price quoted was obviously low and should be revised upwards.

The 44-thousand ton Kiev-class carrier Admiral Gorshkov, was originally meant for induction as INS Vikramaditya in the Indian Navy in August 2008.

The Rosoboronexport official attributed the massive slippage in the project to the deal being signed hastily without proper technical and economic calculations.

''However, this money was not enough (to complete the work). This is also a lesson for us,'' Isaikin told government daily 'Rossiskaya Gazeta'.

According to Isaikin, half the work had been completed and an Indian naval team was supervising the work.

Earlier, a spokesman of Severodvinsk-based SevMash shipyard said that India has made some advance payment pending the final price negotiations and the work was at full swing.

India and Russia had signed a $1.5 billion deal for the Adm Gorshkov carrier, subsequently renamed INS Vikramaditya, in 2005. Of this amount, some $900 million was meant for retrofitting the ship and the remaining was to pay for a squadron of MiG-29K fighters that were to be deployed onboard the ship.

Admiral Gorshkov had been mothballed after a crippling blaze in 1995. 

Citing unforeseen expenses, Russia unilaterally raised the price of the refurbishment to $1.2 billion and subsequently to $2.9 billion. The two sides have met repeatedly to resolve the issue.

Adm Mehta also spoke of a long-term plan to strengthen the Indian Navy. ''We are looking at a fleet of 160 warships and 300 aircraft by 2022,'' he said.

[sajiv]

Navy Chief for city today

Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Chief of Naval Staff, will arrive here on Sunday to chair the annual commanders' conference being hosted by the headquarters of Eastern Naval Command from April 13 to 15. The commanders' conference will be attended by Commanders-in-Chief of the Western, Eastern, Southern Naval Commands, Commander-in-Chief, Andaman Nicobar and Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff. Several flag and senior naval officers from integrated headquarters, Ministry of Defence (navy) and three naval commands will attend.

Maria Teresa Mehta, president-in-chief, Naval Wives' Association, will be accompanying Admiral Mehta.

[sajiv]

Navy evacuates injured CISF men

VISAKHAPATNAM: Two of the CISF constables injured in an attack by the CPI (Maoist) on the Nalco bauxite mines at Panchpatmali in Orissa on Sunday night have been airlifted to the city on Monday by an Indian Navy helicopter sent by the Eastern Naval Command from here.

ENC sent a UH 3H helicopter of the recently commissioned 350 Squadron, piloted by Commander S.L. Narayan, to the Ambedkar Stadium at Damanjodi following a request from the District Collector of Koraput. N.K. Nayak (27) and H.K. Pramanik (21) who were in critical condition, along with four attendants were brought here by the helicopter. They were admitted in a private hospital for treatment.

[sajiv]

PLA Navy will safeguard world peace: Hu

QINGDAO: China will never be a threat to other nations and its armed forces will be an important force in safeguarding world peace and development, Chinese President Hu Jintao has said.

Mr. Hu told the heads of 29 foreign navy delegations that China would neither seek hegemony nor turn to military expansion or arms races. The delegations are here to participate in the 60th anniversary celebrations of the People's Liberation Army Navy.

Mr. Hu said China would stick to the road of peaceful development, which demanded China adhere to its national defence policy which was defensive in nature.

It was a strategic choice made by the Chinese government and people in line with the nation's peace-loving tradition, the trend of the time and China's fundamental interests, said Mr. Hu.

He noted that cooperation and exchanges between naval forces of different countries were key to building a "harmonious ocean," which was the theme of the anniversary celebrations.

The PLA Navy would be more open and practical in international maritime security cooperation and unremittingly work towards the goal of building a harmonious ocean, Mr. Hu added.

Mr. Hu urged the nations to respect each other's sovereignty and interests and to seek mutual development while combating conventional and unconventional threats in the oceans and protecting maritime safety.

Speaking for the foreign navy delegations, Admiral Julio Soares de Moura Neto, commander of the Brazilian Navy, thanked Mr. Hu, who is also the Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and congratulated the PLA Navy on its 60th anniversary. He also expressed his appreciation of the efforts by the Chinese government and the PLA Navy in building a harmonious ocean.

China concluded the four-day celebration on Thursday with an unprecedented parade of PLA Navy warships and an international fleet review. The parade, the fourth since 1949 but the first on such a large and international scale, displayed 25 of the PLA Navy's vessels, including two nuclear-powered submarines, and 31 naval aircraft.

The parade was followed by an international fleet review which saw the participation of 21 foreign vessels from 14 countries, including the United States' destroyer USS Fitzgerald and the Russian cruiser CG-011 Varyag.

Mr. Hu reviewed the Chinese warships and their foreign counterparts from onboard the PLA Navy destroyer Shijiazhuang in the waters off the port city of Qingdao.

More than 200 military officers from foreign embassies in China, reporters and Chinese people from various social circles observed the fleet review on the viewing ship Zhenghe.

According to Rear-Admiral Zhang Shiying, deputy commander of the PLA Navy's Beihai (North Sea) Fleet, all the Chinese vessels and aircraft paraded were independently designed and made by China and represented the latest Navy equipment.

PLA Navy Commander Admiral Wu Shengli also said the celebration was aimed at demonstrating China's determination and capability to maintain a peaceful, harmonious ocean together with other nations.

Thursday afternoon's PLA Navy parade also featured the two Chinese nuclear submarines, the Long March 6 and the Long March 3. It was the first-ever public appearance of the PLA Navy's nuclear submarines.

[sajiv]

Army lifts parking ban on Kamaraj Road

Warns of enforcing it again if the area is not maintained properly

Bangalore Commercial Association comes forward to maintain the area

Army had banned parking on the road since April 15

Bangalore: The Army authorities on Friday lifted the ban imposed on parking of vehicles on the western side of Kamaraj Road, near Commercial Street, after the Bangalore Commercial Association (BCA) came forward to maintain the area.

However, the Army authorities have made it clear that the ban on parking will be enforced again if the BCA failed to maintain the area as agreed upon.

The Headquarters of the Karnataka and Kerala Sub-area, to which the land belongs to, had banned parking since April 15 complaining that the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike had failed to prevent dumping of garbage, illegal collection of parking, urinating, illegal occupation by street-side vendors, and some illegal "shelter."

According to a press release issued by the Defence authorities, "the apathy by the State officials and their procedural delays had forced the BCA to put across proposals to appease the Army authorities and abide by the conditions laid down by them."

The release said the time-bound projects proposed by the BCA and supported by the BBMP had finally been accepted by the Karnataka and Kerala Sub-area officials and parking on Kamaraj Road had been recommenced giving much needed relief to the weekend shoppers.

The BCA, the release added, undertook to put up Bougainville plants with chain linked fencing on the sides, construction of toilet complex, appointing guards to evict vendors and squatters, etc.

However, the Army authorities have set a deadline of June 30, 2009 for the BCA — members of which are the shopkeepers around Commercial Street who are the beneficiaries of shoppers using this parking lot — to provide all these facilities. Colonel S. Kemparaj, Colonel General Staff of Headquarters, Karnataka and Kerala Sub-area, clarified that they would be compelled to re-impose ban on parking from July 1 if the BCA failed to keep up its promise.

Meanwhile, the BBMP officials said that they could not do much on maintaining parking as the land belong to the Army authorities and they would provide necessary support to the Army authorities and the BCA within the scope of rules.

[sajiv]

'Laser within a laser' could take out bombs

Reports indicate that the US Army is working on developing a laser within a laser that could blow up roadside bombs and explosive-laden vehicles from a distance.

A side effect of high-energy lasers is that they heat up and ionize the air molecules they pass through.

For a brief moment after the laser beam has stopped firing, a long narrow tube of ionized plasmas hangs in the air — a perfect conductor for any kind of electromagnetic pulse you may want to send through it.

Now, according to a report in Wired News, researchers at the Army's Armament Research Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) in Picatinny, New Jersey have another idea — super high-energy microwaves.

Microwave weapons already have been tried, but not really used, because the beams scatter so much that there's a high risk of "self kill" to nearby personnel.

Meanwhile, lasers are well understood, but need tremendous amounts of energy to even approach being dangerous.

So, the ARDEC crew is combining the best of both worlds — using a laser to create a focused plasma channel microwaves can't escape, then firing microwaves down it.

Called the Multimode Directed Energy Armament System by the researchers, the weapon "defeats/neutralise full spectrum of materiel threats at stand off" and have "scalable effects from non-lethal to lethal."

[dwarakesh]

Army recruitment rally begins on May 21

Kozhikode: An open army recruitment rally will be conducted by the Army Recruiting Office, Kozhikode, at the Calicut University Stadium at Tenhipalam from May 21 to 26.

The rally is meant for male candidates from the districts of north Kerala, including the Union Territories of Mahe and Lakshadweep. Eligible candidates will be enrolled to the categories of soldier general duty, soldier (clerk/ stores keeper technical), soldier nursing assistant, soldier technical and tradesmen. Candidates may report at the venue at 5 a.m. on May 21

[dwarakesh]

Army recruitment

KOZHIKODE: An Army recruitment rally will be held for the posts of soldier clerk, nursing assistant, soldier technical and soldier general duty at the

Calicut University Stadium near here from May 21 to 26. Candidates from Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad,

Thrissur, Lakshadweep and Mahe can participate. For details, contact the Army recruitment office here.

[sajiv]

Lasers to "talk" to submarines in future

Navy physicists have announced that lasers, which can create loud bangs under the sea, might someday replace sonar for sending messages to submarines.

Conventional sonar mapping uses pulses of sound, which require towed arrays of speakers and receivers.

"You have to pull (the array) with a vessel," said Ted Jones, a plasma physicist with the US Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC. "It's slow and expensive. It might take hours or even days to search a large area," he added.

According to a report in National Geographic News the new technique, which is a 21st-century form of Morse code, uses self-focusing laser beams to superheat BB-size quantities of water up to 70 feet (20 meters) beneath the waves.

"The result is a little piston of steam that expands at supersonic speeds, creating an underwater bang loud enough to be heard miles away," Jones said.

The laser pings could also be used for any of the other things normally done with sonar, such as searching for underwater objects or mapping the seabed.

To conduct a search, users could disperse passive-sonar buoys, which are designed to listen but not transmit.

Then an airplane could fly overhead, beaming laser-generated pings across the search region.

"You could quickly do a sonar search over a large area," Jones said.

In designing the new technique, the biggest challenge was getting the laser beam to focus its energy on a small enough area to generate the pop.

"One trick is to make the beam more intense at its core, so the middle section of the beam heats the water fastest," Jones said.

That heat causes the light around the core to bend inward until the beam focuses into a tiny point.

At the same time, the laser is made up of different wavelengths of light, which travel through water at slightly different speeds.

"If you put the slowest first and fastest at the end, it will quickly build up energy at the focal point until the superheated water goes bang," Jones said.

According to Robert J. Sawyer, a Canadian science fiction writer, one advantage of using a laser beam to communicate with submarines is that the beam would be difficult to intercept above ground.

[dwarakesh]

150 candidates attend army recruitment drive

TIRUCHI: Around 150 candidates turned up for the recruitment of Soldier (General Duty) in Territorial Army here on Wednesday.

The candidates underwent physical test inside the 117 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) The Guards premises in the city.

This was followed by verification of documents of the candidates.

The medical test for the short-listed candidates would take place on Thursday after which the eligible candidates would be selected, authorities here said.

[dwarakesh]

IAF recruitment rally

CHENNAI: A recruitment rally for the Indian Air Force will be held at the Air Force Station, Tambaram, from July 24 to 28. The task has been

entrusted to eight Airmen Selection Centre located at Air Force Station, Tambaram, that will cover recruitment of personnel below officer rank

(PBOR) for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

[dwarakesh]

Air Force recruitment

ELURU: Applications are invited from unemployed and unmarried youths who passed Intermediate course for the posts of Trademen in the Indian

Air Force. Candidates should have been born between October 1, 1989, and February 28, 1993. Applications shall be submitted to the President,

Central Airmen Selection Board, Post Box No. 11807, New Delhi, 110010.

[dwarakesh]

Army recruitment

Chickaballapur: The Army will hold a rally at Chamundivihar Stadium in Mysore from July 2 to 6 to recruit personnel for technical and non-technical

posts.

[sajiv]

Indian Navy's first air squadron turns 50

Kochi: It has been 50 years since the Indian Navy's tryst with aviation took wings on a modest airstrip here. On June 17, the first naval air squadron, INAS 550 — christened 'Flying Fish' signifying the confluence of the surface and air elements of the maritime force – will celebrate its golden jubilee. The Navy plans to commemorate the day with the release of a first-day cover and a coffee table book.

"As luck would have it, we have operated from the same premises all these years," Commander P.V.S. Satish, Commanding Officer (CO) of INAS 550, told The Hindu. "The hangar is still the same. But the squadron, being the fountainhead of naval aviation, has been at the forefront of the transition that has taken place over time."

In hindsight, the establishment of a Fleet Requirement Unit (FRU) in Kochi to cater to aircraft targets for gunnery and radar-tracking practice and for radar and communication calibration in 1951 was a watershed in the history of the Indian Navy's air arm. Close on its heels, the first Naval Air Station, INS Garuda, was commissioned in 1953. By then, the Navy had already begun inducting the amphibian Sealand aircraft, the first of which, INS 101, touched ground here on February 4, 1953.

Two years later, target-towing Firefly Mk-4 TT aircraft was inducted into the FRU fleet, as the Sealand was unsuitable for anti-aircraft firing practice. Ultimately, when the FRU was rededicated as INAS 550 in 1959, its fleet comprised 10 Sealand, 10 Firefly and three HT2 aircraft.

"Over the years, the Fish has operated 10 different types of aircraft. Apart from the Sealand, the Firefly and the Dove, we have held Mi-4 and Chetak helicopters as well. We have also flown the HT2, HPT 32, Alize, Kiran, and Vampire aircraft," says Commander Satish.

At present, it has some upgraded Islander aircraft with turbo prop engine; its older version, piston-engine Islander; and the Dorniers that joined in 1998.
Yeomen service

The Fish had its saddest moment in history on March 2 in 1962, when it got disbanded following manpower crunch coupled with poor serviceability of the Sealand. However, the Navy's abortive bid to trade it off for a suitable replacement led to its revival seven months later.

"In the 1960s, the Fish, especially its first rotary wing aircraft, Mi-4, provided yeomen assistance to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) during rocket launches from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station," says Commander Satish.

The arrival of the mighty Britten-Norman Islander aircraft in 1976 was another landmark as the squadron's maritime reconnaissance capabilities went up manifold. In due course, the Dorniers arrived and acquired the 'deep-look' capability after they were fitted with the Elta Airborne Maritime Optronic Stabilised Payload (AMOSP). Besides maritime reconnaissance and surveillance and providing targets for firing practice, INAS 550 also has the onus of training Navy pilots for conversion to twin-engine aircraft. Training of air observers is another cardinal job.
Stalwarts

The Fish has fostered in its fold many stalwart pilots like Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Chief of the Naval Staff, who as a young Sea Hawk pilot was deputed to take off from Kochi during the 1965 action. Admiral Arun Prakash (retired), former Chief of the Naval Staff and a fighter pilot, had logged over 10 flying hours apart from test piloting the Islander BN-2-A in the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom when he got posted to the squadron in 1975.

He remembers that the squadron CO and himself "ceremoniously removed our shoes before walking down a carpeted aisle to step gingerly into the Islander" that had been flown into Kochi by two British lady pilots on May 18, 1976. "Flying the Islander in and around Cochin was enormous fun," he says. "The leisurely speed and the ceiling of 10,000 feet required one to keep a good lookout for bad weather, and the Islander's high-wing configuration made for a rough ride if you got anywhere near a CB (Cumulonimbus) cell. But then you had a weather-radar, which not only warned you of rain-bearing clouds but also gave the Flying Fish a genuine maritime reconnaissance capability, non-existent in the Navy then," he says.

[dwarakesh]

Army recruitment rally

SALEM: Indian Army will conduct a recruitment drive at Dharmapuri from June 1 to June 8 at the District Sports Stadium.

Those who belong to Erode, Nilgiris, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul, Namakkal, Madurai, Tirupur and Salem districts can participate.

Selections will be made for jobs in Soldier Technical and Nursing Assistant for which Plus II and High School Pass is the qualification. Examinations will be held on June 2.

[dwarakesh]

Army recruitment camp in Tiruvannamalai

VELLORE: An army recruitment camp will be held for candidates from Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Vellore, Villupuram, Cuddalore and Tiruvannamalai districts and the Union Territory of Puducherry at the District Sports Complex in Tiruvannamalai from June 10 to 16.

According to a release from C. Rajendran, Collector of Vellore, recruitment would be held for the posts of soldier (technical), soldier (nursing assistant), soldier (general duty), tradesman, soldier (clerk) and stores keeper.

A screening test would be conducted for Plus-Two passed candidates (with physics, chemistry, mathematics and English) applying for the posts of soldier (technical), soldier (nursing assistant) and soldier (general duty) from the above seven districts and the Union Territory of Puducherry on June10. A common written test would be conducted for soldier (technical) and soldier (general duty) candidates.

Screening test would be held on June 11 for Matriculation/10th standard passed candidates applying for soldier (general duty) from the districts of Vellore, Cuddalore, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram, and on June 12 for Matriculation/10th standard passed candidates from Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram and Chennai districts and Puducherry.

The screening test would be held on June 13 for candidates applying for the post of tradesman from the above seven districts and Puducherry, and on June 14 for those applying for soldier (clerk) and stores-keeper from the above seven districts and Puducherry.

[dwarakesh]

Army recruitment camp

Tiruvannamalai: A week-long Army recruitment camp began in the District Sports Complex in Tiruvannamalai on Wednesday.

Recruitment is being carried out for posts including nursing assistants and sepoy. Certificate verification was alone was done on Wednesday. Collector M. Rajendran visited the camp accompanied by District Revenue Officer G. Thamarai.

Director of Recruitments K. Haridoss received them.

Col. Haridoss told reporters that about 300-350 persons would be recruited.

[dwarakesh]

Army recruitment rally from June 23 to 29

SHIMOGA: An Army recruitment rally will be held at the Nehru Stadium here from June 23 to 29.

The rally will be conducted for soldier general duty from June 23 and 24, for soldier clerk/store keeper technical, soldier technical and nursing assistant on June 25, according to a press release.

Children of servicemen/ex-servicemen/widows/war widows, NCC certificate holders and sportsmen who have obtained first or second position in State/national and university level for all the categories will be screened on June 26.

e-enrolment of ex-servicemen of Army/Navy/Air Force into DSC as soldier general duty will also be held on June 26 and soldier tradesman and soldier general duty for animal and store handler on June 27. Only male candidates who are permanent residents of Uttar Kannada, Dakshinsa Kannada, Hassan, Kodagu, Udipi, Chikmagalur, Shimoga, Chitradurga and Davangere districts are eligible to attend the rally.

However, candidates from Belgaum, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Koppal and Gadag districts, who have passed 10th and 10+2 in the academic year 2009, will be screened.

The event is an open rally and there is no requirement of applications. The candidates must bring 12 colour photographs, education certificates, character certificate issued within six months from the date of rally, residence and caste certificate from Tahsildlar in English, NCC, sports and other certificates along with two photocopies of each certificate duly attested.

[sajiv]

Navy to keep runway open for 16 hours

VISAKHAPATNAM: There is good new for air travellers from the recently modernised Visakhapatnam airport.

In a step towards achieving round-the-clock operations, the duration of flight operations at the airport has been increased to 16 hours a day. At present, air traffic is limited to nine hours, that is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

According to Air Travellers' Association (India), Indian Navy, which controls air traffic, has agreed to keep the runway open from 0600 hours till 2200 hours every day. President of the ATA D. Varada Reddy, who met Navy officials concerned and made the representation, said the increased hours of air traffic would have immediate effect. This would provide lot of scope for domestic and international services.

[dwarakesh]

Army recruitment

SANGAREDDY: Applications are invited for the recruitment in the Army from persons between the age group of 27 to 34 who completed either Intermediate or degree with 160 cm height, 50 kg weight and 77 cm chest. Applications can be had from the Army recruitment office at Secunderabad. Last date for filing application is July 11, according to a release here on Friday.

[dwarakesh]

IAF recruitment rally in Tambaram on July 24, 26

The Indian Air Force will be conducting a recruitment rally for Air Warrior Group 'Y' Non-Technical Trades at the Air Force Station in Tambaram on July 24, and for Air Warrior Group 'X' Technical Trades at the same venue on July 26.

According to a release issued by the Information and Public Relations Department, Vellore, unmarried male youth belonging to all districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, who were born between July 1, 1988 and September 30, 1992, and who have the requisite qualifications are eligible to participate.

Candidates applying for Group 'Y' Non-Technical Trades should have passed Plus-Two or Intermediate (except vocational groups) with a minimum of 50 per cent marks in overall aggregate or 3-year Diploma in Engineering (mechanical/electrical/electronics/automobile/computer science/instrumentation technology/Information Technology) with at least 50 per cent marks, from a government-recognised polytechnic institute. Candidates applying for Group 'X' Technical Trades should have passed Plus-Two or Intermediate (except vocational groups) with mathematics and physics, with a minimum of 50 per cent marks in overall aggregate or 3-year Diploma in Engineering (mechanical/electrical/electronics/automobile/computer science/instrumentation technology/Information Technology) from a government-recognised polytechnic institute.

Candidates should report to the rally site between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. on the relevant dates with original pass certificates and mark sheets of Standard X, or matric and Plus-Two or Intermediate or Diploma and NCC certificates (if any), three photocopies of all original certificates, two blank white envelopes of size 24 cm x 10 cm, domicile certificate with photocopy (if applicable), seven copies of recent passport size colour photos (without cap) and sports kit for physical fitness test (shorts & canvas shoe). Further details could be had by visiting www.indianairforce.nic.in/www.careerairforce.nic.in or by contacting 044-22791853/22395553 (extension 3359).

[sajiv]

'Navy prepared to foil any terror attack'

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta has said that the Navy is fully prepared to foil any attempt by terrorists to sneak into the country through the sea route.

Talking to reporters at the EME Sailing Club here on Wednesday, he said "let them come, we are fully prepared for them. There are enough measures that have been put in place" when asked about intelligence inputs that terrorists might come through the sea route. These kinds of intelligence inputs were based on certain developments, he said "but we are prepared for it at all times."

He said "all the agencies" had been brought together into a well-knit organisation "so that we don't allow these kinds of things to happen."

Asked if the Navy had spoken to Maharashtra and Goa governments, Admiral Mehta said, "We have spoken to all State governments. Some State governments are speaking to us on their own. You may not be aware but you should know what is happening on the East Coast. Along the East Coast, exercises are being conducted in one State after another. Such exercises are being conducted in Andhra Pradesh now. The agencies are taught what they should do."

Replying to another question, he said the effort was to make fool-proof security along the coastline. Pointing to the long coast line of 7,500 km, he said the State governments had to give resources like marine police, marine police stations and policemen. "Once all such measures are put in place, security will be foolproof," he added. To another question, he said that adequate measures have been put in place(to safeguard) nuclear installations.

[dwarakesh]

Air Force recruitment rally

COIMBATORE: The Indian Air Force will conduct a recruitment rally at the Air Force Station, Tambaram, from July 24 to 28.

According to a release from the Assistant Director, Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Coimbatore, the recruitment will be to select personnel for the Group Y (non-technical trades) and Group X (technical trades).

Persons interested in attending the rally should be born between July 1, 1988 and September 30, 1992. The selection for Group Y will be held on July 24.

Those selected will have to undergo a medical examination on July 25.

Candidates applying for the Group Y category should have completed Plus Two with a minimum of 50 per cent in any group other than vocational group.

They can also be a diploma holder from a recognised Polytechnic Institute holding a diploma in mechanical, electrical, electronics, automobile, computer science, instrumentation or information technology. Candidates applying for the Group X category should have completed Plus Two with mathematics and science subjects with a minimum of 50 per cent. The selection for Group X will be held on July 26.

Those selected in this will have to undergo a medical examination on July 27. For details, visit www.indianairforce.nic.in or www.careerairforce.nic.in / call 044-22791853 / 22395553 extn. 3359.

[dwarakesh]

Recruitment of airmen begins

TAMBARAM: Recruitment for the post of airmen from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry began at the Indian Air Force Station in Tambaram on Friday.

Several hundred youths from all over the State and Union Territory have been arriving since last evening.

They reported at the Air Force Station 6 a.m. on Friday. The candidates were divided into batches before being allowed inside the IAF premises. IAF officials said the youth were subject to preliminary examinations that included physical fitness and tests on general knowledge.

The shortlist of candidates would be sent to the IAF headquarters and the successful youth selected for training would be intimated by post. On Friday, the selection was for non-technical trades.

On Sunday, selection for the technical trades would be made.

[dwarakesh]

Army exam results

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The result of the July 26 common entrance examinationfor recruitment of Soldier General Duty, Technical and Tradesman will be announced at 3 p.m. on August 14.

The candidates must be present along with admit card and original documents at the Army Recruiting Office, Pangode, Thiruvananthapuram.

[dwarakesh]

Army recruitment rally

ELURU: Army recruitment rally will be held in Visakhapatnam from August 3 to 9 for recruitment of posts under different categories, according to the

Chief Executive Officer, SETWELL, West Godavari district. The candidates in 17-23 years age group who passed 8th, 10th standards and

intermediate, are requested to attend the recruitment drive from the district. The posts notified for recruitment were soldier (Technical), Nursing

Assistant, Soldier (General duty), Soldier (Tradesman) and Store-keeper.

[anymnstusly]

Learn about Thai from a Westerner. Greatest and Worst practices and how I arrived to turn my language abilities into a ability folks pay for. Appear forward to viewing you there
thailand language