Palastine's resolution at UN Security Council VETOED by USA

      A resolution that was spearheaded by Palastine was vetoed by USA at the UNSC. The Palestinian draft resolution called for an end to Israel's 'occupation'.  The resolution gives 12 months for a “just, lasting and comprehensive peaceful solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which it regards as the creation of a “sovereign and viable” Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, as well as the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the occupied territory by 2017. The resolution gathered only 8 'yes' votes against a minimum of 9 votes that would ensure passage of the draft. The United States, however, exercised its veto thereby blocking draft's passage. Other veto-wielding powers namely China, France & Russia voted in favour of the draft while Britain chose to abstain. Among the non-permanent member only the Australians voted against the draft. The rest either voted in favour or abstained. Angry Palestine has lashed out at the United Nations Security Council’s failure to approve a draft resolution demanding the recognition of an independent Palestinian state.“They had ample opportunity to engage and be part of this effort,” said Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, on Tuesday, adding, “How long do we have to wait?”  The African state of Nigeria which was considered as a key state that would support Palestine, pulled a surprise by abstaining from vote.

 

France wants India to revive SR-SAM 'Maitri' missile project

     After bagging India's USD 20 billion MMRCA deal, France wants to deepen the defence cooperation with India. In the year 2013, a US$ 6 billion deal to jointly develop a Quick reaction surface-to-air missile (SAM) named 'Maitri' was finalized during talks between India's then Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh & the French President Mr.Francois Hollande. It was decided that India's DRDO & the French MBDA But as of now the fate of the project is in doldrums. Given that India's own short-range SAM system named 'Akash' is a roaring success, the indifference of Indian Armed forces towards the 'Maitri' project seems to be apparent. Asked about reservations by the Indian Air Force, a top MBDA official in Paris told PTI, "we have written back answering the issues raised by the IAF. We are hopeful that this deal would be inked soon." He added that while the range of Maitri will be of 40 km, Akash's range is only 25 km. Sources at Indian Air Force said that they have nothing against the Maitri project per se but would prefer to use the available Akash missile rather than wait for the Indo-French ones to come. "The Maitri project can go on but we want the missiles and Akash is serving that purpose," IAF sources said. If the Maitri project is revived then it will build on the work done by DRDO while developing the Trishul missile (which was scrapped by Indian government), using technology transfer from MBDA to fill the technological gaps that led to the failure of the Trishul project. In simple words Maitri is going to be a blend of India's Trishul & MICA missile of France. It is to be noted that India has already placed orders for 490 MICA missiles (at a cost of INR 7,000 crores) for its fleet of Mirage-2000 fighter aircrafts.

Indo-French Maitri missile system

Triumphant ISRO bracing up for 2015

    India's premier space research agency ISRO is bracing up for 2015 - which is going to be a hectic year of launches. Looking back at the year 2014, ISRO has accomplished three important things besides its usual launch schedule (this year ISRO has made 5 launches) . One is successful injection of MOM Mars orbiter into Martian orbit which made India the first nation in the world to reach the red planet in its maiden attempt. Second is the successful maiden launch of GSLV-3 monster rocket which piggybacked the CARE module which is a technology demonstrator of India's future Orbital Vehicle. Third is the success story of GSLV-2 D5 rocket which was powered by India's indigenous cryogenic engine CE 7.5. Besides India also launched 5 foreign satellites on-board PSLV C-23 rocket. Of the five foreign satellites, two were from Canada, one each from France, Germany & Singapore. After ending the year 2014 on a high note, the schedule for 2015 too seems to be encouraging. Interestingly on Jan 1st, India's MOM Mars orbiter will mark the completion of 100 days in Martian orbit. What a way to begin the year!!!!! Here is the list of missions scheduled for 2015.

1. Completion of regional navigation system IRNSS. With IRNSS 1A, 1B & 1C already put in orbit, ISRO will launch the remaining 4 satellites (1D to 1G) in 2015. With this India will become fifth nation (behind US, Russia, China & ESA) to have its own navigation system (consisting of a constellation of 7 satellites).

2. India will also launch one communication satellite named GSAT-6 weighing some 4,700 pounds & carrying 10 transponders.

3. Astrosat (Astronomy satellite) -  India's first 'telescope in space' & has six instruments. It is meant for sky survey using its UV-band Imaging telescope (UVIT) & Soft X-ray band imaging Telescope (SXT). For this mission ISRO is partnering with TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, India) & the Canadian Space Agency. Astrosat will have a lifespan of 5 years & will be weighing 1,650 Kgs (3,600 pounds)

4. ISRO is planning to launch as many as 12 satellites in 2015 (6 Indian & 6 foreign). Of the 6 foreign satellites, 3 are British, 2 are from Indonesia & one from Germany. If this mission turns out to be a success, then it would take total number of foreign satellites launched by India to 46 (from 20 countries & in about 12 launches)

India's MOM orbiter enters Martian orbit on 24.09.14 - mission's lifespan extended to 1 year

India's 640-tonne monster rocket GSLV-3 was a success in its maiden launch

 The CARE module that splashed into Bay of Bengal

Successful launch of GSLV D5 powered by an Made -by & in- India cryogenic engine

Graphical representation of Astrosat - India's first astronomy satellite to study distant stars

Kolkata class Destroyers - Pride of Indian Navy

     16th of August 2014 was a significant day for the Indian Navy - It was the day in which first of three Kolkata-class stealth guided missile destroyers was commissioned into service in the presence of Prime Minister Modi. These giant ships are doubtlessly a success story for Indian shipbuilding industry. Most importantly these ships are the first to be equipped with state-of-the-art AESA radars. Apart from Signature management features to impart stealth capability, they are also armed with 2 X 16 BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile & Barak-8 interceptor missiles. With all these features, Kolkata class destroyers are among the finest destroyers in the world. The first lot of three ships (INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Chennai) are being built at a cost of INR 11,662 crores (USD 2 billion) & the Indian Navy has placed orders for four more follow-on ships to replace its aging fleet of five Rajput-class destroyers. Let us now revisit this important feat. Here are some classy pics of the 7,500 tonne giant INS Kolkata sailing through high seas in all its majestic splendor.

 

Death toll in Assam violence reaches 75 - Home Minister orders military operation against NDFB

    A day after NDFB militants unleashed havoc on innocent Adivasis in Assam, Union Home Minister Mr.Rajnath Singh has declared an all-out war against NDFB. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the Home Minister and attended by top officials of Ministries of Home, Defence and Paramilitary Forces, sources said. "This was an act of terror and we will deal with it accordingly... whatever action is required, we will take," Rajnath Singh told reporters after the meeting. The Home Ministry has also asked the Army to mobilize troops from its Sonitpur unit for the operation. Already 5,000 personnel of paramilitary forces have been rushed to Assam to assist the state government to deal with the situation.

     Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the militant attacks in Assam. He has sanctioned ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to seriously injured persons from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. Rs. 86 lakh is being released to the Assam state government from PMNRF. As of now, the death toll in Wednesday's carnage has crossed 75 while more than 200 people have been reported missing in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts of Assam.

Official flag of NDFB

Obama okays US$ 1 billion aid package to Pakistan for the year 2015

     In what could be a great news for Pakistan, the United States government has allocated US$ 1 billion in aid for Pakistan for the year 2015 alone. The National Defense Authorization act, signed recently by President Obama, sets the overall defense expenditure of US at a staggering USD 578 billion which also includes provision to release 'Coalition Support Fund' amounting to USD 1 billion to Pakistan. This grant is in addition to USD 25.91 billion that has flowed into Pakistan from the pockets of American taxpayers since 9/11. An break-up analysis reveals that two-thirds of this amount (about USD 17.2 billion) has been given as 'military assistance' that is meant for Pakistani Army & ISI.

     

    Strangely, in spite of all these funds, US (alongside India) has been one of the most hated nation in Pakistan. This is all because of Pakistan's Media which has a bizarre policy of blaming India & US for all militancy in Pakistan.   

 

Pakistanis during Anti-American protests following Operation Geronima

The National Defence Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2015, signed by Obama on Friday, sets overall defence spending at USD 578 billion which has provision for release of Coalition Support Fund amounting to USD 1 billion to Pakistan. - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/world/americas/barack-obama-signs-massive-defence-budget-one-billion-dollars-to-pakistan/#sthash.SjfvdqUZ.dpuf

The National Defence Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2015, signed by Obama on Friday, sets overall defence spending at USD 578 billion which has provision for release of Coalition Support Fund amounting to USD 1 billion to Pakistan. - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/world/americas/barack-obama-signs-massive-defence-budget-one-billion-dollars-to-pakistan/#sthash.SjfvdqUZ.dpuf

The National Defence Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2015, signed by Obama on Friday, sets overall defence spending at USD 578 billion which has provision for release of Coalition Support Fund amounting to USD 1 billion to Pakistan. - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/world/americas/barack-obama-signs-massive-defence-budget-one-billion-dollars-to-pakistan/#sthash.SjfvdqUZ.dpuf

The National Defence Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2015, signed by Obama on Friday, sets overall defence spending at USD 578 billion which has provision for release of Coalition Support Fund amounting to USD 1 billion to Pakistan. - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/world/americas/barack-obama-signs-massive-defence-budget-one-billion-dollars-to-pakistan/#sthash.SjfvdqUZ.dpuf

The National Defence Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2015, signed by Obama on Friday, sets overall defence spending at USD 578 billion which has provision for release of Coalition Support Fund amounting to USD 1 billion to Pakistan. - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/world/americas/barack-obama-signs-massive-defence-budget-one-billion-dollars-to-pakistan/#sthash.SjfvdqUZ.dpuf

The National Defence Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2015, signed by Obama on Friday, sets overall defence spending at USD 578 billion which has provision for release of Coalition Support Fund amounting to USD 1 billion to Pakistan. - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/world/americas/barack-obama-signs-massive-defence-budget-one-billion-dollars-to-pakistan/#sthash.SjfvdqUZ.dpuf

North Korea knocked offline - suffers unprecedented internet outage

     North Korea reportedly suffered unprecedented nationwide internet outage for several hours before being restored today. But the effects of the outage have been minimal given that North Korea is one of the least connected nations. North Korea has been in confrontational mode with the US over Sony cyber attack issue. U.S. President Barack Obama vowed to respond to the major cyberattack, which he blamed on North Korea, "in a place and time and manner that we choose." So it is natural that one may doubt US role in outage. Some experts believe that North Korea itself might have turned the internet off in order to prevent its citizens from knowing more about the Sony hacking issue. Unlike other nations, North Korea relies completely on an Chinese telecom company named 'China Unicom' for all its internet services which fueled speculations that it is China that has knocked North Korea offline. But the Chinese foreign ministry quickly denied any role putting an end to such rumours. The 10-hour long outage (which began yesterday) came to an end with North Korean websites coming back online gradually.

CARE module reaches Ennore port - ISRO to study recorded data

     The CARE (Crew-module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment) module which is a prototype of India's future orbital vehicle has been recovered by a Coast Guard ship & has reached Ennore port in Chennai. ISRO scientists at VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Trivandrum) will be analyzing all the data collected by the module. "The crew module has around 200 sensors to record various aspects of the flight. Our team at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvanthapuram will study the data," S.Somanath, project director, GSLV-Mark III said. He added that a static recorder of the crew module has recorded the various aspects - thermal, acoustics, velocity, electronics performance and others. The recordings were done when the module was in its descent. ISRO successfully tested its heaviest next-generation rocket - the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mark III) - few days ago. The crew module remained in air for around 20 minutes before splashing in Bay of Bengal. It was recovered by Indian Coast Guard ship 'ICGS Samudra Paheredar' and was brought to Ennore Kamarajar Port. "The module will be transported to Sriharikota (where the rocket port is located in Andhra Pradesh). At Sriharikota the module's on-board fuel tanks would be cleaned and then sent to VSSC where the data would be studied," Somanath said.

 The CARE module being given 'final touch' prior to launch

 The interior design of the CARE module

The spectacular lift-off of India GSLV-3 rocket that carried the CARE module

In a first, India exports Patrol vessel to Mauritius

    Yesterday India's state-owned Garden Reach Shipyard & Engineers (GRSE) handed over an 1350-tonne & 74 metres long naval vessel named 'CGS Barracuda' to Mauritius. Though the contract to build this Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) is valued at a skimpy INR 350 crores (US$ 55 million), this is the first time that an Indian shipyard is 'exporting' a warship to a foreign nation on a commercial basis. According to figures tabled in Parliament on November 28, India’s total defense exports were Rs 512.48 crore in 2011-12; Rs 446.75 crore in 2012-13; 686.27 crore in 2013-14 (cumulatively Rs.1646 crore or US$ 270 million during 2011-14). In this fiscal, value of India's defense exports has been a paltry Rs 166 crore till month of September. The export of the Barracuda would, therefore, be a significant success. Seeking to expand its international footprint, the state-owned GRSE will be supplying 4-7 Fast Patrol Boats, each weighing some 140-tonne, to the Vietnamese navy. Hanoi will draw down on a US$100-million (INR 600 crores) line of credit extended by India to buy these boats. Besides GRSE is also eying a USD 315 million contract to build two frigates, each weighing 3500 tonnes, for Philippines navy. For the Philippines order, GRSE is competing with six foreign shipyards including Navantia (Spain) STX (France) and Hyundai, Daewoo from South Korea. 

US & North Korea lock horns again - this time over Sony cyberattack issue

     Once again stage is set for clash between United States & North Korea. This time the reason is, alleged involvement of North Korea in cyber attack on Sony Pictures. "The FBI now has enough information to conclude that the North Korean government is responsible for these actions. We are deeply concerned about the destructive nature of this attack on a private sector entity and the ordinary citizens who worked there," the FBI said adding that North Korea's attack on Sony reaffirms that cyber threats pose one of the gravest national security dangers to the US. The incident happened last month, destroying systems and stealing large quantities of personal and commercial data. A group calling itself the "Guardians of Peace" claimed responsibility for the attack and subsequently issued threats against Sony, its employees, and theatres showing its movies. US President Obama has vowed to retaliate at North Korea. Meanwhile the North Koreans have rejected the FBI findings as "groundless slander". Sony Pictures has decided against launching 'The Interview' movie as a result of which it may have to face losses to the tune of USD 100 million. President Obama said that Sony's decision would set a "bad precedent" & that he cannot tolerate "foreign dictators carrying out censorship in America".

Angry MEA fires Devyani Khobragade - puts her on 'compulsory wait'

     The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has relieved Devyani Khobragade from her duties as Director in the Development Partnership Division of the MEA & has also placed her under 'compulsory wait'. Devyani, former Deputy Consul General of India in New York, was arrested in the US on charges of making false declarations in a visa application for her maid and released on a $250,000 bond. The Ministry has now reprimanded her for giving an interview, without prior permission from the MEA, during which she talked about her arrest in USA. On whether she had sought permission for the interview and if the MEA had given the permission, MEA's Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said, "No on both accounts". The female diplomat also has vigilance inquiry pending against her which was initiated by MEA following her arrest in USA.

Indian-American Richard Rahul Verma named as US ambassador to India

     In what could be a great news for India, an Indian-American Rahul Verma has been appointed as US envoy to India by Obama administration. The 46-year old Rahul Verma is the first Person of Indian Origin (PIO) to hold the post. This announcement comes ahead of scheduled visit by President Obama to India in late January. Mr.Verma will be replacing Nancy Powell who resigned earlier this year over Khobragade issue which escalated into full-blown diplomatic spat between India & US. Mr.Verma has also played an important role in passage of historic Indo-US civil nuclear pact.

Pakistan hits back at Talibans - 57 militants killed in military raids

     As Pakistan is yet to recover from the trauma of Peshawar attacks, their government & military sprang into action by resuming airstrikes in Tirah valley of FATA province. In what could be a befitting reply to the barbaric attack on school children, 57 militants have been killed on the very first day of military operations. This comes a day after Pakistan's top military & civilian establishment vowed to eliminate Talibans "as soon as possible". It has been reported that Pakistan's F-16 & JF-17 fighter aircrafts were pressed into service and carried out 'saturation bombing' in Tirah valley region. The Pakistani government fired yet another warning shot at the Talibans by lifting the moratorium on death penalty which would mean 17 terrorists would be hanged to death in quick succession anytime now. 

     

 Pakistan's FATA province which was the target of yesterday's  air raids

 

    As an Indian, I wholeheartedly welcome Pakistan's decision to go after the Talibans to avenge the death of innocent children which can in no way be justified.

Pakistan's ex-dictator Musharaff blames India for Peshwar attack

     India's school students were observing two minute silence, holding peace march, candle-light vigils etc., to mourn the death of innocent students in Peshawar, setting aside all the differences. They are now stung by an unfair blame from a person India is very familiar with. Pervez Musharaff, Pakistan's ex-dictator President, has blamed India's intelligence agency RAW, Afghan government & everyone except the perpetrators for the Peshawar attack in which 132  innocent children were massacred by cold-blooded Talibans, who were given shelter in Pakistan only during his reign as President. He was quoted as saying "Do you know who is Maulana Fazlullah? He is the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander. He is in Afghanistan. And I am reasonably sure that he was supported by former Karzai government and RAW to carry out terror attacks in Pakistan.". To nobody's surprise he found a companion in 26/11 mastermind Hafeez Saeed, who went on to say that "Peshawar attack is the conspiracy of Indian government" & has also warned India of more 26/11 style attacks. He is one of India's most-wanted fugitive for having master-minded Mumbai attacks & has a 60 crore rupees bounty on his head but still roams freely in streets of Lahore for reasons that Pakistan's army & ISI best know.  What comes to my mind is "BIRDS OF SAME FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER"

     Musharaff as Pakistan's military chief, led an military campaign against India in 1999 but was given a bloody nose by the much superior Indian Army. Following the Kargil debacle, he ousted Nawaz Sharif, the then PM of Pakistan, in a military coup & became one among many 'illegitimate' Presidents of Pakistan.

ISRO does it again - GSLV-III launched successfully

     Adding yet another feather to its cap, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), today successfully launched its heaviest launch vehicle GSLV-III. This launch takes India closer towards realizing its dream of putting an Indian 'Vyomonaut' in space by 2017 thus making it the second Asian nation to do so. ISRO's Chairman Dr.Radhakrishnan triumphantly declared to the nation that the mission is a grand success & that the 3,800 Kg CARE module has splashed into the Bay of Bengal.

The 640-tonne monster rocket blasts-off

GSLV-III being readied for launch from ISRO's second launch pad

GSLV-III in all its majestic grandeur as night sets in

ENEMIES OF ISLAM & ALLAH are enemies of India too - 'Satanic' Islamic State BANNED in India

     Alarmed by the unusual increase in the number of terror incidents across the world, the Indian government today banned the blood-thirsty Islamic State (ISIS), after detaining an Bangalore-based engineer for running a pro-Islamic state Twitter account @ShamiWitness. Until now, India had held off on a ban on Islamic State, because of the group's lack of activity inside the country and worries over the fate of 39 Indian construction workers missing in Iraq this year, who are believed to be held by the group. Home minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament that the government is aiming to limit the activities of the West Asia group which has carved out swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria. "We had taken cognizance of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria activities in other countries," he said. "As a first step we have banned this outfit in India". On Saturday, police arrested Mehdi Masoor Biswas, a 24-year-old food company executive from the southern tech hub of Bengaluru, saying he was running the pro-Islamic State Twitter handle @ShamiWitness that had 17,800 followers, including hundreds of foreign fighters for the group.

The ugly-looking  'Flag of Islamic Caliphate' that reads 'Testimony - There is no god but Allah' in Arabic.

Heart-wrenching images of Peshawar school carnage

An injured person being rushed to nearby hospital

 

Injured students being taken to hospital

A Pakistani soldier helping an injured man

 

Police vans arriving at the site of terror attack

 A Pakistani soldier guiding school students

 

 Group of school children moving out of the the school campus

132 reported dead in Pakistan school attack!!!!!!! Indian PM condemns 'senseless' & 'cowardly' act of Talibans

    A bunch of cowardly Taliban gunmen unleashed havoc at a army school in Peshawar province of Pakistan killing atleast 132 people, most of them children. This inhuman attack of Talibans is the most gruesome & the bloodiest terror incident that Pakistan has witnessed since the massacre of its former PM Mrs.Benazir Bhutto. By evening (around 6 PM), the Pakistani security forces have gunned down 6 terrorists. Pakistan's Prime Minister was quoted as saying "This is national tragedy. Those were my kids, my loss". He also called for three-day national mourning. Pakistan's leading newspaper 'Dawn' reported that as many as ten explosions were heard from inside the school campus. The perpetrators TTP (Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan) told Reuters "We want them to feel our pain. We target their children like they target ours." The International community has united in unequivocally condemning the ghastly attacks of the Islamic terrorists. Indian Prime Minister Mr.Modi branded the attack in Peshawar "a senseless act of unspeakable brutality" and said India shares the pain of Pakistan. The President of Pakistan's PTI party, Mr.Imran Khan who earlier called for 'national shutdown' on Thursday, has called-off his plans & has rushed to Peshwar city.

India's ISRO to flight test its all-new GSLV-3 launch vehicle

     The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for the maiden launch of its brand new GSLV mark-3 launch vehicle. The GSLV-3, which is bigger & more sophisticated than its predecessors, will provide India with the much needed capability to launch Human spaceflights. Standing 42.4 metres tall & weighing 630,000 Kgs (1.39 million pounds), the GSLV-3 is capable of launching 5,000 Kg payload to the GTO (Geostationary Transfer Orbit) much higher than 2,500 Kg of GSLV mk-2 & 1,400 Kg of PSLV. The GSLV-3 rocket will be of three stages namely the Solid booster stage, Liquid motor stage & the Cryogenic stage. The third stage consists of India's indigenous cryogenic engine CE-20 that has a nominal thrust of about 200 kN. The rocket will be carrying a 3,735 Kg payload named 'CARE' (Crew-module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment) which is a 'Technology Demonstrator' of ISRO's future orbital vehicles. The success of Thursday's launch is extremely important in the view of fact that it would enable India to launch manned missions in the future besides demonstrating the reliability of the indigenous cryogenic engine. These two (manned missions & cryogenic technology) are the areas where India has been lagging several years behind the other Asian space powers, China & Japan.

GSLV-3 rocket ready to be launched from Second launch pad

India's indigenous cryogenic engine CE-20

ISRO's state-of-the-art Mission control room

ISRO's Mission control room

The successful launch of GSLV D5 in 2014 made India the 6th nation to have launched a rocket with indigenous cryogenic engine

India's first Nuclear submarine INS Arihant ready for sea trials

     India's first indigenous nuclear submarine (SSBN) INS Arihant is now ready for sea trials. The images of the 6,000-tonne giant submarine sailing out of harbour (Vizag) first surfaced in 'The Hindu' & 'Livefist' blog.

INS Arihant will be armed with either 12 K-15 'Sagarika' missiles (with a range of 750 Kms) or 4 K-4 missiles (with a range of 3,500 Kms). The bigger & more lethal follow-on submarines will be armed with either 24 K-15 missiles or 8 K-4 missiles. The Sagarika missiles have been inducted into service & the K-4 missiles are at development stage.
 
Three more such submarines that are currently under construction under the ATV project. The Indian Navy will be having a maximum of 5 SSBNs in the year 2025. The Indian Navy is already operating a nuclear submarine named INS Chakra that it received from Russia on a ten-year lease (with an option to buy it at the end of lease period) at a cost of USD 670 million. India is now in the process of buying one more nuclear submarine named 'Iribis'  from Russia. This is the newest of the 15 Akula SSNs that are being built for the Russian Navy. 

INS Vikramaditya - 'Strike far, Strike sure'

     'Strike far, Strike sure'. That is the motto of India's newest & most lethal warship that it bought from Russia - INS Vikramaditya. Armed with some 30 Mig-29 fighter aircrafts & escorted by a minimum of five lethal warships, Vikramaditya can significantly boost Indian Navy's power projection capability. With two Carrier Battle Groups (one centred around INS Viraat & the other around INS Vikramaditya) under its command, India now boasts of the deadliest naval force in the region. Here is the glimpse of India's newest aircraft carrier.

INS Vikramaditya sailing alongside INS Viraat

 

 INS Vikramaditya being received by INS Viraat

 INS Vikramaditya leading a flotilla of warships

Magnificent INS Vikramaditya moored alongside Typhoon class SSBN

 

INS Vikramaditya  launching a Mig-29 K fighter into skies

An Mig-29 K fighter performing low-pass over INS Vikramaditya

 

INS Vikramaditya  at Russia's Sevmash shipyard

 INS Vikramaditya docked in sevmash shipyard for extensive refit