The Defence Minister, the three Army Chiefs of India and the Chiefs of Foreign Air Forces will witness the airshow in which Suryakiran, Sarang, indigenous fighter aircraft Tejas and Sukhoi-30 will showcase their validities.
The event, running from September 7 to 20, will see participation from over 30 nations, fostering regional cooperation through established partnerships.
The announcement, being seen as a significant step in enhancing India’s defence and aerospace capabilities, came weeks after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh travelled to the US during which both sides vowed to further boost overall defence ties.
According to the ministry, the ships were launched on Monday in Kochi by Vijaya Srinivas, in the presence of Vice Admiral V. Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command.
White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby stated in a press briefing on Monday that while the U.S. will observe these naval and air drills, there is currently no dramatic or imminent concern.
The UDCG, a coalition of around 50 nations regularly discussing Ukraine’s security needs, convened for the first time in April 2022 following Austin’s initiative after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This move, confirmed by a government statement on September 3, 2024, is poised to equip the Navy with advanced munitions designed to counter the growing threat of drone swarms at sea.
Classified as a Medium Altitude (15,000 feet) Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the FWD 200B is equipped with optical payloads for surveillance and missile-like weapons for air strikes and bombing, the FWDA Founder and CEO Suhas Tejaskanda told reporters.
The ICG’s Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) took off at around 11 PM for the medical evacuation mission. However, during the operation, the helicopter encountered severe difficulties and was forced to make an emergency landing in the sea.
This surge followed the Cabinet Committee on Security’s (CCS) approval of a ₹26,000-crore proposal for the procurement of 240 AL-31FP aero-engines for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Su-30 MKI aircraft.
