TRENDS IN INTERNATIONAL ARMS TRANSFERS, 2023 | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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    • March 2024

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    Posted 15 Apr 2024

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    TRENDS IN INTERNATIONAL ARMS TRANSFERS, 2023
    • The report is released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) (an independent international institute)
    • Key highlights 
      • Export 
        • USA is the largest arms exporter and its share of total global arms exports rose to 42%.
        • France, for the first time, was the second biggest arms exporter, just ahead of Russia.
      • Import
        • India was the world’s top arms importer. 
          • Its arms imports increased by 4.7% between 2014–18 and 2019–23. 
          • Russia remained India’s main arms supplier (accounting for 36% of its arms imports).
        • Ukraine emerged as the largest European arms importer in 2019–23.
    • Tags :
    • Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
    • total global arms exports

    INDIA’S FIFTH-GENERATION ADVANCED MEDIUM COMBAT AIRCRAFT (AMCA)
    • Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved the project for the design and development of India’s fifth-generation multirole fighter jet, Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
    • Globally there are four fifth-generation aircraft – F-22 Raptor and F-35A Lightning-II from the USA; J-20 of China and Su-57 from Russia.
    • About AMCA
      • It is a medium weight, multi role, twin engine fighter aircraft.
      • Nodal agency for executing the programme and designing: Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
        • ADA is a Society under the Department of Defence Research and Development, Ministry of Defence. 
      • Manufacturing agency: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) 
      • Key features:
    • Advanced stealth features such as radar absorbing material to avoid detection by enemy radar. 
      • Stealth mission enables Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD), Destruction of enemy air defence (DEAD) and precision strike.
    • Internal weapons bay: For carrying up to four long-range air-to-air missiles and multiple precision-guided munitions with a payload of 1,500 kg.
    • Capability to swing roles: From an air-to-air role to air-to-ground.
     
    • Tags :
    • Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft
    • stealth

    FIRST PRIVATE SECTOR FACILITIES FOR MANUFACTURING OF AMMUNITION AND MISSILES
    • First private sector facilities for the manufacture of ammunition and missiles opened in Kanpur (UP).
    • It is opened in the Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) of UP.
      • the other defence corridor is in Tamil Nadu.
    • The Defence Industry sector was opened up to 100% for Indian private sector participation in 2001. 
    • Need for privatisation of the Defence sector:
      • India is third largest military spender (after US and China) and the world's largest arms importer, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Report.
    • The share of the defence budget can be reduced which stands at 13.04% of the total government expenditure. 
    • Surplus production will boost defence exports and would help to achieve the set target of 35000 crore of exports by 2024-25.
    • Concerns: security concerns like protection of sensitive data at the hands of private companies; selling weapons to customers who are not aligned with India’s national interest; etc.

    Related News: SAMAR (System for Advance Manufacturing Assessment and Rating) certification

    • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over SAMAR assessment certificates to nine Industry Partners.
    • About SAMAR
      • It is a benchmark to measure the competency of defence manufacturing enterprises.
      • It is based on a maturity assessment model developed by the Quality Council of India (QCI)
      • Applicability: to all defence manufacturing enterprises.
      • Validity:  2 years.
      • It’s an outcome of the collaboration between DRDO and QCI.
    • Tags :
    • Defence Industrial Corridors
    • indigenous Defence Production

    VERY SHORT-RANGE AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM (VSHORADS) MISSILE
    • DRDO successfully flight tested VSHORADS from a ground-based portable launcher  from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur.
    • About VSHORADS missile
      • The indigenously developed missile is a MANPADS (man-portable air defence system).
      • Developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners. 
      • Consist many novel technologies including miniaturized Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics.
      • Propelled by a dual-thrust solid motor and is meant for neutralizing low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges.
    • Tags :
    • VSHORADS missile
    • indigenously developed missile

    VAJRA SENTINEL SYSTEM
    • Defence Ministry signs ₹200 crore contract for anti-drone (Vajra sentinel system) under Indian Defence Exhibition (iDEX) initiative.
    • Vajra sentinel system
      • It is a modern solution designed to detect, track, and neutralize drones at extraordinary ranges.
      • It offers soft kills by jamming and hard kills by interceptor drones.
    • Hard-kill space weapons include Kinetic Energy Weapons (KEWs), while soft-kill space weapons include electronic-warfare measures. 
      • Operational range of 10 km and a hard-kill reach of 5-6 km.
    • Tags :
    • Vajra sentinel system
    • anti-drone

    INS JATAYU
    • Naval Detachment Minicoy has been commissioned in Indian Navy as INS Jatayu.
      • Minicoy is southernmost island of Lakshadweep.
    • About INS Jatayu
      • India's second naval base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti.
      • Significance: Facilitate Indian Navy’s operational effort towards Anti-Piracy and Anti-Narcotics Operations in Western Arabian Sea.
        • It will also augment Indian Navy’s capability as the first responder in the India Ocean region and augment connectivity with the mainland.
    • Tags :
    • INS Jatayu
    • naval base

    JUICE JACKING
    • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) warned users against charging mobile phones using public ports amidst the rising incidents of juice jacking.
    • About juice jacking
      • It is a form of cyberattack where hackers load malware  with public USB charging stations to maliciously access electronic devices.
      • It can lock a device, export personal data and passwords to the cyber criminals.
      • These kinds of attacks are mainly reported from public spaces such as airports, hotels, and shopping centres.
    • Tags :
    • cyberattack
    • Cyberattack
    • JUICE JACKING

    EXERCISES IN NEWS
    • Dharma Guardian: 5th edition of Joint Military Exercise ‘DHARMA GUARDIAN’ between the Indian Army and Japan Ground Self Defence Force commenced in Rajasthan.
      • It is an annual exercise and conducted alternatively in India and Japan.
    • Exercise Cutlass Express: Indian navy participated in U.S. Naval Forces led multinational maritime Exercise Cutlass Express in Seychelles. 
      • It is a cornerstone of maritime security and cooperation in the strategic waters of the East African coast and the Western Indian Ocean.
    • Exercise Samudra Laksamana: It is a bilateral Naval Exercise between India and Malasiya.
    • Sea Defenders-2024: ‘Sea Defenders-2024’ is a maritime security exercise between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) & United States Coast Guard (USCG), which recently culminated at Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Islands).
    • Bharat Shakti: Tri-Services Firing and Manoeuvre Exercise – Bharat Shakti – was demonstrated in Pokharan, Rajasthan.
      • `Bharat Shakti will display integrated operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces to counter threats across land, air, sea, cyber, and space 
    • IMT TRILAT- 2024: India Mozambique Tanzania (IMT) Tri Lateral (TRILAT) is a joint maritime exercise.
      • First edition of IMT TRILAT exercise was conducted on Oct 2022.
    • Exercise Lamitiye 2024: It is a Joint Military Exercise between Indian Army and Seychelles Defence Forces.
    • Exercise Tiger Triumph – 2024: It is a bilateral tri-Service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise between India and USA.
    • Tags :
    • Naval Exercise
    • Joint Military Exercise
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