Year End Review 2004 - Ministry of Defence

for Ministry of Defence | Date - 31-12-2004

Year End Review 2004

The massive relief and rescue operations carried out by the Armed Forces in the Tsunami hit areas, de-induction of troops from J&K, successful test flights of supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, induction of Main Battle Tank Arjun, rolling out of indigenously built T-90s Tank Bhishma and Sukhoi-30 MKI were some of the major activities of the Ministry of Defence. Major recommendations of the AV Singh Committee regarding the promotional prospects of the officers of the Army were also implemented during the year.

A massive relief and rescue operation was carried out jointly by Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard for Tsunami effected victims. A number of aircraft, helicopters and sea vessels were pressed into service. Tones of relief material including food, clothing, medicines, tentage and drinking water has been airlifted to the affected areas. The rescue and relief operations of this magnitude were never carried out by the Armed Forces in the past.

The government decided to reduce troops in Jammu & Kashmir as a confidence building measure following improvement in the overall security situation in the state. However the troop reduction will be kept under constant review keeping national security in mind.

Brahmos a Supersonic Anti-Ship Cruise Missile developed by Defence Research Development Organisation was successfully flight tested on November 03, 2004 from Bay of Bengal off Orissa Coast. This missile was launched from a ship and had a perfect hit on the target ship.

The Brahmos was flight tested for the first time in land-to-land role on 21st of this month in the Western Test Range (Rajasthan). From among a group of identified targets (built up), the mission team chose a target and the missile came dead on target destroying the built up target. The senior officers flew over the destroyed target immediately thereafter signaling a total success of Brahmos in its capability of taking on land targets from land platform.

The first batch of five indigenously manufactured Main Battle Tank Arjun rolled out of the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi, Tamil Nadu on the 07th of August 2004. The superior armour defeating capability of the indigenously developed Fin Stabilized Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot ammunition and 120 mm calibre rifled gun give MBT Arjun an edge over contemporary world tanks. A computer-controlled integrated fire control system incorporating day-cum-night stabilized sighting system guarantees a very high first round hit probability and reduced reaction time to bring effective fire on targets. All round protection from anti-tank ammunition is achieved by the newly developed Kanchan armour to a degree much higher than available in present generation tanks. The Arjun will be the main stay of the Indian Army.

The first T-90S tank ‘Bhishma’ rolled out of the assembly line in the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) at Avadi, Tamil Nadu on 07th of January this year.

Bhishma is a highly versatile and state-of-the-art battle tank, being assembled at the HVF, to meet the needs of the Indian Army in the coming decades. The important feature of the new battle tank are its mobility, lethal firepower, surprise-hit at the first sight and self-protection. An upgraded 1000 horsepower engine for enhanced mobility, ballistic computers for sight and accuracy and capability to fire all types of ammunitions including guided missiles make the Bhishma rank among the best in the world.

The first Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft assembled at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Ozhar near Nashik rolled out on 17th of last month. It was the first of the 140 aircraft proposed to be built in India under Russian license. SU-30 aircraft is a twin engine, twin seater, multi-role fighter that can simultaneously be operated as an intercepted, bomber and trainer. It is capable of attaining a maximum speed of 2 Mach with a maximum climb rate of 270 meters per second.

The Ministry of Defence issued orders to upgrade 750 posts/appointments of Lieutenant Colonels to Colonels in a phased manner with 400 posts/appointments of Lieutenant Colonels to stand upgraded to Colonel in the first year i.e. 2004 and 350 posts/appointments of Lieutenant Colonels to be upgraded to Colonels in the second year i.e. 2005.

The said upgradation of 750 posts/appointments of Lieutenant Colonels to Colonels will entail chain upgradations from Major to Lieutenant Colonel and from Captain to Major so as to retain existing (pre 16-12-04) authorisation in the grade of Major and Captain.

These orders of the Ministry of Defence were based on the recommendations of the AV Singh Committee Report regarding the restructuring of officers cadre of the Indian Army. The report contains a set of recommendations for increasing career mobility in the officers' cadre with a view to lower the age profile of battalion and brigade commanders.

As per the commitment made in the Common Minimum Programme, a new Department for welfare of ex-servicemen has been created. Details of implementation are being carried out.

The Third Flight test of Agni-II Missile was carried out successfully on 29th of August 2004. The launch of Agni-II from its rail mobile launcher met all the mission objectives including achieving the high accuracy in guiding the payload to the designated target at 1200 km range.

Prithvi-III, a modified version of surface-to-surface missile was successfully test fired on October 27, 2004 from Interim Test Range Balasore. It has a range of 300 kms. The launch achieved perfect trajectory, as per design projections. The test achieved all operational parameters to the required perfection.

With a view to enhance the international image of Indian Air Force and its increased role as a force multiplier, the Indian Air Force carried out Joint Exercises with the Air Forces of South Africa and Singapore. It also participated in the multi-lateral exercise COPE THUNDER at Alaska in USA. A joint aerobatic display with the French Air Force was also held at Hindon airbase.

Admiral Arun Prakash took over as Chief of Naval Staff and Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, as Chief of Air Staff during the year.