Army Chief on four day visit to USA

Army Chief on four day visit to USA  

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen Dalbir Singh, is embarking on a four day goodwill visit to USA from 05 to 08 Apr 2016. The visit assumes special significance in light of enhanced defence cooperation between the two countries. The visit is a part of the ongoing High Level Exchanges between India & USA.

India-U.S. ties have been transformed in recent years with a renewed Defence Framework Agreement, supply of defence equipment, sharing of technology and military-to-military exchanges.

During his four days visit, the COAS is scheduled to meet the UNSG at the UN HQ to strengthen Indian Army’s commitment towards UN Missions. He will also visit CENTCOM, SOCOM & HQ 1 Corps & Maneuver Centre of Excellence (MCoE) where he will meet the Commanders & have extensive discussions. In Washington he will meet US Secretary of Army, Chairman Jt Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Staff of the US Army & Commander US Marine Corps, along with other officials. 

- PIB

Indo American Vajra Prahar 2016

Indo American Vajra Prahar 2016

    Green Berets assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), conducted Vajra Prahar training exercise with Indian Special Operation Forces at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Camp Rilea, Ore., Jan. 18-29, 2016.

   The two-week exercise, which hasn't happened at JBLM since 2011, was a bilateral Joint Combined Exchange Training exercise that improves the ability of the forces involved to respond to a wide range of contingencies. The past few years has seen increased cooperation between the two countries military forces with a remarkable expansion of bilateral training exercises.

    "I see our military to military partnership as a very important pillar that contributes to the strategic relationship between the two countries," said Lt. Col. Terry Butcher, commander of 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). "They [India] are a very important partner, both for the regional security of south Asia and the maritime security. I think that we directly contribute to that by working with their special operation forces."

   The two countries are working together to safeguard maritime security and freedom of navigation as well as strengthening their partnership to combat terrorism and piracy.

   "The exercise was strictly maritime focused so everything that we did was in the water," said 2nd battalion's operational detachment commander. "We started with an introduction to boat movements and finished with the culminating exercise which was an 8 nautical mile boat movement to a beach landing."

   Along with the boat movements and beach landing the training exercise also included diving, navigation, helo-casting and an airborne operation.

   "Working out there with them in the water we get better and they get better," said Butcher. "We improve upon our individual skills and collective skills as a unit."

   "We trained for this at home, jumping into cold water," said Maj. Puneet Atwal, commander of the Indian forces. "This is good training. This military to military interaction between the countries will be good for our future."

   Butcher said that the training strengthens the partnership, builds relationships and provides better interoperability.

   "If there ever comes a time where we have to work directly hand-in-hand with our Indian partners, understanding the way that they operate on the ground or in the water is going to enable us to work with them using their particular tactics and their methods of operation," said Butcher. "Just knowing that you have a foreign military unit that you can reach out to, keeps the relationship strong between our units."

   "The greatest benefit for our soldiers is any chance that we get to work along side our allies," said the operational detachment commander. "It was a good exercise and we got a lot out of it and everyone came away a better-trained soldier."

   The U.S. is committed to broadening ties to Indo-Asia-Pacific partners. As part of the rebalance, the U.S. is strengthening traditional alliances while enhancing forward presence in Southeast Asia, in Oceania and the Indian Ocean.

Article first Published in US Army

US allocates half a trillions for Defense

US allocates half a trillions for Defense

     The Obama's government allocates more than half a trillion dollar to the US defense. The US going to spend nearly $582 billions in next fiscal year or upto 2017 which is the 1.8% of their GDP. The package include $71 billions for Research and Development, $7.5 billions for fight against the Islamic state in Iraq, Syria and Libya. The budget already accepted by the US defense secretary and to be moved on US Congress next week.

    The rival US enemies like China spends some $135 billions and the Russians spending some $70 billions. As same like every year most or half of the funds going to spend for some classified projects. Which include a air force secret project and the known LRS B program. The US air force gets more than $200 billions for operations and maintenance.

    This year US going to spend more than  $7.5 billions to fight against Islamic state. which is much larger than the entire Pakistani defense spending. The amount is increased double than the previous years allocation. The US also have plans to send their troops into Islamic state to launch a ground offensive. US also fortifies it's presence close to Kurdistan as they almost expanded a air base close to Turkey, Syria and Iraq border, controlled by the Kurds.

    Meantime The US special forces continuously working in the above mentioned states, that they were executing special operations and counter terrorism mission. US also briefly expanded a Turkey's abandoned airfield close to Syria, which is act as a primary command center to execute operations against Syria. US has spend most of the money for air strikes against Islamic state.

    US also plans to buy 45,000 of smart munitions for the Air force. The LGB/PGM guided munitions can strike targets more preciously. The US almost stopped using unguided dumb bombs. However as per the US needs the guided munitions amounts is very low. It's reported as per Indian theater, India alone need some 45,000 PGM/LGB's to fight against the Pakistani's. However the US already has tons of PGM/LGB in stocks.

    Details also surface that US going to spend more than $8 billions for Submarine acquisition and refitting program. In 2016 US plans to buy two advanced Virginia class SSN and some SSN payloads like ROV, Seal delivery vehicle and heavy weight Torpedo's. US spending closely $10 billion every year for the Submarine program.

    The Ukraine also gets some good support from US in this year. The US roses the Ukrainian support package from $800 millions to $3.4 billions. During the collapse of Soviet Union the Ukraine gave up all their Nuclear warheads to International community with the assurance of providing security to Ukraine from external threats. However they failed to protect Ukraine, Since Ukraine lost Crimea and most of the eastern Ukrainian lands to Russia.

    As the emerging threats of Cyber warfare US plans to spend $7 billions in 2016. which means they going to spend more than $600 millions per month to fight in the Cyber security. The US defense computers repeatedly breached by Chinese and Russian hackers. and the vulnerable drones against cyber attacks.

    US also committed to provide security and economic assistance to Afghanistan, However Carter didn't revealed how much amount can be spend for the Afghan theater. US plans to arm the Afghan with more support of providing additional COIN planes and attack helicopters to fight against Taliban. Indians on the other side helping the Afghan to overcome from the Taliban.

    The Budget also helps the F 35 program, underwater autonomous vehicles, Rail gun systems, Missile defense systems and space based infrared system. It's believed the US also allocates special funds to the South Chinese theater.

    The US remains one of the Top defense spending country by spending 1.8 % of their GDP which is more than some $582 billions. The amounts is higher than the all other next top ten countries combined budget.

Indo American Para Drop Aero India 2015

Indo American Para Drop Aero India 2015

US Army Soldier Helps Indian Para to wear the Parachute

       It was during 2004, Bush administration and Indian Defense officials concluded a pact to counter the growing threat from China, US was also keen on checking the Chinese influence in South Asia. With a common interest both the countries signed several deals strengthening the ties between the countries. To share the enhanced warfare knowledge, USA and India agreed to be involved in joint military exercises on a yearly basis.  With formalities completed the joint exercises was named ‘Yudh Abhyas’ which in English meant ‘training for war’. The exercise involved both the elite forces from Indian and American forces which mandated them to carry out small counter insurgency threat exercise to large scale nuclear attack exercise. This is believed to have drastically helped improve the capabilities of the forces.

        These exercises would last for 15 to 30 days. ‘Yudh Abhyas’ was hosted by both the Indian and American counterparts. The strength of force involved varied from 60 to 300, this included the Infantry fighting vehicles, para jumping forces, Lone attack and CRBNE (chemical, radiological, biological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives). The last episode of Yudh Abhyas exercise was hosted by the Indian forces in Uttrakand.




        It was during the Aero India 2015 that pulic got a taste of what the forces would practise in a joint operation. The crowd was being thrilled by various jaw dropping manoeuvres being displayed by various fighter aircraft and helicopters. The crowd spotted a huge aircraft and the better part of crowd identified the plane as the Boeing C 17 Globematser. It was off course an US Air force Pacific commands C 17 Globematser, the aircraft flew over Yelenkha graciously and leaned out to make a sharp turn. What followed were the scenes of drop of unknown packages from the belly door of the C17. The sky was soon lit up with small dots which started to steer down towards the crowd.  When the packages neared the rendezvous, the crowd realized it was the elite Special Forces of the Indian Army and American forces. Dressed up in black jump suits and armed with their firearms the soldiers skilfully glided towards the rendezvous and quietly walked after putting a mind blowing show. Soon the elite forces attended a press conference and briefed the media about the joint operation. Indian Army’s 2nd Parachute regiment and U.S. Army Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group was involved in the para drop. 

       Any information regarding the operation is classified and not much information is known about the mission other than the data shared by the SF’s in the press conference. Not even the information regarding the base of the Indian Army team and NSG forces involved in the operation is known. The C 17 may have been from the pacific command which has its HQ in Japan and Guam Island.

Indian Soldiers boarding into an USAF C 17, Location seems Yelenkha

NSG and Para Soldiers Boarding an another C 17 location unknown

US Army, Indian Army and NSG onboard an USAF C 17

Team Leader mission Briefing to the USAF C 17 Pilots

Army and NSG Soldiers walking for the Para Jump

Soldiers performing Para Jumping from an C 17

but the US Army released photos to the Public which was shot by Airman 1st Class Stephen G.Eigel


Editor Karthik Kakoor 

ISIS Attacked US Army Base in Iraq

American troops battle ISIS for first time as they see off attempted attack by militants on Iraqi base 

• Islamic State militants attempted to overrun Ein al-Asad base on Sunday
• US support troops and advisers killed an unknown number of the militants
• The troops were supported during the battle by F18 fighter jets
• ISIS forced to retreat after suffering casualties during two hour firefight     

A number of militants have been killed in Islamic State's very first battle with U.S. ground troops after the extremists attempted to overrun an Iraqi military base.

The militants attacked Ein al-Asad military base on Sunday where more than 100 U.S. military support troops are based.

Despite launching the surprise attack just after midnight, ISIS's offensive was swiftly repelled when U.S. troops and F18 jets joined in the skirmish in support of the Iraqi Army.

Facing both Iraqi and US troops supported by F18 jets, an unknown number of ISIS attackers were killed during the two hour firefight before being forced to retreat.

Ein al-Asad came under repeated attack by ISIS troops in October, however, now bolstered by the U.S. assistance, it poses a much more formidable target

Originally Posted by Daily Mail