Syrian state news agency SANA said on Sunday (November 13) that the country's air defences struck down Israeli missiles over Homs province. Reuters quoted a military source to say that it was a strike on a major Syrian air base.

The strike was targetted at&nbsp;Shayrat air base. It is a military complex southeast of Homs city.

Its runway and underground facilities have undergone a major expansion by the Russia military in the last three years

Russia, which maintains a major military presence in Syria, has forces stationed near to Shayrat air base, which has also been used recently by the Iranian air force, another security source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Regional and intelligence sources say Israel has in recent months intensified strikes on Syrian airports and air bases to disrupt Iran's increasing use of aerial supply lines to deliver arms to allies in Syria and Lebanon including Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The Israeli military was not immediately available for comment on the reports. Israel has been mounting attacks in Syria for years against what it has described as Iranian and Iran-backed forces that have deployed there during the 11-year war.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Syrian state news agency SANA said on Sunday (November 13) that the country's air defences struck down Israeli missiles over Homs province. Reuters quoted a military source to say that it was a strike on a major Syrian air base.

Syrian state news agency SANA said on Sunday (November 13) that the country's air defences struck down Israeli missiles over Homs province. Reuters quoted a military source to say that it was a strike on a major Syrian air base. The strike was targetted at Shayrat air base. It is a military complex southeast of Homs city. Its runway and underground facilities have undergone a major expansion by the Russia military in the last three years Russia, which maintains a major military presence in Syria, has forces stationed near to Shayrat air base, which has also been used recently by the Iranian air force, another security source told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Regional and intelligence sources say Israel has in recent months intensified strikes on Syrian airports and air bases to disrupt Iran's increasing use of aerial supply lines to deliver arms to allies in Syria and Lebanon including Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah. The Israeli military was not immediately available for comment on the reports. Israel has been mounting attacks in Syria for years against what it has described as Iranian and Iran-backed forces that have deployed there during the 11-year war. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Syria strikes down Israeli missiles aimed at air force base

An F-35A Joint Strike Fighter jet crashed at the Florida Air Force Base during a routine training flight on Tuesday (October 18), the US Air Force said.

As per officials, the pilot successfully ejected and was later admitted to the hospital where he is now in stable condition.&nbsp;

The F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 58th Fighter Squadron of the 33rd Wing crashed, the air force statement said. There was no major loss of life or any civilian properties, Military.com reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/target-ukraine-us-f-35-vs-russian-air-force-su-57-jets-who-wins-450431">Also&nbsp;read |&nbsp;Target Ukraine: US F-35 vs Russian Air Force SU-57 jets, who wins?</a>

The crash occurred nearly 12 miles from Eglin during the test training range.

A thorough investigation is underway. 
 
This the second American F-35 crash within two years.&nbsp;

On a routine training flight last Friday morning near Eglin, an F-22 Raptor had crashed.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-air-force-general-john-hyten-calls-china-pacing-threat-424911">Also read |&nbsp;US Air Force General John Hyten calls China 'pacing threat'</a>

In September 2018, a Marine Corps F-35B belonging to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 crashed in South Carolina.

A similar incident happened in Japan as well in the year 2019 when a Japanese F-35A variant crashed into the Pacific Ocean 30 minutes after taking off.

The F-35 series is an expensive programme that cost over $1 trillion. As per official sources, the Pentagon has requested to cut expenses where it can be hoped to slash the F35's price to $80 million per jet.

(With inputs from agencies)



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&nbsp;

An F-35A Joint Strike Fighter jet crashed at the Florida Air Force Base during a routine training flight on Tuesday (October 18), the US Air Force said. As per officials, the pilot successfully ejected and was later admitted to the hospital where he is now in stable condition.

An F-35A Joint Strike Fighter jet crashed at the Florida Air Force Base during a routine training flight on Tuesday (October 18), the US Air Force said. As per officials, the pilot successfully ejected and was later admitted to the hospital where he is now in stable condition. The F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 58th Fighter Squadron of the 33rd Wing crashed, the air force statement said. There was no major loss of life or any civilian properties, Military.com reported. Also read | Target Ukraine: US F-35 vs Russian Air Force SU-57 jets, who wins? The crash occurred nearly 12 miles from Eglin during the test training range. A thorough investigation is underway. This the second American F-35 crash within two years. On a routine training flight last Friday morning near Eglin, an F-22 Raptor had crashed. Also read | US Air Force General John Hyten calls China 'pacing threat' In September 2018, a Marine Corps F-35B belonging to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 crashed in South Carolina. A similar incident happened in Japan as well in the year 2019 when a Japanese F-35A variant crashed into the Pacific Ocean 30 minutes after taking off. The F-35 series is an expensive programme that cost over $1 trillion. As per official sources, the Pentagon has requested to cut expenses where it can be hoped to slash the F35's price to $80 million per jet. (With inputs from agencies)  WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US Air Force F-35A jet crashes in Florida, pilot ejects safely, probe on

A collision between two South Korean air force planes on Friday (April 1) resulted in death of four pilots, said authorities. The collision took place during a training exercise.&nbsp;

The air force said that the crash took place at 0437 GMT about 6 kilometers south of KT-1 &nbsp;airplane base in the southeastern city of Sacheon

"Despite their attempts at an emergency escape ... all of the two student pilots and two flight instructors aboard the two planes died," it said in a statement.

A total of 130 troops, 95 police officers and 60 firefighters as well as three helicopters have begun a search at the crash site, Yonhap news agency said, citing local government officials.

The air force said there were no civilian casualties but had formed a team to determine the cause of the accident and damage, including on the resident community.

The crash is one of several incidents involving South Korean air force jets this year.

In January, a pilot was killed in an F-5 fighter jet crash.

That accident took place shortly after the country grounded its entire fleet of advanced F-35 fighter jets following a major systems malfunction on one plane that forced a dramatic emergency landing.

The Korean peninsula remains in a technical state of war, as the armistice that ended the conflict in 1953 has yet to be replaced with a peace treaty.

(With inputs from agencies)

A collision between two South Korean air force planes on Friday (April 1) resulted in death of four pilots, said authorities. The collision took place during a training exercise.

A collision between two South Korean air force planes on Friday (April 1) resulted in death of four pilots, said authorities. The collision took place during a training exercise. The air force said that the crash took place at 0437 GMT about 6 kilometers south of KT-1 airplane base in the southeastern city of Sacheon "Despite their attempts at an emergency escape ... all of the two student pilots and two flight instructors aboard the two planes died," it said in a statement. A total of 130 troops, 95 police officers and 60 firefighters as well as three helicopters have begun a search at the crash site, Yonhap news agency said, citing local government officials. The air force said there were no civilian casualties but had formed a team to determine the cause of the accident and damage, including on the resident community. The crash is one of several incidents involving South Korean air force jets this year. In January, a pilot was killed in an F-5 fighter jet crash. That accident took place shortly after the country grounded its entire fleet of advanced F-35 fighter jets following a major systems malfunction on one plane that forced a dramatic emergency landing. The Korean peninsula remains in a technical state of war, as the armistice that ended the conflict in 1953 has yet to be replaced with a peace treaty. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea: Two air force planes collide mid-air killing four pilots

In order to foster closer interoperability and seamless conduct of coordinated operations at sea, a team from the Indian Navy is in Sri Lanka to train the Lankan Air Force and Navy in helicopter operations.

The week-long training is planned to familiarise the Lankan Air Force pilots with India's Advanced Light Helicopter and to provide co-pilot experience.

The training team will also undertake extensive deck-landing practice onboard the Lankan Navy's Advanced Offshore Patrol vessel Sayurala.

The Indian Navy's Advanced light helicopter instructors arrived at the Sri Lankan Air Force Base, Katunayake, to commence the training. This training deployment is in line with the Indian government's 'Neighbourhood First' policy.

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Indian Navy Flying instructors to train <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SriLankan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SriLankan</a> Air force &amp; Navy over the next one week, in Flying ops, ship deck landing etc, to boost interoperability and enable coordinated ops at sea <a href="https://twitter.com/indiannavy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@indiannavy</a> Advanced light helicopter &amp; flying instructors seen at Lankan AF base, Ship <a href="https://t.co/Wx1Pn13bzq">pic.twitter.com/Wx1Pn13bzq</a>
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The high level of understanding and coordination between the armed forces of the two countries further cement the close relations achieved through millennia-old friendly ties between the neighbours.

The Indian Navy uses the Mk 3 variant of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), which is built by the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

The ALH is used for search and rescue operations in both day and night conditions and can operate from Naval vessels and bases. This chopper can be used to undertake armed patrol missions, casualty evacuations.

This variant of the chopper has a state-of-the-art Maritime Patrol Radar and Electro-optical payload, which enhances its surveillance capability.

In order to foster closer interoperability and seamless conduct of coordinated operations at sea, a team from the Indian Navy is in Sri Lanka to train the Lankan Air Force and Navy in helicopter operations.

In order to foster closer interoperability and seamless conduct of coordinated operations at sea, a team from the Indian Navy is in Sri Lanka to train the Lankan Air Force and Navy in helicopter operations. The week-long training is planned to familiarise the Lankan Air Force pilots with India's Advanced Light Helicopter and to provide co-pilot experience. The training team will also undertake extensive deck-landing practice onboard the Lankan Navy's Advanced Offshore Patrol vessel Sayurala. The Indian Navy's Advanced light helicopter instructors arrived at the Sri Lankan Air Force Base, Katunayake, to commence the training. This training deployment is in line with the Indian government's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. Indian Navy Flying instructors to train #SriLankan Air force & Navy over the next one week, in Flying ops, ship deck landing etc, to boost interoperability and enable coordinated ops at sea @indiannavy Advanced light helicopter & flying instructors seen at Lankan AF base, Ship pic.twitter.com/Wx1Pn13bzq — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) March 28, 2022 × The high level of understanding and coordination between the armed forces of the two countries further cement the close relations achieved through millennia-old friendly ties between the neighbours. The Indian Navy uses the Mk 3 variant of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), which is built by the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The ALH is used for search and rescue operations in both day and night conditions and can operate from Naval vessels and bases. This chopper can be used to undertake armed patrol missions, casualty evacuations. This variant of the chopper has a state-of-the-art Maritime Patrol Radar and Electro-optical payload, which enhances its surveillance capability.

Sri Lankan Navy, Air Force to train on Indian Navy's Advanced Light Helicopter

Is the Russian Air Force failing in Ukraine? The West claims Moscow has still been unable to dominate Kyiv's skies. Why? Is it because Russia is deliberately restraining itself? Palki Sharma explains.

Gravitas: Russia's Air Force 'missing in action'

In the opening hours of its military campaign in Ukraine, Russia had specifically targeted Ukraine's air defence.

In dogfight, can Ukraine Air Force resist Russian fighter jets?

Afghanistan Air Force pilots spills insider details about Kabul's chaotic fall during the Taliban takeover of the nation.

Afghanistan Air Force pilots reveals new details about Kabul's chaotic fall amid Taliban takeover

In what can open a can of worms, the United States Air Force has approved the usage of gender pronouns in electronic signature boxes for internal communication. &nbsp;&nbsp;

On December 9, the US Air Force correspondence, said, "This guidance provides approval for the use of pronouns in electronic signature blocks and expands on written communication by providing official templates posted on e-publishing website available for download." &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-pays-respects-on-first-wife-daughters-graves-on-crashs-49th-anniversary-438161" hreflang="en">Biden pays respects on first wife, daughter’s graves on crash’s 49th anniversary</a>

The memo added, "The use of pronouns (he/him, she/her, or they/them) in an email signature block is authorised but not required." &nbsp;&nbsp;

This development comes as several college campuses and workplaces across the country have been making concerted efforts to adopt the 'gender neutral' pronouns for being politically correct while addressing people. It is done where people don’t want to be identified with a single gender or wish to be addressed by a gender different from their biological sex. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-save-rare-seabirds-us-officials-to-air-drop-3000-pounds-of-rat-poison-on-coastal-islands-438142" hreflang="en">To save rare seabirds, US officials to air drop 3,000 pounds of rat poison on coastal islands</a>

Earlier this year, the State Department was slammed for celebrating ‘International Pronouns Day’ given the challenges it has been facing nowadays.

"Today on International Pronouns Day, we share why many people list pronouns on their email and social media profiles," the department had posted on Twitter. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In what can open a can of worms, the United States Air Force has approved the usage of gender pronouns in electronic signature boxes for internal communication. On December 9, the US Air Force correspondence, said, "This guidance provides approval for the use of pronouns in electronic signature blocks and expands on written communication by providing official templates posted on e-publishing website available for download.

In what can open a can of worms, the United States Air Force has approved the usage of gender pronouns in electronic signature boxes for internal communication. On December 9, the US Air Force correspondence, said, "This guidance provides approval for the use of pronouns in electronic signature blocks and expands on written communication by providing official templates posted on e-publishing website available for download." Also Read: Biden pays respects on first wife, daughter’s graves on crash’s 49th anniversary The memo added, "The use of pronouns (he/him, she/her, or they/them) in an email signature block is authorised but not required." This development comes as several college campuses and workplaces across the country have been making concerted efforts to adopt the 'gender neutral' pronouns for being politically correct while addressing people. It is done where people don’t want to be identified with a single gender or wish to be addressed by a gender different from their biological sex. Also Read: To save rare seabirds, US officials to air drop 3,000 pounds of rat poison on coastal islands Earlier this year, the State Department was slammed for celebrating ‘International Pronouns Day’ given the challenges it has been facing nowadays. "Today on International Pronouns Day, we share why many people list pronouns on their email and social media profiles," the department had posted on Twitter. (With inputs from agencies)

In memo, US Air Force gives green signal to gender pronouns’ use for internal communication

Germany on Friday deployed its Air Force to transfer seriously ill COVID-19 patients from overwhelmed hospitals in the south as the country’s coronavirus cases continued to break records.

Cases in Germany have been rising sharply in recent weeks, after seeing a dip in the summer, with daily new infections hitting a record above 76,000 on Friday.

German news agency&nbsp;dpa&nbsp;reported that starting Friday, a Luftwaffe A310 medevac plane will&nbsp;start transporting seriously ill COVID patients from the southern state of Bavaria to the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia

The military is setting aside two planes for such operations going forward.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-virus-variant-detected-in-europe-as-belgium-reports-first-case-432173">New virus variant detected in Europe as Belgium reports first case</a>

“Transporting 80 or 100 patients&nbsp;within Germany is possible once, or perhaps twice, but not indefinitely,” Health Minister Jens Spahn said.

"We must stop this wave now, otherwise we'll experience exactly what we always wanted to avoid, namely an overburdening of our health care system," he added.

Also read |&nbsp;S<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-africa-says-uks-travel-ban-order-seems-rushed-as-new-covid-variant-raises-alarm-432166">outh Africa says UK’s travel ban order 'seems rushed' as new Covid variant raises alarm</a>

Citing the sharp rise in cases, Spahn said contacts between people need to be sharply reduced to curb the spread of the virus.

“The situation is dramatically serious, more serious than it's been at any point in the pandemic,” he told reporters in Berlin.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/new-covid-19-variant-from-uk-to-france-list-of-countries-that-have-banned-travel-to-south-africa-432196">New COVID-19 variant: From UK to France, list of countries that have banned travel to South Africa</a>

Otherwise, there could be a "complete" reduction, he said, without mentioning "lockdown".

According to reports, hospitals in southern and eastern regions of Germany are running out of intensive care beds because of the large number of seriously ill COVID-19&nbsp;patients.

(With reports from agencies)

Germany on Friday deployed its Air Force to transfer seriously ill COVID-19 patients from overwhelmed hospitals in the south as the country’s coronavirus cases continued to break records.

Germany on Friday deployed its Air Force to transfer seriously ill COVID-19 patients from overwhelmed hospitals in the south as the country’s coronavirus cases continued to break records. Cases in Germany have been rising sharply in recent weeks, after seeing a dip in the summer, with daily new infections hitting a record above 76,000 on Friday. German news agency dpa reported that starting Friday, a Luftwaffe A310 medevac plane will start transporting seriously ill COVID patients from the southern state of Bavaria to the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia The military is setting aside two planes for such operations going forward. Also read | New virus variant detected in Europe as Belgium reports first case “Transporting 80 or 100 patients within Germany is possible once, or perhaps twice, but not indefinitely,” Health Minister Jens Spahn said. "We must stop this wave now, otherwise we'll experience exactly what we always wanted to avoid, namely an overburdening of our health care system," he added. Also read | South Africa says UK’s travel ban order 'seems rushed' as new Covid variant raises alarm Citing the sharp rise in cases, Spahn said contacts between people need to be sharply reduced to curb the spread of the virus. “The situation is dramatically serious, more serious than it's been at any point in the pandemic,” he told reporters in Berlin. Also read | New COVID-19 variant: From UK to France, list of countries that have banned travel to South Africa Otherwise, there could be a "complete" reduction, he said, without mentioning "lockdown". According to reports, hospitals in southern and eastern regions of Germany are running out of intensive care beds because of the large number of seriously ill COVID-19 patients. (With reports from agencies)

Germany deploys Air Force planes to transport seriously ill Covid patients as hospitals run out of bed

After the multi-billion dollar submarine deal, Australia and the United States have announced further expansion to their military cooperation.

After submarine deal, US Air Force to be stationed in Australia

During the virtual talks this week with the US Congress, an Afghan delegation said that it appealed for a quick action on aircraft maintenance and munitions supplies as President Joe Biden prepares to end America's longest-ever war by the end of next month.

As per a statement by the White House, Biden raised the issue during a phone conversation with his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani.

The US president affirmed his country's continued military support of Kabul, with spending for Afghanistan prioritised in the 2022 defence budget, currently under negotiation in Congress.

"The security situation is really getting terrible," said senior Afghan MP Haji Ajmal Rahmani, referring to a Taliban offensive during the virtual talks.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/we-dont-have-such-a-picture-in-our-history-afghan-vp-amrullah-saleh-slams-pakistani-trolls-with-an-image-of-1971-pak-army-surrender-399582">Also read |&nbsp;'We don’t have such a picture in our history': Afghan VP Amrullah Saleh slams Pakistani trolls with an image of 1971 Pak Army surrender</a>

Rahmani further said that one-third of the 150-strong fleet has already been grounded due to maintenance issues.

He further said that the Afghans had also run out of laser-guided munitions, as the United States and NATO allies had handled 80 to 90 per cent of the armaments and did not leave a supply during hasty pullouts of air assets.

"The feedback was that it will take some more time because they have to make the orders and it will take time to produce and ship to Afghanistan," he told a roundtable of the State Department Correspondents' Association.

He added, "They are talking of around one year, more or less, until it will reach Afghanistan. This is something very much needed at this critical time."

Meanwhile, Biden on Friday authorised the use of up to $100 million to address migration emergencies related to the situation in Afghanistan, the White House said.

The statement said the money would come from the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund "for the purpose of meeting unexpected urgent refugee and migration needs, victims of conflict, and other persons at risk as a result of the situation in Afghanistan."

The funds will also support those applying to the State Department program of Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), under which some 20,000 Afghans who worked as interpreters for the United States during its war in the country and now fear retribution from Taliban insurgents have applied for evacuation.

During the virtual talks this week with the US Congress, an Afghan delegation said that it appealed for a quick action on aircraft maintenance and munitions supplies as President Joe Biden prepares to end America's longest-ever war by the end of next month.

During the virtual talks this week with the US Congress, an Afghan delegation said that it appealed for a quick action on aircraft maintenance and munitions supplies as President Joe Biden prepares to end America's longest-ever war by the end of next month. As per a statement by the White House, Biden raised the issue during a phone conversation with his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani. The US president affirmed his country's continued military support of Kabul, with spending for Afghanistan prioritised in the 2022 defence budget, currently under negotiation in Congress. "The security situation is really getting terrible," said senior Afghan MP Haji Ajmal Rahmani, referring to a Taliban offensive during the virtual talks. Also read | 'We don’t have such a picture in our history': Afghan VP Amrullah Saleh slams Pakistani trolls with an image of 1971 Pak Army surrender Rahmani further said that one-third of the 150-strong fleet has already been grounded due to maintenance issues. He further said that the Afghans had also run out of laser-guided munitions, as the United States and NATO allies had handled 80 to 90 per cent of the armaments and did not leave a supply during hasty pullouts of air assets. "The feedback was that it will take some more time because they have to make the orders and it will take time to produce and ship to Afghanistan," he told a roundtable of the State Department Correspondents' Association. He added, "They are talking of around one year, more or less, until it will reach Afghanistan. This is something very much needed at this critical time." Meanwhile, Biden on Friday authorised the use of up to $100 million to address migration emergencies related to the situation in Afghanistan, the White House said. The statement said the money would come from the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund "for the purpose of meeting unexpected urgent refugee and migration needs, victims of conflict, and other persons at risk as a result of the situation in Afghanistan." The funds will also support those applying to the State Department program of Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), under which some 20,000 Afghans who worked as interpreters for the United States during its war in the country and now fear retribution from Taliban insurgents have applied for evacuation.

Afghan lawmakers voice alarm on air force as US withdrawal comes closer

Afghan vice president Amrullah Saleh on Thursday accused the Pakistan Air Force of warning Afghan security forces that it would retaliate against any move to remove the Taliban fighters in the strategic border region of Spin Boldak.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, he wrote, "Breaking: Pakistan air force has issued an official warning to the Afghan Army and Air Force that any move to dislodge the Taliban from Spin Boldak area will be faced and repelled by the Pakistan Air Force. Pak air force is now providing close air support to Taliban in certain areas".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-government-says-it-has-retaken-pakistan-border-crossing-from-taliban-398244">Also read |&nbsp;Afghan government says it has retaken Pakistan border crossing from Taliban</a>

In another tweet, he wrote that he was “ready to share evidence” about the warning from the Pakistani military to the Afghan side. He added that Afghan aircraft “as far as 10 kilometres from Spin Boldak R warned 2 back off or face air to air missiles”. 
There was no immediate response to the allegation from the Pakistani side.

Meanwhile, a senior Afghan government official said that the government forces had retaken control of a major border crossing with Pakistan from the Taliban. However, Taliban dismissed the claim saying that they still control the border crossing.

Taliban fighters captured the Spin Boldak-Chaman border crossing on Wednesday, the second most important crossing on the border with Pakistan and a major source of revenue for the Western-backed government in Kabul.

But Afghan forces retook the area's main market, the customs department and other government installations in the border town a few hours later on Wednesday, as per the government officials in Kandahar province.

Government forces, who had initially fallen back to minimise civilian and security personnel losses, were conducting clearing operations, the official said.

Afghan vice president Amrullah Saleh on Thursday accused the Pakistan Air Force of warning Afghan security forces that it would retaliate against any move to remove the Taliban fighters in the strategic border region of Spin Boldak.

Afghan vice president Amrullah Saleh on Thursday accused the Pakistan Air Force of warning Afghan security forces that it would retaliate against any move to remove the Taliban fighters in the strategic border region of Spin Boldak. Taking to his official Twitter handle, he wrote, "Breaking: Pakistan air force has issued an official warning to the Afghan Army and Air Force that any move to dislodge the Taliban from Spin Boldak area will be faced and repelled by the Pakistan Air Force. Pak air force is now providing close air support to Taliban in certain areas". Also read | Afghan government says it has retaken Pakistan border crossing from Taliban In another tweet, he wrote that he was “ready to share evidence” about the warning from the Pakistani military to the Afghan side. He added that Afghan aircraft “as far as 10 kilometres from Spin Boldak R warned 2 back off or face air to air missiles”. There was no immediate response to the allegation from the Pakistani side. Meanwhile, a senior Afghan government official said that the government forces had retaken control of a major border crossing with Pakistan from the Taliban. However, Taliban dismissed the claim saying that they still control the border crossing. Taliban fighters captured the Spin Boldak-Chaman border crossing on Wednesday, the second most important crossing on the border with Pakistan and a major source of revenue for the Western-backed government in Kabul. But Afghan forces retook the area's main market, the customs department and other government installations in the border town a few hours later on Wednesday, as per the government officials in Kandahar province. Government forces, who had initially fallen back to minimise civilian and security personnel losses, were conducting clearing operations, the official said.

Afghan vice president accuses Pak Air Force of trying to help Taliban

The global chemical weapons watchdog has 'reasonable grounds to believe' that Syria's air force dropped a chlorine bomb on a residential neighbourhood in the rebel-controlled Idlib region in February 2018, a report released on Monday said.&nbsp;

There was no immediate comment from the Syrian government. Syria and its military ally Russia have consistently denied using chemical weapons during President Bashar al-Assad's decade-old conflict with rebel forces, saying any such attacks were staged by opponents to make Damascus look like the culprit.&nbsp;

The new report by the OPCW chemical weapons watchdog's investigative arm said no one was killed when the cylinder of chlorine gas, delivered in a barrel bomb, hit the Al Talil neighbourhood in the city of Saraqib in February 2018.&nbsp;

However, a dozen people were treated for symptoms consistent with chemical poisoning, including nausea, eye irritation, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing, it said.&nbsp;

Chlorine is not an internationally banned toxin, but the use of any chemical substance in armed conflict is banned under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, the implementation of which is overseen by the OPCW watchdog based in The Hague.&nbsp;

A crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators by Assad in 2011 mushroomed into civil war, with Russia and Iran supporting his government and the United States, Turkey and some Arab adversaries of Damascus backing some of the many rebel groups. &nbsp;

In April 2020, the OPCW's Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) concluded that Syrian warplanes and a helicopter had dropped bombs containing chlorine and sarin nerve gas on a village in Syria's Hama region in March 2017.&nbsp;

The latest report by the IIT also implicated Syrian government forces. It concluded that "there were reasonable grounds to believe that at least one cylinder filled with chlorine was dropped from a helicopter of the Syrian Arab Air Forces, belonging to the Tiger Forces."&nbsp;

The Tiger Forces are an elite Syrian military unit generally used in offensive operations in the war, which has largely subsided with Assad having wrested back most territory with crucial Russian and Iranian support.&nbsp;

"All elements indicated the presence of Tiger Forces in the vicinity of Saraqib. They found that a helicopter was just flying above the bombed area at the moment of the gas release," a summary of the OPCW report said.&nbsp;

It said that samples collected from the scene were examined and other possible means of chlorine contamination considered, but the OPCW team said nothing was found to indicate that the incident was staged by Assad's adversaries.&nbsp;

The team identified individuals believed to be involved in the alleged attack but did not release them.&nbsp;

Between 2015 and 2017, a joint United Nations-OPCW team known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) found that Syrian government troops had used the nerve agent sarin and chlorine barrel bombs on several occasions, while Islamic State militants were found to have used mustard gas.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The global chemical weapons watchdog has 'reasonable grounds to believe' that Syria's air force dropped a chlorine bomb on a residential neighbourhood in the rebel-controlled Idlib region in February 2018, a report released on Monday said.

The global chemical weapons watchdog has 'reasonable grounds to believe' that Syria's air force dropped a chlorine bomb on a residential neighbourhood in the rebel-controlled Idlib region in February 2018, a report released on Monday said. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian government. Syria and its military ally Russia have consistently denied using chemical weapons during President Bashar al-Assad's decade-old conflict with rebel forces, saying any such attacks were staged by opponents to make Damascus look like the culprit. The new report by the OPCW chemical weapons watchdog's investigative arm said no one was killed when the cylinder of chlorine gas, delivered in a barrel bomb, hit the Al Talil neighbourhood in the city of Saraqib in February 2018. However, a dozen people were treated for symptoms consistent with chemical poisoning, including nausea, eye irritation, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing, it said. Chlorine is not an internationally banned toxin, but the use of any chemical substance in armed conflict is banned under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, the implementation of which is overseen by the OPCW watchdog based in The Hague. A crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators by Assad in 2011 mushroomed into civil war, with Russia and Iran supporting his government and the United States, Turkey and some Arab adversaries of Damascus backing some of the many rebel groups. In April 2020, the OPCW's Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) concluded that Syrian warplanes and a helicopter had dropped bombs containing chlorine and sarin nerve gas on a village in Syria's Hama region in March 2017. The latest report by the IIT also implicated Syrian government forces. It concluded that "there were reasonable grounds to believe that at least one cylinder filled with chlorine was dropped from a helicopter of the Syrian Arab Air Forces, belonging to the Tiger Forces." The Tiger Forces are an elite Syrian military unit generally used in offensive operations in the war, which has largely subsided with Assad having wrested back most territory with crucial Russian and Iranian support. "All elements indicated the presence of Tiger Forces in the vicinity of Saraqib. They found that a helicopter was just flying above the bombed area at the moment of the gas release," a summary of the OPCW report said. It said that samples collected from the scene were examined and other possible means of chlorine contamination considered, but the OPCW team said nothing was found to indicate that the incident was staged by Assad's adversaries. The team identified individuals believed to be involved in the alleged attack but did not release them. Between 2015 and 2017, a joint United Nations-OPCW team known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) found that Syrian government troops had used the nerve agent sarin and chlorine barrel bombs on several occasions, while Islamic State militants were found to have used mustard gas. (With inputs from agencies)

Syrian air force may have dropped chlorine bomb on town in rebel area in 2018, says watchdog 

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry on Monday reported a new incursion by China’s air force into the island’s air defence identification zone, made up of eight fighter jets and two other aircraft, one of which flew through the strategic Bashi Channel.

Chinese-claimed Taiwan has complained over the last few months of repeated missions by China’s air force near the island, concentrated in the southwestern part its air defence zone near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands.

Late last month, Taiwan reported 20 Chinese aircraft were involved in one such incursion.

In the latest incident, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said four Chinese J-16 and four J-10 fighters were involved, as well as an early warning plane and anti-submarine aircraft, the latter of which flew to the south of Taiwan through the Bashi Channel that connects the Pacific to the South China Sea.

Taiwan’s air force sent up a combat air patrol and warned the Chinese aircraft away, the ministry added.

There was no immediate response from China’s Defence Ministry, but the flights coincided with other Chinese military activity to Taiwan’s north.

Japan’s Defence Ministry said on Sunday that the Chinese aircraft carrier the Liaoning, accompanied by five escort ships, had transited the Miyako Strait on their way to the Pacific.

Though China’s air force has not flown over Taiwan itself, the flights have ramped up pressure, both financial and physical, on the island’s air force to ensure its aircraft are ready to go at any moment in what security officials describe as a ‘war of attrition’.

China views democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

While Taiwan’s air force is well trained, it is dwarfed by that of China’s.

(With inputs from agencies)

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry on Monday reported a new incursion by China’s air force into the island’s air defence identification zone, made up of eight fighter jets and two other aircraft, one of which flew through the strategic Bashi Channel.

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry on Monday reported a new incursion by China’s air force into the island’s air defence identification zone, made up of eight fighter jets and two other aircraft, one of which flew through the strategic Bashi Channel. Chinese-claimed Taiwan has complained over the last few months of repeated missions by China’s air force near the island, concentrated in the southwestern part its air defence zone near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands. Late last month, Taiwan reported 20 Chinese aircraft were involved in one such incursion. In the latest incident, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said four Chinese J-16 and four J-10 fighters were involved, as well as an early warning plane and anti-submarine aircraft, the latter of which flew to the south of Taiwan through the Bashi Channel that connects the Pacific to the South China Sea. Taiwan’s air force sent up a combat air patrol and warned the Chinese aircraft away, the ministry added. There was no immediate response from China’s Defence Ministry, but the flights coincided with other Chinese military activity to Taiwan’s north. Japan’s Defence Ministry said on Sunday that the Chinese aircraft carrier the Liaoning, accompanied by five escort ships, had transited the Miyako Strait on their way to the Pacific. Though China’s air force has not flown over Taiwan itself, the flights have ramped up pressure, both financial and physical, on the island’s air force to ensure its aircraft are ready to go at any moment in what security officials describe as a ‘war of attrition’. China views democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. While Taiwan’s air force is well trained, it is dwarfed by that of China’s. (With inputs from agencies)

Taiwan reports new incursion by China’s Air Force into defence zone

At least 14 people were killed and 30 others injured after a passenger bus veered off a road and plunged down a precipice on Saturday in the hilly district of Badulla in central Sri Lanka.&nbsp;

The private bus was travelling from Lunugala in Badulla to capital Colombo when the accident took place this morning, police said.&nbsp;

The CCTV footage showed the bus was forced on to the edge of the road by a tipper truck heading towards it. The bus tumbled down a hill around 7 am local time this morning, police said. &nbsp;

Meanwhile, a Sri Lanka Air Force officer was killed in an accident during a parachute training exercise on Saturday, according to authorities.&nbsp;

An Air Force official said that the accident took place during the exercise in Ampara, Eastern Province, when the parachutes of the two airmen collided over 8,000 feet in the sky.&nbsp;

The other Air Force man sustained injuries and was rushed to the Ampara Hospital.&nbsp;

The deceased officer was identified as a 34-year-old Squadron Leader of the Sri Lanka Air Force.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

At least 14 people were killed and 30 others injured after a passenger bus veered off a road and plunged down a precipice on Saturday in the hilly district of Badulla in central Sri Lanka.

At least 14 people were killed and 30 others injured after a passenger bus veered off a road and plunged down a precipice on Saturday in the hilly district of Badulla in central Sri Lanka. The private bus was travelling from Lunugala in Badulla to capital Colombo when the accident took place this morning, police said. The CCTV footage showed the bus was forced on to the edge of the road by a tipper truck heading towards it. The bus tumbled down a hill around 7 am local time this morning, police said. Meanwhile, a Sri Lanka Air Force officer was killed in an accident during a parachute training exercise on Saturday, according to authorities. An Air Force official said that the accident took place during the exercise in Ampara, Eastern Province, when the parachutes of the two airmen collided over 8,000 feet in the sky. The other Air Force man sustained injuries and was rushed to the Ampara Hospital. The deceased officer was identified as a 34-year-old Squadron Leader of the Sri Lanka Air Force. (With inputs from agencies)

14 killed in bus accident in central Sri Lanka 

Taiwan is facing the island’s most severe water shortage in 56 years and has set up an emergency response centre to combat the drought. The country has also set up multiple wells, seeded clouds and besought a gold-faced sea goddess to help the sub-tropical island ride out its most serious drought in about half a century.

The drought is worse&nbsp;across a band of western Taiwan, including the major metropolises of Hsinchu, home to many of Taiwan's renowned tech firms, Taichung in the centre of the island, and Tainan and Kaohsiung to the south.

Water levels in four major reservoirs have fallen to around or below one-tenth of capacity. Some chipmakers are buying water by the truckload for their foundries, though supplies so far are generally continuing uninterrupted for households.

Authorities have been piping in water from other reservoirs to the main one for Hsinchu, but it was still not enough and they were now drilling wells.

Officials hope the 'plum rain' season that starts around late spring will help, but in the meantime are taking more drastic steps.

In Taichung earlier this month the Water Resources Agency took the unusual step of sending its top official for central Taiwan to a three-hour religious ceremony to pray for rain, the first time the event has been held in 58 years.

Some 3,000 people, mostly farmers as well as Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, prayed to the sea goddess Mazu, her gold face signifying her divinity and a popular deity believed to bring good fortune and end drought.

Also, Taiwan's air force has used C-130 transport aircraft to seed the clouds, while water resources officials back up the effort from the ground by firing chemicals into the air. Agriculture accounts for more than 70 per cent of water consumption in Taiwan, to grow rice and fruit like mango and pineapple.

Taiwan is facing the island’s most severe water shortage in 56 years and has set up an emergency response centre to combat the drought. The country has also set up multiple wells, seeded clouds and besought a gold-faced sea goddess to help the sub-tropical island ride out its most serious drought in about half a century.

Taiwan is facing the island’s most severe water shortage in 56 years and has set up an emergency response centre to combat the drought. The country has also set up multiple wells, seeded clouds and besought a gold-faced sea goddess to help the sub-tropical island ride out its most serious drought in about half a century. The drought is worse across a band of western Taiwan, including the major metropolises of Hsinchu, home to many of Taiwan's renowned tech firms, Taichung in the centre of the island, and Tainan and Kaohsiung to the south. Water levels in four major reservoirs have fallen to around or below one-tenth of capacity. Some chipmakers are buying water by the truckload for their foundries, though supplies so far are generally continuing uninterrupted for households. Authorities have been piping in water from other reservoirs to the main one for Hsinchu, but it was still not enough and they were now drilling wells. Officials hope the 'plum rain' season that starts around late spring will help, but in the meantime are taking more drastic steps. In Taichung earlier this month the Water Resources Agency took the unusual step of sending its top official for central Taiwan to a three-hour religious ceremony to pray for rain, the first time the event has been held in 58 years. Some 3,000 people, mostly farmers as well as Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, prayed to the sea goddess Mazu, her gold face signifying her divinity and a popular deity believed to bring good fortune and end drought. Also, Taiwan's air force has used C-130 transport aircraft to seed the clouds, while water resources officials back up the effort from the ground by firing chemicals into the air. Agriculture accounts for more than 70 per cent of water consumption in Taiwan, to grow rice and fruit like mango and pineapple.

Taiwan faces its most severe water shortage in 56 years; sea goddess, air force C-130s called upon

President Joe Biden has served in elected office for almost four decades. He has interacted with nine presidents. He is accustomed to staff waiting on him, traveling by motorcade, and knew his way around the Oval Office and the mazelike layout of the West Wing from eight years as vice president.

“It feels like I am going home,” he said on Inauguration Day as he approached the White House along the parade route.

But not all of the accouterments of power are old hat for the country’s oldest president. When he flies on Air Force One Friday afternoon to go home to Wilmington, Delaware, for the weekend, it will be his first flight aboard the presidential jet in more than two decades, according to more than a half-dozen administration officials and former Biden aides.

As President Barack Obama’s vice president, Biden was prohibited from flying on the Boeing VC-25 that is known as Air Force One. For security reasons, the vice president and the president never fly together. Air Force Two, a Boeing 757, is a smaller, much more cramped and much more modest plane.

Despite his decades in public office, the only trip aboard Air Force One that anyone in the White House or Biden’s circle can recall him taking was in the summer of 2000. Back then, Biden traveled to Colombia as part of a delegation with President Bill Clinton, helping unveil an emergency aid program to fight the narcotics trade and prop up the country’s democracy.

That means that Jill Biden, the first lady, who accompanied Obama to a community college in Michigan aboard Air Force One in 2015, has been on board more recently than her husband. (At the time, she said she spent her time on the flight grading papers.)

Biden rode on Air Force One on Friday afternoon, but not the one that has so delighted his predecessors. He jogged up the stairs of the Boeing 757-200, which is a smaller, narrow-body jet used for smaller airports like the one Biden was bound for in Wilmington.

“It’s a great plane,” Biden told reporters traveling with him. “It’s the same plane that we had as vice president, only it’s much nicer.”

“When that 747 lands, it’s a sight to behold,” said John Podesta, a former White House chief of staff to Clinton. “When the president walks down those steps, you feel the power of that. He will feel the power of that. It’s a little different from the 757.”

Even President Donald Trump, who liked to brag about his own Trump-branded plane, was impressed.

“This is a very special plane,” he told reporters after taking them to his front cabin for a rare peek en route to Philadelphia. He had been in office for only six days when he showed off a navy blue Air Force One jacket. His press secretary at the time, Sean Spicer, described him as “in awe of the splendor of this plane.”

In 2018, Trump bragged that the plane, equipped to act as a mobile White House, had “about 20 televisions.” Still, he had plans for a makeover for the plane, plans that never came to fruition and that the Biden administration has made clear could not be lower on its list of priorities.

Obama appeared equally captivated by his new ride when he took his first flight in the third week of his presidency, traveling a short distance to Williamsburg, Virginia, to a retreat for House Democrats.

“What do you think of this spiffy ride here? It’s not bad,” Obama said to reporters sitting in the back of the plane. Like Trump, he also made a show of his crew jacket, which ha

Clinton took his first flight 22 days after taking office in 1993. He flew to Detroit for a nationally broadcast town hall event to lay the groundwork for the economic policies he was set to unveil, while his staff made jokes about how relieved he was to give up his rickety campaign plane, nicknamed “Air Elvis.”

President George W. Bush’s first trip aboard Air Force One after moving into the White House came less than a month into his presidency, when he visited military families and troops at Fort Stewart, in Georgia, part of a slate of trips intended to promote his national security policies.

White House officials would not say when Biden would take his first domestic trip but said that a typical presidential travel schedule was on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. “Certainly, his preference would be to get on a plane and fly around the country, but that’s not the step we’re planning currently,” the White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said during a briefing last month.

Other senior administration officials insisted that Biden was not grounded and would travel domestically soon, pointing to the fact that he safely made two trips to Georgia during the transition to campaign for Democratic Senate candidates.

Presidential travel is expensive and time-consuming, but it is also essential to the job, former White House officials said.

“It’s critical for people to feel the presence and be aware of the fact that the president took the time to come to the place where they are,” Podesta said. “One of the things that underlies the deep divisions in the country is people feeling like, ‘You forgot about me.’ Showing up changes that dynamic.”

Podesta said it would be critical for Biden to travel after addressing a joint session of Congress this month, even if it meant taking on some health risks. “He’s going to lay down a lot of ideas of what needs to get built, and he’s got to go to some places where those things will get built,” he said.

But given the pandemic and the politically fragile moment the country is in, Michael Beschloss, the presidential historian, said that staying in Washington more often may work better for Biden.

“After John Kennedy’s assassination, the country was so agitated that the new president, Lyndon Johnson, made a commitment not to travel abroad for a period of time,” he said. “Although for different reasons, Biden’s staying close to the White House has reminded me of that. I believe that right now, seeing Biden in the State Dining Room, announcing how he’s dealing with one supreme problem after another, is more reassuring than it would be to see him on the road, in the middle of a pandemic, trying to find a crowd to speak to.”

Biden, however, may not agree once he has been on the plane.

President Joe Biden has served in elected office for almost four decades. He has interacted with nine presidents. He is accustomed to staff waiting on him, traveling by motorcade, and knew his way around the Oval Office and the mazelike layout of the West Wing from eight years as vice president.

President Joe Biden has served in elected office for almost four decades. He has interacted with nine presidents. He is accustomed to staff waiting on him, traveling by motorcade, and knew his way around the Oval Office and the mazelike layout of the West Wing from eight years as vice president. “It feels like I am going home,” he said on Inauguration Day as he approached the White House along the parade route. But not all of the accouterments of power are old hat for the country’s oldest president. When he flies on Air Force One Friday afternoon to go home to Wilmington, Delaware, for the weekend, it will be his first flight aboard the presidential jet in more than two decades, according to more than a half-dozen administration officials and former Biden aides. As President Barack Obama’s vice president, Biden was prohibited from flying on the Boeing VC-25 that is known as Air Force One. For security reasons, the vice president and the president never fly together. Air Force Two, a Boeing 757, is a smaller, much more cramped and much more modest plane. Despite his decades in public office, the only trip aboard Air Force One that anyone in the White House or Biden’s circle can recall him taking was in the summer of 2000. Back then, Biden traveled to Colombia as part of a delegation with President Bill Clinton, helping unveil an emergency aid program to fight the narcotics trade and prop up the country’s democracy. That means that Jill Biden, the first lady, who accompanied Obama to a community college in Michigan aboard Air Force One in 2015, has been on board more recently than her husband. (At the time, she said she spent her time on the flight grading papers.) Biden rode on Air Force One on Friday afternoon, but not the one that has so delighted his predecessors. He jogged up the stairs of the Boeing 757-200, which is a smaller, narrow-body jet used for smaller airports like the one Biden was bound for in Wilmington. “It’s a great plane,” Biden told reporters traveling with him. “It’s the same plane that we had as vice president, only it’s much nicer.” “When that 747 lands, it’s a sight to behold,” said John Podesta, a former White House chief of staff to Clinton. “When the president walks down those steps, you feel the power of that. He will feel the power of that. It’s a little different from the 757.” Even President Donald Trump, who liked to brag about his own Trump-branded plane, was impressed. “This is a very special plane,” he told reporters after taking them to his front cabin for a rare peek en route to Philadelphia. He had been in office for only six days when he showed off a navy blue Air Force One jacket. His press secretary at the time, Sean Spicer, described him as “in awe of the splendor of this plane.” In 2018, Trump bragged that the plane, equipped to act as a mobile White House, had “about 20 televisions.” Still, he had plans for a makeover for the plane, plans that never came to fruition and that the Biden administration has made clear could not be lower on its list of priorities. Obama appeared equally captivated by his new ride when he took his first flight in the third week of his presidency, traveling a short distance to Williamsburg, Virginia, to a retreat for House Democrats. “What do you think of this spiffy ride here? It’s not bad,” Obama said to reporters sitting in the back of the plane. Like Trump, he also made a show of his crew jacket, which ha Clinton took his first flight 22 days after taking office in 1993. He flew to Detroit for a nationally broadcast town hall event to lay the groundwork for the economic policies he was set to unveil, while his staff made jokes about how relieved he was to give up his rickety campaign plane, nicknamed “Air Elvis.” President George W. Bush’s first trip aboard Air Force One after moving into the White House came less than a month into his presidency, when he visited military families and troops at Fort Stewart, in Georgia, part of a slate of trips intended to promote his national security policies. White House officials would not say when Biden would take his first domestic trip but said that a typical presidential travel schedule was on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. “Certainly, his preference would be to get on a plane and fly around the country, but that’s not the step we’re planning currently,” the White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said during a briefing last month. Other senior administration officials insisted that Biden was not grounded and would travel domestically soon, pointing to the fact that he safely made two trips to Georgia during the transition to campaign for Democratic Senate candidates. Presidential travel is expensive and time-consuming, but it is also essential to the job, former White House officials said. “It’s critical for people to feel the presence and be aware of the fact that the president took the time to come to the place where they are,” Podesta said. “One of the things that underlies the deep divisions in the country is people feeling like, ‘You forgot about me.’ Showing up changes that dynamic.” Podesta said it would be critical for Biden to travel after addressing a joint session of Congress this month, even if it meant taking on some health risks. “He’s going to lay down a lot of ideas of what needs to get built, and he’s got to go to some places where those things will get built,” he said. But given the pandemic and the politically fragile moment the country is in, Michael Beschloss, the presidential historian, said that staying in Washington more often may work better for Biden. “After John Kennedy’s assassination, the country was so agitated that the new president, Lyndon Johnson, made a commitment not to travel abroad for a period of time,” he said. “Although for different reasons, Biden’s staying close to the White House has reminded me of that. I believe that right now, seeing Biden in the State Dining Room, announcing how he’s dealing with one supreme problem after another, is more reassuring than it would be to see him on the road, in the middle of a pandemic, trying to find a crowd to speak to.” Biden, however, may not agree once he has been on the plane.

After years in government, Biden has a new perk: Air Force One

The Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force on Saturday concluded the joint military exercise Ex Desert Knight 2021, which was held at Air Force Station Jodhpur. 
“A first of its kind bilateral exercise (Ex DK-21), Rafale aircraft from both sides along with Su-30 MKI and Mirage 2000 aircraft of the IAF undertook complex missions including Large Force Engagements,” the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a release.

The ministry said that combat enablers included AWACS, AEW&amp;C aircraft of the IAF as well as A400M and A330 based MRTT (Medium Range Tanker and Transport) aircraft of the FASF.

Both Air Forces exercised in realistic settings with an aim to enhance operational capabilities and interoperability. The exercise provided an opportunity to share best practices and evolve operational concepts; particularly for effective combat employment of the Rafale fleet, the release said.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat visited Air Force Station Jodhpur on 21st January 2021 and interacted with participating forces. He also flew on-board the MRTT along with Maj Gen Laurent Lherbette, the FASF contingent leader where he was given an overview on the conduct of the exercise and witnessed air-to-air refuelling operations by IAF and FASF fighters.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria visited Air Force Station Jodhpur along with the Ambassador of France to India, Emmanuel Lenain. The visitors were received by Air Marshal SK Ghotia PVSM VSM AOC-in-C SWAC.

CAS interacted with members of IAF and FASF contingents. He expressed his appreciation on the complexity of operations conducted and interoperability achieved by participants within a short span of 4 days.

He also commended the planning, operational, and maintenance staff from both sides for the smooth and safe conduct of the exercise. CAS wished the FASF contingent the very best for the next phase of their Skyros deployment.

The Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force on Saturday concluded the joint military exercise Ex Desert Knight 2021, which was held at Air Force Station Jodhpur.

The Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force on Saturday concluded the joint military exercise Ex Desert Knight 2021, which was held at Air Force Station Jodhpur. “A first of its kind bilateral exercise (Ex DK-21), Rafale aircraft from both sides along with Su-30 MKI and Mirage 2000 aircraft of the IAF undertook complex missions including Large Force Engagements,” the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a release. The ministry said that combat enablers included AWACS, AEW&C aircraft of the IAF as well as A400M and A330 based MRTT (Medium Range Tanker and Transport) aircraft of the FASF. Both Air Forces exercised in realistic settings with an aim to enhance operational capabilities and interoperability. The exercise provided an opportunity to share best practices and evolve operational concepts; particularly for effective combat employment of the Rafale fleet, the release said. Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat visited Air Force Station Jodhpur on 21st January 2021 and interacted with participating forces. He also flew on-board the MRTT along with Maj Gen Laurent Lherbette, the FASF contingent leader where he was given an overview on the conduct of the exercise and witnessed air-to-air refuelling operations by IAF and FASF fighters. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria visited Air Force Station Jodhpur along with the Ambassador of France to India, Emmanuel Lenain. The visitors were received by Air Marshal SK Ghotia PVSM VSM AOC-in-C SWAC. CAS interacted with members of IAF and FASF contingents. He expressed his appreciation on the complexity of operations conducted and interoperability achieved by participants within a short span of 4 days. He also commended the planning, operational, and maintenance staff from both sides for the smooth and safe conduct of the exercise. CAS wished the FASF contingent the very best for the next phase of their Skyros deployment.

IAF, French Air Force conclude Ex Desert Knight 2021

Green, red and white smoke – the colours of the Italian flag – trailed air force flypasts over Rome on Tuesday, as residents of the capital gathered to mark the country's 74th Republic Day.

Italy's aerobatic air force marks Republic Day

The US Air Force successfully launched its Atlas V rocket, carrying a X-37B space plane for a secretive mission.

The space plane was launched from&nbsp;Cape Canaveral, Florida on Sunday.

X-37B is a classified programme. There has not been much information provided by the US government or by the authorities in the past.

The aircraft, also known as an Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), is on its sixth mission in space, where it will deploy a satellite into orbit. It will&nbsp;test power-beaming technology, and will also test&nbsp;the effect of radiation on seeds and other materials.

The mission was dedicated to frontline workers and corona warriors. The plane's payload fairing saw "America strong" written on it.

"The success of this mission resulted from collaboration with our customer while working through challenging, and ever changing, health and safety conditions. We were honoured to partner with the US Space Force to dedicate the mission to first responders, front-line workers, and those affected by COVID-19," said Gary Wentz, ULA's Vice President of government and commercial programs, in a news release.

The plane, which will orbit the Earth while carrying experiments,&nbsp;has been built by Boeing. The plane measures over 29ft long and has a wingspan of nearly 15ft and weighs 11,000lbs.&nbsp;It uses solar panels for power in orbit.

The length of the mission is unknown. The last mission that took place in 2010, lasted for two years.

The US Air Force successfully launched its Atlas V rocket, carrying a X-37B space plane for a secretive mission. The space plane was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida on Sunday.

The US Air Force successfully launched its Atlas V rocket, carrying a X-37B space plane for a secretive mission. The space plane was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida on Sunday. X-37B is a classified programme. There has not been much information provided by the US government or by the authorities in the past. The aircraft, also known as an Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), is on its sixth mission in space, where it will deploy a satellite into orbit. It will test power-beaming technology, and will also test the effect of radiation on seeds and other materials. The mission was dedicated to frontline workers and corona warriors. The plane's payload fairing saw "America strong" written on it. "The success of this mission resulted from collaboration with our customer while working through challenging, and ever changing, health and safety conditions. We were honoured to partner with the US Space Force to dedicate the mission to first responders, front-line workers, and those affected by COVID-19," said Gary Wentz, ULA's Vice President of government and commercial programs, in a news release. The plane, which will orbit the Earth while carrying experiments, has been built by Boeing. The plane measures over 29ft long and has a wingspan of nearly 15ft and weighs 11,000lbs. It uses solar panels for power in orbit. The length of the mission is unknown. The last mission that took place in 2010, lasted for two years.

US Air Force launches space plane for secretive mission; dedicates mission to COVID-19 warriors

Pakistan's Army commemorated February 27th as 'Surprise Day' to push propaganda against Indian AirForce MCC's Balakot Airstrikes. Why has the Pakistani Air force been unable to evacuate its citizens stuck in Coronavirus-hit China? Molly Gambhir summarises Pak govt's surprisingly misplaced priorities.

Gravitas: 'Surprise day', Pak propaganda on Balakot strikes

After playing a wrestler in Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/movie-review-panga-review-kangana-ranauts-film-is-a-heartwarming-ode-to-mothers-276263">'Panga', </a>Kangana Ranaut is all set to play a fighter pilot in upcoming film 'Tejas'.&nbsp;The makers unveiled the first look of her character on Twitter on Monday. Dressed in flying gear, Kangana can be seen holding her helmet and sports classic aviator sunglasses with hair tied in a bun. She poses with a fighter jet in the background. 
&nbsp; 
The Indian Air Force was the first of the country`s defence forces to induct women into combat roles in 2016. The film takes inspiration from this landmark event.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Soaring high into the sky! 
Presenting the first look of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KanganaRanaut?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KanganaRanaut</a> as an Air force Pilot in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tejas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tejas</a>. ✈️<a href="https://twitter.com/KanganaTeam?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KanganaTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RonnieScrewvala?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RonnieScrewvala</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SarveshMewara?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SarveshMewara</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nonabains?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nonabains</a> <a href="https://t.co/vZzpD8pllw">pic.twitter.com/vZzpD8pllw</a>
— RSVP Movies (@RSVPMovies) <a href="https://twitter.com/RSVPMovies/status/1229247870097936385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Kangana, in a statement, said she felt honoured to play the character of a fighter pilot. "Very often the sacrifices made by our brave women in uniform go unnoticed by the nation. `Tejas` is a film where I have the honour of playing the role of one such Air Force pilot who puts country before self. I hope we instil a sense of patriotism and pride in the youth of today with this film. I am looking forward to the journey with Sarvesh and Ronnie on this one." 
 
The film will be produced by Ronnie Screwvala under the banner RSVP who last year produced 'Uri: The Surgical Strike'. Expressing his excitement for the project Ronnie stated, "We made an army-centric/army-based film with `Uri: The Surgical Strike`. `Tejas` is our dedication to the brave fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force, who always put the country first. We are excited and honoured to share this brave story with viewers and hope it inspires many more women to join the Air Force." 
 
&nbsp;The debutant director and writer of `Tejas`, Sarvesh Mewara said, "When your debut film has Ronnie Screwvala as the producer and Kangana Ranaut as the lead actor, going all out to chase your dreams feels worth it." 
 
`Tejas` is set to go on floors this summer and release will hit the theatres in April 2021.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)

After playing a wrestler in Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari's 'Panga', Kangana Ranaut is all set to play a fighter pilot in upcoming film 'Tejas'. The makers unveiled the first look of her character on Twitter on Monday.

After playing a wrestler in Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari's 'Panga', Kangana Ranaut is all set to play a fighter pilot in upcoming film 'Tejas'. The makers unveiled the first look of her character on Twitter on Monday. Dressed in flying gear, Kangana can be seen holding her helmet and sports classic aviator sunglasses with hair tied in a bun. She poses with a fighter jet in the background. The Indian Air Force was the first of the country`s defence forces to induct women into combat roles in 2016. The film takes inspiration from this landmark event. Soaring high into the sky! Presenting the first look of #KanganaRanaut as an Air force Pilot in #Tejas. ✈️@KanganaTeam @RonnieScrewvala #SarveshMewara @nonabains pic.twitter.com/vZzpD8pllw — RSVP Movies (@RSVPMovies) February 17, 2020 × Kangana, in a statement, said she felt honoured to play the character of a fighter pilot. "Very often the sacrifices made by our brave women in uniform go unnoticed by the nation. `Tejas` is a film where I have the honour of playing the role of one such Air Force pilot who puts country before self. I hope we instil a sense of patriotism and pride in the youth of today with this film. I am looking forward to the journey with Sarvesh and Ronnie on this one." The film will be produced by Ronnie Screwvala under the banner RSVP who last year produced 'Uri: The Surgical Strike'. Expressing his excitement for the project Ronnie stated, "We made an army-centric/army-based film with `Uri: The Surgical Strike`. `Tejas` is our dedication to the brave fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force, who always put the country first. We are excited and honoured to share this brave story with viewers and hope it inspires many more women to join the Air Force." The debutant director and writer of `Tejas`, Sarvesh Mewara said, "When your debut film has Ronnie Screwvala as the producer and Kangana Ranaut as the lead actor, going all out to chase your dreams feels worth it." `Tejas` is set to go on floors this summer and release will hit the theatres in April 2021. (With inputs from ANI)

'Tejas' first look: Kangana Ranaut looks impressive as a fighter pilot 

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force's Bayi aerobatic team put on a spectacular performance Tuesday, the opening day of the biennial Singapore Airshow.

Chinese aerobatic team amazes spectators at Singapore Airshow

Army chief General Bipin Rawat on December 31 expressed his gratitude to soldiers and their kin as he demitted office after a grand farewell ceremony. General Rawat will officially take over as India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), who will act as the principal military adviser to the defence minister on all matters relating to tri-services, on January 1, 2019. #BipinRawat #CDS #IndianArmy #ChiefOfAllForces #IndianForces #AirForce #IndianNavy

India General Bipin Rawat: Will form strategy after assuming charge

India gets its first military 'Superchief' as Bipin Rawat

Indian Air Force (IAF) bids farewell to its swing-wing MiG-27 fighter jets that played a key stellar role in the 1999 Kargil War. The MiG-27 fighter jets have the backbone of the IAF's ground-attack fleet for several years, but the fighter plane flew for the last time on December 27. #Kargil #MiG27 #IAF #WION

IAF bids farewell to MIG-27, took it's last flight yesterday

The exercise will conclude with a 72-hour validation exercise. Indra 2019 will culminate on 19 December with an Integrated Fire Power demonstration and the Closing Ceremony.

The India-Russia ten-day long joint exercise "Indra 2019" culminated is currently wrapping up at three locations in India. The exercise will conclude with a 72-hour validation exercise.

The massive wargames which had kicked-off on December 10th, as Russian naval vessels docked at Mormugao in Goa. The opening ceremony was held at the naval station in Goa to welcome the 700 Russian troops who participated in the military drills and exercises along with the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

The grand scale of the exercise symbolises the continued goodwill and continuance of warm relations between the two old friends. Alignment of interest in a global world order has helped maintain all-round good ties between India and Russia.

Army - land warfare

The Indian Army is believed to have utilised offensive equipment in the land-based exercises which took place in Babina, Uttar Pradesh (near Jhansi). Some of the heavy equipment included the infantry combat vehicle - BMP-1, as well, as the main battle tank T-90M Bhisma, both of Russian origin.&nbsp;

Company-sized mechanized infantry contingents and the Ghatak platoon of the Indian Army participated alongside their Russian counterparts in Babina, Uttar Pradesh.

The exercise was largely aimed at countering terrorism under the UN mandate. Tactical operations and drills such as cordon house intervention and handling and neutralisation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) also took place.

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Exercise <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDRA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDRA</a> 2019<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Synergy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Synergy</a> 
 
Tri services contingents of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Russian</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indian</a> Armed Forces will rehearse <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Counter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Counter</a> Terrorism drills in ten day Exercise. Aim of exercise is to hone the skills of troops in conduct of counter terrorism operations under the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnitedNations?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnitedNations</a> mandate. <a href="https://t.co/aQ76H2CKtC">pic.twitter.com/aQ76H2CKtC</a>
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) <a href="https://twitter.com/adgpi/status/1205091543549403136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Naval warfare

"The Russian Federation Navy (RuFN) Ships Yaroslav Mudry, Viktor Konetsky and Elyna arrived in Goa on December 10 to participate in INDRA 2019, the second edition of the tri-services exercise between the Indian and the Russian armed forces," the defence ministry had said in a statement.

INS Aditya and RuFN ship Yaroslav Mudry cast-off from Mormugao harbour on December 16, 2019, to commence the sea phase of the joint tri-service exercise.&nbsp;

INS Tarkash, INS Aditya and RuFN ship Yaroslav Mudry participated in an encounter exercise and cross-deck flying on the same day. Sea riders were also exchanged between the Indian and Russian ships which was followed by air defence exercise involving four MiG29K aircraft.

On Dec 17, a combined boarding team of Indian Navy and Russian Federation Navy personnel conducted boarding exercise to train for anti-piracy operations on a hijacked merchant vessel. Other exercises included firing practice, aviation operations and other manoeuvres like maintaining station and replenishment at sea.

 
Aerial warfare

Aerial operations were conducted in the outskirts of Pune, Maharashtra. According to the ministry of defence, the Indian Air Force employed the Su-30MKI multi-role aircraft, Jaguar attack aircraft, MI-17 multi-purpose helicopters and AWACS aircraft. The IAF currently employs its DRDO-made Airborne Warning &amp; Control System(AWCS) on the Brazillian-made Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft. The Air Force Garud commandoes also participated in the exercise as part of counter-terrorism wargames.

Pilots of the Russian Federation Air Force also joined their Indian counterparts to pilot the newly inducted and indigenously built HAL Tejas multirole light aircraft.

The broad theme for the exercise was to organise a Joint Task Force for undertaking planning and execution of air operations for eliminating terrorists at the request of the third country under UN mandate. However, combined missions between IAF and RFAF were also undertaken for enrichening experience and maximising training value in terms of interoperability. 
&nbsp;

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Training together to achieve <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Synergy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Synergy</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Interoperability?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Interoperability</a> 
 
Exercise <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDRA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDRA</a> commences with Joint Opening Ceremony at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Babina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Babina</a>.Tri-Services contingents of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Russian</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indian</a> Armed Forces will rehearse &amp; share best practices in their <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CounterTerrorism?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CounterTerrorism</a> drills in ten days Exercise. <a href="https://t.co/WX27bQ586f">pic.twitter.com/WX27bQ586f</a>
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) <a href="https://twitter.com/adgpi/status/1205009773885841408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"As part of validation exercise held on 19 December 2019, troops of both the countries carried out specialised joint counter-terrorist operations which was witnessed by dignitaries of services of both countries," the defence ministry said. 
&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SeaPhase?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SeaPhase</a> of Indo-Russian <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Triservice?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Triservice</a> exercise <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDRA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDRA</a> 2019 off Goa. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INSTarkash?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INSTarkash</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INSAditya?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INSAditya</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RuFN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RuFN</a> ship Yaroslav Mudry in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Encounter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Encounter</a> Exercise &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CrossDeck?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CrossDeck</a> flying. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SeaRiders?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SeaRiders</a> exchanged between <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianNavy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianNavy</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RuFN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RuFN</a> ships followed by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AirDefence?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AirDefence</a> exercise involving MiG29K aircraft. <a href="https://t.co/o7icW9ZBp1">pic.twitter.com/o7icW9ZBp1</a>
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) <a href="https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1207330046400065536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"The exercise concluded on 19 December 2019 with a ceremonial closing ceremony by both the contingents," the defence ministry added.

The exercise will conclude with a 72-hour validation exercise. Indra 2019 will culminate on 19 December with an Integrated Fire Power demonstration and the Closing Ceremony.

The exercise will conclude with a 72-hour validation exercise. Indra 2019 will culminate on 19 December with an Integrated Fire Power demonstration and the Closing Ceremony. The India-Russia ten-day long joint exercise "Indra 2019" culminated is currently wrapping up at three locations in India. The exercise will conclude with a 72-hour validation exercise. The massive wargames which had kicked-off on December 10th, as Russian naval vessels docked at Mormugao in Goa. The opening ceremony was held at the naval station in Goa to welcome the 700 Russian troops who participated in the military drills and exercises along with the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. The grand scale of the exercise symbolises the continued goodwill and continuance of warm relations between the two old friends. Alignment of interest in a global world order has helped maintain all-round good ties between India and Russia. Army - land warfare The Indian Army is believed to have utilised offensive equipment in the land-based exercises which took place in Babina, Uttar Pradesh (near Jhansi). Some of the heavy equipment included the infantry combat vehicle - BMP-1, as well, as the main battle tank T-90M Bhisma, both of Russian origin. Company-sized mechanized infantry contingents and the Ghatak platoon of the Indian Army participated alongside their Russian counterparts in Babina, Uttar Pradesh. The exercise was largely aimed at countering terrorism under the UN mandate. Tactical operations and drills such as cordon house intervention and handling and neutralisation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) also took place. Exercise #INDRA 2019#Synergy Tri services contingents of #Russian and #Indian Armed Forces will rehearse #Counter Terrorism drills in ten day Exercise. Aim of exercise is to hone the skills of troops in conduct of counter terrorism operations under the #UnitedNations mandate. pic.twitter.com/aQ76H2CKtC — ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) December 12, 2019 × Naval warfare "The Russian Federation Navy (RuFN) Ships Yaroslav Mudry, Viktor Konetsky and Elyna arrived in Goa on December 10 to participate in INDRA 2019, the second edition of the tri-services exercise between the Indian and the Russian armed forces," the defence ministry had said in a statement. INS Aditya and RuFN ship Yaroslav Mudry cast-off from Mormugao harbour on December 16, 2019, to commence the sea phase of the joint tri-service exercise. INS Tarkash, INS Aditya and RuFN ship Yaroslav Mudry participated in an encounter exercise and cross-deck flying on the same day. Sea riders were also exchanged between the Indian and Russian ships which was followed by air defence exercise involving four MiG29K aircraft. On Dec 17, a combined boarding team of Indian Navy and Russian Federation Navy personnel conducted boarding exercise to train for anti-piracy operations on a hijacked merchant vessel. Other exercises included firing practice, aviation operations and other manoeuvres like maintaining station and replenishment at sea. Aerial warfare Aerial operations were conducted in the outskirts of Pune, Maharashtra. According to the ministry of defence, the Indian Air Force employed the Su-30MKI multi-role aircraft, Jaguar attack aircraft, MI-17 multi-purpose helicopters and AWACS aircraft. The IAF currently employs its DRDO-made Airborne Warning & Control System(AWCS) on the Brazillian-made Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft. The Air Force Garud commandoes also participated in the exercise as part of counter-terrorism wargames. Pilots of the Russian Federation Air Force also joined their Indian counterparts to pilot the newly inducted and indigenously built HAL Tejas multirole light aircraft. The broad theme for the exercise was to organise a Joint Task Force for undertaking planning and execution of air operations for eliminating terrorists at the request of the third country under UN mandate. However, combined missions between IAF and RFAF were also undertaken for enrichening experience and maximising training value in terms of interoperability. Training together to achieve #Synergy & #Interoperability Exercise #INDRA commences with Joint Opening Ceremony at #Babina.Tri-Services contingents of #Russian & #Indian Armed Forces will rehearse & share best practices in their #CounterTerrorism drills in ten days Exercise. pic.twitter.com/WX27bQ586f — ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) December 12, 2019 × "As part of validation exercise held on 19 December 2019, troops of both the countries carried out specialised joint counter-terrorist operations which was witnessed by dignitaries of services of both countries," the defence ministry said. #SeaPhase of Indo-Russian #Triservice exercise #INDRA 2019 off Goa. #INSTarkash, #INSAditya & #RuFN ship Yaroslav Mudry in #Encounter Exercise & #CrossDeck flying. #SeaRiders exchanged between #IndianNavy & #RuFN ships followed by #AirDefence exercise involving MiG29K aircraft. pic.twitter.com/o7icW9ZBp1 — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 18, 2019 × "The exercise concluded on 19 December 2019 with a ceremonial closing ceremony by both the contingents," the defence ministry added.

India-Russia joint tri-service excercise 'Indra 2019' concludes

In a major step towards enhancing jointness among the three services, the special forces of Army, Navy and Air Force have been deployed in the Kashmir valley to carry out combined counter-terrorist operations.

The three special forces, namely, the Army`s Para (Special Forces), Navy`s Marine Commandos (MARCOS) and Indian Air Force`s Garud Special Forces are being deployed in the Kashmir valley under the Defence Ministry`s newly-raised Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD), senior Defence sources told ANI.

The induction of the joint special troops of the three forces has already started as the Army Para (SF) elements have already been inducted into an area considered to be a traditional terror hotbed near Srinagar, they said.

The elements of the MARCOS and the Garuds would also be getting fully inducted into the anti-terrorist operations very soon, they said.

Although small teams of Navy`s MARCOS and IAF`s Garuds have been operating in the Kashmir valley, this is the first time when the three services would be deployed jointly there.

The MARCOS commandos are deployed in and around the Wular lake area while the Garud teams have been operating in the Lolab area and Hajin.

The Air Force Special Forces had a very successful stint in the Kashmir valley as they managed to eliminate six terrorists in one go in Operation Rakh Hajin for which its Corporal JP Nirala was also awarded the Ashok Chakra posthumously.

The aim of joint Special Forces deployment in the Kashmir valley is to give the troops exposure of operating jointly in real operations.

The AFSPD has already carried out two exercises in different locations practising assault on strategic enemy positions and taking back captured areas.

The first exercise of the AFSOD was in the Kutch region codenamed Ex Smelling Field while the second was in Andaman and Nicobar Islands codenamed DANX-2019.

The first head of the Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD) is Major General Ashok Dhingra.

The division has performed well since it came into existence and is still facing issues involved in raising including manpower and equipment shortcomings.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

In a major step towards enhancing jointness among the three services, the special forces of Army, Navy and Air Force have been deployed in the Kashmir valley to carry out combined counter-terrorist operations.

In a major step towards enhancing jointness among the three services, the special forces of Army, Navy and Air Force have been deployed in the Kashmir valley to carry out combined counter-terrorist operations. The three special forces, namely, the Army`s Para (Special Forces), Navy`s Marine Commandos (MARCOS) and Indian Air Force`s Garud Special Forces are being deployed in the Kashmir valley under the Defence Ministry`s newly-raised Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD), senior Defence sources told ANI. The induction of the joint special troops of the three forces has already started as the Army Para (SF) elements have already been inducted into an area considered to be a traditional terror hotbed near Srinagar, they said. The elements of the MARCOS and the Garuds would also be getting fully inducted into the anti-terrorist operations very soon, they said. Although small teams of Navy`s MARCOS and IAF`s Garuds have been operating in the Kashmir valley, this is the first time when the three services would be deployed jointly there. The MARCOS commandos are deployed in and around the Wular lake area while the Garud teams have been operating in the Lolab area and Hajin. The Air Force Special Forces had a very successful stint in the Kashmir valley as they managed to eliminate six terrorists in one go in Operation Rakh Hajin for which its Corporal JP Nirala was also awarded the Ashok Chakra posthumously. The aim of joint Special Forces deployment in the Kashmir valley is to give the troops exposure of operating jointly in real operations. The AFSPD has already carried out two exercises in different locations practising assault on strategic enemy positions and taking back captured areas. The first exercise of the AFSOD was in the Kutch region codenamed Ex Smelling Field while the second was in Andaman and Nicobar Islands codenamed DANX-2019. The first head of the Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD) is Major General Ashok Dhingra. The division has performed well since it came into existence and is still facing issues involved in raising including manpower and equipment shortcomings.

Army, Navy, Air Force Special Forces deployed jointly to hunt terrorists in Kashmir valley

Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora took over as Vice-Chief of the Indian Air Force on Tuesday.

Arora succeeds Air Chief Marshal RKS <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-marshal-rks-bhadauria-takes-over-as-new-iaf-chief-from-bs-dhanoa-252775">Bhadauria who took over as the IAF Chief</a>, a day earlier on September 30.

Arora previously headed the Gandhinagar headquartered South Western Air Command of the Air Force.

He had assumed office on September 30 last year, after the retirement of Air Marshal Ravinder Kumar Dhir.

Arora was commissioned in the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in Dec 1981. He has rich and diverse experience of over 2600 hours accident-free operational flying which includes MiG 21, MiG 29 and other aircraft in IAF inventory, including helicopters.

He was deputed as Defence Attache at the Embassy of India, Bangkok, Thailand from 2006 to 2009.

He commanded 45 Squadron as a Wing Commander and later was Commander of an Air Defence Direction Centre in Western Sector. He is a meritorious graduate of Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College and is Master of Philosophy in Defence and Strategic Studies.

In recognition of his distinguished service, he was commended by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief in 1997 and was awarded Ati Vishist Seva Medal on 26 Jan 2011 by the President of India.

Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora took over as Vice-Chief of the Indian Air Force on Tuesday. Arora succeeds Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria who took over as the IAF Chief, a day earlier on September 30.

Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora took over as Vice-Chief of the Indian Air Force on Tuesday. Arora succeeds Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria who took over as the IAF Chief, a day earlier on September 30. Arora previously headed the Gandhinagar headquartered South Western Air Command of the Air Force. He had assumed office on September 30 last year, after the retirement of Air Marshal Ravinder Kumar Dhir. Arora was commissioned in the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in Dec 1981. He has rich and diverse experience of over 2600 hours accident-free operational flying which includes MiG 21, MiG 29 and other aircraft in IAF inventory, including helicopters. He was deputed as Defence Attache at the Embassy of India, Bangkok, Thailand from 2006 to 2009. He commanded 45 Squadron as a Wing Commander and later was Commander of an Air Defence Direction Centre in Western Sector. He is a meritorious graduate of Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College and is Master of Philosophy in Defence and Strategic Studies. In recognition of his distinguished service, he was commended by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief in 1997 and was awarded Ati Vishist Seva Medal on 26 Jan 2011 by the President of India.

Harjit Singh Arora takes over as Vice-chief of Indian Air Force

Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria on Monday took over as the 26th chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, who demitted office on his superannuation, on Monday.

Earlier on September 19, the Central government had appointed Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria the next chief of the India Air Force (IAF).

Bhadauria, who was serving as the Vice Chief of Air Staff, was earlier heading IAF's Bengaluru-based Training Command.

As the Deputy Chief, he was the chairman of the Indian negotiating team for the 36 Rafale combat aircraft deal with France.

Bhadauria was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Air Force on June 15, 1980, with the 'Sword of Honour.'

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Delhi: Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria pays tribute at the National War Memorial after taking charge as the IAF Chief, today. <a href="https://t.co/SjQfN43o8W">pic.twitter.com/SjQfN43o8W</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1178545400912826371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

He went on to hold several important positions such as Commandant of the National Defence Academy, Senior Air Staff Officer at the Central Air Command and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff from January 2016 to February 28, 2017.

Bhadauria served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Southern Air Command from March 1, 2017.

He took over as the chief of Bengaluru-based Training Command on August 1, 2018.

Earlier today, prior to demitting his post as the Chief of Air Staff on superannuation, Dhanoa visited the National War Memorial in New Delhi to pay tributes to the defence personnel who had given up their lives in service of the nation.

Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria on Monday took over as the 26th chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, who demitted office on his superannuation, on Monday.

Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria on Monday took over as the 26th chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, who demitted office on his superannuation, on Monday. Earlier on September 19, the Central government had appointed Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria the next chief of the India Air Force (IAF). Bhadauria, who was serving as the Vice Chief of Air Staff, was earlier heading IAF's Bengaluru-based Training Command. As the Deputy Chief, he was the chairman of the Indian negotiating team for the 36 Rafale combat aircraft deal with France. Bhadauria was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Air Force on June 15, 1980, with the 'Sword of Honour.' Delhi: Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria pays tribute at the National War Memorial after taking charge as the IAF Chief, today. pic.twitter.com/SjQfN43o8W — ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2019 × He went on to hold several important positions such as Commandant of the National Defence Academy, Senior Air Staff Officer at the Central Air Command and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff from January 2016 to February 28, 2017. Bhadauria served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Southern Air Command from March 1, 2017. He took over as the chief of Bengaluru-based Training Command on August 1, 2018. Earlier today, prior to demitting his post as the Chief of Air Staff on superannuation, Dhanoa visited the National War Memorial in New Delhi to pay tributes to the defence personnel who had given up their lives in service of the nation.

Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria takes over as new Indian Air Force chief

More than 5,000 troops of the Indian Army's only Mountain Strike Corps will carry out a massive war game along with the Air Force in Arunachal Pradesh in October where Forces will be deployed to practice real war-like situation on the eastern front of the country.

The exercise will be the first of its kind along the China border by the newly-raised 17 Mountain Strike Corps which has been preparing for it under the Eastern Command for the last five to six months now.

"As part of the war games, the troops of the Tezpur-based 4 Corps will be deployed at a high altitude location to defend their 'territory' while a brigade-sized force (over 2,500 troops) of the 17 Mountain Strike Corps would be airlifted by the Indian Air Force to 'launch an offensive' against them," top Army sources told ANI.

The Indian Air Force will airlift the troops using its latest transport aircraft including the C-17, C-130J Super Hercules and the AN-32 to airlift the army troops from Baghdogra in West Bengal and deploy them close to the 'war zone' in Arunachal Pradesh, they said.

The troops of the 17 Mountain Strike Corps would be from the 59 Mountain Division and will include armoured regiments including battle tanks and infantry combat vehicles along with light howitzers and strike elements.

To make the 17 Mountain Strike Corps more effective during wartime in a mountainous region with China, the fighting formations under it are being converted into Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) as part of Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat's restructuring process.

Once the IBGs are formed, the formations will be converted into leaner and more efficient fighting units with the ability to strike deeper and faster against enemy targets, the sources said.&nbsp;

An IBG, which will be a little smaller than a division, will integrate the existing elements of infantry, tank regiments, artillery, engineers and signals. It will comprise six battalions of these elements and will be directly under a Corps.

Once the Army converts all its required fighting formations into IBGs, it would lead to the elimination of the brigades in the fighting structure.

The first IBG is coming up under the 9 Corps which looks after parts of Jammu and Punjab border with Pakistan.&nbsp;

Two more IBGs are ready for conversion under the 17 Mountain strike Corps and 33 Corps which are both tasked to fight wars on the Chinese front in the Northeast.

More than 5,000 troops of the Indian Army's only Mountain Strike Corps will carry out a massive war game along with the Air Force in Arunachal Pradesh in October where Forces will be deployed to practice real war-like situation on the eastern front of the country.

More than 5,000 troops of the Indian Army's only Mountain Strike Corps will carry out a massive war game along with the Air Force in Arunachal Pradesh in October where Forces will be deployed to practice real war-like situation on the eastern front of the country. The exercise will be the first of its kind along the China border by the newly-raised 17 Mountain Strike Corps which has been preparing for it under the Eastern Command for the last five to six months now. "As part of the war games, the troops of the Tezpur-based 4 Corps will be deployed at a high altitude location to defend their 'territory' while a brigade-sized force (over 2,500 troops) of the 17 Mountain Strike Corps would be airlifted by the Indian Air Force to 'launch an offensive' against them," top Army sources told ANI. The Indian Air Force will airlift the troops using its latest transport aircraft including the C-17, C-130J Super Hercules and the AN-32 to airlift the army troops from Baghdogra in West Bengal and deploy them close to the 'war zone' in Arunachal Pradesh, they said. The troops of the 17 Mountain Strike Corps would be from the 59 Mountain Division and will include armoured regiments including battle tanks and infantry combat vehicles along with light howitzers and strike elements. To make the 17 Mountain Strike Corps more effective during wartime in a mountainous region with China, the fighting formations under it are being converted into Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) as part of Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat's restructuring process. Once the IBGs are formed, the formations will be converted into leaner and more efficient fighting units with the ability to strike deeper and faster against enemy targets, the sources said. An IBG, which will be a little smaller than a division, will integrate the existing elements of infantry, tank regiments, artillery, engineers and signals. It will comprise six battalions of these elements and will be directly under a Corps. Once the Army converts all its required fighting formations into IBGs, it would lead to the elimination of the brigades in the fighting structure. The first IBG is coming up under the 9 Corps which looks after parts of Jammu and Punjab border with Pakistan. Two more IBGs are ready for conversion under the 17 Mountain strike Corps and 33 Corps which are both tasked to fight wars on the Chinese front in the Northeast.

Indian Army's Mountain Strike Corps, Air Force to carry out war games near China border

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