The Assam Rifles is no longer responsible for the Indo-Tibetan IB. It is the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) which is. They have sealed it, at the behest of the Indian Government, fearing another exodus into India; and to thwart attempts by India-based Tibetan youth leading rag-tag protest bands into Lhasa; just to make sure that, the on-going rapprochement with China does not suffer. For their part, the PLA, in civvies, have also deployed inside Nepal to seal the Nepal-Tibet border! There are many red faces in the MEA! Yet no seems to care that, the last time, Nehru & Co looked the other –way regarding the Dalai Lama’s perambulations, the PLA came down heavily in the Kameng Sub-division of the erstwhile NEFA! Nirupama Rao, the Indian ambassador, in Peking was summoned at 2 in the morning, in a high-handed & very public snub; to hand out the Official Chinese pique over the Indians not be able to handle the Dalai Lama and his disciples in India to the satisfaction of the afore said ‘gang of three ’ )

The Assam Rifles is the oldest Para Military Force in India; rather the only paramilitary Force in strictest sense of the term. It traces its genesis back to 1835, when it was raised as a semi-military force and known as The Cachar Levy . This was extensively used for extending the administrative control over remote tribal areas in very difficult conditions with only rudimentary administrative back-up and at nominal pecuniary cost; however, it bore all odds with exemplary fortitude and stoicism—– characteristics which still under lie the ethos of The Force to date. Small townships, such as Aizawl, Lungleh, Kohima, Mokokchung, Tuensang, Haflong, Cherrapunji and Tura gradually mushroomed around its outposts. These are bustling population centres now. .

Variously designated and reorganised from time to time, as the Assam Frontier Police (1883), the Assam Military Police (1891) and Eastern Bengal and Assam Military Police (1913), it came to be known by its present name of the Assam Rifles, in 1917 in recognition of its contribution to the war effort during WW I.

They fought shoulder to shoulder alongside regular Indian Army troops in the Middle East during WW I. Later on, men were provided to the army columns on punitive expeditions into the erstwhile Assam Hill Districts and North Eastern Frontier Agency (NEFA) and also some in trans-border reprisal missions in Burma. It was used for restoration of law and order in Patna in 1917 and also against the Mopla rebels in 1924. WW II saw it functioning as elements of the much fabled, hush-hush and ghost-like “V” Force, on reconnaissance and harassment missions behind Japanese lines in Burma. Many of its sub units fought alongside regular British and Indian troops in the fiercely contested battles of the Burma Front from Ukhrul to Kohima. One platoon was even para-dropped behind the Japanese lines on the Sittang river!. Some of its units did a historic and yeoman service in the management, evacuation and control of refugees staggering out on long, arduous and miserable treks in the dense jungles of Burma/NEFA in the face of the onslaught of the Imperial Japanese Army in the First Burma Campaign of WW II.

The Assam Rifles have managed to transform pre-historic animistic societies of the Northeast from the stone-age to space-age in three or four generations flat. Their humane and tactful handling of the inhabitants of our far-flung regions and tribal areas; be it during the initial era of pacification, or the in the immediate post-Independence period of political turmoil, instability, ethnic tribal aspirations and resultant disturbed conditions; the Assam Rifles boys have managed to win the hearts and minds of the populace in a good natured and large-hearted manner. It is; therefore, not for nothing, that the famous and erudite anthropologist and naturalist Verrier Elwin, who was nominated by the Government of India, as adviser on Tribal Affairs to North-East Frontier Agency; has bestowed on them a singularly significant sobriquet of sorts: “The Friends Of The Hill People”! This is what he has said of them in tribute:-

“The custodians of law and order, the pioneers of every advance in to the interior , the guardians of our borders and, the friends of the hill people. Modestly, and with out fuss, they have faced every hardship and difficulty, and thousands of villagers in the wildest of areas think of them with affection and gratitude.”

Except for the odd case, the AR counter-insurgency operations have been characterized by their total lack of any distasteful post- operation fall-out. The modus-operandi is to rely heavily on real-time intelligence and very swift reactions against pin-point targets and specific individuals. They are especially proficient in the un-orthodox type of small-scale missions to seek and destroy/apprehend hostiles. The case-study of one such mission, code named Operation “Zebra”, successfully launched and executed by 19 AR, was included in the curriculum of training of army infantry battalions being inducted for counter insurgency operations.

The AR boys are past masters at roughing it out and, of course, very adept at improvisation, making-do and living off the land with good grace. They know the border areas of their deployment like the palms of their hands. Experts in water crossing expedients, braving the elements and long cross-country marches on a self contained basis, they lend themselves excellently to their role as “the sentinels of the North East” as Major General DK Palit, VrC, FRGS (Retd) refers to them in his definitive regimental history of this remarkable Force..

They have the added advantage of conversing in the local lingo— a definite asset in a counter insurgency environment. This capability of the AR is further augmented by the presence of the locally recruited lads in units. Properly handled, these boys are of a real treasure-value in different situations as obtained in disturbed areas.

Till Independence, The AR formed an integral part of the civil police under the Inspector General of Police, Assam. At that time the units were commanded by civilians/police officers, though only those with a military background were preferred. This arrangement was not found to be particularly satisfactory as it did not provide the desired degree of military captaincy, particularly on mobile missions. The Indian Army, was therefore; asked for providing leadership at the officer-level, on a case to case volunteer basis. For over a hundred years now, the Indian Army has thus been providing the sub-unit/ unit leadership. On the transfer of power; in Colonel Sidhiman Rai, MC; The Force has its first Indian IG. Since then, very senior army officers have led the AR at the higher rungs of command.

Prior to 1965, this force was under the Ministry of External Affairs who were looking after the tribal areas till then. It was transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs when the latter took over this responsibility.

From a nominal complement of only five battalions in 1947, it grew to 17 by 1960, to 21 by 1968, to a substantial 45 as of now. In addition, The Force has several range HQs, a training center, and a number of logistics units under the HQ DG AR, Shillong..

In a counter-insurgency scenario, the combat potential of the AR battalions is as good as that of the regular Indian Army infantry battalions, and in many cases surpassed that of the of the Army/ Rashtriya Rifles.

Some notable achievements and land mark events concerning the AR are recounted below:-

v In the disastrous 1950 earthquake in Upper Assam (Sadiya) , 2 AR jawans rendered immediate and invaluable help in the reconstruction, resettlement and rehabilitation of the victims.

v In 1959, it was the forward elements of this Force that received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his entourage escaping to safety into India, and ensured their safe passage up to Misamari.

v The initial onslaught of the Chinese in1962 was borne by delaying elements of the AR. They gave a good account of themselves in this delaying role to enable some formations of the Indian Army to take up whatever defences that they were able to manage in the event.

v The Assam Rifles filled the void, in toto, in Nagaland and Manipur after the army formations deployed there were pulled out for operations in the West during the 1965 Indo-Pak War. They conducted counter insurgency operations and were in addition responsible for the general law and order situation. The AR deployment was further stretched as they were to stand in for the army along the Indo-Tibetan border and the international border with the erstwhile East Pakistan in Tripura. Rather thin on the ground; as indeed they undoubtedly were, they fulfilled their assignments with the usual elan and fortitude.

v Similarly, the AR relieved the army for operations in the 1971 Bangladesh War. This time, their brief encompassed not only Nagaland and Manipur but also Mizoram and Tripura , where active counter insurgency operations were in full swing.

v 22, 23 and 26 AR were committed for Op Pawan in Sri Lanka from Dec 1988 to Feb 1990. They were under the direct operational control of the army. Adept in the counter insurgency-type operations under taken there, they were on home ground, as such came out with their colours flying very high!

v Two battalions of AR; the 7 and the 26; have operated in the Srinagar Valley

with great success. Their catches were more than those of the adjoining army units. Army formation commanders rated their performance very high.

At present The Force is deployed primarily in the North-East bordering Mynamar & Bangladesh. It is bound to have its hands full what with the ‘Look East’ policy, now finding favour with the GoI, and the old WWII overland routes to China, across Northern Mynamar (Burma) being used, part of the way; after modifications; to reach the Thai peninsula, and beyond, to South East Asia.

The AR ethos is, one of accountability and honesty; sincerity and sagacity; of the ‘do or die’ kind, as such, The Assam Rifles has a proud record of devotion to duty and exemplary service. Nothing denotes it better then perhaps the many honours and accolades bestowed on its rank and file. They have gone on to win as many as 1168 Army awards ( including three Ashok Chakras Class 1; 29 Kirti Chakras, 24 Shaurya Chakras, and 5 Vir Chakras) after Independence, and hundreds from their ranks have also given the supreme sacrifice in the service to the Nation. 7 & 26 ARs received Unit Citations in J&K; five other battalions else where in CI Ops. Pre-Independence awards include 13 IOMs ( equated with the VC) & 5 MCs amongst many others.

( ____Lt Col A K Sharma (Retd). . . .an Ex-3 Gorkha Rifles; Indian Army; is a former Commandant of 19 Assam Rifles ,then based around Serchchip, MIZORAM and engaged in active counter-insurgency operations against the Mizo National Front’s (MNF) so called MIZO NATIONAL ARMY (MNA).)

Under the $1.4 billion Development and Production contract awarded today by Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne and the Global Positioning Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., the team of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, ITT Corporation, and General Dynamics, will produce eight GPS IIIA satellites, with first launch projected for 2014.

Eight GPS IIIB and 16 GPS IIIC satellites are planned for later increments, with each increment including additional capabilities based on technical maturity. When fully deployed, the GPS III constellation will feature a cross-linked command and control architecture, allowing the entire GPS constellation to be updated simultaneously from a single ground station. Additionally, a new spot beam capability for enhanced military (M-Code) coverage and increased resistance to hostile jamming will be
incorporated. These enhancements will contribute to improved accuracy and assured availability for military and civilian users worldwide.

Located at Navi Mumbai, the new facility, which employs 60 people, will offer comprehensive support services and undertake repair and upgrading of Rolls-Royce products in the region.

For example, a highly successful cylinder head exchange programme currently popular in Europe for Rolls-Royce Bergen engines will become operational from Mumbai. This will ensure that customers benefit from lower maintenance costs and shorter docking time.

John Paterson, Rolls-Royce President - Marine said: “Rolls-Royce is known worldwide for the excellence of its products and engineering services. We have developed a technically equipped facility for our customers in India which will result in significant operational efficiencies and improved service quality. This is a big step forward in strengthening our presence in India.”

Srinivas Duvvuri, Rolls-Royce Regional Director for India said “ Although Rolls-Royce has a distinguished history of more than 75 years in India, it is planning new programmes which will ensure a long and worthwhile future. Our investment in a new service facility exemplifies that we not only regard India as an important market but a vital partner for mutual expansion.”

Rolls-Royce has more than 1,300 engines in service in India, mainly as a result of long-term programmes. All four of the company’s global market sectors – civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy – are well represented in the country.

In the Indian marine sector, there are more than 60 Rolls-Royce UT Design vessels in service and over 300 vessels operate with Rolls-Royce marine equipment. A further 39 vessels of UT design are currently under construction at various Indian shipyards where Rolls-Royce also supplies all major equipment. Presently there are over 30 vessels operating with Rolls-Royce equipment in service with Indian Navy and Coast Guard.

A large number of senior Defence officers both serving and retired with rich experience in the conduct of peace support operations as well as civilian experts will interact with and deliver talks to the participants during the exercise.

In a world torn as under by both internal and external strife, the United Nations play an important role by providing multidimensional assistance to affected Nations through rapid deployment, mission support and material facilitation.

India has been a major contributor to Peace Keeping Operations of the United Nations. The first commitment was in the UN mission in Korea in 1950 and since then nearly 90,000 troops have been part of 43 UN Peace Keeping Missions spanning four continents. Presently approximately 8000 Indian troops are deployed in Peace Keeping duties.

The exercise has been conceptualized by HQ Integrated Defence Staff and will be steered by the College of Defence Management.

The creation of this Agency forms part of the French approach regarding international cooperation in the civil nuclear field, which was desired by the President of the French Republic.

This Agency will provide French expertise to foreign States wishing to prepare their institutional, human and technical environment for the establishment of a civil nuclear industry, in strict compliance with standards related to safety, security, non-proliferation and preservation of the environment.

The France International Nuclear Agency comes under the authority of a director appointed by the Ministers in charge of energy and external affairs. State control is exercised through the intermediary of an orientation committee composed of high-ranking officials and two qualified personalities.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jung Ok-keun began is on a three nation trip to Indonesia, Thailand and India

The Defence Minister of Republic of Korea Mr. Kim Jang Soo had come to India may, 2007. It was the first ever visit by any Korean Defence Minister to India. India and Republic of Korea had signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Logistics and Supplies in the year 2005.

KillerBee has the ability to insert persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) into the battlespace and rapidly deliver actionable intelligence to combatant commanders. Raytheon Missile Systems leads the integrated team, which includes other Raytheon business units for the ground control system, C4ISR integration, and Mission Support, plus the efforts of Swift Engineering and Optical Alchemy.

The Swift Engineering blended wing body design sets KillerBee apart from similar sized unmanned aerial vehicles and is designed to operate ashore or aboard ships with a minimal footprint.

Repeated air and ground testing has demonstrated that KillerBee outperforms any vehicle in its class, validating control, processing and display functions, and demonstrating its suitability as a solution for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps’ Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System/Tier 2 program. Flight tests throughout 2008 will ensure a high-technology readiness level of the entire KillerBee system.

The KillerBee Ground Control System with Raytheon’s Tactical Control System (derived from Multi-Vehicle Control System), an simultaneously control multiple, dissimilar vehicles and is based on standard NATO architecture, providing vehicle flight control and a visual presentation of flight data.

The A330-200 and A330-300 passenger aircraft will be the first to fly PW4000-100″ engines with Advantage70 in mid-2009. Flyington Freighters, the launch customer for the A330-200F, selected Advantage70 to power their new aircraft, which are scheduled to enter service in late 2009.

Engine ground testing completed in East Hartford, Conn., has initially demonstrated the technology upgrades will deliver enhanced engine performance, including a 2 percent thrust increase, a 1 percent reduction in fuel consumption, increased durability, and reduced maintenance costs.

After the accident on 29 Apr 08, aircraft were not grounded, but flying was temporarily suspended for carrying out checks to rule out critical system failure especially as the aircraft are under warranty. This is a normal practice followed after any serious accident.