India's Mangalyaan sends breathtaking images of 'Grand Canyon' of Mars

Indian Mars mission Mangalyaan has sent its first images of the red planet, revealing a breathtaking imagery of what is known as the Grand Canyon of Mars.

"Simply breathtaking!" exclaimed an elated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his Twitter account. A link to images released by the Indian space agency ISRO was also provided on the tweet by Mr Modi, a science and selfie enthusiast.

A high resolution image of Ophir Chasma aka 'Grand Canyon of Mars' was taken by Mangalyaan on July 19 from an altitude of 1,857 kms, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO). "The image (was) taken by Mars Colour Camera over Ophir Chasma, a canyon in the Coprates quadrangle of Mars," the ISRO said on its website.

"The word chasma has been designated by the International Astronomical Union to refer to an elongate, steepsided depression. Ophir Chasma is part of the largest canyon system in the solar system known as Valles Marineris. The walls of the chasma contain many layers and the floors contain large deposits of layered materials," it added. Indian Mars mission has effectively sealed its success by not only scaling a distance of 650,000,000 kilometres in the deep space but also starting a glitch-free operation of clicking images of the fiery planet that has fascinated the astronomers and astrologers alike. Launched on a shoestring budget of 74 million dollars on November 5, 2013, compared with NASA's 671 million dollar Maven Mars orbiter, India's Mangalyaan accomplished a jaw-dropping feat of being successful in its very first attempt by reaching Mars on 24 September 2014. In comparison, China's Yinghou-1, launched in 2011 from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on a mission to Mar's moon Phobos, was declared lost within ten days of its taking off. Until, it re-entered earth's atmosphere out of blue two months later, rapidly turning into a fireball that was eventually doused in the Pacific Ocean. A 2003 Japanese mission also fell flat before making to Mars.

India successfully tests 1,000-kg glide bomb

 India Friday successfully tested a 1,000 kg glide bomb designed and developed by the Defence Research  and Development Organisation.

The test took place in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Odisha when the bomb was dropped by an Indian Air force aircraft, an official statement said.

The bomb, guided by its on board navigation system, glided for nearly 100 km before hitting the target with great precision, it said.

The flight of the glide bomb was monitored by radars and electro-optic systems stationed at the Integrated Test Range .

Avinash Chander, the scientific advisor to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, congratulated all the team members including the air force team for the success of the test.

"The nation today has the capability to design, develop and launch heavy bombs for delivery up to 100 km away with high precision," he was quoted as saying.

G. Satheesh Reddy, distinguish scientist, added: "The country has now become self-reliant in the area of guided precision bombs."

NEW ENGINE IN 2017 FOR SU PAK FA

Lenta (citing Interfaks) says a source close to ODK General Director Vladislav Masalov says a PAK FA with the “second phase” engine will fly in 2017.

He reportedly said the “second phase” engine will replace “item 117″ and give PAK FA supercruise capability while being 15-18 percent more fuel efficient and cheaper to maintain.

New engines are further developments of AL-41f1 engines used in current Pak fa prototypes and will be able to generate afterburner thrust 176kn each.

India Chooses Sikorsky for $1 Billion Military Helicopter Deal

India has awarded an estimated $1 billion deal to Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. to buy 16 helicopters, an official at India’s defense ministry said Saturday.

Under the deal, the U.S. manufacturer will supply the S-70B Seahawk multi-role helicopters to the Indian Navy, the official said, adding the contract includes an option for an additional eight helicopters.

The deal marks another milestone in the growing defense ties between the world’s biggest democracies. It also comes ahead of a planned January visit to New Delhi by U.S. President Barack Obamafor Republic Day celebrations, which will showcase the latest military hardware.

India—the world’s biggest arms importer-—has ordered more than $10 billion of U.S. weapons in the past decade. These include the P-8I anti-submarine warfare planes and C-17 Globemaster airlifters fromBoeing Co. and C-130J Super Hercules planes from Lockheed MartinCorp.

The orders have made India the biggest export market for U.S. weapons. It climbed to the top ranking from 24th place as an importer of arms from the U.S. after buying $1.9 billion of U.S. military hardware last year, according to IHS Jane’s, a defense publisher.

The orders to the U.S. and other nations, such as Israel and France, underscore India’s efforts to diversify from its reliance on its biggest supplier, Russia. New Delhi is spending billions of dollars each year to modernize its military by replacing aging Soviet-era equipment amid concerns about an assertive China and a hostile Pakistan on its borders.

Sikorsky said negotiations would now commence with the Indian government for the supply of the 16 helicopters.

The Indian Navy variant of the S-70B will include advanced sonar and 360-degree-search radar, air-to-surface missiles and torpedoes for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, according to Sikorsky. It will also have the capability to fold the blades and tail for storing in warships, the company said.

“India’s selection of the S-70B helicopter represents a major strategic win for Sikorsky in an important growth market, and positions us well for future opportunities,” said Mick Maurer, president of Sikorsky.

Some More Images of Bloody Rats Encounter..............in jammu & kashmir

JAY HIND....................................................................................

4 Terror Attacks in Jammu and Kashmir , 8 Militants killed

killing and recoveries

Heavily armed militants attacked an army camp and a police checkpost, besides hurling a grenade at a posse of security personnel at three places. A smoke grenade also went off at a fourth place, IANS reported.

The group of six foreign terrorists who attacked an Army fortification in Uri sector of Jammu & Kashmir early on Friday morning were well equipped and heavily armed.

After a gun battle that killed all the six terrorists, the Army seized six AK rifles with 55 Magazines, two shotguns, two night vision binoculars, four radio sets, 32 unused grenades, one Medical Kit and a large quantity of miscellaneous warlike stores.

In the encounter, Army lost seven of its jawans and one officer. Three constables of Jammu & Kashmir Police too lost their lives in the attack. The Army is continuing the operation in surrounding areas to search out any terrorists who may still be hiding or attempting to escape.

Sources say that the terror attacks in the state were synchronised. Terrorists followed similar pattern of attack both in Uri and Srinagar's Soura.

Modi is to address an election rally in Srinagar on Monday. The state is in the midst of the five-phase assembly elections, with the next phase scheduled for December 9. The polls began on November 25 and will end on December 20, with the vote count to be held on December 23.

The initial two rounds of balloting in the violence-ridden state have seen heavy voter turnout, which has been described as a victory for democracy and the people's answer to militants' bullets. The terrorists have struck four days ahead of the third round of voting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the terror attacks in the state saying that such incidents are desperate attempts to derail the atmosphere of hope and goodwill as seen by increased voter turnout. "125 crore Indians bow to our brave Army men who sacrificed their lives. These men lived & died for the nation. We won't forget them(sic)," the PM wrote on his Twitter handle.

J&K: Arnia sector encounter ends, 12 dead

AND RESULT

The encounter in Arnia sector of Jammu region close to Indo-Pak border ended this morning after the remaining fourth militant was gunned down by security forces during the terror attack on an Army patrol that in all left 12 people dead including five civilians and three army personnel.

“The encounter has ended and boys did a good job by preventing the militants from striking anywhere,” Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police K Rajendra told PTI here.

“In all, we have lost three Army personnel and five civilians. All the four militants have been killed,” he said, after the end of the encounter this morning which lasted over 24 hours following the fidayeen attack.

Yesterday, it was stated that four militants were killed and one more was still holed up in an army bunker which came under attack. Officials said today there was some confusion on establishing the identity of one the dead yesterday. The operation to neutralise the militants began yesterday morning and went on throughout the day but was suspended during the night.
An Army official said that security forces, who had launched a cordon and search operation at the site of encounter in Arnia this morning to retrieve bodies of the civilians, came under fire from a militant holed up in a bunker triggering fresh exchanges in which he was killed.