Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) launched 5 vessels – 3 Floating Border Outpost Vessels (FBOP) for Border Security Force (BSF) & 2 Mini General Cargo Ships for JSW Group from its dock in Cochin, Kerala.
- The vessels were launched by Rameetha K., Scientist at the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL).
i.Indian Air Force (IAF) formally inducted the Rafale Aircraft into the 101 Squadron of the Eastern Air Command (EAC) at Hasimara Air Force, West Bengal.
Launch of Vessels by CSL
i.The 3 FBOPs designed & built indigenously by CSL for BSF will act as Strategic base stations at the borders. They will be deployed on the Eastern & Western borders and will strengthen BSF’s water wing.
- The 3 FBOPs are part of a series of 9 vessels being built for the BSF.
- Each FBOPs has a length of 46 metre and are equipped with arrangements for holding 4 fast patrol boats.
- They will serve as a floating base for the fleet of fast patrol boats and will supply petrol, fresh water, and provisions to the smaller boats.
ii.The 2 Mini General Cargo Ships have a dead-weight tonnage of 8,000 each.
- The vessels will boost JSW’s business through coastal and inland waterways in India.
- They are part of a series of 4 similar ships being built for the JSW Shipping & Logistics Pvt Ltd.
- The vessel will be used for transportation of dry bulk cargo like coal, iron ore, dolomite and limestone.
IAF Inducts Rafale Aircraft into 101 Squadron of EAC
Indian Air Force (IAF) formally inducted the Rafale Aircraft into the 101 Squadron (The squadron is titled as ‘Falcons of Chamb and Akhnoor’) of the Eastern Air Command (EAC) at Hasimara Air Force, West Bengal.
- The 101 Squadron is the 2nd IAF Squadron to be equipped with Rafale Fighter Jets. In September 2020, Rafale Aircraft were inducted into the 17 ‘Golden Arrows’ Squadron.
- So far, India has received 26 of the 36 Rafale aircrafts from the French firm Dassault Aviation. The induction of all 36 Rafale jets is expected to be completed by 2023.
Background
In September, 2016, India & France signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement with France to procure 36 Rafale Aircrafts at a cost of INR 59,000 crores.
Recent Related News:
February 24, 2021, CSL emerged as the Lowest Bidder in a tender floated by the Ministry of Defence for construction of 6 Next-Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV) to be utilized by the Indian Navy.
About Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL)
It is a fully owned Government of India company
CMD – Madhu S Nair
Location – Cochin, Kerala
