Indian Defence Review

The Saviour of the Valley

When Pakistan invaded J&K in 1947, the hopelessly out numbered State Forces were stretched to the limit. Just six battalions were then guarding a state that is now defended by over three Corps. A critical situation developed on 22 October 1947, when the raiders broke through at Domel and the road to Srinagar lay wide open. Brig Rajinder Singh was the Chief of Staff of the J&K State Forces. There were no reserves left. He personally gathered a company column from Srinagar and sallied forth to stop the invaders. He fought a gallant and fierce rearguard action. Ultimately he succeeded in blowing up the vital Uri Bridge. He was killed in the fighting but managed to gain the critical 48 hours in which the Indian Army was able to fly in and save the Valley. Brig Rajinder Singh is thus the true savior of Kashmir. He was posthumously awarded the first Maha Vir Chakra of Independent India.

MARCOS, Indian Navy

MARCOS (previously named as Marine Commando Force (MCF) is an elite special operations unit of the Indian Navy. Like the US Navy Seals, the Indian Marcos are especially trained to execute covert operations. MARCOS" is short for "Marine Commandos". Today in world ranking of elite forces in top ten Indian Marcos rank seventh.

The Invincible Infantryman in Siachen

The Invincible Infantryman guarding the most difficult terrain - Siachen.

3/9 GR: Dussehra Celebrations

Capture of Quaid-e-Azam Post

Naib Subedar Bana Singh volunteered to be a member of a task force constituted in June 1987 to clear an intrusion by an adversary in the Siachen Glacier area at an altitude of 21,000 feet. The post was virtually an impregnable glacier fortress with ice walls, 1500 feet high, on both sides. Naib Subedar Bana Singh led his men through an extremely difficult and hazardous route. He inspired them by his indomitable courage and leadership. The brave Naib Subedar and his men crawled and closed in on the adversary. Moving from trench to trench, lobbing hand grenades, and charging with the bayonet, he cleared the post all intruders. Nb Subedar Bana Singh displayed the most conspicuous gallantry and leadership under the most adverse conditions.

Portuguese troops surrender

Lieutenant Colonel Sucha Singh, VrC, MC, Commanding Officer 1 Para, accepting surrender of Portuguese troops.

Fighting the Terrorist in J&K

Cornered! A terrorist holed up in a house in Doda District.

Indian Troops in China

3 RAJPUT cleared the gate forcing an opening and breaking the Chinese siege on the legation for which it was awarded teh Battle Honour China in 1900. Hata mission gate was the most crucial gate to legation quarters in Tartar gate (Peking) and was strongly held by the Chinese. Painting by Amita Kapur.

Manekshaw in Bangladesh in 1971

General SHFJ Manekshaw, MC, with the citizens of Bangladesh at Khulna in 1971.

UN Peacekeeping Mission

Patrolling can be done by various modes of transportation!

Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed inspecting Guard of Honour

Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed, Chief of the Naval Staff, Bangladesh Navy inspecting Guard of Honour at South Block , New Delhi on 09 Jul 2012.

Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed, Bangladesh Navy calling on Admiral Nirmal Verma

Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed, Chief of the Naval Staff, Bangladesh Navy calling on Admiral Nirmal Verma at South Block, New Delhi on 09 Jul 2012.

Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed, Bangladesh Navy calling on Air Chief Marshal Nak Browne

Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed, Chief of the Naval Staff, Bangladesh Navy calling on Air Chief Marshal Nak Browne at Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi on 09 Jul 2012.

Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed, Bangladesh Navy calling on General Bikram Singh

Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed, Chief of the Naval Staff, Bangladesh Navy calling on General Bikram Singh at South Block, New Delhi on 09 Jul 2012.

INS Vikramaditya Sea Trials

INS Vikramaditya at Anchor In the White Sea (Off Russia).

First Ever India-China Naval Exercise

IAF mountaineering expedition to Virgin Peaks in Ladakh Region

Air Marshal JN Burma, PVSM AVSM VSM, Air Officer-in-Charge Administration, Flagging Off the IAF Mountaineering Expedition to Virgin Peaks in Ladakh Region during the Flagging Off Ceremony held at Air Headquaters, Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi on 20 June 2012.

The US Secretary of Defence, Mr. Leon E. Panetta inspecting the Guard of Honour, in New Delhi

The US Secretary of Defence Mr. Leon Panetta met the Defence Minister Mr. AK Antony on 06 June 2012. Mr. Panetta was accompanied by a ten member delegation, including the US Ambassador to India and other senior officers from the US Department of Defence. The Indian delegation included the Defence Secretary Mr. Shashikant Sharma, Secretary (Defence Production) Mr. Shekhar Agarwal and the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, Dr. VK Saraswat. Earlier on his arrival at South Block, Mr. Panetta was accorded a traditional tri-Service Guard of Honour and laid wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate.

General Bikram Singh taking charge as the new Chief of the Army Staff from his predecessor Gen. V.K. Singh, in New Delhi on May 31, 2012.

General Bikram Singh assumes charge as the Chief of Army Staff on May 31, 2012. He becomes the 25th chief of the world's second-largest army. He was commissioned on March 31, 1972, into the Sikh Light Infantry (SIKHLI) Regiment.

Air Marshal DC Kumaria reviewing the Guard of Honour.

Air Marshal DC Kumaria reviewing the Guard of Honour on taking over as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff at Air Headquarters Vayu Bhawan New Delhi on 01 June 2012.