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Army Chief Flags In Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan in Delhi Expedition

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New Delhi: General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), flagged in the Bharat Ran Bhoomi Darshan Expedition at the National War Memorial, New Delhi today, in the presence of distinguished civil and defence dignitaries. The expedition was led by Indian Army’s Regiment of Artillery. Flagging in the expedition, the COAS lauded the initiative for its national significance and strategic outreach value. He emphasised that such endeavours preserve India’s rich heritage while inspiring present and future generations to uphold the highest ideals of service to the nation. The expedition also promoted the RanBhoomi Darshan initiative, bringing national attention to historically significant battlefields and border regions that form the bedrock of India’s security narrative.

Flagged off on 03 February 2026 from the coastal city of Dwarka in Gujarat, the 3,400-kilometre SUV expedition traversed key battlefields and forward areas across Gujarat and Rajasthan, including the Rann of Kutch and the Thar Desert, before culminating at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. The route included Dwarka, Bhuj, Rann of Kutch, Munabao, Gadra, Longewala, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Ambala and New Delhi. The expedition travelled along border roads and tracks, showcasing enhanced connectivity in remote border areas, highlighting the improved infrastructure that supports operational readiness and civilian access alike.

The 35-member contingent comprised Gunners from the Regiment of Artillery, along with personnel from the Indian Navy and the Border Security Force. The expedition was aligned with the national vision of border outreach and national integration. Throughout the journey, the team paid homage at prominent war memorials and historic battle sites along the Western Front, honouring India’s Bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in service of the nation. The expedition also served as a powerful outreach initiative, engaging with Veer Naris, Viranganas, veterans, NCC cadets, students and residents of border areas. The warmth and respect extended by civil authorities and local communities at every halt underscored the deep bond between the forces and the citizens they safeguard.

The successful culmination of the first Bharat RanBhoomi Darshan Expedition stands as a testament to the Armed Forces’ enduring commitment to honour the past, engage the present and inspire the future – linking India’s heroic sacrifices with its aspirations for a secure, united and resilient tomorrow.

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COVER STORYSpace & Missiles

STRENGTHENING NATIONAL SPACE INFRASTRUCTURE

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Strengthening National Space Infrastructure

New Delhi: Progress made in strengthening national launch and space infrastructure during 2025:

  • The SPADEX mission successfully demonstrated autonomous docking and undocking, along with power transfer between satellites—a major step towards in-orbit servicing capabilities and docking operations on space stations. This was further complemented by the successful circumnavigation of the SPADEX satellites. This achievement made India the fourth nation to demonstrate docking in space.
  • The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM-04), which was also part of the PSLV-C60 / SPADEX mission, flew with multiple payloads from ISRO, space startups & academia, fostering innovation through in-orbit experimentation. The POEM-4 completed more than 1000 orbits and was a highly successful POEM mission. The mission also demonstrated a robotic arm in-orbit and the germination of seeds in microgravity.
  • The GSLV-F15/NVS-02 mission in January 2025 was the 100th mission to lift-off from Sriharikota.The launch vehicle performed excellently by precisely injecting the satellite to its intended orbit.
  • The GSLV-F16/NISAR mission scored yet another first by becoming the first joint ISRO-NASA mission. It is significant that the one of the most expensive payloads in the earth observation segment with 12m unfurlable antenna from NASA was integrated on an Indian satellite bus and launched on an Indian launch vehicle. NISAR, the first dual frequency SAR satellite, along with NASA’s L-band SAR payload & ISRO’s S-band SAR payload is now fully operational.
  • The LVM3-M5 / CMS-03 mission is another unique mission where ISRO achieved the milestone of the heaviest GTO satellite from the Indian soil.
  • The LVM3-M6 / BlueBird Block-2 set the record of the launch of heaviest ever satellite from Indian soil. This mission also validated the electro-mechanical actuation for the S200 motor along with composite thrust frame for C25 stage and other modifications to improve the payload performance by 176 kg. We can confidently say that the S200 EMA is globally the most powerful space qualified electric actuation system compared to the other launchers that use EMA for solid motors.
  • The Department obtained financial approval from the Government for the establishment of the Third Launch Pad at Sriharikota as part of the essential launch infrastructure required for Next Generation Launch Vehicles. A dedicated launch site is being established for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) at Kulasekarapattinam, Tamil Nadu for which the construction activities for the launch pad facilities and integration building have commenced.

A 10t vertical mixer for solid propellant production was commissioned at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh along with the second process line at the Ammonium Perchlorate Plant, Alwaye, Kerala to enhance the solid motor production capacity. A Cryogenic Turbopump Test facility has also been commissioned to enhance the throughput for the testing & acceptance of cryogenic engine subsystems. Integrated Titanium alloy Tank Production.

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