President confers Ashok Chakra to Lieutenant Navdeep Singh

Lieutenant Navdeep Singh, a young army commando who died fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir has been conferred Ashok Chakra, the country's highest peacetime gallantry medal, by President Pratibha Patil on Thursday to mark India's 63rd Republic Day.

Navdeep Singh was named for the medal along with 367 other bravery and service medals to security personnel on the eve of Republic Day on Wednesday.

Navdeep Singh, who was a Ghatak (commando) platoon commander of 15 Maratha Light Infantry deployed in the high altitude areas along the Line of Control with Pakistan, eliminated four terrorists at close range during an ambush on Aug 20 last year and in the process was hit by a bullet in his head resulting in his death later.

On Thursday, the president confered the Ashok Chakra on Lt. Navdeep Singh (posthumous) before the start of the Republic Day parade at Rajpath and the medal was recieved by the next of kin.

Along with Navdeep Singh, the president also named Lt Col Kamaldeep Singh of Rajputana Rifles, Captain Ashutosh Kumar of Rajputana Rifles and Lt Sushil Khajuria of Grenadiers were named for Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry medal.

Of the three Kirti Chakra awardees for their acts of bravery in fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, Lt Sushil Khajuria was named for the medal posthumously.

The president also named another 16 security personnel for Shaurya Chakra, the third highest gallantry medal during peacetime.

These apart, three Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 73 Sena Medal (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), two Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 28 Param Vishisht Seva Medal, one Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, six Bar to Ati Vishisht  Seva Medal, 45 Ati Vishisht  Seva Medal,  four Yudh Seva Medal, three Bar to Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 37 Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), eight Nao Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 14 Vayu Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), six Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal and 115 Vishisht Seva Medal were also named.

Agni IV, Prahar and Rustom-One displayed

India's latest nuclear-capable strategic missile, was showcased publicly for the first time on Thursday at the Republic Day parade.

The missile formed part of a tableau from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), its developer.

The DRDO contingent, led by Lt. Col. V.S. Thapa, also showed new tactical battlefield support high-speed missile Prahaar and the medium altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle Rustom-I.

Agni-IV, the most potent and technologically advanced in India's arsenal, adds a new dimension to country's capabilities in terms of strategic deterrence.

The missile was successfully tested for the first time in November 2011, after its initial failure in the earlier avatar as Agni-II Prime in 2010.

Capable of being sent aloft from a self-contained road mobile launcher from anywhere, the two-stage surface-to-surface missile with solid-propulsion can reach targets 3,500 km away.

A quantum leap in indigenous technology, Agni IV incorporates a composite rocket motor casing, a highly accurate guidance and navigation system, modern and compact avionics, digital control system and many contemporary and advanced technologies making it comparable to the best in the world.

Prahar missile is an another marvel of technology recently developed by DRDO for national security.

It is a Tactical Battlefield support high speed Missile based on solid propulsion and is equipped with high precision inertial Navigation System giving it capability to hit targets around 150 kms away with pin point accuracy.

The missile is mounted on a road mobile launcher, carries significant payload and can be equipped with a variety of warheads.

Each high mobility launcher carries six missiles; Multiple launchers can be interlinked to deliver a near simultaneous Multi Axis Attack on the target with devastating effect.

With its long range, high accuracy and short reaction time, 'Prahaar', would be an invaluable addition to the Arsenal of Armed Forces.

Rustom - 1 is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that takes off and lands like a conventional aircraft.

External pilot standing close to the runway exercises the takeoff and landing of the UAV and hands over the control to the internal pilot, operating from the ground control station, for carrying out rest of the mission.

Payload operator controls the various payloads from ground control station to capture essential video pictures and data.

Rustom - 1 can fly for 12 - 15 hours, at speeds upto 250 km/hr.

Rusom- 1 is intended to be used for surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, fire correction and battlefield damage assessment.

Three armed forces and internal security organizations like State Police Forces, BSF, CRPF and Coast Guards, are the prospective users of Rustom – 1.