The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) constructed 160 km-long Tamu-Kalewa-Kaylemyo road on the Indo-Myanmar border. The road was inaugurated by the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh. Maj Gen Saw Tun, Minister for Construction, Government of the Union of Myanmar, Director General Border Roads Lt Gen A K Puri and a large number of dignitaries were present on the occasion. This association with the land of Pagodas (Myanmar) will mark the beginning of a new era of friendship and co-operation between the two countries paving the way for technical and trade co-operation.

With as many as 158 major and minor nullahs criss-crossing the road alignment, the bridging effort was a major task. Tremendous logistics were involved in the construction of this road. The construction stores had to be transported from Dimapur, the nearest railhead in India, over a distance of 350 kilometers to Tamu.

The use of high technology equipment, their sustained serviceability and close monitoring of resource deployment paid rich dividends enabling the BRO to complete this road well in time and a saving over the assessed cost. However, this would not have been possible without the total dedication and commitment of the 2300-strong labour force which was drawn entirely from the local population of Myanmar. The total synergy and support provided to the BRO by the local Myanmar Government, especially the Regional Command and Control and the Myanmar Public Works Department helped in timely completion of the road.

The second flight test of Agni-II, the long range surface-to-surface missile was conducted at the Interim Test Range, Chandipur, Orissa in its final operational configuration.

Agni-II is a two-stage, all-solid motor missile having a range of about 2000 kilometres with a payload weight of one tonne and can be launched from a mobile launcher. The flight was monitored with shore and ship instrumentation facilities which are networked in real time. The Programme Director, Mr R N Agarwal said that the flight test results have indicated that mission objectives were met satisfactorily.

The flight was witnessed by Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis, Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister, Dr V K Aatre and Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi.

Defence Minister complimented the scientists and engineers of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the success. He highlighted the role and relevance of Agni-II in meeting national security interests.

The helicopters of the Indian Army are to be equipped with the Global Positioning System (GPS), a navigation system that lets the pilot know his position accurately at any time of the day or night.

At a ceremony held at CEMILAC of the Defence Research and Development Organisation in Bangalore, the airworthiness clearance for the GPS, designed and developed by the Aerospace Systems Limited (ASL), was handed over to Rear Admiral (Retd) J J Baxi, Managing Director, ASL by Mr K Nagaraj, Chief Executive of CEMILAC.

Lt Gen S J S Saighal, Director General of Army Aviation who was present on the occasion, said that this state-of-the-art navigation equipment would significantly enhance the navigational capabilities of the Army helicopters.

The GPS is designed for operation in the most extreme climatic conditions with temperatures ranging from - 40 degree celsius to + 70 degree celsius and altitudes upto 15 kms. The device also protects itself from severe electrical and electromagnetic exposures.

With the induction of the GPS, the pilots of Army helicopters will find navigation in a difficult terrain like the Kashmir Valley and North-Eastern region of the country much easier and more accurate.