SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In a significant stride toward bolstering India’s indigenous defense aviation capabilities, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is on track to complete the production of the first Tejas MkII aircraft by the end of October 2025. This milestone marks a pivotal moment in the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, which aims to deliver a 4.5-generation multi-role fighter to the Indian Air Force (IAF). According to sources familiar with the development, over 60% of the aircraft’s assembly has already been completed, with HAL focusing on integrating critical avionics and systems typically installed in the final stages of production.
HAL officials have confirmed that most of the equipment currently being integrated includes avionics, electronic warfare systems, and other subsystems reserved for the final stages of production. These components are critical for the aircraft’s operational capabilities, including its Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, advanced cockpit displays, and enhanced weapon systems integration. By October 2025, HAL aims to have the aircraft 100% ready, setting the stage for the next phase of its development journey.
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG
Estonia, a Baltic nation strategically positioned near Russia, is intensifying its efforts to bolster its air defense capabilities, with a keen interest in Indian air defense radars. This move comes as part of a broader initiative to enhance surveillance and communication systems, with plans to replace its existing air defense radars by 2027. Jonatan Vseviov, Secretary General of Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recently highlighted Estonia’s intent to collaborate with Indian companies in defense production, aligning with the European Union’s (EU) push to ramp up military spending in the coming years.
Estonia’s interest in Indian technology stems from its need to modernize its defense infrastructure amid heightened regional security concerns. The country has already taken significant steps to strengthen its air surveillance network, exemplified by the ongoing construction of a new radar installation on Hiiumaa Island, expected to be completed by mid-2026. However, with the scheduled replacement of its air defense radars on the horizon, Estonia is exploring international partnerships to meet its ambitious timeline and technical requirements.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In an intriguing development along India’s northeastern frontier, a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) reconnaissance drone, identified as the WL-10 or WL-2, has reportedly been sighted near Sikkim, operating out of China’s Shigatse airbase in Tibet. This rare spotting, noted on March 25, 2025, has sparked interest among defense observers due to the drone’s elusive nature and its proximity to the sensitive Indo-China border.
Adding to the intrigue, the drone’s Mode-S address—listed as #783132 ’00CA6181’—is believed to be bogus, a tactic previously observed in Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating in contested regions like the South China Sea (SCS) and Taiwan theater.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a 5.5th-generation stealth fighter jet program, has garnered attention not only for its technological ambition but also for its remarkably low development cost. With a Full-Scale Engineering Development (FSED) allocation of ?15,000 crore (approximately $1.8 billion) over a 10-year period, including the construction of five prototypes, the AMCA stands out as potentially the cheapest 5th-generation jet program in the world.
This article delves into the AMCA’s development budget and compares it to the project costs of other 5th-generation fighter programs globally, highlighting India’s cost-effective approach and its implications for the global aerospace industry.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a significant development, Globe Forge Limited (formerly Nibe Ordnance Global Limited), a subsidiary of the Company, has encountered a roadblock in its plans to supply 155mm M107 empty shells to Munition India Limited (MIL). Following an earlier announcement on June 14, 2024, regarding the receipt of a Letter of Intent (LOI) from MIL for the supply of these artillery shells to its global customers, the Company has now received communication from MIL stating that the LOI has been canceled. This update aligns with the disclosure requirements under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.
The cancellation stems from the termination of the original contract between MIL and its ultimate buyer. According to the communication from MIL, the Competent Authority has decided to nullify the LOI dated June 14, 2024, with no liability or claims arising against MIL as a result of this decision. This abrupt reversal marks a setback for Globe Forge Limited, which had positioned itself to contribute to India’s growing defense export ecosystem through this deal.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Digital Combat Simulator (DCS) community has been buzzing with excitement and anticipation following a recent article published by idrw.org titled, “Why the Indian-Made LCA Tejas Is Absent from DCS World Modules.” The piece highlighted the absence of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas in the popular flight simulation platform DCS World, sparking a wave of enthusiasm among Indian aviation enthusiasts and virtual pilots. In response, members of the community have reached out to idrw.org, urging the Indian Air Force (IAF) to provide detailed information about the LCA Tejas Mk1A to enable the creation of a realistic module for the simulator.
DCS World, developed by Eagle Dynamics, is renowned for its highly detailed and authentic military aircraft simulations, offering players an immersive experience with meticulously modeled cockpits, flight dynamics, and weapon systems. While the platform boasts an impressive lineup of aircraft from around the globe, the absence of the LCA Tejas—a cornerstone of India’s aerospace ambitions—has left Indian fans yearning for representation.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a recent incident that piqued the interest of Indian defense enthusiasts, a bulletproof tractor was spotted advancing toward an encounter site, leading to widespread confusion and speculation. The unusual sight of an armored agricultural vehicle in a combat zone raised eyebrows and triggered discussions across online forums and social media platforms. However, the mystery was soon unraveled: the tractor belongs to the Border Security Force (BSF) and serves a far more mundane—yet vital—purpose than engaging in combat operations.
Contrary to initial assumptions, this bulletproof tractor is not a new weapon in the BSF’s arsenal but a specialized tool designed for farming-related activities along India’s sensitive borders. At the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB), vast stretches of Indian farmland lie beyond the security fences, often in close proximity to hostile territories. These areas, while fertile, have historically been difficult to cultivate due to the constant threat of cross-border firing and infiltration. To address this, the BSF employs bulletproof tractors to assist farmers in tilling their fields safely, ensuring agricultural productivity even in volatile regions.
Continue readingSOURCE: UNI
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Yard 11190 (Nistar), the first of the two Diving Support Vessels (DSV) designed and constructed indigenously by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) here is in final stages of construction. On March 21, 2025, the crew carried out the Sea Trials of Air/ Mix gas diving systems and its Observation Class Remotely Operated Vehicle (OROV), a defence release said here on Monday.
The Air/ Mix Diving complex onboard the Nistar class includes an Open Bottom Bell & Side Diving Stage which enable the ship to undertake diving up to a depth of 75 meters. These systems can be readily deployed at short notice and are crucial for conducting rapid underwater diving surveys and inspections, facilitating efficient planning for Saturation Diving Operations.
Continue readingSOURCE: REUTERS
China and India are likely to try to interfere in the Canadian general election on April 28, while Russia and Pakistan have the potential to do so, the country’s spy service said on Monday.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service made its comments at a time when Ottawa’s relations with both India and China are chilly. Beijing and New Delhi have denied previous allegations of interference. Canada was slow in responding to efforts by China and India to interfere in the 2019 and 2021 elections but their outcomes were unaffected by the meddling, an official probe said in a final report released in January.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
India has called for consensus-driven reforms in UN peacekeeping, stressing the need for better funding, enhanced technology, and a greater role for troop-contributing countries, an official press release stated. Addressing a UN Security Council debate on adapting peace operations to new realities, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish outlined India’s vision for modernising peacekeeping in response to emerging threats. “UN Peacekeepers today have to contend with the presence of non-state actors, armed groups, terrorists, as well as trans-national criminal networks.
Technological advancements have created new challenges in the form of mis-/dis-/mal-information and hate speech, new-age weapons, including drones, IEDs etc. These are but a few new realities that peacekeepers are up against.” He stressed that reforms must be built on consensus, with greater involvement of troop-contributing nations.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
India slammed Pakistan at the UN, saying the country continues to illegally occupy the territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which it must vacate. These remarks were made on Monday by India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish during remarks at a UN Security Council Open Debate on Advancing Adaptability in UN Peace operations.
“Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will always be an integral part of India. Pakistan continues to illegally occupy the territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which it must vacate,” Harish said.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Two constituents of the Hurriyat Conference have announced the severing of all ties with separatism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday.
Asserting that this step will strengthen Bharat’s unity, Mr Shah said the unifying policies of the Modi government have “tossed” separatism out of Jammu and Kashmir. “Two organizations associated with the Hurriyat have announced the severing of all ties with separatism. I welcome this step towards strengthening Bharat’s unity and urge all such groups to come forward and shed separatism once and for all,” he wrote on ‘X’.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Three Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district on Tuesday, police said. The gunfight broke out at around 8 am in a forest along the border of Dantewada and Bijapur districts when a team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, a police official said.
Bodies of three Naxalites along with firearms and explosives were recovered from the spot, he said. The operation was still underway in the area and further details are awaited, he added. On March 20, security forces gunned down 30 Naxalites in two encounters in Bijapur and Kanker districts of the state.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
The family of the woman Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer whose body was found near a railway track in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram suspects foul play and has registered a police complaint. The family is demanding a detailed investigation into the case.
The deceased, identified as Megha, was found dead on Monday, March 24 morning. Sivadasan, her uncle, said they suspected foul play in her death. He stated that she had no history of depression, contrary to reports in some sections of the media suggesting suicide as the cause.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday observed that border dwellers face numerous challenges and said his government will convene a meeting of MLAs from border areas in April to address the issues faced by them.
He also said that over Rs 144 crore have been disbursed to farmers, whose lands were affected by fencing along the International Border (IB). Responding to supplementary questions from various MLAs representing different parties regarding concerns raised by border residents, Abdullah told the House, “This is a humanitarian issue. Border residents face numerous challenges.” He added that following the conclusion of the session in April, a meeting with all border area MLAs will be held.
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