SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
During a recent Defence Ministers’ meeting in Delhi on May 6, 2025, India proposed a collaboration with Japan on aero engine development, a move that could significantly bolster its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. While the specific engine program was not explicitly named, speculation is rife that India is eyeing Japan’s IHI XF9, a low-bypass afterburning turbofan engine developed by the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) of Japan’s Ministry of Defense and IHI Corporation.
This proposal underscores India’s ambition to secure advanced propulsion technology for its 5.5-generation stealth fighter, the AMCA, while deepening defense ties with Japan amid shared strategic concerns in the Indo-Pacific.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India has formally requested Japan to submit a proposal for its Kawasaki C-2 military transport aircraft as part of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) IL-76 replacement program, sources told idrw.org. The move comes as the IAF reevaluates its Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) requirements, aiming to modernize its aging transport fleet, which includes the Soviet-era Ilyushin IL-76 and Antonov An-32 aircraft.
With the locally manufactured Airbus C-295M already set to replace the Avro HS-748 fleet, the IAF is exploring options to consolidate its tactical and strategic airlift needs, potentially using the C-295M to also phase out the An-32s while seeking a heavier platform like the C-2 to succeed the IL-76.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
According to report in the Punjab kesari, a Hindi-language newspaper, local authorities recovered fragments of a missile that crashed into the courtyard of a house in Ghagwal village of Dasuha constituency of Hoshiarpur in Punjab, creating an atmosphere of fear among residents. The object, marked with the identification code “P15E12203039,” and “P15E12203023” is speculated to be part of a PL-15E missile, potentially fired towards an Indian jet. The incident has raised concerns due to the village’s proximity to the international border, located just 50kms from the Closest point to the International border with Pakistan.
Eyewitness Ashok Kumar, a resident of Ghagwal village, recounted the startling event. At approximately 1:30 AM, he was awakened by a loud explosion outside his home. “Something fell from the sky, causing a very loud bang,” Kumar said. When he went to investigate, he discovered a piece of machinery in his courtyard, still emitting smoke and a foul odor. Alarmed, Kumar immediately alerted the local police.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a significant development that has heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, an Indian official has reportedly confirmed the use of the BrahMos Air-Launched Version (BMAV) in a cross-border incident, allegedly targeting a suspected Indian drone over Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan. The confirmation, shared via a video clip circulating on social media, has sparked widespread debate and raised concerns about escalating military confrontations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The clip, attributed to an Anantha Krishnan M explicitly states, “We used the BrahMos Air Version #BMAV. A great day for all those who have worked tirelessly over the years. One name that comes to mind is Dr Venugopal, the first Project Director of BrahMos AV.” The statement suggests that the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, specifically its air-launched variant, was deployed in the operation, marking a notable milestone for India’s defence capabilities. The official’s remarks also pay tribute to Dr Venugopal, credited as a pioneering figure in the development of the BrahMos air-launched system.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Pakistan’s media outlets reported that the country’s air defence systems engaged and fired upon an alleged Indian drone in the airspace over Gujranwala, a major city in Punjab province, on the night of [insert date]. This marks the second consecutive night that Pakistan has claimed to detect and respond to an Indian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the region, escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
According to local reports, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and air defence units were placed on high alert following the detection of a suspicious object in Pakistani airspace. Sources cited by Pakistani media outlets, including Geo News and Dawn, claimed the object was an Indian drone, allegedly conducting reconnaissance or provocative operations near the border. The air defence systems stationed in Gujranwala reportedly opened fire, though no confirmation has been provided on whether the drone was shot down or escaped.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
A 15-foot-long Brahmos missile Ejectable first state solid propellant booster engine was discovered in a field in Bandhanau village, Bikaner district, Rajasthan, sparking widespread panic and concern among local residents. The debris, found in the field of farmer Ramprasad Joshi, has raised alarm in the region, with villagers reporting a bright flash in the sky followed by a loud explosion late Tuesday night.
According to local media reports, the incident caused an immediate stir in nearby villages, including Momasar, Udrasar, and Suranjasar, where an atmosphere of fear and speculation has taken hold. The missile shell, which appears to be military-grade, was found lying on the sandy terrain of the field, showing signs of impact with visible damage to its structure. The object’s cylindrical shape, metallic components, and sheer size suggest it could be a remnant of a larger missile system, though its exact origin and type remain unconfirmed.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
A CCTV video circulating widely on social media, dated May 8, 2025, has captured what appears to be an Indian air defence missile system, likely the Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM), engaging and destroying an unidentified aerial target in the night sky near Amritsar, Punjab. The footage, which has sparked intense speculation and debate, comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, Neither the Indian Air Force (IAF) nor the Indian Army (IA) has issued an official statement regarding the incident, leaving room for uncertainty and public conjecture.
The grainy but striking CCTV footage shows a bright streak of light, presumed to be a missile, ascending rapidly into the sky before a flash indicates a possible interception of a target. The video, timestamped around 1.03 AM IST, aligns with posts on X that claim the Akash missile system was launched from an airbase in Jalandhar, approximately 80 kilometers from Amritsar.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
)
India will put in orbit a constellation of 52 satellites over the next five years to step up space-based surveillance capabilities, Pawan Kumar Goenka, chairman, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) said on Wednesday.
He said the move will see strong participation from the private sector. Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the Global Space Exploration Conference 2025 here, Goenka said, “We have fairly strong capabilities already. It is just that it needs constant enhancement.” He said the plan is intended at increasing surveillance capabilities of the defence sector.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Amid escalating tensions with Pakistan after India launched airstrike on terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, US President Donald Trump has expressed concerns and said that “he will be there” to offer help and wants the escalating conflict between the two countries to “stop”.
“It’s so terrible. My position is I get along with both. I know both very well and I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop and hopefully they can stop now. They have gone tit for tat so hopefully they can stop now. I know them both, we get along with both the countries very well,” Trump said.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
)
Banks have tightened their cyber security network to ward off any cyber threat in the wake of India launching missile attacks on Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Banks have also improved their security at the branches near border areas due to heightened threat of a counter attack. “We have strengthened the cyber security mechanism… we have created a 24 hours war room to diffuse any cyber attack… we are prepared for any eventuality,” Punjab National Bank MD and CEO Ashok Chandra said.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that India was marching ahead with renewed confidence in the field of space exploration and its astronauts’ footprints will be on the Moon. Mars and Venus were also on the country’s radar for exploration missions, he stressed in a pre-recorded message for the Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX-2025) here.
PM Modi said for India, space was about exploration as well as empowerment, and listed out plans to set up the Bharatiya Anatariksh Station by 2035 and land an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
In the wake of Operation Sindoor, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held discussions with foreign ministers from Spain, France, Germany, Japan, and Qatar.
He emphasised India’s approach to cross-border terrorism and expressed gratitude for their solidarity and support. Mr Jaishankar discussed India’s measured response to cross-border terrorism with Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Pakistan has unleashed a full-blown disinformation offensive in a desperate attempt to shift the focus and control the narrative with a barrage of lies and digital theatrics following India’s decisive strike under ‘Operation Sindoor’.
What started as a focused and effective military operation by the Indian Armed Forces has now spiralled into a chaotic online propaganda war. Pro-Pakistan social media handles and even influential political figures are deliberately spreading fake news, fabricating stories of miraculous military victories and heroic retaliation that simply do not exist.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
One Indian-descent US lawmaker on Wednesday called for Pakistan to not use the current tensions with India as pretext to further undermine democracy while another offered full-throated support and endorsement of India’s retaliatory strikes done earlier in the day, India time.
“In the wake of last month’s horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the need to combat terrorism and prevent future violence has become even more urgent. As Secretary Rubio stated, it is essential to avoid broader conflict and further escalation,” Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is of Indian descent, said, adding, “At the same time, Pakistan must release former Prime Minister Imran Khan and ensure free and fair elections that uphold democratic values and give voice to the will of the Pakistani people. The current situation should not be used as a pretext to further undermine democracy in Pakistan.”
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Pakistani troops resorted to cross-border shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir for the second consecutive day on Thursday, a day after the Indian armed forces targeted terror infrastructure in the neighbouring country as part of ‘Operation Sindoor’.
The Pakistani side targeted civilian areas in the Karnah area, firing shells and mortars after midnight, officials said.
Continue reading