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SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
On April 2, 2025, a significant milestone in India’s defense manufacturing journey was marked with the metal cutting ceremony of the Advanced Armoured Platforms (AAP)—Wheeled and Tracked—at the Pune premises of the Kalyani Group, a key Development cum Production Partner (DcPP) for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The ceremony, officiated by Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D) and Chairman of DRDO, highlighted the collaborative efforts between DRDO and industry partners like the Kalyani Group, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), and Bharat Forge Limited (BFL) to design, develop, and manufacture critical defense systems. The event also served as a platform for the Kalyani Group to showcase its AAP-Tr (Tracked), a contender for the Indian Army’s Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) program aimed at replacing the aging BMP-II fleet.
The AAP-Tr, a tracked variant of the Advanced Armoured Platform, is being positioned by the Kalyani Group as a modern, indigenous solution for the Indian Army’s FICV tender, which seeks to replace over 1,750 BMP-II vehicles currently in service. The BMP-II, a Soviet-era infantry combat vehicle inducted in the 1980s, has long been due for replacement due to its outdated technology and inability to meet the demands of modern warfare, particularly in terms of firepower, protection, and mobility. The Indian Army’s FICV program, estimated to be worth over ?60,000 crore, has been a long-standing priority, with the goal of inducting a new generation of vehicles equipped with advanced electronics, enhanced survivability, and modular weapon systems.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hyderabad-based VEM Technologies, a key player in India’s private defence sector, is set to deepen its involvement in the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, the country’s ambitious fifth-generation stealth fighter project. Having successfully manufactured the full-scale engineering model of the AMCA showcased at Aero India 2025, the company has now been tasked with contributing to the Tier-II manufacture of the aircraft’s fuselage for its prototype. This development marks a significant step in VEM’s growing footprint in India’s aerospace and defence ecosystem.
The full-scale model unveiled at Aero India 2025 held from February 10-14 at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru, drew widespread attention as a tangible representation of India’s push for self-reliance in advanced fighter jet technology. Constructed using indigenously sourced materials from Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) and other private firms, the model highlighted VEM Technologies’ engineering capabilities and its ability to collaborate with both public and private sector entities. Building on this success, VEM has now been entrusted with manufacturing specific sections of the AMCA fuselage for the initial 4-5 prototypes, company officials confirmed in an interview with idrw.org.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a groundbreaking development for India’s aerospace sector, Godrej Aerospace, a division of Godrej & Boyce under the Godrej Enterprises Group, has announced its readiness to manufacture a 5th-generation jet engine, a move that could significantly reduce India’s reliance on foreign technology.
Maneck Behramkamdin, Executive Vice President and Business Head of Godrej Aerospace, shared this milestone in an interview with The Economic Times, highlighting the company’s progress and its pivotal role in India’s quest for self-reliance in defense and aerospace manufacturing. The announcement, made on April 2, 2025, underscores Godrej Aerospace’s growing influence in the global aerospace ecosystem and its commitment to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Navy is poised to take a significant leap in its maritime defense capabilities with the Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV), a new class of high-speed warships expected to be the first to integrate the indigenously developed Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM). This development, spotlighted during recent discussions at Aero India 2025 and reinforced by successful test firings, marks a milestone in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in defense technology and underscores the Navy’s commitment to enhancing its layered air defense systems.
The NGMVs, currently under construction by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) following a ?9,804 crore contract signed in March 2023, represent a cutting-edge addition to the Indian Navy’s fleet. Designed as agile, weapon-intensive platforms, these vessels are tailored for offensive and defensive operations, including maritime strike, anti-surface warfare, and sea denial at strategic choke points. With a maximum speed of 33 knots and a crew of 80 personnel, the six NGMVs are slated for delivery starting in March 2027, with subsequent ships following at regular intervals.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a significant boost to India’s indigenous defence capabilities, Solar Explosives, a subsidiary of the Nagpur-based Solar Group, has confirmed the successful delivery of 480 Nagastra-1 loitering munitions to the Indian Army. Building on this milestone, the company has now embarked on the development of two advanced variants, Nagastra-1B and Nagastra-1C, tailored to meet specific requirements outlined by the Indian Army.
The Nagastra-1, India’s first domestically developed loitering munition, has already marked a leap forward in precision strike technology. Designed and manufactured by Solar Explosives under an emergency procurement contract, the system boasts over 75% indigenous content. Weighing just 9 kg, the man-portable drone is equipped with a 1 kg high-explosive fragmenting warhead, day-and-night surveillance cameras, and a unique parachute recovery mechanism, making it reusable if a mission is aborted. Its delivery to the Army in late 2024 underscored India’s growing self-reliance in military hardware.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) No.7 Squadron, famously known as the “Battle Axes”, continues to exemplify precision and power with its fleet of upgraded Mirage-2000TI multirole fighters. Recently spotted armed with an advanced weapons suite—including the Israeli Popeye A2S air-to-surface missile (ASM), MICA IR air-to-air missile, and the AN/ASW-55 data link pod—these aircraft underscore India’s growing capability to project force with pinpoint accuracy. The integration of the Popeye missile, a product of Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, highlights a deepening Indo-Israeli defense partnership and bolsters the IAF’s strike potential in both conventional and standoff scenarios.
Based at Gwalior Air Force Station, the No.7 Squadron has a storied history, notably its decisive role during the 1999 Kargil War, where Mirage-2000s delivered laser-guided bombs with devastating effect. The Mirage-2000TI variant, an upgraded version of the original Mirage-2000H, features enhanced avionics, a Thales RDY-2 radar, and improved electronic warfare systems. These upgrades enable seamless integration of advanced munitions like the Popeye A2S, making it a versatile platform for air-to-surface and air-to-air missions.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Boeing, a titan of aerospace engineering, faced a precarious moment in recent years when its fighter jet division teetered on the brink of closure. A dwindling order book for its iconic F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-15 Eagle variants painted a grim picture for the company’s military aviation arm. Yet, in a stunning turnaround, Boeing has emerged victorious in the U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, securing the contract to develop the F-47—a sixth-generation fighter jet that promises to redefine air superiority. This remarkable comeback underscores Boeing’s resilience, strategic investments, and ability to pivot at a critical juncture.
Boeing’s fighter jet lineage, inherited largely through its 1997 merger with McDonnell Douglas, includes storied aircraft like the F-15 Eagle and F/A-18 Super Hornet. These platforms have been mainstays of U.S. and allied air forces for decades. However, by the early 2020s, the company faced a stark reality: orders for new F-15s and F-18s were drying up. The F/A-18 Super Hornet production line, based in St. Louis, Missouri, was slated to wind down by 2027 after fulfilling final orders from the U.S. Navy and export customers like Australia. Meanwhile, the F-15EX Eagle II, a modernized variant, secured a modest USAF contract for 144 units, but this alone couldn’t sustain the division’s long-term viability.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
In a remarkable act of bravery, Flight Lieutenant Siddharth Yadav saved countless lives during the tragic crash of a Jaguar fighter jet in Jamnagar, Gujarat. Amid a critical technical malfunction, Siddharth displayed extraordinary courage by steering the crashing aircraft away from a densely populated area.
In his final moments, he also ejected his fellow pilot, ensuring his safety before tragically losing his own life.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the interim government in Bangladesh, sat side by side during the official dinner hosted by the Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for the visiting Heads of States and Head of Governments on Thursday attending the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok.
The official X handle of Chief Advisor of the Government of Bangladesh posted screen grabs of both leaders sitting side by side at the dinner table as the Thai PM welcomed the BIMSTEC leaders.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia on Thursday in Parliament made it clear that satellite spectrum would be allocated administratively rather than through auction, aligning with global practices. “We cannot auction an asset which is not fully in our control. This applies not only to India but all countries on earth,” Jyotiraditya Scindia said, explaining the technical differences between mobile and satellite communications.
During the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, the minister elucidated that mobile technology operates on low-frequency waves that dissipate in the atmosphere, necessitating spectrum auctions to prevent signal interference. In contrast, satellite communications use higher frequencies transmitted directly like a laser through fixed antennas.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
A Delhi court on Thursday sought a response from Tihar Jail authorities on a plea of Christian Michel James, an alleged middleman in the Agustawestland case, claiming attempts were made to poison him inside the prison. Special judge Sanjeev Aggarwal sought a status report form the DG (prisons), Tihar Jail on the application filed by James over the “specific serious allegations”.
The judge directed the official to file the report by April 16, 2025 detailing the action taken after James levelled the allegations.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
India will soon send relics of the Buddha, discovered in Devni Mori in northern Gujarat, to Thailand for an exposition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced this after bilateral talks with Thailand Prime Minister Paentongtran Shinawatra at the Government House here.
“I am extremely happy to announce that the Holy Relics found in Aravali, Gujarat in 1960 will also be sent to Thailand for an exposition,” Modi said after he received a copy of the 108 volumes of Tipitaka, the revered collection of Buddhist scriptures, in Pali language, from Paetongtarn.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Marking a significant milestone in historic relations, Sri Lanka will refer to India as the ‘Republic of Bharat’ on commemorative plaques that will be unveiled during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the weekend, Lankan media reported on Thursday.
“The commemorative plaques will be unveiled for three India-assisted projects, which include the groundbreaking of the Sampur solar energy project, the opening of a cool storage complex in Dambulla in Sri Lanka, and the commissioning of 5000 rooftop solar panels at 5000 places of religious worship. While commemorative plaques will have the name ‘Bharat’, the Sri Lankan authorities will, however, use the name ‘India’ in official communications,” reported Daily Mirror.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
A senior Army officer on Thursday visited the Red Shield Division in Manipur to review its operational preparedness and appreciated its technological innovations, officials said. A defence spokesman said that Spear Corps commander Lt General Abhijit S. Pendharkar visited the Manipur-based formation, reviewed their operational preparedness, and deliberated on measures to further enhance operational effectiveness.
During the visit, he acknowledged the high level of operational preparedness of the division and appreciated its technological innovations and the seamless absorption of niche technologies, which has significantly enhanced operational effectiveness.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Five infiltrators from Bangladesh have been apprehended and deported from Assam’s Sribhumi district on Thursday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. “In a strong and decisive move against infiltration, @sribhumipolice apprehended 5 Bangladeshi nationals and pushed them back across the border”, the Chief Minister posted on ‘X’.
The infiltrators have been identified as Md Iman Mira, Md Naim Ahmed, Miyazaki Muhammad Rasel, Abdul Kalam Miya and Md Munna. The CM also praised Assam Police for the “great work”.
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