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SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
Aero India 2025, held in Bengaluru from February 10-14, has solidified India’s trajectory toward redefining modern warfare, with the Indian Army unveiling a suite of cutting-edge unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed to target individual soldiers. This strategic pivot, showcased prominently at the airshow, signals a game-changing shift for infantry combat—particularly in the context of a potential conflict with Pakistan, which continues to prioritize larger, less agile UAV platforms. The innovations on display underscore India’s intent to dominate the tactical battlefield, leveraging precision, autonomy, and swarm technology to neutralize threats at the soldier level.
Pakistan’s UAV arsenal, bolstered by Chinese and Turkish collaborations, leans heavily on medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) systems like the Wing Loong II, CH-4, and Bayraktar TB2—platforms optimized for surveillance, precision strikes on fixed targets, and broader operational scopes. While formidable, these larger drones lack the granularity to engage individual infantry effectively in dynamic, close-quarters scenarios. In contrast, the Indian Army’s focus at Aero India 2025 reveals a nuanced approach: small, agile, and lethal drones that promise to transform the infantry battlefield, especially along the volatile Line of Control (LoC).
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG
Hyderabad-based VEM Technologies turned heads at Aero India 2025, held at Air Force Station Yelahanka in Bengaluru from February 10–14, with the debut of its Chaser loitering munition. Designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Tracking, Attack, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions, the Chaser combines advanced sensors, precision strike capabilities, and enhanced maneuverability into a single platform. Showcased as a versatile solution for modern warfare, this indigenous system reflects VEM’s growing stature in India’s defense ecosystem and its alignment with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative.
The Chaser, displayed in a sleek canister launcher setup, promises to survey, detect, recognize, acquire, and strike a wide range of high-value targets—static or mobile—with minimal collateral damage. With export inquiries already trickling in, VEM Technologies is positioning the Chaser as a global contender in the rapidly expanding loitering munition market.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a bizarre and eyebrow-raising twist, Pakistani media outlet 24 News HD anchor Mian Tahir has claimed to have obtained a secret report submitted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The alleged document, prepared by the Empowered Committee for Capability Enhancement of the IAF—chaired by the Defence Secretary and comprising high-ranking officials like the Vice Chief of Air Staff, Secretary (Defence Production), Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D, Chairman DRDO, DG Acquisition, and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff as Member Secretary—has not been made public in India. Yet, Tahir boldly asserted that this classified report exposes critical vulnerabilities in the IAF, including an alleged admission of its inability to counter Pakistan due to a depleted aircraft inventory.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a landmark move for India’s defense manufacturing ecosystem, Belgium-based John Cockerill Defense, the world’s top turret-making company, has signed a joint venture with Indian firm Electro Pneumatics & Hydraulics (India) Pvt Ltd to produce turrets for light tanks. This marks the first time the company will establish a manufacturing facility outside Belgium, with the new plant set to be located in Chakan, Pune. The 60:40 joint venture has been chosen by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to supply turrets for India’s Project Zorawar light tank program.
The collaboration is poised to bolster India’s indigenous defense capabilities, aligning with the “Make in India” initiative. The initial focus will be on manufacturing turrets for the 59 light tanks under Project Zorawar, designed for high-altitude operations. However, the joint venture’s ambitions extend far beyond this scope. Thierry Renaudin, Chief Executive Officer of John Cockerill Defense, emphasized the broader potential during a statement in the national capital: “The joint venture that we have is not limited to just the 59 light tanks. Our reading is that the overall demand will be much higher than 350. Moreover, as the joint venture stabilizes, we will look at other programs of the Indian Army—like the Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) and the futuristic main battle tank called the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV).”
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI Flanker and Su-57 Felon, two of Russia’s most prominent fighter jets, offer a revealing side-by-side comparison that underscores both the lineage and limitations of modern Russian aerospace engineering. While the Su-57, Russia’s first fifth-generation stealth fighter, draws clear design inspiration from the Su-30MKI—a 4.5-generation multirole platform tailored for India—it also exposes a deeper narrative: the Russian Aircraft Design Bureau’s apparent inability or unwillingness to break free from the foundational Su-27 architecture of the 1970s.
The Su-57’s lineage from the Su-30MKI is unmistakable. Both aircraft share a canard-delta wing configuration, a legacy of the Su-27’s focus on agility, though the Su-57’s canards are smaller and integrated into its stealth profile. The Felon’s thrust-vectoring nozzles, a defining trait of the Su-30MKI, enhance post-stall maneuverability—a feature prized by Russian designers since the 1980s but less emphasized in Western stealth fighters like the F-22, which prioritize low observability over aerobatics. The Su-57’s wider fuselage and splayed engine nacelles also mirror the Su-30MKI’s layout, adapted to house internal bays and reduce radar cross-section (RCS), estimated at 0.1–1 m² compared to the Su-30MKI’s 20 m².
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), through its Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), has unveiled the Jammer Anti-UAV (JAU) system—a sophisticated counter-drone technology designed to neutralize unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by targeting their command and control (C2) and navigation links. Capable of spoofing UAV signals to force a crash landing or compel a return to base, the JAU integrates robust Electronic Support Measures (ESM) and Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) capabilities.
The JAU system is engineered to intercept and disrupt the two lifelines of UAV operation: the C2 link, which connects the drone to its operator, and the navigation link, typically reliant on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) like GPS or GLONASS. By deploying ESM, the JAU detects and identifies UAV signals across a wide frequency spectrum—commonly 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz for control, and GNSS bands like GPS L1 (1575.42 MHz). Once identified, its ECM suite unleashes targeted jamming to drown these signals with electromagnetic noise, severing the drone’s connection to its operator and disrupting its positional awareness.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has touched down at Wing 6 of the Royal Thai Air Force, bringing with them a fleet of 12 Hawk Mk 132 aircraft. Renowned globally for their breathtaking nine-aircraft formations, the team is set to perform public displays on March 7 and 8, 2025, as part of the celebrations marking the 88th anniversary of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). As SKAT prepares to paint the Bangkok sky with the vibrant hues of the Indian Tricolor, this event promises not only a visual spectacle but also a reinforcement of the deep ties between India and Thailand.
The Suryakiran team, affectionately known as the “Ambassadors of the Indian Air Force,” arrived in Thailand following an invitation from the RTAF to participate in the milestone anniversary festivities. Established in 1996, SKAT has earned a stellar reputation for its precision, daring maneuvers, and vibrant displays, having performed at airshows across India and internationally. The team’s deployment of 12 Hawk Mk 132 aircraft—advanced jet trainers manufactured by BAE Systems and assembled by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)—includes nine for the aerobatic performances and three as spares, ensuring seamless execution of their signature routines.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
At a time when the Indian Air Force is seeing a fall in squadron strength, it is learnt that a high-level Defence Ministry committee has accepted the need for getting new multirole fighter aircraft for the service to enhance its fighting capabilities. The acceptance of the Indian Air Force requirement is learnt to be part of the report submitted by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh to the Defence Minister on ‘Capability Enhancement of IAF’. Sources told ANI that the committee has accepted the need for the Indian Air Force to have new multirole fighters to meet its requirements for preparing for the next generation of conflicts.
The sources said that, as per the discussions during the Committee meetings, the Indian Air Force would prepare the statement of case for acquiring capabilities, and the Defence Ministry would work towards getting the required approvals at different levels in a time-bound manner. The committee submitted the recommendations to the government when the US was pushing for selling its single-engine F-35 fifth-generation fighter aircraft while the Russian side was offering its Su-57 fifth-generation fighter.
Continue readingSOURCE: REUTERS
US exports of crude oil to India last month climbed to their highest in over two years, ship tracking data showed, as refiners in the country sought alternative supplies following tighter U.S. sanctions on Russian producers and tankers.
The US exported about 357,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude to India, the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer, in February, ship tracking data from Kpler showed. That compared with exports of about 221,000 bpd last year.
Continue readingSOURCE: UNI
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday reacted to the security breach during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to the UK. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned the “provocative activities,” as he denounced the actions of a “small group of separatists and extremists” in the official statement.
“We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of EAM to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations,” Jaiswal said.
Continue readingSOURCE: REUTERS
Fifteen people were injured in South Korea on Thursday after bombs dropped by fighter jets landed in a civilian district, damaging houses and a church during military exercises in Pocheon, the Air Force and the fire department said.
The Gyeonggi-do Bukbu Fire Services said in a statement that 15 people were wounded, out of which two were seriously hurt. Pocheon is about 40 kilometres (25 miles) northeast of Seoul, near the heavily militarised border with North Korea.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the government has launched a campaign to rehabilitate the villages evacuated during the India-China war of 1962. Addressing a public rally in Harsil, PM Modi said two villages in the Uttarkashi district were evacuated during the war in 1962, and the government is making efforts to make them major tourist destinations.
“People might know that when China attacked India in 1962, these two villages of ours were evacuated. People have forgotten, but we cannot forget. We have launched a campaign to rehabilitate those two villages and are moving towards making it a major tourist destination,” PM Modi said.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Collins Aerospace, specialising in advanced structures, avionics, interiors, mission systems, and power and control systems, inaugurated its new Engineering Development and Test Centre (EDTC) on Wednesday at the company’s North Gate campus in Yelahanka, Bengaluru.
The new facility streamlines product development, testing, and certification of components locally, accelerating the introduction of aerospace technologies to the market, company officials said. “The aerospace industry is evolving at an incredible pace, and this new centre enables us to support that evolution by making the testing and certification process faster and more efficient,” said Clay Lindwall, Senior Vice President of Engineering & Technology at Collins Aerospace.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
The Indian Army’s Ace of Spades Division conducted a skill development training program for local youth in the Rajouri district under Operation Sadbhavana, aimed at empowering unemployed individuals through technical expertise.
They conduct training and hand out certificates and toolkits to 30 local youth participants at the felicitation ceremony of the Recovery Vehicle cadre in the Rajouri district, under Operation Sadbhavana. One aspect of Operation Sadbhavna is to empower unemployed youths in Jammu and Kashmir through skill development programs that provide training in essential technical skills like heavy machinery repair, vehicle recovery, welding and carpentry.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The US administration under President Donald Trump is moving towards multipolarity which suits India’s interests, and the two nations have agreed on the need for a bilateral trade pact, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said.
During a session titled ‘India’s rise and role in the world’ at the Chatham House think tank in London on Wednesday evening, the EAM was asked about his thoughts on the first few weeks of the new US government and, specifically, about Trump’s reciprocal tariffs.
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