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SOURCE: PTI
The Indian Army has raised an elite unit that will undertake research and evaluation of futuristic communication technologies like 6G, artificial intelligence, machine learning and quantum computing for military use given the changing nature of the field. The Signals Technology Evaluation and Adaptation Group or STEAG is mandated to nurture technologies spanning the complete spectrum of wired and wireless systems, officials said.
The setting up of STEAG is part of the Army’s efforts to develop technologies considering the future battlefield, they said.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report has cast a shadow over the combat readiness of the F-35 fighter jet program. The report, released in September 2023, reveals a significant gap between the advertised capabilities and the reality on the ground.
The crux of the issue lies in the definition of “mission capable” used by the Department of Defense (DoD). While the public might interpret it as combat-ready, the reality is far less impressive. According to the DoD definition, a mission-capable F-35 can simply fly and perform at least one mission. This mission could be training, testing, or something entirely non-combat related.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
General Lee Youngsu, Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), met with Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) of the Indian Air Force (IAF), in New Delhi today.
The focus of the meeting was on fostering closer ties and collaboration between the two air forces. Discussions reportedly centered on issues of mutual interest, including:
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
India has embarked on a significant infrastructure project near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. The project involves constructing a 5.2-kilometer ropeway, connecting the renowned Tawang Monastery to the picturesque PT Tso Lake. Expected to be completed within three years at a cost of Rs 522 crore, this initiative aims to boost tourism in the region.
The new ropeway will significantly reduce travel time between the Tawang Monastery, a popular pilgrimage site, and PT Tso Lake, known for its mesmerizing beauty. Currently, reaching the lake can take a considerable amount of time. This swift and convenient ropeway access will undoubtedly enhance the tourist experience in the region.
Continue readingSOURCE: AP
Pakistani airstrikes targeted multiple suspected hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban inside neighboring Afghanistan early on Monday, killing at least eight people and drawing return fire from the Afghan Taliban, officials said.
The latest escalation is likely to further increase tensions between Islamabad and Kabul. The Pakistani strikes came two days after insurgents killed seven soldiers in a suicide bombing and coordinated attack in northwestern Pakistan.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
A recent incident involving an Indian Air Force (IAF) Avro aircraft highlighted the importance of teamwork and swift action. The aircraft encountered an engine malfunction mid-flight, prompting a precautionary landing at the Bhopal civilian airport.
Upon landing, a thorough inspection revealed the necessity for an engine change. Despite the limitations of on-site technical support, the IAF personnel displayed remarkable resourcefulness.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The Indian Air Force on Monday successfully carried out a trial of emergency landing of aircraft on the National Highway-16 near Pichikalagudipadu village here, a police official said.
Bapatla superintendent of police (SP) Vakul Jindal said two transport aircraft, AN-32 and Dornier, were part of the trial which was conducted as part of bolstering IAF’s emergency readiness to face any future exigency, the official said.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
The C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force executed a precision air-born drop of two boats along with Indian Navy MARCOS in the Arabian Sea in support of ongoing anti-piracy ‘Operation Sankalp’. The operation was carried out to rescue the crew of the bulk carrier vessel MV Ruen that was hijacked by Somali pirates near the Yemeni island of Socotra recently.
In a post on X, the Indian Air Force, hailing the operation, stated, “In a remarkable display of Jointness & Integration, an IAF C-17 aircraft executed a precision Airborne Drop of two Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats, along with Indian Navy MARCOS in the Arabian Sea in support of ongoing anti-piracy Op Sankalp.”
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
Following a 40-hour-long operation in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata is set to bring 35 apprehended pirates to India.
“The Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata has taken 35 sea pirates into custody and is being brought to India along with the 17 crew members rescued after the major operation,” officials said on Sunday. During the operation, the Indian Navy forced the pirates to surrender and rescued 17 crew members from the distressed merchant vessel MV Ruen on Saturday. The merchant vessel is also being brought to India.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a fresh bail plea of Christian Michel James, an alleged middleman who is being probed by the CBI and the ED in the alleged ? 3,600-crore AgustaWestland chopper scam cases relating to the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters.
It was argued that James cannot be charged under any other offences apart from those mentioned in the extradition decree and he be granted the benefit of the doctrine of speciality. He was arrested in December 2018 after being extradited from Dubai.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The ballot boxes for Maldives’ upcoming parliamentary elections will be placed in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, after around 11,000 Maldivians submitted re-registration requests to relocate their polling stations, the country’s election commission announced on Sunday.
The six-day window for people to relocate their voting stations for the April 21 parliamentary elections expired on Saturday, media reports said, citing an Elections Commission notification. The top electoral body said that ballot boxes for the island nation’s elections will also be placed in Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), the capital of Kerala, Sri Lanka’s Colombo and Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur after at least 150 people re-register to vote in each of the three countries.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The recent clearance by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program has reignited discussions regarding the fate of the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender, which seeks to procure 114 jets from various countries. Amidst growing calls to scrap the MRFA tender, stakeholders familiar with the program have indicated idrw.org that such a move is unlikely despite the push for indigenous aircraft production.
The MRFA tender has attracted proposals from multiple countries, offering a range of fighter jets to meet India’s operational requirements. However, with the decline in squadron levels and the production of AMCA or Tejas MkII still a year away, the Indian Air Force (IAF) faces a critical shortage of combat aircraft. While the IAF advocates for the acquisition of 114 jets manufactured in India under transfer of technology (ToT) agreements, the tender process has yet to progress to the issuance of Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) or Request for Proposal (RFP) stages, suggesting that a conclusion to the program may be distant.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Lieutenant General P R Shankar (Retd.) recently addressed a Southern Command seminar on National Security and Building Bharat. During his speech, he revealed details about the ongoing development of a next-generation ramjet-powered artillery shell by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and the Army Design Bureau (ADB).
Lt Gen Shankar confirmed that a test of the 155mm ramjet shell was conducted last month at Balasore. While the test was not entirely successful, it provided valuable data for further development. The team is currently working on a 10th-12th iteration of the design, which is expected to be ready soon.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s recent successful test of the Agni-V missile equipped with MIRV (Multiple Independently Re-entry Vehicle) technology marks a significant advancement in the country’s strategic capabilities. This development strengthens India’s nuclear triad, a three-pronged deterrent system encompassing land, air, and sea-based nuclear launch platforms.
While the Agni-V test bolsters offensive capabilities, India is simultaneously focusing on defensive measures. Following the deployment of Phase-I BMD, the country is actively developing a Phase-II system and Beyond.
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has secured a $23.27 million USD loan from the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) to acquire two Dornier Do-228 aircraft manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) of India. This agreement marks a significant step forward in the GDF’s ongoing modernization efforts.
The financing deal was signed on Friday by Guyana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, and Deputy General Manager of EXIM Bank, Sanjay Lamba. The Guyana Ministry of Finance credits President Ali’s visit to HAL in January 2023 as the impetus for this agreement. While the official announcement did not specify the aircraft model, previous pronouncements by the Guyanese government had indicated their interest in acquiring two Dornier 228 planes.
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