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SOURCE: AFI
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for the future of human spaceflight. While the current astronaut training facility in Bengaluru prepares the “Fabulous Four” – Group Captains Prashanth Nair, Ajit Krishnan, Angad Prathap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla – for Gaganyaan’s first mission, plans are already underway for a much larger training center.
Sources close to ISRO reveal that the new facility, likely to be located in Devanahalli with Challakere still in consideration, will be built to accommodate a significantly larger astronaut corps. This expansion reflects India’s long-term commitment to human space exploration and could see the capacity grow to house 25-30 astronauts, potentially even including their families.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a recent statement, C Uday Bhaskar, the Director of the Society for Policy Studies, pointed out an intriguing paradox in India’s defense narrative. Despite the jubilation surrounding India’s recent Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) success, the latest annual report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) delivers a sobering reality check: India maintains its position as the world’s largest importer of arms. The report, released in March 2024, reveals a 4.7 percent increase in India’s arms imports between 2014-18 and 2019-23.
This revelation echoes the findings of SIPRI’s 2023 report, emphasizing India’s persistent status as the top global arms importer. The 2023 report underscored India’s dominance in this regard, with an 11 percent share of total global arms imports during 2018-22, a position it has maintained since 1993.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The Chinese military has reiterated its claim over Arunachal Pradesh, calling the area an “inherent part of China’s territory”, days after India rejected Beijing’s objection to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state. The Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang said that the southern part of Xizang (the Chinese name for Tibet) is an inherent part of China’s territory, and Beijing “never acknowledges and firmly opposes” the “so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established by India”, official media reported.
Zhang made the remarks in response to India’s enhancement of its military readiness through the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, according to a report posted on the Chinese Defence Ministry’s website on Friday. China, which claims Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet, routinely objects to Indian leaders’ visits to the state to highlight its claims.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
India and the Maldives on Sunday reviewed the ongoing deployment of Indian civilian technical personnel to enable the continued operation of Indian aviation platforms in the island nation.
Both sides carried out the review at the third meeting of the high-level core group held in Male with a focus on withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the island. India on Friday said its first team of military personnel that was operating an advanced light helicopter in the Maldives has returned from that country.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
Prominent activist and spokesperson of the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP), Sardar Nasir Aziz Khan, has lambasted the Pakistan at the United Nations for ‘inflicting atrocities’ on the people of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB).
While speaking at the ongoing 55th United Nations Human Rights Council Session, the UKPNP leader expressed concerns about the grim human rights situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB).
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
An influential American Senator on Friday asked the US social media companies as to what preparations they have made for elections in India, where social media platforms, including Meta-owned WhatsApp, have a long track record of amplifying misleading and false content.
The letter, written by Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Intelligence and Rules Committees, which has oversight over US elections, comes on the eve of the announcement of elections in India by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, responding to Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel for thanking the Indian Navy for rescuing seven Bulgarian nationals in a successful anti-piracy operation in the Arabian Sea, has said that it is exactly what friends are for.
In a post on X, Mr Jaishankar wrote, “That’s what friends are for”. Bulgarian Foreign Minister, Mariya Gabriel on Sunday expressed gratitude to the Indian Navy for successfully carrying out a rescue operation to take back control of a hijacked merchant vessel and its 17 crew members including seven Bulgarian nationals in the Arabian Sea.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
Highlighting Pakistan’s heinous crimes, prominent Baloch rights activist Hakeem Baloch has urged the Unitied Nations to recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Balochistan people for self-determination.
In his address at the 31st meeting of the ongoing 55th United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session on Saturday, the leader underscored that the people in Balochistan have been experiencing oppression, exploitation and denial of fundamental rights under the Pakistani regime.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
The last rites of Mohammed Asfan, who died in the Russia-Ukraine war after being duped into working as a helper for the Russian Army, were performed in Hyderabad on Sunday. Asfan, 30, whose body was brought to Hyderabad late on Saturday, was laid to rest at the graveyard adjacent to Masjid-e-Qutub Shahi in Bazar Ghat.
AIMIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi attended the funeral prayers of Asfan and consoled the family members. Relatives, friends and other residents of the Bazar Ghat area participated in the last rites.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
An alleged Bangladeshi smuggler was killed during a clash with the BSF in Tripura’s Unakoti district on Sunday, an official said. BSF troops were on duty near the border outpost of Magroli in Kailashahar when they observed a group of 15-20 men approaching the border fence from the Indian side carrying suspicious articles, the official added.
Despite being challenged by the BSF jawans to stop, they ignored the warnings, became aggressive, and surrounded the BSF personnel on duty.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Two Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Friday, a police official said. The gunfight took place at 5 pm in a forest near Hingmeta village when security personnel were out on an anti-Naxal operation, Bijapur SP Jitendra Yadav said.
The operation was launched on Thursday based on specific input about the presence of self-styled commanders of Maoists and 20-25 other ultras, the SP said.
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM.
The Indian Army is set to receive a boost in firepower later this year with the arrival of six AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from Boeing. These aerial warriors will sport a distinctive sand camouflage paint scheme, specifically designed to provide them with an edge in the arid regions of western India.
Sand camouflage, also known as desert camouflage, utilizes a blend of light brown, tan, and sometimes green tones. This mimics the natural colors of sandy landscapes and rocky outcrops, making the helicopter a tougher target to spot for enemy forces on the ground. By breaking up the helicopter’s outline, especially from afar, sand camo enhances its survivability.
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM.
Researchers from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Mandi and Palakkad have unveiled a groundbreaking innovation – a marine robot designed specifically for real-time underwater tasks. This state-of-the-the-art robot promises to revolutionize underwater operations by enhancing efficiency, reducing risks, and minimizing costs.
The robot’s key strength lies in its ability to address problems in real-time. Unlike traditional methods, which may involve human divers or bulky remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), this robot offers a more agile and adaptable solution. It can quickly assess situations and provide immediate feedback, allowing for faster decision-making and problem-solving during underwater operations.
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM.
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India’s recent issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a missile test in the Bay of Bengal has sparked speculation and interest in the defense community. Scheduled from March 26th to April 28th, 2024, with a designated area spanning 380 kilometers, the test has piqued curiosity regarding the nature and capabilities of the missile being tested. While speculation abounds, the specifics of the test remain shrouded in secrecy until its completion.
The issuance of a NOTAM for a missile test is not uncommon, especially for countries actively engaged in the development and testing of military hardware. In the case of India’s recent NOTAM, the designated area in the Bay of Bengal indicates that the test will likely involve the firing of a missile over a specified trajectory within the designated range.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
According to Kris Osborn, President of the Center for Military Modernization, the existence of Indian nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) holds significant value for the Pentagon’s Indo-Pacific strategy and overall deterrence posture in the region.
India’s Arihant-class submarines are the nation’s first indigenously developed SSBNs. While the exact number of operational Arihant submarines remains classified, their existence strengthens India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities and contributes to regional stability.
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