SOURCE: PTI

The police’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested two Bangladeshi nationals from Maharashtra’s Navi Mumbai township for allegedly staying in India illegally, an official said on Sunday. The two persons, both aged 24, were apprehended on Friday from Khidukpada village at Nadve in Panvel, the official from cyber police station said.

An ATS team, during an inspection of the Khidukpada locality, found the two persons residing in a chawl (row tenement). During questioning, they failed to furnish any valid documents for their entry into the country, he said.

SOURCE: AFI WITH IDRW.ORG

The Indian Army has received crucial approval for the procurement of 155mm/52 Cal Towed Gun Systems (TGS) along with Gun Towing Vehicles. This development, under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, aims to modernize artillery capabilities and enhance fire support for troops.

key specifications of the upcoming 155 mm/52 Cal Towed Gun System (TGS) along with Gun Towing Vehicles.

SOURCE: AFI

India’s ambitious Tapas BH-201 drone project, designed for long-range surveillance, hit a snag when it fell short of the military’s stringent specifications. However, defying closure, the project is undergoing a remarkable shift – aiming to salvage and certify the drone for limited but viable capabilities.

Originally envisioned as a ‘Mission Mode’ project demanding strict adherence to specific operational needs, the Tapas BH-201 fell short in terms of altitude and endurance. This resulted in its demotion from the high-priority status in September 2023.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has signed a significant contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the procurement of Light Weight Man Portable modern communication sets. This marks a major step towards modernizing the IAF’s communication network and boosting its operational efficiency.

The key feature of these communication sets is their Indigenous Software Designed Radio (SDR) technology. Unlike traditional analog radios, SDRs utilize software to define their functionalities, making them more flexible, adaptable, and secure. This allows for:

SOURCE: ANI

The Russian ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, on Saturday called for urgent reforms of the United Nations and agencies under it while making a strong case for the inclusion of India as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

“We are of the view that India as a permanent member of the Security Council could make a significant contribution to promoting balance as well as an agenda focused on the interests of the world majority, primarily the countries of the Global South,” the Russian envoy said.

SOURCE: UNI

In a bid to strengthen India’s defence and aerospace manufacturing, Jindal Stainless, India’s largest stainless steel manufacturer here on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Technology Centre, Visakhapatnam for manufacturing value-added products for the missile and satellite launch vehicle segments. The aim of the MoU is to capitalize on Jindal Stainless’ expertise in strategic material supply and the manufacturing capabilities of the MSME Technology Centre.

It is also aimed at encouraging and supporting the local MSMEs by partnering with them for the production orders. The products resulting from this MoU will find application in various components, such as motor casings, missile wings, missile launcher structures and rocket motor boosters.

SOURCE: PTI

The Indian space sector is changing from a “closed” and “secretive” society to an open one and the objective behind it is to turn it into an economic or business activity instead of government programme, ISRO Chairman S Somanath said here on Saturday.

The change in mindset has been influenced by how space-related activities in countries like the USA have been turned into an economic activity, Somnath said while speaking at the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL) 2024 being held at Kanakakunnu Palace here.

SOURCE: ANI

The Russian envoy to India, Denis Alipov, said on Saturday while his country remains New Delhi’s “reliable and time-tested friend”, the US is trying to threaten the relationship with sanctions. “In India, Russia enjoys a solid reputation as a reliable, sincere, well-intentioned, time-tested friend. Such an image was initially shaped due to the major contribution of the USSR to Indian socio-economic development, and it largely persists to this day,” he said.

In an interview with the RT news agency, the Russian envoy added, “US officials who come here do not hesitate to directly state that they are pursuing the goal of tearing New Delhi away from Moscow. They are even making threats with secondary sanctions. Some Indian partners are forced to exercise caution, sometimes, frankly speaking, excessively, but there are also a significant number of those for whom such an approach is unacceptable.”

SOURCE: PTI

India’s ambitious plans to have its own space station by 2035 and have an Indian astronaut on the moon by 2040 are progressing on track, Project Director of ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, P Veeramuthuvel said on Saturday.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ISRO chairman have already said that by 2040 we should have an Indian astronaut on the moon and also to have our space station by 2035. These are very ambitious plans that ISRO has taken up and we are working towards that,” he told news agency PTI here.

SOURCE: ANI

Crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his commitment to strengthening the India-Australia partnership, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that New Delhi-Canberra is the most consequential relationship in the Indian Ocean. Emphasising that it took India 20 years since independence for the first Prime Ministerial visit to Australia, Jaishankar said that the current PM Albanese held seven meetings with PM Modi so far.

The EAM was interacting with the Indian diaspora in Australia at an event in Perth on Saturday. Taking to social media platform X, he said, “Addressed the Indian community in Perth today. Grateful for their contribution in strengthening the India-Australia Dosti.” Addressing the event, Jaishankar said, “I have been foreign minister for five years, and this is my fifth visit to Australia.

SOURCE: PTI

Officers and soldiers of the Indian Army were felicitated with gallantry and distinguished service awards for their acts of bravery on Saturday at the Eastern Command Investiture Ceremony, a Defence official said.

The programme was held at Bengdubi Military Station near Siliguri city in the northern part of West Bengal. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, Lieutenant General Ram Chander Tiwari presented medals to 26 awardees – including 20 Sena Medals (gallantry), two Bar to Sena Medal (distinguished) and four Vishisht Seva Medals.

SOURCE: ANI

The Border Security Force (BSF) shot down another China-made drone near the India-Pakistan International Border in Punjab’s Gurdaspur, the force said on Saturday. The quadcopter drone entering Indian territory from Pakistan was intercepted during its movement on the border near Rossey village in Gurdaspur district and shot down by the BSF troops in the night hours on Friday.

As per the BSF, the troops, with a quick reflex, fired at the drone and successfully shot it down soon after its interception.

SOURCE: ANI

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday carried out raids at 15 locations across Jammu and Kashmir and seized ? 20 lakh as part of its crackdown on the proscribed Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in a terror funding case.

The anti-terror agency teams in close coordination with the Central and State security forces swooped down on the premises of various suspects at five locations in Srinagar, three in Budgam, two in Kulgam, four in Jammu and one in Anantnag districts of the Union Territory.

SOURCE: AFI WITH IDRW.ORG

The dream of indigenous micro gas turbine (MGT) engines for Indian drones and missiles faces a critical hurdle – the turbine itself. EDITH Defence Systems, a private Indian player in the race, highlights the challenges and frustrations in achieving this ambitious goal.

While several Indian companies, including Kalyani, Poeirjets, and EDITH, are pursuing MGT engine development, a common obstacle emerges: the turbine. This heart of the engine requires specialized manufacturing techniques and materials, particularly investment casting of Inconel, a high-performance alloy.

SOURCE: AFI

The Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC) has taken a significant step towards strengthening the security of Port Blair with the inauguration of the Integrated Underwater Harbour Defence and Surveillance System (IUHDSS) by Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS). This advanced system marks a major boost to the harbor’s defense capabilities, enhancing its ability to detect and identify both underwater and surface threats.

IUHDSS is a state-of-the-art, multi-sensor system that utilizes a network of radars, sonar equipment, and electro-optical sensors to create a comprehensive picture of the maritime environment surrounding Port Blair. This allows the Indian Navy to: