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SOURCE: AFI

In a rare treat for defense enthusiasts, the Indian Air Force (IAF) recently shared an image on its X platform (formerly Twitter) showcasing its fleet of Jaguar IM maritime strike fighters equipped with AGM-84L Harpoon anti-ship missiles. This image sent a wave of excitement through the defense community, highlighting the capabilities of this specialized unit.

The IAF operates 10 Jaguar IM aircraft within its No. 6 Squadron, specifically dedicated to maritime strike missions. These jets have undergone significant upgrades over the years, receiving IAI ELta’s EL/M-2032 radar and improved electronic defense systems. Prior to the integration of the Harpoon missiles, the Jaguar IMs carried Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles.

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SOURCE: PTI

The Indian Air Force will display its full spectrum of combat and fire capabilities during Exercise Vayu Shakti-2024 at the Pokharan range close to the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan on February 17. Fighter jet Rafale, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand and Apache attack helicopters will be among the assets taking part in the exercise for the first time, Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal A P Singh told reporters here.

The triennial exercise will take place for 2.15 hours during the day, dusk and night, he said.

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SOURCE: PTI

The Indian Navy foiled a piracy attempt on an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel with a crew of 11 Iranian and eight Pakistani nationals along the east coast of Somalia, in the latest in a series of such rescue missions in the region.

Indian warship INS Sharda came to the rescue of FV Omaril after seven pirates boarded it and took the crew as hostages, officials said on Friday. The warship, deployed for an anti-piracy mission in the region, was diverted to intercept the boat after the Indian Navy’s remotely piloted aircraft, undertaking surveillance in the area, successfully located FV Omari, they said.

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SOURCE: IANS

From organising trips to India to hiring community volunteers, the UK’s main opposition Labour Party has announced a series of measures to win back the support of the British Indian community, which has been on the wane in recent years.

Nearly two-thirds of British Indians, who form the second-largest immigrant group in the UK, and the largest minority-ethnic group, supported Labour for years, The Guardian reported. But the numbers fell sharply with a UK-based think-tank showing that in 2019 only 30 per cent voted for the Keir Starmer-led party, in stark contrast to 61 per cent in 2010.

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SOURCE: PTI

Indian Navy units are being deployed in strategic waters in Djibouti, Gulf of Aden, East Coast of Somalia as well as in the North and Central Arabian Sea for protection of merchant vessels in view of the regional maritime security situation, the defence ministry said on Friday.

Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said in Lok Sabha the Navy deployed its units in the Gulf of Aden and East coast of Africa towards anti-piracy patrols since 2008 and a total of 3,440 ships and over 25,000 seafarers have been “safely escorted”.

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SOURCE: PTI

India has paid USD 32.89 million to the United Nations Regular Budget for 2024, joining the “honour roll” of 36 Member States who have paid their regular budget dues in full to the UN on time. The UN Committee on Contributions said that as of January 31 2024, 36 Member States have paid their regular budget assessments in full, within the 30 day due period specified in UN financial regulations.

India contributed 32.895 million dollars to the 2024 United Nations Regular Budget and made the payment on January 31, 2024.

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SOURCE: PTI

Women personnel are being appointed onboard warships and also as special naval air operation officers in the Indian Navy, the government said in Lok Sabha on Friday. Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said permanent commission is being granted to women officers in 12 arms and services of the Army in addition to the medical and dental corps as well as military nursing service.

He was replying to a question on the strength of women in the armed forces. Bhatt said the experimental scheme to induct women officers in all combat roles initiated by the Indian Air Force in 2015 was regularised in 2022 into a permanent one.

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SOURCE: PTI

A total of 403 incidents of death of Indian students abroad have been reported since 2018 due to various reasons including natural causes, accidents and medical conditions with Canada topping the list with 91 cases followed by 48 in the UK, the government informed Lok Sabha Friday.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the welfare of Indian students abroad is one of the foremost priorities for the government. “As per the information available with the ministry, 403 incidents of death of Indian students abroad have been reported since 2018 due to various reasons including natural causes, accidents and medical conditions,” he said.

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SOURCE: AFI

Security forces on Friday busted a terrorist hideout and seized a 51-mm mortar along with three shells and a pistol in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, officials said.

The hideout was unearthed during a joint search operation by police and Rashtriya Rifles in the Sangla area of Surankote, they said. No arrests have been made in connection with the recovery, which also included a pistol magazine and five rounds, they said.

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SOURCE: UNI

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday conducted raids at the premises of several Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) functionaries in connection with the LTTE- (a banned outfit)- inspired Arms seizure case and for their alleged links with LTTE sympathisers and receipt of foreign funds. NIA said the raids were held in six locations in Chennai, Trichy, Coimbatore, Sivaganga and Tenkasi districts. Several incriminating documents, books relating to banned terror outfit LTTE and electronic gadgets, including laptops, mobiles and sim/memory cards and pen drives were seized during the raids.

Searches were also conducted at NTK functionary YouTuber ‘Sattai’ Duraimurugan’s residence at Shanmuga Nagar, in Tiruchi and questioned his family members for nearly two hours as he was not present in the house.

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SOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM

The US State Department has approved India’s purchase of 31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones, marking a significant step in the country’s military modernization efforts. However, the hefty price tag of $3.99 billion raises questions about the cost-effectiveness of this acquisition.

At $120 million per unit, each drone is as expensive as a Rafale fighter jet and nearly three times the cost of India’s Tejas fighter. This has sparked debate within the defense community, with concerns regarding the value for money.

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SOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is gearing up for a new era of aerial warfare, setting its sights on armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to bolster its offensive capabilities. Air Chief Marshal VR Choudhary recently announced the IAF’s interest in acquiring larger UAV platforms capable of carrying out targeted strikes, marking a significant shift in the country’s defense strategy.

This move comes amid the IAF’s satisfaction with the domestic development of smaller drone technologies. “We are happy with the development of swarm drones and loitering ammunition by private sector companies,”. Several orders have already been placed for these agile and cost-effective options, ideal for reconnaissance, surveillance, and close-range attacks.

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SOURCE: AFI

India’s ambitious plans to co-develop the BrahMos-II Hypersonic Cruise missile with Russia have hit a roadblock, with both countries yet to finalize an agreement and timeline for the development of this cutting-edge missile system. Despite discussions between National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev last year, progress has been slow, and significant developments have yet to materialize.

The BrahMos-II project holds immense strategic significance for both India and Russia, representing a leap forward in hypersonic missile technology and bolstering the countries’ defense capabilities. In 2022, Atul Rane, the CEO of BrahMos Aerospace, expressed optimism about the BrahMos-II’s potential, highlighting its anticipated capabilities comparable to Russia’s Tsirkon (Zircon) missile, albeit with a slightly lower speed of Mach 6. This ambitious endeavor, however, comes with a price tag, as the BrahMos-II is expected to be more expensive than its predecessor, the BrahMos Cruise missile, which operates at Mach 3.

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SOURCE: AFI

The image has emerged that shows design of the Fleet Support Ships (FSS) that are currently under construction for the Indian Navy. These ships, which are being built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, represent a significant milestone in India’s shipbuilding industry and its pursuit of self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The FSS are large, multipurpose vessels that will provide logistical support to the Indian Navy’s fleet at sea. They will be able to refuel and rearm other ships, provide fresh water and provisions, and carry out repairs and maintenance. The first ship is expected to be delivered in 2026, with the remaining four ships to follow over the next few years.

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SOURCE: AFI

Tata Advanced Systems (TAS), a leading player in India’s aerospace and defense sector, is taking its manufacturing game to new heights through digitalization, streamlined processes, and cutting-edge technologies. This move positions them as a key player in the aerospace industry’s ongoing digital transformation.

TAS embraces lean manufacturing solutions like Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) and SAP S/4HANA, streamlining processes and boosting operational efficiency. This digitalization drive allows for better resource allocation, improved production control, and ultimately, faster turnaround times.

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