SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, a rising star in India’s private defense sector and a subsidiary of Solar Industries, has announced the development of two innovative mine systems—Tandav and Bhoomastra—designed specifically for the Indian Army. The company revealed that these mines, created on its own initiative, will be offered in response to an upcoming Request for Information (RFI) from the Army for advanced mine technologies.
Solar Defence’s decision to develop Tandav and Bhoomastra suo moto—without an initial Army contract—highlights its strategic foresight and confidence in meeting the military’s evolving needs. While detailed specifications remain undisclosed, the evocative names suggest formidable capabilities: Tandav, invoking the destructive dance of Lord Shiva, and Bhoomastra, implying a powerful earth-based weapon. These systems are poised to address the Indian Army’s demand for modern, smart mines capable of bolstering both defensive and offensive operations along its borders, particularly in high-threat zones like the Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In a groundbreaking advancement for soldier safety, the Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE) in Kanpur, a unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has unveiled two specialized types of boots designed to protect India’s armed forces in some of the most perilous environments. Announced on March 28, 2025, these boots—one engineered to withstand landmine explosions and the other to shield against sharp spikes and hazards in dense forests—represent three years of rigorous research and innovation by DMSRDE scientists.
The first variant, tailored for troops operating in landmine-prone areas, is a marvel of engineering designed to counter the devastating impact of explosions. Capable of protecting soldiers from landmines with an explosive weight of up to 125 kg, these boots mitigate the extreme pressure generated during a blast—approximately 42,000 kg per square centimeter—by a factor of 160. This reduction ensures that the force transmitted to the soldier’s feet and legs is minimized, significantly enhancing survival rates and reducing injury severity.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a strategic move to counter China’s expanding naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), India is set to commission a new naval base for nuclear submarines and warships in coastal Andhra Pradesh by 2026. The base, located near the small village of Rambilli, approximately 50 km south of the Eastern Naval Command headquarters in Visakhapatnam, is part of India’s broader effort to strengthen its maritime capabilities.
This development, reported by The Times of India on April 7, 2025, coincides with ongoing upgrades to the Karwar naval base in Karnataka, signaling India’s intent to enhance both its eastern and western seaboards amid growing regional security challenges.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a significant boost to India’s aerospace and defense sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has acquired a 7.4 lakh square foot plot in Karnataka’s Vemgal Industrial Area to establish a state-of-the-art aircraft manufacturing facility. The deal, valued at ?29.34 crore, was finalized with the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) under a lease-cum-sale agreement registered on February 24, 2025. The facility, which will include a final assembly line as well as Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities, marks a pivotal step toward enhancing India’s self-reliance in defense manufacturing while aligning with the government’s “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives.
The Vemgal Industrial Area, located along the Kolar-Chikkaballapur Road (SH-96) in Karnataka’s Kolar district, is approximately 10 km from the Narasapura and Jakkasandra industrial zones and about 38 km from Bengaluru. Spanning 666 acres, this industrial hub has become a preferred destination for high-value manufacturing, particularly in the aerospace and defense sectors. Bengaluru, often dubbed India’s aerospace capital, already hosts a thriving ecosystem of aviation and defense technology firms, making it an ideal location for TASL’s new venture.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Odisha is steadily cementing its reputation as an industrially rich state, with a transformative project set to elevate its economic landscape. The Odisha government has greenlit the establishment of a titanium complex in Ganjam district, backed by an impressive investment of Rs 8000 crore. This ambitious initiative promises not only to generate significant employment opportunities but also to inject fresh momentum into the local economy, marking a pivotal step toward the state’s industrial and technological advancement.
The titanium complex is a flagship project under the Indo-Kazakh joint venture company (JVC), IREUK Titanium Limited, a collaboration between the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India, and Kazakhstan’s Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium and Magnesium Plant JSC (UKTMP JSC). This partnership, formalized in November 2024, leverages the strengths of both nations to create a robust titanium value chain within India. IREL (India) Limited, a central public sector undertaking under the DAE, will supply surplus ilmenite from its Odisha operations, while UKTMP JSC brings its globally recognized expertise in titanium production, including technology for manufacturing titanium slag.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a provocative statement published on April 7, 2025, in The Express Tribune, Air Commodore (Retd) Zahid Ul Hassan of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has claimed that the PAF is set to maintain a qualitative edge over the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the next 10 to 15 years. Hassan’s analysis hinges on the PAF’s ongoing efforts to fully operationalize its 5th generation platforms, while the IAF grapples with a strategic dilemma between pursuing self-reliance and opting for direct acquisitions.
This development, coupled with Pakistan’s focus on co-producing and acquiring 5th generation aircraft equipped with long-range stand-off weapons and first-shot capabilities, is likely to create significant challenges for the IAF, especially as China advances toward 6th generation aircraft for its air force.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Taiwan marked a significant milestone in its defense strategy as its first domestically built submarine, the Hai Kun (SS-711), commenced sea trials, a development reported by Army Recognition. The submarine, constructed by the state-backed CSBC Corporation, is a cornerstone of Taiwan’s Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) program, aimed at strengthening its naval capabilities amid escalating tensions with China.
The Hai Kun’s trials, which began as scheduled despite earlier funding challenges, underscore Taiwan’s determination to counter the growing threat of a Chinese invasion, particularly as the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) intensifies its activities in the region.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
The Pakistani Army violated the ceasefire on Monday on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, and the Indian Army retaliated befittingly, officials said. “Pakistani Army violated bilateral ceasefire on the LoC today in Digwar sector of Poonch district. Indian Army retaliated befittingly,” officials said.
A search operation has been launched in the area to ensure that no infiltration took place in the area under the cover of Pakistani Army firing. On April 1, the Pakistani Army violated the ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked firing after a mine explosion along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch district. The Indian troops responded effectively in a “controlled and calibrated manner, said the Army in a statement.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
On the second day of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, another separatist leader quit the Hurriyat conference, pledging his loyalty to the country’s Constitution. The Union Home Minister will arrive in Kashmir in the afternoon after completing his visit to the Jammu division. As Amit Shah prepares to visit the Valley, another separatist leader quit the Hurriyat Conference after pledging his loyalty to the country.
Bashir Ahmad Andrabi, head of Kashmir Freedom Front (KFF), announced his complete dissociation with the separatist politics of Hurriyat Conference and pledged his loyalty to the Constitution.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFP
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday rejected direct negotiations with the United States as “meaningless”, after US President Donald Trump said he would prefer direct talks with the Islamic Republic.
Trump had called last month on Tehran to hold negotiations on its nuclear programme with Washington, but threatened to bomb Iran if diplomacy fails. On Thursday, the US president said he would prefer to hold “direct talks” with Iran.
Continue readingSOURCE: REUTERS
India does not plan to retaliate against US President Donald Trump’s 26% tariff on imports from the Asian nation, an Indian government official said, citing ongoing talks for a deal between the countries.
PM Narendra Modi’s administration has looked into a clause of Trump’s tariff order that offers a possible reprieve for trading partners who “ake significant steps to remedy non-reciprocal trade arrangements”, said the official, who declined to be named as the details of the talks are confidential.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, currently on a three-day tour of Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday, visited a forward post of Border Security Force (BSF) along the India-Pakistan border in Kathua district, where a massive operation against Pakistani terrorists is underway for the past fortnight, officials said. Shah flew in a helicopter to the Hiranagar sector of Kathua from Jammu around noon and was later escorted to BSF Outpost ‘Vinay’ to assess the ground situation, they said.
BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chaudhary, J&K Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat and other senior officers, including Inspector General of BSF, Jammu Frontier, Shashank Anand, and Inspector General of Police, Jammu zone, Bhim Sen Tuti received the home minister, the officials said. Shah reached Jammu Sunday evening and held a closed-door meeting with BJP MLAs and office-bearers.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
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Indian Navy’s stealth frigate INS Tarkash participated in a Passex with the Royal New Zealand Navy’s Anzac-class frigate Te Kaha in the Gulf of Aden on April 4.
The Passex involved a range of interoperability drills, including cross-deck landings, cross-boarding, Sea Rider exchanges, and tactical manoeuvres, all integrated with communication procedure exercises, according to the official release.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ) on Monday said it has commenced operations at the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) in Sri Lanka. The CWIT project represents a significant investment of $800 million and features a 1,400-metre quay length and 20-metre depth, enabling the terminal to handle approximately 3.2 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually.
It is the first deep-water terminal in Colombo to be fully automated, designed to enhance cargo handling capabilities, improve vessel turnaround times and elevate the port’s status as a key transshipment hub in South Asia, Adani Ports said in a statement.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of UAE will be on a two-day visit to India starting Tuesday at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced Monday.
This would be Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s first official visit to India as the Crown Prince of Dubai and he will be accompanied by several ministers, senior government officials and a high-level business delegation.
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