SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India is on the cusp of a landmark agreement in its aerospace ambitions, with the finalization of a deal for the development of a 6th generation jet engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program expected by July 2025. According to sources cited by the Indian Defence Research Wing (idrw.org), negotiations with three global aerospace giants—General Electric (GE) from the United States, Safran from France, and Rolls-Royce from the United Kingdom—have concluded, paving the way for a transformative partnership.
The deal, closely monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), encompasses a detailed roadmap for development, program costs, workshare, technology transfer (ToT), and intellectual property rights (IPR), signaling India’s determination to achieve self-reliance in advanced propulsion technology.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is poised to release a new tender for the acquisition of 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA), a long-pending program aimed at bolstering its combat capabilities, according to recent reports . However, in a notable development, the IAF has also expressed a keen interest in procuring a specific aircraft in limited numbers to address its immediate operational needs, potentially fast-tracking part of the acquisition process to bridge critical gaps in its fleet.
The IAF is grappling with a significant shortfall in its fighter squadron strength, currently standing at 31 squadrons against a sanctioned requirement of 42. This depletion is exacerbated by the impending retirement of aging fleets, including the Jaguar, Mirage 2000, and MiG-29 aircraft, with 10 squadrons expected to be phased out by 2037 .
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s premier aerospace and defence manufacturing company, has embarked on an ambitious initiative to develop an aerospace-grade 3D printer capable of producing critical components from titanium alloys and maraging alloy steel.
This cutting-edge project aims to significantly reduce the time required to manufacture high-performance parts for aircraft, streamlining production processes once aircraft designs are cleared for serial production. By integrating additive manufacturing into its workflow, HAL is poised to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen India’s indigenous capabilities in aerospace production, aligning with the nation’s “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), defense enthusiast Indranil Roy (@Indrani1_Roy) highlighted India’s remarkable progress in the development of precision-guided munitions, particularly gliding bombs, marking a significant evolution from its early challenges to today’s emerging capabilities.
India’s journey into indigenous precision-guided munitions began with the Sudarshan laser-guided bomb, which despite being a significant milestone at the time, faced a number of performance limitations. “The bomb would oscillate a lot after release,” noted Roy, referencing the stability issues that plagued Sudarshan. Engineers experimented with various damping mechanisms, but the weapon system struggled with both range and accuracy. While Sudarshan did not meet operational expectations, it laid crucial groundwork.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Air Force (IAF) faces a critical challenge in maintaining its strategic deterrence and operational effectiveness due to the absence of a dedicated bomber fleet and limited air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) capabilities. As regional security dynamics evolve, particularly with China’s growing military prowess, the IAF must address this gap to ensure credible deterrence and precision strike capabilities.
Unlike major powers such as the United States, Russia, and China, which maintain fleets of long-range strategic bombers, the IAF lacks a comparable platform. India’s current fighter aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, Mirage 2000, and Rafale, are multi-role jets with limited range and payload compared to dedicated bombers like China’s H-6 or Russia’s Tu-95. These fighters, while versatile, are not optimized for deep-penetration strikes or delivering large payloads over extended distances, critical for strategic missions against heavily defended targets.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
At the inaugural THE WEEK Defence Conclave 2025 held on April 17, 2025, at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), underscored the urgent need for India to significantly increase its research and development (R&D) spending to address emerging defense challenges. Speaking during a panel on ‘Future-Proofing India’s Defence,’ Dr. Kamat welcomed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent announcement to raise R&D allocation to 10% of the defense budget over the next five years but stressed that even this may not suffice to keep pace with global technological advancements.
India currently allocates approximately 5-6% of its ?6.21 lakh crore (around $75 billion) defense budget to R&D, significantly lower than global leaders like the United States (11-14%) and China (estimated 15-20%). Dr. Kamat argued that this gap hinders India’s ability to develop cutting-edge technologies critical for modern warfare, such as hypersonics, quantum computing, and directed energy weapons (DEWs). “We invest only 5% of our defense budget on R&D. This has to increase to 10-15% if we are to achieve our goals,” he said, echoing sentiments shared earlier at the 21st Subroto Mukerjee Seminar in January 2025.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a groundbreaking achievement for defense infrastructure, the Indian Army, in collaboration with Hyderabad-based deep-tech startup Simpliforge Creations and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, has constructed the world’s highest on-site 3D-printed structure—a protective military bunker—at an altitude of 11,000 feet in Leh, Ladakh. Completed in just 14 hours of printing time under Project PRABAL, this feat marks a monumental leap in rapid, resilient construction technology, showcasing India’s innovation prowess in extreme environments and bolstering its strategic preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Named PRABAL (Pioneering Rapid Additive Building in Adverse Landscapes), the initiative represents a pioneering effort to deploy advanced 3D printing technology for military infrastructure in high-altitude, low-oxygen (HALO) conditions. The bunker, designed to protect troops from harsh weather and potential threats, was constructed using a specialized robotic 3D printing system and a custom-engineered concrete mix tailored to withstand Ladakh’s sub-zero temperatures, low humidity, and high ultraviolet (UV) exposure. The structure’s form-optimized design, built with locally sourced materials like sand and aggregates, enhances its durability while reducing logistical dependencies.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft will take to skies in the United Arab Emirates for combat exercise ‘Desert Flag-10’, a multinational event beginning on Monday, an official said.
A contingent of the IAF has reached Al Dhafra Air Base for the exercise to be held from April 21 to May 8, the official added.Exercise Desert Flag, hosted by the UAE Air Force, has participating contingents from the Air Forces of Australia, Bahrain, France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, the UAE, the UK and the US.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
An unidentified object from the sky fell on the terrace of a house in the Umred taluka of Nagpur district in Maharashtra, triggering discussions of whether it was part of ‘space debris’.
For its part, Nagpur Rural Police said a large metal piece reportedly fell from the sky on the terrace slab of a house in the Kose layout at 4 am on Saturday. A forensic team of police is trying to identify the object, police said.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
A gurudwara in Canada’s Vancouver has been vandalised with pro-Khalistan graffiti, with its leaders blaming a small group of Sikh separatists for the act, according to a media report. The local police said it was investigating graffiti sprayed on Saturday at the Ross Street Gurdwara, Vancouver Sun reported. Vancouver Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison said Saturday that police are looking into the graffiti at the gurdwara, the newspaper said.
He said the police do not have a suspect. The Khalsa Diwan Society, which runs the Ross Street Gurdwara, blamed the vandalism on a small group of Sikh separatists advocating Khalistan.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted three more accused in the Neemrana hotel firing case, linked with Canada-based Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dala, the agency said on Sunday.
The NIA filed its second supplementary charge sheet on Saturday before the NIA Special Court, Jaipur, naming Dharmendra Singh, Gaurav and Deepak for conspiring with other accused to carry out the attack on Hotel Highway King in Neemrana in December 2024, the agency said in a statement.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
The Indian Navy’s Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR carried out a range of professional and cultural activities during its recent visit to Mozambique, the Navy said on Sunday. In a post on X, the Indian Navy shared details of the key activities carried out in Nacala. These included joint training sessions with the Mozambique Armed Forces on Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS), firefighting, damage control, and diving operations.
The Navy also said that medical camps were set up for local residents, along with a community outreach program at a local orphanage in Nacala.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
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Jailed radical preacher Amritpal Singh’s father Tarsem Singh on Sunday slammed the AAP-led Punjab government for extending his son’s detention under the National Security Act, alleging it wanted to keep the Khadoor Sahib MP behind bars as it considers him as a “threat” in the political space.
Tarsem’s reaction came after the Punjab government extended his detention under the NSA for another year. Amritpal (32) is lodged in Assam’s Dibrugarh jail. He detained under the NSA following his arrested on April 23, 2023.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
A soldier was killed on Sunday at Ladakh’s Siachen Glacier while performing duty at the world’s highest battlefield.The Defence Ministry said that Naib Subedar Baldev Singh made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty at the Siachen Glacier.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Army’s Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps paid rich tribute to the fallen soldier. “GOC, Fire and Fury Corps and All Ranks salute Naib Subedar Baldev Singh, who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in #SiachenGlacier on 20 Apr 2025 and offer deep condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” Fire and Fury Corps said in a post on X.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
A total of 16 members of several proscribed outfits have been arrested in the last 48 hours in Manipur, the police said on Sunday. Two cadres of the banned United National Liberation Front (Pambei) were arrested from Napetpalli Andro road near Nongdam village in Imphal East district on Saturday. They were allegedly involved in extortion, a senior officer said.
Security forces arrested one member of the outlawed Kangleipak Communist Party (Taibanganba) from Ningthoukhong Ward No 13 in Bishnupur district on Friday, he said.
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