SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) have emerged as the leading contenders to spearhead the production of India’s ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), the country’s indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter, according to sources cited by idrw.org.
A recent pre-bid meeting highlighted the two firms’ strong credentials, with TASL leveraging its experience in aircraft manufacturing and L&T bringing its engineering expertise and involvement in the Tejas Mk-1A program. While it remains unclear whether TASL and L&T will form a consortium to jointly execute the AMCA program or compete for separate contracts, their prominence signals a significant role for India’s private sector in this flagship defence project, aligning with the “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a significant development for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, Japan has offered its advanced IHI XF9-1 low-bypass afterburning turbofan engine for co-development and potential local production, as first reported by Indian Defence Research Wing (idrw.org). Sources have now informed idrw.org that Japan has invited a team from India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) to review the XF9-1 engine and prepare a technical report, paving the way for deeper discussions between the two nations.
However, Japan’s commitment to the European 6th-generation Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) alongside the UK and Italy raises questions about its willingness to fully develop the XF9-1 for India. With competing offers from France’s Safran and the UK’s Rolls-Royce, and India aiming to finalize an engine deal by the end of 2025, the AMCA program faces a critical juncture in selecting a propulsion partner to power its 5.5-generation stealth fighter.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s indigenous Zorawar Light Tank, a pivotal asset in the Indian Army’s modernization drive, is set to incorporate the advanced Trophy Active Protection System (APS) to counter modern battlefield threats. According to sources cited by idrw.org, the prototype of the Zorawar is gearing up for Army user trials in 2025, with the initial batch of 59 tanks—produced by Larsen & Toubro (L&T)—slated to feature this cutting-edge Israeli-developed system. This development comes as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) continues work on its own indigenous APS, which remains under development and is not yet ready for deployment.
The Zorawar, a 25-tonne light tank designed for high-altitude operations, has been developed by DRDO’s Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) in collaboration with L&T to address operational challenges along India’s northern borders, particularly in Ladakh. With the Indian Army planning to procure 350 units in the long term, the first batch of 59 tanks represents a critical step toward enhancing combat readiness against adversaries like China, which has deployed its Type 15 light tanks in the region. Integrating the Trophy APS into this initial batch underscores India’s urgency to equip its armoured forces with proven, off-the-shelf solutions while Indigenous alternatives mature.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a notable development in India’s defence manufacturing landscape, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has quietly removed all references to the F-21 fighter aircraft from its official website. The F-21, offered by Lockheed Martin as a customized variant of the F-16 for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) deal, had long been part of TASL’s partnership with the American aerospace giant. The removal now signals a possible shift in focus and strategic alignment for the Indian defence firm.
The change comes just weeks after French aerospace major Dassault Aviation awarded a significant contract to TASL to manufacture the full fuselage of the Rafale fighter jet in India. This move not only enhances Tata’s role in the Rafale’s global production ecosystem but also signals growing synergy between the Indian private sector and France’s flagship fighter program, especially as India considers further Rafale acquisitions for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Indian defence analyst Saurav Jha has raised alarms about a potential new threat from the Sino-Pak axis, suggesting that China and Pakistan may be developing high-altitude swarm drones designed to outmaneuver India’s air defence systems. According to Jha, these drones could fly beyond the reach of conventional anti-aircraft guns like the L70, aiming to exhaust India’s air defence (AD) missile stockpiles before launching cruise missiles (CMs) and ballistic missiles (BMs). This evolving tactic underscores the growing complexity of aerial threats facing India and the urgent need to bolster its multi-layered air defence architecture.
Swarm drones—small, coordinated unmanned aerial systems (UAS)—have emerged as a disruptive force in modern warfare due to their low cost, versatility, and ability to overwhelm traditional defences. Jha’s warning highlights a sophisticated twist: the Sino-Pak axis may be adapting these drones to operate at higher altitudes, potentially above 5,000–10,000 feet, where legacy air defence guns like the Indian Army’s L70 (with an effective range of around 3,500 meters against aerial targets) become ineffective. By staying out of reach of such guns, these drones could force India to rely on costly surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) to counter them, depleting missile reserves and creating vulnerabilities for follow-on attacks by cruise and ballistic missiles.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
India’s withdrawal from the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program, also known as the Perspective Multi-role Fighter (PMF) project with Russia, marked a significant turning point in the country’s defence aviation roadmap.
Once touted as a major collaboration between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau to jointly develop a stealth fighter based on the Su-57 platform, the project has since been quietly shelved on the Indian side. Now, as discussions on fifth-generation capabilities re-emerge, there is growing curiosity about whether India could—or should—rejoin the program. However, history and unresolved issues suggest it may not be a viable option.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
A British Royal Navy F-35 stealth fighter jet, which made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport nearly a month ago, is currently undergoing highly classified repairs under tight security. The operation, shrouded in secrecy, has seen heavily armed British military personnel take full control of the repair process, with Indian security forces now restricted to maintaining a perimeter at a distance. The aircraft, initially stationed at Bay No. 4 for 22 days, has been relocated to Air India’s Hangar 2, which has been completely sealed off to ensure the confidentiality of the F-35’s advanced technology.
The F-35, a cutting-edge stealth fighter known for its advanced avionics and stealth capabilities, was forced to make an unscheduled landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport due to technical malfunctions. Sources familiar with the situation indicate that the jet experienced issues with its hydraulic system and auxiliary power unit (APU), critical components for its operation. The exact cause of the malfunction remains under investigation, with a team of British technical experts working to diagnose and repair the aircraft.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the Brahmos missile proved instrumental in Operation Sindoor and since then, more than a dozen countries have expressed interest in it. Singh said this at an event in Lucknow where he unveiled a statue of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Chandra Bhanu Gupta at the National PG College and released a postage stamp in tribute to him.
“Just a few days ago, I inaugurated a Brahmos airspace integration and testing facility in Lucknow. You must have seen that in Operation Sindoor, Brahmos missile has done a miraculous job and not only this, after the miracle shown by Brahmos missile, about 14-15 countries have demanded Brahmos missile from India,” Singh said.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Tibet-related issues, including reincarnation of the Dalai Lama are a “thorn” in India-China bilateral relations and they have become a “burden” for New Delhi, the Chinese embassy said on Sunday.
The remarks came ahead of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to China to attend a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). It would be Jaishankar’s first visit to China after the ties between the two countries came under severe strain following the 2020 military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s highlighting of the foreign media’s bias against India’s interests points to a larger issue: modern warfare is no longer confined to missiles and drones; it is now also about the information battle.
India did a marvellous job through Operation Sindoor, which, in recent memory, few operations have demonstrated such precision, with targeted strikes on Pakistani military assets and no harm to civilians or civilian infrastructure. This operation exemplified a new-age war strategy where building the right narrative is as vital as hitting the right target.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
India looks full of ambition, fearless, confident and full of pride from space, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla said on Sunday.
“Even today, Bharat looks ‘saare jahan se accha’ from above,” Shukla said reprising the iconic words of India’s first astronaut Rakesh Sharma in 1984. Shubhanshu Shukla was speaking at a farewell ceremony for Axiom-4 mission astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) who are set to begin their return journey to Earth on Monday.
Continue readingSOURCE: REUTERS
The US Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing have privately issued notifications that the fuel switch locks on Boeing planes are safe, with the FAA saying they are safe, a document seen by Reuters showed, and four sources with knowledge of the matter said.
The FAA’s Continued Airworthiness Notification on July 11 came after a preliminary report on Friday into last month’s Boeing 787-8 crash, which killed 260 people, raised questions over engine fuel cutoff switches.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, on Sunday visited the Army’s Bhimber Gali Brigade in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch to review “current operational dynamics and preparedness.”
He was accompanied by GOC White Night Corps Lieutenant General P. K Mishra and GOC Ace of Spades Major General Kaushik Mukherjee. According to the Northern Command official handle X, “The visit focused on assessing force effectiveness and threat response mechanisms in place to ensure complete domination of operational space.”
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Manipur’s ethnic insurgent groups from both the Meitei and Kuki communities are modifying weapons, many of them looted from police armouries in 2023, and converting them into makeshift sniper rifles to increase their range and lethality, officials said on Sunday.
They said the weapons have been converted into makeshift sniper rifles to target opposing communities. Among over 6,000 weapons looted from police armouries were .303 rifles, AK assault rifles and INSAS rifles and carbines.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said on Sunday that although the Constitution of the country guarantees freedom of expression, it does not mean those glorifying terrorism through speeches and statements can go scot-free.
Addressing a gathering at Baramulla town where he handed over government job orders to victims of terrorism, L-G Sinha said, “Although the Constitution of the country guarantees freedom of expression, it does not mean that those glorifying terrorism through their speeches and statements can go scot free.
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