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Monthly Archives: August 2024

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) is set to make a significant stride in India’s defence manufacturing sector with the planned rollout of its first Grob G 180 aircraft by 2026. This twin-engine, high-altitude aircraft will be customized to serve as an Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) platform, a critical asset for modern militaries.

In a strategic move, the Tata Group acquired the intellectual property rights in 2021 for the German-origin Grob G 180 SPn, a platform that never reached full-scale production. TASL plans to leverage this foundation to develop and manufacture an indigenous military aircraft tailored to Indian requirements.

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SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

After rigorous internal trials spanning nearly three years, the Indian Army is poised to place a substantial order for the indigenously developed Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8×8. Reports suggest the order could be in the hundreds.

Developed jointly by DRDO and Tata Advanced Systems, the WhAP 8×8 is a versatile platform with amphibious capabilities, making it suitable for a wide range of operational scenarios. The Army has already inducted a smaller batch of Infantry Protected Mobility Vehicles (IPMVs), a stripped-down version of the WhAP without amphibious features. However, the platform’s full potential has been extensively evaluated through testing of a dedicated WhAP 8×8 prototype.  

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SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

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Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is gearing up to significantly enhance its manufacturing capabilities through substantial investments in automation technology. This strategic move is aimed at reducing the acquisition cost of future fighter jets, particularly the upcoming Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

The Indian Ministry of Defence is concurrently engaged in discussions with a private sector company to integrate it into the final assembly line of the AMCA, scheduled to commence production in 2033-34. This collaboration marks a significant step towards leveraging private sector expertise in the aerospace domain.

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Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace, the Bengaluru-based startup, has achieved a significant milestone in the development of its indigenous military-grade bomber UAV, the FWD-200B. The company has successfully completed both low and high-speed taxi trials of the aircraft at the DRDO Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga. This brings the UAV closer to its maiden flight, which is expected to take place soon.

Earlier this year, in March, the company unveiled a scaled mock-up of the FWD-200B, which drew attention for its peculiar round-shaped design fuselage and extremely small landing gears . However, this initial model was a cardboard mockup. The UAV is now in its physical form and has undergone ground testing to assess its performance and systems before taking to the skies.

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On Monday, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, granted approval for the scheduled refit of the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, set to occur later this year.

The refit aims to maintain and enhance the operational capabilities of the INS Vikramaditya, a vital component of the Indian Navy. This initiative reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to sustaining a powerful and modern naval fleet. The refit will involve extensive maintenance and updates to the carrier’s systems and technology.

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SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO of Adani Defence & Aerospace, has announced the company’s intention to participate in an upcoming tender issued by the Indian defence forces. The tender seeks to acquire 97 ‘Made-in-India’ drones for surveillance operations along the borders with China and Pakistan. Adani Defence will offer the Hermes-900 drone, also known as the Drishti-10 Male drone, for this significant procurement.

The Drishti-10 Male drone has already proven its capabilities, with the Indian Army and Indian Navy each acquiring two units for benchmarking and further testing. These drones are expected to play a crucial role in enhancing surveillance and intelligence-gathering capabilities in strategically sensitive regions.

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SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The Indian Navy is poised for significant expansion with the anticipated clearance from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the development of a second aircraft carrier. This new vessel, modelled after the indigenously built INS Vikrant (displacement over 44,000 tons), will bolster the Navy’s capabilities in safeguarding India’s maritime interests.

However, the Navy’s ambitions extend beyond the second carrier. Discussions are ongoing regarding the development of a third, even larger carrier, boasting a displacement exceeding 65,000 tons. This potential addition to the fleet underscores India’s strategic vision for a robust naval presence in the region.

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SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

India’s indigenously developed Zorawar Light Tank is gearing up for a series of stringent trials to assess its capabilities in diverse terrains and combat scenarios. The tank, currently housed at L&T’s Hazira facility, will initially be transported to the Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE) in Avadi for comprehensive testing of its primary 105mm gun.

Subsequently, the Zorawar will be moved to Chandigarh for onward transportation to the Mahe Field Firing Range (MFFR) at Nyoma, strategically located near the India-China Line of Actual Control. This location will serve as the proving ground for the tank’s performance in high-altitude, challenging conditions during the upcoming winter trials.

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In a significant development, Brazil has expressed keen interest in acquiring India’s indigenously developed Akash missile system. Brazilian Delegation already has witnessed live Demonstration of the India’s Akash Missile System in India and soon it will be asking India to send Financial bid for India’s Akash Missile System.

This comes on the heels of India’s successful export of the Akash to Armenia in a substantial ?6,000 crore deal. The Akash, a surface-to-air missile system, has garnered global attention for its advanced capabilities and proven effectiveness. Its ability to intercept multiple aerial targets simultaneously has made it a sought-after defense asset.  

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Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is keen on expanding its footprint in India by establishing a passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion facility and an engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center. The company is in advanced discussions with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and another undisclosed Indian firm to set up the P2F conversion facility within the next two years.

IAI envisions India as a strategic location for these operations due to the burgeoning demand for air cargo services globally. The company highlights the potential of converting wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 777 into freighters, which can carry up to 100 tons of cargo. This capacity surpasses the current limitations of twin-engine wide-body freighters, which typically handle around 60 tons.

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SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

DRDO’s Stealth Wing Flying Testbed (SWiFT) is undergoing a significant redesign as India pushes the boundaries of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology. The latest iteration of the SWiFT, a crucial stepping stone to the larger Ghatak UCAV, features a dramatic departure from its predecessor. The most noticeable changes are in the aircraft’s rear exhaust and air intake systems.

The latest iteration of SWiFT showcases dramatic changes in its aerodynamic profile. The most prominent alterations are in the exhaust and inlet designs. The earlier rounded and hooded rear exhaust has been replaced with a radical new design, expected to enhance stealth characteristics. Similarly, the tridiagonal engine inlet has been transformed into a U-shaped intake, repositioned towards the middle of the fuselage.

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SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has initiated a critical process to identify a production partner for the next-generation Virupaksha radar. This cutting-edge system is set to revolutionize the capabilities of India’s Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets, replacing the currently used Russian-made NIIP N011M Bars (Panther) radar.

The Virupaksha radar represents a significant leap in indigenous defence technology. It builds upon the success of the Uttam Mk2 AESA Fire Control Radar (FCR) developed for the Tejas MkII program. This upscaled variant boasts a larger AESA antenna with an increased number of transmit-receive modules (T/R Modules) – estimated to be between 1200 and 1400, compared to the Uttam Mk2’s 900+. This translates to enhanced capabilities in simultaneously searching, detecting, tracking, and engaging multiple air and surface targets.

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SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The Indian Navy is on the cusp of a technological leap with its ambitious plans to integrate uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) into its submarine fleet. These autonomous underwater drones, capable of launching from and recovering via torpedo tubes, will significantly enhance the Navy’s underwater capabilities.

In a parallel development, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has embarked on an equally groundbreaking project – the development of an underwater-launched unmanned aerial vehicle (ULUAV). This novel concept, in collaboration with a Pune-based defence startup, aims to create a drone that can be deployed from a submarine to conduct aerial missions.

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The first delivery of the indigenous Tejas Mk1A fighter jet to the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been delayed due to extensive software upgrades and testing requirements. Sources close to idrw.org, revealed that the IAF requested early onboard testing of the upgraded software, originally planned for a later stage. This, combined with the final software testing and planned ordnance delivery tests, has pushed back the delivery by several months.

When queried about reported issues with the ELTS’s ELM-2052 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and Electronic Warfare (EW) system, sources assured idrw.org that the concerns were minor. They are being addressed through software improvements and optimizations of the Digital Flight Control Computer (DFCC) and related software, rather than any hardware or backend process issues.

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In a significant development in South Asian defense dynamics, Pakistan’s plans to acquire Chinese stealth fighter jets, potentially the FC-31, have raised questions about regional military balances. However, a senior Indian Air Force (IAF) officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity to idrw.org, asserted that this move would not force India to alter its own plans for procuring domestically made fighter jets.

Earlier this year, the Chief of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) revealed intentions to acquire fifth-generation fighter jets from either China or Turkey. This acquisition is part of a strategy to modernize the PAF by replacing its aging fleet of F-16s. The potential procurement of advanced stealth fighters like the Chinese FC-31 represents Pakistan’s commitment to bolstering its air capabilities amidst regional security challenges.

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