Monthly Archives: October 2024
SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Air Marshal A.P. Singh has been appointed as the new Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) of the Indian Air Force (IAF), succeeding Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari. This leadership change has sparked speculation about potential shifts in IAF priorities, particularly concerning the long-stalled Medium Range Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) procurement program.
Air Marshal Singh’s close association with the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program raises expectations for increased focus on this indigenous fighter jet. His prior experience as project director for flight testing of the Tejas Mk-1 at the National Flight Test Centre suggests a deep understanding of the program’s potential. This could lead to renewed efforts to expedite the Tejas’ integration into the IAF’s operational fleet.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is pushing the boundaries of missile technology with the proposed Hypersonic Missile Development Program under Project Vishnu. As part of this initiative, DRDO has set its sights on developing two long-range hypersonic missile systems. One of the most anticipated outcomes is the creation of the Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM), designed to revolutionize India’s strike capabilities and offer a formidable deterrent.
The Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM) will have a range of 1,000 km, and DRDO aims for it to enter production by the late 2020s. Unlike traditional cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, making them nearly impossible to intercept. According to recent developments, DRDO is working to outpace Russia’s 3M22 Zircon, a nuclear-capable hypersonic cruise missile, by targeting a speed beyond Mach 9 for the Indian HCM.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India is set to become the first nation to receive 31 Predator drones equipped with two DAP-6 gun pods, each containing the formidable M134D-H rotary machine gun. This upgrade significantly enhances the Predator drones’ firepower, making them more versatile and lethal in combat roles.
The M134 Minigun, an American 7.62×51mm NATO six-barrel rotary machine gun, is known for its exceptionally high rate of fire, ranging from 2,000 to 6,000 rounds per minute. With its Gatling-style rotating barrel assembly powered by an external electric motor, the M134D-H is designed for sustained and rapid-fire, providing overwhelming firepower in a short period. The “Mini” in Minigun is a nod to its use of rifle ammunition, in contrast to the larger-calibre autocannon shells, like those of General Electric’s earlier 20mm M61 Vulcan.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has commenced receiving deliveries of Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) precision-guided bombing kits, a significant upgrade for its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fleet. This acquisition, made in 2022 under delegated financial powers, is expected to significantly enhance the Tejas’ capabilities and enable it to carry out strikes with greater accuracy and precision.
The JDAM kits, which convert existing unguided bombs into precision-guided “smart” munitions, will equip the Tejas with the ability to target enemy bunkers and runways at distances of 80 kilometers and beyond. This is a substantial improvement over the Tejas’ previous capabilities and positions it as a more formidable fighter jet.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
India’s recent acquisition of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones from the United States marks a significant step towards bolstering its military capabilities. However, the deal also holds significant implications for the country’s domestic defense industry.
Of the 31 drones, 21 will be partially assembled in India using kits provided by General Atomics, the American defense firm. This move is a strategic decision aimed at transferring technology and fostering the development of the domestic defense manufacturing sector.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is currently grappling with a significant shortfall in fighter squadrons, a situation that has become increasingly critical due to the growing threat posed by neighboring countries like China and Pakistan. While the IAF is formally sanctioned to have 42 squadrons, its effective strength currently stands at a mere 29, leaving a considerable gap in its combat capabilities.
China, with its vast military resources, boasts a formidable air force of 83 squadrons. Pakistan, despite being smaller in size, maintains a respectable air fleet of around 20 squadrons. The disparity in squadron numbers between India and its adversaries underscores the urgent need to bolster the IAF’s capabilities.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Army has taken a significant step towards enhancing its operational capabilities in the remote regions of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh by contracting civil aviation service providers. This strategic move aims to ensure year-round support for critical posts, reduce costs, and preserve military helicopters for critical operations.
The one-year contract will see 16 remote posts in the Jammu region sustained throughout the year, while another 28 posts in Kashmir and Ladakh will benefit from this support for 150 days next year. This initiative marks a departure from traditional methods of maintaining these high-altitude positions during the harsh winter months, when they are often inaccessible due to heavy snowfall.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
In a massive embarrassment for Canada, the country’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday admitted that Ottawa only provided some intelligence inputs and no hard proof before accusing India of killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Testifying before the country’s foreign interference inquiry, Trudeau admitted that New Delhi had demanded the sharing of proof — something that India has been insisting on till date — after the allegations.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Already struggling to find support even amongst Ottawa’s longstanding strategic partners in his bid to spread further false narrative on India, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could be on a sticky wicket at home soon as his own party leaders and many Members of Parliament are now publicly expressing dissatisfaction with his leadership.
Earlier Wednesday, India time, long-time Charlottetown Liberal MP Sean Casey openly called for Trudeau’s resignation as the head of the party.
Continue readingSOURCE: REUTERS
India’s crude oil imports from Russia rose by 11.7% to about 1.9 million barrels per day (bpd) in September, accounting for about two-fifths of the South Asian nation’s overall crude imports in the month, tanker data obtained from industry sources showed.
Overall, refiners in India imported a total of 4.7 million bpd of crude oil in September, marginally higher than in August and about 8.5% more than the same month a year ago, the data showed.
Continue readingSOURCE: REUTERS
India’s government on Tuesday said it will allot spectrum for satellite broadband administratively and not via auction, hours after Elon Musk criticized the auction route being sought by rival billionaire Mukesh Ambani as “unprecedented”.
In what is seen as a battle between billionaires, the methodology of awarding spectrum for satellite services in India – a market set to grow 36% a year to reach $1.9 billion by 2030 – has been a contentious issue since last year.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
As he wrapped up his flying visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting in Islamabad, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Wednesday afternoon thanked Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for the “hospitality and courtesies” during his nearly 24-hour stay in the neighbouring country.
“Departing from Islamabad. Thank PM Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Government of Pakistan for the hospitality and courtesies,” the minister posted on X as he boarded the IAF plane at Rawalpindi’s Nur Khan airbase.
Continue readingSOURCE: UNI
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The Indian Navy’s stitched ship will embark on its maiden ocean voyage from Mandvi in Gujarat to Muscat in Oman in December 2025. This was disclosed by Sanjeev Sanyal, member of the Prime Minister’s economic advisory council at an event held at the International Centre Goa (ICG) on Tuesday.
The ship which has been modeled after a 5th century, stitched sailing ship painting found in the Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra is being built at the Hodi Innovations shipyard on Divar island in Goa.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
The Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, paid his tributes by laying a wreath at the Ichigaya Memorial, a place that commemorates the martyrs of the Japan Self-Defence Force, on Wednesday (local time), during the ongoing official visit to the country. The COAS also reviewed the Guard of Honour at the Memorial and later engaged in high-level discussions with General Yasunori Morishita, Chief of Staff of Japan Ground Self-Defence Force, General Yoshihide Yoshida, Chief of Staff of Joint Self-Defence Force and other senior military leaders there.
During their discussions, both nations aimed at aspects of bilateral defence cooperation, further nurturing the military bond between both armies and enhancing mutual commitment towards global peace and security.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The Canadian Air Force aircraft is ferrying 191 stranded passengers of an Air India flight from Iqaluit airport has landed in Chicago. In a statement on Wednesday, Air India said passengers of flight AI127, which was diverted to Iqaluit in Canada on October 15, are on their way to their destination — Chicago.
‘Passengers are being ferried on a Canadian Air Force aircraft that has taken off from Iqaluit at 03:54 hrs UTC and is expected to land in Chicago at around 07.48 hrs UTC,’ the airline said.
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