Monthly Archives: May 2025
SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a leading Indian defense public sector undertaking, has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating product development and system readiness for critical defense projects. At the forefront of its efforts is Project Kusha, a strategic initiative led by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) aimed at bolstering India’s air defense capabilities.
BEL has outlined an ambitious timeline for the development of Project Kusha, which focuses on creating an advanced indigenous long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. According to BEL, the company is prioritizing prototype development, with completion expected within the next 12 to 18 months. This phase will be followed by user trials, projected to span an additional 12 to 36 months, depending on the outcomes of rigorous testing and validation processes.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is on the cusp of a significant capability upgrade as the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A, already seen flying with the French AASM HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range), nears the completion of trials to certify its use in combat scenarios. The AASM HAMMER, a precision-guided munition developed by Safran Electronics & Defense, offers a 70-kilometer range and is designed for close air support (CAS), precision strikes, and suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD).
Already integrated with the IAF’s Rafale jets, the HAMMER’s adoption by the Tejas Mk1A strengthens India’s air combat capabilities, particularly in the context of regional tensions with Pakistan and China.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
At The Week Defence Conclave, Venkat Raju, Managing Director of VEM Technologies, delivered a compelling assessment of India’s readiness to develop indigenous fighter jet engines, highlighting the nation’s strides in technology, manufacturing, and strategic imperatives. Raju’s remarks underscored both the potential and the challenges in achieving self-reliance in this critical defense sector.
Raju emphasized that India has made significant progress in key areas essential for engine development. “We have gained significant expertise in system engineering, integration, and process automation,” he stated. The Indian industry has matured in its understanding of advanced materials, bolstered by extensive experience in building test equipment and leveraging a pool of highly skilled engineers. Design and analytical tools have reached high levels of efficiency, enabling faster and more accurate simulation of engine performance. Precision manufacturing capabilities are now well-established, positioning India to produce critical components and equipment with confidence.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) has taken a significant step toward enhancing its coastal defense capabilities with the operationalization of a dedicated BrahMos Missile Storage Facility, as revealed in recent photos circulating on social media. The images, was shared by @oyasumichunmoo
on X, showcase the BrahMos Supersonic Anti-ship Missile System, a cornerstone of the Philippines’ military modernization program. The second batch of these advanced missiles arrived from India in April 2025, marking a milestone in the $375 million defense deal signed in January 2022 between Manila and New Delhi
The BrahMos missile, a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, is one of the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2.8 (approximately 3,400 km/h). With a range of 290 kilometers for the export variant, it can be launched from land, sea, air, or submarine platforms, making it a versatile weapon for anti-ship and land-attack roles. The Philippine Marine Corps’ Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile (SBASM) Battalion, part of the Coastal Defense Regiment, operates these systems, which are mounted on mobile autonomous launchers tailored for the Philippines’ tropical terrain.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) stands at a critical juncture in India’s quest for self-reliance in defence aviation. With the global aerospace landscape rapidly shifting toward stealth and unmanned platforms, HAL’s immediate priority should be the accelerated development of the Hindustan Turbo Fan Engine (HTFE-25), a 25 kN thrust-class engine designed for light combat aircraft, trainers, and unmanned systems.
This indigenous engine is pivotal to powering a range of advanced platforms, including loyal wingman drones, stealth bombers, and other next-generation systems, which are essential for India to counter emerging threats from adversaries like China and Pakistan. Fast-tracking the HTFE-25 will not only bolster India’s air combat capabilities but also reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, aligning with the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
China’s aerospace industry has faced a steep decline in fighter jet exports in recent years, with Pakistan emerging as the sole exception, procuring nearly 200 JF-17 Thunder jets and 20 J-10CE fighters. As global demand for Chinese combat aircraft wanes against dominant players like Russia, South Korea, and the United States, China is now fast-tracking the supply of its fifth-generation J-35A stealth fighter to Pakistan, aiming to revitalize its export market and establish a foothold in the competitive global arms trade.
The JF-17, co-developed by China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) and Pakistan’s Aeronautical Complex, has been a cornerstone of Pakistan’s air force modernization, with nearly 200 units delivered or on order. The J-10CE, an export variant of China’s J-10C multirole fighter, has also found a buyer in Pakistan, with 20 jets acquired to bolster its air combat capabilities. However, beyond Pakistan, China has struggled to secure significant export deals, as countries remain skeptical of the performance and reliability of Chinese jets compared to established Western and Russian platforms like the F-16, Su-30, or KAI T-50.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a landmark demonstration of its advanced combat capabilities, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has released a video showcasing the Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopter test-firing the Air-to-Air Stinger (ATAS) missile, marking the first public display of this capability.
This milestone, highlighted in posts on X on May 20, 2025, underscores the Apache’s versatility in engaging not only ground targets but also aerial threats, including hostile helicopters, gunships, Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs). The integration of the ATAS Stinger enhances the IAF’s air defence arsenal, positioning the Apache as a multi-role platform capable of dominating both air and ground domains along India’s volatile borders.
Continue readingSOURCE: PIB
India rejects the baseless allegations made by Pakistan regarding Indian involvement with the incident in Khuzdar earlier today. India condoles the loss of lives in all such incidents. However, in order to divert attention from its reputation as the global epicenter of terrorism and to hide its own gross failings, it has become second nature for Pakistan to blame India for all its internal issues.
This attempt to hoodwink the world is doomed to fail.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton on Wednesday said that India was fully entitled to act in self-defence against terrorist locations in Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people.
While speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Bolton emphasised the need for Pakistan to control such activities within its borders, warning of severe consequences if it fails.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday repeated his claim that he “settled” the recent conflict between India and Pakistan through “trade”. “If you take a look at what we just did with Pakistan and India. We settled that whole, and I think I settled it through trade,” Trump said in remarks in the Oval Office during a meeting with visiting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
He said the US is doing a “big deal” with both India and Pakistan.
Continue readingSOURCE: REUTERS
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India’s Russian crude oil imports will hit close to 1.8 million barrels per day in May, the highest in 10 months, ship tracking data from Kpler showed, after refiners snapped up more light grades such as ESPO Blend.
The robust demand for the lighter Russian grades in the world’s third biggest oil importer and consumer is expected to last into July as Indian refiners ordered more than 10 cargoes of June-loading ESPO crude last week, traders said.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The Indian Navy on Wednesday inducted a traditionally built stitched ship as INSV Kaundinya, at a ceremony held at the strategically located Karwar naval base in Karnataka.
It is a recreation of a fifth-century vessel and is named after Kaundinya, a legendary Indian mariner who sailed across the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia, officials said. The ship serves as a tangible symbol of India’s long-standing traditions of maritime exploration, trade, and cultural exchange, and its induction and naming marks a culmination of an “extraordinary project” that celebrates India’s rich shipbuilding heritage, they said.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
India on Wednesday expelled a Pakistani official working at the Pakistan high commission on charges of involvement in espionage, in the second such expulsion in a week, people familiar with the matter said.The ministry of external affairs said the staffer at the Pakistan mission has been declared “persona non grata” for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status and that he has been given 24 hours to leave India.
The charge d’affaires of the Pakistan high commission, Saad Warraich, was issued a demarche or a formal diplomatic protest on this issue, it said in a statement.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The Border Security Force (BSF) destroyed five Pakistani posts and a terrorist launch pad across the Jammu border in an operation, an officer said on Wednesday.
“We gave a strong and fitting response to their fire (by Pakistan). We destroyed many of their available assets. They had a terrorist launching pad in Mastpur, which we destroyed. Due to our action, five of their posts were completely demolished, and we also destroyed many of their bunkers,” BSF Commandant Chandresh Sona told PTI.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju, the powerful general secretary of CPI (Maoist) killed in an encounter along with 26 others on Wednesday, had masterminded several major attacks on security forces in Chhattisgarh and his death is a big blow to the armed movement, said officials.
Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Basavaraju, who carried a reward of Rs 1 crore on his head in Chhattisgarh, had been associated with the banned movement since 1970s and was elevated to the top post in CPI (Maoist) seven years ago, they said.
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