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SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.
In a recent interview with Bharat Shakti Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale, Commodore (Retd.) A. Madhavarao, Chairman and Managing Director of BDL, confirmed the successful delivery of all Varunastra torpedoes ordered by the Indian Navy.
The initial order of 73 Varunastra torpedoes, placed in 2016, has been completed. Additionally, a subsequent order for 63 units, made in 2018, has also been delivered in full. With these deliveries complete, BDL is now reportedly looking to explore export opportunities for the Varunastra.
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In the annals of India’s defense procurement history, the HDW submarine deal of the 1980s remains a poignant chapter, marked by both aspirations of technological advancement and the stark realities of corruption. The repercussions of this ill-fated deal continue to reverberate within India’s defense establishment, particularly in the realm of submarine manufacturing technology.
The genesis of India’s submarine saga dates back to the commissioning of the INS Shishumar in 1986, the first of four Type 209/1500 submarines procured from German shipbuilder HDW. These submarines, hailed for their advanced capabilities and robust design, were poised to bolster India’s naval prowess and usher in a new era of indigenization in submarine construction.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Navy’s massive Project 75 India (P75I) program for acquiring new submarines has seen a renewed push, with both Germany and Spain advocating for government-to-government (G2G) deals.
The P-75I program emphasizes a strategic partnership model. This means the winning foreign company (Original Equipment Manufacturer or OEM) will collaborate with an Indian entity to build the submarines within the country.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) celebrated India’s Technology Day in style with a record-breaking achievement by their High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAP) vehicle. This innovative aircraft successfully reached a new altitude of 25,000 feet above sea level, a significant milestone in its development.
HAPs are essentially long-endurance drones designed to operate in the stratosphere, the layer of the atmosphere above commercial airliners. Powered by solar cells and advanced battery systems, they have the potential to stay aloft for months, even years, offering capabilities similar to satellites but at a fraction of the cost and complexity.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Get ready for a lunar adventure! Chandrayaan-4, the next chapter in India’s ambitious lunar exploration program, aims to be the first Indian mission to return samples from the Moon. This complex mission involves a meticulously planned sequence and some impressive technology.
The grand performance begins with a two-part launch. The workhorse PSLV takes center stage, carrying the combined Reentry Module (RM) and Transfer Module (TM) into a sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (sub-GTO). Meanwhile, the heavy-duty Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LMV-3) enters the scene, propelling the Lander Module (LM), Ascender Module (AM), and Propulsion Module (PM) directly towards a Lunar Transfer Orbit (TLI) or GTO.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The recent decision by the Biden administration to put a hold on a significant arms shipment to Israel has sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles. While the move signals a recalibration of U.S. policy towards the Middle East, it also prompts speculation about the implications for other key allies, particularly in regions where the United States is actively pursuing defense partnerships. One such region is South Asia, specifically India, where the U.S. has been keen on bolstering defense ties. This article examines the potential repercussions of the U.S. arms shipment hold on India’s defense relations and its impact on confidence in the U.S. military-industrial complex (MIC).
The decision to delay the arms shipment to Israel, a long-standing ally and the largest recipient of U.S. military aid, underscores a shift in U.S. foreign policy priorities. Citing concerns over the ongoing conflict in Gaza and mounting civilian casualties, the Biden administration has opted to reassess its support for Israel’s military operations. This move has sparked debates about the future of U.S.-Israel relations and raised questions about the extent to which the United States is willing to hold its allies accountable for their actions.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In the complex and often volatile realm of South Asian geopolitics, the dynamics between India and Pakistan have long been a focal point of international attention. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach towards Pakistan, characterized by a blend of toughness and cautious pragmatism, reflects the intricacies of this relationship and India’s broader strategic imperatives.
Michael Kugelman, a director at the Wilson Center’s South Asia Institute, aptly characterizes Modi’s recent comments on Pakistan as unsurprising. Since the Uri and Pathankot attacks in 2015, which occurred shortly after his surprise visit to Lahore, Modi has adopted a consistently tough stance towards Pakistan, showing little interest in bilateral engagement. His visit to Lahore was initially hailed as a potential breakthrough akin to Nixon’s historic trip to China, but the subsequent attacks dashed hopes of a lasting détente.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
India has never received anything which is specific and worthy of being pursued by its probe agencies, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said over a fourth arrest made by Canada in the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Jaishankar said New Delhi is open to an investigation if Ottawa has any evidence or information related to any violence which is relevant to be investigated in India. “We have never received anything which is specific and worthy of being pursued by our investigative agencies and I am not aware that anything has changed in the last few days in that regard,” the minister said in response to a question during a press conference here.
Continue readingSOURCE: REUTERS
India is likely to sign an agreement with Iran on Monday to manage the southeastern Iranian port of Chabahar for the next 10 years, the Economic Times reported. India Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is likely to travel to Iran to sign the agreement, the report said, citing unidentified sources. The Indian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
India has been developing a part of the port in Chabahar, which is located on Iran’s southeastern coast along the Gulf of Oman, as a way to transport goods to Iran, Afghanistan and central Asian countries that avoid the port of Karachi in its rival Pakistan.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
As the eastern Ladakh military standoff entered its fifth year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India hopes for a resolution of the remaining issues with China and asserted that a return to normal bilateral ties hinges on peace and tranquility at the border.
In an exclusive interview to PTI, Jaishankar said the remaining issues mainly pertained to “patrolling rights and patrolling abilities”. Specifically asked when a resolution to the dragging row can be expected in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks to Newsweek magazine last month, Jaishankar said that he only provided a “big-picture” viewpoint on the matter.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The Union Home Ministry has directed all central paramilitary and allied forces to replicate a “beehives on border fence” beekeeping model initiated by a BSF unit in West Bengal to boost employment opportunities for the locals and create a goodwill with them for strengthening security.
Official sources said the decision was made during a meeting on “scientific beekeeping and honey mission” that was chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla at his office at North Block in April.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer has said that significant strides have been made in expediting India-assisted projects in the Maldives, as he underscored the government’s commitment to prioritising the resumption and completion of these projects.
Mr Zameer, who visited India from May 8 to 10 on his very first bilateral official visit, said he and his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar engaged in bilateral discussions on May 9 to address pivotal matters aimed at expediting the projects initiated with India’s financial assistance.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
The seventh edition of the joint military exercise between the Indian and the French Armies, ‘Shakti-2024’ kicked off on Monday at the Eastern Command’s Joint Training Node in Meghalaya’s Umroi.
Held alternately in India and France, this year’s exercise – which will last until May 26 – focuses on training for ground control operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under United Nations mandate besides including for the first time Air Force assets as well as Navy and Air Force observers.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The economic advisor to Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Paudel has resigned after his controversial remarks on the government’s decision to issue new hundred-rupee notes with a map that includes three Indian territories, a move already rejected by India.
The President approved Chiranjivi Nepal’s resignation on Sunday, according to a press release issued by the Office of the President. “I made the remarks as an economist and a former governor of the central bank but some news media have twisted it in an attempt to unnecessarily drag the respectful institution of the president into controversy, which made me feel sad,” Chiranjivi Nepal told PTI on Monday.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
Indian Army is carrying out an investigation to establish the exact cause of death of Paratrooper Agniveer Jitendra Singh Tanwar, said Indian Army officials on Friday.
The soldier lost his life due to a bullet injury on Thursday in Srinagar, where he was deployed as part of the 3 Para Special Forces battalion, added officials.
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