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SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
India is set to commence production of the F414 jet engine, developed by General Electric (GE), within the country by the end of 2025, according to Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. Speaking at a defence conclave, Singh highlighted that negotiations with GE Aerospace for technology transfer and manufacturing are in advanced stages, with commercial discussions nearly finalized.
The F414 engine is critical for powering the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk2 and the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), key components of India’s push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing. The manufacturing line will be established under a $1 billion deal signed in August 2023 between GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which includes an 80% technology transfer for the engines.
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In a landmark step toward strengthening India’s indigenous defense manufacturing, Caracal, a UAE-based small arms manufacturer under the EDGE Group, partnered with Hyderabad-based ICOMM Tele Limited to inaugurate a state-of-the-art small arms production facility in Hyderabad on April 22, 2025. This venture, aligning with India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, aims to produce advanced firearms locally, reducing reliance on imports and enhancing India’s strategic autonomy.
The facility, a testament to growing UAE-India defense cooperation, is set to manufacture a comprehensive portfolio of Caracal’s small arms, including assault rifles, sniper rifles, and pistols, catering to the Indian armed forces and potentially regional markets. This development comes amid heightened regional tensions, including a recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, underscoring the urgency of self-reliant defense capabilities.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a report aired by Pakistan’s state-run broadcaster PTV News, citing unnamed security sources, it has been claimed that four Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale fighter jets were seen “patrolling” over the Kashmir region near the Line of Control (LoC” earlier this week. The report alleged that while the Indian aircraft did not violate Pakistani airspace, their presence triggered a swift response from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
“Aircraft of the PAF immediately spotted the Indian fighter jets,” the report said, further alleging that “as a result of PAF’s diligent action, the Indian Rafale jets panicked and were forced to flee.”
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
As the Indian Air Force (IAF) braces for potential conflict, particularly in light of recent escalations along the Indo-Pak border, the operational readiness of its indigenous Tejas Mk1 fleet has come into sharp focus. The Tejas Mk1, powered by the General Electric F404-IN20 engine, boasts an availability rate of 70-75%, meaning it is mission-ready for that percentage of the time. This figure, while promising for a homegrown fighter, raises critical questions about the IAF’s preparedness as it navigates regional threats and ongoing supply chain challenges.
The availability rate of 70-75% aligns with global benchmarks for military fighter jets, where 70-80% is considered optimal based on historical data, such as US Air Force standards. For the Tejas Mk1, this rate reflects the reliability of the F404-IN20 engine, which delivers 84 kN of thrust and has powered the jet since its integration into the IAF in 2016. The engine’s Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) system ensures rapid throttle response and operational efficiency, critical for combat scenarios. Additionally, the Tejas Mk1’s airframe, with 90% of its surface constructed from lightweight carbon composites, enhances durability and reduces maintenance downtime, contributing to its solid availability.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a groundbreaking development for sustainable aviation, SiriNor, a deep-tech aerospace startup based in India and Norway, has successfully completed ground testing of the world’s first all-electric jet engine, reaching Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL-6). The milestone test, conducted in Pune on April 29, 2025, marks a pivotal moment for clean aviation technology, with the company now setting its sights on disrupting the $100 billion global jet engine market by 2030.
SiriNor’s proprietary propulsion system promises emission-free air travel, addressing one of the aviation industry’s most pressing challenges: reducing its carbon footprint. Traditional jet engines rely on fossil fuels, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, but SiriNor’s all-electric design leverages advanced battery technology and electric propulsion to eliminate emissions entirely. The TRL-6 achievement indicates that the system has been validated in a relevant environment, a critical step toward eventual certification and commercial deployment.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam massacre and subsequent military posturing, unverified reports have surfaced on X claiming that a foreign private military company (PMC) named Delta PMC, allegedly composed of ex-SAS (British Special Air Service) operators, has struck a deal with the Pakistan Army.
According to these posts, the PMC would intervene if Indo-Pak tensions escalate into a war-like situation, with a specific theory suggesting that these ex-SAS operatives are tasked with protecting Pakistani generals and their families due to a lack of trust in Pakistani soldiers. While these claims appear to be speculative and potentially propagandistic, they highlight the complex dynamics of trust, security, and foreign involvement in the region’s volatile military landscape.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The funeral of Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, who was tragically killed in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, has sparked a heated controversy on social media platform X. A video showing women naval officers carrying Narwal’s casket during his military honors in Karnal, Haryana, has drawn sharp criticism from some quarters, igniting a broader debate about feminism, equality, and the role of women in the armed forces. The 26-year-old officer was among 26 victims of the attack, which occurred while he was on his honeymoon in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley, just days after his wedding on April 16.
The controversy began when an X user, identifying as a former army officer named Lt Col Sumit Mohan Garg, posted the video with a scathing caption: “#Feminism and #Equality don’t work in a practical world. Who had the bright idea to showcase feminine power on such a sombre occasion and disrespect the departed soul. It also underlines the unsuitability of women in Armed Forces, where physical capabilities are critical.” The post, dated April 28, 2025, quickly gained traction, with some users echoing Garg’s sentiments. Another post by a user named @bhakti_sagara on April 29 called the decision “absolute stupidity,” questioning the practicality of women officers carrying the coffin and arguing that it highlighted inherent differences between men and women rather than equality.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Wednesday debunked claims made in posts by ‘several pro-Pakistan social media accounts’ that Indian Army’s Northern Commander Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar has been ‘removed’ from his post after the Pahalgam attack, and said the general officer is attaining superannuation on April 30.
“The claims being made in these posts are fake,” PIB Fact Check said in a post on X and also shared a collage of ‘reports’ shared by several such accounts, with the false claim.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The government has revamped the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) — a move that came amid speculations about India’s possible retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack in view of its cross border linkages.
It is learnt that former R&AW chief Alok Joshi has been appointed as NSAB chairman. The NSAB is an advisory body that provides inputs to the National Security Council Secretariat.The new members appointed to the NSAB are former Western Air Commander Air Marshal PM Sinha, former Southern Army Commander Lt Gen A K Singh and Rear Admiral (retd) Monty Khanna, people familiar with the matter said.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
The Embassy of Israel in India on Wednesday denied issuing the ‘note verbale’ to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), accusing an Indian Army officer of sexually assaulting an Israel Defense Force (IDF) personnel during a joint military exercise in Jammu and Kashmir, terming it as completely “fake”.
The Embassy expressed shock over the incident, stating that haters resorting to such “fake news” to harm the strong bond between India and Israel will not succeed.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
In the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, India has deftly used international law as a tool to achieve its longstanding objective of ending Pakistan’s support for terrorism. A nuanced understanding of the logic behind putting the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance exemplifies New Delhi’s use of lawfare – a euphemism to describe the use of law to gain political objectives – to end Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism. Contrary to Pakistan’s assertion, New Delhi’s actions are firmly grounded in the customary international law of clausula rebus sic stantibus and countermeasures.
The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969 (VCLT), is known as the treaty on treaties and is an indispensable starting point for interpreting modern treaty practice. The customary nature of the doctrine clausula rebus sic stantibus, enshrined under Article 62 of the VCLT, makes it applicable to the IWT. The doctrine permits states to suspend, withdraw, or terminate treaty obligations in the light of fundamental changes in the circumstances surrounding the agreement.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
Amid ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army in multiple sectors, including Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir villagers are on “high alert” and said that they are witnessing ceasefire violations nearly after 7-8 years.
In the Akhnoor region’s Pargwal sector, villagers reported hearing several rounds of gunfire late at night. “About 10 to 12 rounds were fired last night. The Indian Army also retaliated. This kind of ceasefire violation is happening after 7-8 years,” said Ankur Singh, a resident of Pargwal, speaking to ANI.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
A young man from Jalna city in Maharashtra, who recently returned from Kashmir, has claimed that one of the suspected attackers in the Pahalgam terror case spoke to him a day before the carnage.
“Hindu ho kya. You don’t look like you are from Kashmir,” said Adarsh Raut, recalling his interaction with a man at a food stall in the Baisaran Valley on April 21. Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed and several were injured when terrorists opened fire at a meadow near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on April 22.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
China on Tuesday reiterated its call for India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, saying their harmonious coexistence is vital to the peace, stability and development of the region.
Both India and Pakistan are important countries in South Asia, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a media briefing here. Guo made the remarks in response to a question on the exchange of gunfire by the troops of the two countries following the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
As many as 786 Pakistan nationals have left India through the Attari-Wagah border point within six days beginning April 24, said a senior official. The officer informed that during the same time, a total of 1376 Indians have returned from Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border.
On April 24, the government announced that Pakistani nationals should leave India by April 27, and those with medical visas had until April 29 to do so. Those having diplomatic, official and long-term visas were excluded from the ‘Leave India’ notice. The deadline for Pakistanis holding any of the 12 categories of short-term visas ended on Sunday.
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