SOURCE: AFI

According to Baba Kalyani, Chairman of Bharat Forge, the Indian Army has a long-term plan to equip itself entirely with 155mm 52 caliber towed artillery guns. This transition is expected to be completed by 2040-45, with the Army requiring nearly 4,000 guns in total.

This shift reflects the growing importance of long-range fire support in modern warfare. The 155mm/52 caliber guns offer a significant advantage in firing range and accuracy compared to older models.

SOURCE: AFI

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) announced plans to transform its single Bombardier Global 6000 business jet into a stand-off jamming (SOJ) aircraft. This project will be undertaken in collaboration with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

The initial hint of this conversion came from the PAF’s latest calendar, which designated the Global 6000 as an electronic warfare (EW) platform. This was later confirmed by the PAF’s unofficial publication, Second-to-None.

SOURCE: AFI

The inaugural India-Indonesia Defence Industry Exhibition-cum-Seminar, held in Jakarta on April 30, 2024, marked a significant milestone in bilateral defense cooperation between the two nations. Organized by the Indian Embassy, Ministry of Defence (India), and Ministry of Defense (Indonesia), the event served as a platform to showcase India’s growing defense capabilities and foster strategic partnerships.

The exhibition attracted a high-powered audience, including top leadership from the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, military, coast guard, and defense companies. This participation signifies a strong interest in exploring collaborations between the two countries’ defense industries.

SOURCE: AFI

GalaxEye, a space tech startup incubated at IIT Madras, has released another high-resolution image captured by India’s first Drone SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) system. This development follows their commitment to not only advance space-based technologies but also leverage them to empower users.

GalaxEye’s Drone SAR system is a pioneering achievement in Indian aerospace. Unlike traditional satellite imagery, SAR can capture high-resolution images even in adverse weather conditions, offering valuable insights regardless of cloud cover.

SOURCE: AFI

As India ramps up defense spending in the face of heightened tensions with China and Pakistan, the ongoing war in Ukraine is serving as a crucial case study. Indian military strategists are keenly dissecting the conflict for insights into the future of warfare and how to best counter potential threats from its neighbors.

The war has underscored the growing importance of several key areas:

SOURCE: AFI

The Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative has announced the winners of its DISC 8 (Defence Innovation Startup Challenge) program. The spotlight shines on Antsys Innovations, a company poised to revolutionize satellite antenna technology.

iDEX has recognized Antsys Innovations as the winner for its groundbreaking proposal. The company will develop a unique origami-based L/P band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) antenna specifically designed for small Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.

SOURCE: AFI

China’s newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has generated a buzz of activity with its recent movement out of the fitting-out basin. This maneuver, coupled with reports suggesting imminent sea trials, has ignited interest in the operational timeline of this formidable warship.

The Fujian’s relocation from the fitting-out basin to a riverside pier signifies a crucial step towards its sea trials. During the fitting-out phase, the carrier undergoes extensive installations and testing of various systems. The move to the pier suggests that these processes might be nearing completion.

SOURCE: AFI

North Korea raised eyebrows recently during a military parade showcasing a fleet of what appeared to be ordinary civilian vehicles. Upon closer inspection, however, these seemingly innocuous trucks, cement mixers, poultry houses, and tractors all concealed a far more menacing secret: missile launchers.

This parade served as a platform for North Korea to display its evolving military capabilities. The inclusion of disguised mobile launchers suggests a potential shift in North Korea’s missile deployment strategy. These camouflaged launchers enhance North Korea’s ability to disperse its military assets, potentially making them harder to detect and destroy in a pre-emptive strike.

SOURCE: AFI

Nitin Mangal, a SEBI-registered research analyst, has ignited a debate on social media platform X, alleging that some companies are exploiting loopholes in the ‘Make in India’ program for defense procurement.

Mangal argues that the current system allows companies to qualify for ‘Make in India’ benefits even if they simply purchase components from an Indian company, regardless of whether those components are actually manufactured domestically. In his example, company A, which doesn’t manufacture itself, could buy parts from company B, which imports them. Under current rules, this might allow company A to qualify for the program.

SOURCE: AFI

High-resolution satellite imagery has revealed significant progress in the ongoing renovation of Bagdogra Airbase, a crucial Indian Air Force (IAF) facility in the strategically important Siliguri Corridor bordering China. This upgrade comes at a time of heightened regional tensions, making Bagdogra’s transformation even more critical.

The 2017 Doklam standoff underscored Bagdogra’s vital role. Its proximity to the disputed territory makes it a launchpad for air operations and a key staging point for troop deployment. The current renovations aim to significantly enhance the airbase’s capacity and capabilities.

SOURCE: AFI

Muhammad Mahmood Alam, a Pakistani fighter pilot, is credited with shooting down five Indian fighter jets in under a minute during the 1965 Indo-Pak War. This feat, if true, would be an unparalleled achievement in aerial combat history. However, the claim has been shrouded in controversy for decades.

Pakistan’s official narrative hails Alam as a national hero and an “ace in a day” for his alleged feat. He is credited with downing five Indian Hawker Hunter aircraft within a sixty-second timeframe.

SOURCE: AFI

For those who continue to question the Apollo Moon landings, here’s some compelling evidence captured by a non-NASA space agency. India’s Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, launched in 2019, trained its high-resolution camera on the Apollo 11 and 12 landing sites. The resulting images provide a detailed view of the lunar surface, including the Apollo hardware left behind.

These images, captured by a completely independent space program, offer a clear perspective on the Apollo missions. The presence of the lunar landers on the Moon’s surface provides strong visual proof of human presence there.

SOURCE: AFI

A U.S. Marine Corps fighter squadron stationed in California discovered a series of problems with five recently delivered F-35C Joint Strike Fighters. These issues, documented in a January 2023 memo, raise concerns about the quality control of the jets and potential impacts on operational readiness.

The problems identified included, Metal shavings were found in the fuel supply of some of the aircraft. Faulty assembly of parts was detected during inspections. : A worrying case involved a plastic scraper, measuring 5.5 inches, left lodged in the wing fold of one jet, only discovered after a post-flight inspection.

SOURCE: AFI

India’s hypersonic missile program is a critical endeavor aimed at propelling the country into the realm of advanced weaponry. Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) and possess unique capabilities that challenge traditional defense systems.

India’s hypersonic journey is intertwined with the success of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, a joint venture between India’s DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organisation) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia. The BrahMos-II, currently under development, leverages hypersonic scramjet technology, offering a significant leap in speed and range compared to its predecessor. This hypersonic BrahMos is expected to reach speeds of Mach 6 and strike targets over 1,500 kilometers away.

SOURCE: AFI

India’s strategic defenses in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) have received a significant boost with the recent upgrade of INS Utkrosh. This naval air station, which plays a vital role in supporting Veer Savarkar International Airport (VSI Airport), has been equipped with new advanced landing systems.

The collaborative efforts of the Indian Navy and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) have resulted in the installation of a new Advanced Landing Guidance System (AFLS), Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI), and a Cat II Approach Lighting System at INS Utkrosh. These advancements, coupled with the existing Instrument Landing System (ILS) by the AAI, effectively transform Port Blair Airport into a Precision Instrument Runway.