SOURCE: AFI

Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi has announced that the Indian Army has already conducted over 300 trials of the innovative Mounted Gun System (MGS), tailored for the dynamic needs of modern warfare. The MGS, featuring a 155mm/52 caliber system, has been adapted from the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE)’s Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) and mounted on an 8×8 high mobility vehicle for enhanced battlefield mobility.

General Dwivedi highlighted that the trials will continue through the year with plans to conclude by early 2026. “We have seen promising results from the trials conducted so far,” he stated, “but our commitment to ensuring the system’s readiness for combat necessitates further rigorous testing in diverse operational scenarios.”

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Army has recently completed the field evaluation of the Nag Missile Carrier version-2 (NAMICA-2), marking a significant milestone in its indigenous defense capabilities. With the successful trials conducted at the Pokhran Field Range, the entire weapon system of the Nag MkII Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) is now ready for induction into the Indian military arsenal.

The Nag Missile Carrier version-2, an upgrade from its predecessor, introduces several enhancements aimed at bolstering India’s anti-armor warfare capabilities. One of the key features of the NAMICA-2 is its redesigned launcher, which can now accommodate six Nag MkII ATGMs. This upgrade not only increases the firepower but also optimizes the system for battlefield efficiency.

SOURCE: AFI

The defense industry has seen a surge in innovation with the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and their manned counterparts, designed to leverage technology for tactical advantages. One such project, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior, sounds promising, especially when juxtaposed with the Northrop Grumman Model 437. However, despite its intriguing design, the manned version of the CATS Warrior presents significant practical limitations when it comes to actual combat scenarios, particularly due to its limited weapons carrying capacity.

The HAL CATS Warrior, as it stands, is designed to carry a maximum of two Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) bombs internally and two Close Combat Missiles (CCM) externally. This capacity, while innovative for its stealth and teaming capabilities, is inherently limited. In modern warfare, where versatility and firepower are critical, this small payload does not justify the risk of human life.

SOURCE: AFI

According to a Japanese defense analyst, India’s domestically produced Zorawar light tank exhibits notable design characteristics that set it apart from traditional Main Battle Tanks (MBTs). While the Zorawar is lightweight at 25 tons, its dimensions reflect design priorities that diverge from the compact and low-profile trends observed in modern MBTs.

When compared to the Indian Army’s T-90S MBT, which weighs 46.5 tons, the Zorawar displays interesting dimensional contrasts:

SOURCE: AFI

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) has achieved a significant milestone in stealth technology with the development of two innovative radar-absorbing materials tailored for aerospace applications. These breakthroughs, named NiRaLa-Monolithic Radar Absorbing Laminate and ADRISHYA-RAM Paint, promise to enhance the stealth capabilities of aircraft, reducing their radar cross-section (RCS) and thus, their detectability by enemy radar systems.

NiRaLa, an acronym for “Nirantar Radar Absorbing Laminate”, represents a leap forward in the domain of radar-absorbing structures (RAS). This technology involves:

SOURCE: AFI

In a recent development, Adani Defence has successfully recovered the Drishti 10 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) which crashed off the coast of Porbandar, Gujarat, while undergoing pre-acceptance trials. According to sources from idrw.org, the incident occurred before the official handover to the customer, placing the responsibility for any losses or repair costs squarely on Adani Defence.

Since the crash happened during the pre-delivery phase, Adani Defence has taken full responsibility for the incident. This includes covering any repair costs or losses associated with the UAV, as the official handover to the customer had not yet occurred.

SOURCE: AFI

On Monday, the Indian Navy took a significant step forward in enhancing its maritime operations with the launch of the second Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV), ‘Utkarsh’, from the Kattupalli Shipyard near Chennai. Built by L&T Shipbuilding Limited, Utkarsh, meaning ‘Superior in Conduct’, joins its sister ship, INS Samarthak, which was launched just three months prior, in bolstering the Navy’s versatility and operational scope.

The launch of INS Utkarsh comes within three months of the launch of the first MPV, INS Samarthak. Together, these vessels will significantly bolster the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy, particularly in areas requiring versatile and mission-critical support.

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant move to uphold the integrity of India’s territorial representation, Google has blocked access to MAPS.Me, a popular offline maps application, within the country. The app, which boasts over 50 million downloads from the Google Play Store, was found to inaccurately depict the boundaries of India, particularly in the sensitive regions of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

The decision to block the app came after the Survey of India issued a notice in December to Google’s nodal officer, Priyadarshi Banerjee, under Section 79(3) (b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The notice highlighted that “It is evident that the subject map in the MAPS.Me app available at Google PlayStore depicts Indian map with erroneous external boundary of India which jeopardises the sovereignty and integrity of India.”

SOURCE: AFI

The Russian state-owned aerospace and defense conglomerate, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), has confirmed the participation of the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet at the upcoming Aero India 2025 airshow in Bengaluru next month. This announcement reignites speculation about India’s potential renewed interest in the Su-57, following the country’s exit from the joint Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program with Russia back in 2018.

After India withdrew from the FGFA program citing delays and a lack of sufficient expertise, Russia continued the project alone, shouldering the financial burden. The Su-57 made its operational debut in 2020, joining an exclusive club of nations with fifth-generation fighters, alongside the United States and China. To date, approximately 27 Su-57s have been inducted into Russian service, each equipped with advanced weaponry like the hypersonic Vympel R-37 missile.

SOURCE: AFI

The strategic waters of the Indian Ocean are witnessing a significant shift in naval capabilities, particularly in submarine warfare, as the Pakistani Navy is poised to take a lead in possessing more submarines equipped with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems in the near future.

Currently, the Pakistani Navy boasts three Agosta-90B-class submarines, which are equipped with the French-supplied MESMA (Module d’Energie Sous-Marin Autonome) AIP system. These submarines offer enhanced underwater endurance, a critical advantage in modern naval warfare. Adding to this fleet, Pakistan is set to receive eight Hangor-class submarines from China, which will feature the advanced Stirling-powered AIP system, further expanding its underwater strategic capabilities. This means that by the end of the current schedule, Pakistan will have eleven AIP-equipped submarines in operation.

SOURCE: AFI

In an unprecedented celestial event that occurs once every 144 years, the year 2025 marks a significant moment in India’s cultural and spiritual calendar with the MahaKumbh, reflecting the divine interplay of planetary alignments and stellar constellations. This astronomical phenomenon, believed to amplify spiritual energy, coincides with a pivotal moment in India’s maritime history, aligning perfectly with Bharat’s Raksha Sutra for enhancing the Indian Navy’s global maritime security prowess.

January 5, 2025, is not just another day but a cardinal point in India’s maritime journey. The Indian Navy is set to commission three state-of-the-art (SOTA) combat platforms in a grand ceremony at the Naval Dockyard Mumbai (NDMB). This event underscores India’s commitment to bolstering its naval capabilities through indigenous innovation and shipbuilding prowess.

SOURCE: AFI

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking, has further solidified its position in the defense sector by securing additional orders valued at Rs. 561 crore since its last announcement on December 23, 2024. These new contracts underscore BEL’s pivotal role in India’s defense modernization efforts.

With these recent acquisitions, BEL’s order book for the current financial year (FY25) now stands at a significant Rs. 10,362 crore. This accumulation not only reflects the growing trust in BEL’s capabilities but also indicates a robust demand for its products within the defense sector.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Navy’s recent agreement to procure 26 Rafale M fighters from France marks a significant step not just in bolstering its naval air fleet but also in setting a benchmark for the development of indigenous aircraft like the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF). This deal, valued at approximately $7 billion, provides a unique opportunity for the Indian Navy to learn, adapt, and innovate, potentially leading to a domestically developed fighter that could match or even surpass the capabilities of the Rafale M.

With the Rafale M, the Indian Navy gains direct exposure to a state-of-the-art, carrier-capable fighter jet. This acquisition allows naval aviators to understand the operational nuances of a multirole, maritime fighter, providing insights into what is required in terms of performance, durability, and versatility in naval combat scenarios. These operational experiences will be invaluable for setting the performance parameters for the TEDBF.

SOURCE: AFI

In an unexpected turn of events, a Hermes 900 drone, locally known as Drishti 10, which was in the midst of acceptance trials for the Indian Navy, crashed off the coast of Porbandar, Gujarat. The incident occurred while the drone was being operated by the vendor, Adani Defence and Aerospace, under circumstances where it lost communication, leading to the crash.

The Hermes 900, or Drishti 10 as it is designated in India, is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufactured by Adani under a license from Israel’s Elbit Systems. This UAV is designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and has a significant role in enhancing India’s maritime and border security capabilities.

SOURCE: AFI

In a recent statement, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi has shed light on the next steps for the Zorawar light tank following its high-altitude trials. The trials, conducted in the challenging terrains of India’s northern borders, have been pivotal in assessing the tank’s performance under extreme conditions.

General Dwivedi emphasized that while the tests have been largely successful, the Army has recommended additional improvements and modifications. These suggestions stem from the experiences and data gathered during the trials, aiming to enhance the tank’s capabilities for high-altitude combat scenarios, particularly in regions like Ladakh.