SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.

India has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that outlines a designated area for a potential missile test from a submerged platform or submarine, with a range extending up to 3,490 kilometers. This development has fueled speculation about the nature of the missile being tested, with two primary theories emerging: a potential first test of the K-5 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) or a validation test of the K-4 SLBM.

The K-5 SLBM, under development for over eight years, is reportedly designed to have a range of 5,500 kilometers and is anticipated to be India’s first SLBM capable of carrying Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs). MIRV technology would allow a single missile to deploy multiple warheads, each capable of targeting a different location, significantly enhancing deterrence capability.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.

The Indian Navy is looking to bolster its self-reliance in critical technologies by partnering with private steel manufacturers to develop indigenous arrestor wires for its aircraft carriers. Arrestor wires, essential for flight operations on carriers, play a pivotal role in enabling aircraft to land safely on limited deck space by rapidly decelerating them.

This move aligns with India’s overarching goal of reducing dependence on foreign suppliers and strengthening the domestic defense manufacturing ecosystem under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.

India is in the early stages of discussions with Vietnam for the supply of Guided Pinaka Rockets, a move that aims to help Vietnam replace its aging fleet of BM-21 and BM-14 multiple rocket launchers (MRLs), which were originally sourced from the Soviet Union. According to sources close to the negotiations, the talks are in the initial phases, and it could take several months before a formal deal is reached. However, both countries have shown a keen interest in moving forward with the collaboration as Vietnam seeks to modernize its artillery capabilities.

The Guided Pinaka Rocket System, developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has gained considerable traction in international markets due to its advanced precision strike capabilities. It is part of India’s push to expand its defense exports and offers significant advantages over older, conventional rocket systems. The system’s advanced guidance technology allows it to strike targets with high accuracy, a crucial advantage over the older, unguided rockets such as the Soviet-era BM-21 and BM-14, which are less effective in modern warfare scenarios.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.

Bengaluru-based technology startup Ciphor has achieved significant success in the defense innovation sector by winning five prestigious contracts as part of the Ministry of Defence’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (IDEX) program. Known for its cutting-edge solutions in defense and security technology, Ciphor has recently launched two groundbreaking products: the STAMBA autonomous surveillance tower, capable of intercepting live human activity and tracking drones, and a 6U satellite bus designed for defense and scientific missions in low Earth orbit (LEO). These innovations mark Ciphor’s growing role in India’s strategic defense technology landscape and its commitment to advancing the nation’s capabilities in surveillance, communication, and space-based applications.

The IDEX program, launched by India’s Ministry of Defence to foster indigenous innovation, has provided a robust platform for startups like Ciphor to showcase their innovations. The five contracts awarded to Ciphor highlight the Indian government’s trust in the company’s potential to contribute effectively to national security and defense technology.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.

The Indian Navy’s fifth Scorpene-class stealth submarine, INS Vagir, commissioned in January 2023, was recently involved in a minor collision with a fishing vessel near the Goa coast. According to sources quoted by idrw.org, the incident occurred while the submarine was transiting from Karwar Port to Mumbai Port for routine operations.

The collision reportedly took place when INS Vagir surfaced approximately 400-500 meters ahead of a wooden fishing vessel. Despite the submarine’s sensors not detecting any nearby vessels at the time, the fishing boat trailing behind the submarine failed to execute evasive maneuvers, leading to the collision.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.

An Indian private defence sector delegation is set to visit Brazil to explore avenues for joint development of advanced aerospace and defence weapon systems. This significant step aims to deepen cooperation between the two countries in the defence sector, leveraging their complementary capabilities and shared interests.

The Indian delegation will visit several key Brazilian defence facilities, including the headquarters of Embraer, a leading aerospace company known for its aircraft manufacturing and technological expertise. Discussions are expected to focus on Joint development of weapon systems for mutual benefit.
Co-manufacturing opportunities in aerospace, including fighter jets and transport aircraft. Exploring maintenance solutions for shared platforms like the Scorpène-class submarines, which both countries operate.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.

In a recent development, the Pakistan Navy announced the successful test of its “indigenously developed Ship-Launched Ballistic Missile” (SLBM), named the SMASH SLBM or P282. The missile reportedly boasts a range of 350 km (217 miles) and is capable of precision strikes on both land and sea targets. Equipped with advanced navigation systems and maneuverability features, the SMASH SLBM also offers anti-access area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities, potentially posing a threat to carrier groups and other strategic assets in the region.

However, Indian defense sources report that the Indian Navy has anticipated such developments and is actively bolstering its defenses with enhanced interception capabilities.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.

At the recently concluded IDEAS 2024 defense exhibition, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officials revealed details of their ambitious PFX (Pakistan Fighter Program), a project aimed at developing an indigenous 4.5+ generation fighter aircraft. The program reflects Pakistan’s intent to bolster its air combat capabilities while reducing reliance on imported platforms.

The PFX aircraft is envisioned as a twin-engine fighter jet with advanced design features, including Canards For enhanced maneuverability and aerodynamic performance and will come with Advanced Sensors like Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system and a locally developed AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.

he Indian Air Force (IAF) is aiming to significantly reduce its dependency on foreign weapons systems over the next 15 years by transitioning to domestically developed air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, as well as indigenous guidance bombs for both its indigenous and imported fighter jets. This initiative aligns with India’s larger push for self-reliance in defense, marking a decisive move towards local development and production of advanced armaments.

An IAF official, speaking anonymously to idrw.org, confirmed that significant progress has already been made in this direction, with state-owned defense organizations and private sector firms actively contributing to the development of these systems. However, the official acknowledged that a full transition to 100% Indian-made weapon systems for the IAF’s combat fleet could take 15 to 20 years.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.

The BrahMos missile, which first took to the skies as the PJ-10 in 2001, has become a cornerstone of India’s missile arsenal. According to BrahMos Aerospace, the missile system has now completed 110 successful trials across its various platforms, including the shore-based, air-launched, and ship-launched variants. Over its 23-year journey, BrahMos has evolved from a 290-kilometer range missile to a longer-range powerhouse, with the current reach extended to 450 kilometers, and plans underway to achieve an 800-kilometer range.

The first test of BrahMos marked the beginning of a robust missile development program that has expanded the weapon’s capabilities in response to evolving security needs. With 110 tests spanning over two decades, the BrahMos missile system has demonstrated its versatility, reliability, and adaptability to different launch environments. BrahMos Aerospace’s rigorous testing schedule has allowed the system to be fine-tuned for maximum operational readiness, making it one of the most tried-and-tested weapons in India’s defense inventory.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.

After the successful testing of the Long-Range Air-Launched Standoff Missile (LRAShM), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is gearing up for a more ambitious phase of its hypersonic technology program. DRDO plans to conduct extended tests of its Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) to validate its capabilities over a longer duration.

In 2020, DRDO successfully tested the scramjet-powered HSTDV, achieving a flight duration of 20 seconds at a speed of Mach 6. This milestone demonstrated India’s initial capability to develop and sustain hypersonic flight. Now, DRDO is planning to extend the test duration to 400 seconds, which will allow for comprehensive evaluation of the system’s performance, stability, and range at sustained hypersonic speeds.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.

The Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) [R&DE(E)] of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is progressing with the development of a new radome for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), also known as Tejas, under its ongoing project DRAP (Development of Radome for Advanced Platforms). The new radome aims to enhance the performance and operational capabilities of the LCA by improving the aircraft’s radar and sensor systems.

The radome being developed by R&DE(E) for the LCA is conical in shape, designed to accommodate the advanced radar and sensor systems that are critical for the aircraft’s performance. With a total length of 1972mm and a diameter of 892mm at the fuselage end, the radome is built to meet the specific aerodynamic and functional requirements of the LCA. The shape and size are crucial for ensuring that the radome offers minimal interference with radar signals while maintaining the structural integrity and aerodynamics of the aircraft.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG

Israeli defense manufacturer Elbit Systems is positioning its Autonomous Towed Howitzer Ordnance System (ATHOS) as a competitive contender in the Indian Army’s quest to procure 400 Towed Gun Systems (TGS). The ATHOS is a long-range 155mm/52 caliber artillery system renowned for its advanced capabilities. Elbit has pledged to achieve 70% indigenization, significantly lowering costs to make the ATHOS more attractive than the indigenous Dhanush 155mm x 45 caliber gun.

Elbit faces stiff competition from Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Bharat Forge, who are jointly developing a 15-ton variant of the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS). The ATAGS is a DRDO-developed gun with advanced features such as a higher firing range and quick deployment.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.

India’s aerospace research community has achieved a major milestone with the first detailed diagnostics of a single cup sector of a modern annular combustor. The experiment, linked to the Kaveri Engine Program, represents a pivotal advancement in understanding combustion dynamics and stability. This high-resolution diagnostics effort involves leading experts Prof. Saptarshi Basu, Dr. Pratikash Panda, and Prof. S. Chaudhuri. Their work is expected to significantly enhance India’s capabilities in developing efficient, stable, and low-emission combustors for aviation.

The experimental rig for this research is a to-scale 20º sector of an annular combustor designed to emulate the real operational conditions of a combustor used in the Kaveri engine. Notably, the combustor test rig has been equipped with optical access points in both the primary and exhaust zones, enabling a precise view of the combustion process. This optical access is essential for observing flame stability and flow characteristics in a high-speed environment.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG.

Recent Indian media reports indicate that the ambitious BrahMos-2K hypersonic missile program has been shelved for the time being due to high costs associated with its development. The BrahMos-2K, envisioned as a derivative of Russia’s 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missile, was intended to achieve speeds of Mach 6-7—slightly reduced from the Zircon’s Mach 9 capability. However, concerns over the per-unit cost have led the armed forces to reconsider the feasibility of the program.

The Indian Armed Forces have reportedly expressed reservations about the high per-unit cost of the BrahMos-2K missile, which would make large-scale acquisition financially prohibitive. With hypersonic missile technology still in its nascent stages globally, the costs of research, development, and production remain exorbitant.