SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Defence Research and Development Organisation in its Publication has revealed that it has started the development of 3rd generation Explosive Reactive Armour called Next Generation Explosive Reactive Armour (NGERA) for the Next Generation Main Battle Tank (NGMBT) or Future MBT (FMBT) program.

Under the NGERA program, DRDO will develop ERA capable of defeating anti-tank missiles equipped with tandem-shaped charge warheads in addition to mono-shaped charges and kinetic energy projectiles. NGERA technology is based on a newly developed less sensitive explosive composition, which contains two types of explosives along with other ingredients. The composition and thickness of an explosive sheet
were finalized based on a large number of optimization experiments.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

GE Aviation and India’s premium public sector Aerospace Company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are likely to settle for Engine Division Bangalore to locally manufacture F414-INS6 engines as talks with both companies are completed and are pending final clearance from the U.S. administration.

HAL will manufacture F414-INS6 engines under a license agreement between both companies for which it will first upgrade the facilities and train its engineers so that 100% ToT of the engine can be absorbed and the entire supply chain of the engine be created in India.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Indian Army has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to procure quantity 850 Nano-Drones (200 Sets of 04 x AV along with HHGCS, base station plus 30 Ni AV and 20 day AV along with complete accessories through Fast Track Procedure under Emergency Procurement under Buy (Indian) Category and seeks participation in the procurement process from prospective Bidders subject to requirements in succeeding paragraphs.

Since Indian Army is mandated to conduct special missions in conventional operations, Counter Insurgency (CI)/ Counter Terrorism (CT) operations, Out Of Area Contingency Operations & Sub Conventional Operations deployed along Northern Borders, Line of Control (LC)/ Line of Actual Control(LAC) & hinterland need enhanced situational awareness about the potential threat as obtained in the intended target area.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Indian Air Force has issued a Request for Information (RFI ) for a Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program and has asked vendors who are interested to provide Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost of aircraft and associated equipment etc for 40, 60 and 80 aircraft that the IAF intends to procure.

RFI states that MTA would be used for various roles of transport aircraft between 18 to 30 Tons of cargo carrying capacity. Selected Transport aircraft will be made in India and delivery will commence from the 36th month of the contract being awarded between MoD and the winning bid.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

European multinational developer and manufacturer of missiles, MBDA will be offering its Exocet AM39 an airborne version of the Exocet anti-ship missile to Indian Navy to be equipped on 26 Rafale M fighter jets to be equipped on the Indian Aircraft carrier.

Exocet AM39 is a 670 kg very low altitude over the sea (sea-skimming) anti-ship missile with a range of 70km with Fire and Forget Capabilities. Exocet AM39 also has been offered by MBDA to be equipped on India’s TEDBF, 4.5gen Deck-based fighter jet that is under development and also for the LCA-Navy.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The US Air Force & Indian Air Forces are to take part in Cope India 2023 which is to begin in April this year in India as a long-running bilateral field training mission conducted by the US Pacific Air Forces to improve US-Indian cooperation. The operation is like to occur in two Indian air force bases in Bengal: Kalaikunda & Panagarh.

The airmen will train in a range of missions, including subject matter expert exchanges, air mobility training, airdrop training and large-force exercises.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

MBDA plans to offer India its AKERON, a unique fifth-generation tactical combat missile, which the company claims are a quantum leap from the third and fourth-generation weapons currently available on the market. AKERON is a Lightweight medium-range munition, Designed for open field operation or Urban warfare with optimal Fire & Forget and Man-On-The-Loop modes with Day and night capability with high-resolution dual mode uncooled IR/TV seeker.

AKERON family of missiles incorporates the latest technologies in terms of high-resolution multi-band imagers, multi-effect warheads (anti-tank, anti-infrastructure, anti-personnel), data links, and multi-mode guidance algorithms based on AI techniques. All ensure robust and precise guidance at any distance, in all conditions.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Not to miss out on the nearly $4-6 billion Super Sukhoi Upgrade Program of the 150 Indian Sukhoi-30MKI fleet, Rosoboronexport sources have confirmed idrw.org that Russia United Aircraft Corporation has come with its own Super Sukhoi Upgrade Program for India that will bring aircraft at par with the Russian level of “SM2”.

Russian Su-30SM2 fighters are getting upgraded with a host of improvements in avionics, engines and different aerodynamics that the company claims will make it par with any 4.5++ Gen fighter jet with near 5th gen performance.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The United States and India are in talks that will grant India local production rights of its 155mm M982 Excalibur artillery rounds that were procured in 2019 largely for the M777 ultra-light towed artillery howitzers purchased from the United States.

155mm M982 Excalibur can also be used from the K-9 Vajra, Dhanush and Bofors. Indian Army had procured more than 600 rounds of both airburst and ground-burst configuration types in the army’s inventory.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The Ministry of Defence, Government of India, intends to procure quantity 2748 Rugged Terrain Bike (RTB) with Accessories under emergency procurement through Fast Track Procedure (FTP) under Buy (Indian) category.

Rugged Terrain Bike (RTB) should have a minimum of 02 personnel including the driver, Monoblock seat with not less than 360 CC. Maximum Speed Not less than 80 KMPH on road and not less than 40 KMPH Cross Country in Mountainous terrain and 30 KMPH in Deserts.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Indian Army has confirmed DAC has accorded AoN for procurement of “Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (Tracked)” ie “FICV(Tr)” for the Mechanised Infantry Arm of the Indian Army with Manned turret (un-manned turret as EPP) with FCS, fire & forget top-attack ATGMs, automatic cannon of at least 30mm calibre, co-axial machine gun and a stabilised RCWS with 12.7mm machine gun.

Modern protection measures should include an Active Protection System and Laser Warning & Protection Measures with a Crew of three and a stick of eight soldiers.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security said that C-390 is certified to operate from an altitude of 14000ft which fits the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at high altitudes in the Indian Northern Sector.

Junior also pitched KC-390 which is an aerial refuelling variant of the Transporter and claimed that KC-390s offers versatility due to its unique modern design which makes it best suited for the Indian Air Force which operates from different types of terrain and can easily provide aerial refuelling to high-speed fighter jets due its much flexible probe-and-drogue system.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Bengaluru-based Gopalan Aerospace India Private Limited will be showcasing Czech aircraft manufacturer Let Kunovice developed Let L-410 Turbolet, a twin-engine short-range transport aircraft at the Aero India 2023 for the Static display.

L 410 is an all-metal, high-wing turboprop aircraft that is Designed for short take-off and landing (STOL) that can carry 19 passengers with more than 1,200 L 410 aircraft have been manufactured since the 1960s and been operated by more than 60 countries across five continents.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Ministry of Defence (Army), invites Request for Information (RFI) for life extension of SMERCH ammunition for the Indian Army by Private Indian vendors.

300mm SMERCH Rockets of the following four (04) variants are used with the SMERCH Multi Launcher Rocket System (MLRS) of the Indian army, which is proposed to be offered for Life Extension by Private Indian vendors.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

U.S Aerospace Engine Major has applied for clearance of Technology Transfer for the F-414 engine and F-414-EPE [Enhanced Performance Engine] that will clear the path for the company to not only set up a local manufacturing plant jointly in India with India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) but also locally manufacture niche core engine section in the country.

F414-INS6 engine an India-specific engine that will incorporate single-engine safety criteria, higher performance, and greater durability will be the first to be locally manufactured in India under ToT agreements that will allow India’s HAL to manufacture this engine from RAW material stages and also manufacture spares for the engines.