SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

India has issued Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) for a launch of an experimental flight vehicle over the Andaman & Nicobar Islands for the period from 29 Nov – 01 Dec 2022 as per information provided by Twitter user Damien Symon@detresfa_.

The designated area is often used to test the anti-ship version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile jointly by the Indian Navy and the Andaman and Nicobar Command.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Top defense officials from Argentina last month visited LCA -Tejas Division in the HAL facility in Bengaluru and as per media news coming in Argentina had asked for a hands-on trial of the Indian fighter jet by their top pilots which is likely to happen sometime in 2023.

Argentina has conveyed that it wants a trial process and evaluation process before it finalizes a jet. Argentina has shortlisted 3 fighter jets for its initial requirements for 12 fighter jets which are the Danish F-16, Chinese JF-17, and Indian LCA-Tejas, and wants its Test Pilots to perform evaluation flight Trials.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

India’s Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL) is developing a 155 mm / 52 caliber Gun known as Mountain Artillery Gun Extended Range (MArG-Er) as per a report in the Janes Intel. MArG-Er will be an upgraded gun that is based on the 155 mm/39 caliber Ultra-Light Howitzer.

MArG-ER will weigh less than 8 tons and will have a firing range of 41 km. MArG-ER will be a 155mm, 52 calibers towed howitzer. It is not clear at this point if there also be a Truck mounted variant of the MArG-ER.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The Brazilian Army has selected the Centauro II 120 mm system made by Iveco–Oto Melara for its requirements. In mid of this year, the Brazilian Army Logistic Command issued a Request for Proposal for an 8×8 armored car armed with a 105 or 120 mm gun. TATA-DRDO developed Kestrel was offered to the Brazilian Army.

Brazilian Army announced that Eitan, Kestrel, and Wahash FSV vehicles respectively were disqualified because it was considered a prototype or belonged to a pilot batch indicating it was not widely accepted by any other operator.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The government’s Heavy Vehicles Factory in Chennai is a buzz with activities to commence production of the Arjun Mk-1A Main Battle Tank (MBT) after DRDO secured orders for 118 units worth Rs 7,523 crore last year. With the activation of the production line after a long pause, idrw.org had been told Indian Army was approached by the DRDO to consider ordering more Arjun Mk-1A while it still works on the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQRs) for the future main battle tank (FMBT).

This request comes against the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine where Russian Main Battle Tanks have not only underperformed but were proved to be quite vulnerable to the modern anti-armor weapons systems that were supplied by the western countries to Ukraine.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Pravaig Dynamic, a Bangalore-based EV startup, unveiled its all-new electric Military Utility Vehicle called Veer which is based on the Defy SUV that the company has launched. Veer is powered by a 90.2kWh battery that delivers 402bhp and 620Nm of torque to all four wheels. It has a length of 4960mm length and 234mm of ground clearance.

The manufacturer claims a range of 500km on a full charge and the battery can be charged from zero to 80 percent in 30 minutes using rapid charging technology.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The U.S. government is willing to authorize the sale of an Ex-Danish F-16 under very restrictive conditions, which has made a deal to procure an Ex-Danish F-16 at a ballpark figure of $15 million per unit very unattractive. Argentina’s search for fighter jets might have come down to just two which are left in the race that is Indian Tejas and the Chinese JF-17 which will include the off-the-shelf purchase of 12 jets directly from the vendor and local production rights that will allow its state-owned Aerospace company Fabrica Militar de Aviones (FMA).

idrw.org has been told that Argentina has told both vendors that it plans to locally manufacture jets likely in a semi-knocked-down kit (SKD) with Argentinian equipment that may see the procurement of further 30 jets in long run.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Tata-Airbus are considering developing a Civilian varaint of the C-295MW transport aircraft that can carry 42 passengers and 5 crew members to be used under the Regional connectivity scheme launched by the government of India.

While plans will start unfolding when the manufacturing of the aircraft takes off to meet the order given by the Indian Air Force. Aircraft can operate from short take-off and landing capability on semi-prepared runways could be ideal to connect to smaller regional airports that are coming up on the radar of the government of India to boost regional connectivity.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

DRDO’s LRDE at “DefEXpo 2022” that had showcased the Uttam AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) Fire Control Radar (FCR) with a 912 TR module and it was confirmed it was an upgraded variant of the Uttam AESA FCR. DRDO-HAL originally planned to incorporate Uttam FCR with 780 TR modules from 21st Tejas Mk1A but now the plan might be changed to incorporate upgraded FCR with 912 TR but it might be seen from later batches.

ELM 2052 Radar that HAL has locally manufactured in collaboration with Israeli ELTA under the Transfer of Technology deal might be procured more than 20 units for the Tejas Mk1A and later units will come with Uttam FCR with 912 TR modules.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

In 2021, The Ministry of Defence of India and the U.S. Department of Defense concluded a Project Agreement (PA) for Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ALUAV) under the Joint Working Group Air Systems in the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). idrw.org has been told that the first Indo-US collaboration on defense programs will see the development of an Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ALUAV) that can be launched from Transporters like C-130 and C-17 to be used for electronic support jamming missions.

ALUAV once deployed will be able to provide Wide angular coverage for electronic support jamming missions with network-centric warfare (NCW) capabilities even before manned and unmanned aircraft enter airspace for their missions.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Red Tape might have kept four Soveri-Era Mi-26 Heavy Transport Helicopter fleet grounded which allowed Boeing to pitch for the sale of more CH-47 Chinook multi-mission heavy-lift transport helicopters and as per the latest media reports, India is indeed in talks with Boeing for the purchase of 11 more CH-47 Chinooks as Mi-26 fleet rust way quietly.

In 2019, the Indian Air Force acquired Chinook helicopters from the US for their induction into the service. Currently, it is operating a fleet of 15 Boeing-made Chinook helicopters.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Indian Air Force (IAF) is expected to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to interested vendors and OEMs under its tender for 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) by late 2023 or early 2024. RFP will likely see proposals being submitted from Lockheed Martin’s F-21, Boeing’s F-15EX and F-15EX, Dassault’s Rafale, Saab’s Gripen JAS-39 E/F, Russian MiG-35, and SU-35, and Eurofighter Typhoon.

idrw.org has been told that the Vetting process alone for all RFP received might take another year or more and after that, a short technical evaluation round that has been planned for bidders that will be shortlisted might take another year or so and it is likely winner might be announced by late 2025 and deal might be concluded after price and ToT negotiation by late 2026 if there are no further delays in negotiation round with the winning OEM.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with be working closely with the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard to develop a derivative of the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) to replace both aging HAL Cheetah and HAL Chetak helicopters in the Indian Navy and ICG fleet.

Indian Navy needs 111 Naval Utility Helicopters (NUH) and the Indian Navy is looking to procure variants of the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) modified for ship-based operations.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

With Japan opening up its defense industry to close nit of countries that includes India, the first possible sale of military equipment between both countries might be the sale of a Naval stealth antenna called unicorn under the Transfer of Technology arrangement to be integrated into next-gen Indian warships but India is more interested in Japanese advancements in its submarine technology.

idrw.org has been told that India is keen on acquiring expertise in some of the conventional submarine technology that Japan has developed for its indigenous submarine fleet which is often considered as best in the Diesel-Attack submarine programs in the entire world.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

William Blair, India Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin in an interview said that the company is hopeful that a Request for Proposal for the fighter aircraft under Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft competition (MRFA) might be issued by the Indian Air Force and claimed that if selected will manufacture F-21 (F-16V) in India with high indigenous content.

Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited displayed at (the) DefExpo just a couple of weeks ago F-16 wings that were made in India as part of the Global supply chain that had 70% indigenous content in the first wing that was produced.