SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) of India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has received a new batch of Dry Kaveri engines. These engines will undergo further testing and certification to pave the way for their integration into indigenous fighter jets.
This development marks a significant step forward for the Dry Kaveri program, which aims to develop a powerful engine for the DRDO Ghatak Unmanned Strike combat aircraft. After nearly a decade of delays, the project seems to be gaining momentum.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
General Electric (GE) is poised to revolutionize India’s aerospace industry with its cutting-edge engine technology. Currently negotiating a deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the F-414 engine, GE is pushing the boundaries of collaboration by proposing a significant transfer of technology (ToT) agreement, aiming for an impressive 80 per cent ToT.
The proposed collaboration between GE and HAL extends beyond the acquisition of existing engine technology. GE is also exploring the possibility of partnering with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to co-develop a new engine based on the F-414 platform. This engine holds the promise of powering India’s ambitious 5th generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) fighter jets, marking a significant leap forward in indigenous defence production.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Army has made significant strides towards self-sufficiency in ammunition production. In a major push towards indigenization, the Army has identified local sources for nearly 150 out of the 175 types of ammunition it utilizes. This initiative aims to eliminate ammunition imports by the financial year 2025-26.
This development marks a significant shift for the Indian Army, which has traditionally relied on imports to meet a portion of its ammunition needs. The corporatization of Ordnance Factories and the entry of several private sector players in recent years have significantly bolstered domestic production capabilities.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to receive its first LCA Mark 1A fighter jet in July 2024 from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This marks a slight delay from the initial February-March timeframe due to technical reasons.
HAL successfully conducted the maiden flight of the upgraded Tejas in March, paving the way for its integration into the IAF’s arsenal. This indigenous aircraft represents a significant milestone in India’s journey towards self-reliance in the defense sector.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is on the verge of finalizing the design of its Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV). This new heavy-lift rocket is poised to take over the reins from the PSLV, ISRO’s workhorse that has served the nation for decades.
While the NGLV’s design is nearing completion, ISRO officials are awaiting government approval to proceed with the next stage of development. This green light is crucial for translating the design into a functional launch vehicle.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is gearing up to acquire new spy planes for enhanced intelligence gathering and communication disruption capabilities. The plan involves procuring Airbus-319 class aircraft, likely pre-owned, to be converted into state-of-the-art military platforms.
This project, spearheaded by the Centre for Airborne Studies (CABS), aims to develop three new signal intelligence and communication jamming system aircraft. These next-generation spy planes will be crucial for bolstering India’s aerial surveillance and communication dominance.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has waded into the controversy surrounding the construction of five Fleet Support Vessels (FSVs) for the Indian Navy. The union has urged Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) to construct all five vessels at its own facility, criticizing the reported allocation of two vessels to Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
The central government awarded a ?20,000 crore contract to HSL for the construction of these five FSVs. These vessels are critical for the Indian Navy, providing logistical and operational support at sea.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Captain Gopichand Thotakura, a pilot, is set to become the first Indian to travel to the edge of space on Blue Origin’s next flight on May 19, the company announced on Thursday.
He will become the second Indian to visit space, after Rakesh Sharma’s iconic journey aboard Russian Soyuz T-11 in 1984. After Rakesh Sharma, only people of Indian origin have been in space — Kalpana Chawla (1997), Sunita Williams (2006), and Raja Chari (2021) as NASA astronauts.
Continue readingSOURCE: REUTERS
India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) reported a rise in fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, helped by demand for its aircraft from the country’s defence ministry.
Consolidated net profit rose 52% year-on-year to 43.09 billion rupees ($516.2 million) for the three months ended March 31. Capital goods and manufacturing companies have benefited throughout fiscal 2024 from the Indian government’s push for higher capital expenditure. This extended into the fourth quarter.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
India, a mega generator of digital data, is set to enhance its computational capabilities significantly by procuring 10,000 graphics processing units (GPUs) within the next 18 months, informed the country’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant on Thursday.
In a post on his X timeline, the India G20 Sherpa asserted that the country, which is the world’s highest in terms of population, generates 20 per cent of the world’s data. India also holds the position of having the second-highest number of GitHub AI projects globally, accounting for 19 per cent of worldwide AI projects, Kant said in his X post.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
In a veiled swipe at the country’s first prime minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said India lost its hold on Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) due to “someone’s weakness or mistake”.
Jaishankar made the remarks while addressing a programme event titled ‘Vishwabandhu Bharat’ To a question on what would China’s response be if India crossed the ‘Lakshman Rekha’ and integrated PoJK to the Union of India, given that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passes through Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan, the External Affairs Minister said, “I don’t believe there’s any such thing as a ‘Lakshman Rekha’. I think PoJK is a part of India, and due to someone’s weakness or mistake, it’s temporarily slipped away from us.”
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Pakistan on Wednesday conducted a successful training launch of guided multi-launch rocket system ‘Fatah-II’, which is capable of engaging targets with high precision up to a range of 400 kilometres, the army said.
The launch of Fatah-II Guided Rocket System was aimed at perfecting the launch drills and procedures, the army said in a statement. “Equipped with state-of-the-art navigation system, unique trajectory and manoeuvrable features, Fatah-II is capable of engaging targets with high precision and defeating any missile defence system,” it said.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Reiterating that they would continue to raise the issue of human rights in India with its leadership, Indian American lawmakers on Thursday, however, said that lecturing New Delhi on this issue is unlikely to work and they favoured entering into a conversation with the Indian leadership on their concerns with them.
“India was colonized for over 100 years. So, when we’re having a conversation about human rights, and you’re having a conversation with (External Affairs Minister S) Jai Shankar or someone else, you have to understand that just coming in from a perspective of lecturing India. When they say that we’ve had colonial powers lecture us for hundreds of years is not going to be productive,” Congressman Ro Khanna told members of the Indian American community during the “Desi Decides” Summit of Indian American Impact.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, also the BJP candidate from Lucknow, highlighted remarks from Pakistani leaders acknowledging India’s growing power. He said that our neighbour Pakistan, which has never spoken favourably about our country, is acknowledging India’s growth as a powerful nation.
Addressing a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow, Rajnath Singh said, “By 2027, India will rank third globally in terms of wealth. One of our neighbours, who has never spoken well of our country, and today their leaders are India is becoming a powerful country, and Pakistan is still backward.”
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached seven immovable properties in Kashmir belonging to a top terrorist of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), according to an official statement issued on Thursday.
Terrorist Sartaj Ahmed Mantoo’s properties, including land measuring 19 Marlas and 84 Sq ft at Kisarigam in Pulwama district, were attached on Wednesday on the orders of a special NIA court in Jammu, it said. Sartaj was arrested on January 31, 2020, and arms, ammunition and explosives were recovered from his possession. He was chargesheeted on July 27, 2020, and is currently facing trial under relevant sections of the Arms Act, Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, said the statement issued by the NIA.
Continue reading