SOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM.
A curious pattern has emerged: Chinese spy vessels conveniently appear in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) whenever India issues a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a missile test. According to top officials in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) speaking to idrw.org, this heightened Chinese interest stems from India’s unique missile technology, particularly its manoeuvrable trajectories and multiple, field-interchangeable warheads.
Indian missiles stand out for their unpredictable flight paths. This capability, achieved through pitch manoeuvres, makes them difficult to track and intercept by enemy (air defense) systems. Additionally, Indian missiles boast the capability to carry multiple warheads, which can be swapped out in the field depending on the mission requirements. This versatility adds another layer of strategic advantage.
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) signed a contract with Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) today for the procurement of ten 30 mm CRN-91 naval guns along with associated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The CRN-91 gun is an indigenously developed weapon manufactured by Ordnance Factory Medak. It’s already in service with the ICG, proving its effectiveness in the country’s maritime defense strategy.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has set its sights on a March 2026 rollout for the first prototype of the LCA Mk-2 fighter jet, as confirmed during their Q4 FY2023-24 earnings conference call. This news comes amidst earlier estimations suggesting a 2025 maiden flight.
Previously, Prabhulla Chandran VK, director of avionics and weapon systems at the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which oversees the LCA Mk-2 design, had indicated a possible 2025 maiden flight with an American engine. However, HAL’s revised target suggests a slight delay, pushing the rollout to March 2026.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Maldives’ recent decision to replace Indian Dornier aircraft and helicopters with Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones has raised strategic and operational concerns. Despite the allure of advanced drone technology, the Indian Dornier aircraft offer capabilities that drones cannot match.
The Maldives, seeking to diversify its strategic partnerships, has opted for a new security approach. This includes acquiring defense equipment from China and Turkey. However, experts believe the chosen replacements may not be optimal for the Maldives’ specific requirements.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian military is poised to embrace a revolutionary technology – High-Altitude Platforms (HAPs) – that promises to transform its surveillance capabilities. These long-endurance, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer significant advantages over traditional aircraft and satellites, making them a game-changer for border security and maritime domain awareness.
Leading the charge is the Indian Navy, which has already signed a contract with NewSpace Research & Technologies Pvt. Ltd. for the development of HAPs specifically designed for monitoring the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). These next-generation platforms boast an impressive 60-day airborne endurance, a stark contrast to the limited flight times of conventional aircraft and drones.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Chennai-based space startup Agnikul Cosmos has postponed its much-anticipated test launch of the “Agnibaan SOrTeD” (Sub Orbital Technology Demonstrator) mission once again. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued, reserving airspace for the launch window from May 28th, 2024, to June 25th, 2024, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
This delay comes after multiple previous postponements due to technical issues. The SOrTeD mission, though lasting only two minutes from launch to splashdown, holds immense significance as a potential stepping stone for the next generation of Indian satellite launchers.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, is fast-tracking its venture into electric air taxis with a target to launch by 2026. The airline, under the parent company InterGlobe Enterprises, has partnered with California-based Archer Aviation to bring 200 eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft to India. These aircraft, valued at $1 billion, aim to revolutionize urban mobility by significantly reducing travel times in congested cities. Recent visits by IndiGo’s leadership to Archer’s headquarters underscore their commitment to this innovative project.
IndiGo and Archer’s collaboration includes the development of ‘Midnight,’ a piloted, four-passenger eVTOL designed for quick, successive flights with minimal charge time. This initiative not only promises to alleviate urban congestion but also marks a significant step toward sustainable aviation.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
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Hindus, who constitute one percent of the American population and is the third largest religion of the world, has gone unpresented in the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, in the absence of which the USCIRF has been producing biased, unscientific and one-sided reports on India and Hindus, the head of a top Indian diaspora think-tank body said Friday.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on Friday announced the appointment of three new members — Maureen Ferguson, Vicky Hartzler, and Asif Mahmood and reappointments of Stephen Schneck and Eric Ueland to its commission. The term of the previous commissioners — Abraham Cooper, David Curry, Frederick Davie, Mohamed Magid, Nury Turkel and Frank Wolf ended on May 14.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
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India is a friend of the world and the global community expects it to contribute significantly in bringing peace to war-torn Ukraine, Swiss State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alexandre Fasel said on Friday as Switzerland prepares to host a major summit next month to end the conflict in Ukraine.
Fasel held wide-ranging talks with his Indian interlocutors and extended an invitation to the Indian prime minister for participating at the summit that is aimed at charting a course for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
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Capacity building is an “important component” in India’s defence and security engagement with the Maldives and “we will be happy to take it forward” if New Delhi receives a request from Male for training their pilots, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.
Randhir Jaiswal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, made the comment during his weekly briefing in response to a query over reports on issues related to operation of an aviation platform in the Maldives.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Flight operations at Goa International Airport in Dabolim were affected after an Indian Navy aircraft made an emergency landing at the facility on Friday.
Talking to PTI, Goa airport director SVT Dhanamjaya Rao said the runway was closed from 4.50 pm to 6.30 pm on Friday after an Indian Navy aircraft made an emergency landing. Four flights had to be diverted as the runway was unavailable for civilian flights during this period, he said.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
India and Britain have reaffirmed their commitment to conclude a mutually beneficial free trade agreement (FTA) at the annual UK-India Strategic Dialogue here, as the two sides reflected the “good progress” on the 2030 Roadmap since the last review.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, who is on a visit to the UK, held discussions with his counterpart, Sir Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Friday.
Continue readingSOURCE: PIB
BEML Limited has secured an order from Northern Coal Fields Limited (NCL) for the supply of 28 units of BH100 Rear Dump Trucks. The total value of the order is Rs 250 crore. The BH100 Rear Dump Truck is engineered to transport payloads of up to 100 tonnes, specifically designed for the efficient handling of overburden and coal in heavy-duty mining operations.
This order marks a significant milestone in the BEML’s continued partnership with NCL, reflecting the trust and reliance on the Defence Public Sector Undertaking’s heavy-duty mining equipment. The dumpers will be maintained under a Guaranteed Spare Parts contract for a period of five years, ensuring uninterrupted service and operational efficiency.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Have you seen a gun that looks like a stick from the outside but is capable of killing someone when its trigger is pulled and the bullet hits the target? At least three such “stick guns” are on display at the Arms Museum of the Central School of Armament and Warfare Skills (CSWT) of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore.
Set up in 1967 based on the vision of BSF Director General K F Rustomjee, the museum is home to 300 rare weapons, officials said on Friday on the eve of International Museum Day, observed on May 18.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday charge-sheeted one more person in the Indian Navy spying case involving Pakistani intelligence operatives. Amaan Salim Shaikh is a key accused in the case, involving a conspiracy by Pakistani agents to ‘honey-trap’ Indian Navy personnel to gather secret information regarding the defence establishments.
The anti-terror agency, which filed a supplementary chargesheet on Friday in the NIA special court at Visakhapatnam, charged Amaan, a resident of Mumbai (Maharashtra), under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
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