SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Nagpur-based private defense manufacturer, Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), has embarked on an ambitious project to develop a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The initiative has been proposed under the Indigenous Design, Development, and Manufacturing (IDDM) framework, with research already underway. This marks a significant step by a private player to address a critical gap in India’s defense capabilities, which has persisted due to challenges faced by traditional development agencies.
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has struggled to meet the Indian Armed Forces’ technical requirements for MALE UAVs capable of operating at altitudes above 30,000 feet and sustaining flight durations of nearly 24 hours. As a result, the armed forces have relied heavily on imported platforms, a situation the government aims to address through the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, recently confirmed that the government has granted approval for the indigenous development of two nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs). This significant move highlights the Indian Navy’s growing confidence in the country’s ability to design and produce advanced defense platforms in-house.
Admiral Tripathi also addressed the projected timeline for the SSNs’ delivery, stating that the first nuclear-powered attack submarine is expected to be delivered by 2036-37. This timeline is deemed very realistic, considering the complexities involved in building nuclear-powered vessels from scratch. Following the first SSN’s induction, the second one is expected to be delivered within two years, further enhancing the Navy’s capabilities.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Former DRDO Chief Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, speaking at the Emerging Technologies in Defence event held by the Madras Management Association in Chennai, shared promising insights about India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. Dr. Reddy highlighted that the AMCA’s prototype rollout could happen as early as the end of 2026, despite the program receiving production clearance and Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) funding only eight months ago in 2024.
Dr. Reddy attributed this accelerated timeline to the expertise and infrastructure established by the DRDO and HAL over decades of work on the LCA program. These institutions have built a foundation of technological know-how, advanced testing facilities, and a network of supply chains, enabling the AMCA program to progress at an unprecedented pace.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
India’s second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-2) is set to mark a significant leap in naval propulsion technology by incorporating an Integrated Electric Propulsion System (IEPS) powered by Rolls-Royce MT-30 gas turbines. This next-generation propulsion system aligns with global advancements and represents a shift from the four US-supplied LM2500 engines currently powering the IAC-1, INS Vikrant, which delivers 88 MW for a top speed of 28 knots.
The Rolls-Royce MT-30, regarded as one of the world’s most power-dense marine gas turbines, will serve as the backbone of the IAC-2’s IEPS. The MT-30’s exceptional power output has already been proven on advanced platforms such as the Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. These aircraft carriers utilize the MT-30 in conjunction with electric propulsion systems, enabling operational flexibility, reduced noise, and enhanced efficiency.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Abdul Basit, a former Pakistani diplomat who served as the High Commissioner of Pakistan to India, has called for the Pakistan Navy to include nuclear-powered submarines in its fleet. Speaking to ABN News, Basit emphasized the strategic necessity of such acquisitions, particularly in the context of India’s growing capabilities, including its successful test of the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from the nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant, which completes India’s nuclear triad.
Basit underscored the importance of establishing parity with India’s naval and nuclear capabilities, suggesting that the Pakistan Navy’s current fleet lacks the deterrence power necessary to counterbalance India’s advancements. He argued that the induction of nuclear-powered submarines would not only strengthen Pakistan’s naval posture but also enhance its second-strike capability, which is a critical component of maintaining strategic stability in the region.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has begun deploying the Wheeled Armoured Amphibious Platform (WhAP) in the Naxal-affected regions of eastern India. Developed jointly by Tata Advanced Systems Limited and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the WhAP represents a significant enhancement in mobility, protection, and operational capability for forces operating in some of India’s most challenging environments.
he WhAP is an 8×8 armoured vehicle designed to perform in diverse terrains, including unpaved roads and dense jungles. It can carry up to 12 soldiers, including the driver, and is equipped with advanced features to ensure survivability and operational efficiency.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The prestigious High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Gulmarg recently hosted the Argentina Defense Attache on November 27th. The visit aimed to delve into the intricacies of mountain warfare and tactical operations in high-altitude terrain, exploring potential avenues for future collaboration between the Indian and Argentinian armies.
The Argentinian Defense Attache, a seasoned expert in high-altitude warfare, engaged in insightful discussions with HAWS instructors. The conversation centered around modern warfare in mountainous regions, including the nuances of training and tactical operations in such demanding environments.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said that India would be exploring more “collaborative possibilities” with the US once the Donald Trump-led administration takes over.
Addressing the CII Partnership Summit 2024 on the theme of ‘India and the World,’ S Jaishankar said: “The advent of the second Trump Administration is also obviously a major consideration in business circles. Obviously, the only safe prediction is a degree of unpredictability. Different countries have had their own experiences from the first Administration and would presumably draw from that to approach the second. Where India is concerned, I can state with confidence that the strategic convergences with the United States have only grown deeper with time. They have created a larger environment in which more collaborative possibilities can be explored.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The government has approved the construction of two indigenously designed nuclear attack submarines and is expected to ink contracts next month to procure 26 naval variants of Rafale jets and three Scorpene submarines, Navy chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi said on Monday.
At a press conference ahead of Navy Day, Admiral Tripathi said his force is keeping a close watch on the Chinese naval activities in the Indian Ocean, and described as “surprising” the growth of the Pakistan Navy given the condition of its economy, adding the eight brand new submarines being built will add significant combat potential to it.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The INS Vikrant, India’s indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC), has achieved full operational status after completing its final operational clearance this year, Vice Admiral V Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOCINC), Southern Naval Command, said on Monday.
Speaking to the media aboard the naval ship INS Shardul in Kochi, Srinivas said that INS Vikrant completed its final operations clearance this year. “With the completion of various trials and the ship’s fleet integration, INS Vikrant is now fully operational and is operating under the Western Fleet,” he added.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Monday said that the Navy has redoubled the focus on the infusion of niche and disruptive technologies.
Highlighting the Indian Navy’s technological advancement Navy Chief said, “We have been closely monitoring technological enhancement and the changing character of warfare. We have accordingly redoubled our focus on the infusion of niche and disruptive technologies – AI, ML, Robotics and Quantum Computing.”
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Space sector regulator IN-SPACe’s chairman Pawan Goenka on Monday said India faces significant gaps in meeting all its space data needs and remains heavily reliant on foreign providers. Addressing the GeoSmart India 2024 conference in Hyderabad, he also said without the geospatial industry growing, India cannot achieve its vision of being a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
“Are all our data needs met today? My answer is definitely not… Affordability, low resolution data, high resolution data — not enough, Goenka said.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
India on Monday described as “deeply regrettable” an incident of breach of premises at the Bangladesh assistant high commission in Agartala and said consular properties should not be targeted under any circumstances.
The comments by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) came hours after thousands of people took out a massive rally around the Bangladeshi mission in the capital city of Tripura protesting the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh as well as attacks on minorities in that country.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath on Monday exhorted youths to engage themselves with scientific and technological advancements being made by the country so that India can emerge as a global leader in the years ahead.
He urged them to pursue careers in science and technology and contribute to the growth in these fields. Somanath was speaking at a ‘Student Science Interactive Program – Face to Face with New Frontiers in S&T’, as part of the four-day India International Science Festival (IISF) at IIT-Guwahati, which will conclude on Tuesday.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The BSF South Bengal Frontier on Sunday said that it maintains strong bilateral relations with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in line with its unwavering commitment to effective boundary management. A BSF official said the South Bengal Frontier held several high-level meetings with its Bangladesh counterparts throughout the year, including one inspector general-level meeting, three at the DIG level and 23 commandant-level discussions.
“In line with its unwavering commitment to effective border management, BSF South Bengal Frontier maintains strong bilateral relations with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB),” the statement said.
Continue reading