SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDANI), an Indian state-owned company, is in discussions with Pratt & Whitney, a leading manufacturer of aircraft engines, for the potential supply of engine components.
Pratt & Whitney engines are ubiquitous in the aviation industry, powering both commercial airliners and military aircraft. While specific details regarding the components under discussion haven’t been disclosed by MIDANI due to ongoing negotiations, the potential partnership holds significant weight.
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Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), a long-time supplier of small arms and ammunition, is facing stiff competition from India’s growing arms industry. This shift threatens POF’s market share, particularly in the Arab Gulf and Africa, where they traditionally held dominance.
For years, POF enjoyed a stable market of around $100 million annually. However, recent reports suggest a decline in sales due to concerns about ammunition quality. High rates of failure in Pakistani ammo have led traditional customers to seek alternatives.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Kuan-Ting Chen, a member of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan representing Chiayi County, expressed optimism following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response to President Tsai Ing-wen’s congratulations on his election victory. Chen, in a statement, viewed this exchange as a potential turning point for Taiwan-India relations.
“This marks a new chapter in Taiwan-India relations,” Chen said, highlighting his “eagerness” for cooperation between the two countries, which he considers “leading nations in AI and IT.”
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For decades, the Motorcycle Display Team of the Indian Army has been a cherished part of the Republic Day Parades, showcasing a blend of skill, coordination, and daring stunts. Many of us grew up in awe of these performances, which have become a nostalgic symbol of national pride. However, as India ascends on the global stage, it is time to reconsider the relevance and image projected by this tradition.
In today’s world, where military prowess is increasingly defined by technological advancements, strategic capabilities, and modern warfare tactics, the motorcycle stunts appear anachronistic. They harken back to an era where such displays were a common way to demonstrate discipline and coordination. However, as India aims to project itself as a rising global power with a focus on innovation and modernity, these stunts may send the wrong message about the priorities and image of the Indian Army.
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India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has confirmed receiving a Request for Proposal (RFP) from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the procurement of 156 Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand attack helicopters.
This significant development comes after the Indian Army raised its first attack squadron equipped with LCHs in Bangalore on June 1, 2022. The plan is to establish a total of seven squadrons, each with ten helicopters. The Indian Air Force (IAF) also formally inducted the Prachand into its fleet at the 143 Helicopter Unit at Jodhpur Air Force Station on October 3, 2022.
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By 2030-31, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will begin the phased retirement of nearly 60 Jaguar aircraft configured with the DARIN-II avionics suite. This significant transition marks the beginning of the end for these aircraft, which have been in service since the late 1970s. The retirement process will commence in 2028 as the IAF starts phasing out older batches acquired through a historic deal signed in 1978. This $1 billion agreement with SEPECAT, an Anglo-French company, facilitated the procurement of 160 Jaguars, with the first 40 delivered in a flyaway condition.
Currently, the IAF is the only operator of the Jaguar aircraft in the world. The fleet is distributed across six squadrons, with 20 fighters each, stationed in Ambala, Jamnagar, and Gorakhpur. Known for their role as “deep penetration strike aircraft,” the Jaguars have been a cornerstone of the IAF’s strategic capabilities for decades.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation is taking its Rafale fighter jet program to new heights. The company is gearing up to increase production from two to three jets per month in response to a surge in global demand.
This news comes courtesy of Le Tribune, a French newspaper, which reported CEO Eric Trappier’s ambitious plans. Trappier highlighted the company’s significant turnaround, stating, “We are moving from less than one unit in 2020, which was critical, to three units. Currently, we are at two units.”
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The Indian Army’s recent selection of the ASMI submachine gun (SMG) over the well-established Israeli Uzi marks a significant milestone for indigenous Indian defense manufacturing. Let’s delve into the factors that led to ASMI’s triumph and explore the key features of both weapons.
The ASMI, meaning “pride, self-respect, and hard work,” is a 9x19mm caliber SMG designed and developed in 2020 by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and Lt Col Prasad Bansod.
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The Indian Air Force (IAF) has returned triumphantly from the recently concluded Red Flag exercise, a premier aerial combat training event hosted by the United States Air Force (USAF) in Alaska. This year’s edition, held from June 4th to 14th at Eielson Air Force Base, saw the IAF’s Rafale fighters emerge as clear standouts.
The IAF Rafales engaged in simulated long-range Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) missions, facing off against US F-16s and Singaporean F-16s. Reports indicate that the Rafales emerged with the upper hand in these BVR encounters, showcasing their advanced capabilities.
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Agnikul Cosmos, a private space company incubated at IIT Madras, is setting its sights on the stars. After successfully test-firing its first rocket on May 30, the company is now aiming for a lofty goal: 35-40 commercial launches per year in the coming years.
This achievement marks a significant milestone for the Indian space industry. Agnikul Cosmos becomes the second private Indian company to successfully test a rocket, and remarkably, the first to launch from its own private pad.
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The Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) in Hyderabad, along with Premier Explosives, has achieved a breakthrough in propellant technology for rockets and missiles. The collaboration resulted in an indigenous process for a key material used in the preparation of CL-20 propellant.
CL-20 is a high-energy material prized for its superior performance compared to conventional propellants. It boasts a better oxidizer-to-fuel ratio than RDX and delivers 20% more energy than HMX-based propellants, translating to increased efficiency and range for rockets and missiles.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary DD(R&D) and Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), recently announced a significant milestone in India’s aviation capabilities. The country’s ambitious 5th-generation fighter jet program is expected to be ready for production by 2033-34, with induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF) slated for 2035 onwards.
The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is set to be India’s next-generation fighter jet, a considerable leap ahead of the current Tejas MkII and Mk1A. The AMCA program promises to bring a host of advanced technologies and capabilities to the IAF, positioning India among the few nations capable of developing and deploying 5th-generation fighters.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is planning further tests of the SAAW-V2, an indigenously developed smart weapon. The SAAW-V2 is a 120 kg class, a high-precision weapon designed to engage ground targets at a range of up to 100 kilometres. According to a Ministry of Defence (MoD) statement released in New Delhi, the weapon successfully underwent two different configurations based on satellite navigation and electro-optical sensors in 2021.
This previous round of testing marked a significant milestone, as it included the country’s first-ever electro-optical seeker-based flight test for a bomb of this class. The electro-optic sensor itself is another testament to India’s growing Indigenous defence capabilities.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is prioritizing the Saab Gripen E and the American F-16 V Viper in its selection process to acquire up to 12 new fighter jets. This comes with a total budget of 61.2 billion pesos (US$1.04 billion) allocated for the modernization program expected to run from 2023 to 2027.
The shortlisted options are the Gripen E from Saab and the F-16 V offered by Lockheed Martin. The fate of the offer made by India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for its Tejas MkIA remains unclear. HAL has not yet provided an official comment on this development.
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The Indian Ministry of Defense is gearing up to significantly strengthen the country’s air defense capabilities with the acquisition of nearly 5,000 “Vajra” Air Defense Systems. Developed indigenously by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), this system promises to be a game-changer, offering several key advantages.
The Vajra, which stands for Very Short Range Air Defense System (VSHORADS), is designed to effectively neutralize a range of aerial threats including enemy aircraft, drones, and helicopters. A significant advantage of the Vajra lies in its cost-effectiveness. Being domestically produced, it offers a powerful defense solution without straining the budget.
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