SOURCE: 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.”

SOURCE: AFI

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.

SOURCE: AFI

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.

SOURCE: AFI

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.

SOURCE: AFI

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.

SOURCE: AFI

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.

SOURCE: AFI

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) unveiled its HLFT-42 (Hindustan Lead-in Fighter Trainer) design at Aero India 2023, generating a wave of mixed reactions. The single-engine aircraft, adorned with a symbolic image of Maruti, the Hindu God of wind, promised a blend of training capabilities and combat prowess. However, several aspects of the design raise questions about its overall strategy.

The HLFT-42 evokes the HF-24 Marut, a past HAL project. While the Marut spirit of power and agility is commendable, some argue that a 4.5-generation trainer envisioned for 2030 or later seems like a niche concept for pure pilot training. This begs the question: is the HLFT-42 truly a fighter trainer, or a trainer with light combat ambitions?

SOURCE: AFI

In 2012, Russia proposed selling several long-range Tupolev Tu-22M3 bombers to India, as part of a comprehensive military package that included the leasing of two Akula-class nuclear submarines and the acquisition of the aircraft carrier ‘Admiral Gorshkov’. Although the deal ultimately fell through due to financial considerations, the implications of such an acquisition by the Indian Navy would have been profound, particularly in the strategic context of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The Tupolev Tu-22M3, also known as the Backfire-C, is a supersonic, long-range bomber capable of delivering significant payloads over vast distances. With a range of up to 7,000 kilometers and the capacity to carry three Kh-22 cruise missiles, the Tu-22M3 serves as a formidable platform within the Russian Air Force and Navy. Despite Russian assertions that the Tu-22M3 is “not a strategic” weapon, its operational capabilities suggest otherwise. The bomber’s ability to strike targets far from home bases, coupled with its high speed and payload, would have dramatically enhanced India’s strategic reach.

SOURCE: AFI

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is making strides in improving the mobility of its Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VLSRSAM) launcher. This involves crucial modifications to certain subsystems with the aim of weight reduction.

The VLSRSAM is a state-of-the-art air defense system designed to counter low-altitude aerial threats like aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles. It utilizes vertical launch technology, allowing for rapid deployment and launch from mobile platforms.