SOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM.
Munitions India Limited (MIL), a leading Indian defense manufacturer, has secured a significant contract worth $225 million to supply artillery ammunition to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This milestone agreement was facilitated by MIL’s partner, Nadrah Company.
The signing ceremony was graced by distinguished guests, including His Excellency Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, Governor of the General Authority of Military Industries (GAMI) of Saudi Arabia, and the Honorable Raksha Rajya Mantri (Minister of State for Defence) of India, Shri Ajay Bhatt.
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has gifted a Total Technical Life Extended (TTLE) MiG-21 aircraft to the Military Institute of Technology (MILIT) in Pune for training purposes. This gesture aims to support and enhance technical training for future generations of armed forces personnel.
The gifted MiG-21 has completed its designated operational lifespan, reaching the end of its Total Technical Life. However, through technical expertise and meticulous efforts, IAF units from Western Air Command (WAC), Repair & Salvage Unit (R&SU), and MILIT staff collaborated to assemble the aircraft for its new role as a training aid.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
In what would be a significant capability boost for defence forces, India is planning to develop three new spy planes that would be capable of keeping a close watch on enemy communications and carry out long-range surveillance missions. The project would be carried out over indigenously and the majority of the technology and equipment to be used would be made in India.
The proposal for getting three new spy planes also known as signal intelligence and communication jamming system aircraft is at an advanced stage and is expected to get clearance in next week, defence officials told ANI. The project is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory and the Indian Air Force where they would be using an Airbus-319 class aircraft, they said.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian-Russian joint venture BrahMos, known for its supersonic cruise missiles, has secured a significant milestone with a combined order portfolio exceeding $7 billion. This figure encompasses both domestic Indian orders and export deals, according to the company’s export director, Pravin Pathak.
Pathak made the announcement during the World Defense Show 2024, an international defense and security exhibition currently underway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This event, running from February 4th to 8th, provides a platform for showcasing advanced military technologies and fostering international partnerships.
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In a notable display of India’s growing prowess in defense technology and strategic diplomacy, Union Minister of State for Defence & Tourism Ajay Bhatt, along with Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, and Additional Secretary Anurag Bajpai, were warmly welcomed at the BrahMos Pavilion during the ongoing WORLD DEFENSE SHOW 2024 in Riyadh. Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Joshi and Praveen Pathak, Director (Marketing, Promotion, & Export) at BrahMos, hosted the esteemed delegation, marking a significant moment in India’s defense export endeavors.
The presence of such high-profile dignitaries underscores the importance India places on bolstering its defense capabilities while fostering stronger ties with key partners in the Middle East region. The BrahMos Pavilion served as a testament to India’s commitment to innovation and collaboration in defense technology, particularly in the realm of cruise missile systems.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has once again brought the Kashmir issue to the forefront as part of its electoral strategy leading up to the national polls. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has pledged to prioritize the ‘Kashmir issue’ should the PPP come into power. Bhutto’s remarks come in conjunction with Pakistan’s annual observance of ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’, a day dedicated to showing support for the people of Kashmir.
In addition to his focus on Kashmir, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also criticized his political rival and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for what he perceives as attempts to reconcile with India. Bhutto accused Sharif of seeking rapprochement with India, particularly highlighting Sharif’s recent statement expressing willingness to engage with India if it restores Article 370, which was revoked by Prime Minister Modi’s government in 2019.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Army, taking cues from the lessons learned in the ongoing Ukraine war, is prioritizing the development of a highly mobile and lethal artillery system known as the Towed Gun System (TGS). This decision comes on the heels of the Army receiving an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the project from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC).
One of the key takeaways from the war in Ukraine is the critical importance of rapid artillery displacement. Defence experts have highlighted the vulnerability of towed artillery that takes more than 10-15 minutes to set up and relocate. In a modern battlefield with drones and counter-battery fire, such sluggishness can prove fatal.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
IIT Madras, a leading Indian institute of technology, and Munitions India Limited (MIL), a defense public sector enterprise, have joined forces to develop India’s first indigenously designed 155mm smart ammunition. This landmark collaboration marks a significant step towards self-reliance in India’s defense sector.
The primary objective of this project is to significantly enhance the accuracy of the 155mm shell. The smart ammunition aims to achieve a circular error probable (CEP) of 10 meters, a drastic improvement compared to traditional rounds. This precision will be achieved through guidance by ISRO’s NavIC satellites, offering a staggering 50 times improvement in accuracy.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s state-owned aerospace and defence behemoth, has unveiled a three-phase plan to revamp the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) formidable Sukhoi-30MKI fighter fleet. This strategic approach balances the IAF’s critical need for operational fighter jets with the cost and time constraints of such a massive upgrade program.
With over 250 Sukhoi-30MKIs in its arsenal, the IAF relies heavily on these versatile fighter jets for air dominance and strike missions. Recognizing the need to keep this fleet modern and combat-ready, HAL has devised a phased upgrade program, prioritizing older aircraft first.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In his latest address to the parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered scathing remarks targeting the Gandhis and India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
During his final speech in parliament before the upcoming elections, PM Modi took direct aim at Rahul Gandhi and his great grandfather, criticizing Rahul’s “Mohabbat ka Dukaan” campaign and accusing Nehru of lacking faith in the potential of the Indian people.
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A tug-of-war is brewing between the Indian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) over the continuation of emergency procurement powers granted after the 2016 Uri attack. These powers were designed to bypass the notoriously slow bureaucratic process and expedite critical acquisitions amid heightened security concerns.
The Army, Navy, and Air Force argue that emergency procurement has been crucial in plugging critical capability gaps and ensuring operational readiness, particularly along the volatile borders. They highlight the streamlined procedures, faster decision-making, and flexibility in choosing vendors as key advantages. Recent deals for Light Specialist Armoured Vehicles and anti-drone systems are cited as successes facilitated by these powers.
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In a major boost for India’s burgeoning space technology sector, iDEX (Innovation for Defence Excellence) has awarded the coveted DSIC 8 Challenge to SISIR Radar. Their winning proposal? A revolutionary duo of technologies – an L/P band Continuous Wave SAR payload and an Origami-based unfurlable antenna – both designed for use in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) small satellites.
The L/P band Continuous Wave SAR payload promises to be a game-changer in satellite radar technology. This powerful system can penetrate obstacles like clouds, rain, and foliage, providing unparalleled all-weather, day-and-night Earth observation capabilities. This opens up a vast array of potential applications, from disaster management and weather forecasting to resource exploration and maritime surveillance.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has revealed a strategic shift in the country’s defense procurement, highlighting India and France as key partners. This move signifies a diversification away from traditional reliance and marks a significant development in Armenian national security strategy.
Minister Papikyan emphasized the ongoing process of expanding Armenia’s defense equipment sources. He noted the development of partnerships with “many superpowers,” but specifically identified India and France as the “main partners”.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Amidst a sluggish pace in India’s Project-75I tender for six conventional diesel submarines, German defence giant Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has made a bold move. German officials, during a recent visit to India, presented a comprehensive roadmap for a direct government-to-government (G2G) sale of their advanced U-214/212 submarines. This comes as a potential alternative to the tender process, which is expected to take a significant 3-5 years to finalize.
India’s Project-75I tender has attracted two major contenders: TKMS from Germany and Navantia from Spain. Both companies have offered their latest submarines equipped with next-generation Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems and lithium-ion battery technology, promising extended underwater endurance – a crucial factor for Indian naval operations. However, while Navantia is participating in the tender process, TKMS is pushing for a quicker and potentially more lucrative G2G deal.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Tata Advanced Systems has thrown its hat into the ring for the Indian Army’s requirement of 814 Mounted Gun Systems (MGS) by offering its own 155mm/52 calibre mounted gun system. This move adds another contender to the competition, potentially heating the race for this major defence contract.
Tata’s offering differs from the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) being jointly developed by DRDO and Kalyani Strategic Systems. Instead of basing its system on the ATAGS, Tata’s gun draws inspiration from Denel’s 155mm T5-52 Self-Propelled Howitzer. However, it will be mounted on a locally developed Tata 8×8 high-mobility vehicle.
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