SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has taken a significant step in the development of its Hindustan Lead-in Fighter Trainer (HLFT-42) by issuing a Request for Information (RFI) for a jet engine to power this ambitious supersonic trainer aircraft. Released on March 17, 2025, the RFI outlines stringent performance criteria, calling for an engine with a maximum thrust of 95-100 kN (kilonewtons) and a total technical life of 6,000 hours. This move signals HAL’s intent to equip the HLFT-42 with a powerplant capable of meeting the rigorous demands of modern pilot training while potentially laying the groundwork for India’s broader aerospace ambitions.
According to details emerging from industry sources , the RFI specifies an engine with a maximum thrust of 95-100 kilonewtons (kN) and a total technical life of 6,000 hours. maximum Mach Number at1.8 and will be able to operate at Up to 18 km (60,000 feet).
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The long-standing uncertainty surrounding the engine supply for India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A has finally been resolved, bringing relief to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). According to aerospace journalist Anantha Krishnan M, the GE F404 engines, critical to powering the new Mk1A variant—affectionately dubbed “LCA Alpha”—are on their way to India.
This development, detailed in a report by Tarmak Media House (TMH) on March 21, 2025, puts an end to months of speculation, debate, and concern over the “missing power plant” that had threatened to derail the ambitious indigenous fighter program.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has confirmed that its 25-ton Zorawar Light Tank, currently undergoing developmental trials under Project Zorawar, is designed with scalability in mind, paving the way for a potential 32-ton variant if the Indian Army seeks greater firepower and upgrades in the light tank category. This flexibility underscores DRDO’s forward-thinking approach, ensuring the platform can adapt to evolving operational needs while maintaining its core design integrity.
The Zorawar, developed in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro (L&T), was unveiled in July 2024 as a 25-ton light tank tailored for high-altitude warfare, particularly along India’s northern borders in Ladakh and Sikkim. Optimized for agility and air-transportability, it currently features a 105mm turret from Belgium’s John Cockerill and a Cummins engine delivering a power-to-weight ratio exceeding 35 hp/tonne.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The prospect of Ukraine bolstering its air force with additional Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets remains a topic of active discussion, with French President Emmanuel Macron indicating that these aircraft could be supplied by third countries currently operating them.
This statement comes as France has already pledged a limited number of Mirage 2000-5Fs to Ukraine, signaling a willingness to support Kyiv’s aerial defense capabilities. However, no other nation has publicly committed to transferring their Mirage 2000-5s, leaving the possibility of further deliveries uncertain.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In an unexpected development, the Indian Army has decided to upgrade the engines of its T-90 tank fleet to a new 1350 horsepower (HP) variant, a move that has caught many observers off guard. This decision, confirmed in a recent Standing Committee report and bolstered by the Defence Acquisition Council’s (DAC) approval of eight capital acquisition proposals worth over Rs 54,000 crore on March 20, 2025, signals a significant enhancement in the operational capabilities of one of India’s mainstay battle tanks. However, the specifics of this upgrade—particularly the supplier and the engine’s origins—remain shrouded in ambiguity, sparking curiosity and speculation.
The T-90, a third-generation Russian main battle tank, forms the backbone of the Indian Army’s armored corps, with over 1,100 units in service, primarily the T-90S “Bhishma” variant. The Bhishma, tailored for Indian requirements, is currently powered by the V-92S2 diesel engine, delivering 1,000 HP. This engine, while reliable, has been seen as underpowered for the tank’s 48-tonne combat weight, particularly in the high-altitude regions of Ladakh and along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, where agility and power-to-weight ratio are critical.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to enhance the survivability of its frontline airbases by procuring aircraft decoys modeled after its Rafale, Su-30 MKI, and Tejas fighters. These decoys, designed to mimic the visual and radar signatures of the real aircraft, will be deployed at forward runways to deceive enemy forces during a surprise attack, providing a critical layer of passive defense against aerial and missile strikes. The initiative reflects the IAF’s growing emphasis on safeguarding its assets amid rising regional tensions and the evolving threat of precision-guided munitions.
The plan, currently in the preliminary stages, aims to protect key bases along India’s northern and western borders, where aircraft like the Rafale, Su-30 MKI, and Tejas are stationed to counter potential aggression from China and Pakistan. By deploying realistic decoys, the IAF seeks to confuse enemy reconnaissance and targeting systems, drawing fire away from operational aircraft and infrastructure.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Indian Railways is actively pursuing the establishment of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to power its vast network, aiming to achieve its ambitious goal of net-zero emissions by 2030. In a significant move towards sustainable energy, the railway giant is currently engaged in negotiations with the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Ministry of Power to explore the feasibility of deploying these clean energy sources.
The primary objective is to meet the burgeoning 10 GW traction power requirement projected by 2030. By leveraging nuclear energy, Indian Railways seeks to significantly reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, thereby mitigating its environmental impact. This initiative aligns with India’s broader commitment to combating climate change and transitioning to a cleaner energy mix.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
India is aware of China establishing two new counties, parts of which fall in Ladakh, and has registered a “solemn” protest through diplomatic channels, the government told Parliament on Friday.
“The Government of India has never accepted the illegal Chinese occupation of Indian Territory in this area. Creation of new counties will neither have a bearing on India’s long-standing and consistent position regarding India’s sovereignty over the area, nor lend legitimacy to China’s illegal and forcible occupation of the same,” Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said this in a written response to a query in Lok Sabha.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday reiterated Modi government’s zero tolerance policy towards terrorism and lambasted previous dispensations for being ‘soft on terror’.
Amit Shah, while replying to the debate on the working of Ministry of Home Affairs in the House, listed out some path-breaking decisions of Modi government including abrogation of Article 370 and how it brought lasting peace in the valley.
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The Department of the Air Force announced today the contract award for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Platform, marking a major milestone in the advancement of air superiority. The contract, awarded to Boeing, will lead to the development of the F-47, the world’s first sixth-generation fighter aircraft.
“I’m thrilled to announce that, at my direction, the United States Air Force is moving forward with the world’s first sixth-generation fighter jet,” said President Donald J. Trump during a press briefing at the White House. “Nothing in the world comes even close to it, and it’ll be known as the F-47.”
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
India has “strongly registered” its concerns with the US authorities on the treatment meted out to deportees on a flight that landed on February 5, particularly with respect to use of shackles, especially on women, the Centre informed Parliament on Friday.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written response to a query in the Lok Sabha also said the “US side has conveyed” to the MEA that detainees on the three deportation flights (that landed on February 5, 15 and 16 respectively) were “not instructed to remove any religious head coverings and that the detainees did not request any religious accommodations during the flights aside from requesting for vegetarian meals”.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
A total of 388 Indian nationals have been deported from the US since January 2025, the government informed Parliament on Friday.
Of these, 333 were deported directly from the US on three separate military flights in February. Also, the US deported 55 Indian nationals through Panama in commercial flights, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said in a written response in Lok Sabha.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The Ministry of External Affairs said Friday while an understanding has been reached for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to resume this year, its modalities are yet to be firmed up.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this in his weekly media briefing in response to a query on the pilgrimage. He also referred to the overall constructive engagement between Indian and Chinese sides at various levels, since the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Russia’s Kazan last October.
Continue readingSOURCE: UNI
The Navy and the Coast Guard on Friday rescued three sailors from on board a merchant vessel, MV Heilan Star, in the Arabian Sea.
Among those rescued were an Indonesian and two Chinese nationals, said officials. The fourth crew member had already succumbed to injuries by the time a Navy helicopter reached the fire-hit vessel, which was stuck some 425 km west of Goa.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
In a significant breakthrough, the Crime Branch (Southern Range) of Delhi Police has dismantled a syndicate involved in facilitating the illegal entry and settlement of Bangladeshi nationals in India. Three illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, along with their Indian facilitator, have been arrested.
According to a Delhi Police press release, the syndicate was involved in trafficking Bangladeshi nationals into India through Assam and providing them with forged Indian identity documents, enabling them to settle undetected in Delhi/NCR.
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