SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Baba Kalyani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Kalyani Group, a prominent Indian conglomerate with a strong presence in defence manufacturing, has highlighted a critical gap in India’s aerospace capabilities: mastering the hot core section of jet engines. In a recent interview, Kalyani emphasized the need for private sector companies to unite in a collaborative effort to co-develop a 110kN thrust engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, viewing it as a stepping stone to achieving self-reliance in advanced jet engine technology.
The hot core section—comprising the compressor, combustion chamber, and turbine—is the heart of a jet engine, where extreme temperatures and pressures are managed to generate thrust. Kalyani noted that while India has made significant strides in defence manufacturing, this critical technology remains elusive, largely due to its complexity and the proprietary nature of its development by global leaders like General Electric, Rolls-Royce, and Safran. “India is yet to master the hot core section of the jet engine,” he said, underscoring the urgency of bridging this gap to support indigenous fighter jet programs like the AMCA.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a significant move to bolster India’s armored capabilities, Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), an Indian public sector defence company, has announced its collaboration with Russian firms Rosoboronexport (ROE) and High Precision Systems (HPC) to design, develop, and manufacture a customized variant of the 2S25 Sprut-SD light tank.
This initiative, revealed in August 2024, targets the Indian Army’s ongoing Light Tank Competition, which seeks to acquire 295 light tanks under the Make-I category of indigenous procurement. The partnership, led by AVNL and its Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi, Chennai, aims to deliver a tailored solution for India’s high-altitude and rugged terrains, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, while competing against indigenous platforms like the DRDO-L&T Zorawar Light Tank.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a significant step toward self-reliance in defence technology, an official from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has revealed to IDRW.org that lithium-ion battery packs, designed for submarine programs like the Kalvari-class, are currently in the testing phase. The official stated that once the battery system proves its reliability on a submarine testbed, it will be ready for mass adoption across all new submarines planned for the Indian Navy.
This development marks a milestone for India, as the lithium-ion battery pack has been indigenously developed in collaboration with local vendors. With this achievement, India joins a select group of nations capable of producing such advanced and niche technology domestically.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a landmark event showcasing the growing synergy between India’s defense research and private industry, the metal cutting ceremony for the Advanced Armoured Platforms (AAP)—Wheeled and Tracked—was held on April 2, 2025, at the Pune premises of Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Bharat Forge Limited. The ceremony, officiated by Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D) and Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), marks a significant milestone in the design, development, and manufacturing of critical defense systems for the Indian armed forces.
The AAP, a state-of-the-art infantry combat vehicle (ICV) class system, is designed to enhance the Indian Army’s operational capabilities with both wheeled and tracked variants. The project, a collaborative effort between DRDO and its industry partners—TASL and Bharat Forge—has achieved a notably reduced development timeline, reflecting the efficiency of this public-private partnership. The AAP (Wheeled and Tracked) is slated for rollout in October 2025, a target that underscores the rapid progress made by the consortium.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a strategic move to sharpen its combat edge, the Indian Air Force’s Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) has deployed its Dassault Mirage-2000 fighters to mimic the Chengdu J-10CE, Pakistan’s latest addition to its air arsenal. Based at Gwalior Air Force Station, TACDE—often dubbed the “Top Gun” school of India—trains the IAF’s elite fighter pilots in advanced aerial tactics. By tasking the Mirage-2000 to play the role of an aggressor simulating the J-10CE, the IAF aims to prepare its pilots to counter this formidable adversary in realistic combat scenarios.
The decision to use the Mirage-2000 as a stand-in for the J-10CE is rooted in their striking design similarities. Both aircraft feature a delta wing configuration, a hallmark that enhances agility, high-speed performance, and maneuverability—crucial attributes in modern air combat. The Mirage-2000, a battle-proven fourth-generation fighter in the IAF’s inventory since the 1980s, shares more than just aesthetics with the J-10CE. Like its Chinese counterpart, it employs a relaxed stability design, allowing for a large delta wing that sacrifices inherent stability for exceptional nimbleness. This design philosophy, paired with fly-by-wire systems, enables both jets to execute tight turns and rapid maneuvers, making them lethal dogfighters.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a candid conversation with Dr. Munawar Hussain Panhwer, Assistant Professor at the Area Study Centre for Africa, North, and South America at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Mubeen Shah, a Kashmiri-born NRI businessman, has leveled sharp criticism against the Pakistani military’s conduct in Balochistan. Shah argues that the military’s actions in the restive province are not only eroding its credibility but also providing India with ammunition to counter Pakistan’s long-standing narrative on Kashmir.
His remarks, made as of March 30, 2025, highlight a growing disconnect between Pakistan’s claims of championing Kashmiri rights and the reality of its domestic policies, drawing parallels that resonate deeply in the Kashmir Valley.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a significant boost to India’s defense infrastructure, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has secured a prestigious long-term contract to maintain airfield infrastructure at 54 Indian Air Force (IAF) bases across the country. The contract, spanning three years, underscores TASL’s growing role in supporting India’s national security and aviation capabilities.
The scope of the contract is comprehensive, covering the upkeep of critical airfield systems such as Navigational Aids, Air Traffic Management (ATM) Systems, Airfield Lighting, and Runway Visual Range (RVR) equipment. These systems are vital for ensuring seamless flight operations, enhancing aviation safety, and maintaining operational readiness at IAF airfields, which serve as the backbone of India’s air defense network.
Continue readingSOURCE: PIB
Project Sanction Order under Make-I category for the Design and Development of 6MW Medium Speed Marine Diesel Engine has been inked between Indian Navy and Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited. The signing took place in the presence of Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan at South Block, New Delhi on April 02, 2025.
The prototype diesel engine with indigenous content of over 50% will be developed at a cost of Rs 270 crore with 70% funding from the Government of India. The order also includes development of detailed design for 3-10MW diesel engine. The developed engines will be used for Main Propulsion and Power Generation on ships of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard.
Continue readingSOURCE: UNI
An air force pilot died after a Jaguar Trainer fighter jet crashed in Gujarat’s Jamnagar on Wednesday during a night mission. The other pilot is receiving treatment in the hospital. “The pilots faced a technical malfunction and initiated ejection, avoiding harm to airfield and local population,” the Indian Air Force (IAF) said in a statement.
Sharing the news of the death of their pilot, the IAF wrote: “IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.”
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
The 7th India-Japan Maritime Affairs Dialogue was held in the Japanese capital on Wednesday with both sides discussing ways to sustain a secure maritime environment conducive for inclusive growth and global well-being.
The Indian delegation was led by Muanpuii Saiawi, Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs) in the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Japanese delegation by Kashiwabara Yutaka, Deputy Director-General and Deputy Assistant Minister, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to retrieve Katchatheevu islet, ceded to Sri Lanka, as a permanent solution to protect the traditional fishing rights of the state’s fishermen.
Moving the resolution, Chief Minister M K Stalin said that it has become a habit for some political parties to spread a false information campaign that it was the state government that ceded Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. “Even the Union government is making the same mistake. This is regrettable and unacceptable,” he said.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday said that thousands of refugees settled in the state since 1960s with the knowledge of the authorities and those people were provided assistance for rehabilitation.
Mr Singh, who resigned as the chief minister in February leading to imposition of President’s Rule in the restive state, also wondered what happened to those families and whether those people were added to the electoral roll.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
There is a “high possibility” of a meeting between Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, a senior official said here on Wednesday. Modi will be given a grand welcome by the Indian community in Thailand and is scheduled to meet Shinawatra at the Government House, where he will be accorded a ceremonial welcome.
Modi will travel to Thailand on Thursday on a two-day visit, during which he will attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and hold talks with his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
A US national was arrested in Andaman and Nicobar Islands for allegedly entering the prohibited tribal reserve area of the North Sentinel Island, police said on Wednesday. Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov (24), arrested by the CID on March 31, had allegedly entered the North Sentinel Island without any authorisation, they said.
He arrived in Port Blair on March 26 and ventured to North Sentinel Island from the Kurma Dera beach, they said. He launched his boat from Kurma Dera beach around 1 am on March 29, carrying a coconut and a can of cola as “offerings for the Sentinelese”, police said.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
A 28-year-old drunk security guard was arrested for allegedly posing as a “brother” of Mumbai attack terrorist Ajmal Kasab and threatening to blow up the the police control room and Mumbai Central with a bomb, officials said on Wednesday.
The accused, Piyush Shukla, was angry at police personnel after they asked him to leave the Mulund railway station in the early hours of Tuesday, which is the standard protocol followed by police personnel after the last local trains leave suburban stations.
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