SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The indigenously developed Akash Air Defense System, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has become the go-to system for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to protect strategic and forward airbases across the country.
The Akash system has gradually replaced the Spyder Air Defense System, acquired from Israel, at several forward airbases. The IAF’s Akash launcher features a detachable trailer, towed by a Tata truck, allowing for autonomous positioning. Designed in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro, the Air Force launcher incorporates a set of missiles, a control center, a built-in mission guidance system, and C4I (command, control communication and intelligence) centers.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) inching towards a significant milestone in its indigenous engine development program. The company that had commenced Limited Series Production of the HTSE-1200 engine, sometime back that is set a powerful turbo-shaft powerplant designed to propel medium-sized helicopters.
The first batch of HTSE-1200 engines is expected to be delivered by mid-2025. Currently, 5 HTSE-1200 engines are in the fabrication stage, with the first engine slated for delivery next year.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India is poised to make significant strides in aerospace technology with its ambitious plan to incorporate domestically produced parts and metallurgy into the Russian-supplied AL-31F jet engine used on the Su-30MKI platforms.
A hybrid technology demonstrator featuring enhanced Indian-made components, initially developed for the Kaveri engine program, is set to emerge in 2025. These components will replace inferior Russian counterparts, marking a major step towards self-reliance in engine technology.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Biden administration has sent a clear message to New Delhi: no weapons system or hardware is off the table when it comes to strengthening India’s defence capabilities. In a significant move to demonstrate this commitment, the U.S. government offered India two of its most advanced missile defence systems, the MIM-104 Patriot and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), in an attempt to dissuade India from purchasing the Russian S-400 air defence system. Despite the U.S. offer, India went ahead with the S-400 acquisition, a decision that has not deterred the Biden administration from pursuing deeper defence ties with New Delhi.
The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system that provides medium-range, high-altitude air defense capabilities against a wide range of threats, including tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and advanced aircraft. The THAAD system, on the other hand, is an advanced anti-ballistic missile defense system designed to intercept and destroy short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase of flight. Both systems are among the most sophisticated and capable in the U.S. defense arsenal, reflecting the seriousness of Washington’s desire to engage India as a strategic defense partner.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Defence Ministry is reportedly considering a deal worth around USD 3.1 billion with US-based General Atomics for the acquisition of an unspecified number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). While the Ministry has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the deal, it is understood that the Cost Negotiation Committee (CNC) has finalized the pricing.
The Defence Ministry is now set to approach the Finance Ministry for expenditure approval before seeking the final nod from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). If the deal is not signed by October 31, the manufacturer has indicated that there could be a price revision.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is on the verge of selecting an industry partner for the development of an Electro-Magnetic Launch System (EMALS). This advanced technology will be capable of launching projectiles at speeds exceeding Mach 6, revolutionizing how aircraft and other payloads are launched from naval platforms. The EMALS system, which will be compact and designed in a mobile configuration, marks a significant leap in the Indian Navy’s modernization efforts, especially for future aircraft carriers.
DRDO’s Research & Development Establishment (Engineers) [R&DE(E)], which is leading the project, has already made significant strides in developing a scaled technology demonstrator. This demonstrator has successfully launched payloads of up to 400 kg, equivalent to the weight of a UAV, over a short distance of 16 to 18 meters. This achievement proves the viability of the technology and sets the stage for further development.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
As the war in Ukraine rages on, there is an increasing demand for artillery, tank, and mortar shells. To meet this demand, Western countries have been sourcing ammunition from various sources around the world, including India.
One of the most intriguing sources of ammunition for Ukraine has been India, which was likely one of the non-EU suppliers for the Czech ammunition initiative. Photos of Indian-made tankers with high-explosive fragmentation ammunition have become more frequent in Ukraine.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
In a move towards boosting its surveillance and fighting capabilities, the Indian Navy is looking towards concluding three major defence deals this financial year, including the 31 MQ-9B drone deal, 3 additional Scorpene submarines and the 26 Rafale-M fighter aircraft project.
The Indian Navy has also been provided full support by the government for its urgent modernisation requirements, as it has been provided the highest ever capital budget of Rs 61,000 crore this year. Under the defence contracts, the government pays around 15 per cent in advance for the projects.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The United Aarb Emirates or UAE has inked an agreement with India that provides a framework for giving services for operation and maintenance of nuclear power plants in the emirate.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Bhuwan Chandra Pathak, Chairman and Managing Director of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), and Mohamed Al Hammadi, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) of the UAE.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
Recalling his experiences of visiting Jammu and Kashmir while he was the Home Minister of India, Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde said that he used to feel scared but wasn’t able to tell anyone about it.
During the launch of his memoir “Five Decades of Politics” on Monday at the India International Centre in Delhi, Shinde said that when he used to visit Kashmir’s Lal Chowk and Dal Lake in Srinagar as the Home Minister, he used to get scared and was unable to share all this with anyone despite getting good publicity for his visits.
Continue readingSOURCE: REUTERS
India is not “closed to business from China”, but the issue is in which sectors the country does business with Beijing and on what terms, foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in Berlin on Tuesday.
Ties between the nuclear-armed Asian giants have been strained since clashes between their troops on the Himalayan frontier in 2020. India subsequently tightened its scrutiny of investments from Chinese companies and halted major projects.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today held wide-ranging discussions with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock and took stock of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, covering areas such as trade, defence and security.
Mr Jaishankar, who arrived in Berlin from Saudi Arabia after attending the first India-Gulf Cooperation Council Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue, said they also exchanged views on Ukraine, Gaza and the Indo-Pacific region.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The Centre has directed deployment of two fresh CRPF battalions comprising about 2,000 personnel for security duties in ethnic strife-torn Manipur, official sources said Tuesday.
The battalion number 58 is being moved from Warangal in Telangana while the one numbered 112 is being sent from Latehar in Jharkhand. The first unit will have its headquarter in Kangvai (Churachandpur) in Manipur while the second will be stationed around Imphal, the sources told PTI.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
City police has formed a special team to trace a former scientist of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) who has gone missing from his Bandra residence, an official said on Tuesday.
A reward of ? 10,000 has been announced for any information about Vinayak Kolvankar, 76, he said. Mr Kolvankar, who suffers from dementia, went missing from his house in New MIG Colony on September 5, said inspector Ramesh Khilare of Nirmal Nagar police station.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Counter-infiltration measures have been put in place along the borders to ensure that terrorists don’t infiltrate and disturb the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, a top BSF officer said on Tuesday.
Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF), Jammu frontier, D K Boora was speaking to reporters in Bhaderwah area of Doda district which along with six other districts covering a total of 24 assembly segments in south Kashmir and Chenab valley region of Jammu is going to polls in the first phase on September 18.
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