SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Army is set to receive the initial batch of six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters by February 2024. The delivery of the remaining helicopters is expected to be completed within three months thereafter. In February 2020, India signed a deal for six more Apaches for the Army, costing approximately $800 million. The Indian Army intends to purchase over five additional Apache attack helicopters later in the year.
idrw.org has been told, the contract for the five additional follow-up orders may be taken up soon, with plans for the contract to be finalized by the end of the year. The Cabinet Committee has already given its approval for the procurement of 39 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the United States, with 22 already in service with the Indian Air Force.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Sagar Defence Engineering, based in Pune, has won a contract from the Uttar Pradesh Police for its maritime Spotter Drone, which was initially developed in-house in collaboration with the Indian Navy. This marks the first contract from a state police force for the company.
The Spotter Drone will be used to detect threats and share critical information in real-time, allowing for the immobilization of threats and the potential to save the lives of armed personnel. The drone will also aid in tactical planning during mission-critical situations.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
According to sources familiar with the matter, idrw.org has learned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to France in July might see India announce the Dassault Rafale M as the winner of the Indian Navy’s Carrier Borne Multirole Carrier Borne Fighters (MRCBF) tender. Additionally, there may also be some breakthroughs in the talks during the visit.
The Indian Navy’s plans to procure 26 Rafale M could involve the local kit assembly of the jets at the Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) facility, in preparation for a major order of 114 jets from the Indian Air Force.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
After experiencing turbulence in its turbofan program for years, the Dry Kaveri engine’s fortunes have turned around. It has completed High Altitude trials in Russia, where it delivered hours of smooth performance. As a result, DRDO’s GTRE lab has awarded a production license to Godrej Aerospace for eight modules of the Dry Kaveri engine. Over the next five years, these modules will be refined to make them near production-ready.
Despite the positive development, the Dry Kaveri engine, even with an Afterburner section included, cannot generate more than 76.5kN of thrust, which falls short of the Indian Air Force’s desired 84kN for the Tejas Mk1A that is currently being powered by the GE-F404 engine. However, this has not deterred India’s plans to develop a new 75kN Dry thrust engine with a foreign engine maker that can deliver a maximum thrust of 120kN.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The leakage of classified information, images, and videos of India’s Integrated Test Range (ITR) by contractual employees who have been either honey trapped or paid money to keep an eye on India’s missile programs has become a cause of concern for top officials, leading to sleepless nights in recent times.
The Chinese listening post located on the Coco Islands in the Indian Ocean is responsible for monitoring missile tests conducted by India in the region but Recently, concerns have been raised regarding the further development of the island by China, which some fear may lead to the deployment of spy balloons or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the purpose of monitoring India’s Integrated Test Range (ITR).
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s National Aerospace Laboratories has proposed the Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA), a 90-seat Twin-turboprop aircraft. Currently in the project definition phase, the RTA awaits grants for full-scale engineering development to be cleared by the Indian government. Efforts are underway to involve the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, and Alliance Air, which functions as an independent business unit under the central government, in the program.
Dr Abhay A. Pashilkar, Director of CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, recently stated that the clean sheet design and development of the country’s first regional aircraft would require up to $2 billion in funding. The project will be executed under a Special Purpose Vehicle to ensure efficient execution.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Last year, idrw.org confirmed that Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has commenced work on the development of Nag Mk II anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) to be integrated into Main Battle Tanks in a Twin launcher configuration with each launcher holding one missile.
idrw.org has learned that DRDO has started fabrication of the Nag Mk II and developmental trials might be carried out later this year or early 2024.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has admitted that the delivery of spares from Russia has experienced a slowdown in recent months, and the situation is expected to worsen later this year due to Russia’s indication of further delays in supplying spares for Russian fighter jets such as Sukhoi 30MKI and MiG-29, transport planes IL-76 and AN-32, as well as Mi-17 helicopters.
During the Air Force Commanders’ Conference (AFCC) held at Air Headquarters, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari urged IAF commanders to develop a well-defined strategy for maintaining their fleet and to take measures to promote indigenization at the same time.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
According to a report presented in Parliament last month, an Indian Air Force (IAF) representative stated that the IAF intends to fully support the development of indigenous fighter jets. The Tejas Mk1 program has allowed India to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of 4.5Gen technology, and the IAF is confident that India will be among the few countries relying on its indigenous fighter jets to replace its current combat fleet.
The IAF plans to induct 73 Tejas Mk1A fighter jets in the first phase, followed by approximately 108 Tejas MkII and 140 AMCA fighter jets by 2040. Likely, follow-up orders for 50 Tejas Mk1A and another 50 Tejas MkII will bring these figures to the 50% mark by early 2040.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
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The Chief of Defence Staff for the UK, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, who recently visited India, announced that the proposal for joint development of a jet engine with India has received the highest clearance from the authorities. The program will grant India not only intellectual property rights for the product but also factor in export clearance so that it can be sold without requiring permission from the UK.
In what appears to be a criticism of the US administration’s export control laws aimed at protecting national security, which often restricts the export of systems developed or funded by the US government or multinationals, Radakin reminded India that such export clearance is difficult to obtain from others.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Later this year, the Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to approach the Ministry of Defence (MoS) for an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), which typically marks the beginning of the procurement process, by setting aside budgetary outlays.
The IAF issued a Request for Information (RFI) for 114 MRFA tenders in 2019, but there has been little progress made since then. According to sources, once the Request for Proposal (RFP) is issued, the IAF aims to conclude a deal within three years of a technical round.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
UK’s Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin who was in India has talked with his Indian counterpart and other Chiefs of head regarding a wide range of military cooperation’s between the two countries and niche areas like Integrated electric propulsion (IEP) for Indian Naval future frontline warships.
The United Kingdom has designed an Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP) system for its Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and is proposing a collaborative effort with India to develop a localized version of the technology. IEP is a modification of the traditional combined diesel-electric and gas propulsion system used in ships. It replaces mechanical transmission with the electrical transmission, enabling a series hybrid electric propulsion system that eliminates the need for clutches and reduces or eliminates the need for gearboxes.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
This year, the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) will undergo captive trials on the LSP Tejas Mk1 aircraft, with live trials planned for later in the year. Last year, Boris Solomiac, MBDA General Delegate India, confirmed that the Tejas Mk1A fleet would receive close combat missiles, and the company is collaborating with an Indian agency to integrate the missile system.
To support the Indian Air Force, MBDA has partnered with Bharat Dynamics Ltd to perform final assembly, integration, and testing (FAIT) of ASRAAM missiles in India. The integration of both ASRAAM and Python-5 missiles onto the Tejas Mk1A and Mk2 will significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the jet, as both missiles are widely regarded as among the best short-range air-to-air missiles in the world.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Swadeshi Empresa Pvt. Ltd, a local firm, has received orders worth INR 225.6 Crore for 50 firefighting robots from the Indian Navy. The orders came after the successful completion of onboard trials from INS Vikrant, the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier.
Designed with a specific set of tasks in mind, robotic firefighting systems are used for analyzing and locating fires, conducting search and rescue operations, monitoring hazardous variables, and primarily controlling and suppressing fires.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Navy is currently considering its options regarding the LCA-Navy program, but it is contemplating the acquisition of a squadron of LCA-Navy Trainer aircraft for pilot training purposes on aircraft carriers.
A recent report by Livefist has corroborated idrw.org’s earlier claim that the Navy is considering establishing Training Squadrons, which would necessitate changes to its current training program. Additionally, the Navy is contemplating the acquisition of 12-15 LCA-Navy Trainer aircraft for hands-on pilot training on board aircraft carriers.
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