SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) last month got the contract to supply 18 FA-50 Golden Eagle Trainer/Combat aircraft from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) where India’s very own LCA-Tejas Mk1A jet was a distant second in the race during the final selection process as per latest Malaysian media reports.

Malaysian then-defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein praised the FA-50 Golden Eagle last year as a ‘reliable platform based on good reputation’, it was probably was first signs why it was picked.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The Indian Navy (IN) is taking steps to get approval for the second aircraft carrier and has plans to procure a third aircraft carrier in the distant future that will be bigger than any aircraft carrier that it has ever operated with a displacement of over 65000 tons equipped with a Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) system.

Indian Navy is well aware that carrier battle groups (CBGs) are more vulnerable due to the development of Anti-ship ballistic missiles and Hypersonic Anti-ship cruise missiles that are taking shape which will make it much more difficult for the present multi Air defence layer onboard warships to intercept.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Indian-state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) unveiled the Hindustan Lead-in Fighter Trainer (HLFT-42) design of the scale model at Aero India 2023 with some basic specifications of the aircraft but had refrained from disclosing the choice of engine for the platform.

Initially, HLFT-42 was assumed will be powered by a Dry Kaveri engine derivate with After burning module generating 73kN Class of thrust or will be powered by a GE F-404 engine generating 84kN of thrust but after it was confirmed that the aircraft will have a Maximum take-off weight of 16.5-tons just shy away from 17.5-tons MTOW of the Tejas Mk2 aircraft it seemed GE’s F414 engine generating 98kn of thrust could be an obvious choice.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Embraer, a Brazilian Aerospace giant that had brought to India its C-390 Millennium, a medium-size, twin-engine, jet-powered military transport aircraft at Aero India 2023 and on the sidelines had talks with Indian state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited officials on a possible joint venture to pitch this aircraft to Indian Air Force.

idrw.org has been informed that both companies are in talks of local manufacturing of the Transporter but it is at the initial stage and HAL is yet to get a full proposal from the Embraer on setting up a joint venture as IAF is still going through offers that it got for OEMs.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Chinese belligerents in the Indo-Pacific and having military friction with Tokyo over Senkaku Islands and in East Ladakh with India, Japan is considering taking up joint ventures within the defence sector in India for the development of weapons systems that can be locally manufactured in both countries and come as military aid in event of conflict for both countries.

Japan and India over the last few years have increased the frequency of military exercises between both countries but both are yet to collaborate on the sale of military weapons to each other.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Indian Navy has issued A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a period of 22 March to 6th April as per information provided by Twitter user Damien Symon@detresfa_.

Three NOTAM issued as seen above for likely missile tests from the frontline warships that might also include a test of the Brahmos cruise missiles.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) would be built under Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) route that will see Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), and private investors, idrw.org has been informed that Indian Navy is also exploring thoughts of also developing Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) production in similar lines to ease out production woes and negate any possible delays.

Dubbed as a “5th generation minus” fighter jet, TEDBF will be an advanced deck-based fighter jet program with its near 5th gen capabilities and with assured orders of 45 units that will expand to 100 when it enters production, Navy seems to be interested in exploring SPV route for the program.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) that demonstrated the final deliverable configuration of the Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) last year is working to carry out further refinement in the anti-tank guided missile system to make it lighter.

MPATGM weighs 14.5 kg, with its command launch unit (CLU) weighing 14.25 kg which combines a laser designator with digital all-weather sight but DRDO now plans to reduce 10-20% weight to make it much more compact and improve mobility for soldiers.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Responding to a question by Preneet Kaur, Member of Parliament from Patiala, on whether the government proposes to make wearing of tactical helmets by Sikh soldiers compulsory, Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt said in the Lok Sabha said “Sikh troops battling terrorism have been wearing bulletproof patka over cloth patka while maintaining their religious identity. Tank crew of armored regiments also wear padded communication head gear,”.

The Ministry of Defence issued a request for proposal earlier this year to procure ballistic helmets specifically designed for Sikh troops. Some Sikh religious and political leaders opposed the move, claiming that wearing a helmet instead of the traditional turban violated Sikhism’s tenets and would harm Sikh identity.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

According to a report by Veteran journalist ” Sandeep Unnithan”, Indian Navy’s plans to procure six next-generation nuclear attack submarine might get principal approval initially only for three submarines as plans to procure six submarines in the first lot has been scrapped due to high procurement costs.

The Navy got principal approval for the development of nuclear attack submarines in 2016 and in 2019 it was decided only three submarines will be developed under Project-77. but after the initial investment of 100 crores for research and development, more funds for the program were not allocated and the project still waits for clearance.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the development of an indigenously designed, developed Long Range Stand-Off Weapon (LRSOW) to be integrated into the SU-30 MKI aircraft.

LRSOW is an Air Launched Cruise Missile program that will be a Subsonic Cruise Missile with a range of 1000-1500km to take out static targets and mount precision strikes on high-value military installations deep inside enemy territory.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

In 2019, India leased an Akula Class Nuclear attack submarine for 10 years from Russia for a sum of $3 billion with the transfer to India happening by end of 2025 or 2026 might be postponed to late 2027 due to the present security situation in Europe and the possibility of the further escalation of the Ukraine war.

K-152 (Chakra II) which was on lease to India from 2012 and 2021 was returned 1 year earlier due to issues with the maintenance of the nuclear reactor. Russia decommissioned K-322 Kashalot as soon deal with India was signed earlier in 2019 and is speculated to be the Akula class submarine that is on offer to India as Chakra III.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

After being kicked out of the biggest submarine deal of the decade, sulking France is keen to get on board India’s plans to develop 6 nuclear attack submarine programs and has been having talks to offer India conventional technology from its Barracuda-class nuclear attack submarine program.

Unlike the AUKUS deal where Australia will also be getting a Rolls-Royce-developed PWR3 nuclear reactor, France’s offer to India is in line with what it has offered to Brazil which is also developing its first nuclear attack submarine in assistance with France.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The United States plans to expand military and technological ties with India as the Biden administration appears to concede that India will refrain from buying Russian equipment only if a similar or better system is on offer to India and this has opened up space to talks now of co-development of jet engines, drones, next-generation aircraft and naval vessels.

United States administration to stop India’s purchase of the S-400 system from Russia had offered Patriot (MIM-104), a long-range, all-altitude, all-weather air defence system first then upgraded its offer to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), anti-ballistic missile defence system but that failed to prevent the purchase of S-400 system since it was seen as more than meets Indian requirements and much more cost-effective then American systems on offer.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) or the Ministry of Defence likely will be clearing key Naval projects like that of Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs) and Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs) that have been held up for some time now as the financial year nears end soon.

DAC accorded approval for the procurement of six indigenously designed next-generation offshore patrol vessels (NGOPVs) for the Navy for Rs 4,941 crore in 2018.