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.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Indian Navy will soon submit and put forward its request to procure three additional Kalvari Class Submarines equipped with an upgraded system like Air-independent propulsion (AIP), to the Prime Minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for project clearance.

French Naval Group has been roped in by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Indian Navy to act as a consultant to overlook the integration of the DRDO developed Fuel Cell based Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) System into all six Kalvari class submarines including three more that are to be ordered soon.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

D4 Drone System Developed by the DRDO has been going through intensive trials across the country and soon will enter mass production to be deployed across the vulnerable western border with Pakistan that is using Hexacopters to drop weapons and narcotics in the Indian state of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir to fund terror activities in the region.

DRDO’s Drone, Detect, Deter and Destroy aka D4 Drone System can tackle any security threat within a 4 km radius and can take out micro drones by jamming the command and control links and further damaging the hardware of the drones.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Swedish defence manufacturer SAAB will commence deliveries of AT4CS single-shot weapons to the Indian Army in Q3 of 2023 contract for which was placed last January of 2022.

AT4CS can be fired from confined spaces such as from inside buildings, bunkers and other urban environments and offers a tandem warhead with a breach or blast mode, which is optimised to defeat enemies within buildings and to destroy structures, which can create a point of access into them.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

In June 2021, the Indian Army issued a request for information (RFI) on the planned procurement of 1,750 units of indigenously developed, amphibious tracked FICVs and Vendors who did not respond to the June 2021 RFI were given till 1 March 2023 deadline to express an interest.

The Indian Army announced on December 22, 2022, that an acceptance of necessity had been granted for the procurement of new Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles (Tracked), confirming that prototype trials after completion of TEC will begin in 36 months and L1 and L2 vendors will receive a 60:40 split order quantity for manufacturing of 1,750 units.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Indian Armed Forces have commenced taking deliveries of BrahMos with an Enhanced range of 450km from the previous range of 290km but BrahMos Aerospace already has commenced testing of the BrahMos-ER (Extended Range ) that will have a range of 800km and has plans for more tests.

BrahMos Aerospace has lined up more testing of the BrahMos-ER this year as the variant has a considerable upgrade and higher levels of Indigenization to the missile technology than the BrahMos Enhanced which has a 450km range.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Philippine Navy (PN) is considering arming India’s BrahMos cruise missile on its guided missile frigates that it had procured from South Korea after the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) ordered three Coastal batteries of the BrahMos cruise missiles in 2022 to provide counter-attack capabilities within the Philippine exclusive economic zone is set to take deliveries soon.

PMC is eagerly waiting for deliveries to commence from India after Philippine Marine Corps’ Coastal Defense Regiment (CDR) personnel completed training to operate BrahMos Coastal cruise missiles last month which has caught the attention of the PN that is considering equipping a ship-launched variant of its warships.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar speaking to the media has confirmed that Indian Navy has taken the program to develop locally diesel marine engines for warships and other associateships to replace imported diesel engines and is confident that the first engine will be ready in four years.

idrw.org has been told that defence PSUs like Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and private players like Kirloskar and Tata Power are working with Indian Navy in the development of diesel marine engines in the country.