SOURCE: API

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s premier aerospace company, remains hopeful of securing a contract worth 12,000 crore rupees (approximately $1.6 billion) for the production of 12 additional Su-30MKI multirole fighters for the Indian Air Force (IAF). HAL’s Chairman recently expressed confidence in securing the deal within the next year, as these aircraft will serve as attrition replacements. The production line for the Su-30MKI has been idle since 2021, and HAL aims to revive it through this contract.

HAL has played a significant role in manufacturing 222 aircraft under a license production agreement for the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, completed until 2021. However, the production line has remained dormant since then. The delay in securing the contract for the 12 additional aircraft initially stemmed from the high procurement cost, followed by the impact of economic sanctions imposed on Russian weapons by Western nations.

SOURCE: API

India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is set to unveil the BrahMos-NG, a smaller and lighter version of the existing BrahMos missile. The BrahMos-NG is designed to fly at an incredible speed of Mach 2.8, nearly three times the speed of sound, and will be integrated into smaller fighter jets such as the MiG-29s, Mirage-2000s, and Tejas light combat aircraft.

The missile is scheduled for testing in an Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) configuration by the end of 2024, with production expected to commence within the next 3-4 years. The BrahMos-NG is anticipated to revolutionize naval warfare with its impressive specifications, including a range of 290km and a remarkable Mach 3.5 speed.

SOURCE: API

The Chief of the Indian Navy has announced that INS Vikrant, the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, will achieve full operational capability by November 2023. This landmark achievement marks a significant milestone in India’s naval capabilities and underscores the nation’s commitment to bolstering its maritime security and defense preparedness.

INS Vikrant, a formidable aircraft carrier being constructed at Cochin Shipyard Limited, is a testimony to India’s indigenous shipbuilding capabilities. With its completion, India will join an elite group of nations possessing the capability to operate a full-fledged aircraft carrier.

SOURCE: UNI

The Indian Army’s headquarters has directed the Northern Command to strictly follow established counter-terrorism procedures in its operations. This directive aims to ensure the highest standards of operational effectiveness, adherence to rules of engagement, and the protection of civilian lives during counter-terrorism operations in the region. By reinforcing these protocols, the Indian Army is steadfast in its commitment to maintaining law and order while effectively combating terrorism.

The Northern Command of the Indian Army plays a crucial role in safeguarding the nation’s security and combating terrorism in the region. To uphold the principles of accountability and professionalism, the Army Headquarters has issued a directive emphasizing the strict adherence to counter-terrorism procedures during operations in the Northern Command.

SOURCE: PTI

A Kiran trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in an open field at a village in the district on Thursday but the two pilots made it out safely after ejecting from the plane before the crash.

The training aircraft, which took off from the air force station in Bengaluru, crashed this morning at Bhogapura village. It was good fortune that aircraft hit the ground on barren land and not in the nearby village, a villager said, adding it would have been catastrophic if the plane had crashed into the village.

SOURCE: PTI

India and Nepal will strive to take their bilateral ties to Himalayan heights and resolve all matters, including the boundary issue, in this spirit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today after holding wide-ranging talks with his Nepalese counterpart Pushpakamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.

In his media statement after the meeting, PM Modi said he and Prachanda have taken many important decisions to make the partnership between the two countries a “super hit” in the future. Following the talks, PM Modi and Prime Minister ‘Prachanda’ jointly launched several infrastructure projects.

SOURCE: ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepal’s counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Thursday jointly unveiled the e-plaque of the Kurtha-Bijalpura section of the Railway. Both leaders jointly flag off the Indian Railway cargo train from Bathnaha in Bihar to Nepal Custom yard.

PM Modi and Mr Dahal jointly inaugurated the integrated check posts at Rupaidiha in India and Nepalgunj in Nepal, built with India’s assistance. The two leaders also unveiled the integrated check posts at Sanauli in India and Bhairahawa in Nepal.

SOURCE: PTI

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to quash a CBI case registered against a former RAW official for allegedly revealing secret information in his book “India’s External Intelligence- Secrets of Research and Analysis Wing”.

Justice Mukta Gupta dismissed the petition by Major General (retired) VK Singh seeking quashing of the case against him under the Official Secrets Act, and said whether the revelations in the book were likely to affect the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country was a matter of trial and what prejudices national security cannot be decided by courts.

SOURCE: PTI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said these are still “early days” for conflict resolution between Ukraine and Russia as presently, the focus is on problems such as a grain corridor, nuclear issues and matters related to the exchange of prisoners of war.

In an interview to DD India, S Jaishankar noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

SOURCE: PTI

India conducted Asia’s first demonstration of performance-based navigation for helicopters for a flight from Juhu to Pune using GAGAN satellite technology. In a tweet on Wednesday, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said it is a fine example of the “Indian aviation sector blazing a trail in innovation!”.

“India conducts Asia’s first demonstration for Performance-Based Navigation for helicopters.

SOURCE: PTI

India and China on Wednesday held in-person diplomatic talks here and discussed proposals for disengagement in the remaining friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh in a “frank and open manner”.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said restoration of peace and tranquillity will create conditions for normalising bilateral relations and to this objective both sides agreed to hold the next round of military talks at an early date.

SOURCE: PTI

A suspected Pakistani intruder was shot dead by BSF troops along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district in the early hours of Thursday, officials said.

The incident took place near Mangu Chak border outpost (BoP) in Samba sector around 2:50 am, they said. “In the early hours today, alert BSF troops noticed suspicious movement of a person, who crossed the IB from Pakistan’s side, in Samba area,” a Border Security Force spokesperson said.

SOURCE: PTI

Three police personnel were injured in a gunfight with suspected Kuki militants in Manipur’s Bishnupur district, officials said on Thursday. The gunfight took place at Tangjeng under the Kumbi police station on Wednesday night, they said. The injured police personnel have been admitted to an Imphal hospital, they added.

“Heavy exchange of fire has also been reported from Chanung in Imphal East district. We have not got any casualty report from there yet,” a senior official told PTI.

SOURCE: ANI

The Jammu and Kashmir Police has arrested associates of two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists with arms and ammunition during naka checking. Both were arrested on Thursday morning from Warpora area of ??Kreeri Baramulla. SSP Baramulla said that during naka checking by the security forces two persons were seen moving suspiciously and when they tried to escape they were caught.

SSP told, “On his search, the team recovered arms and ammunition from his possession, which include two pistols, two pistol magazines and 15 live rounds.” The two arrested have been identified as Suhail Gulzar and Wasim Ahmed Parra. Police said that both these terrorist organizations are associates of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Both were immediately taken into custody for questioning and based on the information provided by both, more arrests are expected.

SOURCE: PTI

The NIA on Wednesday raided 25 locations across three states in connection with the Popular Front of India (PFI) conspiracy to radicalise and train cadres and members to carry out acts of terror and violence, an official said.

The searches were conducted at the premises of the suspects in Bihar’s Katihar district, Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada and Shimoga districts, and Kerala’s Kasaragod, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram districts, a spokesperson said.