SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s ambitious fighter jet programs, the Tejas Mk1A and Tejas MkII, are set to share the same state-of-the-art Uttam Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Fire Control Radar, underscoring a focus on commonality and advanced technology in the country’s defense aviation sector. This decision not only streamlines production and integration but also enhances the operational capabilities of both aircraft platforms.
The Uttam AESA radar, developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), features 912 Transmit-Receive Modules (TRMs) with 896 active elements, and 16 receive-only elements using Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) technology. This radar offers exceptional performance in air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-sea missions, ensuring high levels of situational awareness and targeting precision.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is reimagining its production approach for the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), aiming to meet the burgeoning demand from the Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) while fostering the growth of the domestic aerospace manufacturing ecosystem. The LUH, a 3-tonne class, highly agile, new-generation helicopter, is set to replace the legacy Cheetah and Chetak helicopters currently in service.
With a combined requirement of nearly 400 LUHs, HAL is gearing up to streamline its production process to achieve a potential peak capacity of 30 units per year at its Tumakuru facility.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a significant move to bolster its armored capabilities, India’s Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd (AVNL) has announced plans to form a joint venture (JV) with Russian firms Rosoboronexport (ROE) and High Precision Systems (HPC). This partnership is aimed at the development and manufacture of an Indian Light Tank, targeting the Indian Army’s requirement for 295 light tanks under the Make-I category of indigenous procurement.
AVNL, along with India Optel Limited (IOL), will hold a majority stake in the joint venture, ensuring that Indian stakeholders maintain significant control over the project. This collaboration will leverage Russian expertise in light tank development, particularly the Sprut-SD design, to compete against indigenous solutions such as the Zorawar Light Tank, which is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in partnership with private industry.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Spanish shipbuilding giant Navantia has asserted that the S-80 Class submarine it has offered to India under the ambitious Project-75 (I) program is not a diluted export variant but the exact model deployed by the Spanish Navy. This claim strengthens Navantia’s position in India’s hunt for advanced conventional submarines equipped with next-generation capabilities.
The S-80 Class submarine, currently in service with the Spanish Navy, represents a new generation of non-nuclear propulsion submarines, designed for extended missions and high-performance operations. Speaking about its offer to India, Navantia emphasized that the platform will come equipped with all systems identical to those used by Spain, with no major subsystems omitted or downgraded.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Recent Social media claims by people believed to be Russian accounts that Indian-supplied weapons systems, such as the Pinaka and ATAGS, have underperformed in Armenia’s conditions seem to be part of a broader propaganda effort, fueled by the growing shift in Armenia’s defence procurement towards Indian-made systems. These Russian assertions, which claim that Indian artillery systems cannot perform in Armenia’s terrain, are not only misleading but also lack credibility, especially when one considers the extensive and rigorous testing that these systems have undergone in some of the most extreme conditions on Earth.
Indian defense systems, including the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket system and the ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System), have been tested and successfully operated in challenging environments in India, including the Thar Desert and the Himalayan mountain ranges. These are far more demanding conditions than those found in Armenia, where temperatures can vary but do not reach the extremes encountered in these regions.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Umang Kohli, an Indian Army veteran, recently shared fascinating insights about his experiences with five different tanks during his distinguished career. From driving and firing to commanding some of the most iconic armored vehicles in military history, Kohli’s reflections offer a rare glimpse into the evolution of armored warfare.
Vijayant Tank : “Huge and bulky, I could barely change its gear. It was so heavy that it wouldn’t stop even after pressing the brake—you had to stand on it.” The Vijayant, known for its size and ruggedness, posed challenges in maneuverability. Despite these challenges, it held a special place in India’s armored history as a reliable platform during its era.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is hopeful that the upcoming administration in Washington, led by Donald Trump, will adopt a more pragmatic approach to allow India to procure Russian weapons and spare parts. India, one of the largest operators of Russian-origin defense systems, has been grappling with challenges in maintaining its existing inventory due to economic sanctions on the Russian banking system. These sanctions, imposed as part of broader U.S. measures against Russia, have disrupted payment mechanisms and restricted India’s ability to trade freely with Moscow.
The sanctions, particularly on the Russian banking system, have created logistical hurdles for the procurement of critical spare parts and upgrades. These delays threaten the operational readiness of India’s defense forces, forcing the MoD to explore alternatives while lobbying for exemptions or workarounds.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday warned BRICS countries against any move to replace the US dollar and has sought a commitment from the nine-member group that includes India, Russia, China, and Brazil.
BRICS, formed in 2009, is the only major international group of which the United States is not a part. Its other members are South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Over the past few years a few of its member countries, in particular Russia and China, are seeking an alternative to the US Dollar or create own BRICS currency. India has so far not been part of the move.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
The Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Toronto area got an injunction order from a Canadian superior court to prevent Khalistani protesters from gathering within 100 meters of the premises, as per a statement by the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Hindu Cultural Society in Scarborough.
The society also thanked Toronto police for their support in facilitating the Indian Consular Camp held at the temple. In a statement, the society said, “The Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, Ontario has issued an interlocutory injunction prohibiting all protest activities, including physically preventing, or interfering with access to within a 100-meter radius of the Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Scarborough from 8am to 6pm on Saturday, November 30th, 2024. This order aims to ensure the safety and sanctity of the temple premises and individuals during the specified hours.”
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings on the occasion of Border Security Force Raising Day on Sunday and said that their vigilance and courage contribute to the safety and security of our nation. “Warm wishes to the Border Security Force on their Raising Day! The BSF stands as a critical line of defence, embodying courage, dedication and exceptional service. Their vigilance and courage contribute to the safety and security of our nation,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
The BSF, which is the largest border guarding force in the world with a strength of nearly 2.65 lakh personnel, celebrates its Raising Day every year on December 1. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also extended his greetings to BSF India personnel and their families. “On BSF Raising Day, I extend my greetings to BSF India personnel and their families.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has evoked sharp criticism from the Jammu and Kashmir BJP unit on Sunday after comparing the situation of Bangladesh — which is under public scrutiny for alleged attacks on its minorities — with that of India.
Addressing party workers in Jammu, Mufti said: “Our Hindu brothers are facing oppression in Bangladesh but if we do the same thing with minorities here (in India), then what is the difference? We have such a great country, known worldwide for its secular character.”
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Dozens of Iskcon members who possessed valid travel documents were turned back on Sunday by Bangladesh’s immigration police from Benapole border crossing when they tried to cross into India, a media report said.
“We consulted the special branch of police and received instructions from the higher authorities not to permit them (to cross the border),” Imtiaz Ahsanul Quader Bhuiyan, officer-in-charge (OC) of the Benapole Immigration Police, was quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Seven Maoists, including a key leader of the outlawed group with a Rs 20 lakh bounty on his head, were killed in an exchange of fire with the police in Mulugu district of Telangana on Sunday morning, the police said. Among those killed was Kursam Mangu, alias Bhadru, of the banned CPI (Maoist).
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Four militants belonging to two banned outfits have been arrested in Manipur for possession of firearms and involvement in extortion, a police statement said on Saturday. Three militants belonging to the Kangleipak Communist Party (Peoples’ War Group) outfit were arrested on Thursday for possessing firearms and extorting people, it said.
They have been identified as Chongtham Shyamchandra Singh (23), hailing from Imphal West district, and Maibam Suraj Khan (32) and Boghimayum Sahid Khan (30), who hail from Imphal East district.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Amid attacks on Hindus and other minorities in neighbouring Bangladesh, a youth from Kolkata said he was thrashed in Dhaka by unidentified people after they learnt he was a Hindu from India. Sayan Ghosh, 22, from Belgharia in the northern fringes of Kolkata, had gone to Bangladesh on November 23 and stayed at a friend’s place, and the family treated him as their own son.
“However, as me and my friend went out for a stroll late in the evening on November 26, a group of four-five youths accosted me around 70 metres from my friend’s house. They asked me about my identity. As I told them I was from India and a Hindu, they started kicking and punching me and even attacked my friend who tried to save me,” Mr Ghosh told PTI on Sunday.
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