SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The hypersonic future of the BrahMos cruise missile system faces a hurdle as India’s BrahMos Corporation and Russia grapple with technical and financial hurdles in developing the BrahMos-2 variant. Talks between India and Russia on BrahMos-2 appear to have stalled. Russia’s hesitance to fully commit to the project is a primary concern. Discussions have reportedly hit roadblocks on several issues, jeopardizing the hypersonic ambitions of the BrahMos program.
The BrahMos-2 was originally envisioned as a hypersonic adaptation of the Russian Zircon cruise missile. However, to address potential export control concerns, the BrahMos-2’s speed was reportedly capped at Mach 6, compared to Zircon’s Mach 8 capability.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India is poised to embark on a significant defence collaboration with a steep price tag, as it prepares for the joint production of Stryker armoured vehicles under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. According to sources from the Indian Defence Research Wing (idrw), the initial estimated cost of this ambitious project is projected to exceed $1.5 billion, with each unit priced at a substantial $5 million markup.
A key component of this deal is the transfer of technology (ToT), which will facilitate the local production and assembly of the Stryker Armoured vehicles. This ToT arrangement will include the transfer of technical documentation necessary for the medium-term production of spare parts and the assembly of vehicles from the hull stage.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The development of India’s highly anticipated Archer-NG Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has encountered a setback due to funding constraints. This news comes nearly a year after the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) showcased the Archer-NG in late 2022.
The Archer-NG envisioned as an armed drone with a 300 kg payload capacity for weapons like smart anti-airfield munitions and anti-tank guided missiles, offered significant advancements. Its design, featuring a Single Engine Twin Boom configuration, differed from the Tapas UAV but employed similar equipment.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
IIT Jammu’s deep-tech startup, SAP Aerospace, led by Dr. Shanmugadas K.P., has emerged victorious in the open category of DRDO’s TDF Dare to Dream 4.0 Innovation Contest. This win signifies a major step forward for SAP Aerospace and their revolutionary work in the field of combat drone technology.
The DRDO’s Dare to Dream 4.0 Innovation Contest provides crucial support to promising ventures, and SAP Aerospace’s win is a testament to their groundbreaking aero-engine technology designed specifically for Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs). This contest win grants them the vital resources needed to further develop their next-generation engine solutions.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Heron TP medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), leased to the Indian Army (IA), were recently tracked flying over the Kashmir region on websites like Flightradar24.
These Heron TPs were previously reported to be leased from the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2020 for potential deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) bordering China in the Himalayas. The lease aimed to bolster India’s surveillance capabilities amidst ongoing border tensions.
Continue readingSOURCE : AFI
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has reported that India’s nuclear arsenal stands at approximately 172 warheads as of January 2024, reflecting a slight increase from the previous year. This figure places India ahead of Pakistan for the first time since both nations conducted nuclear tests in 1998. The margin, however, is narrow – a mere two warheads.
Pakistani media outlets have contested SIPRI’s assessment. Historically, Western estimates, including those from SIPRI and the International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM), have placed Pakistan slightly ahead in terms of nuclear warhead stockpiles. These estimates rely heavily on satellite imagery analysis of uranium enrichment and plutonium production facilities, along with operational data. However, the specific methodologies employed by these institutions remain largely undisclosed, raising questions about the exactness of their figures.
Continue readingSOURCE : AFI
nion Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting at North Block to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and to assess the preparedness for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, which is set to begin on June 29. The meeting was attended by prominent figures, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, among others.
During the meeting, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) highlighted its proposal to create 659 posts for their Mountain Battalions. The CRPF emphasized the necessity of this initiative, stating that over time, terrorist activities have shifted from urban areas to the forests at higher altitudes. A senior official explained, “After monitoring their regular activities, it has been observed that over a period, they have moved from urban areas to the terrain of forests at higher reaches. Since they are changing their modus operandi, security establishments also have to reinvigorate their plans as per the current scenario.”
Continue readingSOURCE : PIB
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed six consecutive developmental trials of High Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) ‘ABHYAS’ with improved booster configuration from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. With this, ABHYAS has successfully completed 10 developmental trials demonstrating the reliability of the system.
?The trials were carried out with improved Radar Cross Section, Visual and Infrared augmentation systems. During the trials, various mission objectives covering safe release of booster, launcher clearance, and endurance performance were successfully validated. Two launches were conducted back-to-back within a gap of 30 minutes, demonstrating the ease of operation with minimum logistics. Representatives from the Services witnessed the flight trials.
Continue readingSOURCE : IANS
The Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) has issued a strong condemnation of a report prepared by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). In a statement released on Thursday, the IMF emphasised that USCIRF’s attempt to categorise India alongside authoritarian regimes such as Afghanistan, Cuba, North Korea, Russia, and China disregards and overlooks the country’s democratic structure, robust civil society, and rich pluralistic heritage.
“This mischaracterisation undermines USCIRF’s credibility and understanding of India’s religious freedom landscape,” the statement said.
Continue readingSOURCE : ANI
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an organisation India has strongly criticised in the past, has again raised ‘concerns’ over religious freedoms, citing the alleged rise in ‘hate speech’, demolitions and anti-conversion laws.
The report annually surveys religious freedoms around the world and aims to provide a “fact-based, comprehensive view of the state of religious freedom” in nearly 200 countries and territories. The findings come a few weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his third term in office and India and the United States agreed to strengthen cooperation in high technology areas during a visit by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan to New Delhi.
Continue readingSOURCE : ANI
Philippines’ Ambassador to India, Jose Francisco Ignacio, expressed pride in President Droupadi Murmu mentioning the BrahMos project between India and the Philippines during her address to the joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday.
Highlighting the project as a crucial element of bilateral relations between the two nations in their 75th year of diplomatic ties, Ambassador Ignacio remarked positively on the current trajectory of India-Philippines relations.
Continue readingSOURCE : PTI
India is now the world’s third largest domestic aviation market and the increase in flight routes in the last 10 years has benefitted Tier 2 and 3 cities, President Droupadi Murmu said today.
In her address to the joint sitting of Parliament, President Murmu said the country has grown at an average rate of 8 per cent annually from 2021 to 2024. She emphasised that in 10 years, India has risen to become the 5th largest economy from the 11th position.
Continue readingSOURCE : PTI
A group of five men pasted posters outside the residence of AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi here on Thursday evening, demanding his suspension from the Lok Sabha, officials said. According to a police officer, four men reached Owaisi’s 34 Ashoka Road residence located in Central Delhi and pasted three posters at the entry gate and wall of the house about 9 pm.
The lines like ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, ‘I stand with Israel’ and ‘Owaisi should be suspended’ were written on the posters.
Continue readingSOURCE : PIB
As part of her ongoing deployment to Africa and Europe, Indian Navy’s frontline frigate, INS Tabar, arrived at the historic port city of Alexandria, Egypt for a goodwill visit from 27 to 30 Jun 24.
India and Egypt have enjoyed a rich legacy of cultural relations and economic ties for several centuries. These bonds have continued to grow stronger in modern times and in recent years, bilateral relations between both countries have expanded across various sectors, including defence and maritime cooperation. The visit of Indian Naval Ship Tabar to Alexandria is intended to reaffirm India’s commitment to deepening the bilateral ties with Egypt as also enhancing various aspects of maritime security.
Continue readingSOURCE : ANI
Madhya Pradesh government on Thursday granted Indian citizenship certificates to the first three applicants under Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019 in the state.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav physically handed over the Citizenship certificates to two Pakistani applicants Sameer Melwani (12) and Sanjana Melwani (18) and one Bangladeshi applicant Rakhi Das at Mantralaya in the state capital Bhopal.
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