SOURCE: PTI
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Senior Indian American leader Swadesh Chatterjee has said the community is hesitant to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election as she has not developed a base among them in her previous roles as Senator or the Attorney General of California.
A Padma Bhushan awardee of 2001, the Democratic community has created the “Indian Americans for Harris” group and has been campaigning for her not only in the state of North Carolina, where he is based, but is also organising support for the vice president in other battleground states.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Dassault Aviation is set to offer its latest Rafale F4 variant to the Indian Air Force (IAF) as part of the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender for 114 jets. With the production line now transitioning to the F4 standard by 2025 following the delivery of the first aircraft in 2023 and the second in 2025, Dassault is positioning the Rafale F4 as a highly advanced option for the IAF.
Officials from Dassault, speaking to idrw.org, emphasized that the Rafale F4 brings numerous upgrades over the Rafale F3R jets currently operated by the IAF, among them are Thales software-defined radio, satellite communications and other improvements on RBE2 AESA radar, Talios targeting pod, front sector optronics system, and helmet-mounted display capabilities. New capabilities for the F4 include the Thales Scorpion Helmet Mounted Display, MBDA’s MICA NG (Next-Generation) air-to-air missile and the 1,000-kilogram variant of Safran’s AASM (armement air-sol modulaire) “Hammer” precision-guided munition.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Recent developments signal a strategic shift for India’s T-72 Main Battle Tank (MBT) fleet. With approvals secured from Russia, India can now upgrade and resell these tanks to existing T-72 operators, extending their operational lifespan. This move comes as India seeks a replacement under the Future-Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) program, which aims to equip the Indian Army with next-generation MBTs.
While the Indian Army eyes a new generation of tanks, a significant number of countries have expressed interest in acquiring India’s soon-to-be-retired T-72s. To address this demand, India plans to upgrade these tanks before resale.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
France has formally requested India to closely monitor and restrict the supply of French-manufactured Thales multifunction displays, navigation systems, and heads-up displays (HUDs) from being exported, particularly to markets that could indirectly serve Russia. This request comes after reports surfaced about a Kazakhstan-based company bypassing international sanctions by collaborating with Russia to repair and maintain critical avionics systems, which are essential for Russia’s Su-30SM aircraft.
The Su-30SM is a derivative of the Su-30MKI, originally customized for the Indian Air Force (IAF) by Russia, with inputs from India. Several countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Armenia, operate the Su-30SM variant. A critical component of these aircraft is the French avionics systems, notably produced by Thales, which provide crucial functions like multifunction displays, navigation, and targeting.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
India plans to begin laying the groundwork for the development of a 6th-generation air superiority fighter that will replace the older batches of the Su-30MKI fighter jets, beginning in the mid-2040s. This ambitious plan aims to ensure India’s air dominance for decades to come as the Indian Air Force (IAF) prepares to phase out its ageing fleet of Su-30MKIs, the backbone of its current combat force.
The Su-30MKI fleet, which was introduced in the early 2000s, remains a critical asset for the IAF. However, with technological advancements and evolving global threats, the older batches of these aircraft will become increasingly outdated by the mid-2040s, necessitating a replacement. India’s plan for a 6th generation fighter will bridge the gap between the IAF’s current fleet and the future demands of modern warfare.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Uttar Pradesh Police Anti-Terrorism Squad (UP ATS) has awarded a contract for 1,228 units of the CZ Scorpion Evo 3 A1 submachine gun (SMG) to Vinveli Automated Systems Private Limited. Valued at ?87,984,000, this deal comes with a unit price of ?78,000 per SMG. While the decision appears straightforward, it highlights a significant moment for India’s defense manufacturing sector, as the indigenous ASMI 9mm machine pistol developed by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) came in second during the tender process.
The CZ Scorpion Evo 3 A1, manufactured by ?eská Zbrojovka (CZ) of the Czech Republic, has garnered a global reputation for its reliability, compact design, and modularity. It is chambered for the widely used 9x19mm Parabellum round, making it suitable for various tactical roles, particularly in counterterrorism and urban warfare. The weapon’s lightweight construction, high accuracy, and adaptability to different operational requirements make it a preferred choice among several law enforcement and military forces worldwide.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Army has finally taken a significant step towards improving the protection of its T-90 tanks by equipping them with a more robust and well-designed cope cage. This protective screen is designed to shield the tank’s turret from various threats, including drones, loitering munitions, and other aerial attacks.
The newly introduced cope cage features a metal grid on top and a wavy metal covering with alternating ridges. This design provides enhanced protection against incoming threats. Additionally, the sides of the cage can be covered with mesh to further safeguard the tank from side-turret attacks.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Indian startup BonV Aero has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by setting a new world record for the highest-altitude drone flight. Their UAV platform successfully hovered at a staggering 19,024 feet (5,800 meters) above sea level at the Umlinga Pass in Ladakh, India.
Umlinga Pass, known as the highest motorable mountain pass in the world, presents a challenging environment due to its extreme altitude and harsh weather conditions. Despite these obstacles, BonV Aero’s drone managed to lift a substantial payload of 30 kilograms while maintaining a maximum takeoff weight of 100 kilograms.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
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A doctor and five labourers were killed when terrorists struck a tunnel-construction site on the Srinagar-Leh national highway in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Sunday, officials said.
The unidentified terrorists carried out the attack when the labourers and other staff working on the tunnel project at Gund in Ganderbal had returned to their camp late in the evening, the officials said. They said the terrorists — believed to be at least two — opened indiscriminate fire on the group of labourers that included both locals and non-locals.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
In his first reaction after being withdrawn by New Delhi following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s continued “hostility” towards India, senior diplomat and High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma on Sunday termed the allegations levelled by Ottawa as “politically motivated” with no evidence whatsoever presented by the Canadian government of India’s alleged involvement in last year’s killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
“Nothing at all. No evidence was presented. Politically motivated,” Verma told Canada’s CTV ahead of his departure from the country.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
It is quite intriguing that a man who is designated as a terrorist in India is being treated as an asset in the US and Canada. And an Indian, who is said to be a government employee, is being projected as a “most wanted.”
The whole episode seems to be no less than a typical spy thriller, which has a plot, subplots and a lot more that is not apparent. The truth is varied. The US claims its citizen is being targeted and Canada says its citizen has been targeted. In the murky world of espionage, and counter-espionage, the truth hardly comes out. But, in this case, the one thing that has grabbed the attention is the face of the Indian agent has been splashed over.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Condemning the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and they will face the harshest response from the security forces.
A doctor and five labourers were killed in indiscriminate firing by terrorists at a tunnel construction site on the Srinagar-Leh national highway on Sunday, officials said. “The dastardly terror attack on civilians in Gagangir, J&K, is a despicable act of cowardice. Those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and will face the harshest response from our security forces,” Shah wrote on ‘X’.
Continue readingSOURCE: Press Trust of India
Russia’s top diplomat has said that his country believes that India, Brazil and African countries should be represented in the UN Security Council on a permanent basis to ensure the representativeness of the global majority, state-owned TASS news agency reported on Sunday.
“Countries such as India, Brazil, as well as representatives of Africa should have been on a permanent basis in the Security Council for a long time. This is necessary to ensure representativeness, representation of the global majority,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told aif.ru. in an interview, TASS reported.
Continue readingSOURCE: Asian News International
The President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, decided to take the necessary steps to introduce the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) in the island nation, following the recommendation of the Cabinet on Sunday.
This move came following India agreeing to share its expertise in the implementation of digital and financial services and to work in the development of the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) through the launch of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Unique Digital Identity, during Mohamed Muizzu’s State Visit earlier this month.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
A massive explosion took place near a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) school in Prashant Vihar in Delhi’s Rohini on Sunday, triggering panic among area residents who mistook it as a terror strike. No one was injured in the blast that took place around 7.45 a.m. There is no confirmation yet if it was an act of terror but there were indications of possible use of a crude bomb.
A high-security alert has been sounded in the Capital, police said. Sources said a powder-like white residue collected from the blast site was sent for forensic test.
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