SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In response to the Indian Army’s requirement for 90 Carrier Air Defence Tracked (CADET) systems, with a minimum of 50% indigenous content, South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace has put forth its Hybrid BiHo system as a leading solution. Designed to address India’s evolving air defense needs, the Hybrid BiHo system is positioned as a highly adaptable and capable platform that could significantly bolster the Army’s mechanized columns across various terrains, including high-altitude areas up to 5,000 meters. As India seeks to strengthen its defense infrastructure with modern, locally-produced solutions, Hanwha Aerospace, in collaboration with India’s Larsen & Toubro (L&T), aims to meet these demands by establishing a robust domestic production line.
The Hybrid BiHo system distinguished itself in 2018 when it emerged as the Indian Army’s preferred choice following rigorous trials. Known for its dual-layered defense capabilities, the BiHo combines direct-fire guns with longer-range missiles, offering a versatile approach to tackling a wide range of low-altitude threats, from aircraft to drones. This unique multi-layered capability equips the system to swiftly engage and neutralize threats within close range, while the missile system provides an extended engagement envelope, enhancing the defensive reach of deployed forces.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India is gearing up to finalize a significant partnership with a foreign aerospace major for the co-development of a new engine tailored for the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. Sources close to idrw.org indicate that the deal is expected to be inked by mid-2025, with plans to conduct prototype engine testing by 2029. This initiative marks a crucial step in India’s ambition to bolster its Indigenous defence capabilities and advance its aerospace technology.
The new engine aims to achieve an impressive thrust capability, generating 75 kN of dry thrust, which could translate into approximately 110 to 130 kN of wet thrust when the afterburner is engaged. This thrust range is vital for ensuring optimal performance in various combat scenarios, enhancing the AMCA’s agility and operational effectiveness.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The delivery of India’s fourth S-400 squadron from Russia, originally scheduled for 2025, may now be delayed until early 2026, with the fifth squadron expected to arrive by mid-2026, according to recent media reports. Last month Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, acknowledged the delay, attributing it to disruptions stemming from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. This announcement came despite earlier indications of an accelerated delivery timeline, adding new challenges to India’s air defence upgrade plans.
In 2018, India signed a $5.43 billion contract with Russia for five S-400 air defense squadrons to strengthen its aerial defence capabilities. The deal positioned India as one of a select group of nations equipped with Russia’s advanced S-400 missile systems, known for their long-range precision and versatility in intercepting aircraft, UAVs, and ballistic and cruise missiles. With three squadrons already deployed by the IAF, the remaining two squadrons are highly anticipated to complete India’s comprehensive, multi-layered air defense network.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a notable achievement for India’s defense industry, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has successfully dispatched the first Akash Weapon System Battery for export, marking a significant stride in the country’s defense export capabilities. Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, IAS, Secretary of Defence Production, presided over the flagging-off ceremony, which celebrated the export to Armenia, a Friendly Foreign Country that has become a strategic partner for India’s defense sector. This landmark event signifies India’s increasing expertise in defense technology, as well as its ability to meet global defense needs with home-grown, advanced weaponry.
The Akash Weapon System is a highly effective, all-weather, mobile, short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by BEL, in collaboration with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). Known for its reliability, mobility, and high kill probability, Akash can engage multiple aerial threats, including fighter jets, drones, and missiles, at ranges of up to 30 kilometers and at altitudes as high as 18,000 meters.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Prof. Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, a defence analyst from the School of Politics and International Relations at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, recently expressed concern about India’s rapid advancements in hypersonic technology, artificial intelligence (AI), multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV), and ballistic missile defence (BMD) systems. Speaking to the media, Dr Jaspal noted that India’s focused investments in next-generation defence technologies could shift the regional strategic balance and lead to heightened security tensions.
According to Jaspal, India’s commitment to developing hypersonic missiles represents a significant leap in its defense capabilities. Hypersonic missiles, capable of reaching speeds over Mach 5, present a formidable challenge to conventional missile defense systems due to their speed and maneuverability. India has conducted successful trials of a Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), as part of its push toward achieving operational hypersonic weapon systems. Hypersonic missiles, once fully developed, will significantly enhance India’s ability to conduct quick, precise, and evasive strikes, a capability that has sparked concern among its regional neighbors.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) has launched a significant initiative aimed at the indigenous design and development of hovercraft tailored for military operations. The challenge, titled “Indigenous Design & Prototype Development of Hovercraft for Military Operations,” is a core part of the Ministry of Defence’s latest innovation scheme, ADITI (Accelerated Development of Indigenously Teched Ideas). ADITI was launched by the Honourable Defence Minister under the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence)/DIO (Defence Innovation Organisation) framework, which promotes local development of cutting-edge defense technologies.
The ADITI scheme’s second edition introduces a focused push for innovative designs and prototypes that can be manufactured domestically. Through this challenge, GRSE seeks to develop hovercraft solutions that cater to the specific requirements of India’s armed forces, allowing for swift, agile, and versatile movement across diverse terrains, including marshlands, beaches, and water bodies. Hovercraft can be crucial assets for a range of military operations such as amphibious assaults, troop transport, logistics, and special operations, thanks to their unique ability to travel on water and land.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Gridbots Technologies has introduced a cutting-edge robotic solution named VIPER, an AI-powered inspection and cleaning system designed to streamline maintenance for various types of artillery, tank, submarine, and airborne gun barrels. Equipped with an advanced laser scanning capability, VIPER automates the traditionally manual and labor-intensive process of cleaning and inspecting gun barrels, delivering efficiency and precision that enhance the reliability and lifespan of military-grade barrels.
Historically, gun barrel cleaning required multiple personnel to manually insert a steel brush along a long rod, repeatedly cleaning the barrel. This process is not only labor-intensive but often falls short of thorough cleaning, especially given the rifled structure of many barrels, which poses challenges for conventional linear cleaning methods. Misalignments and other small imperfections can be left untreated, potentially damaging the barrel over time.
Continue readingSOURCE: PIB
Solid State Physics Laboratory, a DRDO laboratory, has successfully developed indigenous processes for growing and manufacturing 4-inch diameter Silicon Carbide (SiC) wafers and fabricating Gallium Nitride (GaN) High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs) upto 150W & Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) up to 40W for applications up to X-band frequencies. GaN/SiC technology is a critical enabler of next-generation applications across defence, aerospace, and clean energy sectors.
This advanced technology offers improved efficiency, reduced size and weight, and enhanced performance, making it essential for future combat systems, RADARS, electronic warfare systems, and green energy solutions. With rising demands for lighter and more compact power supplies in future combat systems, GaN/SiC technology provides a vital foundation for communications, intelligence, reconnaissance, and unmanned systems for both military and commercial sectors, including electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Continue readingSOURCE: UNI
The country’s first and only C-295 full motion simulator has been launched at the Agra Air Force Station. Training related to the C-295 aircraft will be done at the Agra Air Force Station itself. It is equipped with many state-of-the-art facilities.
On this occasion, AOC-in-C, Central Air Command, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit inaugurated the Indian Air Force C-295 Full Motion Simulator (FMS) facility in Agra on Monday (November 11).
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Parvathaneni Harish, on Monday stressed the need for UN Security Council reform, noting that despite decades of discussions, there have been no significant changes since 1965.
Addressing the Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly in New York, Mr Harish said, “As we begin this year’s deliberations, we note that the reform of the UN Security Council was once again identified as a critical and immediate priority at the summit of the future discussions by our leaders. However, in spite of several decades of collective reiteration of this sentiment, it is disheartening that we have had no results to show in this regard since 1965 when the Council was last expanded in the non-permanent category alone.”
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
A major Indian defence public sector undertaking has signed an agreement with Russia’s Rosoboronexport for cooperation on variants of the Pantsir air defence missile-gun system. The Pantsir air defence system is a versatile platform designed to protect critical military and industrial facilities from aerial threats and reinforce air defence units.
The Memorandum of Understanding between Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Rosoboronexport was signed recently on the sidelines of the fifth IRIGC (India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission Subgroup) in Goa, according to the DPSU.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
India has initiated its first-ever space exercise called ‘Antariksha Abhyas – 2024’ which is being hosted by the Defence Space Agency. Ministry of Defence said that the ‘Antariksha Abhyas’ is a three-day exercise. “It is being conducted by the Defence Space Agency of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff from 11 to 13 November,” the ministry said.
It added that ‘Exercise Antariksha Abhyas’ is a first-of-its-kind and is expected to help secure national strategic objectives in space and integrate India’s space capability in military operations.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Thousands of youth lined up at an Army recruitment rally in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said. The aspirants queued up before day break at Ganthmulla in the hope of joining the Army, the officials said. The recruitment drive began on Monday and will continue till Sunday.
While some aspirants said they wanted to join the Army to serve the country, others said they just wanted to earn a decent livelihood.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Coast guards of India and Sri Lanka held a high-level meeting in Colombo on Monday as part of efforts to enhance cooperation in addressing various maritime challenges for strengthening the safety and security framework in the region.
A four-member Indian Coast Guard (ICG) delegation led by Director General S Paramesh and a Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) delegation headed by Director General Rear Admiral Y R Serasinghe participated in the meeting which marked a significant milestone in the collaborative efforts between the two forces, the defence ministry said in a statement here.
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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday conducted extensive searches at multiple locations across the country in connection with the activities promoted by some Bangladeshi nationals as part of terror group Al-Qaida’s conspiracy to destabilise India, according to an official statement.
The crackdown at nine locations, linked with individuals suspected of supporting and funding the activities of the proscribed terrorist organisation Al-Qaida, started early in the morning in Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura and Assam, it said.
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