SOURCE: PTI
In the wake of the US imposing sanctions on several individuals and entities, including from India, for allegedly supporting Russia’s military-industrial base, the MEA Saturday said New Delhi is in touch with Washington to clarify issues.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, in response to a query during his weekly briefing, also said, its understanding is that the sanctioned transactions and companies are “not in violation of Indian laws”.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFP
The United States announced Friday the deployment of additional military assets to the Middle East, including ballistic missile defense destroyers and long-range B-52 bomber aircraft, serving as a warning to Iran as it and Israel trade tit-for-tat strikes.
“Should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people,” Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said in a statement.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is likely to brief the Parliamentary panel on external affairs on Wednesday on the India-Canada ties, which have taken a hit after Canadian officials accused Indian government functionaries of ordering the murder pro-Khalistani terrorist Harjeet Singh Nijjar.
Misri is also likely to brief the parliamentary panel on the recent upswing in India’s ties with China following the agreement to resume patrolling at friction points along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said compared to earlier times, the number of terrorist attacks has decreased significantly in Jammu and Kashmir. Talking to reporters here, Singh said security forces are vigilant in Jammu and Kashmir and terrorism would be completely eradicated from the region.
The Union Territory is witnessing rapid development, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said. Commenting on the India-China relationship, the defence minister said India always wants cordial relations with its neighbours.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that Sikh pilgrims from the US, UK and Canada will receive free online visas within 30 minutes upon arrival in the country to pay respect to their religious sites.
Naqvi’s remarks came as he met with a 44-member foreign delegation of Sikh pilgrims in Lahore on Thursday. The minister warmly welcomed the Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan. He acknowledged that the Sikh pilgrims faced difficulties while visiting Pakistan in the past, according to a statement by the Ministry of Interior.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Thai counterpart Maris Sangiampongsa discussed bilateral ties, multilateral cooperation and regional developments during a meeting in Delhi on Saturday.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said Sangiampongsa’s visit for the Royal Kathina ceremony “exemplifies the longstanding historical and cultural relations” between the two countries.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
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Terrorists hurled grenades at TRC, Sunday market in Srinagar on Sunday. Further details are awaited. On Saturday, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone, Vidhi Kumar Birdi said that a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander was killed in an encounter in Khanyar area of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Now this operation has been completed. Security forces have killed a terrorist, who has been identified as Usman…, he was the commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and 4 security personnel have been injured. He is a foreign terrorist and his role and involvement in the murder of Inspector Masroor has come to light and further investigation is being done in this regard…,” IGP Birdi told ANI.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is steering a renewed campaign for India to procure Eurofighter Typhoon jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) under its Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender for 114 jets. The move comes after the Eurofighter Typhoon lost out to the Dassault Rafale in India’s previous Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition, where the Typhoon was declared L2 (second lowest bidder) and the Rafale emerged as the L1 (lowest bidder).
The Eurofighter Typhoon, built by a consortium consisting of Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, is a multi-role fighter jet involving four key European nations—Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain. Although the UK is currently leading discussions with potential buyers, any sale of the Eurofighter requires approval from all four consortium nations, each of which has the power to veto the transaction. Chancellor Scholz has reportedly emphasized to Eurofighter consortium officials the importance of aggressively pursuing the MRFA tender to secure a deal with India.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems has proposed a joint development initiative with India to create a new Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) or High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for the Indian Armed Forces. This offer comes at a critical time, as India’s indigenous UAV programs face delays and challenges.
The proposal follows an agreement between General Atomics and India, under which the U.S. firm will serve as a consultant for the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in its HALE UAV program.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
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The Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has drawn significant interest from South-Asian and East Asian nations, according to a DRDO official who spoke to idrw.org. As DRDO moves closer to concluding development trials of this hybrid missile system, it is seen as a promising solution for nations seeking effective anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities without the need to heavily invest in expensive submarines or warships.
The SMART system has been designed as a canister-based missile that combines supersonic speed with a lightweight torpedo payload. The missile consists of advanced technologies, including two-stage solid propulsion and precision inertial navigation. Once fired, the missile travels at supersonic speeds and, upon nearing the target area, releases a torpedo via a parachute-based mechanism. This hybrid approach enables fast and precise delivery of the torpedo, making it highly effective in neutralizing underwater threats.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Commodore Jaideep Maolankar, a highly respected test pilot with the Indian Navy and one of the key figures at the National Flight Test Centre working on the Tejas program, has recently raised concerns about the future of India’s indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) project. He warns that the Navy’s potential procurement of the Rafale M (the naval variant of the French-made Rafale) could jeopardize the TEDBF initiative. In his words, the Rafale acquisition might “kill TEDBF” as the rationale behind an “industrial strategy” could push the Navy towards committing entirely to the Rafale platform.
Maolankar’s statement underscores the complexity of India’s defense procurement strategy, especially in light of its ambitions for Atmanirbharta (self-reliance). As India pursues greater indigenous capabilities in defense, the looming choice between the TEDBF and Rafale M presents both operational and strategic dilemmas.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
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Angad Singh, a respected defense analyst, recently voiced his perspective on India’s Medium Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender during an interview with India Today. Singh emphasized that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has made it clear that its preference is the Rafale fighter jet, arguing that any attempt to conduct an open tender for the MRFA would be a costly waste of time.
Singh’s comments come as India approaches a significant decision for bolstering its fighter jet capabilities. The MRFA tender, which is anticipated to involve the acquisition of 114 advanced fighter jets for the IAF, has seen considerable interest from global aerospace companies. However, according to Singh, the IAF’s intent is straightforward, and so is the government’s understanding of it: the IAF wants the Rafale to complete its fleet requirements.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), in its recent annual report, has highlighted a significant milestone in the development of India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk 2. The report confirms that NAL has successfully completed the structural design and analysis of the radome composite structure and associated parts for the Mk 2’s Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, achieving a successful Critical Design Review (CDR).
A radome is a protective, aerodynamic cover that shields radar equipment from environmental factors while allowing radar waves to pass through with minimal distortion. For an AESA radar system, the radome must not only withstand high-stress flight conditions but also ensure minimal electromagnetic interference, which is crucial for radar accuracy and effectiveness.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, has made significant strides towards self-reliance in defense manufacturing. The Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), a premier shipyard of India, has successfully indigenized Sacrificial Zinc Anode Flanges.
These critical components are essential for the corrosion protection of various onboard systems, including pipes, valves, and pumps, which are exposed to seawater. Previously, these flanges were imported from M/s Metrocontrol, Spain. However, through a collaborative effort with M/s Sargam Metals, Chennai, MDL has successfully developed and manufactured these flanges domestically.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that India’s Aatmanirbhar drive was “yielding the desired results” and the country was poised to reach ? 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029-30. Addressing the 65th Foundation Day celebrations at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, the Defence Minister called upon Indian youth to indigenously develop high-end technologies, which the country imports, to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.
He stressed on the need to get a hold on high-end technology, urging the young ignited minds to realise their potential and contribute to the country’s progress. He termed institutions like IIT Kanpur as academic engines, which can provide a dynamism to India in the present competitive environment.
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