SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In a recent interview with The Week, Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), shed light on the challenges and progress in developing High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in India. Dr. Kamat emphasized that while DRDO is making significant strides in indigenous UAV development, propulsion systems remain a critical bottleneck. To address this, DRDO is collaborating with global leaders in a consultancy and advisory capacity, ensuring that the core development remains firmly in Indian hands.
HALE UAVs, designed for extended missions at high altitudes, require advanced propulsion systems to achieve optimal performance, endurance, and reliability. Dr. Kamat highlighted that the availability of suitable propulsion systems is the primary challenge in configuring these advanced UAVs. Unlike other domains where India’s defence ecosystem has made rapid advancements, propulsion technology for HALE UAVs remains a niche area requiring significant expertise and time to mature.
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, developed by India’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), is a cornerstone of the country’s indigenous defense aviation program. As part of its ongoing development, the LCA AF Mk1 requires rigorous testing to ensure aerodynamic performance and structural integrity, particularly for components like the UF 725 Ltr Drop Tank used in wind tunnel testing. This article delves into the detailed Statement of Work (SoW) for the intake model through CNC machining, assembly, and delivery of the drop tank, highlighting its significance in the broader context of India’s aerospace advancements.
The SoW outlines the comprehensive process for manufacturing and assembling the UF 725 Ltr Drop Tank intake model, a critical component for wind tunnel testing of the LCA AF Mk1. The process is divided into four key stages: manufacturing of CNC machined parts, procurement of standard parts, assembly and inspection, and packing and shipping. Each stage is meticulously designed to meet stringent aerospace standards, ensuring the model’s accuracy and reliability during testing.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a recent development surrounding the India-Pakistan aerial skirmish on May 7, 2025, a French analyst with prior experience at Dassault Aviation has provided critical insights into the performance of the Rafale fighter jet and its SPECTRA electronic warfare (EW) system.
The analyst’s statements counter Pakistan’s bold claims of downing three Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale jets during India’s Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. According to French media and the analyst’s assessment, only one Rafale may have sustained damage, with Pakistan’s narrative appearing exaggerated and lacking substantiation. This article explores the analyst’s claims, the role of the Rafale’s advanced systems, and the broader implications of the conflict.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer is intensifying its bid to secure the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) contract with a bold proposal to establish a Final Assembly Line (FAL) in India for its C-390 Millennium tactical transport aircraft. Raul Villaron, Embraer Commercial Aviation’s Head of Asia-Pacific, emphasized that the viability of this ambitious plan depends on the size of the order, with the IAF expected to procure 40 to 80 aircraft—a significant commitment for a medium-lift platform.
This move, aligned with India’s “Make in India” initiative, could position India as a regional hub for C-390 production, maintenance, and exports, potentially transforming the country’s aerospace ecosystem. However, with competitors like Lockheed Martin’s C-130J and Airbus’s A400M in the race, Embraer’s success hinges on its ability to leverage partnerships, cost-effectiveness, and the C-390’s proven capabilities.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Recent tensions along the India-Pakistan border have underscored critical gaps in India’s military capabilities, particularly in the realm of long-range air-to-air missiles (AAMs) and standoff missiles with ranges of 500-800 km. These clashes, marked by heightened aerial engagements and cross-border skirmishes, have highlighted the strategic necessity for India to bolster its arsenal with advanced missile systems capable of engaging targets deep inside Pakistani territory. Investing in such technologies is not merely a response to immediate threats but a long-term imperative to maintain regional deterrence and operational superiority.
India and Pakistan have a history of volatile relations, with frequent escalations along the Line of Control (LoC) and occasional aerial confrontations. The 2019 Balakot airstrike, where Indian Air Force (IAF) jets struck a terrorist camp in Pakistan, and the subsequent dogfight involving Pakistani aircraft, exposed both strengths and vulnerabilities in India’s air combat capabilities. While India’s Mirage 2000 jets successfully deployed precision-guided munitions, the engagement revealed limitations in the IAF’s ability to dominate beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat and strike deep targets without risking aircraft or escalating tensions further.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), envisioned as the nation’s first indigenous 5th-generation stealth fighter, was meant to propel the Indian Air Force (IAF) into the elite league of advanced air forces. However, bureaucratic inertia, misplaced priorities, and a lack of vision from the IAF’s top brass have significantly delayed the program, allowing Pakistan to potentially take the lead in procuring 5th-generation fighters.
The IAF’s initial focus on the Indo-Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program and subsequent obsession with the French Rafale jet relegated the AMCA to an “unwanted child,” undermining India’s strategic autonomy in aerospace. As Pakistan accelerates its pursuit of advanced fighters, possibly the Chinese J-31/FC-31, India’s AMCA remains years from fruition, exposing critical gaps in foresight and execution.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In the wake of recent military tensions between India and Pakistan, disinformation campaigns have seen a dramatic uptick—most notably targeting Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) first female Rafale fighter pilot. A false narrative recently circulated by Qatar-based Al Jazeera claimed that Singh had been captured by Pakistani forces following alleged aerial engagements between the IAF and the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). However, the claim was swiftly debunked by Pakistan’s own military spokesperson, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DGISPR), who clarified that no Indian pilot had been captured.
Despite this official denial, a wave of misinformation continues to spread on social media platforms, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), fueled by ISI-backed disinformation networks and paid troll accounts. These accounts persist in promoting baseless claims that one of the downed Rafale jets was being piloted by Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh—despite there being no evidence to support such a claim. The IAF has not reported any Rafale losses, nor has there been any independent verification of such an incident.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
)
India would strike deep into Pakistan if provoked by terrorist attacks, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has warned, asserting that there will be retribution against the terrorist outfits and their leaders in case of barbaric acts like the Pahalgam attack.
Jaishankar, who is travelling to Europe a month after India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, also said that Pakistan was training “thousands” of terrorists “in the open” and “unleashing” them on India.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took to social media to celebrate the remarkable strides made by India’s defence sector over the past 11 years, underlining the twin focus on modernisation and self-reliance.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote: “The last 11 years have marked significant changes in our defence sector, with a clear focus on both modernisation and becoming self reliant when it comes to defence production. It is gladdening to see how the people of India have come together with the resolve of making India stronger! #11YearsOfRakshaShakti”.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has transformed into an emerging defence exporter, strengthening national security and becoming a trusted partner in global peace.
“India’s defence sector has undergone a major transformation in the last decade. India’s defence exports have grown by over 1,100% in the last decade from ?1,941 crore in 2014 to an all-time high of ?23,662 crore in 2024. The country now exports military hardware to over 100 countries,” the Finance Minister said in a statement on X.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
As Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares for a journey into space aboard the Axiom-4 mission, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday extended heartfelt wishes to its officer and crew.
The much-anticipated mission to the International Space Station (ISS), originally slated for June 10, has been postponed by a day due to unfavourable weather conditions. In a statement posted on X, the IAF wrote: “As Group Captain Shubahanshu Shukla prepares to embark on Axiom-4 space mission tomorrow, Chief of the Air Staff and all Air Warriors of IAF wish him and the entire crew of Axiom-4 all the best for a safe and successful trip to the International Space Station. This will add a new chapter to the Indian Space Odyssey. Touch the sky with glory!”
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday termed media reports of Saudi Arabia suspending issuance of block work visas for citizens from 14 countries, including India, as “fake”, asserting that the Saudi government has not issued any notification on the matter.
“This CLAIM is FALSE. FACT: The Saudi Government has not issued any notification on this matter. As a matter of practice, during the Haj season, there are temporary restrictions on short term visas to avoid overcrowding during this season, which end with the conclusion of Haj,” the MEA’s official FactCheck account posted on X.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
A plastic nurdle spill from the sunken cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 has spread into the newly declared Dhanushkodi Greater Flamingo Sanctuary in Ramanathapuram district, threatening one of India’s most fragile coastal ecosystems.
The MSC ELSA 3, a Liberian-flagged vessel, sank off the Kochi coast a few weeks ago while carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials, 12 with calcium carbide, 367 tonnes of furnace oil, and 84 tonnes of diesel.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to probe the case of a man, who was active in the student ‘movement’ in Bangladesh last year, and features as a registered voter in the Kakdwip Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district.
The controversy surfaced after some whistleblowers highlighted the picture of Newton Das, a registered voter with Kakdwip Assembly constituency, featuring in the students’ movement in Bangladesh last year on social media. The whistleblowers also claimed that Das had dual citizenship of India and Bangladesh.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The Congress on Tuesday slammed the government after a video emerged showing an Indian student being handcuffed and pinned to the floor at a US airport, and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should immediately talk to President Donald Trump to appeal for intervention on the “mistreatment” of Indians in America.
Congress leaders shared the video and pictures of an Indian student handcuffed and pinned to the floor at USA’s Newark Airport before he was allegedly deported.
Continue reading