SOURCE: PIB
The indigenously designed and built guided missile destroyer INS Mumbai is participating in the fourth edition of the Multinational Exercise LA PEROUSE. This edition will witness participation of personnel/ surface and sub-surface assets from various maritime partners including Royal Australian Navy, French Navy, Royal Navy, United States Navy, Indonesian Navy, Royal Malaysian Navy, Republic of Singapore Navy and Royal Canadian Navy.
The exercise aims to develop common Maritime Situational Awareness by enhancing the cooperation in the field of maritime surveillance, maritime interdiction operations and air operations along with the conduct of progressive training and information sharing. The exercise provides an opportunity for like-minded navies to develop closer links in planning, coordination and information sharing for enhanced tactical interoperability.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In an exclusive conversation with idrw.org, a senior official from Safran, the French aerospace giant, confirmed that the forthcoming 110kN thrust engine, to be developed in collaboration with India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, will feature a completely new core design, distinct from the M-88 engines currently used in the Rafale jets.
The Safran official emphasized, “The 110kN engine will not share any core components or technology from the M-88. It’s designed from the ground up to meet the specific requirements of the AMCA.” This revelation underscores a significant commitment to innovation, ensuring that the engine will be tailored to the unique challenges and specifications of India’s 5th-generation fighter jet program.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a bid to rekindle a long-stalled joint venture, Russia has approached India to reconsider the development of the Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) project. This proposal comes after the Indian aerospace giant, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), had previously withdrawn from the project due to disagreements over engine specifications.
The MTA was intended to be a collaborative effort between Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation and India’s HAL, aimed at replacing India’s ageing fleet of Antonov An-32 transport aircraft. The project, initially envisioned in 2007, saw India planning to procure 45 aircraft, with Russia looking to acquire around 100. However, the venture hit a snag in 2016 when HAL decided to pull out, primarily due to differences over the selection of engines and management of the project.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
After a service span from 2002 to 2024, the Indian Navy has officially de-inducted its fleet of Searcher MK II Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). This decision marks the end of an era for these short-range UAVs within the naval service, as confirmed by a high-ranking official to idrw.org.
The Searcher MK II, with a weight of 500 kg and a payload capacity of just 68 kg, was initially inducted into the Indian Navy at a time when Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) and High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs were not widely available or considered for naval applications. Despite their de-induction, these UAVs will not be immediately disposed of. Instead, they will be kept in storage, as stated by the official, to be potentially reactivated if future needs arise.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research and Technologies (NRT) has set its sights on the development of the Abhimanyu, a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) that promises to redefine tactical aerial capabilities. This innovative unmanned platform is designed to operate as part of a Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUMT) system, providing a cost-effective, expendable solution tailored for multiple mission profiles including Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), kinetic attacks, decoy operations, and Electronic Warfare (EW).
The Abhimanyu stands out due to its Tactical Interdiction and Attack Air Vehicle (TIA-AV) design philosophy, focusing on being low-cost, intelligent, and expendable. This approach aims to deliver a platform that can be deployed in large numbers for various combat scenarios, enhancing operational flexibility and reducing the risk to human pilots. The modular design of the Abhimanyu allows it to adapt swiftly to different mission requirements, from gathering intelligence to engaging in direct combat or electronic warfare, making it a versatile asset on the battlefield.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
According to reports from MaxDefense Philippines, the Philippine Army is engaging in advanced negotiations with India’s BrahMos Aerospace to procure additional coastal batteries of the BrahMos anti-ship missile. This move is part of the broader Integrated Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile System (ISBASMS) Acquisition Project, which involves both the Philippine Army and the Marine Corps.
The ISBASMS project is an evolution from the earlier Land-Based Anti-Ship Missile System (LBASMS) Acquisition Project, which had initially planned for the acquisition of two missile batteries. The new initiative significantly scales up this ambition, with discussions now focused on securing nine missile batteries.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In an exclusive interview, Abdul Basit, who previously served as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India, made bold claims regarding the comparative strengths of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF). Basit, now known for his diplomatic insights and commentary on Indo-Pak relations, stated that the PAF currently holds a superiority over the IAF, a position he predicts will only strengthen with the induction of the J-35A and TAI TF Kaan fighter jets into Pakistan’s fleet.
Basit began the interview by discussing the current capabilities of both air forces. He highlighted that despite India’s numerical advantage in terms of aircraft numbers, Pakistan has managed to maintain a qualitative edge through strategic acquisitions and upgrades. “The Pakistan Air Force has been proactive in modernizing its fleet, ensuring that we are not only matching but in some respects surpassing the capabilities of our neighbors,” Basit remarked.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has taken a significant step towards rekindling the traditional recruitment of Gorkha soldiers from Nepal into the Indian Army. In a recent appeal, General Dwivedi personally requested his Nepali counterpart to reconsider the recruitment process which has been on hold since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and further complicated by the introduction of India’s Agnipath military recruitment scheme.
“I have personally requested the Nepal Army chief to revive the recruitment of the ethnic Gorkha community in the Indian Army. I am very hopeful that it will resume sooner than later,” General Upendra Dwivedi told The Telegraph. This statement reflects the urgency and importance India places on the recruitment of Gorkhas, known for their valor and loyalty, which have been integral to the Indian Army since the 1947 tripartite agreement involving India, Nepal, and the UK.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
India on Friday said it is in touch with Washington to clarify issues pertaining to the possible impact that the latest US sanctions on Russia’s energy sector could have on Indian companies.
The Biden administration on January 10 announced additional sanctions targeting Russia’s oil industry as well as oil-carrying vessels with an aim to cut off Moscow’s energy revenue that is funding its war in Ukraine. “These additional sanctions that have been announced pertain to several entities and individuals in the Russian energy sector,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
ISRO on Friday released a video of the successful docking of satellites as part of its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) that made India the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to accomplish the technological feat.The video showed the coupling of the satellites in the space. It was followed by new ISRO Chairperson V Narayanan greeting the space agency team which made it a success.
“ISRO successfully completed docking of two SPADEX satellites (SDX-01 & SDX-02) in the early hours of January 16, 2025,” the space agency said in the caption for the video it released on ‘X’.
Continue readingSOURCE: PIB
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has underlined the need to strengthen India’s offensive and defensive responses in view of the turmoil being witnessed in the rules-based international order. Addressing an event, organised to commemorate 2024 as the Year of Naval Civilians, in New Delhi on January 17, 2025, Raksha Mantri highlighted the increasing complexities for the Armed Forces due to the tense geopolitical security scenario and pitched to increase the critical capability of the country at the earliest.
“If we assess the entire decade from a defence & security perspective, we can say that it has been a volatile decade. We are witnessing conflicts and wars in different regions across the world. Keeping these things in mind, we need planning, resourcing and budgeting for our security. There is a need to adopt a consultative approach. We need to take inputs from all the stakeholders on how to face future challenges. Our forces should be equipped and ready according to the changing times,” said Shri Rajnath Singh, emphasising that the civilian workforce, an integral part of the Armed Forces, will play a crucial role in the planning process.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
The success of Indian space startup Digantara’s Space Camera for Object Tracking (SCOT) mission is important to the growing space industry in India, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. Digantara launched its SCOT satellite aboard SpaceX’sTransporter-12 mission on Wednesday to enhance space safety and track Resident Space Objects (RSOs).
On Thursday, the company announced the success of the mission. “Kudos to Indian space startup Digantara at the success of Mission SCOT,” said PM Modi in a post on social media platform X on Friday.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
India wants its ties with Bangladesh to move in a “positive direction” and bilateral relations to do well for the people of the two nations, adding that New Delhi’s approach with Dhaka has been ‘positive’, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday. He also spoke on the recent summoning of the Dhaka envoy by New Delhi and reiterated India’s committed to ensuring a crime-free border with Bangladesh.
“Our position as far as India-Bangladesh relations are concerned have been articulated a number of times. We had the visit of our Foreign secretary where we said that we want positive. We want to move in a positive direction. We want federal relations with the people of Bangladesh. We want India-Bangladesh relations to do well for the people of Bangladesh and the people of India. So that is what our approach is, a positive approach, and that remains,” Jaiswal said in a press briefing.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The foreign ministers of QUAD countries – Australia, India, Japan and the US– will meet in here on January 21, a day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th US President, making it one of the first foreign policy acts of the new administration, a media report said Friday. Trump will be sworn in for a second term on Monday.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya would be representing their respective countries at the presidential inauguration.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
India wants to engage more with the “government of the people of Afghanistan” on development cooperation and do more in terms of offering humanitarian assistance, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday. Referring to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s recent meeting with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that this was the “highest level of engagement” between the two nations.
Notably, FS Misri met the Acting Afghan FM in Dubai, earlier this month, marking a significant step in enhancing the level of engagement between the two countries since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021. “We have a technical mission in Kabul.
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