SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In response to concerns raised by a leading private sector company over limited participation in India’s ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is actively considering a proposal to increase the scope and share of work allotted to private industry partners. The move comes after the company expressed dissatisfaction that its current role, primarily limited to airframe manufacturing, offers insufficient returns on investment.
The AMCA program, spearheaded by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is India’s flagship 5th-generation stealth fighter project. While the government has emphasized the importance of involving private players to boost self-reliance and speed up delivery timelines, current allocations have been viewed as inadequate by industry stakeholders.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a premier laboratory under India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is on the verge of signing a transformative deal with an international Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) by the end of 2025 for the joint development of a 120kN thrust engine.
According to sources cited by idrw.org, the collaboration aims to deliver a next-generation aero-engine to power India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a 5.5-generation stealth fighter. The project marks a significant milestone in India’s quest for self-reliance in advanced aero-engine technology, with the engine’s core expected to roll out in four years and a full technological demonstrator, including an afterburner, slated for ground testing by the end of the fourth year.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed the development of the VISR-AX (Versatile ISR – AESA (X Band)), a next-generation software-defined Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) transceiver.
This cutting-edge technology is poised to redefine Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and will be integrated into the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Indigenous Stratospheric Tactical Airborne Relay (I-STAR) airborne program. The VISR-AX, featuring advanced Gallium Nitride (GaN) tile-based AESA technology and multi-channel RF front-end design, promises to enhance the IAF’s situational awareness, making it a cornerstone of India’s defense modernization efforts amid evolving regional security challenges.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
According to a report by Quwa, a Pakistani defence website, the Chinese Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) behind the JF-17 Thunder program is reportedly losing interest in further developing this light multirole fighter. Instead, China is focusing on promoting other aircraft, such as the J-10CE, and investing heavily in the development of the Chengdu J-36, a sixth-generation platform for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). This strategic shift could explain the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) sluggish procurement of additional JF-17s, raising questions about the future of the program that was once envisioned as the backbone of Pakistan’s air fleet.
The PAF had ambitious plans to induct a total of 250 JF-17 Thunder jets across various blocks to replace its aging fleet of Mirage III/V and F-7 aircraft. However, as of July 2024, the PAF operates only 150 to 160 JF-17s, including Block 1, Block 2, and the more advanced Block 3 variants. Notably, only 50 JF-17 Block 3 aircraft have been ordered, with deliveries starting in early 2022. Ten Block 3 production aircraft were photographed after their rollout at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra in January 2022, and the first batch was inducted into service in March 2023. As of mid-2024, at least 23 Block 3 units are operational.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a significant display of military prowess, recent clashes along the India-Pakistan border have underscored the effectiveness of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) air defence systems. According to reports from ANI, Hindustan Times, and confirmations from the AFI, four to five Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets were shot down by India’s advanced air defence network. The engagements have highlighted the growing sophistication of India’s missile systems, with the MR-SAM, Akash Mk1, and S-400 systems credited for the kills.
AFI has confirmed that at least three PAF aircraft were neutralised by the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) system, one by the Akash Mk1, and one by the formidable S-400 system. Digital evidence, including radar tracks and intercepted communications, has revealed that the downed aircraft included at least two JF-17 Thunder jets and one Mirage-III/V, with an additional JF-17 likely destroyed in a separate sector by the Akash Mk1.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Germany has reportedly been quietly marketing its IRIS-T air defense system to Pakistan, a move that carries significant strategic implications, particularly in the context of South Asian geopolitics. The IRIS-T (InfraRed Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled) is a short- to medium-range air defense system developed by Diehl Defence, known for its advanced infrared homing technology and high maneuverability.
According to reports from Ukraine, the IRIS-T has demonstrated notable success in intercepting Russia’s P-800 Oniks supersonic cruise missile, a weapon system that shares a technological lineage with India’s BrahMos missile. But interception rate of the P-800 is still in single digits that indicates that missile is still difficult to intercept. This development raises questions about the motivations behind Germany’s outreach to Pakistan and its potential impact on the India-Pakistan military balance.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
In a significant step toward deepening defence and maritime cooperation, India has extended an offer to provide ship maintenance and repair services to Australian naval and commercial vessels. This proposal, announced as part of recent bilateral discussions, positions India as a regional hub for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services in the Indo-Pacific, further solidifying the strategic partnership between India and Australia.
The offer to provide ship maintenance and repair services comes as part of a broader framework of defence collaboration between India and Australia, highlighted during recent high-level talks. India’s robust shipbuilding and repair infrastructure, coupled with its strategic location in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), makes it an ideal partner for maintaining Australian vessels. The initiative aligns with India’s ambition to become a key MRO hub for friendly nations in the Indo-Pacific, enhancing interoperability and operational readiness.
Continue readingSOURCE: UNI
In a major boost to the Indian Air Force’s offensive capabilities, the Defence Ministry is going to take up Rs 10,000 crore proposal to buy three sophisticated Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (I-STAR) spy planes.
The plane will help the air force in getting a clear air-to-ground picture of the enemy targets, including radar stations, air defence systems and other high-end targets, to carry out precision strikes from stand-off distance.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Ahead of his historic journey to the International Space Station (ISS), Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has termed the preparations for the Axiom-4 mission as an “amazing journey” and that he was extremely fortunate to be part of something that is “much larger than yourself”.
The 39-year-old Indian Air Force pilot is all set to travel with three other crew members to the ISS onboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, mounted on a Falcon 9 rocket, that will lift off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Tuesday at 5:52 pm IST.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
In line with the government’s vision to establish a robust defence industrial ecosystem with the participation of both public and private sectors, the Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (VRDE), a DRDO laboratory located in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar, has taken a major step forward by transferring technologies of nine systems to 10 industries, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence on Sunday.
The licensing agreements were handed over in the presence of Secretary, Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman, Dr Samir V. Kamat, during an event organised at the VRDE.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Former Indian diplomat D.P. Srivastava stated that Pakistan’s Army challenges the concept of sovereignty by acting as a custodian of ideologies and religion, rather than focusing on national frontiers like the military forces of other nations.
Srivastava also slammed the radical Islamist ideology in Pakistan, which pits the nation against its neighbouring countries, including India.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Director General (DG) Paramesh Sivamani inaugurated a new dedicated jetty at Vizhinjam Harbour, Kerala, to enhancing mission readiness for coastal surveillance, an official said on Sunday.
The new facility is expected to support faster deployment and turnaround of ICG vessels, adding to the mission readiness for coastal search and rescue, anti-smuggling, and fisheries protection. The new facility is expected to support faster deployment and turnaround of ICG vessels, adding to the mission readiness for coastal search and rescue, anti-smuggling, and fisheries protection.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Sunday visited forward posts in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal region and reviewed the operational and administrative readiness of the forces deployed in the region, officials said. During his interaction with members of the troops there, he emphasised the importance of maintaining high standards of operational preparedness and constant vigilance.
“The Army Chief interacted with troops guarding the frontiers and commended them for their unwavering dedication, resilience, and professionalism,” according to a an official statement.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi visited forward posts in the Garhwal region and inaugurated “Ibex Tarana 88.4 FM”, a community radio station based in Jyotirmath. This initiative is designed to serve as a vital platform for local expression, knowledge sharing, and cultural preservation.
The station will broadcast programs covering education, environmental awareness, weather updates, entertainment, employment opportunities, disaster preparedness, tourism, health, and traditional arts. It aims to bridge communication gaps and foster a sense of unity among residents of the Garhwal region.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Security and intelligence networks, both by Central and state agencies, are on high alert following intelligence inputs about plans of Bangladesh-based fundamentalist group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to set up modules in minority-dominated pockets in seven districts of West Bengal.
Sources said the intelligence inputs about the two-phase module creation plan were collected primarily through interrogation of the three recently arrested JMB associates. Last month, two were nabbed from Birbhum — Aazmal Hossain and Saheb Ali Khan — and one from South 24 Parganas, named Abasuddin Molla.
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