SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Dassault Aviation has projected India to become one of the largest operators of the Rafale fighter jet globally, following the French Air Force and Navy. With the Indian Air Force (IAF) already possessing 36 Rafales and the recent approval for 26 Rafale Marine fighters for the Indian Navy, India’s Rafale fleet is set to expand significantly.
Dassault’s optimism stems from the potential for further Rafale exports to India. The company has offered to manufacture Rafale jets in India to meet the IAF’s Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) for 114 jets. This proposal positions India as a key market for the Rafale, solidifying Dassault’s lead in the export of this advanced fighter aircraft.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Nigerian Army has announced its plans to acquire four Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) through a soft credit arrangement as reported by ” Financial Express Online “. This decision comes amidst escalating violence in the region, fueled by the resurgence of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) following the recent withdrawal of French forces from the Sahel.
The Nigerian Army’s choice of the LCH over other contenders, such as TAI’s T-129 ATAK helicopter, was reportedly influenced by cost considerations. The LCH, a domestically developed Indian helicopter, is believed to offer a more cost-effective solution for the Nigerian Army’s requirements.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Army is exploring the integration of heavy cargo drones to enhance connectivity in high-altitude regions. According to sources within the establishment, the Army is considering deploying these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for last-mile delivery of essential supplies.
Discussions are currently underway with stakeholders to identify suitable cargo-carrying UAVs capable of transporting significant payloads. The Army aims to acquire new drones that can meet the specific requirements of high-altitude operations.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed the first phase of field firing trials of the Zorawar Light Tank, marking a significant milestone in India’s efforts to enhance its indigenous defense capabilities. The trials, which took place in a controlled environment, garnered widespread attention due to the tank’s notably low recoil performance. Defence industry experts were impressed by the tank’s superior stability, especially when compared to its potential adversary, the Chinese Type-15 Light Tank.
One of the standout features observed during the trials was the Zorawar’s exceptionally low recoil when firing from a static position. The Zorawar Light Tank currently mounts a 105mm John Cockerill low-recoil gun, which significantly reduces the movement of the vehicle during firing. This stability is not only crucial for maintaining accuracy but also contributes to the overall durability and comfort of the vehicle and its crew.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Engine Factory Avadi (EFA), a unit of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), has announced it’s working on in-house development of an engine codenamed “Arjun.” This news raises questions as it appears similar to the MTU 838 Ka-501 engine currently powering India’s Arjun Mk1 MBTs.
Earlier reports from idrw.org suggested EFA was localizing the MTU 838 engine with Indian MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) due to the German manufacturer, MTU, ceasing production. EFA hasn’t confirmed if they’re now aiming for full-fledged domestic production.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), expressed optimism about the growing global demand for Indian defense products. Speaking at the India Defence Expo (IDAX-24), he emphasized that DRDO’s innovations are now gaining traction in international markets.
“Our products are now gaining interest in the international market,” Dr. Kamat stated. He further highlighted that the ongoing IDAX-24 exhibition primarily showcased aeronautical products, but there was also considerable interest in other defense sectors.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, the US Air Force’s ambitious 6th generation fighter jet program, has stirred discussions due to its potential costs. US Air Force recently estimated the cost of each NGAD fighter to be around $300 million per unit. However, this figure has sparked concerns about the affordability and long-term viability of the program, especially since the NGAD’s intended fleet is expected to consist of approximately 200 fighters.
While addressing these concerns, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall highlighted that no definitive price threshold has been set for the NGAD fighters. He offered a more measured perspective, stating, “I’ll just give you this off the top of my head: The F-35 kind of represents, to me, the upper bounds of what we’d like to pay.” The F-35, considered one of the most advanced 5th generation fighters, currently averages around $82.5 million per unit in the latest production lots, making it a valuable comparison.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
Squadron Leader Mohana Singh has become the first woman fighter pilot to join the elite 18 ‘Flying Bullets’ squadron, operating India’s indigenously ‘Made in India’ LCA Tejas fighter jet’s squadron.
One of the first female fighter pilots of the country, Mohana Singh has shattered glass ceilings once again. Her remarkable feat underscores the Indian Air Force’s commitment to gender equality and empowerment.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
With an aim to boost military capabilities in high altitude areas like northern borders, the ‘Him-drone-a-thon-2’ event was conceptualised by the army design bureau at Army headquarters and then in northern command, 14 corps AOR (area of responsibility). Following this, the Army conducted a drone exhibition at an altitude of 15,400 feet at Wari La in Ladakh on Tuesday.
Colonel Abhishek Gunjan, part of the ‘Him-drone-a-thon 2’ organising team, said, “The aim of this event is to give the opportunity to various companies of the Indian drone industry to showcase their products and to give a capability demonstration as to whether the products are fit for operations at this altitude or not.”
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Ghulam Nabi Fai and Adnan Tanriverdi, though hailing from distinct nations and backgrounds – one being an American of Kashmiri heritage and the other a former officer in the Turkish military – are interconnected through a shared purpose: their strategic collaboration with Islamabad and their unified lobbying efforts against India.
Ghulam Nabi Fai, the head of the Pakistan Army-backed Kashmir American Council (KAC), was convicted of spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the United States, serving a two-year prison sentence.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
India will participate in the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence (IP-CHOD) conference in Hawaii, U.S. an official said. An official of the Ministry of Defence said that the discussions, during this international conference, will be centred around regional security, counter-terrorism, maritime domain awareness and cooperation, and commitment to joint training and exercises.
He informed that the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) Lt Gen JP Mathew will attend this Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence conference.
Continue readingSOURCE: AP
Former President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he’s meeting next week with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when Modi visits the U.S.
Modi is scheduled to be in the United States this weekend, along with the leaders of Australia and Japan, for a summit of the so-called Quad hosted by President Joe Biden in his Wilmington, Delaware, hometown. The group is formally called the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, and it began as a partnership after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Continue readingSOURCE: AP
Pagers used by hundreds of members of the militant group Hezbollah exploded near simultaneously in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday, killing at least nine people — including an 8-year-old girl — and wounding several thousand, officials said. Hezbollah and the Lebanese government blamed Israel for what appeared to be a sophisticated, remote attack.
A U.S. official said Israel briefed the U.S. on the operation — in which small amounts of explosive secreted in the pagers were detonated — on Tuesday after it was concluded. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the information publicly.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
In a relief to 30 Army personnel, the Supreme Court on Tuesday closed the criminal proceedings initiated against them by the Nagaland government for allegedly killing 13 civilians in a 2021 botched operation to ambush militants in Mon district for want of prosecution sanction.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and PB Varale noted that the Centre had on February 28 last year declined to grant sanction to prosecute the personnel under section 6 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) of 1958.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Six Army commandos were injured, two of them critically, when their vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said.
The accident took place in the Manjakote area of the border district late this evening, causing extensive damage to the vehicle, the officials said.
They said rescuers, including local villagers, evacuated six injured commandos and the condition of two of them was stated to be “critical”.
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