BY : TOI

The world's largest and third-largest armies will hold their first-ever joint military exercise in December, with Indian Army troops engaging with soldiers from the People's Liberation Army in a counter-terrorism manoeuvre in China.

Though the exercise will be a small one, involving only 100-odd soldiers, it will be a step towards building ties between the 1.13-million Indian Army and the 2.5-million PLA, which have been suspicious of each other ever since the 1962 war.

The decision to hold the exercise, was taken at the first-ever institutionalised defence consultations between India and China, called the Annual Defence Dialogue, earlier this week. While the Indian Army remains wary of PLA, it has invited Chinese

BY : ZEE NEWS


The Indo-Russian futuristic 5th Generation Fighter aircraft could begin test flights before 2015, according to high-level Russian aviation officials here.

The new fighter is being designed by the Sukhoi Flight Bureau. "The trials could begin any time after 2014," the officials said. A Russian expert team has arrived here for talks with the Indian Air Force and Defence Ministry officials on finalising certain technical aspects of the fighter.

They said the new fighter would have a service life of over 40 years.

BY : PTI

India has successfully tested the indigenously developed cryogenic stage to be employed as the upper stage of the country's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) in a significant milestone in its space programme.

The test was conducted for its full flight duration of 720 seconds yesterday at Liquid Propulsion Test Facility at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.

BY : RIA Novosti



The deployment of the new Iskander tactical missile systems will close the missile coverage gap caused by Russia's participation in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a senior commander said.

Russia's short-range Oka tactical missile system was scrapped under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

BY : RIA Novosti




A Russian delegation including Sukhoi plane maker CEO Mikhail Pogosyan will hold talks on Thursday with Deputy Indian Defense Minister Kanwar Singh on jointly developing a fifth-generation fighter.

The sides agreed in October to jointly develop and produce a multifunctional fighter, in one of the largest military cooperation programs between Russia and India.

BY : IANS

The indigenous Dhruv advanced light helicopter received a thumbs-up from the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Thursday with its chief, Air Marshal Fali Homi Major, flying what he termed as a "beautiful machine".

The helicopter Major flew — in the co-pilot's seat — was the newly developed armed version that is fitted with the new and more powerful Shakti engine that Indian and French engineers have jointly developed.

"It's a great feeling to fly a beautiful machine," Major said after the 20-minute flight that was commanded by Wing Commander (retd) Unni Pillai, deputy chief test pilot of Dhruv developer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

BY : The International Herald Tribune

Iran, seeking to bolster its air defenses amid rising tensions over its nuclear program, is likely to turn to Russia and China for the warplanes needed to replace its obsolete U.S. jets, analysts say.

Both Moscow and Beijing refuse to comment on reports in the Israeli and Russian media, along with Western aviation publications, that Iran aims to order Russian Sukhoi Su-30 and Chinese Chengdu J-10 combat aircraft.

But analysts note that Tehran is already committed to a sweeping modernizing program for the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) and that Tehran cannot

BY : PTI

Maldives has dispatched some of its army personnel to India to undergo counter insurgency combat training.

At least 25 personnel from the Maldivian army have reached the army's prestigious Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School premises in Vargante in Mizoram to undergo four weeks of intensive course in Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorist operations, according to army officials here.

This is the second time in last two decades that personnel from the Maldivian Special forces would be trained by Indian Security Personnel. In 1989, Indian paratroopers had trained the Maldivian special services men after an attempt was made to take

BY : Schiebel Group of companies




On 4th October 2007 Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER® S-100 UAV System successfully completed a series of flights from an Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea. Another big step has been taken in the growth of Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System into new roles. Beginning of October the unmanned helicopter S-100 demonstrated its shipboard capability, completing flights from a ship’s helipad in the Arabian Sea, for the Indian Navy based in Cochin, Kerala

BY : Siva Govindasamy For Flight International

Lingering doubts over the reliability of the Hindustan Aeronautics Dhruv advanced light helicopter have led to the Indian navy opening a requirement for utility helicopters to other manufacturers.

The navy now has six Dhruvs in its fleet, but these have been plagued by maintenance and servicing woes, say industry sources. As a result, the service has issued a request for information to companies including Bell, Boeing, Eurocopter and HAL for helicopters that can perform anti-submarine warfare and communications roles.