BY : livemint

Defence research agency the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is considering long-term contracts with Indian information technology (IT) vendors such as Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) and Rolta India Ltd to build software solutions for defence projects, shifting its strategy of awarding deals to the lowest bidders on short-term projects.So far, the 51 laboratories of the agency across India awarded software contracts to vendors for specific projects, but the new strategy seeks to ensure selected firms are involved through the entire cycle of a development programme.
DRDO’s interests span from building missiles, radars, communication equipment and fighter aircraft, among others, many of which have systems that are

BY : TNN

India plans to test-fire its most ambitious strategic missile Agni-III, which can hit high-value targets deep inside China with a strike range of 3,500-km, towards April-end.

Sources said the test-firing is likely to take place in the "window" between April 20 to 30, but the exact launch date will depend on technical, environmental and other parameters. This will be the third test of the rail-mobile Agni-III — which can carry a 1.5 tonne nuclear payload — from the integrated test range on Wheeler Island off the coast of Orissa.

BY : The Hindu

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has said that the withdrawal of the Russian company Irkutsk Aviation and Industrial Association, one of the partners in the $600 million, joint Indo-Russian Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA) venture, will not result in the project falling through.

Speaking to The Hindu on Friday, HAL’s Director, Corporate Planning and Marketing, M. Fakruddin while confirming that Irkutsk will no longer be the nodal agency from the Russian side, stressed that the venture “was very much on” and that a team

BY : Bruce Rolfsen For Airforcetimes

What high-tech tools and instructions were F-22A maintainers given to detect loose stealth coatings on engine inlets?

A flashlight and instructions to tap the inlet with their fingers.

An Air Combat Command accident investigation board concluded that an F-22A taking off Nov. 1 from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., suffered more than $1 million in damage to its No. 2 engine after it sucked in a loose 6-by-8 inch section of the jet’s stealth coating.

BY : Earthtimes

Indian and German warships are scheduled to hold their first ever bilateral joint manoeuvres off the western Indian coast on April 9 and 10, an Indian Navy spokesperson said Wednesday. "Three German warships - two frigates and a support vessel - will call at the Indian port of Kochi on Saturday," the Indian Navy's public relations officer Vinay Garg said. Kochi is located on the coast of southern Kerala state.

They would be be sailing out for the exercise on April 8 and would be joined by four Indian Navy ships in batches of two, he said.

BY : IANS

Global terrorism and UN peacekeeping missions featured prominently during talks here Monday between the Indian Army chief, Gen. Deepak Kapoor, and his visiting Turkish counterpart Gen. Mehmet Ilker Basbug. “Both the chiefs shared a common platform on matters such as global terrorism and UN peacekeeping missions,” a defence ministry statement said.

“Both countries have pledged to improve military bilateral relations in terms of training at defence institutions,” the statement added.

BY : Mizzima News Group

Burmese junta's number two military strongman Vice Senior General Maung Aye arrived today in Indian capital New Delhi on a four-day visit.

Soon after his arrival on Wednesday afternoon, Maung Aye called on the President of India, Pratibha Patil and met the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Minster of External Affairs Mr. Pranab Mukherjee. The Burmese general reportedly

BY :The Jerusalem Post



Two additional F-16I fighter jets were found in recent days to have unusually high concentrations of carcinogenic material, the IAF revealed early Tuesday morning, raising the total of such cases to three.

Despite the ongoing inspections, the IAF has decided to continue receiving F-16Is

IAF chief Maj.-Gen. Elazar Shkedy decided on March 21 to ground all F-16I training flights (the plane will continue to be used in necessary operations) after

BY: livemint

It doesn’t have enough managers to supervise the production of a fighter aircraft. So, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is doing what not too many other companies in its position would do — trying to woo back some of the people who have left it in the past few years.
The state-owned defence equipment maker has invited engineers and scientists with at least 12-18 years experience to come back because this would help it deliver planes on schedule for its main customer, the Indian Air Force (IAF).
“Even if 30 or 40 people who have quit, join us back (it would help),” said Sanjeev Sahi, director for personnel and administration at HAL.

BY : Tribune News Service

While pointing out several infirmities in the acquisition process of aircraft for the Indian Air Force’s VIP squadron, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has revealed that the IAF has been ferrying the country’s leaders in aircraft that have been unsuitable for VIP flights for the past four years.

Stating that the process deviated from laid down procedures and recognised norms of propriety, the CAG, in its latest report has brought out that supplies valuing 50 million dollars were contracted without the benefit of competition. Besides, the acquisition of aircraft and self-protection suites were inordinately delayed, leading to a total cost escalation of 20 million dollars.