SOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is hopeful that the Indian Air Force (IAF) will consider purchasing additional LCA Tejas Trainer aircraft following a recent tender for 97 single-seater Tejas Mk1A fighter jets.
The IAF currently has an order for 18 LCA Tejas Trainers for local Squadron conversion of pilots before they can fly the single-seater Tejas Mk1A fighter jets. Out of these, HAL has already delivered 5 trainers and is on track to complete deliveries for the remaining 13 by 2025.
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM.
In a strategic shift, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has emerged as a frontrunner in utilizing highways for emergency fighter jet landings. While Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pioneered such operations in the subcontinent in 2000, the IAF has rapidly outpaced them in recent years.
Pakistan gets the credit for introducing the concept of road runways in the region around 2000. This provided them with a tactical advantage of dispersing their air assets during wartime. However, the IAF has not only caught up but surpassed Pakistan in this domain. India boasts five operational highway stretches designated for emergency landings, with more under construction. Notably, the IAF has successfully conducted demonstrations using over five different aircraft types on these road runways.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
India successfully test-fired a new air-launched ballistic missile in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on April 23rd. The missile, known as ROCKS (or Crystal Maze 2), boasts a strike range exceeding 250 kilometers and is designed for enhanced air combat capabilities.
ROCKS provides the Indian Air Force (IAF) with a significant advantage by allowing them to engage targets from a safe distance beyond the reach of enemy air defenses. India plans to manufacture nearly 100 units of the missile indigenously through a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with Rafael, an Israeli defense contractor. Kalyani Group is a potential candidate for local production.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
India achieved a significant milestone in its defense capabilities with the successful test firing of a new version of a medium-range ballistic missile on Tuesday, April 23. The Strategic Forces Command executed the test, although neither the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) nor the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the specific missile tested, sparking speculation regarding the introduction of a new variant.
According to sources cited by idrw.org, the missile under scrutiny could potentially be an enhanced iteration of the land-based variant of the Sagarika, also known as the K-15 or B-05. The Sagarika, originally developed as a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) by DRDO, underwent rigorous user trials in 2018 when it was test-fired consecutively from the Arihant class of submarines. These trials hinted at further advancements in the missile’s capabilities.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
India and the European Union are gearing up for their next round of bilateral security and defence consultations, expected to take place in New Delhi in early May. This upcoming meeting signifies a growing strategic partnership between the two sides, with space security and defence industry collaboration emerging as key areas of focus.
Sources familiar with the discussions reveal that the agenda will expand beyond the initial topics covered during the first consultations held in 2022. Back then, the dialogue centered on security concerns in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and India’s neighborhood.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sets its sights on a historic milestone: landing the first Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040. This ambitious plan marks a significant step forward in India’s lunar exploration ambitions.
ISRO chairman S. Somanath has outlined this goal, emphasizing the crucial role of the upcoming Gaganyaan mission. This mission, slated for launch sometime between 2023-2024, aims to send a crew of Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit for a few days. The success of Gaganyaan will provide invaluable experience and pave the way for the more complex lunar mission.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
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India believes that a strong and unified Asean can play a constructive role in the emerging regional architecture of the Indo-Pacific, External Affair Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday while underlining that a “multipolar Asia” and a “multipolar world” are increasingly self-evident today.
In his virtual address at the 1st Asean Future Forum, he also said “we believe that Quad compliments the Asean and the Asean-led mechanisms” in their effort to make the region prosperous through delivery of people-centric benefits.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
A unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully developed the lightest bulletproof jacket in the country for protection against the highest threat level 6, an official statement said on Tuesday. This jacket is based on a new design approach where novel material along with new processes has been used, the statement issued by the Ministry of Defence said.
“DRDO’s Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur has successfully developed the lightest bulletproof jacket in the country for protection against 7.62 x 54 R API (level 6 of BIS 17051) ammunition. Recently, this bulletproof jacket was successfully tested at TBRL, Chandigarh as per BIS 17051-2018,” it said.
Continue readingSOURCE: TASS
Azerbaijan cannot simply stand by and watch as France, India, and Greece arm Armenia against it, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said. “We cannot sit idly by while France, India, and Greece arm Armenia against us. They are doing this openly and demonstratively, obviously trying to prove something to us in this way. We cannot just sit back with our arms folded,” he told a conference at ADA University.
According to Aliyev, the Azerbaijani side made this absolutely clear to the Armenian government and “the sides which are trying to take care of Armenia.”
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
A recent incident involving well-known Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir has sparked controversy and raised eyebrows across social media platforms. In a video clip shared widely, Mir is seen criticizing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what he believes to be disparaging remarks towards the Arab community. However, the crux of the matter lies in a misunderstanding on Mir’s part, where he confused the term “urban naxal” used by Modi with “Arab nasal.”
The incident unfolded during Modi’s speech in Rajasthan’s Barmer, where he reportedly mentioned the term “urban naxal.” However, in his critique, Mir mistakenly interpreted it as “Arab nasal,” attributing it to Modi’s alleged derogatory remarks towards the Arab race. Despite the apparent misunderstanding, Mir adamantly insists on his interpretation in the video clip, unaware of his error.
Continue readingSOURCE: ANI
The US on Tuesday (local time) warned Pakistan of “potential risk of sanctions,” adding that they will continue to disrupt and take actions against proliferation networks considering business deals with Iran.
Emphasising the US imposing sanctions on suppliers to Pakistan’s Ballistic Missile Program, US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said “We’re going to continue to disrupt and take actions against proliferation networks and concerning weapons of mass destruction procurement activities wherever they may occur…Just let me say, broadly, we advise anyone considering business deals with Iran to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions. But ultimately, the government of Pakistan can speak to their own foreign policy pursuits.”
Continue readingSOURCE: L&T
Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) Heavy Engineering vertical has manufactured a mammoth Hydrotreating Reactor for the Antonio Dovali Jaime Refinery at Salina Cruz in Mexico. At 1,751 MT, it is one of the heaviest reactors in the world.
The mammoth reactor has been despatched for Mexico from L&T’s A M Naik Heavy Engineering Complex at Hazira in Gujarat. Equipped with critical Cr-Mo-V metallurgy, the Hydrotreating Reactor is based on a technology developed by France-headquartered Axens. It has been manufactured at the Hazira Complex in a record 15 months by leveraging high-tech engineering, Industry 4.0 manufacturing and worldclass quality processes.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Police on Tuesday claimed a foreign terrorist codenamed “Abu Hamza” of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba was involved in the killing of a government employee in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district and announced a Rs 10 lakh reward for information on him.
Mohammad Razaq (40) was killed on Monday in the Kunda Top village of the Thanamandi area. Razaq worked in the government’s Social Welfare department while his brother Mohammad Tahir Choudhary is a soldier in the Territorial Army.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Dhruva Space, a Hyderabad-based company pioneering full-stack space engineering solutions, has successfully secured ?123 crore in its Series A funding round. This marks a significant milestone for Dhruva Space, propelling them towards their goal of becoming a major player in the Indian space industry.
The funding round saw participation from a distinguished group of investors, including the Indian Angel Network Alpha Fund, Blue Ashva Capital, Silverneedle Ventures, BIG Global Investment JSC (BITEXCO Group), IvyCap Ventures, Mumbai Angels, and Blume Founders Fund. Dhruva Space expresses their deep gratitude to the investment community for their belief in the company’s vision.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
India’s military is making a strong push towards self-reliance in defense production, with a particular focus on ammunition. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj Pande highlighted this strategic shift during a recent address.
General Pande revealed that the Indian Army’s ammunition inventory currently boasts 175 variants. Notably, 134 of these variants are produced indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and public sector defense companies (DPSUs). This indigenous production is being further bolstered by the onboarding of private companies.
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