Yearly Archives: 2020

India, France to conduct Skyros military exercise in western India

In the SKYROS military exercise, Indian Air Force will field its front line Russian origin Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters and Rafale fighters recently acquired from French defence giant Dassault Aviation while the French Air Force will field its own Rafale jets against Indian Sukhois and Rafale combat jets. This is the first military exercise of IAF Rafale fighter jets with a foreign air force.

India-Japan discuss security as an aggressive China hangs heavy in the air

India-Japan defence cooperation: In a strong message to an assertive China, Indian and Japanese leaders Tuesday strongly opposed any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by use of force as it will escalate the tensions in the region. Issues relating to the regional situation figured during a telephonic conversation between India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart Nobuo Kishi.

Indian Army recalibrating strike corps to fight two front war

Till recently, the thrust of Indian Army’s main fighting formations was mainly towards the Pakistan border as the Line of Actual Control with China was not considered to be very active. The balance of the operational preparedness is heavily tilted towards the Western border can be seen from the fact that there are three Strike Corps deployed for offensive there while only one offensive Mountain Strike Corps has been created for the Northern borders.

DRDO ready to supply 200 made in India howitzer guns to Indian Army in 2 years

India DRDO ATAGS Howitzer: India’s apex Defence Research and Development Organisation – DRDO is ready to supply over 200 Made in India Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) howitzers to Indian Army within 18-24 months of placement of the order. DRDO’s offer comes in the backdrop of a choice between an indigenous and foreign option to fulfill Indian Army’s requirement for over 400 howitzers.

Eyes in the sky: Indian Navy leases 2 predator drones from General Atomics

Indian Navy Predator Drone: In a significant step to reduce the high upfront cost of acquiring latest weapon platforms, Indian Navy this month inducted two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones manufactured by the US defence major General Atomics on lease. These unarmed Sea Guardian drones, a variant of Predator drones, will be used in conducting long range surveillance operations in the Indian Ocean region but can also be deployed in Ladakh on China border, said people familiar with the matter.

Russia ready for technology transfer to support India’s defence industry

In a boost to India’s defence industry, Russia’s top defence export body Rosoboronexport has expressed its readiness to give India technology for production of defence equipment. Joint production of Kalashnikov AK203 assault rifles by the specially established Indo Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) rifle manufacturing facility in Korwa, Amethi is the next key focus of both sides.

L&T begins delivery of last K-9 Vajra-T guns to Indian Army

India’s defence and engineering major Larsen & Toubro Tuesday delivered the 81st K-9 Vajra-T howitzer gun to the Indian Army. With this delivery, L&T Defence is on track to deliver all 100 guns within the delivery schedule of 42 months as permitted under the relaxed criteria following the outbreak of Covid-19 global pandemic that hit the defence industry like any other sector of the economy.

Firepower: India’s DRDO testfires long range Pinaka rocket system

“Development of Enhanced Pinaka system was taken up to achieve longer range performance compared to an earlier design with a reduced length,” the defence ministry said. The design and development of this advanced version of Pinaka rocket system has been carried out by Pune based DRDO laboratories, namely  Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).

Malabar Exercise: Quad nations to kick-start naval exercise in Bay of Bengal

Malabar Naval Exercise 2020: Indian Navy will begin its flagship Malabar 2020 Naval Exercise off the Visakhapatnam coast in the Bay of Bengal from November 3. Navies from four friendly countries, India, Australia, the US and Japan will commence the first phase of four-day war games on Tuesday, which is seen as a strong signal of the Quad nations to defend the freedom of navigation and peace in Indo-Pacific region.  

Italy’s Fincantieri joins hands with Cochin Shipyard for expansion of India business

Fincantieri-CSL MoU: Italian shipbuilding giant Fincantieri has signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with India’s state owned leading shipbuilder Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). Fincantieri said it aims to enhance its presence in the country, providing further momentum to the long-standing partnership with the state owned Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).

Indian Navy cancels Reliance Naval’s Rs 2,500 crore offshore patrol vessel contract: Report

The contract to build five warships for the Indian Navy was signed with the company in 2011, much before the Reliance Group took over the Gujarat-based shipyard from its erstwhile owner Nikhil Gandhi. Anil Ambani led Reliance ADAG Group took over Pipavav Defence And Offshore Engineering Ltd in 2015 and later renamed the entity as Reliance Naval and Engineering Ltd (RNEL).

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems: Latvia installs new Spike missiles team trainer

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems: Latvian National Armed Forces have completed the installation of a new state-of-the-art Team Trainer for SPIKE Missiles to train its soldiers in using Spike LR2 and Spike SR anti-tank missiles, said Israel’s defence major Rafael Advances Defense Systems. The new system will train Latvian forces to use Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’…

US Navy: General Atomics’ EMALS, AAG systems reach crucial milestone aboard CVN-78

GA-EMS: The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system designed and developed by General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) reached an important milestone of nearly 4,500 catapult launch and arrested landings aboard US Navy’s aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R Ford (CVN-18), the company said on Wednesday. “CVN 78 passed the half-way mark…

Elbit Systems bags $35 million order to support US Navy’s V-22 Osprey aircraft

The V-22 Osprey is a joint service multirole combat aircraft utilizing tilt-rotor technology to combine the vertical performance of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft. With its rotors in vertical position, it can take off, land and hover like a helicopter. Once airborne, it can convert to a turboprop airplane capable of high-speed, high-altitude flight.

Alpha Design Technologies wins Rs 591 crore contract for missile, radar upgrade

The upgradation will have large number of Indigenously developed equipment, such as Radar Transmitter, Thermal Imager-based Electro Optical System, communication equipment, upgradation of drive chain, Control Cabin, Shelters, Cables, etc., The upgradation project is in the true spirit of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ mission of the Ministry of Defence towards making the concept of ‘Make in India’ a success.

Rafale jet formally inducted in Indian Air Force

Rafale induction ceremony at Ambala: Indian Air Force will formally induct the Rafale aircraft today at Air Force Station, Ambala near India’s border with Pakistan. The fighter jet manufactured by Dassualt Aviation of France will become a part of the IAF’s 17 Squadron, the Golden Arrows. Rafale jets will be inducted in the presence of Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh and French defence minister Florence Parly and top military leadership of both India and France.

India’s HAL tests Light Utility Helicopter LUH in high Himalayas

India’s state owned aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Wednesday announced completion of the testing process of its Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) in hot and high weather capabilities in high Himalayas. HAL’s LUH is a new generation helicopter in the 3-ton class helicopters, incorporating the state of the art technology features like a glass cockpit with Multi-Function Displays (MFD).

$13.62 billion business opportunity for Hyderabad defence industry: DRDO Chief

Defence News: With the Modi government’s decision to ban import of 101 weapons, which will be followed by another negative import list soon, the defence and aerospace sector in the country is set to benefit immensely.  According to DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy, the defence and aerospace industries based in Hyderabad region are set to get business opportunities worth $13.62 billion (INR 1 lakh crore) in the next couple of years.

India’s DRDO selects 108 defence equipment for Make in India

Defence Industry in India: India’s apex defence research and development organisation DRDO has identified 108 defence systems and subsystems for design, development and manufacture in the country under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s self-reliant India (Atma Nirbhar Bharat) campaign in defence sector. A DRDO delegation Monday called on defence minister Rajnath Singh to apprise him about…

Russian Helicopters showcases Mi-171SH Storm helicopter at Army Forum 2020

Mi-171SH Storm helicopter: The Russian Helicopters holding company (a part of Rostec Corporattion) for the first time presented an upgraded Mi-171SH “Storm” military transport helicopter at the International Military-Technical Forum ARMY-2020. The helicopter, featuring enhanced protection and unique strike capabilities, was manufactured at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant. The first flying prototype of the helicopter will…

L3Harris wins US Navy’s unmanned surface vehicle contract

US defence company L3Harris Technologies has won a contract from the US Navy for the Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MUSV) programme. This is US Navy’s first programme for an unmanned surface vehicle to support the Navy’s Distributed Maritime Operations strategy. The $35 million initial award is part of a $281 million programme that includes a prototype and options for a total of nine MUSVs.

Make in India: Dedicated defence indigenisation portal SRIJAN launched

In its bid to make India truly self-reliant in defence production, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government Friday launched a dedicated defence production portal called Srijan (creation), as a single source for all the information related to defence equipment that can be taken under the government’s indigenisation drive under self-reliant India mission (Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan).

India’s BEML launches heavy trucks, electric excavators and dozers

BEML unveils heavy electrical trucks, excavators: In a big push to manufacture of heavy vehicles in the country, India’s state owned BEML Tuesday launched several heavy vehicles designed and developed in the country. It includes a 150 tonne dump truck BH150E, 180 tonne electrical excavator BE1800E 180, Heli-Portable Dozer called BD50HST, and Medium Bullet Proof Vehicle (MBPV) called GAUR.

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