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The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), the Indian defence research body responsible for developing indigenous jet engines, is aiming for a major breakthrough in India's defence capabilities. According to a GTRE official once the Dry Kaveri engine with an afterburner section successfully completes testing on a flying testbed, GTRE will seek government funding to develop a more powerful 90 kN variant of the Kaveri engine. This enhanced engine is intended to replace the F-404 engines...

India's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) is making significant strides in bolstering the nation's aerospace capabilities with the near completion of its 130kN Twin Engine Test Bed Facility in Rajankunte, Bengaluru. This state-of-the-art facility is poised to play a crucial role in the development of key engine projects, including the dry Kaveri engine and the engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). ad Designed to accommodate engines with thrust levels up to 130kN...

The Indian Air Force's (IAF) pursuit of a modern fighter jet fleet has sparked lively debate, particularly surrounding the Tejas Mk2. While officially classified as a 4.5 generation fighter, a vocal segment of the defence community on X (formerly Twitter) argues that the Tejas Mk2 should have been developed as a single-engined, fifth-generation stealth fighter, drawing inspiration from the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. ad Proponents of this idea highlight several potential...

Former Indian Air Marshal Anil Chopra, a renowned expert in air power, recently shared his insights on the revolutionary design principles driving the development of sixth-generation fighter aircraft. He emphasized that a key characteristic of these future jets will be the adoption of tailless configurations, marking a significant departure from traditional aircraft design. ad Chopra explained that the primary motivation behind eliminating the tail is to enhance stealth capabilities. "All...

2024 has proven to be a challenging year for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and its ambitious Tejas Mk1A fighter jet program. Despite high expectations and the strategic importance of this project for both the Indian Air Force (IAF) and India's indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities, HAL has faced significant hurdles and criticism due to production delays and inefficiencies. ad The Tejas Mk1A, an advanced variant of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, was poised to bolster the...

The Indian Army's ambitious Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) project, aimed at modernizing its armored fleet, has hit a roadblock, forcing the Army to consider extending the service life of its aging T-72 tanks well into the 2030s. According to sources the FRCV project, which seeks to replace the Soviet-era T-72s with a new generation of main battle tanks (MBTs), is stalled at the design stage. ad The FRCV initiative is a cornerstone of India's military modernization strategy. It aims to...

Former US Navy fighter pilot C.W. Lemoine, with experience flying F-16s and F-18s, recently offered his analysis of a leaked video purportedly showcasing China's sixth-generation fighter jet. While some have hailed the aircraft as a revolutionary leap in air combat, Lemoine's assessment suggests a different role for this mysterious machine. ad Lemoine was immediately struck by the aircraft's size, leading him to believe it might be closer to a fighter-bomber (JH) than a traditional fighter...

The Border Security Force (BSF) has submitted an urgent request to the Ministry of Home Affairs for permission to procure Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). This move aims to significantly enhance the BSF's surveillance capabilities along India's extensive and challenging borders, where traditional surveillance methods often prove inadequate. ad This request comes amidst a rise in cross-border infiltration, smuggling, and other illicit activities that...

Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), a prominent player in India's defence and heavy engineering sectors, is making significant strides towards self-reliance in high-performance engine technology with its DATRAN 1500HP project. The company has announced that the third prototype of this powerful engine will be sent to the UK for an extensive calibration and testing phase, marking a crucial step in India's journey towards indigenous defence manufacturing. ad The DATRAN 1500HP engine, currently...

An Indian Air Force (IAF) official has categorically dismissed claims that the incoming Trump administration in the United States would exert pressure on India to select American fighter jets for its Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program. The official clarified that all foreign fighter jets competing in the MRFA tender would undergo a fair and impartial evaluation, with no undue political influence favouring U.S.-made aircraft. ad This statement comes in response to a report published...

Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS), has challenged China's claims of mastering fifth-generation (5G) fighter jet technology. Speaking on defence economics and technology, Iyer-Mitra highlighted technical shortcomings in Chinese aviation advancements, drawing comparisons with India's own challenges in military technology. ad Iyer-Mitra argued that while China showcases its J-20 and FC-31 (also known as the Gyrfalcon) as 5th generation...

Bangladesh has reportedly approached Pakistan to acquire Short Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs), specifically the Hatf-II/Abdali, according to an Indian intelligence report. This potential arms deal has raised concerns in India, as the acquisition of these missiles by Bangladesh could have implications for regional security, particularly in India's northeastern states. ad The Abdali SRBM, known as Hatf-II within Pakistan, is a tactical ballistic missile designed for battlefield use with a...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to significantly enhance its precision strike capabilities with the local production of the Israeli-developed "Crystal Maze 2" missile, also known as ROCKS. This medium-range ballistic missile, already integrated into the IAF's Su-30MKI, MiG-29UPG, and Jaguar aircraft, represents a major advancement in India's air-to-surface strike capabilities. ad The Crystal Maze 2 is designed for high-precision strikes against critical enemy infrastructure and assets...

With the increasing presence of stealth fighter jets near India's borders, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is enhancing its radar capabilities to maintain its edge in air defence. Both China and Pakistan are expected to deploy significant numbers of stealth aircraft in the coming years, posing a new challenge to India's air defence network. To counter this evolving threat, the IAF is focusing on deploying advanced radars operating in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and Very High Frequency (VHF)...

Recently after the coup orchestrated by USA in Bangladesh and setting up of a puppet government under Mohammed Yunus, who incidentally is a Nobel Prize winner, things have been hotting up between India and Bangladesh. After the supposed targeted persecution of deposed ruling party members, Awami League after PM Sheikh Hasina Wajed fled the country and took refuge in New Delhi, India; the subsequent violence against minorities like Hindus, Christians and Buddhists has raised eyebrows in all...

The recent unveiling of China's sixth-generation stealth fighter jet, featuring an unusual trijet engine configuration, has sparked debate among defence analysts regarding the progress of China's high-thrust jet engine technology. Experts suggest this design choice reflects ongoing challenges in developing engines with sufficient thrust for a strike-optimized stealth fighter-bomber. ad Analysts find the trijet configuration unusual for a modern stealth platform, where twin-engine designs are...

India's aspiration to build a fighter jet fleet capable of rivaling China's rapidly advancing air power is facing a critical challenge: over-reliance on Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Defence analysts emphasize the urgent need for India to cultivate at least two to three additional aviation giants to compete effectively in the fighter jet race. While HAL has a long and respected history in aerospace and defence manufacturing, it is currently overstretched and lacks the manpower to...

As stealth technology becomes increasingly critical in modern air warfare, India faces a crucial decision regarding its military aviation strategy. Aviation expert Andreas Rupprecht suggests that India may need to consider acquiring existing fifth-generation fighter jets rather than solely focusing on domestic development. In this scenario, the American Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II emerges as the primary option, being one of the few readily available fifth-generation fighters on the...

China's rapid progress in military aviation technology stands in stark contrast to India's indigenous fighter jet programs. The recent unveiling of the J-36, purportedly a sixth-generation fighter, underscores this disparity and raises concerns about the future of air power dynamics in the region. ad China's journey began with the Chengdu J-10, a fourth-generation fighter designed to compete with the American F-16. This marked a significant step towards self-reliance in military aviation...

In a significant boost to India's defence capabilities, Solar Explosives, a leading player in the munitions industry, has announced a remarkable increase in the production rate of Pinaka MkII rockets. The company has successfully reduced the manufacturing time for each Pinaka MkII unit from 50-55 days to just 14-15 days, demonstrating a major leap in efficiency. ad This accelerated production timeline for the Pinaka MkII, compared to the older MkI variant, highlights Solar Explosives'...