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Hopes Dashed for Historic India-France Pinaka Rocket Artillery Deal as Paris Prioritizes Developing Its Own Homegrown Alternative
India's aspirations to export its domestically developed Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher System (MBRLS) to France appear to have stalled, as Paris shifts focus towards creating its own advanced rocket artillery. French defence authorities are reportedly prioritizing a national program to develop a system similar to the American High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), with aims to demonstrate the new technology by mid-2026. This strategic direction, emphasising French defence...
IAF to Equip Home-grown Astra Mk1 & Mk2 BVRAAMs to Rafale Fighters Soon, Ditching Imported MICA Missiles Effectively
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to significantly upgrade the combat potential of its Rafale fighter jets by replacing their current French-made MICA air-to-air missiles with domestically developed Astra Mk1 and Mk2 missiles. This strategic decision aims to boost the IAF's aerial capabilities while reducing reliance on foreign suppliers, aligning with India's goals for self-sufficiency in defence technology. ad The 36 Rafale aircraft procured from France's Dassault Aviation in a deal...
Redesigned Saras Mk2 Program Advances with Enhanced Safety Features, Maiden Flight Planned for 2027
India's efforts in developing its own civilian aircraft are progressing, with the redesigned Saras Mk2 expected to make its first flight by December 2027. This development was confirmed by Abhay Pashilkar, Director of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL), the organisation responsible for designing the aircraft. The Saras Mk2 is an improved version of an earlier 14-seat prototype which first flew in 2004. The upcoming flight tests are...
India Joins Elite Club with Indigenous 1000kg Gaurav Glide Bomb, Leading Global Standoff Weapons with 100km Precision Strike Capability
India has marked a major achievement in defence technology by successfully developing the 'Gaurav', an advanced 1,000-kilogram class Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB). Developed entirely within the country by the DRDO, Gaurav positions India among a select few nations capable of producing such powerful, purpose-built glide weapons. Recent flight tests, carried out between April 8 and 10, 2025, from an Indian Air Force (IAF) Su-30 MKI fighter jet, confirmed the bomb's ability to strike targets...
How Air India's Upcoming Boeing 747 Auction Offers Potential Flying Testbed Solution for GTRE's Kaveri to AMCA Engine
India's ambition to achieve self-sufficiency in critical aerospace technologies heavily involves the creation of its own jet engines. The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), operating under the DRDO, has dedicated decades to this challenge. Key projects like the Kaveri engine, its improved successor Kaveri 2.0, and the engine for the future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) are central to lessening India's reliance on foreign suppliers. Essential to verifying these engines is a...
S-400 Success Against F-16 in Ukraine Signals Grave New Reality for Pakistan Air Force near Indian Borders
Recent combat incidents in the Ukraine conflict, reportedly involving the downing of Ukrainian fighter jets, including advanced F-16s, by Russia’s S-400 Triumf air defence system, are highlighting the system's potent capabilities. These events carry significant implications for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), which operates a large fleet of F-16 and JF-17 aircraft. With India deploying the same S-400 system along its borders, military analysts suggest that routine PAF flight operations near...
India's Kaveri Engine to Get 78.4kN Afterburner Upgrade via BrahMos, Potentially Matching GE F-404 Performance in Local Conditions
In a significant advancement for India's indigenous aerospace capabilities, BrahMos Aerospace has been assigned the task of developing a new afterburner component for the Kaveri Derivative Engine (KDE). This effort is a key part of the long-standing Kaveri engine program, overseen by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), which operates under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The primary objective is to substantially increase the engine's thrust. ad The...
Evaluating a "Made in India" Rafale F4: Could Local Production Costs Undercut France Despite Significant Technology Transfer Expenses?
The United Arab Emirates' substantial $18 billion agreement for 80 Rafale F4 fighter jets, signed in December 2021 with France's Dassault Aviation, represents the largest export order for this advanced aircraft. This deal, including helicopters and support, has intensified discussions about the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of manufacturing the Rafale F4 in India under the nation's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, especially as India aims to strengthen its air and naval forces. Using...
DRDO Prepares for 100km Range SAAW Test Featuring Electro-Optical Seeker, Enhancing India's Precision Strike Capability against Mobile Targets
India's leading defence research agency, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is preparing for a significant advancement in its missile technology. Plans are underway to test an updated version of the indigenous Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW). This next-generation weapon will feature an Electro-Optical (EO) seeker, a major upgrade allowing it to target and destroy moving objects, in addition to its original role against stationary infrastructure. The weapon is...
Indian Army Prepares to Retire Bofors FH77 from 2030 Onwards, Replacing with Longer-Range Dhanush and ATAGS
The Indian Army is set to begin phasing out its long-serving Bofors FH77 field howitzers starting around 2030, marking a significant step in its ongoing artillery modernization program. These iconic Swedish-origin guns, first introduced in the early 1980s, will be gradually replaced by newer, indigenous systems offering enhanced capabilities, primarily the Dhanush and the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS). ad Currently, around 200 of the original Bofors 155mm/39 calibre guns...
India Nears $7.6B Rafale-M Deal Signing, Deemed Crucial for INS Vikrant's Operational Effectiveness despite High Per-jet Cost Debate
India is reportedly in the final stages of concluding a significant defence agreement with France to acquire 26 Rafale-M (Marine) fighter jets. The deal, estimated at $7.6 billion, equates to a per-aircraft cost of approximately $292 million. While this price point has generated discussion, the acquisition is viewed by officials as a critical strategic investment aimed at bolstering India's maritime strength and resolving a key capability gap for its naval forces. ad The requirement for...
Following High-Altitude Triumphs, Zorawar Light Tank Enters Critical Rajasthan Desert Trial Phase, Indian Army Induction Targeted for 2027
India's program for developing its own advanced military equipment is poised for a significant advancement. The Zorawar light tank, developed through a partnership between L&T and the DRDO's Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), is scheduled to undergo vital firing tests in the Rajasthan desert later this month. This marks a crucial step in strengthening the nation's indigenous defence capabilities. ad These upcoming trials follow the tank's successful performance...
Rolls-Royce Proposes Entirely New 110kN Engine Tailored for India's AMCA with Full IPR, Distinct from Its Own 6th-Gen GCAP
In a significant development for India's military aviation future, aerospace giant Rolls-Royce has confirmed its offer to co-develop a new jet engine for the nation's upcoming Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Company officials stated that the proposed 110 kilonewton (kN) thrust engine would be a completely original design, specifically created for India's requirements and separate from the engine Rolls-Royce is developing for its own contributions to sixth-generation fighter programs...
India Not Interested in Joining UK-Japan-Italy GCAP 6th-Gen Fighter Program, Reaffirming Commitment to Indigenous AMCA Program
Officials from the Indian Air Force (IAF) have firmly denied recent media reports originating from Japan which suggested India was interested in participating in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). GCAP is a major international project involving the United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy aimed at developing a sixth-generation fighter aircraft. Clarifying India's position, an IAF official stated that no official discussions have occurred with Japan regarding GCAP, nor has India formally...
High-level Defence Committee Devising AMCA Production Framework to Leverage Private Sector Efficiency, Ensuring Timely Delivery to IAF
A dedicated high-level committee, under the leadership of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, is urgently working to define a production strategy for India's indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The committee aims to finalize its report by the end of April 2025. This plan is crucial for overcoming financial and logistical hurdles, thereby speeding up the development and eventual delivery of this 5.5-generation stealth fighter jet to the Indian Air Force (IAF). ad The AMCA...
Indian Navy's TEDBF Fighter Program May Potentially Evolve into Full-fledged 5-Gen Naval Stealth Jet, Mirroring Air Force's AMCA Ambition
India's naval aviation capabilities could see a significant enhancement with reports suggesting the indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), might evolve into a fifth-generation stealth aircraft. Information reported by ANI Media indicates the TEDBF is being considered as the naval equivalent to the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), the fifth-generation fighter currently being developed for the...
HAL's Major Execution Lapses Resulted in RUAV-200 Drone Program's Financial and Operational Failures, CAG Audit Reveals
India's national auditor, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), has issued a sharply critical report concerning Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) management of its Rotary Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (RUAV-200) project. The audit reveals significant shortcomings in how the program was planned and carried out, leading to wasted funds and missed opportunities in the crucial defence drone market. ad The recent CAG report focused on Project 3 (Rotary UAV Development) highlights a key...
Sources Dispel Tejas Mk2 First Flight Confusion, Reaffirming Prototype Rollout for Late 2025, Maiden Flight Early 2026
Recent reports surrounding the first flight schedule for India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk2 have caused some confusion, following statements reportedly made by the head of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Some interpretations suggested a maiden flight could happen very soon. However, reliable sources have stepped in to clarify the situation, confirming that the advanced fighter jet program remains on its previously established timeline. ad The confusion...
Despite Production Prowess, How India's Su-30MKI Export Ambitions are Grounded by Restrictive Russian IPR Clauses
The Sukhoi Su-30 family, a powerful twin-engine fighter jet developed in Russia, serves numerous air forces globally. Russia has successfully exported versions like the Su-30SM to several nations. However, India, despite manufacturing an advanced variant known as the Su-30MKI under license, has been unable to sell this aircraft to other countries. This situation arises from a combination of contractual limitations tied to intellectual property, technological dependencies, national strategic...
Urgent Tejas Mk1A Engine Needs Spark Calls for Kaveri Tech Transfer to Private Sector to Reduce Reliance on Foreign GE Engines
India's long-held ambition to develop its own jet engines for fighter aircraft faces a critical juncture, prompting calls to involve the nation's burgeoning private defence industry in reviving the indigenous Kaveri engine project. The move aims to address the immediate engine requirements for the Tejas Mk1A aircraft and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers like General Electric (GE). ad The Kaveri engine program, initiated by the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) Gas...
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