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How IAF's Decades-Long Reliance on Russian Fighter Jets Reaches a Gradual End with Rise of Indigenous Tejas and AMCA
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is gradually transitioning away from its decades-long dependence on Russian fighter jets, marking a significant shift towards self-reliance in defence production. This change is being driven by the increasing capabilities of domestically produced aircraft like the Tejas and the future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). ad The IAF's relationship with Russian (and previously, Soviet) military aviation dates back to the late 1960s, with the introduction of the...
India Explores Domestic Production of Russia's Pantsir-S1 Air Defence Systems, Seeks At Least 50% Indigenous Content
India is exploring a partnership with Russia to domestically produce the advanced Pantsir-S1 air defence system, significantly bolstering its air defence capabilities. Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) Chairman and Managing Director, Commodore A Madhavarao (Retd.), confirmed that talks regarding local production are progressing positively. This potential collaboration builds upon decades of defence cooperation between the two countries. ad The possibility of Indian production arose from a...
How India's AMCA Lags in Global Export Discussions, While Turkish Kaan Secures Partnership Only After Two Test Flights
The global market for fifth-generation fighter jets is heating up, but India's domestically developed Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is noticeably absent from international partnership and export discussions, even as Turkey's Kaan fighter jet has rapidly secured potential collaborators after only a couple of test flights. This difference in approach raises questions about India's export strategy for its advanced aircraft. ad Turkey's Kaan program, led by Turkish Aerospace Industries...
Why India Hesitant to Arm Taiwan Despite China's Continued Support of Pakistan Against India?
China's long-standing military assistance to Pakistan has been a key element of its strategy to constrain India, creating a persistent security challenge for New Delhi on its western border. Beijing has consistently provided Islamabad with advanced military hardware, ranging from fighter jets to potentially hypersonic missiles, using their close "all-weather" relationship to offset India's regional influence. In contrast, India, despite its growing defence manufacturing capabilities and...
While Not as Stealthy as F-35, Su-57 Still Outperforms China's J-20 and J-36, Claims Gen GD Bakshi Citing Stable Engine and Superior Agility
Retired Major General G.D. Bakshi, a well-known Indian military analyst, recently asserted that Russia's Su-57 "Felon" fighter jet, despite lacking the stealth capabilities of the American F-35 Lightning II, possesses superior overall performance compared to China's J-20 and J-36 fighters. Bakshi made these remarks at a defense symposium held in New Delhi in February 2025. His assessment highlights the Su-57's strengths, particularly in areas beyond stealth, which is a crucial factor in the...
EEL Eyes Indigenous Military Transport Aircraft Development, Potentially Competing with TATA C-295 for Replacing IAF's An-32 and IL-76 Fleet
Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), a subsidiary of the Solar Group of Industries, is exploring the development of a military transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), according to industry sources. While the proposal is in its preliminary stages, it could signal a significant shift in India's domestic defence manufacturing landscape. ad The exact specifications of the proposed aircraft remain undisclosed. However, considering Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) is currently...
Tata Advanced Systems Seeks MoD Approval for High-Altitude Long-Endurance UAV Development, Potentially Challenging DRDO Dominance
Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has requested permission from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to begin development of a High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for the Indian military. This move, if greenlit, would mark the first instance of an Indian private sector company undertaking a project in a field traditionally controlled by the government's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), specifically its Aeronautical Development Establishment...
Sea-Skimming NASM-MR Missile to Enter Developmental Trials Soon, Promises Precision Strikes Against Naval Targets with AESA Seeker
India's Navy is on the verge of a major upgrade in its offensive capabilities. The indigenously developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile-Medium Range (NASM-MR), is set to begin developmental trials. This missile, designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is slated to be India's first air-launched anti-ship missile with a range greater than 350 kilometers. A model of NASM-MR was displayed at the Aero India 2025 show in Bengaluru. ad The NASM-MR is a sea-skimming missile...
Pentagon Strongly Advocates for India's F-35 Acquisition to Bolster QUAD's Strategic Deterrence Against China as Other Members Already Operates Them
The U.S. Department of Defense (the Pentagon) is actively encouraging India to acquire the F-35A Lightning II fighter jet. This move is seen as a significant step toward strengthening the collective defence capabilities of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), a strategic alliance between the United States, India, Japan, and Australia, particularly in response to growing concerns about China's military expansion in the Indo-Pacific region. ad The F-35A, produced by Lockheed Martin, is...
IAF Still Finalizing RFP for 114 Fighter Jets Under MRFA Tender, Keen on Conducting Field Trials for Each Offered Aircraft
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is still in the process of completing the Request for Proposal (RFP) for its long-pending project to acquire 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA), a Ministry of Defence (MoD) official confirmed recently. This crucial procurement, designed to significantly enhance India's air combat power, has faced delays since the initial Request for Information (RFI) was released several years ago. ad The primary cause of the delay is the IAF's ongoing work on finalizing the...
India May Reconsider Additional Chinook CH-47F(I) Heavy-Lift Helicopter Acquisition Amidst US Strategic Partnership Discussions
India is reportedly revisiting the possibility of acquiring more CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters for the Indian Air Force (IAF). This reconsideration is occurring within the context of ongoing discussions to strengthen the strategic partnership between India and the United States. In 2015, India finalized a significant agreement with Boeing, the American aerospace manufacturer, to purchase 15 Chinook helicopters. The deal, valued at roughly $1.1 billion, included a provision...
Kalyani's New Jejuri Plant Set to Manufacture Up to 300 Artillery Guns and Over 1,000 Military Vehicles Annually, Largest Outside China
Bharat Forge's subsidiary, Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), is on the verge of opening a major new manufacturing plant in Jejuri, near Pune, significantly bolstering India's defense production capabilities. This facility is designed to produce a substantial volume of military equipment, including up to 300 artillery guns and more than 1,000 military vehicles each year. This positions KSSL as a major player in the international defense industry and strongly supports India's...
Aging Greek Mirage 2000-5 Fleet Faces Uncertain Future as Potential Sales to India and France Collapse
The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is facing a difficult decision regarding the future of its aging Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets. These aircraft, once a critical part of Greece's air defense strategy, particularly in relation to regional rival Turkey, are now nearing the end of their operational lifespan. Recent attempts to sell the aircraft to India and France have failed, forcing Greece to consider phasing them out due to increasing maintenance costs. ad Greece's plan to sell its fleet of 25...
China Reportedly Constructs 5,000km Range Radar Site Near Myanmar Border, Potentially Monitoring Indian Missile Tests Across IOR
China has built a new, advanced radar facility in Yunnan Province, near the Myanmar border, significantly boosting its ability to provide early warnings about ballistic missiles. This Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR) reportedly has a range of roughly 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles), allowing it to monitor a large area encompassing the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and a considerable portion of India. The development is being viewed with concern in India, as the radar's capabilities appear to be...
IAF's Rafale May Repeat the Limited Procurement History of Mirage-2000, as India Considering Less-Costly F-35 Stealth Fighter Jet
The Indian Air Force (IAF), which operates a combination of aircraft from Western and Russian origins, is at a critical juncture in its modernization efforts. There are growing speculation that the French-made Rafale, a highly advanced 4.5-generation fighter, could follow a similar procurement path as the Mirage-2000 – becoming a powerful but numerically limited asset within the IAF's fleet. ad In the 1980s, India purchased the Mirage-2000 after a thorough evaluation of several Western and...
Tejas Mk2 Boasts a Quarter of Frontal Radar Signature Compared to Mk1A Variant, Claims Project Director Citing Key Design Changes
India's next-generation Tejas Mk2 fighter jet will be significantly harder for enemy radar to detect than its predecessor, according to a key official overseeing the project. Dr. V. Madhusudana Rao, Project Director for the Mk2 program at the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), stated recently that the aircraft's frontal Radar Cross Section (RCS) is just 25% of that of the Tejas Mk1A. This represents a major improvement in the aircraft's stealth capabilities. ad Radar Cross Section (RCS)...
Indian Navy Eyes Helicopter Carriers Optimized for Drone Operations, Aims for Cost-Effective Surveillance and Power Projection in IOR
The Indian Navy is considering a significant modernization effort focused on acquiring Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs) optimized for operating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones. This strategic move aims to enhance the Navy's capabilities in the crucial Indian Ocean Region (IOR) while maintaining cost-effectiveness. ad LHDs are multi-role warships traditionally used for amphibious operations, capable of deploying troops, helicopters, and landing craft. However, the Navy's...
GE Offers Enhanced F414 Engine Variant for AMCA Mk2, Ready to Collaborate with India's GTRE to Develop New Powerful Core
At the Aero India 2025 airshow, which took place in Bengaluru from February 10-14, GE Aerospace expressed its plans to partner with India's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) to create a more powerful engine for India's future fighter jets, mainly AMCA Mk2. ad GE Aerospace confirmed the F414-GE-INS6 engine, a version of the F414 specifically designed for India, will power the initial production runs of the AMCA Mk1. This engine generates approximately 98 kilonewtons (kN) of thrust...
How India Could Save Billions by Choosing "Made in India" Su-57 Over F-35, Filling IAF's Dwindling Squadron Quickly and Potentially Exporting
India could potentially save billions of dollars and rapidly modernize its air force by opting for a "Made in India" version of the Russian Su-57 fighter jet over the American F-35, according to recent claims by Russian officials. This move could also open significant export opportunities for India in the global defence market. ad At a recent defence event, representatives from Rostec, Russia's state-owned defence corporation, stated that an Indian-manufactured variant of the Su-57 Felon...
First Trial of Naval Pinaka System Scheduled for This Year, Promises to Redefine Submarine Countermeasure Capabilities
The Indian Navy is preparing for a significant advancement in its defensive capabilities with the first trial of the naval variant of the Pinaka rocket system, expected later this year. This new system represents a major step forward in underwater defence technology, being a specially adapted version of the successful Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher already used by the Indian Army. ad The naval Pinaka is designed to address threats specifically in the maritime environment. It possesses...
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