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India's unveiling of its domestically produced Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, intended for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and Super Sukhoi upgrade, has sparked debate in defense circles. This indigenous radar, created by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), signifies a major advancement in India's pursuit of self-reliance in crucial military technology. ad However, this development raises a key question: why...

In a major development for India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has opened the door for Russia to participate in negotiations regarding the engine for the indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet. This represents a change in strategy, as previous discussions had largely centered on Western engine manufacturers like General Electric (US), Safran (France), and Rolls-Royce (UK). ad The inclusion of Russia reflects a growing acknowledgement of the...

India's state-owned aerospace company, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has reached a key milestone in strengthening the Indian Air Force (IAF) with the completion of nine Tejas Mk1 trainer aircraft. This achievement is part of a larger order of 18 trainers from the IAF, intended to modernize the force's training capabilities. The total order of 18 trainers comprises 10 requested in 2021, supplementing an earlier order of 8. These new aircraft will provide pilots with a cutting-edge...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is upgrading its Tejas Mk1A Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) with the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), a modern European missile, signaling a move away from the older, Russian-made R-73 missiles. Recent confirmations of the ASRAAM being fitted on the Tejas Mk1A demonstrate the IAF's commitment to improving the aircraft's close-combat fighting ability. ad The R-73 (known by NATO as AA-11 Archer) has served as the IAF's main short-range air-to-air...

The Indian Army's approach to modernizing its anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) arsenal has raised questions. While the Army continues to depend heavily on older, 2nd-generation ATGMs, several domestically developed 3rd-generation systems are now available, developed both by the DRDO and private companies. These new, indigenous 3rd-generation ATGMs offer significant advantages. These include "fire-and-forget" technology, which allows the missile to lock onto and track a target autonomously...

India's forthcoming Tejas Mk2 fighter jet, a significantly upgraded version of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), is being developed with a strong emphasis on efficient manufacturing and reduced operational costs. The project leverages advanced engineering principles to ensure both high performance and affordability, a critical balance for the Indian Air Force (IAF). ad The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the design agency behind the Mk2, is incorporating several key design...

India's program to develop a domestically-built fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), has seen a major shift in its private-sector partnerships. Mahindra Defence Systems, a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra, is no longer in the running to participate in the aircraft's production, leaving Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) as the primary contenders. ad The AMCA program represents a departure from India's traditional...

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF), has expressed serious doubts regarding recent Chinese claims of having flown a sixth-generation fighter jet. Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2025, the Air Chief Marshal emphasized that simply achieving flight with a new airframe is insufficient to categorize an aircraft as a true sixth-generation fighter. ad Earlier this year, reports originating from Chinese state media outlets and aviation publications...

Despite India's rapidly growing aviation market and strong government pressure, aerospace giants Airbus and Boeing are showing significant reluctance to establish Final Assembly Lines (FALs) within the country. This hesitancy is reportedly rooted in a desire to protect their existing manufacturing bases and, crucially, to avoid fostering a potential Indian competitor, mirroring their experience with China's COMAC. ad India is projected to require nearly 2,000 new aircraft over the next two...

LAT Aerospace, a startup backed by Zomato founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal, is entering the Indian aviation market with plans to develop affordable, 24-seater Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft. This move positions the company as a direct competitor to established public sector projects, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) Hindustan 228 and the National Aerospace Laboratories' (NAL) Saras MkII. ad Goyal has invested $20 million in LAT Aerospace, signaling a significant...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is exploring ways to speed up the development of its ambitious fifth-generation fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), by potentially leveraging the expertise of the winner of a separate, large-scale fighter jet procurement. This was indicated by Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, at the India Today Conclave held at the Taj Palace in New Delhi on March 7-8, 2025. Air Chief Marshal Singh suggested that the company winning the...

Facing increasing tensions along the Sino-Indian border, the Indian Army is urgently seeking to modernize its surveillance capabilities with new, high-performance, domestically-produced drones. The Army has issued a strong call to action to both India's public and private defense sectors to rapidly develop and deliver advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of operating in the challenging Himalayan environment. ad The Army's existing fleet of UAVs, primarily consisting of...

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is undergoing a significant strategic shift, moving away from its long-standing reliance on single-engine fighter aircraft and embracing twin-engine, 5th-generation platforms. This change is primarily driven by Pakistan's perceived need to counter India's growing air power, particularly the Indian Air Force's (IAF) acquisition of Rafale and Su-30MKI fighters, and the future induction of the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). ad For decades, the...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) was correct in its decision to not pursue a variant of the Navy's Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) program, according to prominent defence analysts. The TEDBF, a 4.5++ generation fighter intended for aircraft carrier operations, has faced significant developmental delays, making it unsuitable for the IAF's modernization plans, which are now focused on the Tejas Mk2 and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). ad The TEDBF program, managed by the...

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF), recently described the successful defensive maneuvers of the IAF's Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets during a heightened military standoff with Pakistan in 2019. Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Air Chief Marshal Singh detailed how two Su-30MKIs protected crucial Indian assets from a potential attack by Pakistani F-16 fighter jets equipped with advanced AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile)...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking to significantly enhance the firepower of its domestically-produced Tejas fighter jets. Negotiations are underway with the European missile manufacturer MBDA to equip the Tejas Mk1A and the future Tejas MkII with the advanced Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM). ad Currently, the Meteor missile is only deployed on the 36 Rafale fighter jets India purchased from France, and will also be integrated onto the 26 Rafale M aircraft slated...

India's largest private-sector defence manufacturer, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), has indicated a strong interest in helping to resolve the Indian Air Force's (IAF) urgent need for new fighter jets. J.D. Patil, head of aerospace and defence at L&T, recently suggested the company is exploring the possibility of creating a production line for domestically-built fighter aircraft. While Patil did not disclose which specific aircraft L&T might produce, the statement reflects the increasing pressure...

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, a fifth-generation fighter jet, has been considered as a potential addition to the Indian Air Force (IAF). However, concerns have been raised in India about a supposed "kill switch" – a mechanism that would purportedly allow the United States to remotely disable the aircraft. While this idea has gained some traction, it lacks a factual basis. This article examines the systems often associated with this concern and clarifies the actual nature of U.S...

The Indian Navy is actively exploring options to acquire deck-based Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft for its future aircraft carriers. This initiative is part of the Navy's broader modernization effort, Vision 2047, designed to enhance its operational capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in light of China's growing naval presence. The addition of the AWACS will provide a all round radar surveilance system. ad Currently, the Indian Navy's operational...

India's defence capabilities are set to receive a substantial upgrade through a new partnership between Belgium's John Cockerill Defence (JCD) and India's Electro Pneumatics and Hydraulics (EPH). The collaboration will focus on producing advanced turret systems within India for the Indian Army's "Zorawar" light tank program, a project designed to enhance India's military presence along its borders. ad The joint venture, with JCD holding a 60% majority stake and EPH 40%, is in line with the...