Defence News

The largest survey vessel ever built in the nation, INS Sandhayak, was delivered to the Indian Navy on Monday by defense PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, according to an official. After being launched on December 5, 2021, INS Sandhayak—the first of four survey vessels that GRSE is building for the navy—went through trials and fitting out. According to the GRSE official, the 110-meter-long ship was delivered on December 4, which is recognized as Navy Day. The commanding officer of the vessel, Commodore R M Thomas, and the GRSE Chairman and MD, Commodore (retd) P R Hari, signed the delivery and acceptance protocol. The INS Sandhayak is a reincarnation of another ship with the same name that was also a survey...

Recent media reports indicating a decline in Russia's status as a primary provider of military materiel to India have been refuted by two experts in international relations. These allegations are related to the Indian Air Force's (IAF) earlier this month phase-out of one of its squadrons of MiG-21 Bison jets and the Indian Navy's retirement of its final batch of Ilyushin IL-38 maritime patrol aircraft. In response to these worries, Dr. Dattesh Parulekar, an assistant professor at the School of International and Area Studies at Goa University, stressed that the claims in question are inflated and do not represent a purposeful shift in policy away from Russian weaponry. While India is diversifying its defense equipment procurement, this...

India has spent years searching for a fifth-generation fighter plane with superior stealth capabilities. The Russian Su-57 has become a leading candidate in this pursuit, providing a blend of cutting-edge features and tried-and-true technology that might greatly enhance the capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF). After realizing that creating its own fifth-generation fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), would probably take at least 15 years to complete, the IAF decided to pursue the Su-57. Until then, obtaining the Su-57 would provide the Indian Air Force a critical advantage in the changing field of aerial combat. This view is backed by military analyst Vijainder K. Thakur, who claims that the Su-57's improved...

Leading French multinational electronics manufacturer Thales offered Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) access to its FlytX avionics suite, which can be integrated into HAL's Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and upcoming helicopters such as the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH). HAL's helicopter safety, workload reduction, and cockpit operations are all expected to improve with this state-of-the-art avionics system. Thales FlytX is based on a human-centric design philosophy that gives priority to task-oriented interfaces and intuitive interactions. The method reduces pilot distractions and cognitive overload by carefully presenting only relevant and required data when needed. By adding touchscreen functionality to the cockpit, FlytX...

In a recent interview, Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar of the Indian Navy said that the navy intends to buy 26 Rafale M fighter jets. It is anticipated that the contract for these aircraft will be completed in 2024, and deliveries will start in 2027. This fighter jet, the Rafale M, is the naval version of the Dassault Rafale that the Indian Air Force is currently using. Designed for operation from aircraft carriers, the Rafale M will substantially enhance the offensive and defensive capabilities of the Indian Navy. However, Admiral Kumar stressed that the Rafale M is only a temporary option until the Indian Navy's Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) program is completed. The TEDBF is a more sophisticated fighter jet intended primarily...

At its naval station in Visakhapatnam, the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) is working on a number of operational and infrastructural improvement projects with the goal of enhancing its capabilities and strategic position in the Bay of Bengal. The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the ENC, Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, stated that 37 projects totaling more than Rs 2,192 crore are presently in progress. Apart from these projects related to infrastructure, the ENC is also expanding its operational capabilities. The lead ship of the Kolkata-class destroyers, INS Mumbai, will soon join the Eastern Fleet. This will make Visakhapatnam the home port for all three Delhi-class destroyers: Delhi, Mysore, and Mumbai. These projects...

With a substantial number of women Agniveers likely to join the force, the Indian Navy is taking proactive steps to ensure their smooth and respectful integration. Approximately one thousand young women will join the Navy and serve on warships as well as at ground stations. The Navy is preparing its male trainers for this momentous shift by providing them with extensive training that covers proper behavior patterns and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere. The purpose of this training is to stop any sexual misconduct or violence against female sailors. The Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, highlighted the impressive record of women serving in the Navy over the previous 20 years. He...

The special forces of the Indian Army's 15 Corps, commonly known as the Chinar Corps, use the SMASH X4 sight, which was created by the Israeli company SmartShooter. Currently stationed in Srinagar, the 15 Corps is in charge of military operations in the Kashmir Valley. It has taken part in every military confrontation to date involving China and Pakistan. In 2020–21, the Indian Navy also purchased SMASH 2000 rifle sights from SmartShooter as a defence against drone assaults. The SMASH 2000 is a sophisticated electro-optical rifle sight with a firing control computer. It enhances the hit rate and operational firing accuracy greatly for both fixed and mobile targets. By combining an x4 magnifying optic scope with SmartShooter's...

At an event in Kochi on Saturday, Vice Admiral M A Hampiholi, the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of Southern Naval Command (SNC), announced that India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, is scheduled to go into service by the end of January. The aircraft carrier is presently undergoing successful sea trials, which should be finished shortly. The carrier will be formally commissioned into the Indian Navy upon the conclusion of the sea trials. Fighter jets, helicopters, and surveillance aircraft are among the 40 aircraft that the 45,700-ton aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is capable of carrying. The carrier can operate in a variety of situations and is outfitted with a number of cutting-edge sensors and weapons. For the...

The Chinese J-16 fighter jets were recently seen in an air-to-air configuration, with 10 air-to-air missiles on a single J-16, which is unusual. This is a noteworthy development indicating the Chinese military is working on creating more sophisticated air-to-air weapons. With these different types of missiles, the J-16 can hit targets at a lot of different distances and in all kinds of weather. With its increased air-to-air range of almost 400 kilometers, the PL-17 in particular represents a major breakthrough for the PLAAF. Unusual AAM Configuration The J-16 fighter jets were seen carrying a total of ten AAMs, which included: 1x PL-17: An operational 400-kilometer-range radar-guided over-the-horizon air-to-air missile. 1x PL-12: A...

The Flag-Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, stated that the ENC will probably receive 20 to 25 new warships by 2037. A wide range of vessels, including frigates, corvettes, survey and dive support vessels, nuclear submarines, shallow watercraft for anti-submarine warfare, helicopters, and aircraft, will be among the new warships. The new warships will greatly improve the ENC's capabilities and allow it to effectively protect India's maritime interests in the Bay of Bengal and beyond. The following specific warships will be inducted: Nilgiri-class frigates: Equipped with an array of weaponry and sensors, these vessels are both stealthy and adaptable. Next...

First images of the Indian Navy's Russian-origin MiG-29K aircraft fitted with the Israeli-supplied Rampage Long Range Air-to-Ground Precise Strike Weapon have surfaced on social media. India's military capabilities have significantly advanced with this combination. The Rampage is a precision weapon with a great range that may be used to strike well-defended, high-value targets without the need for a seeker. It is quite adaptable and has a range of up to 200 kilometers. It may be fitted with several types of warheads. By adding the Rampage to its fleet of 40 MiG-29K fighter jets, the Indian Navy has greatly increased the offensive power of these aircraft. The Rampage has garnered interest from the Indian Air Force (IAF), which intends...

India's homegrown artillery powerhouse, the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), is back in action! As per First India News, a prominent Rajasthani news channel, the 155mm beast has undergone changes on the advice of the Indian Army and is back at the Pokhran Field Firing Range for additional trials. Sources indicate that the improved ATAGS is hitting its targets with extreme precision, much to the delight of DRDO and Indian Army officers who were present during the trials. The Army is anticipated to order a staggering 307 ATAGS weapons after the trials are successfully completed, so these trials are extremely important. Following the last set of trials, the Indian Army—which is known for its strict standards—had asked for...