India Defence News

To meet the Indian Army's surveillance needs, the government decided to expedite the procurement of surveillance copters to meet the urgent operational requirements. 

Since it is lighter, smaller and compact, the BrahMos next-generation missile systems can be fitted on several platforms. The missile has a range of 290 km and a speed of up to 3.5 Mach.

Constructing the airbase will ensure that the operating range of IAF's fighter range increases and the response time at the time of war will be reduced.

Regarding the Mission Defence Space, a new mission to be launched, PM Modi said all three defence forces identified several threats in this sector. The benefits of India's Mission Defence Space will not only be confined within India, but it will reach many other countries.

Sources said that the agreement for 70 basic trainers for the Indian Air Force will soon be finalised. Once the deal is signed, the Indian Air Force will start receiving the aircraft within three years.

While six squadrons of the Jaguar fighter aircraft would be retired by 2032 in a phased manner, commencing from 2025, three squadrons of Mig-21 to be retired by 2024, followed by phasing out of three squadrons each of Mirage 2000 and MiG-29 fleets by late next decade.

"There have been over 800 Super Hornets built that are out there and operating from US aircraft carrier decks. That itself is a big differentiator," Alain R Garcia, Vice President for International Business Development at Boeing Defence, Space and Security, said when asked why the Indian Navy should opt for the F/A-18 Super Hornet over the French Rafale M fighter jet to operate from the decks of its latest aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

The Defence Space Mission, with the domain of warfare expanding beyond land, air, sea, and into space, is being set up with multiple dual use technologies to provide fillip to the nascent space industry in India. It is reportedly said that this timely government encouragement could make India a front leader in the second space age, characterized by rapid privatisation of space.

Air Works undertakes base maintenance for ATR 42/72, A320 and B737 fleet of aircraft from its EASA and DGCA-certified facilities at Mumbai, Delhi, Hosur and Kochi. Besides, it also undertakes heavy maintenance checks along with Boeing on three P-8I long-range maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft operated by the Indian Navy. 

DRDO AMCA Project Director AK Ghosh said that the first prototype of the next-generation AMCA is expected to roll out in three years, and the first flight could take another year and a half.