India gifts INS Kirpan warship to Vietnam Navy: In a significant move to enhance its strategic and military relations in China’s backyard, India Saturday handed over a fully operational warship of Indian Navy to its close military ally Vietnam. This is for the first time when India offered a fully operational missile corvette to Vietnam as Indian Navy first decommissioned INS Kirpan and handed it over to Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN).
Rheinmetall’s Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicle for Ukraine: German defence company Rheinmetall is supplying another 20 Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) to Ukrainian Army as per a direction from the German government, the company said on Saturday. The contract for these 20 Marder IFVs was awarded last month while the value of the order has been estimated in the lower-two-digit million-euro range. The Marders are due to be delivered this summer.
India DRDO Agni Prime Missile: The first pre-induction night launch of the missile with a strike range of 1,000 to 2,000 km was carried out on Wednesday by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the elite strategic forces command, officials said. The defence ministry said the test-firing met all the desired objectives and that it paved the way for induction of the system into the armed forces.
Rheinmetall said the current order was the last call-off from a framework contract signed in 2018 for the delivery of up to 137 SaZgM 70t mil trucks. Under the framework agreement, which had a 7-year lifetime, eighty tractor units have already been ordered and delivered to the Bundeswehr. Since 2018, Rheinmetall has supplied the Bundeswehr with over 4,000 military trucks. Together with the UTF and WLS, the SaZgM 70t tractor unit forms the logistic backbone of the Bundeswehr.
India-US GE Fighter Jet Engine Deal: Indian and US authorities are working to finalise a fighter jet manufacturing deal during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country. The deal involving US figher get manufacturer General Electric (GE) will be a government to government deal as GE is already supplying its F-404(IN) engines for India’s home grown light combat aircraft LCA Tejas manufactured by the state owned aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
The ATR 72 MPA is a maritime patrol aircraft that integrates advanced security and surveillance systems developed by Leonardo. In October 2022, Malaysia authorities have announced the selection of ATR 72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
India remains world’s largest weapons importer: India remained the world’s largest arms importer for the…
Rheinmetall at Avalon Australia 2023: Rheinmetall, the largest supplier of military vehicles to the Australian Defence Force will this week showcase two of the most advanced and highly capable next generation armoured vehicles, the LYNX Infantry Fighting Vehicle along with the LYNX Combat Support Vehicle at Avalon Australia Air Show, said the company.
EDGE Group High Lander Universal UTM Investment: The UAE based leading defence company, the EDGE Group Tuesday announced a strategic investment in High Lander. The Tel Aviv based High Lander is an air traffic management company which offers Universal UTM, a drone-agnostic unmanned traffic management solution. The Universal UTM provides automation, coordination, and safety much needed in increasingly crowded skies.
Rheinmetall-MAN military trucks for Ukraine: German defence company Rheinmetall is supplying Ukraine with brand new…
Kalyani Strategic Systems 155mm Howitzer export order: In a major success for India’s push to increase its defence export, Indian firm Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited Wednesday announced that it received an order worth $155 million for supply of its 155mm howitzer guns.
L&T Teevra Naval Gun System: India’s defence and engineering company Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has signed a contract to supply its Teevra 40 mm naval gun systems to the Indonesian Navy. This is first ever defence export from India to Indonesia, while India’s Brahmos Aerospace is supplying Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines.
Tata-Airubs C295 Aircraft Plant Vadodara: As per the agreement, Airbus Defence & Space, Spain would supply 16 C-295MW aircraft to the Indian Air Force in flyaway condition while another 40 aircraft would be manufactured by a consortium of Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Airbus Defence & Space S.A. Spain in India.
India-France Air Force Garuda Military Exercise: In order to improve synergy between the two air forces and enhanced understanding of each other’s processes, the Indian and French air forces are undertaking an 18-day military exercise in Jodhpur in western state of Rajasthan. This is the seventh edition of biannual war games that involves combat jets of Indian, Russian, French and British origin.
German Navy Frigate Sachsen fires Laser Weapon against drones: In a significant development against the growing threat posed by drones and UAVs, German Military reported that it has successfully conducted a high-energy laser weapon system against drones.
German Field Hospitals for Ukraine Military: German defence compay, Rheinmetall will soon be supplying the Ukrainian armed forces with a turnkey modern field hospital. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence awarded the €9 million order to Rheinmetall subsidiary Zeppelin Mobile Systeme GmbH (ZMS) in September 2022. The package includes training on the system. Delivery is scheduled to take place in 2023.
US Marine Corps Tamir Iron Dome Missile Defence System: United States Marine Corps has completed a series of live fire tests of its anit-missile defence system incorporating Tamir Iron Dome missile interceptors designed and developed by Israel defence company Rafael Advances Defense Systems.
Just two years after the placement of the order, Rheinmetall AG CEO Armin Papperger presented the key to Hungarian Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky. The handover took place during an oath-taking ceremony of new military service volunteers of the Hungarian Defence Forces at the Petöfi Sándor Barracks in Budapest. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also attended the ceremony. Lynx will become the backbone of Hungary’s mechanised infantry forces.
Lt General Chauhan is expected to take forward the jointness and theaterization of Indian military that was conceived by General Bipin Rawat but could not be implemented due to his tragic death in a helicopter crash in southern India in December last year.
Indian Air Force is deploying locally designed and developed Light Combat Helicopters that are equipped with air-to-air missiles and anti-tank guided missiles on India’s western borders.
A 1988-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, Kwatra succeeded Harsh Vardhan Shringla who retired from service on Saturday. Kwatra was serving as India’s envoy to Nepal before assuming the charge of the foreign secretary.
IAI’s Multi-Mission Mode Radar for Czech Republic: Israel’s state owned defence company – Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) – has supplied the Czech Republic with the first air defense Multi-Mission Radar (MMR), as part of a deal signed in December 2019 by the Ministries of Defense of both the Czech Republic and Israel, the company said on Tuesday.
Leonardo Cyber Security Academy Genoa: Italian defence company Leonardo Monday unveiled its Cyber & Security Academy, the new high-level training center established by the company to provide Defense, public administrations, critical infrastructures and businesses the skills and capabilities necessary to support the digital transition and face threats to national security.
Rheinmetall Oerlikon AESA AMMR Radar: German defence and high technology company Rheinmetall Monday unveiled the Oerlikon AMMR, the Group’s latest radar system. The Oerlikon AESA Multi-Mission Radar (AMMR) was developed entirely at Rheinmetall Italia in Rome, underscoring once again the subsidiary’s role as Rheinmetall’s radar centre of excellence. Rheinmetall says the new radar is now ready for series production.
Amir Peretz IAI Chairman: In a major reshuffle at Israel’s state owned defence and aerospace giant – Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the board of directors of the company cleared the name of the country’s former defence minister Amir Peretz as the new chairman of the IAI Board.
In a late night tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose government last year announced a highly ambitious Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan (a self-reliant India) to cut down the country’s dependence on imports in crucial sectors, including defence, reiterated that the defence modernization will continue with full vigour.
Rafael-KMW-GDELS JV EuroTrophy: German defence giant Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), Israeli defence company Rafael and GDELS, the European subsidiary of the US defence company General Dynamics, Thursday announced signing of an agreement to setup a new defene company EuroTrophy in Germany which will manufacture Rafael’s famous Trophy Active Protection System in Europe.
Russia’s Ka-226T Helicopter: Russia’s state owned helicopter manufacturer Russian Helicopters Tuesday said that its deeply modernized Ka-226T light helicopter has started flight tests and completed the maiden flight testing complex of the National Helicopter Center Mil and Kamov.
German Leopard MBT Trophy APS: Last week, the government procurement office of Germany, in cooperation with Israel Ministry of Defense, and supported by Rafael and KMW completed a series of challenging live firing tests of the TROPHY on the LEOPARD 2 tank, which was integrated into the German services after a government-to-government agreement was reached in February.
Tiger Attack Helicopter: German defence giant Rheinmetall and French high-technology defence company Thales have won the order to maintain Tiger helicopter simulators in France and Germany through December 2025. Rheinmetall said a contract to this effect was awarded through OCCAR, the European procurement organization in summer this year.
India Agni-5 Missile: Indian authorities Wednesday successfully testified Agni-5 long range surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of over 5,000 kilometers, saying that the missile has high level of accuracy which is in line with the country’s stated policy of maintaining a credible minimum nuclear deterrence against its adversaries.
US Army High Energy Laser Weapon System: US electromagnetic and electric power system company General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has partnered with another US defence and aerospace giant Boeing to develop a 300kW-class solid state Distributed Gain High Energy Laser Weapon System for the US Army, GA-EMS announced on Monday.
Clarke began the trip honoring India’s fallen service members by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial. The visit comes at a time when Antony Blinken, United States’ Secretary of State is on an official visit to the country. After the ceremony, Clarke met with Indian defense officials and discussed the ways in which India and the United States can continue working together to improve defense partnerships and grow interoperability.
Defence Exhibition Athens (DEFEA-2021): Greek Minister of National Defence Nicos Panagiotopoulos Tuesday inaugurated the Defence Exhibition Athens (DEFEA) as scores of senior defence leaders, defence industry executives, diplomats attended the three-day prestigious defence exhibition in a Covid-free environment.
ASEAN Defence Ministers Meet: India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh Wednesday called for an open and inclusive order in Indo-Pacific that is based upon the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, saying that sea lanes of communication in the region are critical for peace and prosperity of the region. Singh told the leaders that Code of Conduction negotiations, that are currently under discussion at the multi-nation forum, will not prejudice the legitimate rights of those nations that are not party to the discussions.
DEFEA 2021: Greece will hold its prestigious defence exhibition DEFEA in July this year. The Defence Exhibition Athens (DEFEA) was scheduled to be held in June last year but the event was postponed due to the outbreak of Covid-19 global pandemic.
Taranto steel plant Italy: Fincantieri, ArcelorMittal Italia (AMI) and Paul Wurth Italia (PWIT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to chalk out a reconversion plan for the existing integrated cycle of the AMI steel-making plant in Taranto, using eco-friendly technologies, the Italian shipbuilder said on Tuesday.
PM Modi Bangladesh Visit: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh,…
Lloyd Austin India Visit: The strong relationship between the world’s two largest democracies, India and the US, is a stronghold of a free and open Indo-Pacific region at a time when the world is facing a global pandemic and growing challenges to an open and stable international system, said US defence secretary Lloyd J Austin.
China-Japan Senkaku Island Face Off: Amid escalating tensions in the disputed East China Sea, Japan is considering to send its self-defence forces to deal with the surge in Chinese activity at the Senkaku Islands, according to a report in the Hong Kong based South China Morning Post (SCMP). China claims sovereignty over the islands, known as Diaoyu in the country.
Italian Navy NFS Submarine Contract: The Trieste based Italian shipbuilding giant Fincantieri has won €1.35 billion contract to design and build two new generation submarines for the Italian Navy as a prime contractor of the programme, the company said on Friday.
EDGE Loitering Munitions: UAE based leading defence manufacturer EDGE Group Sunday unveiled its family of multi-rotor loitering munitions, the QX range at IDEX Dubai. The company also launched Shadow 50 and Shadow 25, Rash 2 gliding munition kit, new variants of the RW24 range at the prestigious defence expo.
In his statement in the Rajya Sabha, India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh said as part of the disengagement process in the Ladakh region, China has agreed to move its forces back to Finger 8, and Indian Army will move back its troops to its permanent post, Dhan Singh Thapa Post, near Finger 3 on the north bank of Pangong Tso lake in Eastern Ladakh.
India-US Yudh Abhyas military exercise: Indian and US Armies have started their regular joint training exercise Yudh Abhyas (Practice of Warfare) in desert state of Rajasthan in western India, Indian Army said on Monday. Yudh Abhyas military exercise is being conducted in Mahajan Field Firing Range in the state.
The crude bomb, which appeared to have been packed in a soft-drink can, went off near the Embassy of Israel on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road in New Delhi on Friday evening at around 5 pm local time, shattering the windscreens of three cars on the road, Delhi Police said.
India France Desert Knight Military Exercise: Indo-French military exercise Desert Knight has clearly demonstrated Indian Air Force’s capability to induct a new combat jets like Rafale fighters, and quickly adapt them, said India’s top military officer Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat.
The French side has fielded its own Rafale fighter combat jets, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), A-400M Tactical Transport aircraft and nearly 175 air warriors of French Air Force. The Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft participating in the exercise include newly inducted Rafale which the force inducted last year, Mirage 2000 which is also of French origin, Russian origin Sukhoi-30MKI air superiority fighters.
India’s top army officer General Manoj Mukund Naravane Tuesday said Pakistan and China together form a “potent” threat, and the “threat of collusivity” cannot be wished away.
According to Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the Royal Thailand Army selected the SPIKE MR (Medium Range) variant after a process of evaluation and procured its first lot of missiles and launchers designated for its 6th infantry division.
The Passage Exercise between Indian Navy and Russian Navy is aimed at enhancing interoperability, improving understanding and imbibing best practices between both the friendly navies, and would involve advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare exercises, weapon firings, seamanship exercises and helicopter operations.
In a boost to India’s defence industry, Russia’s top defence export body Rosoboronexport has expressed its readiness to give India technology for production of defence equipment. Joint production of Kalashnikov AK203 assault rifles by the specially established Indo Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) rifle manufacturing facility in Korwa, Amethi is the next key focus of both sides.
The India-US Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) includes sharing of high-end satellite images, telephone intercepts, and data exchange on Chinese troops and weapons deployment along the 3,488-km India-China LAC.
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Syed Salahudeen, Riyaz Bhatkal and Iqbal Bhatkal , the founders of homegrown terror outfit Indian Mujahideen and Chota Shakeel, an aide of India’s absconding gangster Dawood Ibrahim are among the 18 people who have been declared terrorists by India.
The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) will enable both the countries to share satellite data with each other, which will be particularly useful for India in any future military conflict.
With this test, the Nag missile, Cobra in English, has completed 10 successful user trials by the Indian Army and will now enter the production phase. Nag, a third generation anti-tank guided missile with a four kilometer range, has already completed its winter and summer trials last year.
“High-end military exercises like MALABAR are key to enhancing Australia’s maritime capabilities, building interoperability with our close partners, and demonstrating our collective resolve to support an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Australia’s defence minister Linda Reynolds said.
US Defence Secretary Mark T Esper said that the partnership between India and the US would be most consequential partnership between the two countries in the Indo-Pacific region in this century. Mark Esper, along with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, would travel to New Delhi next week to participate in the India-US 2+2 ministerial between the two countries.
We are strong and we are completely self-reliant in the areas of missiles, radars, electronic warfare systems, torpedoes, guns, and communication systems and can produce any type of missiles in the country that armed forces want, says DRDO Chief G Satheesh Reddy.
He replaces Lt General Harinder Singh, who completed his one-year tenure as the Corps commander, and will take over as the Commandant of the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun.
Rudram missile or new generation anti radiation missile (NGARM) is being developed by the DRDO for suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD). The Rudram missile can be launched from a range of altitudes with large standoff distance for destroying enemy surveillance radars, tracking and communication systems.
India-China border clash: In a major development, Indian Army and PLA soldiers once again clashed at the southern bank of Pangong Tso Lake on late Saturday night when Indian Army foiled the provocative movement by the Chinese PLA troops to change the status quo, Indian Army said in statement issued on Monday morning.
The decision to push ahead with the development of critical road network comes at a time when Indian and Chinese armies are facing each other at several places in Ladakh region. In the past, China has objected to the development of border infrastructure by India in Ladakh to match Chinese built up.
American nuclear energy equipment manufacturer General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) Monday said it has been awarded a contract from Dominion Energy to deliver Radiation Monitoring Systems for the Millstone Power Station, Unit 3 in Waterford CT. GA-EMS will manufacture and deliver a full complement of radiation monitoring systems throughout the Millstone plant.
Israel’s leading defence technology company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. and Abu Dhabi based technology company Group 42 (G42), Friday joined hands to explore collaborations in the research and development of effective solutions to combat SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease.
In a major decision, India Monday imposed a ban on 59 Chinese mobile applications including short video makers Tiktok and Helo, file sharing app Shareit, web browsers like UC Browser and CM Mobile Browser and CS Cam Scanner saying that these Chinese mobile apps posed threat to safety and security of India.
A senior Indian Army officer of the rank of Colonel, and two soldiers Monday night lost their lives in a violent face off with the soldiers of Chinese Army (PLA) in the Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh while the number of casualties on Chinese side has not been confirmed by Chinese authorities.
Bhogapuram Airport Andhra Pradesh: India’s leading airport developer and operator GMR Group has won a long-term contract for the development and operational management of a Greenfield airport near Vishakhapatnam in southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Indian Army and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have moved back their troops at several locations in Eastern Ladakh as a confidence building measures to facilitate further talks on Wednesday.
OFB Strike: More than 82,000 employees of state owned Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) have threatened an indefinite strike against the Modi government’s decision to corporatize 41 units of the OFB. The three defence employee unions alleged that the present decision of Modi government to corporatize OFB was against the past agreement between them and the defence ministry.
Dr Vivek Lall, a prominent defence industry veteran of Indian origin, has been appointed as Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation. Dr Lall earlier worked with US defence majors like Lockheed Martin and Boeing and was instrumental in clinching the bilateral defence deals worth $18 billion with India.
Indian Air Force Wednesday operationalised second squadron of indigenously designed and developed Light Combat Aircraft Tejas at Sulur airbase in Southern state of Tamil Nadu. Air Force Chief RKS Bhadaria inducted LCA Tejas in Flying Bullets squadron.
On Thursday (May 21, 2020) the government notified 26 of these 127 items under clause 3(a) of the public procurement order of 2017, which makes it mandatory for the procuring entities to source them only from Indian suppliers, whereas in the earlier scheme of things it was not mandatory and only preference was to be given to Indian suppliers.
In order to allay the apprehensions that Covid-19 pandemic might delay the delivery of F-35, US defence major Lockheed Martin has taken several steps, including reaching an agreement with the machine worker’s body IAM, to implement an alternate week work schedule.
Indian Air Force Chief RKS Bhaduaria Monday issued a stern warning to Pakistan, saying that the IAF was ready to strike terror camps inside Pakistan if a terror attack on India was linked to Pakistan.
FDI in India: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman Saturday announced the government’s decision to increase FDI in Defence sector from present 49% to 74%.
US Department of Defense has awarded a $905 million contract to US defence giant Lockheed Martin Sikorsky to supply 24 MH-60 Romeo Seahawk helicopters to Indian Navy under a foreign military sale (FMS) route.
Boeing Defense and Space has bagged a $3.1 billion contract from the US Navy for supplying Harpoon missiles and Stand-off Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM ER) to support the US Government’s foreign military sales (FMS) programme. The supply of these weapons will continue through 2028.
In order to conduct the first hand assessment of Indian Army’s preparedness along Pakistan border, India’s Army Chief General M M Naravane visited forward areas of the Sapta Shakti Command in the states of Rajasthan and Punjab for two days.
India has set an ambitious target of becoming a net exporter of defence technology on the occasion of 21st Pokhran anniversary that is celebrated in the country National Technology Day.
DRDO supported Defence Institute of Advanced Technology Pune announced the development of Atulya microwave steriliser that kills the Sars-CoV-2 virus by differential heating in the range of 560 to 600 Celsius temperatures.
Indian Army Wednesday received 277 more people rescued from corona-hit Iran and housed them at its Jodhpur quarantine facility. These included 273 pilgrims, of them149 are women and 6 children.
COVID-19: Indian Army has decided to drastically reduce staff at its headquarters at South Block in New Delhi to contain the outbreak of novel coronavirus. Now it will work only with 15% of the staff deployed at the headquarters.
To reduce the high cost of acquisition, Defence Procurement Policy 2020 adds a new category for leasing of equipment not used in the actual warfare.
India has rescued 195 more citizens from coronavirus-hit Iran and these people have been kept at Indian army’s quarantine facility in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
Total FDI inflows in the defence sector in the last five years remains at a low of just $2.48 million and total FDI inflows in the last two decades (April 2000 to December 2019) too remain at abysmally low level of just $8.82 million (Rs 52 crore)
The contract includes dismounted launchers, signifying that the SPIKE LR2 will now be used by both the infantry and cavalry of Slovak Army.
The RaiDer-X is also capable of detecting explosives in pure form and it can also detect explosives when they are mixed with other contaminants to conceal them.
India Defence News: In a strong message to Pakistan based terror groups, Indian defence minister…
During Parrikar’s tenure, the army launched a surgical strike across the Line of Control to destroy terror camps to avenge the killing of 19 soliders in Uri.
Permission for exporting defence equipment worth Rs 5,883 crore ($822 million) in the first 9 months of the current financial year has already been granted.
This is for the first time that the country has deployed its frontline fighters in peninsular India to assert its influence in Indo-Pacific region.
In response to a question whether the task will be fulfilled during his tenure, General MM Narawane quipped: “If this is the mandate then so be it.”
Indian Navy warships & aircraft were deployed to establish presence, provide a sense of reassurance to the merrchant ships & monitor the ongoing situation.
The India-US 2+2 dialogue provides for a review of the security, defence and strategic partnership between India and the United States.
The second edition of India-Bangladesh coordinated patrol (CORPAT) will be followed by the maiden naval exercise at Vishakhapatnam.
Defence News India: Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces have been conducting Exercise Ekuverin meaning ‘Friends’ in the Dhivehi language since 2009.
Indian & US Air Forces have started a joint exercise Cope India 2018 in India.. For the first time this exercise is being conducted at two Indian airbases.
Govt has cleared defence purchase worth Rs. 3,000 crore, it will involve fitting of 2 navy ships with Brahmos missiles & Armored Recovery Vehicles for Army.
Indian and Russian armies have completed the tenth edition of Indo-Russian joint military exercise INDRA-2018 in Babina military station in central India.
Director General of Border Road Organisation Lt Gen Harpal Singh reviewed the progress of critical roads at China border on Tuesday and Wednesday.