Yearly Archives: 2021

India calls for open, inclusive Indo-Pacific at ASEAN defence leaders meet

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. 

Indian Navy inducts 3 long-range maritime reconnaissance helicopters

HAL ALH MK-III Helicopter:  Indian Navy Monday inducted three advanced light helicopters in the Eastern Naval Command that is responsible for safety and security of the country’s eastern sea-shores, including Bay of Bengal. The three HAL ALH MK-III helicopters are built by state owned aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and capable of long range reconnaissance, surveillance, search and rescue operations.

Rafael sets up Israel’s first cyber security alliance to foil hacking threat

Israel Cyber Technologies Consortium: Israeli defence giant Rafael and has partnered with other leading Israeli companies to set up the country’s first cyber security consortium, Israeli Operational Technologies Cyber Consortium, to provide defense solutions against cyber warfare activities by state, non-state actors to protect critical assets such as Transportation, Oil and Gas, Manufacturing, Water and Sewage, energy infrastructure, other such assets, said the company.  

General Atomics to test MQ-9 Reaper with space optical link

MQ-9 Reaper Space Optical Link: US defence and nuclear giant General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) Wednesday said that it has been awarded a contract by the Space Development Agency to demonstrate space-to-air optical communication using GA-EMS’ Laser Interconnect and Networking Communication System (LINCS) and a MQ-9 Reaper drone manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI).

Australian Army gets first lot of Rheinmetall Boxer combat vehicle

Boxer Combat Vehicle: German defence technology giant Rheinmetall has completed the the delivery of first 25 Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicles (CRV) to the Australian Army under the $5.2 billion LAND 400 Phase 2 Mounted Combat Reconnaissance Capability project, said the company. Under the deal, Rheinmetall will deliver a total of 211 Boxer 8×8 Vehicles in different versions, 131 will be the CRV variant.

Rheinmetall wins €295 million order to supply Kodiak armoured vehicles

Rheinmetall Kodiak Armoured Vehicle: Düsseldorf-based German defence giant Rheinmetall has been awarded a €295 million contract by the German military to supply Kodiak armoured engineering vehicles. On 14 April 2021, the Budget Committee of the German Parliament approved the project, the company said in a statement. The Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and…

Israel’s Elbit Systems wins $1.65 billion Greece flight training contract

Under the contract, Elbit Systems will supply new M-346 training aircraft and will maintain the entire training fleet, comprised of dozens of M-346 and T-6 training aircraft for a period of approximately 20 years. Elbit Systems will also provide its latest advanced Embedded Virtual Avionics (EVA) onboard the training aircraft, deliver networked flight simulators and an array of Ground-Based Training Stations (GBTS).

India Army Chief General MM Naravane arrives in Bangladesh on 5-day visit

General Naravane Bangladesh Visit: Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane Thursday reached Dhaka on a five-day official visit to neighbouring country Bangladesh. General Naravane’s visit to the country comes on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country late last month to participate in the golden jubilee celebrations of the country’s independence from Pakistan.

Rheinmetall wins contract to supply MELLS ATGM to German Army

The German Bundeswehr has placed the order for supply of MELLS antitank guided missile system with EuroSpike GmbH, a joint venture of Rheinmetall and its partners Diehl Defence and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The latest order is worth around €88 million. Rheinmetall will be supplying key components to EuroSpike, maker of the MELLS, a multirole-capable lightweight guided missile system.

India leader arrives in Dhaka on historic visit

PM Modi Bangladesh Visit: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, on Friday on a two-day state visit to the country during which the Indian leader will attend the golden jubilee celebrations of the country’s independence, the birth centenary of ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and hold talks with his counterpart Bangladesh…

Northrop Grumman to lead US missile defense upgrade programme

The NGI program is an element of the MDA’s Ground-based Midcourse Defense System (GMD) which is the primary U.S. missile defense system used to defend the country from long-range ballistic missile attacks. Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Missiles & Defense currently provide the interceptor booster, kill vehicle, ground systems, fire control and engagement coordination for the country’s GMD system.

Rafael-Kalyani Group company KRAS delivers first kit of surface-to-air-missiles

Kalyani-Rafael Joint Venture (KRAS): India-Israel joint venture Kalyani-Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS) Tuesday delivered the first missile parts for India’s medium range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM). The mid-section of the MRSAM missile, which that would be in service of both Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, has been manufactured at the KRAS plant located near Hyderabad Airport.

India’s DRDO testfires Helina, Dhruvasta anti-tank guided missiles

DRDO Helina, Dhruvastra ATGM: India’s apex defence research organisation DRDO conducted joint user trials for Helina and Dhruvastra anti-tank guided missile systems from HAL’s Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) platform in desert ranges. The anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) has been designed and developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

IAI-Matrix sign MoU to develop automated target detection system

IAI-Matrix Defense MoU: Israel’s leading defence company IAI and Matrix Defense Monday signed an agreement to establish a joint AI excellence center. The two companies will co-develop AI, machine learning (ML) and Big Data-driven solutions to be integrated into IAI’s satellite and space systems, defense and attack systems, missiles, homing heads, electro-optical payloads, and additional…

Indian Army: Bharat Forge wins $24.6 million order to supply Kalyani M4 Armored Vehicles

Bharat Forge Kalyani M4 Armored Vehicle: A day after its announcement of entering into an agreement with global aerospace and technology firm Paramount Group to manufacture armoured vehicles, Pune-based Indian private sector conglomerate Bharat Forge Limited (BFL) has received an order worth Rs 177.95 crores ($24.6 million) from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for supply…

Defence Exhibition Athens DEFEA 2021 postponed by two months

DEFEA 2021 new dates: In view of the prevaling Covid situtation in Europe, organisers of prestigious European defence exhibition, Defence Exhibition Athens (DEFEA) have rescheduled the event to July this year. According to the earlier revised schedule, the DEFEA was to be organised in May this year but as per the new revised schedule, the DEFEA defence exhibition will now be organised from July 13 to July 15, 2021 in Athens.

India’s HAL, Israel’s Elbit Systems sign agreement for HUD helmets

HAL-Elbit Systems HUD Display System: India’s state owned aircraft manufacturing giant HAL has signed an  agreement with Israel’s high technology defence company Elbit Systems for supply of Digital Overhead Head Up Display Systems (DOHS) during the recently concluded Aero India-2021, the company announced on Monday. The agreement for supply of HUD display has been signed between HAL and Elbit Systems Electro Optics Elop Ltd.

Indian, Chinese troops clash in Naku La, Sikkim

India-China Naku La Sikkim Clash: In a clear sign that the ongoing tense stand-off between the two Asian giants is not going to resolve anytime soon, Indian Army and Chinese PLA soldiers once again clashed in the border area last week. In the violent clash that took place on Wednesday (20 January), both sides sustained injuries. Though the Chinese side remained silent on the issue, Indian Army officially confirmed on Monday that both sides clashed in Naku La area in North Sikkim, saying that the face-off was resolved at local commanders’ level.   

Aero India: Thales to display Talios pod, AirMaster radar, StarStreak missiles

Aero India 2021: Paris based European defence giant Thales will display its latest family of Airmaster C airborne surveillance radars, Talios Pod and Starstreak missiles among other arms and armaments such as counter drone technology at India’s prestigious defence and aerospace exhibition Aero India, said the company, adding that this year the focus will on its Make in India initiatives.

Brothers in Arms: India-France begin Desert Knight exercise

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 clears $6.25 billion deal to acquire 83 LCA Tejas combat jets

LCA Tejas News: In a major boost to domestic defence industry, India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today approved the largest ever indigenous defence purchase of 83 combat jets manufactured by the state owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. This deal will be a game-changer for self-reliance in Indian defence manufacturing, said the defence minister.