HAL to build 8, then 12 LCA fighter Jets each year
The MoD has sanctioned Rs 1,556 crore for HAL's high-tech production line that aims to build 12 Tejas fighters each year. The funds will come from the IAF (25 per cent); the navy (25 per cent), while HAL will put up half the money. On December 20, the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) was cleared to enter operational service with the Indian Air Force (IAF). Now Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) faces the daunting transition from handcrafting Tejas prototypes into f…
Defence ministry finally clears 880 cr Barak missile deal with Israel
With the CBI moving for closure of the infamous Barak kickbacks case, the defence ministry on Monday cleared the long-pending naval case for procurement of an additional 262 Barak-I missiles for Rs 880 crore. The defence acquisitions council led by A K Antony also cleared the projects for acquisition of 41 Dhruv advanced light helicopters, two deep submergence submarine rescue vessels and 16 anti-submarine missile boats, all together totalling over Rs 16,000 crore. The clearance for the Barak case — which will have to get the fi…
LCA Tejas: A 'game changer' for air defence
The induction of the Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas into the Indian Air Force will be a `game changer’ for the country’s air defence preparedness, says Avinash Chander, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister. "Though delayed, the India developed fighter aircraft has emerged as a `contemporary aircraft, as good or in a way better than the competitors in its class", Avinash Chander told Business Line. The LCA signals the country’s indigenous capability to develop a major air-based weapon platform and a step towards achievi…
Indian Army flexes muscles near Pak border
Ahead of Director-General of Military Operations-level talks next week, an elite Strike Corps of the Indian Army carried out wargames near the India-Pakistan border involving over 15,000 troops and over 100 tanks. 15,000 troops of the 36 RAPID (Reorganised Army Plains Division) participated in 'Shahbaaz Ajay' exercise which included over 100 armoured-class vehicles among other advanced artillery and air defence equipment in western sector. "Strike Corps validated new concepts and refined existing battle procedures... A…
India, Japan Coast Guards to exercise off Kochi
Close on the heels of the ongoing Indo-Japan bilateral naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Coast Guard is set to hold a similar exercise with its Japanese counterpart off Kochi in mid-January. The Hindu has learnt that the focus areas of the joint drill will be coastal security, search and rescue and anti-piracy operations besides anti-pollution measures. “As we operate in a multi-naval scenario, it is important to develop interoperability with friendly maritime forces. And, Japan is a close ally,” said an officer. Japa…
Sukhoi Flanker Diplomacy - Win-Win for India in Asia
The induction of advanced Flanker aircraft in Asian air forces is proving to be an unexpected windfall for India. As a maintenance hub for Sukhoi-27/30 Flanker series aircraft and by training foreign fighter pilots, the country earns a substantial amount of money. But more importantly, it strengthens New Delhi’s ties with the region. Neutralising Indonesia :: In October 2013, India agreed to train and support the Indonesian Air Force in operating its fleet of Sukhoi fighters. The Indonesians currently operate both Su-27 and Su-30 jets…
MoD replaces officer handling chopper scam, MMRCA deal
In a sudden development, the Defence Ministry has replaced a Joint Secretary, whose office is in-charge of handling the AgustaWestland chopper scam case and the multi-billion dollar 126 combat aircraft deal of the Air Force. Defence Ministry's Joint Secretary and Acquisition Manager (Air) Upamanyu Chatterjee has been replaced by present J S (Establishment) Rajeev Verma for handling the office, sources said here. Chatterjee, an IAS officer of 1983 batch, was given the additional charge recently after the sudden death of Arun Kumar…
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