AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE

Defence ministry issues RFP for procurement of 156 light combat helicopters

The Indian defence ministry has initiated the procurement process for 156 light combat helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The initial tender has been issued, with 90 for the Army and 66 for the Indian Air Force. The 5.8-tonne twin-engine LCH helicopter is capable of destroying enemy assets in high-altitude regions and has modern stealth characteristics.

ASMI submachine gun from Hyderabad's Lokesh Machines Ltd. poised for Army service

Lokesh Machines Ltd., known for CNC machines, achieves a milestone with its ASMI submachine gun, the first domestically designed and manufactured weapon to be officially inducted into the Indian Army. The ASMI has received orders from the Northern Command for 550 guns and positive feedback from security forces. It has outperformed international competitors in accuracy and reliability, featuring a lightweight design and compatibility with both local and NATO-standard ammunition. Priced under Rs 1 lakh, it is cost-effective and versatile for various military roles, reflecting India's progress in defence manufacturing and self-reliance.

iCET Meet: Doval, Sullivan focus on co-production, co-development, R&D

NSA Ajit Doval and US counterpart Jake Sullivan met for the second iCET meeting, focusing on co-production, co-development, and R&D. They emphasized staying at the forefront of innovation and coordinating with allies for secure technology solutions. They highlighted the need to safeguard sensitive technologies from leaks to countries of concern, without naming China.

Pakistan's ISI honey traps get hyperactive on Indian social media

Pakistan's ISI has been luring Indian defence officials through spies posing as attractive women, with cases like Nishant Agrawal's leak of military secrets to Pakistan coming to light. Pankaj Awasthi, an Uttar Pradesh ATS officer, revealed during Agrawal's trial that 'Sejal' from Pakistan recruited Agrawal through social media, leading to the theft of classified information.

Adani Defence collaborates with UAE-based EDGE Group, signs cooperation agreement

Adani def & aero, EDGE Group sign agreement to set up global platform leveraging capabilities of both firms

Adani Defence & Aerospace and a leading group in the UAE have signed a cooperation agreement to establish a global platform leveraging their capabilities to cater to global and local customers.

Moving beyond Airbus & Boeing: What will it take for India to make its own commercial airliner?

India is already a growing sourcing hub for the global defence and aerospace industry. With government help, this ecosystem can, in time, be developed to support the development of a commercial plane. That is how we made our space programme, experts point out.

Very strong relations with India; co-producing armored vehicles: US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at Shangri La Dialogue

At the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin praised the strong US-India relationship. He talked about advancements in co-producing armoured vehicles and fighter jet engines. He emphasised the shared values between the two nations and predicted continued progress and momentum in the partnership. The strong ties are important for the two countries amid trouble in the Indo-Pacific region.

India's Make-in-India defence projects, include K-9 Vajra Howitzers and fighter jet engines, await post-election approval

India's defence agenda post-elections includes crucial projects like acquiring K-9 Vajra howitzers and Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft engines. These projects, initially scheduled for approval in March, were postponed. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will produce the engines, worth approximately Rs 20,000 crore, aiding in indigenisation efforts. Additionally, the proposal to purchase 100 more K-9 Vajra SP howitzers is under consideration, reflecting the Indian Army's evolving needs. Various defence research and development programs await government clearance, signaling significant advancements in indigenous defence capabilities.

North Korea says its latest satellite launch exploded in flight

North Korea's attempt to launch a new military reconnaissance satellite ended in failure on Monday when a newly developed rocket engine exploded in flight. The launch came just hours after Pyongyang issued a warning that it would try to launch a satellite by June 4. The launch became the nuclear-armed North's latest failure, following two other fiery crashes last year. It successfully placed its first spy satellite in orbit in November.

Spacetech startup GalaxEye tests SAR tech on NAL’s pseudo satellite

GalaxEye CEO Suyash Singh said that the company tested its synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology on a subscale high altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) developed by the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL).

India to begin producing 'T100' carbon fibre in 2.5 years: V K Saraswat

India is set to start manufacturing T100 type carbon fibre within the next 2.5 years, aiming to overcome import restrictions limiting its use in strategic applications. T100 carbon fibre finds applications in defence, aerospace, civil engineering, and more, including hydrogen cylinders, missiles, and bulletproof jackets. The initiative involves collaboration between Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) to promote indigenous production and address licensing challenges faced by foreign nations.

Bet on PSUs only if bullish on India growth story; never in the short-term: Anand Sharma

Anand Sharma discusses the extensive impact of public sector enterprises in various sectors under government control, emphasizing the wide theme of PSU equity with a focus on power, oil, financials, logistics, metals, and mining. Sharma says , PSU equity fund is a thematic fund and should be a smaller part of any investors investable corpus.

Can homemade BrahMos propel India to become Asia's top defence supplier?

India's delivery of BrahMos missiles to the Philippines signifies a significant milestone in its defence export ambitions. The move not only strengthens bilateral ties but also showcases India's technological prowess and commitment to self-reliance in defence manufacturing. As India continues to explore opportunities for defence exports, addressing challenges and enhancing capabilities will be key to realizing its vision of becoming a major defence supplier in the region.

South Korea, Romania pledge defence cooperation amid reports of contract in works

South Korea and Romania have pledged to enhance defense industry cooperation, including joint production of weapons, as South Korea aims to become the world's fourth-largest arms exporter. South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace is reportedly in talks for a 1 trillion won ($725.7 million) deal to supply K9 howitzers to Romania, its first defense contract with the country. Meanwhile, Poland is set to sign a $1.6 billion contract for 70 Chunmoo rocket artillery units from Hanwha Aerospace, as part of its $22 billion arms purchase from South Korea.

Rashtriya Raksha University signs MoU with French Starburst Aerospace

RRU and Starburst Aerospace's MoU aims to enhance aerospace, defence, and security innovation. The 100 million euros venture fund and export support for Indian startups align with the India-France Strategic Partnership, fostering enterprise creation and growth in security and defence sectors.

India delivers first batch of BrahMos missile system to Philippines: Here's all you need to know

South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace to spin off industrial solutions businesses from defence

South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace announced plans to spin off its semiconductor equipment and video surveillance businesses to focus on its defense division. The spin-off will separate chip equipment maker Hanwha Precision Machinery and surveillance camera maker Hanwha Vision into a new industrial solutions company. The move aims to enhance the valuation of its high-growth chip equipment business and streamline its defense-focused strategy. Hanwha Aerospace's market capitalization is expected to benefit from the spin-off, aligning with Hanwha Group's efforts to streamline its defense business.

Want to export jet engines in future, says defence minister Rajnath Singh

Defence minister Rajnath Singh said that he has directed officials to look at all possible collaboration opportunities to make India self-reliant. He referred to the engine manufacturing agreement between GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics for the GE 414 engine that will power future variants of the light combat aircraft (LCA).

IIT Madras partners with Starburst Accelerator SARL to establish €100 Million Aerospace and Defence start-up hub

French aerospace firm Starburst Accelerator SARL collaborates with IIT Madras to establish a startup hub in India with a funding support of €100 million. This partnership aims to enhance the Aerospace, Space, and Defence (ASD) ecosystem in India, focusing on market analysis, technology scouting, and international expansion strategies for Indian startups. The initiative will also create venture capital funds for ASD technology and provide export promotion support for Indian startups to explore international markets.

India-US defence partnership evolved rapidly over the last year: Experts

The U.S.-India relationship emphasizes defense industrial base and security. Events by CUTS International and US-India Strategic Partnership Forum highlight evolving strategic importance, with discussions on technology cooperation and operational engagements in defense sectors.

We are making big investments in defence sector in next 10 years, says Adani Defence CEO

"We are going to make big investments in the defence sector in the next 10 years," he said at NDTV's 'Defence Summit' on Thursday. Rajvanshi, however, did not elaborate on the investments. In a major move, the Adani Defence and Aerospace last month inaugurated two mega facilities to manufacture ammunition and missiles.

Newspace raises $52 mn, the largest equity raise for an Indian defence startup

Newspace Research & Technologies (NRT), a leading drone manufacturer in India's defence sector, has secured $52 million in a bridge round, marking a significant equity raise. The funding includes $33 million in equity from prominent investors and $19 million in debt facilities from SBI’s startup hub and SIDBI. NRT, specializing in swarm drone technology, collaborates with the Ministry of Defence and aims for global expansion, having demonstrated swarm drone operations in Japan.