Let-know

Post by Let-know Courtesy : "Eurasian Times" French Rafale jets, Eurofighter Typhoons and Russian SU-35s could be competing for Indonesian defence contracts. Indonesian defence minister made quite some headlines recently when he indicated that Jakarta wants to buy the entire fleet of Eurofighter Typhoons from Austria. (Picture is only for representation) JakartaPost citing Austrian newspaper  Die Presse  reported that Indonesian defence minister Prabowo Subianto had sent a letter to his Austrian counterpart Klaudia Tanner offering to purchase the country’s entire fleet of 15 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets. According to reports, the letter was dated July 10 and arrived at the Austrian Defense Ministry late last week,  Die Presse  reported. The Austrian Defense Ministry, however, declined to comment on the Indonesian offer, the newspaper said. “As I was always impressed by European technologies and know-how, I would kindly ask your support for the following...

Post by Let-know Courtesy : "Eurasian Times" China’s hostile behaviour towards almost every country in the world including India, US, Japan, Australia is seen as a deviation from Deng Xiaoping’s  tao guang yang hui  strategy that signifies a moderate external   policy of “hiding claws”. (picture in only for representation) Chinese President Xi Jinping had several confrontations in the last few months. With a raging border conflict with India, a cold war with the US that has resulted in several sanctions and its deteriorating relations with the UK and Australia, China has earned a global condemnation for its hostile policies. However, Xi Jinping has shifted this course towards China becoming a “great power”. Xi’s ambitious strategy allowed China to economically and technologically compete with the US but it also led to serious confrontations especially during Trump’s regime, that sees China’s rising growth as a threat. “This changes the whole narrative of China’s intention...

Post by Let-know Courtesy : "Eurasian Times" The Indian media has been splashing the news about Rafale jets reaching Ambala (Haryana) and India negotiating the purchase of deadly Hammer missile from France. This deal is being signed by the Indian Army under the ‘Emergency Powers’ due to ongoing India-China border conflict. (picture is only for representation) It is being speculated that India is buying Hammer missiles, which range from 60 to 70 kilometers, in view of the ongoing tension from China. News agency ANI quoted government sources as saying that despite the short notice, France has agreed to supply the missiles to India. “The order for the HAMMER missiles is being processed and the French authorities have agreed to supply them to us at a short notice for our Rafale combat aircraft,” government sources told ANI. In view of the urgent requirement for these missiles by the Air Force, the French authorities would be delivering the missiles to India from the existing stoc...

Post by Let-know Courtesy : "Eurasian Times" India is looking to secure a defence deal with Israel as the border dispute with China continues. India is contemplating to purchase emergency military equipment from key allies including Israel, France, Russia and the US.  (picture is only for representation) India and Israel have vowed to strengthen military cooperation. The announcement to acquire vital military equipment comes in the midst of India’s border row with China. Earlier, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephonic conversation with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Gantz. The strengthening of bilateral defence ties was the focus of the conversation as India tries to secure a deal with Israel for acquiring critical defence equipment. Singh updated Gantz on the situation along the contested Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, where Indian and China have lately failed to make a breakthrough in reducing border tensions despite intense negotiations at the militar...

Post by Let-know Courtesy : "Eurasian Times" A full-scale or limited war between India and China, despite several rounds of intense negotiations, cannot be ruled out yet. Experts have consistently compared the Indian Army against the Chinese PLA troops (picture is only for representation) The Indian Army divides its ground and air strike forces facing China into Northern, Central and Eastern Commands. The Air Force is organized into Western, Central and Eastern Air Commands. The total available Army strike forces near China’s border areas are assessed to be around 225,000 personnel according to BCSIA reports. This incorporates the roughly 3,000 personnel attached to a T-72 tank brigade stationed in Ladakh and the estimated 1,000 personnel attached to a Brahmos cruise missile regiment in Arunachal Pradesh.  For the Army, this total near China’s border areas is divided into about 34,000 troops in the Northern Command; 15,500 troops in the Central Command; and 175,500 troops in ...

Post by Let-know Courtesy : "Eurasian Times" The recent clashes between Indian and Chinese soldiers have led to country-wide calls for New Delhi to retaliate. So far, the Modi government has countered Beijing via the economic means and there are growing voices from the nationalistic players to play the  Taiwan and Tibet card.  (Picture is only for representation) After the death of 20 Indian soldiers in Galwan Valley, anger against China has surged dramatically. While some have demanded to militarily retaliate against China, others have called for an economic boycott of Chinese products. So far India has chosen the latter. However, as the border stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops stretches into its 11th week, increasingly vociferous voices are now urging New Delhi to rethink its backing for Beijing’s cherished One-China policy and use Tibet and Taiwan as diplomatic leverage to restrain China. under the One-China policy, both mainland China and Taiwan are parts of the...

Courtesy : "NGWT" Post by Let-know ( CGI of AMCA by a fan, Picture is only for representation) The Indian Air Force (IAF) is working feverishly with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Aeronautical Development Agency to develop the indigenous Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The modular design of the fifth-generation twin-engine single-seat aircraft is said to be finalised. ‘That is what we are putting our energies into,’ ACM Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria said recently. More than most of his predecessors, Bhadauria has supported the need to focus on indigenous design and manufacturing. Six squadrons of AMCAs are planned initially. The first flight is expected in 2024-25, followed by trials and tests. It will be in full production by 2029, to be followed by the Mk2 version by 2036. Amid the ‘Make in India’ mantra, HAL could soon announce a JV along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and a private company to progress the AMCA progra...

Courtesy : "The Hindu" Post by Let-know The US and India are negotiating a co-development programme for the air-launched unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a top Pentagon official said Tuesday. I would like to highlight a very exciting project we are currently negotiating — air-launched unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV will be a co-development programme between the US Air Force Research Labs, the Indian Air Force, India’s Defense Research and Development Organisation, and an Indian startup company, said Ellen M Lord, Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment. (Picture is only for representation) "Addressing the India Idea’s Summit organised by the US-India Business Council, the top Pentagon official said that the US Air Force research labs have signed a cooperative research and development agreement with the Indian startup to support the development of the air-launched UAV". The Pentagon’s point person for the ambitious US-India Defence Technology and Tra...

courtesy : "Eurasian Times" Post by Let-know India is eagerly awaiting the first batch of Rafale jets from France. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has confirmed that these “game-changer” aircraft could be put into action straight away against China and would use the weaponry that the stealth, fifth-generation F-35 aircraft are using.  (Picture is only for representation) According to reports, IAF could deploy its new Rafale fighter jets in the Ladakh sector as part of India’s overarching plan to strengthen its military position in the region, where Indian and Chinese forces are locked in a tense border confrontation and disengagement has turned out to be a challenging process. “The target is to ensure that the Rafale is immediately operationalised. The IAF is already mission deployed in wake of the tensions at the LAC. The aircraft is a big boost to the firepower capability and in a way a morale booster also,” said a source in the defence establishment. The weapons package for the...

Courtesy : "The Print" Post by Let-know Defence ministry letter says selection board will be scheduled when all ‘affected’ SSC women officers exercise their option, complete requisite documentation. (Picture is only for representation) Five months after the Supreme Court granted permanent commission to women Army officers, the Ministry of Defence has issued the formal Government Sanction Letter (GSL) to Short Service Commissioned (SSC) women officers in all 10 streams of the Army. This includes the Army Air Defence, Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, and Intelligence Corps, in addition to Judge and Advocate General and the Army Educational Corps, where women officers already had permanent commission. The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment on 17 February, had granted permanent commission to women officers in the Army irrespective of their number of years of service. The women officer-litigants ha...

Courtesy : "ANI, NGWT" Post by Let-know The significance of DRDO’s new light, powerful drone ‘Bharat’ for surveillance at LAC. The crisis at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh could drag on for weeks if not months as there has been no further disengagement along the border. Accordingly, the build-up on the Indian side of the LAC may have to continue as the People’s Liberation Army seems to be in no mood to go back to the position it was in April. With thousands of Chinese troops and hi-tech weaponry also amassed on the other side of the LAC, the tense stalemate continues. In such a situation, the danger of a miscalculation or a small incident spiraling out of control cannot be completely ruled out. Meanwhile, as the rainy season gives way to autumn, it will turn quite cold in these parts in the treacherous Himalayan ranges through which the LAC passes. For all these reasons, the Indian military will have to up its surveillance game along the long border. This is where...

Courtesy : "The Print" Post by Let-know India needs every penny during the Covid crisis. So, defence bureaucracy must let armed forces raise their own money and not divert all resources when events like Galwan occur . (Picture is only for representation) Ever since the confrontation with China in the mountains of Ladakh, and the threat of escalation to war,  retired armed forces officers  have been calling for an increase in capabilities of their respective Services, and advocating new strategies to ward off an aggressive enemy. The Narendra Modi government reacted with the usual firefighting tactics by approving  arms procurement  worth $5.5 billion, including new aircraft from Russia, and  fast-tracking  decision-making to allow each Service to purchase systems it requires urgently. All these are welcome moves, at a critical time. But the point is this — China may or may not have encroached on Indian ...