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Saturday, December 28, 2013

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

STUDSAT-1 - From Inspiration To Realisation

ISRO's PSLV-C15 mission, in 2010, successfully put into orbit, a student-built satellite, the first privately initiated venture in India.


Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Christmas Gift - To Afghanistan, From India, Brothers In Arms

"India is to deliver two Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) HSA 315B Cheetah/Cheetal utility helicopters to Afghanistan in January, regional media reported on 11 December.

The new-build helicopters, which will be used for observation and reconnaissance purposes, are being supplied to the Afghan Air Force (AAF) as part of a wider defence and security co-operation deal between the two countries."

- India to shortly deliver new helos to Afghanistan

Part of a deliberate, calibrated move, be it one with a lot more scope for expansion.

Update: The original news article Janes cited in the article above. Additionally informs of the possibility of stationing Indian trainers in Afghanistan & refurbish a hardware maintenance facility.

Godspeed

Also Read: HAL Executes Export Order For Chetak Helicopters To Suriname - Hands Over 2 Of The 3 Contracted


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Monday, December 09, 2013

Sunday, December 08, 2013

Cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma, Indian Air Force [Video]

A freewheeling interview with India's only Space farer, till now.


Rakesh-Sharma-Ravish-Malhotra-Cosmonaut-Indiathey incorporated Yoga routines into their training regime, in preparation of their Space travel
Speaks about his early life, his selection, & subsequent training in the Soviet Union's Star City for his week-long stay aboard the Salyut-7, and some more. Very interesting. Comes across as one who is grounded, circumspect about his feat, knowing well the context of its occurrence - less Scientific, more Geo-political. This hush-hush mission, prior to the eventual announcement, was codenamed 'Project Pawan'. Carried with him, a Guitar too.
The Bartanian that the interviewer is, could not refrain himself from trying to goad Wing Commander Sharma with some unintelligent poverty porn query. Loved the way the good pilot hits it right out of the ground, with aplomb.
Godspeed

Early Days Of India's Space Programme - Professor UR Rao [Video]

One of the longest serving Chairman of ISRO reminisces about the fledgling days of India's forays into Space, & subsequently.


Friday, December 06, 2013

Thursday, December 05, 2013

Ode To 3D-Printing - "Not Made In China"

So profound has been the impact of this additive form of manufacturing, continually finding new & innovative applications, that poems are now being penned about it.


Wednesday, December 04, 2013

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The Vikramaditya Test-Fires Its Protective Decoy System [Video]

One of the on-board passive systems with which the Indian Navy's newest Aircraft Carrier can, presently, protect itself.


Sunday, November 24, 2013

Indian Navy Kamov Ka-28 Lands On An US Navy Warship

Inter-operability & co-operative engagements undertaken in the recently concluded bi-lateral Naval Exercises.


Saturday, November 23, 2013

....And Comes The Third One Home

Boeing sends the Indian Navy, its third P-8I 'Neptune' long-range maritime surveillance aircraft.


Friday, November 22, 2013

Monday, November 18, 2013

Robotic Critters For Indian Air Force Commandos

The Indian Air Force [IAF] to test the use of highly portable reconnaissance robots for its Special Forces [SF].


Sunday, November 17, 2013

Friday, November 15, 2013

ISRO's Oceansat-2 Helped Predict Cyclone Haiyan

Utilising data collected from 1 of the satellite's payloads to determine the intensity of the calamity, providing advance warning.


Saturday, November 02, 2013

IAF's Fourth C-17A Transporter Flies In [Image Of The Day]

Hi-Res pic of this Boeing-built aircraft, arriving recently, to join the Air Force's existing fleet of 3. Six more to come, estimated by 2014.


Saturday, October 19, 2013

Project EMERALD - Indian Army's Continual Thrust Towards Network-Centricity

Indian Army initiative to implement an Information Technology-enabled eco-system for its Engineering support duties.


Rip Van Winkle - MSM

Blogged - Thursday, August 29, 2013

"Subsequent to recent reports that indicated the Indian Army's [IA] intention to acquire Mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicles [UAV], it recently issued a 'Request For Proposal [RFP' in that regard. While the earlier report suggested that the requirement would be for 20 mini-UAV systems, the number has now been increased to 49."

- Indian Army More Than Doubles Its Mini-UAV Requirements For J&K Operations

The Mainstream Media - October 14-15, 2013

"In the wake of frequent ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC), General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GoC-in-C) Northern Command has issued Request for Proposal (RFP) tender recently for procurement of 49 NK Mini-UAVs for the Army units deployed in Northern Command theatre in J&K."

- Indian Army to buy 49 mini UAVs for J&K

You're welcome!

Godspeed


Wednesday, October 16, 2013

"During the 70s, 80s and 90s, we faced explicit or implicit nuclear threats on several occasions designed to change our foreign policy course," he said.

"Fortunately, our leaders of those times were strong- willed and refused to be deflected. Since we tested and declared our nuclear weapons in 1998, we have not faced any such threats of nuclear blackmail," he said.

- No threats of nuclear blackmail post-Pokhran: NSA

You know you've done the right thing, when an opposition appointee, a powerful figure  at that, can not help but speak in acknowledgement of the positive outcomes of your action.


Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Agni-series Of India's Ballistic Missiles

The tip of India's Nuclear deterrence spear.


NASR Missile - A Cold War Discard For Future Battlefield Scenario [Hatf-IX]

Islamic Republic of pakistan engaged in deploying a weapon for a scale of battle India has no intention of obliging it with, but one with the potential to imperil the West.


Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Monday, October 07, 2013

Havaldar Mohammad Razzaq, On The Kargil War

Narrating to visitors, story of the campaign India undertook to evict the pakistan Army, & the supreme sacrifices Indian Soldiers made to achieve objectives.


Saturday, September 28, 2013

Friday, September 27, 2013

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Manned F-16 Fighter Begins New Life As An UAV, The QF-16

Boeing recently tested-flown an old F-16 aircraft with no on-board human pilot. Extremely cool video resulted.


Friday, September 20, 2013

1st Ever Flight Of The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle [PSLV] [This Day, That Year]

September 20, 1993, saw India's PSLV streak through the skies for the very first time. Will commemorate its Silver Jubilee mission, this year, with a trip to Mars.


These Bombs

How many did you count?


Sunday, September 15, 2013

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

CVRDE Developing Retractable Landing Gears For An Unnamed Indian UAV

In all likelihood, being developed for the Rustom-II UAV, for which, however, a separate notification had been issued just a few months back.


Bhabha, Ramanna & The Men Who Nurtured India's Nuclear Dream

"when Homi Bhabha of India was killed in the airplane crash on Mont Blanc on January 24, the world lost one of its greatest citizens"


Sunday, September 08, 2013

Happy Defence Day, pakistan [Belated Hi Sahi]

Intended to post this on the "Defence" Day itself. Then something good promise of something good happened offline that very day. Cloud 9. Post delayed.


Thursday, September 05, 2013

Chinese Views On Indian Space And Defence Programmes - An American Perspective

They contend that India's development programmes, in the area of Aircraft Carriers, Remote sensing satellites & Ballistic Missile Defence [BMD], are more advanced, vis-à-vis their own undertakings.


Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Monday, September 02, 2013

Reality Check - pakistan

In midst of the escalating attempts to engrain the narrative, in India, that the new civilian "leadership" of pakistan genuinely means peace, comes a counter-narrative that challenges this assertion, citing present trend along with antecedents of the near past,

"....the manner in which Pakistan society is getting radicalised with the liberal elite marginalised or co-opted for their own survival. The discourse even among the liberals is that Pakistan is as much a victim of terror as India, conveniently overlooking that Pakistan is a victim of its own demons and India is a victim of Pakistani terrorism.

It is an extremely frightening prospect that today we have a Prime Minister in Pakistan who says he was clueless that his Generals were pushing his country towards an Armageddon.

Therefore, the questions that remain are whether or not Sharif is now a changed man and seriously intends to carry the peace process forward, or is this merely a ruse to buy time as Pakistan attempts to first strengthen its position in Afghanistan"

- If ever the twain should meet...

Vikram Sood, precise & prescient. It would benefit to pay heed to his words

Godspeed

Also Read: America confirms USS Enterprise [was] present in pakistani waters


U.S. Defence Department Website Uses Theme Designed By An Indian

The site in question is the 'Armed With Defence' blog - science.dodlive.mil - maintained by the U.S. 'Department of Defense', as part of its awareness & outreach efforts.

US-DoD-Blog-Theme-Cropped-Joined-Annotated-01-JPG

As seen in the screenshot above, the theme for the blog has been designed by one Satish Gandham, an IIT Graduate [interview].

Fine endorsement. Good going mate.

Godspeed

Also Read: America’s Airborne Laser Weapon programme - Gigantic Indian connection [Trivia]


Saturday, August 31, 2013

Navy's P-8I 'Neptune' Aircraft Dropping Bombs From Its Internal Weapon Bay [Video]

In addition to activity monitoring, these Indian Navy aircrafts are also capable of "influencing" them, with its payload of on-board firepower.


Friday, August 30, 2013

Kamov Ka-31 Helicopter - Indian Navy's Airborne Surveillance Platform [Photographs]

These Soviet designed, Russian built Helicopters, in service with the Indian Navy, are presently the sole ship-borne dedicated surveillance platform.


BAe Sea Harrier Aircraft Of The Indian Navy [Hi-Res Photographs]

A Short Take-Off & Vertical Landing [STOVL] aircraft, currently flying off the Indian Navy's [IN] Aircraft Carrier, INS Viraat [R22].


Sarang & Surya Kiran - Indian Air Force's [IAF] Aerial Demonstration Teams

Some cool, hi-res images showing the much acclaimed arms of the Indian Air Force [IAF] in action.


IAF's Antonov An-32 Medium Lift Transport Aircraft [Photographs]

The workhorse of the Indian Air Force's [IAF] mobility wing.


Miscellaneous Indian Air Force & Civilian Aircraft Photographs

Some hi-resolution pictures of various aircrafts currently flown by the Indian Air Force, or being developed for military & civilian applications.


Thursday, August 29, 2013

Indian Navy Goes Shopping For Tablet Computers

The Tablet PC must have an Ethernet port & at least 4 USB ports.


Indian Army More Than Doubles Its Mini-UAV Requirements For J&K Operations

Number could more than triple, if it invokes option to place follow-on orders for these mini-UAVs. Final tally may surpass five-fold increase.


Sunday, August 25, 2013

Sukhoi Su-30MKI Fighters In The UK [Hi-Res Pictures]

Russian-origin, Indian-operated aircrafts, equipped with French & Israeli sub-systems, flying across the skies of Britain.


IAF's Ilyushin Il-76 Transporter & Il-78 Aerial Refuelling Aircrafts In Waddington, UK [Hi-Res Pictures]

Indian Air force [IAF], with its contingent of Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters, Ilyushin Il-76 Transporter & Il-78 Tanker aircraft, took part in this Indo-British Air Exercise, some time back.


Thursday, August 22, 2013

Unblocked By The Indian Army

Purely randomly, paid the Indian Army's Twitter handle a visit, right now, & clicked on the 'Follow' button. Viola! blocked no more.

Indian-Army-Twitter-ADGPI-Unblock-BMP-JPG

Background to this post - 01 & 02

All I want to say is, thank you.

Godspeed

Also Read: Women officers of the Indian Army successfully climbed the Mount Everest


Quote Of The Day

Posting without comment.


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Successful Flight Test Validation Of The Very First Indian Strap-On Booster Motors

A critical element of India's Satellite Launch Vehicles.


When Even The Founding Father Of pakistan's Nuclear Dream Couldn't Stop Himself From Praising His Indian Counterpart

Subsequent DNA tests, however, revealed lack of Islamic genes in him, as defined in pakistan. Hence, recognition for fathering the project was awarded to a different, Sharia-compliant Halaal individual, whom the Time magazine called the 'Merchant of Menace'.


'The Bicycle Era' Of India's Space Journey [2015.08.18: Fixed Broken URL]

Pedalling its way to the "Space Club", quite literally.


Sunday, August 18, 2013

HAL Proposing Upgradation Of IAF's Avro HS-748 Transport Aircrafts?

Better engines, advanced auto-pilot systems, among others, being looked into, for this 50s aircraft. What, then, happens to the program to replace it?


Thursday, August 15, 2013

Flight Suit For India's Manned Space Mission

Preparations underway to safely propel the second Indian into outer Space, the first from within the country.


Sunday, August 11, 2013

Preparing The Fuel To Power India's Nuclear Programme [Video]

Extracting fissile Uranium & Thorium from the stable Monazite-rich sands found on the beaches of Kerala & Tamil Nadu.


Friday, August 09, 2013

The Sun [Infographic]

Beautifully prepared illustrations, highlighting some key aspects about the sole Star of the Solar System.


Tuesday, August 06, 2013

Monday, July 29, 2013

INS Vikramaditya Testing Its ZiF-121 Launcher - Addendum

The previously unidentified projectile, seen launched from the Indian Navy's Aircraft Carrier, INS Vikramaditya, identified.


Friday, July 12, 2013

Moron Of The Week

Had a good laugh this morning, on being contacted by a concerned "Indian" of evidently "superior intellect", accusing those heading Govt-run R&D labs of being insane.


T-50 PAK-FA Updates

Some interesting updates regarding development of this fifth generation fighter aircraft.


Thursday, July 11, 2013

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse [NEMP] Simulator For DRDO's VRDE Facility

Testing electronic & electric circuitry's ability to withstand one of the fallout of a Nuclear detonation.


Friday, July 05, 2013

Dr. Brahm Prakash - Father Of Nuclear Materials

"The Uranium fuel developed by Brahm Prakash and his team was found to be even better than the Canadian fuel"


Thursday, July 04, 2013

The Vikramaditya Has Set Sail Again

"If all goes well, the Indian tri-colour will be flying atop the INS Vikramaditya this November, after which it will start its journey to India"


HAL To Reconfigure The ALH Dhruv As A Dedicated Air Ambulance

Expanding the scope of this indigenously developed helicopter's utility.


Thursday, June 27, 2013

Blocked In China - Me!!

Click on the image, below, to check if your website can be accessed from Mainland China. They seem to have blocked mine.


Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Indian Navy's 1st Hawk AJT Performs Its Maiden Flight

The first of these 17 Advanced Jet Trainers [AJT] is slated to join the Navy's aviation wing in July, next month.


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Who Is He? [Pop Quiz] [ANSWERED]

Can you identify the gentleman in this picture? The prize for getting the right answer - pop up your collar & pat yourself on the back.


Saturday, June 22, 2013

DRDO Looks For Partner To Build & Maintain The Indigenous AEW&C Systems

The Centre for Air Borne Systems [CABS] seeks participation, open to the private sector, for building & maintaining the country's fleet of indigenous Airborne Early Warning & Control [AEW&C] systems.


Sunday, June 16, 2013

Superb Video Footage Of The LCA Tejas Flying During 'Iron Fist 2013'

Indian Air Force's [IAF] recently concluded Exercise 'Iron Fist 2013' saw the participation of this indigenously developed aircraft for the very first time.


DRDO Lab Builds an Electric-Powered Motorcycle! [WTF]

Joining a long list of products, developed by the myriad of DRDO-run labs, totally unrelated to their mandate, is yet another product, the outcome of an exercise in irrelevance.


Saturday, June 15, 2013

Space-based Assets For Disaster Management

The use of the Indian Space Research Organisation's [ISRO] assets in Space to help efforts to save precious lives during disasters.


Thursday, June 13, 2013

IAF's First C-17 'Globemaster III' Transport Aircraft Set To Arrive Home Soon

The first of these Boeing-built heavy-lift aircraft took off from from the U.S. this Tuesday & is expected to reach India on June 17.


Wednesday, June 12, 2013

An IAF Jaguar Kitted To Deliver PWNAGE! [Image Of The Day]

Indian Air Force [IAF] SEPECAT Jaguar [Shamsher] aircraft armed in its primary mission configuration - deep-penetration strikes.


Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Yeh Kya Hain?! [Pop Quiz] - [Answered]

Left me totally gobsmacked. Can you identify the motorcycle & its maker? Pat yourself on the back if you get the right answer.


Monday, June 10, 2013

India's Space Programme - A Socially Responsible Endeavour

Maintaining a YouTube Channel with a special focus on Science & Technology, one often comes across comments posted by a too clever by half individual.


Friday, June 07, 2013

India To Construct Semi-Underground Air Defence Installation At Its Airbase Bordering Tibet

Unperturbed by China's recent belligerence, India appears set to proceed with its much-needed/delayed plans of upgrading its infrastructures along its border with Tibet.


Thursday, June 06, 2013

Nuclear Fusion Power Plants To Meet India's Electricity Requirements

"the fusion power plant has to be realized by 2050 so that it can reduce the carbon emission considerably and also makes an impact on the long-term Indian energy scenario."


Monday, June 03, 2013

"One day news spread that government was doing evaluative work to see what kind of monetary help could be offered to Pandits. At Shastri Nagar (in a school, I think) was set-up a make-shift office of a government representative doing this evaluation. Pandits were happy that finally the government, their 'Center', was doing something for them.....Next day, this form was duly submitted in that office. Some days later, just as suddenly the office had opened, it closed. The man with the forms was gone. It was much later that the Pandits realized that the man was probably just a student working on some PHD."

- First Refuge, 1990


Sunday, April 07, 2013

KALI - Towards India's Future Directed-Energy Weapon System

The KALI-5000 electron accelerator is currently the most powerful one in operation in India, generating beams of up to 40 Gigawatts power. Comparison: Commercial power plant ratings are stated in terms of Megawatts, [1/1000]th of a Gigawatt.


Friday, April 05, 2013

Capture Of The Haji Pir Pass [Video]

One of the finest victories claimed by the Indian Army, one that was reversed in post-war diplomatic parleys.


Sunday, March 24, 2013

Suggested Weekend Reading

A collection of writings related to India's socio-political issues that made headlines this week.


Submarine INS Sindhurakshak [S63] On Its Way Back Home [Photographs]

The Indian Navy's recently upgraded INS Sindhurakshak, a modified Kilo-class submarine, making port calls at different countries on its way back to India from Russia.


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

INS Vikramaditya Out At Sea

Extended video footage showing the Soviet Aircraft-carrying Cruiser 'Admiral Gorshkov' turned Indian Navy Aircraft Carrier 'INS Vikramaditya' on its first sea trial, last year.


Sunday, March 17, 2013

As scathing & hurtful as the tone of this article is, there is great merit to what has been said in it,

"....it’s time we woke up to the fact that though we claim to have pride as Indians, we don’t have the courage to uphold it or fight for it, just like how while we claim to have come from a bi-zillion years of culture loaded with morals we ever so rarely display them."

"Now let us look at how the Italians have handled their marines. The day the marines were arrested, the Italian government made sure they got bail, they were put up in a guest house instead of jail, they were well-fed and of course in keeping with their Italian need for fashion, well-clothed and well-cooled with fancy sunglasses."

"Our leaders are so used to cutting deals and compromising within the nation and in corridors of power that they use the same methodology in international politics, embarrassing themselves and us."

- ‘India never had guts; so will never be glorious’


Prototype French Rafale A01 Fighter Aircraft At The 1988 British Farnborough Airshow [Photographs]

It was the second consecutive appearance of this Dassault-built Technology Demonstrator aircraft at the iconic British air show.


Weekend Linkages [Suggested Reading]

A mixed bag of interesting topics to spend time on a weekend, reading.


Saturday, March 16, 2013

Spotted: China's First Aircraft Carrier At Its New Homeport [Image Of The Day]

Satellite image showing the sole Aircraft Carrier China operates, a Russian-origin Kuznetsov-class vessel, recently christened Liaoning, berthed at what has been said to be its home base in China's North-East.


HAL Looking For Partners To Develop And Build Unmanned Aerial Vehicles [UAV]

With an already over-flowing work-order, delayed projects & running an operation that, in general, doesn't evoke enough confidence in collaborators, the state's sole Aerospace manufacturer is set to dip its fingers in yet another pie - UAVs.


Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Monday, March 11, 2013

Pilatus PC-7 Basic Trainer Aircraft Of The Indian Air Force [IAF] [Photographs]

112 of these Swiss-built aircrafts would eventually be in service with the Indian Air Force [IAF], serving as the Stage-I aircraft to train its cadets, replacing the current HPT-32 Deepak aircraft.


Sunday, March 10, 2013

Sindhughosh-Class Submarine INS Sindhurakshak [S63] In The UK [Indian Navy]

The recently upgraded Russian-origin Kilo-Class derivative submarine stopped at the Portsmouth port in the UK, in February, on its way back to India, upon completions of its upgrades in Russia.


Saturday, March 09, 2013

DRDO Seeks Indian Industry Participation To Develop SATCOM Data Link For The Rustom-II UAV

"The Data Link System is one of the major systems of UAV that is based on Digital Communications Techniques and provides full duplex communication between UAV & Ground Control Station."


Friday, March 08, 2013

Life At The Officers Training Academy [OTA], Chennai [Suggested Weekend Reading]

Coffee table picture book capturing life at one of the most well-respected training institutions in the country, grooming cadets to join the Indian Army as Short Service Commissioned [SSC] officers.


Tuesday, March 05, 2013

"During one trip, [NSA Chief] Jones went completely off script and promised Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Pakistan's top military man, a civilian nuclear deal in exchange for Pakistan's cooperation. Panic struck the White House."

- The Inside Story of How the White House Let Diplomacy Fail in Afghanistan

Whatever may have been the merit, or lack of it, going by the article above, to Obama's undermining of Richard Holbrooke's efforts in the Pak-Af region, India quite rightly & skilfully torpedoed his yearnings to become a player in resolving the issue involving the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir.

Godspeed


Monday, March 04, 2013

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle [PSLV] - How It Functions

An interactive, animated model, highlighting important sub-systems of India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle [PSLV] & their operations.


Saturday, March 02, 2013

India's Radar Imaging Satellite Programme - The Complete Lowdown

Significance of the development & launch of a Synthetic Aperture Radar [SAR]-based satellite, one that India has developed itself, can't be stated enough - India entered an all new realm of Space-based surveillance.


Thursday, February 28, 2013

HJT-16 'Kiran' Aircraft With Its Weapons Complement [Image Of The Day]

An uncommon photograph - India's basic trainer aircraft along with the weapons it can carry on its hardpoints.


Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Indian Listening Station In Oman Monitoring Pakistan's Naval Communications [RUMINT]

As claimed by the France-based, privately-operated, global intelligence gathering organisation, Indigo Publications, in its 'Intelligence Online' publication.


Tuesday, February 26, 2013

IIT-Delhi Professors Propose 1500 Per Cent Increase In Speed Of Submarine Communication

Very Low Frequency [VLF]-based communication forms the current backbone for data transfer to Indian Navy's Submarine fleet from land.


Sunday, February 24, 2013

Exercise Iron Fist 2013 [Photographs]

Pictures from the Indian Air Force's [IAF] recently concluded day-night demonstration exercise 'Iron Fist 2013'.


Saturday, February 23, 2013

IIPM - Lightning Rod For Angst Against "The System"

Sure, a free-floating IIPM, from all accounts, is mediocrity personified. But, is it any worse than numerous other institutions that have state recognition?


Saturday, February 16, 2013

Automated Take-Off From Aircraft Carriers For India's Naval Light Combat Aircraft [LCA-Navy]

Trials to evaluate an 'Automatic Ramp Take-Off' system would be carried out shortly at the Shore-Based Test Facility [SBTF], making it, perhaps, the first ski-jump aircraft in the world with this feature.


Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Access Google's Cache Of Any Web Page With A Simple Click

While "Interwebbing" each day, I often check up on the cached version of a given page, as last indexed by Google's spiders.


India To Induct The Twin-Seat T-50 PAK-FA Fighter Variant After All, It Appears

Director of the JSC Sukhoi Design Bureau, Mikhail Pogosyan's statement to reporters, while attending the Aero India 2013 air show, seemed to imply this.


Friday, February 08, 2013

Transfer Of Some Critical Technology Being Negotiated For As Part Of India's MMRCA Contract [Illustration]

The upwards of $10 billion USD deal with France for the acquisition of the Rafale fighter aircraft would involve local assembly, manufacturing offsets & Transfer of Technology [ToT].


Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Kaveri Engine And The LCA Tejas Programmes - PUNK'D By The Indian Media

Had written this post, little earlier, when this issue was in the news. Never got to posting it then. Just didn't feel like. Doing so now, despite the phase having passed by.


Unmanned, Aircraft Carrier-borne Indian Aircraft! - Floating Trial Balloons?

For the very first time, a high ranking Indian official makes mentions of this project in public.


Saturday, February 02, 2013

4 Saryu-Class Offshore Patrol Vessel Of The Indian Navy [Image Of The Day]

Satellite image showing the latest class of Indian Navy's [IN] Offshore Patrol Vessel [OPV] all at one place.


Fast Breeder Reactors 1 And 2 - Improvement In Construction And Engineering

Even as India is building its first large-scale Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor [PFBR], of indigenous design, work on its successor, the Fast Breeder Reactor [FBR], with improved features, is also underway.


Friday, February 01, 2013

India's Airborne Early Warning And Control [AEWAC] System In The Air [Photograph Of The Day]

An aerial picture showing the Embraer ERJ 145I aircraft, modified for DRDO's AEWACS programme, performing its maiden flight in Brazil


Thursday, January 31, 2013

Aerial Ad Warfare - JAS 39 Gripen & The Eurofighter Typhoon

Two ads released by the respective aircraft manufacturers - the Eurofighter Typhoon & Saab JAS 39 Gripen [NG].


INS Vikramaditya, Indian Navy Aircraft Carrier [Photographs]

"Nayan Tarse, Nayan Tarse, Taras Na Mile, Nayan Tarse

Nayan Tarse, Nayan Tarse, Dono Se Bahe Dhaar, Nayan Tarse

Haare Yeh, Path Nihar, Nayan Tarse Tarse Tarse Re"


Monday, January 28, 2013

French Rafale M Fighter Operating Off Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle [Photographs]

Breath-taking collection of pictures showing the Carrier-capable version of the French aircraft operating off its sole Aircraft Carrier, the Charles de Gaulle.


Upgraded INS Sindhurakshak, Indian Navy's Kilo-Class [Sindhughosh-Class] Submarine [Video]

Indian Navy's Russian-origin Sindhughosh-class submarine, the INS Sindhurakshak [S63], has successfully undergone upgrades in Russia & is set to sail for India tomorrow [January 29 2012].


Sunday, January 27, 2013

C-130J 'Super Hercules' Aircraft Of The Indian Air Force [IAF] [Photographs]

A total of at least 12 of these medium-lift transport aircrafts are expected to be inducted into service with the Indian Air Force [IAF] - 6 have been delivered, so far.


Boeing's Official Photograph: Indian Air Force's C-17A Transport Aircraft In Flight [Ultra Hi-Res]

Boeing provided this photograph as part of its media kit to the press, while announcing the maiden flight of the Indian Air Force's [IAF] C-17A transport aircraft.


Saturday, January 26, 2013

Indian Military Hardware Displayed At The 2013 Republic Day Parade [Photographs]

A glimpse of military hardware & weapon systems used by the Indian Armed Forces.


Smoking The Peace Pipe [Statutory Warning: Smoking Is Injurious To Health]

In his latest column, Lt. Col. [retd] Ajai Shukla Sir makes the case for a peace process between India & Pakistan, ultimately leading to peace - a goal as pious & virtuous as global Nuclear disarmament itself.


Friday, January 25, 2013

IAF's C-17 Globemaster III Flown To The U.S. Edwards Air Force Base For Testing [Photographs]

The Indian Air Force's [IAF] first C-17 transport aircraft would undergo tests there, as specifically asked for by the end-user.


Fourth T-50 PAK-FA Prototype Aircraft Undertakes Maiden Long Distance Flight [Photographs]

The latest prototype of the Russian fifth generation fighter undertook, what has been described by its designers as the longest flight journey.


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

National Security And 'Nuclear Deterrence' In The Indian Subcontinent

I'm constantly amazed by the wide range of topics columnist Aakar Patel chooses to write about. A columnist inside whom, perhaps, resides the spirits of Leonardo da Vinci's fellow Renaissance man, Athanasius Kircher1.


Friday, January 18, 2013

Thursday, January 17, 2013

India And Vietnam Encouraging Joint Scientific Research - Seeking Your Proposals And Ideas

Joint partnership & co-operation between two nations with shared values, common interests and similar threat perceptions.


Inspector Sujata Patil, You Were Anguished, Feeling Helpless But, You're NOT Communal

"Bhool Gaye Woh Ramzan, Bhool Gaye Woh Insaaniyat" Translation: "They've forgotten [the Muslim festival of] Ramzan [Ramadan], They forgotten humanity"

 

[In response] Arif Naseem Khan, minorities affairs minister: "This is shocking. Its very sad to hear that a police officer is promoting communalism."

 

[In response] Muslim "Activist" Ameen Mustafa Idrisi: "We want a case of spreading communal hatred registered; if they fail to do so, we will file a PIL"


Tuesday, January 15, 2013

China's Xian Y-20 Military Transport Aircraft - An Appraisal

Article from the latest issue of the 'Flight International' magazine, summarising news of the latest revelation of China's military programme - its Y-20 transport aircraft.


India Set To Transfer A Newly Built Dornier Do-228 Aircraft To Seychelles

The Dornier Do-228 Transport Aircraft, made by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited [HAL], will soon be transferred for operation by the Seychelles Air Force.


Saturday, January 12, 2013

Indian Navy Warship Entering Shanghai, China [Image Of The Day]

Old, yet so cool - Indian Navy's Shivalik-Class Frigate, INS Shivalik [F47], making a port call to China, as part of the Navy's annual deployment to the Asia-Pacific region.


Friday, January 11, 2013

China's Satellite & Missile Tracking Ship Alongside Its Latest Type 052D Destroyer [Image Of The Day]

Satellite imagery showing China's Yuan Wang 5 Space Tracking ship alongside what is believed to be a Type 052D Destroyer, as China gets ready to conduct an ASAT test.


Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Honeywell's F125IN Engine To Upgrade India's Jaguar Fighter Aircrafts [Video]

Indian Air Force's [IAF] SEPECAT Jaguar Fighter Aircrafts require a more powerful engine to power its upgraded capabilities. Honeywell Aerospace is the only contender with a solution - its F125IN Engine.


Tuesday, January 08, 2013

SPOTTED: Another Airframe Of IAF's AgustaWestland AW101 VIP Helicopter

This airframe, with British serial number ZR343, is the fifth helicopter under construction, that would eventually be inducted into the Indian Air Force [IAF].


Monday, January 07, 2013

Sunday, January 06, 2013

Il-78MKI Aerial Refuelling Tanker Aircrafts Of The Indian Air Force [IAF]

Article covering the Indian Air Force's [IAF] operation of the Russian-origin IL-78 MKI Aerial Tanker Aircraft.


Saturday, January 05, 2013

Indo-Japanese Defence Co-Operation

"India is located in the center of sea lanes which connect Japan with the Middle East and Africa, making it an extremely important country in a geopolitical sense for Japan"


Thursday, January 03, 2013

IAF Mirage 2000 Fighters Hooking-Up With An Il-78 Tanker To Perform Mid-Air Refuelling

Indian Air Force's [IAF] French-origin Mirage 2000 fighters performing Aerial refueling, from a Russian-origin Il-78 tanker aircraft.


400 Years Of The Indian Navy [Illustration]

Roots of present-day Indian Navy can be traced back to the establishment of the 'Honourable East India Company Marines' in 1612. Thus, 2012 marked its 400th anniversary.


Wednesday, January 02, 2013

"Modern equivalent of Leonardo da Vinci": Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha

Words of Nobel Laureate Sir C.V. Raman of the man widely recognised as the 'Architect of India's Atomic Energy programme'.