'The aircraft is expected to be ready for rollout between January and March 2026, and to fly by the end of the year.'
'An HAL-private sector tieup is a possibility.'
'We will see whether there were losses or not, and whether the war aims were achieved. When the truth comes out, some may well be surprised,' says Dassault CEO.
While the peacetime stranding of a foreign fighter jet is rare in India, the F-35 -- a military asset of a foreign country with which India has strategic relations -- was being guarded by the Central Industrial Security Force, the agency responsible for security at Indian airports.
India fully utilised its military modernisation budget in 2024-2025 -- the first time in five years -- and signed a record Rs 2 trillion defence contracts.
'Make-in-India played a key role in India's effective action against terrorism during Operation Sindoor.'
'The devastating Indian Air Force strikes on the night of May 9-10 exposed Pakistan's vulnerabilities.' 'If these had continued, it would have further degraded Pakistan's ability to continue with air operations.'
'With a military-led strategy to counter terrorism emanating from Pakistan, India has clearly signalled that it would respond decisively to future terrorist threats.'
Private and public defence players can bid to participate in the stealth fighter development programme independently, as a joint venture, or as consortia.
'Whatever we do, the purpose will be to re-establish deterrence.'
The death of a young pilot and three fighter jet crashes prompt the question -- should there be more simulation training?
The Squad seeks to counter China's power assertions in the South China Sea region.
'What signal would we be sending -- that we don't stand by our friends?'
The value of contracts awarded by the MoD in 2024-2025 is the highest ever and double the previous record set in 2023-2024.
The ATAGS has a range of 35-45 kilometres, depending on the ammunition used, and achieved a 47-km firing range during trials.
The maiden Africa India Key Maritime Engagement exercise will be held from April 13 to 18 off the coast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
'Pick up momentum and find opportunities from an intelligence-sharing standpoint.'
It involves India spending an estimated Rs 40,000 crores to Rs 50,000 crores and will take 10 to 15 years to develop.
The five largest exporters of major arms in 2020-2024 were the US (43 per cent), France (9.6 per cent), Russia (7.8 per cent), China (5.9 per cent), and Germany (5.6 per cent).
'And this will persist given the two-and-a-half-front threat we face.'
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