98% to be sourced from domestic industries in a major boost to ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence.
Procurement of Light Combat Helicopters & Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A from HAL gets a nod.
Medium Range Anti-Ship Missiles for the surface platform of the Indian Navy accorded approval.
Acquisition of Towed Gun System cleared to replace Indian Field Gun

Proposals totaling Rs 2.23 lakh crore

The Defense Acquisition Council has greenlit capital acquisition proposals totaling Rs 2.23 lakh crore, aimed at bolstering the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces.

This move, with 98% of the funding set to be derived from domestic industries, signifies a significant stride toward promoting self-reliance in defense.
On Thursday (Nov 30), the Indian government sanctioned what is purported to be one of the largest defense contracts in the nation’s history.

The Defence Acquisition Council, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, gave the green light to procure 97 Tejas light combat aircraft and 156 Prachand helicopters, a move aimed at significantly enhancing the overall combat capabilities of the armed forces. The approved deals amount to approximately Rs 2.23 trillion ($26.74 billion).

As reported by The Economic Times newspaper, the 97 Tejas aircraft alone are valued at around Rs 650 billion ($7 billion), marking this agreement as the most substantial fighter aircraft deal ever undertaken in the country.

This strategic decision underscores the government’s commitment to fortifying the nation’s defense capabilities while concurrently supporting the growth of indigenous defense manufacturing.

Key Points:

1. DAC Approval: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh granted approval for Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) totaling Rs 2.23 lakh crore on November 30, 2023.
2. Domestic Sourcing: 98% of the approved AoN amount (Rs 2.20 lakh crore) will be sourced from domestic industries, aligning with the goal of achieving ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in the Indian Defence Industry.
3. Anti-tank Munitions: AoN granted for procurement of two types of Anti-tank Munitions (ADM Type – 2 and Type-3) capable of neutralizing Tanks, Armoured personnel carriers, and enemy personnel.
4. Towed Gun System (TGS): AoN granted to replace the Indian Field Gun (IFG) with a state-of-the-art Towed Gun System (TGS) for the Indian Army’s Artillery forces.
5. 155 mm Nubless Projectile: AoN granted for the procurement of 155 mm Nubless projectiles for use in Artillery guns, enhancing lethality and safety.
6. Automatic Target Tracker (ATT) and Digital Basaltic Computer (DBC): AoN for procurement and integration of ATT and DBC for T-90 Tanks to maintain a combative edge over adversary platforms.
7. Medium Range Anti-Ship Missiles (MRAShM): AoN granted for procurement of MRAShM for Indian Navy’s surface platforms as a primary offensive weapon.
8. Aircraft Procurement: AoNs granted for Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk 1A for Indian Air Force and Indian Army, along with the upgradation of Su-30 MKI Aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
9. Indigenous Content Mandate: DAC approved a major amendment in the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, mandating a minimum of 50% indigenous content in material, components, and software for all procurement cases.
10. MSMEs and Start-ups Inclusion: To encourage indigenization, DAC decided to consider registered MSMEs and recognized start-ups for Request for Proposal (RFP) issuance without financial parameter stipulations for procurement cases with AoN cost up to Rs 300 crore. This limit can be relaxed up to Rs 500 crore on a case-to-case basis with DPB approval.

Dronamics, the inaugural cargo drone airline licensed to operate in Europe, and Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s largest international cargo carrier, have announced a groundbreaking interline agreement. This partnership marks the first-ever interline agreement between a global airline and a cargo drone carrier.

The interline agreement facilitates the expansion of delivery networks for both collaborators, significantly broadening their outreach and granting access to regions traditionally challenging for conventional air freight.

Droneports Network of Qatar Airways Cargo.

Through this arrangement, Dronamics can offer cargo services from any of its droneports, initially located in Greece, to the extensive network of Qatar Airways Cargo.

This network includes destinations like Singapore, China (including Hong Kong), and the United States (JFK). Conversely, Qatar Airways Cargo gains access to remote locations served by Dronamics, such as the Greek islands, through the cargo drone network.

The expansion of this network allows Dronamics customers to make seamless bookings for transporting goods from a Dronamics droneport to any destination covered by the joint interline network, and vice versa.

It enables swift and reliable shipments

This development opens up significant potential for the flow of various goods, including pharmaceuticals, food, e-commerce items, mail, parcels, and spare parts. It enables swift and reliable shipments to and from locations that were previously underserved by air freight.

Svilen Rangelov, Co-Founder and CEO of Dronamics, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We’re very excited to have the world’s largest air cargo carrier as our partner for the first-of-its-kind interline agreement with our category-defining cargo drone airline.”

Rangelov emphasized the opportunity to exponentially expand air cargo accessibility globally, enabling same-day delivery to numerous communities worldwide.

Elisabeth Oudkerk, SVP Cargo Sales & Network Planning at Qatar Airways Cargo, highlighted the airline’s commitment to embracing disruptive technology and supporting ambitious companies like Dronamics.

She noted the significance of being the first international airline to offer this innovative service, marking a milestone in the advancement of autonomous cargo drone transportation.

Dronamics is set to commence commercial operations in Greece early next year, with a focus on establishing a same-day service connecting Athens, the capital city, with the industrial north area of the country, as well as the southern islands.

On November 29, an Air India flight en route from Delhi to London Gatwick Airport faced a mid-flight cabin leak originating from an overhead storage unit. The incident involved a water leak within the cabin of an Air India 787 Dreamliner while flying over India.

Despite the unexpected situation, the cabin crew maintained a reassuring demeanor, encouraging passengers to remain calm. There was also a leak of water from the plane’s roof, so the pilot urged the passengers not to panic.

The odd thing is that, based on videos posted online, passengers did not appear to be significantly impacted when the leak was reported by a crew member. The leak may have been caused by a cooling system malfunction, though this is suspected.

A passenger shared the video on X, showing water continuously dripping onto passengers’ seats from overhead bins. A user commented, “It’s possible that some travellers left their fully filled water bottles in their cabin luggage, which could be the cause of this. They advise us to carry water bottles because of this. The company may not be the only one at fault. “Can passengers request a refund in situations like this?” asked another.

Source

Russia has initiated the initial stages of manufacturing the Su-75 ‘Checkmate’ stealth fighter aircraft, marking a significant milestone in the development of its single-engine fifth-generation fighter jet.

The project documentation has been officially transmitted to the manufacturing plant, incorporating minor modifications in response to the preferences of potential customers during the preparatory phase.

Several adjustments have been implemented in the project, including an extension of the maiden flight. The delivery of the design documentation to the manufacturer signifies the commencement of the production of initial samples.

Anticipated to make their debut in 2024–2025, the aircraft prototypes are expected to be followed by a pilot batch in 2026, as per previous disclosures by UAC. Serial production is projected to take place between 2026 and 2027.

The introduced modifications have enhanced the competitiveness and commercial appeal of domestic single-engine aircraft while simultaneously mitigating technical risks associated with development.

The Russian Federation and the Ministry of Industry and Trade anticipate the unveiling of a prototype for Russia’s fifth-generation light fighter, Checkmate, by the end of 2025. As the Su-75 enters mass production, several countries may acquire their first fifth-generation stealth fighter. However, challenges persist regarding Russia’s claim that the Su-75’s capabilities can directly rival those of the US F-35 Lightning II fighter.

Source

Iran has concluded its plans to procure military aircraft from Russia, as reported by Iranian state media.

The finalized agreement includes the purchase of advanced Russian military assets, including Yak-130 jet trainers, Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters, and Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, as confirmed by Brigadier General Mahdi Farahi, Iran’s Deputy Defence Minister.

Iran has the most military helicopters in the area and has significantly improved its capabilities through a number of upgrade projects. Tehran is expected to receive 24 Su-35 Flanker-E fighter jets from Moscow, although the deputy minister did not specify how many aircraft were scheduled for delivery.

Iranian is facing geopolitical issues with the US Earlier. it used to have f-16 and other fighter jets which were built by the US operating in the Iran Air Force. Later on with the Middle East political tension united States rejected arms supplies to Iran. Further, Iran depended on russia and the Turkish aircraft. Due to recent Israel conflicts it planning to procure more defensive products from Russia.

Su-35s would be a major upgrade over Iran’s current fleet of aircraft, but how much better the planes are will depend on a number of factors, such as the equipment, training, and other capabilities that come with them and how well they integrate with Iran’s potent integrated air and missile defense systems.

Whatever the case, the growing security cooperation between Russia and Iran poses a serious challenge to American allies in Europe, Israel, and the Arab world. Washington and its allies and partners should work together to counter the expanding Russian-Iranian axis rather than worrying about the issue separately.

Addressing last week, John Kirby, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, said that after giving Moscow drones, guided aerial bombs, and artillery ammunition, Tehran might now supply Russia with ballistic missiles to use in its conflict in Ukraine. In return, Iran is seeking billions of dollars worth of military hardware from Russia in exchange for bolstering its military capabilities.

Source

Eve Air Mobility has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to investigate the possibility of operating electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in Saudi Arabia.

Flynas is the top low-cost airline in the Middle East and the world. In 2026, the partners plan to investigate the feasibility of launching eVTOL operations in Riyadh and Jeddah.

“This collaboration is a significant step towards realizing our common goal of sustainable air travel, as well as a demonstration of our dedication to establishing an eco-friendly, accessible, and efficient transportation system,” stated Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve.

“We are excited to start this revolutionary journey with flynas and work together to improve Saudi Arabia’s air mobility in the future.” The agreement will help Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector by establishing and bolstering the region’s potential electric flight ecosystem. Additionally, the partnership will support the ambitious targets in the aviation sector as well as the sustainability goals of Vision 2030.

More than 1,500 flights per week are offered by flynas to more than 70 domestic and international locations. The launch of eVTOL flights to Saudi Arabia as well as the joint venture between Eve and flynas will give passengers another choice for urban transportation while reaffirming the companies’ dedication to influencing the direction of electric aviation and offering effective, secure, and environmentally friendly transportation to the area.