In a historic milestone, indigenous LCA Mark 1A fighter aircraft on March 28 completed its first flight. The aircraft airborne for 15 minutes during its first maiden flight, as per Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Currently, two squadrons of IAF, 45 Squadron and 18 Squadron, are fully operational with LCA Tejas. HAL has current capacity to build 8 LCA aircraft per year, this is being increased to 16 aircraft's every year by 2025. In coming years the capacity will be further increased to 24 aircraft every year in the next 3 years. Over Rs 9000 crore have been sanctioned for the development of LCA Mk 2, an updated and advanced version of LCA Tejas. Earlier in the 2023, Air Chief Marshal stated that the Indian Air Force aims to replace the MiG-21 fighter jets with LCA Tejas.
28 March,2024 05:18 PM IST
The Indian Air Force scrambled its Rafale fighter aircraft to search UFO in Imphal airport. The development came after a suspected ‘UFO’ was seen over Imphal airport around 2:30 pm on Nov 19. Earlier, a drone that was very small in appearance was spotted by security personnel at Imphal Airport on Sunday at 3 pm, according to sources. An alert was issued to other agencies at the airport and operations were postponed, sources added. Following the visual input, the Indian Air Force activated its Air Defence response. "IAF activated its Air Defence response mechanism based on visual inputs from Imphal Airport. The small object was not seen thereafter," IAF’s Eastern Air Command tweeted in regards to the UFO in Imphal that was sighted.
20 November,2023 05:32 PM IST
India has introduced an upgraded squadron of MiG-29 fighter jets at the Srinagar air base to address potential threats from the dual front. The Tridents squadron, now dubbed the 'Defender of the North,' has taken the place of the MiG-21 squadron. MiG-21 was traditionally responsible for countering the Pakistani threat at the Srinagar air base. The enhanced MiG-29s offer numerous advantages over the MiG-21s, which effectively safeguarded the Kashmir valley for an extended period. After undergoing upgrades, the MiG-29s now boast extended-range air-to-air missiles and air-to-ground weaponry.
12 August,2023 01:24 PM IST | Mumbai
PM Modi’s France visit has concluded on a high note. French Chief Executive Officers lauded the interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Indo-France CEOs Forum. Speaking to ANI on July 15, the Global CEO of Chanel, Leena Nair expressed her pleasure over meeting PM Modi and shared that the PM is interested in ensuring India as an investment hub for everyone. French Chief Executive Officers lauded the interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Indo-France CEOs Forum. Speaking to ANI on July 15, Global CEO of Chanel, Leena Nair expressed her pleasure over meeting PM Modi and shared that the PM is interested in ensuring India as an investment hub for everyone.
15 July,2023 02:36 PM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in France to attend Bastille Day parade as Guest of Honor. Defense Ministry approved proposal to buy 26 Rafale fighter aircraft, 3 Scorpene submarines for the Indian Navy from France. The proposal was approved by Defense Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, three services chiefs and seniors also attended the meeting. As per proposals, Indian Navy is likely to get 22 single-seated Rafale Marine aircraft along with four trainer aircraft. The three Scorpene class submarines would be acquired under the repeated clause by Navy as part of Project 75. Notably, deals are estimated to be worth over Rs 90,000 crore but the final cost would be clear only after contract negotiations. The deals, which have been accorded Acceptance of Necessity by DAC, are likely to be announced during PM Modi’s visit to France. The Indian Navy has been pressing for acquiring these fighter aircraft and submarines urgently. The aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya, Vikrant have been operating the MiG-29s and need the Rafales for operations on both carriers. India is likely to seek price concessions in deal and would be insisting on having more 'Make-in-India' content in the plan.
14 July,2023 11:28 AM IST | Mumbai
This year, France’s Bastille Day parade will witness the participation of 3 IAF Rafale fighter jets in the Bastille Day flypast over the Champs Elysees, Paris. Bastille Day Parade is marked as National Day of France and it is one of the oldest regular military parades in the world. French President Emmanuel Macron has invited PM Modi to attend the Bastille Day Parade. PM Modi will be the guest of honour on this special day. The French traditional military parade is held in Paris during Bastille Day on July 14. The Indian military contingent would also be part of the marching contingent on Bastille Day.
30 June,2023 07:55 PM IST
IAF’s fighter aircraft Su-30MKI recently displayed its might over the Indian Ocean Region. The flanker carried out eight-hour-long missions in the Indian Ocean Region on a different axis. The fighter aircraft were supported by mid-air refuelling aircraft IL-78 MKI. IAF’s exercises in the Indian Ocean Region are significant as the Chinese presence has significantly increased in the region. The Indian Ocean serves as a strategic bridge with the nations in India's immediate and extended maritime neighbourhood. The national and economic interests of India are inseparably linked with the Indian Ocean Region.
09 June,2023 04:36 PM IST
The standoff between India-China along the northern borders shows no sign of dying down anytime soon. During the 2020 standoff, both countries were almost on the verge of war and had deployed their heavy weaponry along LAC. India had deployed its recently inducted multirole fighter aircraft Rafale, aka the ‘Golden Arrow’ in the high-altitude region. IAF’s first and only female Rafale fighter pilot, Fl Lt Shivangi Singh praised the performance of her aircraft in the high-altitude area. Singh represented the Indian Air Force in the exercise Orion in France, where forces from many other major countries also participated. Speaking about the exercise, she said, "It was a great experience where I got an opportunity to meet the fighter pilots of different countries." Commissioned in 2017 in the second batch of women fighter pilots, Singh became the first female Rafale fighter aircraft.
27 May,2023 01:35 PM IST | Mumbai
The Rafale deal with France is in advanced stage and the government will close it soon, said Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
22 April,2016 10:11 AM ISTADVERTISEMENT
