| SP's Exclusive |
February 21:
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Will India ever operate the F-35?
When the Dassault Rafale was declared the lowest bidder in the highly anticipated MMRCA competition, the U.S. government signaled that it was still "willing to share information" with India on the F-35 Lightning II... Read More
RSH Chopper deal at final stage, vendors jittery
With India's effort to acquire 197 brand new light reconnaisance and surveillance helicopters (RSH) reaching its final stage, the two final contenders are anxious for the final result. Read More
India to order 71 more Mi-17 V5 medium lift helicopters
The significantly delayed seventh limited series production unit of the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas (LSP-7) is expected to make its first flight "any day now" according to members of the programme team. Read More
India opens negotiations with Dassault for Rafale deal
Amidst reports that the procedure employed to arrive the lowest bidder in the MMRCA final leg was "questionable", the MoD's contract negotiation committee (CNC) has formally opened exclusive discussions... Read More |
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February 17:
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Kaveri turbofan programme seeks extension
The Kaveri turbofan engine programme has asked the government for an extension and more funds to overcome a fresh set of technological hurdles that have cropped up in the latest phase of flight tests. Read More |
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February 13:
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Rafale, Eurofighter have one more war left in India
Technically, the MMRCA battle isn't over just yet, though Eurofighter is still working on a counter strategy to break back into the reckoning. However, indications suggest that the Rafale bid was significantly more competitive than the Typhoon's. Read More
Dassault signs MoU with Reliance Industries
Dassault Aviation has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Mukesh Ambani-promoted Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) for joint opportunities in defence and internal security, that will almost definitely involve cooperation in the execution of the MMRCA deal. Read More
MMRCA evaluation manual to be patented
The exhaustive and innovative matrix of procedures that the Indian Air Force and government brought into play to evaluate six relatively disparate fighter aircraft for the MMRCA requirement is to be patented and shared with friendly nations looking to purchase new jets. Read More |
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February 07:
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LCA Navy stalled, Navy Chief unhappy
The LCA Navy, which has missed another window for its first flight with the passage of January, has come in for the first explicit criticism by its customer, the Indian Navy. Read More
Eurojet's final hope in India rests with naval Typhoon?
Eurojet GmbH, the cooperative entity that builds the EJ200 turbofan engine for the Eurofighter Typhoon faces the prospect of never doing direct business with India... Read More
Lockheed-Martin's India outlook for 2012
Still smarting from the disappointment of the F-16IN Super Viper losing out in the MMRCA fighter contest, Lockheed-Martin has a brighter outlook for 2012 and will be hoping that delays don't confound their targets. Read More |
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February 06:
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Delayed decision on new ab initio trainer
By now, the Indian government was expected to have cleared a deal for 75 basic trainer aircraft after it identified Swiss firm Pilatus Aircraft the lowest bidder last year. Read More
Outlook for EADS in India post MMRCA loss
Losing out to Dassault in the massive Indian MMRCA competition has undoubtedly been a blow to the rival European conglomerate, and comes as only the latest in a long list of sharp disappointments... Read More |
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February 01:
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French Rafale wins the MMRCA race
Fifty-four months after the Indian government floated what was without a doubt its largest, most ambitious acquisition effort for combat aircraft ever, it chose the French Rafale to meet its monumental medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) requirement. Read More
Will AMCA Be India's Last Manned Fighter Jet Programme?
With the amount of energy and focus the government has invested, and continues to invest, in the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, some crucial evolutionary efforts get blindsided. Read More |
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January 30:
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Tejas LSP-7 to fly 'any day now'
The significantly delayed seventh limited series production unit of the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas (LSP-7) is expected to make its first flight "any day now" according to members of the programme team. Read More
MMRCA decision delayed?
With a decision on the MMRCA jet competition expected to have been delivered in January, and the month slipping by, there are anxieties now that the decision could drift indefinitely. Read More |
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January 27:
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DRDO tests mini drones
The DRDO has conducted fresh tests of a slew of mini drones being prepared for the armed forces and paramilitary as part of the National Programme on Micro Air Vehicles (NP-MICAV). Read More |
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January 21:
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DRDO UCAV programme moves forward
In a significant boost to India's classified unmanned combat aerial vehicle programme, titled AURA (autonomous unmanned research aircraft), the government is considering bestowing it with "major project" status. Read More |
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January 16:
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HAL scouts for automatic flight control system for LUH
As its 3-ton light utility helicopter (LUH) takes shape, HAL has invited bids from global suppliers to design and supply the automatic flight control system (AFCS). Read More
HAL scouts partner for glass cockpit & digital autopilot for license-built Dornier Do-228
Gauging strong interest in better capabilities on the tried and tested platform, HAL plans to offer its customers a cockpit upgrade for in-service license built Dornier Do-228... Read More |
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January 11:
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NAL struggles to resume flight testing of Saras utility aircraft
After almost three years without a single flight since the March 2009 crash of a prototype in which three IAF test crew were killed, the beleaguered Saras light multirole transport aircraft programme is hoping to take to the air again shortly. Read More
Israel signs $1.1-billion deal with India
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has notified the Tel Aviv stock exchange of a $1.1-billion defence contract with an Asian customer for "intelligence gathering systems, anti-missile defence platforms, unmanned aerial vehicles and other platforms". Read More |
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January 09:
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MICA missile for upgraded Mirage 2000
After getting stuck at the Finance Ministry for months, the weapons package for India's upgraded Mirage 2000s was finally cleared last week... Read More
Agni-V debut test in 2 months
India's most ambitious weapon, the 5,500-km range Agni-V ballistic missile will undergo its much awaited first test in the next two months. Read More |
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January 02:
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MMRCA by third week of Jan
The mother of all Indian deals, the medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) competition is likely to see a winner announced in the third week of January 2012. Read More
Boeing to Pitch V-22
The Indian military has been impressed by the demonstrated capabilities of the Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey hybrid tilt-rotor aircraft, but has so far stopped short of expressing any overt interest in considering a purchase, despite feelers from Boeing. Read More |
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December 23:
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Prithvi-II failure
A crucial salvo test of the Prithvi-II tactical ballistic missile by the country's Strategic Forces Command had to be aborted on December 21 following a system failure. Read More |
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December 17:
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IAF wants hi-tech war-gaming centre
As part of its expanding role, modernisation and network centric backbone, the Indian Air Force has announced plans to invest in an advanced nationwide war gaming centre...
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December 16:
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India's SLYBIRD MAV maturing fast
The Indian SLYBIRD hand-launched mini unmanned drone is maturing with a series of regular test-flights this year, and the coast clear for the second phase. Read More
LCA Tejas Air Force version faces new hurdles
With final operational clearance for the primary air force version of the indigenously-developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas pushed back a year till December 2014...
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December 03:
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Indian AEW first flight
India's dreams of building an airborne surveillance platform finally takes flight this month. Read More
LCA Navy first flight
After struggling with serious concerns over weight and landing gear issues, India's first fighter intended for carrier operations, the LCA-Navy, is to finally make its first flight this month. Read More
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