Tag: NATO

F-35 for India?
The F-35 Lightning II offered a thrilling display of aerobatics at Aero India 2023, but here's why the fifth generation stealth fighter doesn't make sense for India

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II displays at Aero India 2023 | Photo: Ministry of Defence

The acquisition of the S-400, differing points of view on the war in Ukraine, eye-watering costs, a domestic 5th gen fighter program and never having operated any U.S. fighter aircraft are some of the reasons why India can’t and shouldn’t consider the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

Daily Podcast | 02 July 2020

Progress is scarce on a resolution to the Ladakh stand-off
Australia plans to hike defence spending
NATO allies France and Turkey have had a row
Finland’s air force has discarded its old insignia
Germany has disbanded a special forces unit over right wing extremism

India, Afghanistan meet for UNGA

The foreign office consultation was significant not only as it comes a bit over a week before the UN General Assembly session but at a time when US Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is on a visit to the region.

Sujatha’s quiet trip to Afghanistan

Many in the Indian security establishment believe India’s concerns about the post-2014 situation in Afghanistan will soon force it to make some hard choices and New Delhi will need to do more to protect its interests.

2nd IAF C-17 delivered

The IAF chief, ACM NAK Browne placed on record his ‘appreciation to the US government, the US Air Force and the Boeing team for the timely delivery of the aircraft that makes the IAF the world’s second-largest operator of the C-17 after the US’.

1st IAF C-17 lands in India

The aircraft took off from the company’s manufacturing plant at Long Beach, California on June 11 and made several stops, including one at Barcelona, before it arrived in India.

1st IAF C-17 in flight tests

This first aircraft is expected to be handed over to the IAF this summer and Boeing says it’s ‘on track to deliver four more C-17s to the IAF this year and five in 2014’.

Defense industry bright spark: MKU

MKU came into DefExpo on a high. They’ve just completed deliveries of 59,000 light weight bullet proof jackets to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) under a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) order worth INR 100 Crore. And now they plan to make Night Vision Devices.

Boeing moves towards mother ships for UAVs

Boeing is working on a program to integrate Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with manned aircraft, to enable the latter to control and direct them in the air and increase the scope of ISR (Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance) sensory inputs.
While so far, Boeing’s Apache combat helicopters have displayed the ability to control a single UAV, the company has multiplied the scope of the same system to enable larger aircraft like the family of 737 AEW&C Wedgetail and P8 to control multiple UAVs.