Cavalier India Defence Training Academy

Chennai-based start-up Torus Robotics is manufacturing Unmanned Ground Vehicles to help ferry heavy loads for the Indian Army “You think of ‘unmanned’, and you think of drones, in the sky,” says 25-year-old Vibhakar Senthil. In Ambattur — widely regarded as the Detroit of India — his start-up Torus Robotics is set to change that, by making Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) for the Indian Army.  At the Aero India 2021 in Bengaluru, attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Torus Robotics signed an MOU with the Government, on the joint development of UGVs for the armed forces with BEML Limited.  “With BEML, we are now developing a high-altitude Logistics UGV with 750 kilograms payload. It will be an all-terrain vehicle to supply to and from bases [without the need of human presence] in bad weather conditions, for the Northern Command,” says Vibhakar. At university in SRM, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Vibhakar, with his classmates, M Vignesh and K Abbhi Vignesh, spent time researching...

State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)  It has received a Request for Proposal (RFP) from the Indian Air Force for basic trainer HTT-40. The documents were handed over to HAL CMD R Madhavan, by Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS) and DG (Acquisition), Ministry of Defence V L Kantha Rao, at the ongoing Aero India 2021. The certification will be given against the Preliminary Services Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) and the production will take place at HALs two manufacturing units at Bengaluru and Nashik. "The RFP has come within six years from the first flight of HAL which is the shortest time-line in the aircraft industry," it said. The trainer will have more than 60 percent indigenous content and is supported by agencies such as Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), Regional Director Aeronautical Quality Assurance (RDAQA), and Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) and others, it added. ...

The first Mk-1A aircraft will be delivered to the air force in three years, with the rest being supplied by 2030. The deal involves the supply of 73 Mk-1A fighter jets and 10 LCA Mk-1 trainer A three-star Indian Air Force officer will head the team that will monitor the  ₹ 48,000 crore LCA (light combat aircraft) Mk-1A contract awarded to state-run plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a senior defence ministry officer said at  Aero India 2021  on Thursday. The monitoring team will ensure timely delivery of the 83 aircraft. “Right from the contract signing, an integrated project monitoring team headed by the deputy chief of air staff will closely monitor the implementation of the contract. Biannual review by all stakeholders is planned to undertake course corrections needed to enable HAL to deliver the rated production,” said VL Kantha Rao, director general (acquisition) in the ministry.

There is also a possibility of the Americans making US fighters in India to help the Make in India process. On the eve of Aero India 2021, the United States of America has offered the Indian Air Force three of its frontline fighter planes: the F-18, the F-15 and the F-21, the newer version of the F-16.  At a briefing where the US Charge d'affaires Don Heflin, deputy undersecretary of the air force Kelli Seybolt and lieutenant general David Krumm of the US air force were present, the message was clear: India was a major defence partner of the US and both countries would continue to work together to strengthen the Asia Pacific, regardless of whether which party was in power. Yes, Atmanirbhar Bharat looked at indigenisation, US officials acknowledged but added that India would need key capability development.  And the relationship wasn't just about buying-selling or even manufacturing. It is about joint exercises and the strategic agreements like LEMOA or COMCASA and more recentl...