Page 15 - Defence Sector

Govt clears project to develop AMCA 5th generation stealth fighter aircraft

The project would see the prototype manufactured by industry including the public sector unit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, they said

Modi-led govt believes in capabilities of India in defence sector: Rajnath

Union Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the Narendra Modi-led government "believes in the capabilities of India and Indians" in the defence sector, while the previous dispensations were in some way "sceptical" about their capabilities. In his address at an event here, the defence minister also said that if any criticism comes from the media on any government scheme, "We accept it and try to bring a change accordingly". Delivering an address at the NDTV Defence Summit here, Singh said when the government led by Modi came to power in 2014, "We made the defence sector one of our main priorities". "We took a step towards 'atmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in defence. From establishing the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) to the creation of the post of CDS (Chief of Defence Staff), issuing of positive indigenisation lists for manufacturing of weapons in India...they naturally strengthen it (defence sector)," he said. The DMA with CDS as secretary was created to facilitate optimal

Navy responds 'swiftly' to drone attack on merchant ship in Gulf of Aden

The Indian Navy on Tuesday said it "swiftly" responded in assisting a Liberian-flagged commercial vessel after it came under a drone strike in the Gulf of Aden. The fresh incident on Monday came amid increasing global concerns over attacks on various commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Houthi militants. In the last few weeks, the Indian Navy extended assistance to a number of merchant vessels in the western Indian Ocean following attacks on them. The Navy swiftly responded to a maritime incident in the Gulf of Aden, it said on 'X'. It said the Liberian-flagged vessel, while transiting approximately 90 nautical miles Southeast of Aden reported a fire due to "drone/ missile attack" on Monday. "INS Kolkata, mission deployed in the region for maritime security operations, promptly responded and arrived at scene of incident by 2230 hours," it said. The Navy said a specialised firefighting team of 12 personnel from INS Kolkata embarked the vessel early morning hours of March 5 to assi

BJP's manifesto on defence

From an arms importer, India now ranks among the top 25 arms-exporting nations. BJP's 2024 manifesto must include a coherent policy to increase defence exports

Best of BS Opinion: Sustained momentum, BJP's manifesto on defence & more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

India-US defence meet: Security cooperation, intelligence sharing discussed

Cooperation in the field of internal security, intelligence sharing, and activities of pro-Khalistani elements in America were discussed at the India-US Homeland Security Dialogue held here on Wednesday, sources said. While the Indian delegation was led by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, the US delegation was headed by his counterpart from the United States Department of Homeland Security. Besides cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries, the meeting discussed intelligence sharing on matters related to online radicalisation, cyber attacks, and digital frauds, among others, sources said. The Indian delegation is believed to have raised the issue of the activities of the pro-Khalistani elements on the US soil and also their active support and funding to the separatist elements based in India, sources said. The meeting was held against the backdrop of a row over the alleged assassination attempt on top Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Panun, a US .

Adani Group unveils defence complex, $362 million investment plan

The plans highlight the ports-to-power conglomerate's ambitions in the lucrative defence sector where manufacturing is largely dominated by government-owned companies

Space related shares rally up to 13% after government eases FDI norms

MIDHANI surged 13 per cent, while MTAR Technologies soared 9 per cent, followed by Data Patterns (India) and Astra Microwave Products

India, US are key stakeholders in Indo-Pacific: Defence secy Aramane

This is the second INDUS-X meeting. The first was in June 2023 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US

Vayu Shakti: Air Force displays growing combat prowess at Pokhran desert

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday displayed its firepower capability at a mega exercise featuring over 120 aircraft, including frontline fighter jets and attack helicopters in Rajasthan's Pokhran desert. In the Vayu Shakti exercise, the IAF also demonstrated the capabilities of its long-range drones and air-to-air missiles as well as its increasing strength in the rapid deployment of combat assets by airlifting weapons like M-777 ultra-light howitzers and other military platforms. In keeping with the exercise's theme 'Lightning Strike from the Sky', over 120 aircraft displayed the IAF's offensive capabilities by day as well as by night. Fighter aircraft, including the Rafale, Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Mirage-2000, Tejas and Hawk, attacked and destroyed simulated enemy targets on the ground and in the air with deadly precision, the IAF said. These attacks were delivered in multiple modes and directions, employing a variety of precision-guided munitions as well as conventional bombs an

Zelenskyy warns weapons shortage risks giving Russia breathing space

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned allies Saturday that an artificial deficit of weapons for his country risks giving Russia breathing space, hours after his military chief said he was withdrawing troops from the eastern city of Avdiivka. Zelenskyy spoke to the Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering of security and foreign policy officials. Ukraine is back on the defensive against Russia in the nearly 2-year-old war, hindered by low ammunition supplies and a shortage of personnel. Ukrainians have proven that we can force Russia to retreat, he said. We can get our land back, and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin can lose, and this has already happened more than once on the battlefield." "Our actions are limited only by the sufficiency and length of range of our strength, he added, pointing to the situation in Avdiivka. Ukrainian commander Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi said early Saturday that he was withdrawing troops from the city, where outnumbered defenders battl

Defence ministry clears procurement of military hardware worth Rs 84,560 cr

The procurement proposals were cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Boeing Defence India appoints ex-naval aviator Nikhil Joshi as MD

US aerospace major Boeing on Thursday announced the appointment of Nikhil Joshi as managing director of Boeing Defence India (BDI), saying it is aimed at strengthening the company's operations and accelerated growth strategy in the country. Based in New Delhi, Joshi will lead current and future programmes for BDI to enhance the mission readiness and modernisation of India's defence forces, the company said. Joshi has more than 25 years of aerospace and defence industry experience, including over two decades of service with the Indian armed forces in the aviation branch of the Indian Navy. Prior to joining Boeing, Joshi served as the country manager for Eaton Aerospace where he was responsible for growing the business footprint for Eaton in India. He has more than 4,000 hours of flying experience on various Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft and has commanded both frontline ships and air squadrons. "We are delighted to welcome Nikhil to our team. His wealth of experience and strong .

Nato ramps up defence spend, says Trump's remarks undermine security

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that its European members and Canada have ramped up defence spending to record levels, as he warned that former US President Donald Trump was undermining their security by calling into question the US commitment to its allies. Stoltenberg said US partners in NATO have spent USD 600 billion more on their military budgets since 2014 when Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine prompted them all to reverse the spending cuts they had made after the Cold War ended. Last year we saw an unprecedented rise of 11 per cent across European allies and Canada, Stoltenberg told reporters on the eve of a meeting of the organisation's defence ministers in Brussels. In 2014, NATO leaders committed to move toward spending 2 per cent of their gross domestic product on defence within a decade. It has mostly been slow going, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine two years ago focused minds. The 2 per cent figure is now considered a minimu

Defence ministry procurement via GeM portal crosses Rs 1 trillion mark

Procurement of goods and services by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) through public buying platform GeM has crossed Rs 1 lakh crore, with about half of it coming in the current financial year. The Government e-Market (GeM) portal was launched on August 9, 2016, for online purchases of goods and services by all central government ministries and departments. "From procurement of general store items like eggs to missile systems and critical defence acquisitions, GeM has helped MoD execute more than 5.47 lakh orders. Of this, transactions worth around Rs 45,800 crore have been awarded in the current financial year," a commerce ministry statement said on Wednesday. It said the defence ministry is the "first" central government entity to cross this figure, exemplifying its resolute commitment towards optimising public spending in the Defence sector," GeM Chief Executive Officer P K Singh said. He added that around 50.7 per cent of the total orders, amounting to Rs 60,593 crore, have been .

Defence ministry inks Rs 1,752 cr deal with AWEIL for remote control guns

The Ministry of Defence on Wednesday signed a Rs 1,752.13-crore contract with a Kanpur-based firm for manufacturing and supply of 463 indigenously built 12.7 mm stabilised remote control guns for the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard, officials said. This acquisition will provide further boost to the vision of "Aatmanirbharta in Defence", the ministry of defence said in a statement. "This contract will also open up a large avenue in defence manufacturing for over 125 Indian vendors and Defence PSUs for over a period of five years," it added. The ministry signed the contract with Advanced Weapon Equipment India Limited (AWEIL), Kanpur for "manufacturing and supply of a total of 463 indigenously manufactured 12.7 mm stabilised remote control guns (SRCG) for the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard at a total cost of Rs 1,752.13 crore, with indigenous content (IC) of more than 85 per cent," it said. These guns will enhance the capability of the Navy and the Coast Guard to ...

HAL Q3 results: Profit rises 9% to Rs 1,261 cr on high aircraft demand

The company's total expenses fell more than 2% to Rs 4,838 crore, as it gained from Rs 111 crore worth inventory-related changes

Defence preparedness

Govt will have to find more resources

Rs 5,077 crore FDI reported by companies operating in defence sector: Govt

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) worth Rs 5077 crore has been reported by companies operating in the defence sector, the defence ministry said in Lok Sabha on Friday. The data was provided by Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt while replying to a question. The defence industry sector was opened up in May 2001 for private sector participation, he said. "The FDI limit in the defence sector was enhanced in 2020 up to 74 per cent through the automatic route for companies seeking new defence industrial licence and up to 100 per cent by the government route wherever it is likely to result in access to modern technology," Bhatt said. "So far, Rs 5077 crores worth of FDI has been reported by companies operating in the defence sector," he added. The minister said the government also promotes co-development and co-production of niche defence technologies with foreign original equipment manufacturers to encourage FDI in the defence sector. To a separate question, he said the defence ..

Dealing with Uncle Sam

Beyond historical uncertainties, New Delhi's emphasis on 'Make in India' introduces practical challenges in defence partnerships