India spends heavily on defence but does not finance it. That distinction separates mature defence-industrial economies from those trapped in yearly budget cycles.
India’s fighter aircraft strength will be down to 31 squadrons by the end of the year, down from 42. It will further reduce when Mirage 2000, MiG-29, and Jaguar squadrons are phased out.
India has paid a steep price for HAL’s unchecked dominance, evident in the MiG-era overhauls, the decades-long Tejas saga, and the troubled ALH programme.
With AMCA rollout expected to take a decade, Defence Secretary Rajesh Singh confirms talks for fifth-gen jets amid reports of Pakistan acquiring Chinese stealth fighters.
EOI was marked a historic shift in defence procurement & industrial participation policy since this meant that HAL will have to bid along with private firms to bag the contract.
In the latest episode of ThePrint’s ‘Off The Cuff’, former air force chief VR Chaudhari spoke at length about Operation Sindoor and its impact on the IAF’s future.
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh said IAF was mostly outward looking when it came to procurements but a 'rap on the knuckles' made it look inwards, adding that 'atmanirbharta' is key.
HAL has so far been the only entity in India to manufacture fighter planes. It will now have to compete against private companies, like TATA, Adani, L&T and other interested players.
Insulted and bullied by Donald Trump, European leaders are asking where they go from here. The right choice isn’t to kneel or fight back, but to disengage.
Two sides also announce signing of a Security & Defence Partnership, launch negotiations for an intelligence sharing agreement & explore India’s addition to Horizon Europe programme.
Overall, President Droupadi Murmu has approved Gallantry awards to 70 armed forces personnel, including six posthumous, on the eve of 77th Republic Day.
No nation other than China can negotiate one-on-one with Trump on an equal footing. That’s why the middle powers who so far formed the core of multilateral bodies now feel orphaned.
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