The exercise—taking place just a day after Pakistan issued a NOTAM & engaged in maritime war games—involves deployment of frontline fighter fleets, led by Rafale & Su-30MKI squadrons.
Instead of acquiring 114 fighters in one go as planned earlier, govt looking at going in for an initial order of 54 aircraft for IAF. Navy looking at buying 26.
Rafale is considered to be one of the finest fighters in the world. With its avionics, radars & weapon systems, it is the most potent aircraft in South Asia.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will formally receive the first Rafale fighter jet in France's Merignac Tuesday. Four jets will arrive in India by May 2020.
For an industry globally classified as hazardous, protections such as health insurance and a provident fund for workers are necessities. In Sivakasi, they remain elusive.
The industry forecasts exports are set to grow 16% in 2025-26, boosted by surplus domestic production and a drive to push into 26 underserved global markets with strong potential.
Indigenisation level will progressively increase up to 60 percent with key sub-assemblies, electronics and mechanical parts being manufactured locally.
It is a brilliant, reasonably priced, and mostly homemade aircraft with a stellar safety record; only two crashes in 24 years since its first flight. But its crash is a moment of introspection.
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