Armée Indienne / Indian Armed Forces

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DEC   20


India receives its fifth Scorpene class submarine INS Vagir

 According to information published by the Indian MoD on December 20, 2022, the fifth Scorpene class submarine INS Vagir has been delivered to the Indian Navy.

Scorpene class submarine INS Vagir. (Picture source: Indian MoD)

India receives its fifth Scorpene class submarine INS Vagir | World Defence News

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Inde : le Rafale Marine près d'embarquer sur le porte-avions INS Vikrant
L'Inde pourrait annoncer en mars la sélection du Rafale Marine de Dassault Aviation lors de la visite d'Emmanuel Macron à New Delhi.

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LAST UPDATED: 22 JANUARY 2023





Indian Navy Sea Dragons to be withdrawn


After 46 years of service, the Bharatiya Nau Sena (Indian Navy) will withdraw their remaining Ilyushin Il-38SD Sea Dragon Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft from operational service.
On 26 January 2023, the Il-38SD will participate in the Indian Republic Day Parade flypast for the first and last time. How many aircraft will join is not known. Soon after, the Goa/Dabolim (INS Hansa) based aircraft will be stored.


The aircraft are operated by Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 315 Winged Stallion. The Il-38 was inducted into service from 1977 onwards and five aircraft were procured till 1983.


In October 2002, the Indian Navy lost two aircraft in a mid-air collision above INS Hansa in Goa. Two ex Russian Navy Il-38s were added to the squadron in December 2009 and February 2010.


At INS Hansa, the Sea Dragons will be replaced by the Boeing P-8I Neptune, of which four aircraft have been delivered to INAS316 The Condors since December 2021. The new unit was officially commissioned on 29 March 2022.


One Il-38SD, serial IN305, was put on display at the Naval Aviation Museum at Goa/Dabolim in March 2020. It is not known what will happen to the other aircraft.


Overview of the INAS315 Il-38s:
IN301/DAB (c/n 0810 110 07), d/d 02sep77, upgraded to Il-38SD in 2007
IN302/DAB (c/n 0810 110 09), d/d 02sep77, mid-air collision with IN304 on 01oct02
IN303/DAB (c/n 0810 110 10), d/d 02sep77, upgraded to Il-38SD in 2006
IN304/DAB (c/n 0800 106 10), d/d in 1983, mid-air collision with IN302 on 01oct02
IN305/DAB (c/n 0800 106 09), d/d in 1983, upgraded to Il-38SD in 2002, preserved Naval Aviation Museum at Goa/Dabolim
IN306/DAB (c/n 8700 101 10), d/d dec09, ex Russian Navy
IN307/DAB (c/n 8800 102 07), d/d feb10, ex Russian Navy


Photo by Vyacheslav Grushnikov (via russianplanes.net)


Indian Navy Sea Dragons to be withdrawn (scramble.nl)

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FEB  6

India Navy successfully lands HAL Tejas fighter jet on INS Vikrant

 According to information published by the Indian MoD on February 6, 2023, the HAL Tejas fighter jet successfully first lands on the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

Indian HAL Tejas fighter jet on the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. (Picture source: Indian MoD) World Defence News

Peter Foster a écrit:

Airbus Military C295 MSN 209 Indian AF 22-02-23

The first of 56 for the Indian AF. Initial 16 to be built in Spain and the remainder under licence in India by Tata.

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MAR  2

Two Indian firms to manufacture 307 ATAGS 155mm howitzers for Indian Army

According to Manjeet Negi in India Today on March 2, the Indian Army is going to place orders for 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) howitzers, which will be manufactured by two private firms in India. The proposal, worth over Rs 8,000 crore, has been floated by the Indian Army and is expected to be cleared soon, top government officials told India Today.

During trials in 2017, ATAGS broke the then-world record for a 155 mm/52 caliber gun by firing the round to a distance of 47.2 kilometers.  (Picture source: Wikipedia) Two Indian firms to manufacture 307 ATAGS 155mm howitzers for Indian Army | World Defence News

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 LAST UPDATED: 07 MARCH 2023




India orders the HTT-40 basic training aircraft


On 1 March 2023, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the procurement of 70 Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) HTT-40 basic training aircraft for Bharatiya Vayu Sena's (IAF, Indian Air Force) Training Command.


On 7 March, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed the contract valued at USD 388 million.
The new trainers will complement the existing fleet of 75 Pilatus PC-7 Mk.II, of which the air force operates 60 with the Air Force Academy (AFA) at Dundigal Air Force Station (Telangana) and 15 with the Flying Instructors School (FIS) at Tambaram Air Force Station (Tamil Nadu). Both units will receive the new training aircraft, which will be supplied over a period of six years.


The HTT-40 is a turbo prop aircraft and is designed to have good low speed handling qualities and provide better training effectiveness. This fully aerobatic tandem seat turbo trainer has air-conditioned cockpit, modern avionics, hot re-fueling, running change over and zero-zero ejection seats. The aircraft will meet the shortage of basic trainer aircraft of the IAF for training of newly inducted pilots. The procurement will include associated equipment and training aids including simulators.


Back in August 2020, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the procurement of defence equipment for an approximate cost of USD 2 billion, including 106 Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft. The announcement of the basic trainer procurement came a few days after the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) published its first list of 101 weapon systems and equipment that it will no longer purchase from abroad.
Photo by Stephan de Bruijn (via Airhistory.net)


India orders the HTT-40 basic training aircraft (scramble.nl)

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MAR  22

India reportedly approved purchase of 26 French Rafale M fighter jets

 According to information published by the New Indian Express on March 22, 2023, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to clear the multi-billion dollar acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine fighters.

French Dassault Rafale M fighter jet. (Picture source: US DoD) India reportedly approved purchase of 26 French Rafale M fighter jets | World Defence News

Citation :

 LAST UPDATED: 10 JULY 2023


Rafale M for Indian Navy

On 13 and 14 July 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in France. It is expected that India and France will sign a defence-industrial road map to push India to scale up its manufacturing of hardware platforms.

In addition to this roadmap agreement, the Prime Minister is reported to be signing a deal for the purchase of 26 Dassault Rafale M naval fighter aircraft for the Bharatiya Nau Sena (IN, Indian Naval Air Arm). The Defense Acquistion Council (DAC) will approve a so-called Acceptance of Necessity (AON) from the Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh, to acquire the French-built Rafales.

In December 2022, Scramble Magazine first wrote on the Rafale M emerging as the frontrunner for the Multi-Role Carrier-Borne Fighter (MRCBF) programme to supply 26 fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy aircraft carriers.

All the 26 Rafale M fighters will be single-seater versions. Indian Navy pilots will be trained in France as well as on advanced simulators at INS Hansa (Goa). It is understood that one squadron of eighteen aircraft will be onboard INS Vikrant (R11) and the remaining eight will be based at INS Hansa as reserves for rotation.


https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/rafale-m-for-indian-navy  

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L'Inde a demandé à Dassault Aviation de modifier ses Rafale pour les équiper de ses propres armes


Thomas Romanacce 26/07/2023, 7:41 Entreprises et marchés

New Delhi va intégrer son missile air-air Astra à l’armement de ses Rafale. Le chasseur français devrait aussi être doté de la bombe intelligente Saaw, spécialisée dans la destruction d’aérodromes.

L’Inde compte sur la France en matière d’armement. La preuve : New Delhi a promis à Paris de lui acheter bientôt 26 Rafale supplémentaires. Pourtant, le premier ministre indien, Narendra Modi, veut aussi renforcer la souveraineté militaire de son pays. Pour réaliser cet objectif, l’homme politique promeut le “Make in India” et a demandé au groupe Dassault Aviation de modifier son chasseur phare pour qu’il puisse embarquer des armes de fabrication indienne. L’avion de chasse français devra notamment être équipé du missile air-air Astra et de la bombe intelligente Saaw.

Selon le magazine India Today, l’armée de l’air indienne prévoit également d’intgérer dans l’armement de l’avion français diverses armes produites localement, y compris des bombes planantes à longue portée. Ces systèmes sont déjà utilisés par l'avion de combat russe destiné à l’export : le Su-30 MKI. Face à la montée en puissance de son rival chinois, New Delhi encourage la fabrication nationale d’armement pour répondre aux besoins de combat de ses troupes et parvenir à l'autosuffisance.


https://actu.capital.fr/entreprises-marches/linde-a-demande-a-dassault-aviation-de-modifier-ses-rafale-pour-les-equipes-de-ses-propres-armes-1475108?utm_source=welcoming&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pmo_cap_article&part[name]=welcoming&part[token]=1134356c1354f134fce179b8534b00c3&nlsha=c91b49432193b97a41cb44f5025e9bbbcafba246babba63a65c476bbab9ec32e    

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  AUG 9

India successfully Adapts ground-to-ground Spike NLOS missiles onto Russian Mi-17V5 Helicopter


The Indian Air Force has acquired Israeli-manufactured Spike Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) anti-tank guided missiles. These air-to-ground Spike Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) missiles possess an impressive range of up to 30 kilometers, rendering them a valuable asset for conducting precision strikes from a considerable distance. This acquisition coincides with a period of heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly due to the maneuvers of the Chinese Army in the vicinity of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) within the Eastern Ladakh sector.


http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2023/08/india-successfully-adapts-ground-to.html

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AUG 17

President of India launches Nilgiri class frigate INS Vindhyagiri


According to information published by the Indian presidency on August 17, 2023, Smt Droupadi Murmu, attended the launch of the Vindhyagiri
at Garden Reach Shipbuilders Engineers Limited in Kolkata, West Bengal. This vessel is the sixth ship under Project 17A of the Indian Navy.



Launching ceremony of Project 17A frigate INS Vindhyagiri. (Picture source: Indian presidency)


http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2023/08/president-of-india-launches-nilgiri.html

Indian President launched 6th Project 17A (Nilgri Class) Frigate at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited in Kolkata.

Nilgri Class Frigates are armed with:
32x VLS Barak-8 SAMs
8x VLS Brahmos AShM
2x triple torpedoes
2 × RBU-6000
76 mm Gun
2x AK-630M CIWS pic.twitter.com/DIqv0w75yT

— The Strategic Syndicate (@SyndicatePSF) August 17, 2023

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LAST UPDATED: 17 DECEMBER 2023



Cobras will transfer to Tejas LCA Mk1A

No.3 fighter squadron Cobras, currently operating the MiG-21Bison at Nal/Bikaner AFS (state of Rajasthan), will transfer
to the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Tejas LCA Mk1A. The squadron started flying the MiG-21 in April 1972 and
converted to the Bison in April 2002.

The Cobras are the second squadron earmarked for operating the Tejas LCA Mk1A. The first squadron to receive the Mk1A
will be No.51 Squadron Sword Arms at Srinagar AFS (state of Jammu and Kashmir). This unit temporarily suspended
flying operations on 30 June 2022, following the retirement of their MiG-21Bison fighters.

On 13 January 2021, India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the procurement of the 83 HAL Tejas LCA
Mk1A for the air force. The contract, valued at USD 6,4 billion, is for 73 Tejas LCA Mk1A and 10 Tejas LCA-T Mk1A
trainer aircraft, and includes also infrastructure development. It is reported that HAL will deliver the first three aircraft
in February 2024, followed by 16 aircraft per year for the next five years.

The approval on infrastructure development is to enable the air force to handle repairs or servicing at their base depot
so that the turnaround time would get reduced for mission critical systems and would lead to increased availability of
aircraft for operational exploitation. This would enable the IAF to sustain the fleet more efficiently and effectively due
to availability of repair infrastructure at these respective air bases.

On 30 November 2023, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the
purchase of 97 additional Tejas LCA Mk1A fighters.

Credit image : Defence Matrix


https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/cobras-will-transfer-to-tejas-lca-mk1a  

Citation :

DEC 28

India Navy deploys 3 destroyers to counter Houthis drone threat


According to information published by the Indian government on December 25, 2023, Indian Navy has taken action following a suspected drone
attack on the Liberian-flagged chemical/oil tanker MV Chem Pluto. The vessel, carrying 21 Indian and one Vietnamese crew member, was reported
attacked on December 23 and safely reached Mumbai's outer anchorage on December 25.



Artist rendering of the destroyer INS Mormugao, the Indian flag and an hypothetical Houthi flag. (Picture source: Indian MoD)


https://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2023/12/india-navy-deploys-3-destroyers-to.html  

Images de l’intervention des commando marine Indien https://t.co/28zNy9nP7a

— Christophe Tymowski (@Christophe_Tymo) January 5, 2024

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 JAN 12

India reveals first indigenous MALE drone named Drishti 10 Starliner


As reported by ANI on January 10, 2024, the Indian Navy has made its first acquisition of domestically produced Medium Altitude Long Endurance
(MALE) drones. Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar unveiled the Drishti 10 Starliner Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in Hyderabad on the
aforementioned date. This UAV is an indigenous variant of the Hermes 900 UAV developed by Elbit Systems of Israel, with a substantial portion, over
70%, being of Indian origin.



The Drishti 10 Starliner is an indigenous variant of the Hermes-900 UAV developed by Elbit Systems of Israel, with a substantial portion, over
70%, being of Indian origin. (Picture source: screenshot of a Twitter video)


https://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2024/01/india-reveals-first-indigenous-male.html  

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 JAN 26

Mahindra showcases Alakran VMIMS mortar carrier at India’s Republic Day 2024 celebrations


The Indian Army showcased the latest addition to its arsenal, a locally developed under the ‘Made in India’ initiative by Mahindra and Milanion
NTGS, the Alakran Vehicle Mounted Infantry Mortar System (VMIMS), at the Nation’s 75th Republic Day parade in New Delhi.



Parading at the second row of the convoy is an 81mm Alakran VMIMS integrated into Mahindra’s Armoured Light Specialist Vehicle (ALSV) (Picture
source: Mahindra)


 https://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2024/01/mahindra-showcases-alakran-vmims-mortar.html

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JAN 29

JSW Group receives order from India for Ator N1200 amphibious vehicle


The JSW Group, primarily known for its presence in the steel and energy sectors, has recently marked its entry into the defense industry. This
development comes as the group has secured a substantial order of 250 crores INR from the Indian Ministry of Defense, signifying a new era in
diversifying its operations. The order was unveiled during the 75th National Parade in India, highlighting the significance of this initiative.



The Ator N1200 is an indigenized version of the amphibious mobility vehicle Sherp N1200 (Picture source: JSW Group)


https://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2024/01/jsw-group-receives-order-from-india-for.html

Above the #IndianOcean, pilots from UAE Air Force , @IAF_MCC and @Armee_de_lair trained during the exercise DESERT KNIGHT, our 1st trilateral exercise.

High level of cooperation between 3 partners committed to regional security.

Come and fly with us ! pic.twitter.com/K3eoHwn2No

— Armée française - Opérations militaires (@EtatMajorFR) February 10, 2024

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LAST UPDATED: 17 FEBRUARY 2024




Indian MoD approves purchase maritime aircraft

On 16 February 2024, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) approved the purchase of fifteen Airbus Defence C295 maritime aircraft.

The future order, although still to be approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), will consist of six Maritime Patrol Aircraft
(C295MPA-W) for the Bharatiya Nau Sena (BNS, Indian Navy) and nine Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (C295MSA-W) for the Indian Coast
Guard (ICG).

The C295s will be manufactured in India at the new Airbus-Tata consortium (Tata Advanced Systems Ltd - TASL) facility at Vadodara
in the state of Gujarat. The aircraft will be fitted with specialised radars and sensors by the Defence Research and Development Organisation's
(DRDO Centre for Airborne Systems, making them versatile maritime aircraft.

With these aircraft, India would be able to keep a far closer eye on its expansive coastline and exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Navy's
new observation platforms will improve its capabilities in long-range monitoring, search and rescue missions, and anti-submarine warfare.
In a similar vein, the Coast Guard's modernised surveillance aircraft will increase its efficacy in anti-piracy, disaster response, and fisheries
protection missions.

Credit photo (just illustrative): C295 Maritime Surveillance (Airbus Defence)


https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/indian-mod-approves-purchase-maritime-aircraft

CCS clears ₹5,300 crore for the new advanced engines for #IAF MiG-29UPG. It should be RD-33MK, same being used for #IndianNavy MiG-29K. However, subtly it gives hint of a something else as well.https://t.co/2lmTXP4Ttf pic.twitter.com/oIy9jUe8t9

— Sankalan Chattopadhyay (@VinodDX9) February 24, 2024

So many interesting things happening regarding "Tejas"! From, potential more order of Mk 1A (83+97+ more) to deep interest by Phillipines- the wheel is rolling. pic.twitter.com/b1idScVYoD

— Sankalan Chattopadhyay (@VinodDX9) February 24, 2024