Indian Air Force Deploys ‘Garud’ Commandos Near The Contested Border Despite India-China Disengagement from Gogra
The Indian Air Force has deployed a special forces unit close to the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh amid a standoff with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
The IAF ‘Garud’ commandos were spotted in Nyoma Advanced
Landing Ground near LAC.
IAF has been operating the Apache attack helicopters and
Chinook heavy lift choppers in the area. The Garud special forces unit
conducted exercises from Mi-17 helicopters.
The strategically located Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground of
IAF has been witnessing a lot of activity of late. It is the closest airbase to
the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
The Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground is being utilized to
monitor movement on the Chinese side of the border from an altitude of 14,000
feet. Garud commandos of the IAF took part in an exercise at Nyoma Advanced
Landing Ground recently.
Russian Indian commandos eliminate terrorists in Indra 2021
joint drills
Troops from Russia and India carried out an anti-terror
operation during the Indra 2021 international drills at the Prudboi training
ground in the Volgograd Region in Russia’s south region on Monday.
Under the scenario of the exercise, the troops were
assigned the task of eliminating terrorists in a populated area and freeing
hostages. During the drills, the commanders of Russian and Indian units drew up
a plan of a joint operation and eliminated the terrorists by joint efforts.
In particular, an Indian infantry company was the first
to start accomplishing the tasks. Tanks opened fire against the notional
terrorists positions and a Mi-8 helicopter landed commandos under their cover.
Simultaneously BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles launched
an attack, Meanwhile, the Indian commandos launched an assault on buildings,
descending with the help of ropes on the roofs. Following this, a reinforced
motor rifle company of the Southern Military District started accomplishing
assigned tasks.
Navy brainstorms Unmanned Combat aircraft, here are some
details
The Indian Navy will be pursuing the development of a
lethal carrier based unmanned combat aircraft to be operated from India’s first
indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and what will follow next as the Navy
has started the discussion with the Aeronautical Development Agency for the
development of an autonomous stealthy unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) that
can operate from an aircraft carrier.
A carrier based low observable Unmanned Combat Air System
for surveillance, strike, and possibly for other missions has been identified.
Special studies and funds could be required to prove that the unmanned aircraft
could safely launch and be recovered from an aircraft carrier for which a new
program could be initiated that will be independent of the air force unmanned
combat air vehicle program that is currently under development.
The Navy is also looking into operating unmanned combat
air vehicles that can carry out combat aerial patrol at the outer parameter of
a carrier strike group with onboard air to air missiles that can take down
hostile manned and unmanned targets at standoff range if try to breach the
outer parameter, while the inner parameter will be guarded by a manned jets
that will operate as command post to this unmanned aircraft and also that can
intervene if required.
After the LCA-Navy Mk1 and Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter
(TEDBF) program, the development of a carrier based unmanned aircraft will be
the next big task for which the Navy and Aeronautical Development Agency are
keen to have a close collaboration that will commence flight trial after 2030.
Production of upgraded version of Sukhoi-57 fighter is to
start in 2025
The production of the upgraded version of the fifth generation
Sukhoi-57 fighter as part of the Megapolis research and development project is
expected to begin in 2025.
In the upgraded version of the fighter as part of the
Megapolis research and development project, a completely upgraded cockpit with
the most advanced avionics will be installed.
In addition, the aircraft will be equipped with a second
stage power unit. It is planned that mass production of the upgraded Sukhoi-57
will start from 2025, the Sukhoi-57 fighter will be made in a single seat version.
The Sukhoi-57 is a Russian made fifth generation
multirole fighter designated to destroy all types of air, ground and naval
targets. The Sukhoi-57 fighter jet features stealth technology with the broad
use of composite materials, is capable of developing a supersonic cruising
speed and is furnished with the most advanced onboard radio electronic
equipment, including a powerful onboard computer, the radar system spread
across its body and some other innovations, in particular, armament placed
inside its fuselage.
Super Phantom: The Israeli Next Generation F-4 That Could
Outperform an F-16
Super Phantom program would provide the aircraft with an air-to-air
combat capability which would exceed those of the much newer F-16.
The new engines not only increased the Phantom’s range,
but provided a 1.04 thrust/weight ratio and a 27% boost to its sustained turn
rate at medium altitudes.
While cost of acquiring Lavi fighters was higher than
pursuing the Super Phantom program, the newly built indigenous jets had the
advantage of a much longer service life, and would provide greater benefits for
Israel's own defence sector.
Ultimately Israel would subsequently be designated a
‘strategic ally’ of the United States, allowing it to purchase US jets without
paying research and development costs which reduced the cost of acquiring new
F-16s and reduced the appeal of an enhanced F-4.
The Super Phantom program was cancelled as a result,
although relatively inexpensive Phase One upgrades would later be provided to
Turkish Phantoms under the Terminator 2020 program.
Whether Israel will attempt a similar program to enhance
the F-16s in service, as the cost of the replacement F-35A jets are likely to
be prohibitive to a large acquisition, remains to be seen.
