Modi govt masterstroke to shock Pakistan and China! clears Rs 200000000000 project, Indian Air Force will get six large…, to be developed by…
DRDO will team up with Indian companies and Airbus to equip Airbus A321 aircraft with indigenous Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar systems and mission control equipment. These aircraft, six of which have already been procured from Air India, will undergo heavy modifications like the installation of a dorsal radar dome, to allow 360-degree radar coverage.
Once operational, these large AWACS platforms will be able to detect and track enemy aircraft, ground-based assets, and electronic signals across vast distances. They will also serve as airborne command centres, providing real-time situational awareness and coordination in contested airspace. What Is Netra MkII?
Dubbed Netra MkII is a new generation of AWACS and is expected to be operational within three years. The programme will give Indian firms valuable experience in the development and integration of complex defense technologies from domestic aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
This is the first time that an Airbus platform is being adapted for such a role globally as this domain was historically dominated by Boeing potentially opening doors for future exports.
Currently, the IAF operates smaller Netra systems and three IL-76-based 'Phalcon' AWACS developed in collaboration with Israel and Russia. However, the Phalcon systems faced technical and availability issues. The new indigenous platform is expected to offer improved performance, reliability, and maintainability.
The approval for Awacs India after the recent greenlight for DRDO's fifth-generation Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) prototype shows India' is trying to become self-reliant in critical defense technologies.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
25 minutes ago
- India.com
What are the features of Prithvi 2 missile tested by India? Its range, speed, accuracy..., know all details
(Representational image) New Delhi: India has successfully tested 2 short-range ballistic missiles, Prithvi-2 and Agni-1 from the Integrated Test Range located off the coast of Odisha. Prithvi-II is India's indigenous surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile. It has been developed by Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). It is part of the Prithvi missile series and it is operated by the Strategic Forces Command of the Indian Army. The range of Prithvi-2 missile is 250-350 kilometers. With a payload of 500-1000 kg, this missile is capable of carrying nuclear and other weapons. Its accuracy of 10-15-meter Circular Error Probable (CEP) and night launch capability make it important in the defense sector. Its first test was conducted in 1996. What is Prithvi-II missile? Prithvi-II is a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) built by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). It has a range of 250-350 kilometers, depending on the weight of the payload. It can carry both nuclear and conventional payload of 500 to 1000 kg of explosives. What is Prithvi-II missile designed for? The Prithvi-II missile is designed for tactical and strategic attacks. It includes precision strikes on enemy targets and nuclear deterrence. Developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), its first test was conducted on 27 January 1996. Prithvi-II is a single-stage, liquid-fuel ballistic missile capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional weapons. Its circular error probable (CEP) is around 10-15 meters, making it very accurate. What are the other features of Prithvi-II missile? The latest test of Prithvi-II missile was conducted on 17 July 2025 at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) located near the Odisha coast. Its weight is around 4,600 kg. It is operated by the Strategic Forces Command of the Indian Army. Prithvi-II flies at a speed of about Mach 7 (8643 km/h). It uses inertial navigation system (INS) and GPS-based guidance system. Prithvi-II missile is an important part of India's prevention policy, which provides the ability to take immediate and accurate retaliation against neighbouring countries.
Mint
25 minutes ago
- Mint
JSW Steel starts FY26 on a high but remains cautious
Mumbai: JSW Steel Ltd reported better-than-expected profit for the June quarter, driven by higher production and sales volume as well as lower cost of coking coal, a key ingredient. The steelmaker's first-quarter profit jumped to ₹ 2,209 crore from Rs.867 in the same quarter a year ago, according to the company's exchange filings. A key reason for this was improved steel prices, primarily due to the government's 12% safeguard duty to protect the industry from cheap steel imports from China. 'Steel prices rose during the quarter, while sales volumes also picked up due to the ramp-up of the Vijayanagar expansion project,' said Suman Kumar, analyst at Dolat Capital. The rise in steel prices, however, is a temporary phenomenon and the management believes the government needs to do more to ensure greater profitability for Indian steelmakers, he added. JSW Steel, India's largest steelmaker by capacity, reported consolidated revenue of ₹ 43,147 crore for the April-June quarter, up from ₹ 42,943 a year earlier, beating the ₹ 42,790 crore projection, on average, of 23 analysts polled by Bloomberg. JSW Steel benefited from lower cost of raw materials, mainly coking coal, which was partly offset by higher fuel consumption due to planned blast furnace shutdowns. Mining royalties also fell, helping reduce total expenses. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) in the first quarter rose 37% year-on-year to ₹ 7,576 crore. The steelmaker maintained its production and sales guidance for 2025-26 at 30.5 million tonnes and 29.2 million tonnes, respectively. JSW Steel spent ₹ 3,400 crore in the June quarter out of its estimated capital expenditure of ₹ 20,000 crore for FY26. For FY25, JSW Steel had initially estimated a capex of ₹ 20,000 crore before lowering it to ₹ 16,000 crore. It missed that revised target, spending only ₹ 14,656 crore in FY25. The steelmaker reported consolidated production of 7.26 million tonnes for the June quarter, a 14% rise from a year ago. Sales volume improved 9% to 6.69 million tonnes. In an post-earnings interaction with analysts, JSW Steel's management said the company's sales volume would increase in the second quarter as the maintenance shutdowns were completed. Also, a second converter at JSW Vijayanagar Metallics Ltd is being commissioned, which will help lower the cost of production, they said. However, demand could weaken in the ongoing second quarter due to the monsoon rains. 'In Q2, the management expects to see some seasonal weakness in volumes due to the monsoon. While steel prices have come down, the company expects a further drop in coking coal prices, which will partially offset the price decline. The long-term outlook remains optimistic,' said Kumar. JSW Steel's management also said that it expects a favourable decision when the government reviews the safeguard duty on steel imports. The government imposed the 12% safeguard duty on 21 April for a period of 200 days. Although finished steel imports have moderated, exports also fell, and India continues to be a net importer. JSW Steel's management expects low priced imports to remain a concern, stressed by changes in globaltrade flows due to rising tariff uncertainties. The management also noted that while there has been some reduction in steel production in China in recent months, elevated exports of Chinese steel remain a challenge for India's steel industry. JSW Steel also said, based on legal opinion, that it had gained control over Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd as on 30 June and was continuing with the consolidation of BPSL's financial results with its results. The steelmaker expects to be compensated adequately if BPSL goes into liquidation after the SupremeCourt scrapped its resolution plan for the bankrupt company, as Mint reported on 23 May. JSW Steel has filed a review petition on the apex court's decision. JSW Steel shares closed Friday's trading on BSE mostly unchanged at ₹ 1,034.40 each. The stock has gained 14.24% so far this year, while the benchmark Sensex index has risen 4.14%.
New Indian Express
41 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
With Kelvinator buy, Reliance eyes bigger share in India's growing appliances sector
Reliance Retail has acquired consumer durables brand Kelvinator from the Electrolux Group, which pegged the transaction value at SEK 180 million (nearly Rs 160 crore). This move underscores the Indian retail giant's ambition to strengthen its foothold in the fast-growing but highly competitive home appliances market. Kelvinator, once a prominent brand, pioneered electric refrigeration for home use globally. It entered the Indian market in 1963 and became a prominent brand in the 1970s and 1980s. Kelvinator held a big share in the Indian market until the 1990s liberalization saw the entry of global giants like LG and Samsung that quickly surged ahead. Kelvinator also witnessed ownership changes -- from Electrolux to Whirlpool -- and due to intense competition and declining investment by its owners, the brand's market presence faded. In India, the Kelvinator brand was revived in 2019, when Reliance signed a licensing, manufacturing, marketing and distribution deal with Electrolux. Now, with the acquisition of the Kelvinator name, Reliance aims to re-establish its presence in one of the fastest growing market for white goods in the world. India's consumer goods market could nearly double to Rs 3 lakh crore ($34.8 billion) by 2029, according to an EY report.
