Latest news with #Bofors
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Operation Sindoor: Artillery firepower played key role in hitting terror targets
NEW DELHI: The Indian Army's Artillery arm played a major role in hitting terror targets in Pakistan and PoK under the Operation Sindoor jointly executed by the Air Force and the Army. Of the nine terror targets, seven were destroyed by the Army, sources involved in the operation said. 'The Artillery guns were put to a precise and optimal use in destroying the seven identified terrorist camps in the PoK,' a source said. 'The Army had deployed Bofors, M777 and Soltam guns for maximum effect and every target was pulverised the way we had planned,' added the source. Another source said, 'The ongoing modernisation, including the induction of drones, new ammunition and the guns improved indigenously, added to our target destruction'.
United News of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
India as a nation has risen above history: S Gurumurthy
Thiruvananthapurm, May 22 (UNI) Noted columnist and prominent nationalist thinker S. Gurumurthy has said intelligent nations rise above history whereas the less fortunate ones are hostages of history. Gurumurthy said India has evolved the idea of nationhood which is based on mutual respect towards all religious communities, whereas the idea of nationhood of Pakistan is based singly on 'hatred towards India'. He was delivering speech on 'Operation Sindoor: Paradigm Shift from Candle light to Brahmos' here in Rajbhavan on Wednesday evening. "While Pakistan has a theology which has become a political ideology, India has developed a philosophy of nationhood,"he pointed out. Lauding the efforts of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards Atmanirbhar Bharat, Gurumurthy said that about 32 % of India's defence equipment are 'Made in India' which has made a huge impetus in the strategic dimensions of India's defence preparedness. Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar presided over the function. Earlier the family members of the slain Ramachandran, who was a victim of Pahalgam terror strike, was honoured by the Governor. Swaminathan Gurumurthi, popularly known as a writer and journalist in India and a chartered accountant by profession, is a corporate adviser of high standing. Highly rated for his investigative writings, he has ceaselessly campaigned against corruption at high places, exposing the bribery in Bofors arms deal and the nexus between corporates and government. UNI DS GNK
Hans India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Five Weapon Systems That Secured India's Victory in Operation Sindoor
India's Operation Sindoor, launched on 7 May 2025 in retaliation for the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, has been a defining moment in the country's military response to Pakistan-based terrorism. This operation targeted terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). India's precision-strike capabilities were key in this successful mission, employing a range of advanced weaponry that made a significant impact. Here are five of the most crucial systems that played an essential role: 1. SCALP (Storm Shadow) A cutting-edge air-launched cruise missile, the SCALP is renowned for its precision and stealth features. Built by the European defense consortium MBDA, the SCALP boasts a 450 km range and a low altitude flight profile, which makes it almost invisible to enemy radar. Equipped with a sophisticated navigation suite that includes GPS, inertial navigation, and terrain-following systems, this missile was used to target and neutralize heavily fortified sites such as bunkers and ammunition depots in Pakistan. 2. Loitering Munitions (Kamikaze Drones) India utilized one-way attack drones, particularly the IAI Harop, during Operation Sindoor. These loitering munitions can stay in the air for several hours, scanning for targets before striking with pinpoint accuracy. The Harop drone has a 200 km range and uses electro-optical sensors to identify and destroy critical infrastructure, including air defense systems and radar stations, making it an effective tool for precision strikes against high-value targets. 3. Akash Missile The Akash is an indigenous surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by India's DRDO. Deployed extensively along India's western border and the Line of Control (LoC), the Akash system played a vital role in intercepting Pakistani drones and missiles targeting Indian military installations. This missile system successfully protected Indian bases in Jammu, Srinagar, Pathankot, and Bhuj, among others, during the operation. 4. L-70 Anti-Aircraft Gun Originally developed by Sweden's Bofors and now produced under license in India, the L-70 40mm gun was a pivotal part of India's defense strategy during Operation Sindoor. It has been significantly upgraded with radar, electro-optical sensors, and auto-tracking systems. This advanced anti-aircraft gun was crucial in countering Pakistan's swarm drone attacks, firing up to 330 rounds per minute, and providing effective defense against radar-evading drones and aerial threats. 5. ZSU-23-4 Schilka A Russian-origin anti-aircraft weapon, the ZSU-23-4 Schilka was heavily relied upon during Operation Sindoor to neutralize Pakistan's drone incursions. Mounted on a tracked platform with four 23mm guns, the Schilka is capable of firing an astonishing 4,000 rounds per minute. With its advanced radar, fire-control systems, and proximity-fuse shells, it proved highly effective in targeting and destroying enemy drones and low-flying helicopters, offering strong defense against a wide range of aerial threats. These weapon systems, along with India's strategic planning and coordination, ensured the success of Operation Sindoor, sending a clear message of India's determination to protect its sovereignty and respond decisively to terrorism.
Mint
10-05-2025
- Mint
L-70, ZU-23mm, Schilka and S-400—India's multi-layered strategy to counter Pakistani drones
India and Pakistan are exchanging drone and missile attacks following Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror incident. Border areas are seeing shelling from Pakistan, with India retaliating and using its air defence systems, including L-70 guns, Zu-23mm, Schilka, and S-400, to intercept drones and airstrikes effectively. The L-70 40mm gun has been significantly enhanced with radar, electro-optical sensors, including auto-tracking systems. It is manufactured in India and was developed by Sweden's Bofors. The gun, capable of firing 240–330 rounds per minute with a range of up to 4 km, now serves as a key front-line defence against radar-evading drone swarms. In anti-drone warfare, it floods the sky with predictive fire, making it highly effective against swarm attacks and radar-evading drones. Electro-Optical Fire Control System: Improves target acquisition and tracking accuracy. Integrated Radar: Comprises advanced systems like a new X-band radar for autonomous drone detection and tracking. Auto-Tracking: Enables automatic target acquisition and tracking in all weather conditions. Video Tracking: Permits visual confirmation of targets, enhancing firing accuracy. Notably, India has inducted more than 1,000 L70 guns, making it the most popularly used air defense gun in the armed forces. The Zu-23 is capable of offering a high volume of fire and is frequently used to shield static installations against low-flying threats. It is a Soviet-designed, towed anti-aircraft gun featuring twin 23mm autocannons. It has an effective range of up to 2.5 km for air targets and about 2 km for ground targets. The Russian-made Schilka, a tracked anti-aircraft system equipped with four 23mm cannons, has been upgraded to effectively counter modern threats. Originally featuring radar with a 20 km detection range, it incorporates advanced fire-control systems and proximity-fuse ammunition. With a firing rate of 4,000 rounds per minute, the modernised Schilka offers precise targetting and devastating effectiveness against drones, helicopters, and even lightly armoured ground vehicles. S-400 is among the most cutting-edge long-range surface-to-air missile systems across the globe. India signed an agreement with Russia in 2018 to buy five S-400 units worth $5.43 billion as part of the deal and named it 'Sudarshan Chakra', an Indian name to S-400 Triumf air defence missile system. This term is from Mahabharata which shows precision, speed and lethal capability. It was deployed in Punjab in 2021 to strengthen the defences against Pakistan and China threats. It has a range of up to 400 km and detect threat within 600 km.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress faces twin tests amid caste census and Pahalgam fallout
The Congress leadership is faced with a twin task: First, in finding ways to deal with the Modi government's attempt to walk away with the caste census plank from the Opposition party, particularly Rahul Gandhi who, of late, latched on to it for yet another make-over attempt. Secondly, as a party that had to pay a heavy electoral price after the Modi government harvested the nationalist fervour post Uri/Pulwama retaliatory strikes, Congress has to find ways not to fall into the same corner post-Pahalgam. This explains the Congress' hardline posture, asking PM Modi to retaliate swiftly and decisively even as the party calculates the domestic political fallout if the action this time falls short of the raised public expectation and demand. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Nuclear Power! How India and Pakistan's arsenals stack up Does America have a plan to capture Pakistan's nuclear weapons? Airspace blockade: India plots a flight path to skip Pakistan A Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Friday will firm up plans on these two tasks, including further projecting Rahul Gandhi as the 'prime mover' for the caste census, and fanning a campaign to guard party positions in politics over caste census and the Pahalgam incident. Having sensed that the Modi government has leveraged the first-mover advantage by announcing the first-ever national caste census, Congress has already demonstrated its compulsion to move the goalpost further by demanding a timeline for caste census besides seeking reservation beyond 50% and quota in private educational institutions. After Rahul Gandhi, Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh made these demands on the eve of the CWC meeting. While many expect PM Modi to attach his OBC background to further patent the caste census decision, Rahul, post his ill-fated 'janeu dhari Dattatreya gotra' experiment, has been vocal more about asking others about their castes while advocating the caste census. The Opposition parties are theoretically right in claiming that their lately accelerated campaign for caste census has forced the government's hand. Yet, many also recognise how conventional political wisdom showed the ones who operationalised a plank, even under compulsion, cornered more credit than the ones who made the demands. When India was winning the Kargil war with the effective use of the Bofors guns, the Congress tried to take credit by citing it was the Rajiv Gandhi government that purchased the Swedish-built guns and that the BJP had run a campaign against that gun deal, but the electoral credit went to the Vajpayee government and BJP for winning the war. It remains a fact that the UPA cabinet, due to sharp internal differences, buried the findings of its social-economic and caste census, which meant leaving the potent plank to the current government to activate. The same happened with the Women's Reservation Bill. Live Events No major political player is covered in glory in the OBC politics. If the BJP-RSS combine was evidently never high on caste census with the PM insisting that 'youth, poor, women and farmers' formed the only castes for him, the past Congress governments too have a murky past in stonewalling the Kaka Kalelkar Commission and Mandal Commissions for OBC reservation. The Mandal offshoots like SP and RJD, also have a record of reducing their social justice only for Yadavas, prompting many OBC communities to move towards the BJP and its allies such as Nitish Kumar, helping them to erect a larger Hindu base. While BJP's claim that the Centre's caste census pledge will further harmonise the ties with its allies is being watched, equally under scanner is how Congress' bid for a pie of the OBC political pitch will be treated by allies including SP and RJD who are possessive of their social base, built at the cost of the Congress. Given how political opportunism and U-turns by parties have become 'normal' in today's power politics, only one thing dictates these high-stake politics over caste census and Pahalgam issue; that 'Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar' (the one who wins is the king) -- at any cost.
