Latest news with #C-17
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
HAL, BEL, Bharat Dynamics, other defence stocks in focus as DAC approves projects worth ₹67,000 crore
Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), Bharat Dynamics, Bharat Electronics (BEL), BEML, and other defence stocks will be in focus on Wednesday after the government approved key military projects worth around ₹ 67,000 crore. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved various proposals aimed at boosting India's military capabilities, including procurement of long endurance drones, mountain radars and missile systems at a cost of around ₹ 67,000 crore. For the Indian Army, Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was accorded for the procurement of Thermal Imager-based Driver Night Sight for BMP. This would enhance night driving capability of BMP and provide higher mobility and operational advantage to the Mechanised Infantry, Ministry of Defence said in a release. For the Indian Navy, AoN was accorded for the procurement of Compact Autonomous Surface Craft, BrahMos Fire Control System & Launchers and Upgradation of BARAK-1 Point Defence Missile System. For the Indian Air Force, DAC approved the procurement of Mountain Radars and Upgradation of SAKSHAM/SPYDER Weapon System, it added. AoN was also accorded for procurement of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs) for the three Services. In addition, DAC has also accorded AoN for sustenance of C-17 and C-130J fleets and comprehensive annual maintenance contract of S-400 Long Range Air Defence Missile System. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
RPAs for 3 services to mountain radars: DAC clears procurements worth Rs 67,000 cr
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday approved a range of military procurement proposals for the armed forces worth nearly Rs 67,000 crore. These include the procurement of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs) for the three services, a compact autonomous surface craft for the Navy, maintenance support for the C-17 and C-130J fleets of the Indian Air Force (IAF), and a comprehensive annual maintenance contract for the S-400 long range air defence missile system. The DAC's approval for the maintenance of both American and Russian platforms with the IAF can be considered a display of strategic autonomy by India, especially at a time when the US President Donald Trump has been criticising India over its crude oil imports from Russia, a move New Delhi termed 'unjustified and unreasonable targeting' of the country. The IAF has a fleet of 12 C-130J-30 Super Hercules Aircraft, procured from the US in 2010-11, followed by additional orders in the subsequent years. The IAF operates a fleet of 11 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft procured between 2013 and 2019. Both were procured by India from the US under separate Foreign Military Sale (FMS) agreements. India had signed the S-400 deal with Russia in 2018, a year after the US passed the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The long range surface to air missile system played a critical role in defending Indian skies during Operation Sindoor between May 7 and 10. These procurements are particularly significant in the light of Operation Sindoor, which was launched by India on May 7 after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, and appear to be drawn from lessons learnt from it. According to a statement issued by the Defence Ministry, the DAC has granted an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of Thermal Imager-based Driver Night Sights for the Battle Mechanised Platforms with the Army, which will enhance the night driving capability of BMPs and provide higher mobility and operational advantage to the mechanised infantry. The DAC is the primary body responsible for approving major capital acquisitions in defence. The first step in the defence procurement process is the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN). However, obtaining an AoN does not always lead to a final order. The DAC also approved the procurement of the compact autonomous surface craft, the BrahMos fire control system and launchers, and the upgrade of the BARAK-1 point defence missile system for the Navy. 'The procurement of the compact autonomous surface craft will enable the Indian Navy to detect, classify and neutralise threats during anti-submarine warfare missions,' the statement said. For the Indian Air Force, an AoN was granted for the procurement of mountain radars and the upgrade of the SAKSHAM/SPYDER weapon system, which will enhance air surveillance capabilities along and across borders in mountainous regions. The upgrade of the SAKSHAM/SPYDER system for integration with the Integrated Air Command and Control System will strengthen India's air defence capabilities. Additionally, the procurement of MALE RPAs for three services will support round-the-clock surveillance and combat readiness, as these aircraft can carry multiple payloads and weapons while operating at longer ranges for extended missions.
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First Post
29-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Did US move nuclear arms to UK in a signal to Putin?
For the first time since 2008, the US is believed to have redeployed nuclear weapons to the UK, reportedly delivering B61-12 bombs to RAF Lakenheath. A tracked flight from Kirtland Air Force Base and major upgrades at the base point to a long-term nuclear mission — a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the war in Ukraine read more RAF Lakenheath is primarily used as a United States Air Force (USAF) base. It's the largest US Air Force base in Europe and serves as a hub for combat airpower and support operations. Image/Lakenheath Alliance For Peace For the first time since 2008, the United States is believed to have redeployed nuclear weapons to Britain, a development that could reshape Nato's nuclear posture in Europe. Evidence gathered from open-source flight tracking, defence experts, and Pentagon planning documents suggests that the US delivered B61-12 thermonuclear bombs to RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk earlier this month, reported Bloomberg. On July 16, observers recorded an unusual movement: a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft departed from Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico — the US military's principal nuclear weapons hub — and flew directly to Lakenheath. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What made the mission stand out was that the plane's transponder remained switched on, broadcasting its identity and location for all to see. The aircraft was part of the Prime Nuclear Airlift Force, a specialised unit responsible for moving nuclear weapons. Such missions are typically shrouded in secrecy, but this flight left an unmistakable trail. Speaking to Bloomberg, defence analyst William Alberque, a senior fellow at the Pacific Forum, suggested the flight's visibility was intentional: 'This is a down payment that there's more to come on shifting Nato's deterrence posture toward strengthening. Returning US nuclear weapons to the UK is no small feat.' The flight that raised the alarm Investigation into the aircraft's journey provided critical clues. The C-17 — with the call sign Reach 4574 (RCH4574) — first took off from Lewis–McChord Air Base in Washington state, then crossed the continental US to Kirtland, reported UK Declassified. The base houses the Kirtland Underground Munitions Maintenance and Storage Complex, the world's largest nuclear weapons storage site, containing gravity bombs and warheads for the US arsenal. Read the inside story of how the US Air Force secretly delivered nuclear weapons to Lakenheath Air Base last week: @Cnduk @ScottishCND @EDP24 — Nukewatch (@NukewatchUK) July 22, 2025 Observers from Nukewatch UK, a monitoring group, tracked the mission and reported that the aircraft 'almost certainly loaded up with a cargo of anything up to 20 newly manufactured B61-12 nuclear weapons.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Midway through the trip, the pilot told ground control that the aircraft had 'haz cargo' — hazardous cargo — on board. The flight landed at Lakenheath Air Base on July 17 at 12:50 pm local time. During its time on the ground, the base enforced an unusual security protocol: no other flights took off or landed, and a strict two-and-a-half nautical mile no-fly zone was imposed around the base. 🚨Armed police are patrolling outside RAF Lakenheath as the US air force reportedly transfers more nuclear bombs to British soil with three times the power of Hiroshima. Photo via @NukewatchUK: — Declassified UK (@declassifiedUK) July 24, 2025 Two days later, on July 18, the aircraft departed and returned to Lewis-McChord, its mission complete. Hans Kristensen, who directs the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, was unequivocal: 'There are strong indications that the US has returned nuclear weapons to the UK.' Why the B61-12 matters At the heart of the reported deployment is the B61-12, the latest version of a nuclear gravity bomb first developed during the Cold War. Unlike earlier models, this modernised version is equipped with a guidance tail kit that significantly improves its accuracy. The weapon has a variable yield ranging from 0.3 kilotonnes to 50 kilotonnes — meaning it can deliver a highly targeted strike or a far more devastating blast, depending on the setting. For comparison, the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 had a yield of about 15 kilotonnes, making the B61-12's maximum output more than three times as powerful. These bombs can be carried by several aircraft, including US and Nato jets, and soon by the F-35A fighters that Britain is now acquiring. The UK Ministry of Defence announced in June that it would buy at least 12 new F-35As, specifically citing their ability to carry B61-12 bombs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD An updated UK Ministry of Defence policy paper reinforced the connection to Nato's broader nuclear strategy, stating that 'Nato's nuclear deterrence also relies on US nuclear weapons deployed in Europe and supporting capabilities and infrastructure provided by Allies.' The same document confirmed a significant shift for the UK Royal Air Force, noting that 'This decision reintroduces a nuclear role for the RAF for the first time since the UK retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons after the Cold War.' Upgrades at RAF Lakenheath point to long-term plans RAF Lakenheath, where the bombs are believed to have been delivered, has a long history with US nuclear weapons, hosting them for more than half a century from 1954 until 2008. Documents from the US Department of Defence show that the base has been undergoing major upgrades for years, hinting at preparations for a renewed nuclear mission. Budget filings revealed multimillion-dollar investments in 'surety' projects — the Pentagon term for measures ensuring nuclear weapon security and reliability. One notable project is a 144-bed 'surety dormitory,' now under construction and expected to be finished by February 2026. The justification cited the 'influx of airmen due to the arrival of the potential Surety mission and the bed down of the two F-35 squadrons,' revealing that additional housing was needed for junior personnel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Procurement records indicate new equipment orders linked to what the Pentagon itself referred to as a 'nuclear mission' at RAF Lakenheath. A calculated message to Putin The timing of the suspected deployment has raised eyebrows. US President Donald Trump has recently taken a harder stance on Russia, agreeing to send Ukraine additional Patriot missile systems via European intermediaries and threatening to impose secondary tariffs on Moscow if it fails to agree to a ceasefire soon. Just days before the suspected nuclear transfer, Trump warned that he was 'disappointed' in Putin and hinted that the deadline for compliance could be shortened. Defence expert Sidharth Kaushal of the Royal United Services Institute linked the deployment to NATO strategy, telling Bloomberg: 'Capabilities such as the B61 can contribute to limiting the impact of Russia's large advantage in theatre-level nonstrategic nuclear weapons.' Both Washington and London have remained silent on the matter, consistent with their longstanding policy of neither confirming nor denying the presence or location of nuclear arms. Groups such as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) have urged UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to clarify the situation to Parliament, citing the security implications of having US nuclear bombs back on British soil. Meanwhile, experts point out that control of these weapons remains firmly in American hands. Under established US procedures, only the US president can authorise their use — regardless of where they are stored. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to analysts, the shipment also means the B61-12 is now fully deployed across seven bases in six Nato countries. With inputs from agencies
NDTV
29-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
US Has Likely Moved Nuclear Weapons In UK For First Time Since 2008: Report
The US has likely stationed nuclear weapons in the UK for the first time since 2008, in a signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that it remains committed to European security. On July 16, a US military aircraft flew with its transponder on - making its identification and location publicly visible - from a US nuclear weapons depot at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to an airbase in the UK city of Lakenheath, according to defense analysts and open-source data. The C-17 flight involved the US Air Force's Prime Nuclear Airlift Force, which transports nuclear weapons, and didn't fly over any other nation's territory, according to William Alberque, a Europe-based senior fellow at the Pacific Forum. The US and UK governments have longstanding policies of not commenting on the status or location of their nuclear weapons. US Department of Defense budget documents show that millions of dollars of work on "surety" facilities - the term the Pentagon uses to describe nuclear weapon security - has been in progress at Lakenheath for several years. The weapons the aircraft most likely delivered were the new B61-12 thermonuclear bombs, increasing the number of US tactical nuclear weapons in Europe for the first time since the Cold War. "There are strong indications" that the US has returned nuclear weapons to the UK, said Hans Kristensen, director of the Federation of American Scientists' Nuclear Information Project. Alberque said the decision to leave the flight transponders on indicates the US wants to show Russia that it is not reducing its nuclear capability in Europe. NATO officials declined to immediately comment. "This is a down payment that there's more to come on shifting NATO's deterrence posture toward strengthening," Alberque said. "Returning US nuclear weapons to the UK is no small feat." The move also signals that the US is committing more flexible nuclear capabilities to Europe, creating a wider range of options for its forces, said Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. "Capabilities such as the B61 can contribute to limiting the impact of Russia's large advantage in theater-level nonstrategic nuclear weapons," Kaushal said. US President Donald Trump has hardened his approach to Putin in recent weeks, agreeing to send Ukraine more US-made Patriot missiles through European purchases and threatening to hit Russia with secondary tariffs if it doesn't agree to a cease fire within 50 days. On Monday, Trump said that he would reduce that deadline, adding that the was "disappointed" in Putin. The UK announced last month that it would purchase at least a dozen new US-made F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying B61-12 nuclear bombs. This week, its Ministry of Defense stated in an updated policy document that "NATO's nuclear deterrence also relies on US nuclear weapons deployed in Europe and supporting capabilities and infrastructure provided by Allies." The new jets will be available to fly NATO's nuclear mission, according to the document. "This decision reintroduces a nuclear role for the RAF for the first time since the UK retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons after the Cold War," the MoD said in the document. B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs carry a warhead with a yield adjustable between 0.3 kilotons and 50 kilotons, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. They can be carried on F-35A fighter jets as well as other US and NATO aircraft. Yield measures the explosive power of a nuclear weapon, measured in the equivalent in tons of conventional explosives. Designed to be much more accurate than previous B61 models, its variable yield means it can be used against small military targets as well as population centers. The apparent shipment to the UK means the bomb is now fully deployed in Europe at seven bases across six NATO countries, Kristensen said. US nuclear weapons, even those on other countries' territory, can only be used after the direct authorization of the US President.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'US likely moved N-arms to UK for first time since '08'
T Tired of too many ads? go ad free now he US has likely stationed nuclear weapons in the UK for the first time since 2008, in a signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that it remains committed to European security. On July 16, a US military aircraft flew with its transponder on - making its identification and location publicly visible - from a US nuclear weapons depot at Kirtland air force base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to an airbase in the UK city of Lakenheath, according to defence analysts and open-source data. The C-17 flight involved the US air force's Prime Nuclear Airlift Force, which transports nuclear weapons, and didn't fly over any other nation's territory, according to William Alberque, a Europe-based senior fellow at Pacific Forum. US and UK govts have longstanding policies of not commenting on status or location of their nuclear weapons. The weapons the aircraft most likely delivered were the new B61-12 thermonuclear bombs, increasing the number of US tactical nuclear weapons in Europe for the first time since the Cold War. Alberque said the decision to leave the flight transponders on indicates the US wants to show Russia that it is not reducing its nuclear capability in Europe. "Returning US nuclear weapons to the UK is no small feat." The move also signals that the US is committing more flexible nuclear capabilities to Europe, creating a wider range of options for its forces, said Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. "Capabilities such as the B61 can contribute to limiting the impact of Russia's large advantage in theater-level nonstrategic nuclear weapons," Kaushal said.
