Latest news with #IndianAirForce
India.com
3 hours ago
- India.com
Not F-16, Su-30 or F-35 — This Fighter Jet Dominates as the World's Best-Selling
photoDetails english 2931327 Updated:Jul 13, 2025, 07:02 PM IST Record-Breaking Production Numbers 1 / 10 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 holds the record as the most sold fighter jet of all time, with over 11,000 units produced since its first flight in 1955. This makes it the most common jet-powered military aircraft ever built. International Manufacturing Footprint 2 / 10 While most MiG-21s were built in the Soviet Union, licensed production also took place in countries like India (by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) and Czechoslovakia, reflecting its global reach. Global Operator Base 3 / 10 The MiG-21 served with around 60 air forces worldwide, including major operators such as India, Russia, China, and Vietnam. Its widespread export made it one of the most globally recognized fighter jets. Aviation Milestones and Longevity 4 / 10 The MiG-21 is notable not only for its production numbers but also for its long production run, from 1959 to 1985 in the USSR and even later in China. It was the most produced supersonic jet in history. Affordability and Maintenance Simplicity 5 / 10 Affordability and ease of maintenance made the MiG-21 especially attractive to developing countries with limited defense budgets, contributing to its widespread adoption. Pioneering Role in Indian Air Force 6 / 10 The MiG-21 was the first supersonic fighter jet to enter service with the Indian Air Force in 1964 and served as the backbone of the IAF for decades. Wide Range of Variants 7 / 10 The MiG-21 was produced in over 30 different variants, including single-seat fighters, two-seat trainers, and specialized reconnaissance models, showcasing its adaptability. Combat-Proven Across Conflicts 8 / 10 The MiG-21 saw extensive combat service in conflicts such as the Vietnam War, the Indo-Pakistani wars, and various Middle Eastern and African conflicts, proving its versatility and effectiveness. Enduring Service Life 9 / 10 Even after more than 60 years, some MiG-21s remain in active service in several countries, a testament to their robust design and adaptability. Controversial Safety Record 10 / 10 Despite its success, the MiG-21 earned nicknames like "flying coffin" and "widow maker" due to a high accident rate, particularly in India, where over 350 of the 793 inducted aircraft were lost in crashes.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Countdown to Earth: Shubhanshu Shukla to return from ISS on Tuesday; mother prepares 'grand welcome'
. NEW DELHI: It's been more than 15 days since Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station, left Earth for his mission aboard Axiom-4. His mother, like all mothers, is counting the hours until her child returns home. If all goes as planned, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will fly back to Earth on Tuesday. The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to undock from the ISS on Monday and splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast the next day. Speaking to ANI from Lucknow, his mother, Asha Shukla, who grew emotional at the time of lift-off as she watched the historic moment unfold, said the family was preparing to welcome him home. 'We pray to God that he completes his mission successfully and comes back to earth as soon as possible and meets us… We will give him a grand welcome,' she said. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, said, 'Tomorrow, July 14, the undocking will take place at around 4.30 pm, and on July 15, he will return to Earth. We were waiting for this, so we are happy that he is coming back. We pray to God that he comes back safely.' Prayers and preparations Earlier, Asha had said the thought of having him back at home brought relief and happiness. "He showed us the view of Earth from space. Seeing him smiling and healthy meant a lot to us. We are just waiting for him to be back safely so that he can relax and eat at home with us," she added. Asked what preparations were being done for his welcome, Shubhanshu's mother, Asha, said, "I will cook whatever he wants. He told us that this time, after coming back, he wants to eat everything he hasn't had in the past five-six years due to being abroad. He said he wants to enjoy all his favourite home-cooked food." Shubhanshu had said he would miss home food during the mission, so he packed a few Indian sweets for the journey. Speaking at a press conference before the launch, he shared, 'There will be plenty of food to eat in space, but I will be carrying mango nectar, carrot halwa, and moong dal halwa with me.' How Ax-4 crew will return Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer, part of the Axiom Mission 4 crew, will return with Commander Peggy Whitson, ESA astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu. Their return journey will take around 22 hours. The crew is expected to splash down at approximately 3 pm IST on Tuesday. A farewell ceremony with Nasa 's Expedition 73 crew is scheduled at 7:25 pm IST on 14 July. According to Axiom Space, the mission will return with over 580 pounds of cargo, including equipment and research samples from more than 60 experiments. During their 18-day stay aboard the ISS, the Ax-4 team carried out several scientific studies and outreach activities. These included tests related to human health, space agriculture, mental well-being, and space suit materials. Group Captain Shukla worked on a project to test glucose monitors in microgravity—part of a broader effort to understand how spaceflight could be made safer and more inclusive. Axiom Mission 4 was launched on 25 June from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The Dragon spacecraft docked with the ISS on 26 June.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
ISB degree, ex-IAF pilot saved many in 2004 tsunami. Who is Vijay Arisetty, founder of MyGate?
When the 2004 tsunami struck the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, one man flew his chopper into the heart of the disaster zone, saving hundreds of lives. That man was Vijay Arisetty , an Indian Air Force pilot and Shaurya Chakra awardee. Today, he's trading cockpit controls for code and communities. As the founder of MyGate —a digital platform transforming urban gated societies—Vijay is on a new mission: making city living safer, smarter, and more connected for millions of Indians. But how does a warzone-trained helicopter pilot go on to lead one of India's fastest-growing proptech startups? His journey is anything but ordinary. A decorated soldier turned entrepreneur Vijay Arisetty's story begins with intense discipline and service. Trained at the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA), he went on to serve in the Indian Air Force for over a decade as a helicopter pilot. During his time in uniform, he undertook critical rescue missions and peacekeeping operations both in India and abroad. His bravery during the 2004 tsunami earned him the Shaurya Chakra, one of India's highest peacetime gallantry awards. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo But a sports injury changed everything. It forced him to step away from the cockpit and into civilian life. Seizing this unexpected transition, Vijay enrolled at the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, where he pivoted into the corporate world. He eventually worked as Vice President at Goldman Sachs , but something was missing—a deeper purpose. The birth of MyGate You Might Also Like: IIT-IIM degrees, Goldman Sachs job. Left everything to know more about security guards. Who is Abhishek Kumar, co-founder of MyGate? In 2016, armed with military precision, corporate experience, and entrepreneurial vision, Vijay launched MyGate—a digital solution for managing gated communities. The idea was sparked by a simple observation: the everyday experience of apartment living was broken. Security processes were outdated, communication between residents and management was inefficient, and local service discovery was clunky at best. Joining Vijay in this ambitious venture were Abhishek Kumar (IIT Kanpur, IIM Ahmedabad, ex-Goldman Sachs) and Shreyans Daga (IIT Guwahati, ISB). Together, the trio left cushy jobs to build something meaningful from scratch. What began as a gatekeeping app has evolved into a full-fledged ecosystem. According to its website, MyGate now facilitates everything from entry validation and package deliveries to property purchases and helpdesk ticketing. It handles a staggering 720,000 requests per minute and has processed over 6 billion entries across housing societies in India. More than just tech—it's about trust What sets MyGate apart is not just its tech stack, but the real-world grit behind it. Vijay's military background helped shape the platform's emphasis on discipline, security, and reliability. Meanwhile, his corporate stint brought in the finesse required to scale in India's complex urban infrastructure. The app is currently valued at Rs 1,670 crore and is used by millions. But for Vijay, the mission is still personal. MyGate isn't just about digitizing doors; it's about security, empowering residents, and building real communities.
India.com
7 hours ago
- Science
- India.com
IAF Agniveer Vayu Recruitment 2025: Registrations ends on July 31; Check eligibility and other important details here
Representational Image IAF Agniveer Vayu Recruitment 2025: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is now accepting applications for Agniveer Vayu positions under the Agnipath scheme. Interested and eligible candidates can apply online from July 11 to July 31, 2025, through the official website This opportunity is open for unmarried candidates for four years where the selected candidates must not marry and female candidates must undertake to not to get pregnant during the engagement tenure if otherwise will lead to discharge from the service and debarment from selection into the regular cadre. After the registrations, the test selection test will take place from September 25 onwards. IAF Agniveer Vayu Recruitment 2025: Check Eligibility Candidates must be born between July 2nd 2005, and January 2nd, 2009 (inclusive of both dates) and the results will be valid till 02/2026. Candidates have mainly two entry points- Science stream candidates- Class 12th (10+2) with Mathematics, Physics, and English from a recognised board, with at least 50 per cent marks aggregate overall and 50 percent marks in English. Or a diploma in engineering for three years in streams like Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Automobile, Computer Science, Instrumentation Technology, or Information Technology with 50% marks aggregate overall and in English. Non-science stream candidates- Class 12 in any stream with a minimum of 50 percent aggregate overall and 50 percent in English. Or a two-year vocational course completing with at least 50 per cent marks overall and in English. Additionally, candidates must have attained 17.5 to 21 years of age, meaning they should have been born between July 2, 2005, and January 2, 2009 (inclusive of both dates). Note: Candidates eligible for science subjects can also opt for 'other than science subjects'in one sitting. Aggregate percentage written before decimal will be considered as stated in the notice. IAF Agniveer Vayu Recruitment 2025: How to apply? Step 1: Go onto the official website at and login to fill the application form. Step 2: Attach all necessary documents and enter necessary details. Note: candidates must register only once as other application forms will not be considered and the fee will not be refunded, also the details filled during registration will be final. Step 3: Choose five examination centre preferences for phase 1, though CASB can allot any centre entrusted with its rights. Step 4: Examination fee is to be paid by the candidate of Rs 550 plus taxes through online mode like Debit Cards/Credit Cards/Internet Banking through the payment gateway. IAF Agniveer Vayu Recruitment 2025: Post application selection process Phase-1 will include an online test (STAR). Admit cards will be sent to the registered email IDs within 48-72 hours before the exam. The exam will span over 60 minutes with objective type questions. 1 mark will be awarded for each correct answer with negative marking of 0.25 for incorrect answers and no marks for no answers. The candidates must qualify in each paper individually in science and non science subjects after normalisation of marks. Phase-2 will be a Physical Fitness Test (PFT) followed by an adaptability skills test. PFT being further subdivided into PFT-I and PFT-II test where PFT-I will be a run test where candidates have to run 1.6 KM in sports shoes and shorts/track pants within seven minutes for male candidates and eight minutes for female candidates. PFT-II will include exercises. The adaptability test 1 will be an objective type written test where candidates will be assessed on the sustainability for employment in the Indian Air Force for varied geographic terrains, weather, and operational conditions. The adaptability test 2 will assess the adaptability to the military way of life at the Air Force. This will be followed by the final stage I.e. the medical examination. After the completion of the selection process, a state-wise provisional select list will be released on the and the final list will be released by June 1, 2026 after which candidates will be called for enrolment.
India.com
7 hours ago
- General
- India.com
Air India Crash: How did engines fail, why its not mentioned in....? expert raises questions on report
Air India Crash: How did engines fail, why its not mentioned in…? expert raises questions on report Air India Plane Crash: More than a month has passed, but the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad still remains a mystery. The initial report released by the investigation agency not only seems incomplete, but answers to several questions related to the accident are still to be found. Former Indian Air Force officer and aviation expert Sanjeev Kapoor has raised serious questions about the recently published report. He stated that it is still a mystery what actually happened in the cockpit. Is The AAIB Report Incomplete? Kapoor has raised serious questions on the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) report, terming it incomplete. He has also raised questions on the delay of publishing the report. During an interview with India Today, he stated that no pilot gives a 'Mayday' call so easily. The Mayday call means the situation was very gruesome and there is no doubt that both the engines had failed. He raised the question how both the engines failed? The report doesn't mention about engines failure. How The Fuel Supply Was Cut Off? Not Mentioned In The Report? The AAIB report states that, few seconds before the crash, the pilot sent a distress call back-to-back three times. As mentioned in the report, the plane took off at 1:38:39 pm (IST) and just 26 seconds later at 08:09:05, the pilot gave the emergency message 'MAYDAY… MAYDAY… MAYDAY…' three times. As per the conversation recorded in the cockpit voice recorder, one pilot questions the other – 'Why did you stop the fuel supply?' The other pilot replied I did not stop it. The report says that the fuel control switches (of both engines) changed from 'run' to 'cutoff' mode in the same second. As the fuel was cut off, the engines stopped immediately, and the plane lost altitude, leading to the deadly crash. Sanjeev Kapoor raised questions that it is absurd that any sensible pilot would turn off the fuel himself after take-off. The pilot flew the plane manually, he then then it to 170 degrees and turned off the engine? He said this does not match any logic. Why Is The Information In The Report Incomplete? Raising questions on the delay in the investigation. Kapoor said the cockpit data was downloaded three weeks ago, so why did it take 20 days for the report to publish. The information in the report is incomplete. He said a more in-depth analysis should have been done if the authorities took such a long time. RAT System Was Activated, But Only One Engine Could Start A preliminary investigation by the AAIB indicates that following engine failure, the aircraft's emergency Ram Air Turbine (RAT) system automatically deployed, supplying some hydraulic power. While the crew attempted to restart both engines, only one was successfully restarted. But the aircraft lost altitude and speed. This resulted in a crash into a hostel building full of students. System Failure Under Investigation The report mentions that a probe of the pilot's mental condition, automation system failure and fuel supply system is still underway. Experts say that deliberate switching off of the fuel control switch might hints technical problems, automatic system malfunctions, or other unspecified factors which are not mentioned in the current report. The investigation is still underway.
