Latest news with #Israeli-built
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Time for Indian defence PSUs to either deliver or get out of the way
Twenty-six years ago, Israeli-built Searcher Mark I and II drones were introduced by the Indian Army in the Kargil war theatre for reconnaissance, while the US had tested the armed version of the MQ-1 Predator drone in the erstwhile Yugoslavia in 1995. India will be acquiring the first of 31 Predator MQ-9B drones from the US in 2028, even as its principal adversary, China, has already developed the Wing Loong II armed drone and supplied it to its tributary state, Pakistan. Operation Sindoor, however, has shown that unmanned combat air systems (UCAVs) have limited capabilities in highly contested airspace, and the era of long-range missiles and air defence systems has dawned in the Indian subcontinent. The era of tanks leading battles with infantry troops is long over, with stand-off weapons becoming the principal platforms for engaging the enemy. It is quite evident that the Indian Army's role has metamorphosed into defending territory from air-, land-, and sea-launched weapons. The Air Force is the spearhead for launching counterattacks against the enemy, and the Navy's role is to strike deep into enemy territory with its heavy-calibre missiles and weaponry. The Indian Army plays a definitive role when the war objective is to occupy enemy territory and hold it against counterattacks post-occupation. After the Air Force and Army pulverized Pakistan's air bases and air defences, it is clear that Islamabad will push for greater conventional and nuclear deterrence against India, with support from China, Turkey, and other Islamic states under the banner of the Ummah. China, in turn, will continue using Pakistan as a convenient proxy to challenge India, arming it with new Yuan-class submarines, long-range missiles, and fighter jets. Given that the US continues to supply weapons to Pakistan, just as Russia does to China, India has no option but to pursue Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance) initiative to catch up in military-tech advancements. Geopolitics will always remain volatile, and the need of the hour is a proven and trusted supply chain. While the DRDO and Indian public sector undertakings (PSUs) have contributed to military-tech development and production, Operation Sindoor presents an opportunity for the Indian private sector to step forward and establish its own R&D units for advanced military systems, with the potential for dual-use technologies. The DRDO and defence PSUs must act as enablers, not obstacles, to private sector initiatives. The hard truth is that India is surrounded by hostile neighbours and extremist ideologies, and must therefore remain battle-ready at all times. In this context, the Indian armed forces cannot afford to wait indefinitely for the public sector to conceptualize, test, demonstrate, and induct hardware technologies. Cases in point include beyond visual range missiles for Prachand helicopters, shoulder-fired and air-launched anti-tank guided missiles, aircraft engines, long-range surface-to-air missiles, and more. This underscores that the Indian public sector cannot build everything on its own without sharing space with the private sector. The armed forces cannot wait forever for the public sector to deliver, especially given the persistent threat of terror strikes from Pakistan-based groups. While the Indian public may be appeased by models of advanced multi-role combat aircraft or a fifth-generation fighter, it is well understood that these projects will only come to fruition when independent India turns 100. In the interim, the Indian armed forces require state-of-the-art technologies such as long-range SAMs, counter-drone systems, and hypersonic missiles—especially since China cannot be trusted on the LAC, just as its lackey Pakistan cannot be trusted on the LoC. Rather than rely on Russia or the West for military hardware technologies, the Modi government must demand delivery and accountability from the Indian public sector, just as the public sectors deliver in Israel, France, and other European powers. The US government also supported its defence majors in the 1960s by funding R&D and purchasing their products. For India to emulate this, the socialist mindset of civilian-military bureaucrats in the defence ministry must change.
Mint
29-05-2025
- General
- Mint
Gazans lining up for food say supplies remain limited
TEL AVIV—A new aid system backed by Israel delivered more food in Gaza on Wednesday, but residents who lined up outside the distribution centers complained of limited supplies and disorder, one day after the effort was marred by scenes of chaos and looting. Thousands of Palestinians desperate for food lined up outside two distribution centers in southern Gaza on Wednesday, despite concerns over security. Large crowds had overwhelmed one of the centers a day earlier and Israeli forces said they fired warning shots outside the compound. As the number of people surged after a slow start, witnesses said there was disorder and crowding as they heard about food running out. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private entity overseeing the new aid system, said that it was operating the two distribution sites in southern Gaza on Wednesday afternoon without unusual incidents. It has distributed approximately 14,550 boxes of food since it began operations on Monday, GHF said, but didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on supplies running out and disorder at the distribution sites on Wednesday. Nizar Thabet, 37, who walked to one of the distribution sites near the Israeli-built Morag corridor in Rafah with his two hungry children, said he was able to get his hands on lentils, rice, and packs of pasta by asking others to give him some rather than receiving his own box. Palestinians carrying supplies received from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday. 'Some boxes were opened—quantities were gone. I got food from others who hadn't eaten in 20 days," he said. Many others left empty-handed because supplies ran out, he said. Israel was pressured to end its more than two-month blockade on Gaza, which it says was aimed at pressuring Hamas to release the hostages. During this period, no aid, medicine or fuel entered the enclave, leading to widespread hunger, according to residents and aid groups. The humanitarian crisis led to an international outcry, including from the U.S., Israel's close ally, which pushed Israel to lift the blockade earlier this month. But little aid has since reached Gazans, according to residents, and many are surviving on just one meal a day, mainly bread and canned goods. According to the new plan, aid is to be handed out directly to Gazan families at distribution sites with the help of private security companies, to prevent Hamas from taking control of the aid, as Israel alleges. Hamas denies that it seizes the aid. Israeli military forces are stationed nearby for security. Trucks loaded with aid arriving at the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza, on Wednesday. UTERS/Shafiek Tassiem Many Gazans who are facing severe food shortages say they will do anything to feed their families, but the scenes of chaos, looting and Israeli shooting near the compound Tuesday were concerning, they said. 'The scenes were heartbreaking," said Mohammed Al-Saafin, 25 years old, who is sheltering in the city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. 'People were desperate, running after trucks, just trying to get a bag of flour or some canned food. I won't go—it's too dangerous," he said. The new aid plan overhauls the way aid has entered Gaza through international aid groups since the start of the war, and has faced criticism from more than 20 countries and the United Nations. Critics say it puts people unnecessarily at risk and can't meet the needs of the population on the ground. Most of the planned distribution sites are situated in southern Gaza, which makes reaching them difficult for those who live elsewhere or are unable to move. 'The U.N. has refused to participate in this scheme, warning that it is logistically unworkable and violates humanitarian principles by using aid as a tool in Israel's broader efforts to depopulate areas of Gaza," Jonathan Whittall, the head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said at a press briefing Wednesday. Since the start of the war, Israel has issued evacuation orders that cover widespread areas in Gaza, which it says are aimed at ensuring the population is out of harm's way in active combat areas but which have repeatedly displaced Gazans. Momen Hassouneh, a 33-year-old father to three young children who is living in the al-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City, located in the strip's north, said it would be difficult to make the journey to distribution centers in the south. 'Transportation is difficult. If the roads were open, we'd want to go," Hassouneh said. The continuing war makes people fearful of moving unless forced. Israel says that it launched a renewed offensive in the enclave to crush Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel had killed Hamas's top leader in Gaza, Mohammed Sinwar, after targeting him in a strike earlier this month. Mohammad Abo Nasem, 38 and a father of three children, is living in a tent in Khan Younis, after being displaced six times since the start of the war. He said he was initially encouraged by photos of people receiving aid on Tuesday, but was deterred by the large crowds. 'I didn't like what happened yesterday because there was no order," he said. 'If there was a system that was more comfortable for people and spared people the humiliation of standing in long lines and chaos, if there was a better mechanism, everyone could get their share without problems or crowding," he said. But with a family to feed he is desperate. 'I literally have nothing to feed my family. No lentils, no pasta, nothing." He said he would go to a distribution center tomorrow to try his luck. Write to Anat Peled at
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Amid setback, South Korea pushes forward on drones, loyal wingman
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Despite a recent accident with an Israeli-built drone, South Korea's military is pressing ahead ahead with unmanned technology, including a stealthy loyal wingman designed to accompany the air force's new KF-21 Boramae fighters. The accident occurred on March 17, when an IAI Heron-1 drone belonging to Korea's army veered off a runway upon landing at Yangju, subsequently colliding with a parked Surion helicopter. Both aircraft were written off, meaning the army has now lost all three of its Herons in accidents. Nonetheless, the country is under the gun to accelerate its drone plans – and for reasons outside immediate military-equipment considerations. Kim Jae Yeop, senior researcher at the Sungkyun Institute for Global Strategy in Seoul, told Defense News South Korea's low birth rate, amongst the lowest in the world, is looming large. 'The number of regular troops in the armed forces, which is now roughly 500,000, will highly likely decrease to fewer than 400,000 in the next decade,' he said. 'As a result,' Kim explained, 'Seoul is taking active measures to expand the role of military unmanned systems to offset the reduction in troops. They can be acquired at significant scale at a lower cost and without risk to life in missions.' One important program saw Korean Air roll out a new loyal wingman technology demonstrator – called the Low Observable Unmanned Wingman System, or LOWUS – on Feb. 25. The stealthy turbofan-powered LOWUS, funded by the Agency for Defense Development since 2021, was unveiled at the Korean Air Tech Center in Pusan. Its maiden flight is expected later this year, ahead of manned-unmanned teaming flight tests in 2027. Possessing an internal weapons bay and looking similar to the American XQ-58A Valkyrie, Korean Air lists a length of 10.4m and wingspan of 9.4m for the aicraft. As with similar loyal wingman concepts by other major powers, the idea for the drone sidekicks is fly missions ranging from strike to surveillance, jamming and escort. The LOWUS will likely have a domestic engine and active electronically scanned array radar. Korean Air gained experience with requisite stealth technologies when developing the blended-wing KUS-FC, or Kaori-X, drone that first flew in 2015. In the future, Korea's air force is expected to introduce composite squadrons of manned fighters and loyal wingmen. 'Considering the fact that only a small number of countries like the U.S., Australia and Russia have been producing and testing similar kinds of systems, the LOWUS highlights Seoul's technological achievements,' said Kim. Another program currently underway comprises a search for loitering munitions for Korean special forces units. A platform is due to be selected later this year, and Seoul is allocating around $22 million to this acquisition. Foreign types like the Switchblade 600 and Hero 120 are under consideration, with the aim being to give special forces strike drones they can use independently against North Korean invaders without the need for calling in external fire support.
NBC News
19-03-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Israeli military has begun a new ground operation in Gaza
TEL AVIV — Israel's military has sent ground troops back into the Gaza Strip, the spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces announced, just over a day after it broke a two-month long ceasefire with a sprawling bombing campaign that killed hundreds across the enclave. The 'targeted ground operation' had focused on the central and southern Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, the IDF said in a statement. Ground troops had also retaken the 'Netzarim Axis,' the statement read, referring to the Israeli-built roadway that bisects the enclave and has been used to cut off traffic between the northern and southern parts of Gaza. The IDF's announcement of its ground incursion came as Israel's defense minister threatened that the military would once again begin evacuating civilians from combat zones. 'The air force attack against Hamas terrorists was only the first step. The rest will be much more difficult and you will pay the full price,' Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. 'If all the Israeli hostages are not released and Hamas is not eliminated from Gaza — Israel will act with forces you have never known before.'
