Latest news with #MICA
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Korean-born artist passes along centuries-old dye tradition to Maryland art students
A Korean-born artist is passing down a centuries-old tradition to Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) students in Baltimore. For Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we're recognizing artist Rosa Chang, who teaches a traditional indigo and natural dye class at MICA called "Mindful Colors: Natural Dyes from Korea and Beyond." "We are creating a lot of different colors but also really navigating the relationship between the color and nature," Chang said. The class uses plants like indigo and marigold to create hues of blue and gold. It's a meticulous process of soaking plants to get the right color. "[The] Indigo dying process to make this blue requires another fermentation process," Chang said. Chang said she got involved in this work after growing tired of working in the fashion industry as a pattern designer. "Those fabrics dyed from factories feel very toxic," Chang said. Then, someone introduced her to the natural dye practice. That's when she began learning about the significance of indigo. "Almost all different cultures and communities have their own indigo dye practices," Chang said. "There's so many indigo plant species." Chang said indigo is a culture connector. She adds it has a rich history and carries medicinal benefits. "Samurais back in the day in Japan, they would use indigo to dye their that it would protect their wound after the war," Chang said. "It accelerates the healing process." Chang said some would even drink indigo water as medicine during epidemics. These stories are part of the lesson Chang teaches throughout the semester. "Nice to be able to kind of keep things alive" Students in the class are working on their final project, combining all they've learned throughout the course. "We're making a sample book," said MICA student Amber Likins. "Every time I look at this book, I'm going to remember how I did this, but I'm also going to remember just how we got here." "I think I'm just trying to capture every hue," said Sam Beil, another MICA student. Students said the skills learned in class will be something they will use either for their art pieces or as a side hobby. Student Madelaine Kraushaar appreciates the sustainability piece to this work. Kraushaar finds items for art pieces from nature. "I used an invasive species of English Ivy, and I picked it around the trees in Baltimore," Kraushaar said. "Then I used that leaf to make the green dye." Others enjoy learning about a tradition started hundreds of years ago. "Everything is really archaic, and I really enjoy that really historical process," Beil said. "That's important to me, passing it down," said student Amber Likins. Chang's book, "My Indigo World" Chang said her work with indigo and natural dye even inspired her children's book, "My Indigo World." She began writing it during the COVID-19 pandemic. "I couldn't find any evidence of Korean indigo written in English," Chang said. So, she decided to create her own. "My Indigo World" shares the science behind indigo dye and the history of the plant, written and illustrated by Chang. "I really wanted to create something as a gift for my community as well as honor my ancestors," Chang said. Through her book and class, Chang is carrying on the natural dye tradition. Chang said that although many cultures are different, you can find similar practices that connect us all. It's a message she hopes everyone receives. Chang is teaching a workshop for those interested in trying out the practice. It takes place on May 31. Tickets start at $125.
Asia Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Asia Times
India loses top fighter jet – bad news for its future air combat
India has lost its top fighter jet, the Rafale EH. Three Rafale jets were shot down. In addition, at least one Sukhoi and one MIG plus a large Israel reconnaissance drone were destroyed by Pakistan's air force. Until the latest air combat, India had acquired 34 Rafale jet fighters. These are multimission platforms suitable for all combat aviation missions: air superiority and air defense, close air support, in-depth strikes, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes and nuclear deterrence. In the latest confrontation, which apparently lasted around an hour, the Rafales were carrying SCALP cruise missiles, which in the UK are known as Storm Shadow. These missiles have been used extensively in Ukraine. The Rafales also had MICA (missile d'interception, de combat et d'auto-défense) air-to-air missiles. At least one of these missiles was found near the crash site of the first Rafale that was downed. That Rafale had a tail designation of BS-001, meaning it was the first Rafale delivered to the Indian air force. BS means single seat. BS-001 tail of the first downed Rafale The combat that took place was at a distance, not a classical close-encounter dogfight. Pakistan was operating over Pakistani air space when its J-10 jet (Chinese but co-produced in Pakistan) launched Chinese PL-15 air to air missiles. Some parts of a PL-15 missile have been recovered on Indian territory, including part of its AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar. Chinese image of the launch of a PL-15 The PL-15 is China's answer to the US AIM-120D AMRAAM (advanced medium-range air-to-air missile) which is an all-weather, beyond-visual-range missile. It has a range of 200 to 300 km (124 to 186 miles), although the export version is 145 km (90 miles). It is assumed Pakistan has the export model. The PL-15 is pretty fast. Once launched, its speed is around Mach-5 (6,173 kph or 3,836 mph). By way of contrast, the French MICA air to air missile has a significantly shorter range, around 60 to 80 km (37 to 50 miles). Thus the Chinese PL-15 as a stand-off weapon has a significant advantage. That seems to have paid off in the recent encounter. Two versions of French MICA air to air missile The US Air Force has put most of its bets on two capabilities: stealth for platforms such as the F-22 and F-35, and long-range interdiction with air-to-air missiles in warfare described as 'beyond visual range.' Consequently, fighters such as the F-35 have traded off maneuverability to emphasize stealth, and have long-range air-to-air missiles to support BVR encounters. The Rafale is not a stealth platform and, while in many ways technologically advanced, it is not as BVR capable as Chinese-designed jets and air-to-air missiles. Furthermore, even the AMRAAM seems to fall short of the mark in any competition, meaning that the AMRAAM will need to be replaced with a longer-range and faster air-to-air missile. Russia also has a BVR air-to-air missile, the R-77 which is being upgraded. A new version, R-77M, designed for Russia's new Su-57 fighter, has a dual pulse motor (like China's PL-15) and AESA radar. Quite possibly it incorporates Chinese technology. Russia also appears to have a scramjet-powered version of the R-77. Nothing is known of the range of either missile, although the earlier R-77 was inferior in range to AMRAAM. What happened to India in the latest firefight is bad news for NATO, which appears to be falling behind technologically – and it is a warning to the United States to speed up development of an AMRAAM replacement. While the US has a new replacement for AMRAAM, designated as the AIM-260 JATM (joint advanced tactical missile), as of now it is in low-rate production and has not achieved initial operational capability. Supposedly, it has a range of 200 km (124 miles), putting it at the low end compared to the PL-15. There is still a lot more to be learned about the latest encounter between the Pakistani and Indian air forces. There may be more bad news.
The Print
30-04-2025
- Science
- The Print
Why homegrown Astra, set to be integrated with Rafale Marine, is no ordinary missile
While the Rafale M typically carries the European MICA and Meteor air-to-air missiles, the fighters for India will be integrated with indigenous Astra Mk1. Deliveries are expected to commence in 2028, with the fighters to be deployed on India's indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. New Delhi: India this week signed a government-to-government agreement with France worth Rs 63,000 crore for the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for the Indian Navy. ThePrint looks at why India's first Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) is a gamechanger in aerial warfare and how the project took off. Also Read: Indian Navy flexes muscle in Arabian Sea with long-range precision anti-ship missile firings Homegrown BVRAAM Astra, meaning 'weapon' in Sanskrit, is developed by the Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), with production by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). The Astra Mk1 is capable of striking aerial targets flying at speeds of up to Mach 1.4 (exceeding 1,729 km/hr) at ranges extending to 110 km. Post-launch, the missile employs inertial mid-course guidance, aided by encrypted data-link updates from the launch aircraft and switches to active radar homing in the terminal phase. During its development phase, the missile was initially fitted with the Russian-origin Agat 9B1103M active radar seeker, which remained in use for all design validation and live firing trials until 2017. In parallel, DRDO developed a fully indigenous Ku-band active radar seeker. Designed as a form-fit replacement, this homegrown seeker has now been integrated across all production versions. How 'Project Astra' took off The project traces its roots back to the early 2000s when it was initiated without formal sanction. According to the sources, in the absence of sanctioned funding, DRDO began preliminary design work using internal resources. 'The initial major challenges included developing a reliable Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, miniaturised and sturdy missile hardware and integrating the system onto IAF frontline aircraft without any support from the foreign OEM (original equipment manufacturer),' one of the sources told ThePrint. 'DRDO leadership wanted DRDL to demonstrate core capabilities even before the project was formally sanctioned.' Official clearance for the project was granted in April 2004 and the Su-30MKI was selected as the primary integration platform. The Astra missile's initial development began with efforts to validate its performance through ballistic launches from a ground-based launcher. 'This was aimed at demonstrating safe and stable release before progressing to manned aircraft trials,' another source said. In May 2003, three such tests were conducted at the Integrated Test Range in Balasore to establish baseline performance parameters. By 2011, the missile's configuration was frozen and air-launch testing intensified over the following years. 'Between 2014 and 2019, the missile underwent over 35 air launches and more than 150 captive flight trials,' one of the sources cited above said. Following a string of successful demonstrations, Astra Mk1 was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2019. Since its induction, Astra Mk1 has been integrated with several frontline platforms including the Su-30MKI. It is being integrated with the LCA Tejas Mk1A. Plans are underway to equip the MiG-29K and IAF's Rafale as well. Once integration plans are fully executed, Astra is set to become the standard long-range air-to-air missile across the entire fighter fleet with the exception of the Mirage 2000, which is nearing the end of its operational life. Why integrating Astra matters While the Meteor missile is considered among the most advanced in the world, its high cost and dependence on foreign suppliers make sustained operations during crises strategically limiting. The cost advantage is significantly notable. Priced at approximately Rs 7–8 crore per unit, the Astra Mk1 offers a substantial saving compared to the French Meteor missile, which costs around Rs 25 crore per unit. On the other hand, MICA, though versatile, is capped at a range of around 80 km and is now seen as inadequate in modern contested airspaces that demand longer reach and resistance to electronic warfare. Meanwhile, China's PL-15 missile, deployed on platforms like J-20 and J-10C, is speculated to have a domestic range of 200–250 km. Even its export variant, the PL-15E, is claimed to offer up to 145 km of engagement envelope. Pakistan continues to operate the US-supplied AIM-120C5 with an estimated 100 km range and is reportedly collaborating with China on next-generation BVRAAMs. Amid tensions with India over Pahalgam, reports indicate that Pakistan may have received express deliveries of China's PL-15 missiles. In this context, Astra's progressive development becomes central to India's evolving air power posture. Being homegrown, the system can also be rapidly modified to meet operational requirements without external dependencies. Mk2 & 3 in pipeline The long-term vision for air combat supremacy is reflected in the ongoing development of two advanced Astra variants: Mk2 and Mk3. Expected to be operationally ready by 2026, Astra Mk2 is designed for longer ranges between 140 km and 160 km. It features a dual-pulse rocket motor, upgraded guidance algorithms and the indigenous radio frequency (RF) seeker. Named 'Gandiva', the bow of Arjun, Mk3 is the most ambitious of the Astra family. Slated for induction by 2031, it is being developed with a solid fuel ducted ramjet (SFDR) propulsion system. This next-gen missile is expected to sustain speeds of Mach 4.5 and strike targets over 300 km away, placing it in the class of modern super-BVRAAMs. What also distinguishes Astra from most foreign-origin systems is its platform-agnostic design. Imported BVRAAMs are often subject to licensing restrictions, embedded software controls and compatibility constraints that limit their usage across different aircraft types. 'Astra is being developed as a universal missile solution that cuts across both IAF and Navy platforms,' a source said. 'This reduces logistical complexity, shortens training cycles and enhances readiness in high-tempo scenarios.' Beyond its technical features, Astra represents a deliberate move toward operational flexibility and strategic autonomy in critical defence technologies. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: 'All can see where we stand': Message to the nation by fallen hero Havildar Jhantu Sheikh's father
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
MICA honours Bhaskar Das
It's a salute to a mind that has shaped many. MICA Ahmedabad has introduced the Bhaskar Das Academic Excellence in Media, Entertainment & Sports Business Award — an annual honour celebrating outstanding student achievement in its MBA programme. Das, who passed away this January, had dedicated four decades to the media industry and was a long-time mentor at MICA . He was part of its governing council and helped build the Centre for Media, Entertainment and Sports department from the ground up, blending strategic business thinking with these evolving worlds. 'He had the unique ability to bridge academia and industry seamlessly, inspiring countless students and faculty members to think beyond conventional boundaries,' said Prof Santosh Patra, associate dean, academics. MICA will also be launching the Bhaskar Das Annual Lecture Series, bringing leading voices from the world of media, entertainment and sports into conversation with students. The institute is creating a video blog archive of the media maven's lectures and even curating a coffee table book capturing his contributions.
Saudi Gazette
27-03-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Macron announces €2 billion in additional military aid for Ukraine
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged an additional €2 billion in military aid to Ukraine. The announcement came during a press conference in Paris on Wednesday evening, ahead of a high-stakes international summit on Ukraine's long-term security scheduled for Thursday morning. The new package includes a range of military equipment, such as Milan anti-tank missiles, MICA missiles for Mirage fighter jets, Mistral air defense missiles, armored vehicles, munitions, and drones. Macron also highlighted that Thursday's summit with world leaders in Paris will address the "future format of the Ukrainian armed forces." The discussions aim to ensure that Ukraine remains capable of resisting new attacks and maintaining long-term security. On the thorny issue of deploying peacekeeping troops, Macron clarified that such forces would not be engaged on the front to the French leader, strengthening Ukraine's military is the main priority, with the potential deployment of peacekeeping forces to hold positions behind the front lines as a secondary measure. These forces could be stationed in "strategic towns" or "bases."Speaking alongside Macron, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped that the United States would maintain its commitment to enforcing a ceasefire."We have had several discussions with the US in Saudi Arabia that have enabled us to unlock the US aid and intelligence we need," he said. "We hope and believe that America will have enough strength to enforce the partial ceasefire."On Tuesday, the US said it had brokered a deal to end fighting in the Black Sea in talks with Ukraine and Moscow later released a statement saying that it would respect the ceasefire only when sanctions imposed on its banks and exports are rejected the idea of easing sanctions on Russia, describing it as "far too early.""Peace through strength is not about removing sanctions. Lifting them depends solely on Russia's choice to comply with international law," explained Macron, in an apparent jab at the Trump Tuesday, the US announced that it would ease sanctions targeting Russian agricultural however reiterated the necessity of tightening sanctions against Moscow."Sanctions against Russia must remain in force and be strengthened," he urged, arguing that "only diplomacy based on force is effective." — Euronews
