Latest news with #Rafale


Hans India
an hour ago
- Business
- Hans India
BrahMos Missile Demand Surges As Lucknow Facility Begins Advanced Materials Production
Following Operation Sindoor's successful strikes against terror and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, international interest in India's BrahMos supersonic missile has intensified significantly. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has announced that over 14 nations have expressed procurement interest in the Indo-Russian joint venture missile system. The heightened global demand has coincided with the establishment of a new BrahMos production facility in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, launched shortly after Operation Sindoor concluded. This development has been further strengthened by PTC Industries Limited's emergence as India's pioneering private sector manufacturer of titanium and superalloy components—materials essential for missile systems, naval vessels, and aircraft manufacturing. This manufacturing capability positions India as the sixth global producer of these sophisticated materials, alongside the United States, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, and China. The facility operates within the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor framework, where over seven defence manufacturing units have commenced operations. PTC's Lucknow facility now provides titanium raw materials and precision-engineered components specifically for BrahMos production. Titanium's exceptional strength-to-weight characteristics and heat resistance properties make it invaluable for aerospace and defence manufacturing applications. Sachin Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director of PTC Industries, emphasized India's previous import dependency for these critical materials. "Previously, we relied on international suppliers for essential aircraft and submarine components. Now, India maintains domestic production capabilities. This eliminates a significant vulnerability and prevents any nation from leveraging supply restrictions against us during critical periods," Agarwal explained. Beyond BrahMos components, PTC manufactures specialized alloys for international aerospace manufacturers, including Dassault Aviation's Rafale fighter aircraft program. The drive toward indigenous defence manufacturing has gained critical importance as India seeks to minimize foreign supplier dependence—a priority highlighted by supply chain disruptions during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Indian military leadership has consistently emphasized that future conflicts will rely on domestically produced weapons and equipment. Operation Sindoor represented not only BrahMos's first combat deployment but also showcased India's indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities to the international community. To address increasing demand, a comprehensive strategic materials complex featuring four specialized production units was inaugurated last month alongside the BrahMos manufacturing line in Lucknow. The integrated facility encompasses a primary metals unit for titanium and superalloy ingot production, a large-scale casting facility, a forging plant for critical components, and a precision machining center dedicated to aerospace parts including jet engine components and missile systems.


India Today
2 hours ago
- Business
- India Today
Op Sindoor drives BrahMos demand, Lucknow titanium plant joins supply chain
India's supersonic BrahMos missile has gained fresh momentum after Operation Sindoor dealt a decisive blow to terror and military bases inside Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK). Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has confirmed that more than 14 countries have now expressed interest in acquiring the powerful missile system, which is jointly developed by India and response to this growing demand, a new BrahMos manufacturing facility was inaugurated in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow shortly after Operation Sindoor. The city's contribution to India's missile capability has received a significant boost with PTC Industries Limited emerging as the country's first private manufacturer of titanium and superalloy components — crucial materials for missiles, submarines, and this breakthrough, India has become the sixth nation in the world with the capacity to produce these advanced materials, joining the ranks of the United States, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, and China. The facility is part of the ambitious Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, under which more than seven defence industries have already begun operations. PTC's Lucknow plant has now started supplying titanium raw material and precision components for BrahMos. Titanium's high strength-to-weight ratio and ability to withstand extreme heat make it indispensable for aerospace and defence Agarwal, CMD of PTC Industries, highlighted that India had previously relied on imports for such critical inputs. "Earlier, we had depended on other countries for key components in aircraft and submarines. Now, India can produce them domestically. This closes a crucial gap and ensures no nation can blackmail us when we need these supplies the most," Agarwal is also producing alloys for global aerospace majors, including Dassault Aviation for the Rafale fighter push for indigenous defence manufacturing has gained urgency as India looks to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, a need amplified by supply chain disruptions during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The chiefs of India's armed forces have repeatedly underlined that future wars will be fought with homegrown weapons and Sindoor not only marked BrahMos's combat debut but also served as a demonstration of India's indigenous defence capabilities to the world. To meet the rising demand, a new strategic materials complex with four specialised units was inaugurated last month alongside the BrahMos production line in integrated complex includes a primary metals facility for producing titanium and superalloy ingots, a large-scale casting unit, a forging plant for critical parts, and a precision machining centre for aerospace components such as jet engine blades and missile parts.- EndsTune InMust Watch


India.com
2 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Meet Indias S400 Evading Cruise Missile Giving Sleepless Night To Turkey - Know Its Greece Connection
The alleged offer coincides with deepening defense cooperation between India and Greece. Both nations have been expanding bilateral ties, with Greece acquiring Rafale jets and India showcasing the LR-LACM at the DEFEA 2025 defense exhibition in Athens.


India.com
2 days ago
- Business
- India.com
More trouble to China, US as France is eager to sell Rafale fighter jets to India's friend, Macron giving special treatment to...,
More trouble to China, US as France is eager to sell Rafale fighter jets to India's friend, Macron giving special treatment to..., After a deal with India, France is now trying to sell Rafale fighter jets to another nation. And for that Emmanuel Macron, President of France is leaving no stone unturned to placate the country's premier. India and France had formally concluded an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA), valued at nearly ₹64,000 crore, to procure 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy. Deliveries are set to begin from mid-2028 and likely to be completed by 2030. Which is that country? Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has been given a special welcome and hospitality at the Bastille Day celebrations in France. The Indonesian President is currently in Paris and is scheduled to meet several EU leaders. France's aim is to make President Prabowo Subianto's visit special and strengthen defence ties with Indonesia and lay the foundation for the Rafale deal. Indonesia has signed an agreement to purchase 42 Rafale fighter jets and two French submarines. Why Indonesia wants to buy the Rafael? Indonesia, South East Asia's largest economy, in the face of challenges from China is to buy more aircrafts from France. Indonesia, like India, has also been a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement. In such a situation, while on the one hand Indonesia is troubled by the increasing pressure of China in the South China Sea, on the other hand it does not want to align itself with any one bloc. In such a situation, the defense deal with France is of double benefit for Indonesia. On the one hand it gets advanced fighter planes, and on the other hand it can strengthen its security by staying away from American pressure. When French President Emmanuel Macron visited Indonesia in May, the two countries signed a preliminary defense agreement, which could lead to new orders for French military equipment including Rafale and Scorpene submarines. What are the risks involved? But Indonesia is also looking for a middle ground in the confrontation with China. In November 2024, China and Indonesia signed an agreement that analysts say explicitly recognizes China's 'nine-dash line' and therefore China's territorial claims over the sea. The 'nine dash line' refers to the nine lines that China has unilaterally and arbitrarily drawn on the map to claim more than 90 percent of the South China Sea and its islands.


Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Dodgy claims
EDITORIAL: In response to Indian Deputy Army Chief Lieutenant General Rahul Singh's recent claim that China provided 'live impetus' to Pakistan during the four-day military confrontation last May, Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has categorically dismissed the assertion as 'irresponsible and incorrect.' Speaking at the National Defence University, he described India's attempt to implicate other nations in a purely bilateral conflict as a 'shoddy attempt' at camp politics, especially given India's position as a member of the Quad, a US-led security alliance focused on countering China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The Field Marshal further criticised India's attempts to position itself as the 'net security provider' in a region increasingly wary of its hegemonic ambitions and extremist Hindutva ideology. China also weighed in on the matter, with its Foreign Ministry issuing a statement on Monday affirming that its defence and security cooperation with Pakistan is part of normal bilateral relations and does not target any third party. India's efforts to deflect responsibility for its setbacks during the conflict are not only an attempt to salvage national pride but also a reflection of a deeper miscalculation in its military capabilities and strategic posture. The confrontation, which escalated rapidly, saw India launching missile and drone strikes deep into mainland Pakistan, blatantly disregarding international law. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing Islamabad without evidence of involvement in the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, referred to the unprovoked strikes as the 'new normal.' Expecting to gain an upper hand with its newly acquired Rafale jets and other advanced Western weaponry, India was caught off guard by Pakistan's swift and effective response. Not only did Pakistan repel the missile and drone assaults, but it also downed six Indian aircraft, including three of India's prized Rafale jets. This is particularly significant given that in 2019, after India's airstrike on Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Prime Minister Modi had lamented that had India possessed Rafale jets at the time, 'the result would have been different.' While India had bolstered its military capabilities with cutting-edge Western technology, Pakistan deployed J-10C fighters armed with PL-15 beyond visual range (BVR) missiles, obtained from its strategic partner, China. Pakistan also integrated AI-driven systems into its defence network, attaining a clear tactical advantage in real-time combat situations. Pakistan has consistently demonstrated its military prowess in past conflicts over Kashmir, and this latest confrontation further solidified its operational capabilities. Lt-Gen. Singh's claim of Chinese involvement in the bilateral conflict is not only an attempt to deflect attention but also an indication of India's unwillingness to confront its own strategic miscalculations. By pointing to China, India hopes to maintain the narrative of its military superiority. However, such diversionary tactics will only go so far. Both the international community and astute domestic observers can see through the official rhetoric, recognising that the real issue lies in India's overconfidence and its failure to accurately assess its own military limitations. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025