Latest news with #Tejas
India.com
4 hours ago
- Business
- India.com
India's Fighter Jet Crunch Nears Pakistan's Strength, Eyes China-Style Fix; Delhi Red Tape Slows Delivery
New Delhi/Beijing: India is moving steadily in the race for aerial dominance, but the path is tangled in old files and hard decisions. Across the Himalayas, China has already moved far ahead. It is building sixth-generation fighter jets. Its fifth-generation J-20 stealth aircraft is already deployed near India's borders. On its part, India is now accelerating work on the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation stealth fighter being built indigenously. But questions persist inside Delhi's decision rooms. Should India buy America's F-35s or Russia's Su-57s as a stopgap until AMCA is ready? Can India afford to wait while China places advanced jets closer to Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh? The future of air combat is not what it used to be. Dogfights are being redefined by AI-assisted maneuvers, stealth coatings and sensor fusion. China's sixth-generation aircraft programme is already shaping future strategies, while India still deals with delays. AMCA might become outdated by the time it rolls out. A proposed AMCA Mk2 aims to match sixth-generation specs, but such leaps are easier drafted than delivered. China created a balance. It bought fewer jets but built its own steadily. A Parallel Beginning, Two Different Trajectories Both India and China began building their air forces in the 1950s. Neither had fighter manufacturing experience. Both looked toward the Soviets and the West for blueprints and engines. India launched the HF-24 Marut project in the 1960s. Designed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with help from German engineer Kurt Tank, it aimed to be India's first supersonic jet. It failed. The Marut could not break Mach 1.2. It lacked a powerful engine, and talks with Western suppliers broke down. Wars with China in 1962 and Pakistan in 1965 drained resources. The project received limited funding. Eventually, only 147 aircraft were built. The plan was shelved by the early 1980s. Meanwhile, China took another path. It imported Soviet MiGs but did not stop there. It reverse-engineered them. A copy of the MiG-19, the J-6 became China's early leap. By the mid-1960s, China had started producing over 4,000 units. India's Long Journey with LCA and HAL Tejas India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme began in 1983. It manufactured Tejas. The journey took nearly four decades. The first flight was in 2001. Initial operational clearance came only in 2020. Delays came from design changes, engine dependencies and institutional hurdles. The HAL lacked full control over components. Indigenous engine development, the Kaveri programme, was initiated in 1986, but still has not delivered an operational engine. China, in the same period, procured Russian Su-27s and Su-30s. It copied them. The J-11 and J-16 came next, each with advanced avionics, radar and Chinese-made engines. In 2017, Beijing inducted the J-20, its fifth-generation stealth fighter. It poured billions into engine R&D, failing at first but persisting. India, on the other hand, stayed stuck in paperwork. The China Factor and India's Crossroads By now, China is already flight-testing prototypes of sixth-generation fighters. India is still preparing a fifth-gen rollout. Experts warn that by the time AMCA enters service, its adversaries may have moved on. Still, there is hope. India has begun addressing key gaps. It has opened defence to private players, approved new budget lines and streamlined procurement. But speed remains critical. The R&D cannot be treated as a routine department file. It must be a national mission. India's choices in the next five years will decide its air power trajectory for the next 30. The skies are still open but not for long.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- General
- Business Standard
MiG accounts for half of fighter jet crashes in 17 years
Three out of five jet types saw a decline in crashes over the past 15 years premium Jayant Pankaj New Delhi Listen to This Article Russian-origin MiG-21 aircraft are set to retire from the Indian Air Force (IAF) in September amid ongoing safety concerns, marking the end of their 62-year-long service in the IAF. Between FY09 and FY25, 101 IAF fighter jets crashed, costing the lives of 28 pilots. Over 54 of these crashes involved MiGs. While MiG accidents have declined in the past 15 years, recent crashes involving Mirage (FY25), Hawk, and Tejas (FY24) aircraft surfaced. IAF has reduced reliance on MiGs and is transitioning to the indigenous Tejas jets. In its analysis of 25 crashes during 2017-21, a parliamentary report cited 'human error'
Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
IIT Alumni Council Invites Industry Partners to Build India's First Electric Aircraft Ecosystem
PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 30: In a landmark step towards positioning India at the forefront of clean aviation globally, the IIT Alumni Council today unveiled plans to create a fully indigenous ecosystem for the manufacturing of electric aircraft and high-endurance drones under its GO Mobility initiative. The proposed consortium will bring together manufacturers of advanced materials, components, sub-assemblies, and complete systems, alongside service providers for airline operations, drone services, terminal infrastructure, and maintenance and repair. The project seeks to establish India as a global leader in sustainable, autonomous air mobility. A PUSH FOR INDIGENOUS ELECTRIC AVIATION The GO AERO platform marks one of the most ambitious aviation projects ever attempted in India. It aims to overcome long-standing barriers in electric aviation by creating a domestic supply chain and technology base capable of delivering large-scale, zero-emission flying vehicles for both civilian and strategic applications. "Technology takes time and perseverance. Our national objective now is to get ready for global roll out with advance planning. This requires a careful analysis of the PERT chart to identify and work on the critical path activities. To make it to the finish line quickly, all activities have to go on in parallel. The challenge is cost reduction, electrification and safety enhancement. The key technology challenge was availability of suitable battery technologies which has now been solved by the GO Power Technology platform. The project will require cutting edge technology, patient risk capital and viability gap funding. That is why social impact funding from a technology savvy investor group is critical to the plan. This is not an area where government grants alone will deliver global winners. Else it would have happened decades ago," said Dr Girish Deodhare, alumnus of IIT Bombay, former DG of the Aeronautical Development Authority and a firm believer in the need for locally manufactured aircraft based on indigenous technologies. Dr Deodhare spent thirty-three years as part of the core team behind the Tejas light combat aircraft. "These projects require significant capital investments--possibly exceeding ₹10,000 crores just for the 72-seater Regional Transport Aircraft," said Ravi Sharma, President and Chief Volunteer, IIT Alumni Council. "It is a chicken and egg situation. Till the airplane has a track record, it would be difficult to get customers and till there are customers, it would be difficult to fund the development. The only way out is an integrated approach which crosses the chasm by working backward from the domestic market need, especially in sectors like rural air transportation where existing global options don't exist." TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM AND USE CASES The GO AERO platform will use an indigenous serial hybrid electric propulsion system from Ionique Research, customisable for diverse applications such as rural air connectivity, emergency medical services, disaster response, mapping, cargo transport, and long-range surveillance. All aircraft will be fully autonomous, feature multi-fuel micro turbines for range extension, and high-density fireproof MegaCell energy storage integrated into the wings. Runway requirements will not exceed 1,000 metres, with vertical take-off versions for select models. GO A6: SIX-SEATER FOR RURAL AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS Designed for military reconnaissance, rural connectivity, air ambulance and cargo applications, the GO A6 will be priced under ₹8 crore. It will offer a 300 km/h cruise speed, up to 1,500 km range, and rapid stretcher transfer from ambulance to aircraft in under 120 seconds. Test flights and regulatory filings are planned for January 2026. GO A18: AMPHIBIAN AIRCRAFT FOR REMOTE AND HIGH ALTITUDE REGIONS The GO A18, an 18-seater with land and water take-off options, will have a two-ton payload, 1,500 km range, and is priced under ₹18 crore. Test flights are expected in January 2027. GO A72: 72-SEATER REGIONAL TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT A pressurised regional aircraft designed for passenger and cargo use, the GO A72 will offer a 4,000 km range, 10-ton payload, and cruise speed of 800 km/h. Unit prices are projected at ₹250 crore, with test flights targeted for January 2028. GO D20K: HIGH-ENDURANCE PSEUDO-SATELLITE DRONE The fully autonomous drone will support highway safety, communications, hyperspectral imaging, disaster management, forestry monitoring, and other applications. It will be capable of 1,000-day flight endurance with solar propulsion and backup batteries. Test flights are planned for 2028. BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS All aircraft under the GO AERO platform will be powered by Ionique's indigenous serial hybrid electric propulsion system, with sustainable multi-fuel micro turbines for extended range. Ultra-high-density, fireproof MegaCell energy storage systems from Go Power will be integrated into the wings. The aircraft are designed to offer advanced solid wall LCD windows with adjustable zoom screens in place of windows. All versions will feature large transparent cockpits for enhanced visibility. Potential use cases range from emergency services, air ambulances and disaster relief, to remote area connectivity, surveillance, mapping, cargo operations, and rural air mobility. This ecosystem is expected to create new market segments where no comparable global solutions currently exist. CALL FOR INDUSTRY PARTNERS Interested organisations may write to applications@ on or before August 15, 2025. Access to the project's data room and related materials will be provided only to patron members of the IIT Alumni Council. This invitation is not open to the public. ABOUT IIT ALUMNI COUNCIL The IIT Alumni Council is the largest global body of alumni across all 23 IITs, aggregating the technological and philanthropic resources of over 50,000 members in 100 city chapters worldwide. Its mission is to catalyse India's technological renaissance through initiatives funded by the IIT Alumni Social Fund and supported by incubators, project management forums, and research institutes.
India.com
2 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
China, Pakistan Vs India: Army needs Rs 4680000000000 to strengthen its Defense capabilities, Enemy Has 1,650 Fighter Jets, India owns…, Modi government likely to…
एशिया कप में भारत-पाकिस्तान का शेड्यूल तय New Delhi: The Indian Army showed its might during Operation Sindoor, earning global recognition. The terror state Pakistan was shown its place during this three-day-long operation, with Indian armed forces inflicting severe damages. However, the operation also revealed certain shortcomings, and India has already begun addressing the areas that require improvement. The Indian armed forces are currently undergoing rapid modernization with the government extending its full support. According to the reports, all three branches of India's military (Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force) are simultaneously working on modernization across various fronts, and the most critical among them is the modernization of the Air Force. Currently, the Indian Air Force is reportedly witnessing a severe shortage of fighter jets. While 42 squadrons of fighter jets are officially sanctioned for the Air Force, only 31 are currently operational. Of those, two squadrons of MiG-21s are set to retire in the coming days. This means India's operational fighter jet strength will shrink to just 29 squadrons. Each squadron typically consists of around 18 aircraft, which would leave India with only about 522 fighter jets. Compared to the sanctioned strength, this marks a shortfall of 13 squadrons—or 234 fighter jets. India's Enemies and Their Strength: India never had a cordial relationship with Pakistan and China. Both these countries have always been against us and share a deep strategic friendship. Together, they have formed an alliance against India. This combined partnership significantly amplifies their strength—making them a much more formidable threat when united. China: China has a total of 66 squadrons It possesses around 1,188 fighter aircraft. Some of its squadrons even have 20 jets, so roughly, China has about 1,200 fighter aircraft. This is more than double the number of India's total fighter jets. Pakistan: The Pakistan Air Force has 25 fighter squadrons, which means it has around 450 fighter jets. If we combine the numbers from both China and Pakistan, the total comes to approximately 1,650 fighter aircraft. India's Biggest Concern: India is currently facing a shortage of fighter jets. Recently, the Air Force Chief has stated that India is struggling with a lack of fighter jets. India has been trying to build its own fighter jets for a long time. The foundation for the Tejas project was laid in 1984, but to this day, the project has not been fully successful. The World of 5th-Gen Fighter Jets The United States, Russia, and China already possess fifth-generation fighter jets. However, India is still relying on fourth and 4.5-generation fighter jets. China has even talked about supplying its fifth-generation J-20 fighter jets to Pakistan. This means that both of India's hostile neighboring countries are equipped with fifth-generation fighter jets. India Needs Around Rs 4.68 Lakh Crore India last purchased 36 Rafale jets—classified as 4.5-generation fighter aircraft—from France. The deal was signed in September 2016. The cost of a single aircraft came to around ₹1,600 crore, according to the reports. If this rate is taken as the base, then as of today, acquiring Rafale or more advanced jets would cost no less than ₹2,000 crore per aircraft. India currently needs 234 fighter jets. Based on this rate, the total cost would amount to approximately ₹4.68 lakh crore.
India.com
2 days ago
- India.com
Vande Bharat Express Vs Tejas Express: Which train is better? Their top speeds are..., Check their ticket prices
Vande bharat express vs Tejas express Vande Bharat Express vs Tejas Express: If you want to plan a premium train journey in India, two options namely the Vande Bharat train and Tejas Express train are the two best options you have. The two special trains, Vande Bharat and Tejas Express are both premium trains in India, but they differ in design, operation, and pricing. One of the question that arises is which train, among Vande Bharat and Tejas Express, is the better one. Here are all the details you need to know about Vande Bharat Express and Tejas Express train. Vande Bharat Express vs Tejas Express: Which one is better? Talking about Vande Bharat Express first, Vande Bharat is fully made in India under the Make in India initiative and is a self-propelled train with faster acceleration, automatic doors, large windows, and executive rotating seats. It is semi-high-speed and designed for quicker intercity travel with modern features like Wi-Fi and infotainment. Vande Bharat Express vs Tejas Express: Top speed On the other hand, Tejas Express is run by IRCTC and is positioned as a luxury train with facilities like personalized entertainment screens, onboard catering with chef-curated meals, and airline-style services. While both trains run at similar speeds (up to 130 km/h), Tejas often costs more due to its premium service and dynamic pricing model. Vande Bharat Express vs Tejas Express: Price comparision Over 78 pc Indian Railways tracks upgraded for speed of 110 kmph & above: Railways Minister In another important update on high speed rail connectivity, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament that over 78 per cent of railway tracks in the country have now been upgraded for speeds of 110 kmph and above, with the improvement in the Indian Railways network carried out in a big way during the last 10 years. (With inputs from agencies)
