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Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
41st anniversary of The Times of India, Bengaluru: City of quiet power
As India charges ahead into a future that will be driven by technology, innovation, and self-reliance in defence, Bengaluru stands firmly at the centre of this transformation. When TOI first came to the city in 1984, Bengaluru was often seen as the charming 'Garden City' or a quiet 'Pensioners' Paradise'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But today, it's so much more — a dynamic powerhouse that plays a crucial role in shaping India's economy, strengthening its security, advancing its space ambitions, and boosting its global presence. From the blueprints of cuttingedge fighter jets to the algorithms that could shape the next wave of artificial intelligence (AI), from satellite launches that beam signals across continents to policy think tanks that help steer the nation's democratic machinery — Bengalu-ru's fingerprints are everywhere. And TOI has been around to mark each of these milestones, sometimes documenting and celebrating multiple transformations simultaneously. For decades, Bengaluru has been India's go-to city for software services, drawing global giants like IBM, Intel, Microsoft, and Google to establish sprawling campuses in its ever-expanding tech corridors, but the city's real strategic heft lies not merely in IT services, but in its growing role in shaping sovereign technologies. This distinction has become even more pronounced in the post-pandemic, post-Galwan world, where India has recalibrated its internal strengths in light of external vulnerabilities. Technology is no longer a soft sector. It is national infrastructure, and Bengaluru is a key place where this infrastructure is imagined, tested and deployed. Indeed, the sheer density of defence and dual-use technology institutions in Bengaluru is staggering. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now For instance, HAL manufactures fighter jets and helicopters that power India's air defences, and is actively getting into rocket building. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) produces advanced radars, electronic warfare systems and communication networks for the Army, Navy and Air Force. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is developing the Tejas Mk-2 and AMCA, India's nextgeneration fighters, while the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) delves into autonomy and machine learning for battlefield applications. During Operation Sindoor, India's retaliatory airstrikes along the western front, a Bengaluru-built loitering munition made headlines. Alpha Design Technologies' SkyStriker, developed in collaboration with Israel's Elbit Systems, was deployed for precision strikes. This convergence of state-backed R&D and industrial production makes Bengaluru one of the rare cities globally where design, testing and manufacturing can all happen within a 40-km radius — a logistical and intellectual advantage not lost on policymakers. SPACE CITY Perhaps no other city in India has come to symbolise the country's space ambitions more than Bengaluru. The headquarters of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) sits quietly in the city, but the ripples it creates are anything but quiet. It was from Bengaluru that mission control oversaw Chandrayaan, , and the Chandrayaan-3 landing that etched India's name on lunar history. Bengaluru is also home to the UR Rao Satellite Centre, Isro Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (Istrac), and the Human Spaceflight Centre — key pillars of India's space ecosystem. As India prepares for Gaganyaan, its first crewed space mission, and looks towards building a space station by 2035, Bengaluru's relevance only deepens. The growing space start-up ecosystem, too, has found fertile ground here. Among them, Digantara, a homegrown start-up, is building India's first private space situational awareness (SSA) infrastructure. With its space-based sensors and debrismapping technology, There are other firms like Pixxel and GalaxEye that are working on Earth Observation satellites. Bellatrix Aerospace, with inspace propulsion systems, further cements the city's image as India's new space crucible. In an era when space is rapidly militarising, Bengaluru's role takes on a strategic weight. The Defence Space Agency (DSA), headquartered in the city, is responsible for integrating space assets across the armed forces — a nod to how deeply embedded Bengaluru is in India's strategic command structure. QUANTUM, CYBER & AI As cyberwarfare emerges as the fifth domain of war, Bengaluru has become India's cyber nerve centre — home to defence cyber units, intelligence-linked AI projects, and a robust private ecosystem. It hosts the southern operations of the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team and regularly sees joint cyber exercises involving the armed forces. India's push towards a cyber command and digitised battlefield operations draws power from Bengaluru's strengths in software and electronics. Start-ups like Tonbo Imaging lead in tactical vision systems, while Awiros and QNu Labs are building secure AI and quantumresilient encryption frameworks. On the quantum frontier, the Raman Research Institute is pioneering quantum communication protocols, while Isro is exploring satellite-based quantum key distribution — both crucial for next-gen, secure networks. This research is vital as quantum computing begins to challenge traditional encryption. AI research hubs like IISc and Artpark add momentum, turning data sovereignty and cyber resilience into on-the-ground innovation. The civilian-military tech divide is fading fast with AI being used in signal intelligence, and battlefield tech — born in civilian labs. Bengaluru doesn't just understand this shift — it attempts to drive it. Few cities fuse academic depth, start-up energy, and strategic defence imperatives quite like this one. URBAN CHAOS Yet, for all its promise, Bengaluru's strategic future is not without risk. The city's infrastructure is crumbling under its own success. Traffic bottlenecks, flooding, unreliable power supply, and chronic water shortages plague daily life, threatening to erode the confidence of investors and institutions alike. The risk isn't just economic — it's strategic. Defence systems depend on uninterrupted power and secure data flows. Space missions demand clockwork logistics. If Bengaluru chokes, the arteries of national ambition may feel the squeeze. The govt has begun to respond. New road projects, suburban rail, and data centre corridors are in the pipeline. The state is also trying to decentralise growth to regions like Devanahalli and Tumakuru, hoping to ease pressure on the core. However, much will depend on how imaginatively the city is governed. As a key node in India's national security and technological grid, Bengaluru's stability is not just a local concern. QUIET POWER Unlike Delhi, Bengaluru wields no political power on the national stage. Unlike Mumbai, it is not the financial capital. Yet, in the 21st century, where algorithms, aerospace, and autonomy define statecraft, Bengaluru may well be India's most strategically consequential city. This is where engineers draft the contours of air dominance. Where scientists whisper to satellites. Where coders encrypt secrets. And where the battles of the future — silent, digital, orbital — are already being waged. Strategists in the South Block know this too. So do adversaries, watching from afar. The world may see this as a city of cafés, flyovers, and start-ups, but behind the glass facades and traffic snarls, Bengaluru hums with quiet power — a city that doesn't shout its importance, but ensures it is felt across the firmament.
Business Upturn
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Hindustan Aeronautics shares in focus as Tejas Mk-2 rollout gets delayed to 2026
Shares of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) slipped over 1% on Tuesday to ₹4,994.50 after fresh updates from the Paris Airshow revealed further delays in the rollout timeline for the much-anticipated Tejas Mk-2 fighter jet. According to HAL Chairman Dr. DK Sunil, as shared in an interview with aviation journalist Atul Chandra, the structural assembly of the first Tejas Mk-2 prototype is currently underway, but the aircraft's rollout is now targeted for 2026—pushing back earlier expectations. The stock came under pressure despite HAL's parallel announcement that two existing production lines for Tejas Mk-1A are already operational in Bengaluru, with a third one being established in Nashik. This is aimed at ramping up production capacity to 24 aircraft annually. The first Mk-1A from this third line is expected in 2025. Our dear friend, aviation enthusiast and cheerful Atul Chandra @CheckSix_Bison , Editor at GBP Daily News (Show dailies from the Paris Airshow) just interviewed HAL Chairman Dr. DK Sunil (in Pix 1). Some important takeaways! LCA Mk.1A: HAL has established two production lines… — Vayu Aerospace Review (@ReviewVayu) June 18, 2025 HAL's market cap currently stands at ₹3.34 lakh crore. The delay in the Mk-2 project, seen as a strategic defence initiative, could impact medium-term sentiment, even though the broader outlook for HAL remains robust amid increasing defence indigenisation.
India Today
30-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Amid US delays, India eyes partnership with France for Tejas Mark 2 fighter jets
With the United States delaying engine deliveries for India's advanced fighter aircraft programmes, New Delhi is actively exploring an alternative partnership with French aerospace company Safran. The move is aimed at powering the next-generation Tejas Mark 2 and the upcoming fifth-generation stealth fighter, AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft), with more powerful and locally developed familiar with the development have confirmed that Safran has submitted formal proposals to India's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to collaborate on developing advanced jet engines for both fighter the Tejas Mark 2 programme is tied to the American GE F414 engine, which offers 98 kN of thrust. GE and HAL have signed a technology transfer agreement under which 80% of the engine will be manufactured in India. However, delays in supply and rising costs have slowed progress, prompting India to consider alternatives. Safran has now emerged as a strong contender, offering a 110 kN thrust engine for the Tejas Mk-2. This engine is expected to enhance the aircraft's speed, payload capacity and Tejas Mk-2, being jointly developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and HAL, is designed to replace the Indian Air Force's ageing Jaguar, Mirage-2000, and MiG-29 fleets. The aircraft will come equipped with modern radar, an infrared tracking system, and Indian-origin weapons such as the Astra missile and addition to the Mk-2 engine, Safran has also proposed a 120 kN high-thrust engine for the twin-engine configuration of the AMCA. This engine will be critical for the stealth fighter's performance and advanced capabilities. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Thursday that India is targeting the development of five AMCA prototypes by already collaborates with HAL on helicopter engine projects. If the new proposals move forward, the partnership could play a pivotal role not just in the Tejas Mk-2 and AMCA programs, but also in shaping the future of indigenous jet engine manufacturing in India. The collaboration may also come with Transfer of Technology (ToT) provisions, which would further boost India's self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
News18
27-05-2025
- Business
- News18
India Explores Engine Deal With France's Safran For Advanced Tejas Mk2 Fleet
Last Updated: After Operation Sindoor, there is a renewed urgency to scale up production and delivery of advanced fighter jets, said defence officials India is exploring a possible collaboration with French aerospace giant Safran to develop jet engines for its next-generation Tejas Mk-2 light combat aircraft. While US-based GE Aerospace currently provides the F404-IN20 engines powering the Tejas Mk-1, supply delays have disrupted delivery schedules, creating challenges for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and slowing the Indian Air Force's efforts to strengthen its fighter fleet, senior defence officials told Moneycontrol. The delays have prompted India to reassess its options and seek additional partnerships that could speed up domestic engine development, they added. The Indian Air Force (IAF), which aims to operate 42 fighter squadrons, currently has just 31 active. Following the heightened security challenges after Operation Sindoor, there is a renewed urgency to scale up production and delivery of advanced fighter jets, said the officials, adding that defence planners are now prioritising alternatives to ensure engine availability and reduce dependence on any single supplier. The strategic reassessment also stems from concerns about the consistency of foreign technology transfers and supply chains. 'All viable options are being evaluated to meet the IAF's growing needs," a senior official told Moneycontrol. India's indigenous fighter program began gaining momentum with the IAF's first Tejas Mk-1 order in 2009-10, comprising 40 aircraft (32 fighters and 8 trainers). A second, much larger order for 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets was signed in 2021, valued at ₹48,000 crore. Deliveries were initially scheduled to begin in mid-2024, but delays in engine shipments from GE have pushed back timelines. GE has delivered one of the 99 F404 engines contracted in 2021, on top of the 65 engines supplied earlier for the Mk-1 fleet. The more advanced F414 engines—also from GE—are designated to power the Tejas Mk-2 variant and India's future fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). However, recurring delays and strategic concerns have brought Safran into focus as a potential partner, the officials said. If discussions succeed, the French firm may be involved in developing engines specifically for the Tejas Mk-2 platform. Future-Ready: The Tejas Mk-2 The Tejas Mk-2, a 4.5-generation fighter weighing approximately 17.5 tonnes, is slated to eventually replace ageing aircraft in the IAF fleet, including the Mirage-2000, Jaguar, and MiG-29. It promises greater range, payload, and versatility than its predecessor, making timely engine development critical. Officials noted that diversifying partnerships is not only about avoiding supply bottlenecks but also about acquiring the technical expertise necessary to build engines domestically. This aligns with India's broader goal under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat" initiative to reduce reliance on imported defence hardware. As India balances growing security imperatives with industrial ambition, a partnership with Safran—if finalised—could mark a turning point in the country's journey toward self-sufficiency in combat aviation. First Published: May 27, 2025, 23:51 IST
