DEFENCEGLOBE

A U.S Air Force B-52 Stratofortress has crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base.

Whoever believed France would ever buy Pinaka was delusional. In France, dependence on imports is often viewed as a strategic vulnerability rather than an advantage. The French defence establishment places enormous value on sovereign capability and strategic autonomy. If France was unwilling to fully depend on imported rocket artillery systems like HIMARS, it was never realistically going to purchase Pinaka as a long-term solution.

Nibe successfully carried out the firing demonstration of the Suryastra rockets of 150 km & 300 Km range in ITR Chandipur Orissa. The rockets achieved CEP of 1.5 meters & 2 meters respectively during the firing trials. This demonstration is part of the procurement order placed by Indian Army. (Via ANI)

The Tejas Mk 2 enters service in meaningful numbers in the mid-2030s, assuming it ticks boxes. Reminder: the prototype has still not rolled out. It will probably be the world's only NEW fourth generation, non-stealth jet entering squadron service at that stage. Being non-stealth in that period is being obsolete. The Rafale is already in service with the IAF presently. If a agreement can be arrived at this year for more, we could see the first new deliveries of the jet to the F4/5 config starting in 2028. There is no getting away from the Rafale. Its a jet in service already, the existing ones will be upgraded to the new standard as well. What India needs is the AMCA to fill the stealth void. But don't count on that for close to another decade.

France guards defence tech like family jewels, rightly so I will say. To expect them to part it and help India is daydreaming. But they will cream us with lollipops. Offsets have cost India dear over the years in terms of weapons prices. No audit on their success in terms of indigenisation. What we are increasingly seeing is labelling of imported products. Our money is subsidising weapons and R&D of the sellers.