[🇧🇩] Monitoring the development of Indian Armed Forces & its impact on national security of Bangladesh

[Saif]

India to buy 31 armed drones from US

India yesterday signed a deal with the US State Department to buy 31 armed MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones, the South Asian nation’s defence ministry said.

www.thedailystar.net

India to buy 31 armed drones from US

India yesterday signed a deal with the US State Department to buy 31 armed MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones, the South Asian nation's defence ministry said.

The deal follows talks that began in 2018. It is expected to significantly increase India's surveillance and intelligence capabilities and is in line with US efforts to coax India away from buying Russian military equipment and counter China's growing dominance.

India's apex defence body approved the procurement last year just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington, while the Pentagon approved it in February.

The drones will be predominantly used by the navy in the Indian Ocean Region, Reuters reported last year.​

 

[Saif]

দূরপাল্লার হাইপারসনিক ক্ষেপণাস্ত্র পরীক্ষা চালালো ভারত

 

[Saif]

India bolsters naval fleet with new Russia-built warship

India’s defence minister watched the commissioning of his country’s latest naval vessel at a Russian shipyard yesterday, hailing it as a “significant milestone” in ties with a longstanding defence ally.

www.thedailystar.net

India bolsters naval fleet with new Russia-built warship

India's defence minister watched the commissioning of his country's latest naval vessel at a Russian shipyard yesterday, hailing it as a "significant milestone" in ties with a longstanding defence ally.

Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh took part in the commissioning ceremony of the country's latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate, INS Tushil, in the Baltic port of Kaliningrad. "The ship is a proud testament to India's growing maritime strength and a significant milestone in long-standing bilateral relations with Russia," Singh posted on X.

Tushil, or "Shield" in English, weighs 3,900 tonnes and carries "an impressive blend of Russian and Indian cutting edge technologies", the defence ministry in New Delhi said last week.

It also said the ship would reach India in a "near-combat ready condition" since all Russian equipment on board had been already tested successfully.

New Delhi has walked a diplomatic tightrope since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.​

 

[Saif]

Modi govt leaving no stone unturned to modernise armed forces: Rajnath Singh

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said the government is leaving no stone unturned to transform the armed forces into a modern warfare machine.

www.thedailystar.net

Modi govt leaving no stone unturned to modernise armed forces: Rajnath Singh

Voicing concern over terrorism by non-state actors in many countries and cautioning that conflicts will become more violent in future, India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said the government is leaving no stone unturned to transform the armed forces into a modern warfare machine.

His remarks came on a day when India for the first time in its history simultaneously commissioned three frontline warships--a stealth frigate, a destroyer and a submarine.

"Conflicts and wars will become more violent and unpredictable. The emergence of non-state actors in many countries and their resorting to terrorism is also a matter of concern," Rajnath was quoted by a Defence Ministry statement as telling an event in Pune on the occasion of the 77th Army Day.

He said that due to the rapid technological advancements, future wars will witness a change to a great extent. Cyber and space domains are rapidly emerging as new war zones. Along with this, a war of narrative as well as perception is also being fought all over the world.

"The government is leaving no stone unturned to transform the Armed Forces into a modern warfare machine in view of the dynamic geopolitical world order and the constantly-changing character of warfare," said Rajnath.

He urged the Armed Forces to always stressed on the need of a robust security system, strong military and secure borders.

Rajnath said the Ministry of Defence is constantly striving to bolster the strength of the Armed Forces by equipping them with latest weapons and weapon platforms and the focus is on modernization through self-reliance.

"India is currently going through a phase of transition. We are moving forward from being a developing country to a developed one. To become developed, every section of society will have to contribute. But their contribution will only be meaningful when our security apparatus is fool-proof & borders are safe. The security system will be robust only when our military is strong. No nation can develop unless its military is powerful," said the defence minister.​

 

[Saif]

India’s triple naval launch shows ‘self-reliance’: Modi

Prime minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday the launch of two Indian-made warships and a submarine was key to its ‘quest towards self-reliance’ as New Delhi bolsters defence against regional rivals...

www.newagebd.net

India’s triple naval launch shows ‘self-reliance’: Modi
Agence France-Presse . Mumbai 15 January, 2025, 21:56

AFP photo

Prime minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday the launch of two Indian-made warships and a submarine was key to its ‘quest towards self-reliance’ as New Delhi bolsters defence against regional rivals.

New Delhi is expanding its armed forces to upgrade its mostly Soviet-era weaponry and respond to what many in India see as a growing threat from neighbouring China.

‘India is now becoming a major maritime power of the world,’ Modi, wearing a naval baseball cap, said in a speech at the triple commissioning ceremony in Mumbai for a frigate, a guided missile destroyer and a submarine.

‘The commissioning of three frontline naval combatants will strengthen our efforts towards being a global leader in defence, and augment our quest towards self-reliance,’ he added.

India has rushed to rapidly expand its naval fleet, pouring efforts into building vessels within the country, with plans to expand the number of warships and submarines from around 150 to 170 over the next decade.

‘We’re taking a big step towards getting the navy ready for this century,’ Modi said.

India and China, the world’s two most populous nations, are competing for strategic influence across South Asia.

In 2024, India spent an all-time high of some $15 billion on domestic defence manufacturing, according to the defence ministry, an increase of some 17 per cent on the previous year.

But New Delhi remains one of the largest arms importers in the world, and Modi’s Hindu-nationalist government has tried to reduce dependence on Russia, its primary military hardware supplier for decades.

New Delhi has also signed major arms purchasing deals — and approved India-based defence production ventures — with countries including the United States, Israel and Spain.

India is also in talks with Paris for multibillion-dollar deals to purchase French-made Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene-class submarines.

Vineet Sharma, commander of the diesel-powered submarine INS Vagsheer, said the triple commission ‘speaks volumes’ about the capability both of India’s ship-building capabilities and its navy’s ‘ability to operate’ the vessels.

‘India is a maritime nation,’ Sharma added. ‘You require a strong navy, which can ensure that the maritime interests are always secured.’

Sandeep Shorey, captain of the newly commissioned destroyer INS Surat — a 164-metre long vessel which the navy boasts as its ‘first AI-enabled warship’ — said the show of force was a message about showing India’s power.

‘If you want to be seen on the world stage there is no other option but to show your presence at sea.’​