The team is in the US to discuss the Defense Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) and terms for the new Defense Framework Agreement in a trip timed just before the Modi visit.
While General Atomics’ Predator and Reaper drones are not licensed for export to India, Lall will be promoting a line-up of commercial products, besides the EMALS system being developed by the company.
The armed forces personnel to be awarded for gallantry this Independence Day include Major Mukund Varadarajan, who is being awarded the Ashok Chakra, posthumously.
The final session of the roundtable summarized the state of Indian air power and discussed ways to alleviate the difficult situation the air force could find itself in future.
The roundtable moved on to discuss the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, the DRDO development of a new fighter to be produced by HAL, and raised serious concerns on the impact of it’s possible failure.
The discussion moved to the IAF’s tender for acquisition of 126 Medium Multi Role Combat aircraft with the question being: How does MMRCA fit future air power needs, costs, squadron strength?
In the next round, the roundtable discussed the balance of air power in India’s neighborhood and the challenges posed by the air forces of Pakistan and China.
In the second session, moderator Inderjit Badhwar initiated the discussion deconstructing the evolution and process of the Indian Air Force (IAF) competition for 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA).
Pushpinder Singh, Editor of Vayu, introduces the state of Indian air power in comparison to neighboring countries and presents some stark realities in an authoritative presentation, which is essential viewing.
The incumbent Additional Director General of Army Aviation, Major General P. K. Bhairali, has challenged the appointment of a Lieutenant General as the director general before the Armed Forces Tribunal.
The Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement has asked PM Narendra Modi to implement One Rank One Pension, withdraw pension and benefit cases against veterans and set up a Military Veteran’s Commission.
Although the Council of Ministers has been sworn in, the priority accorded to defense modernization by the new prime minister in terms of allocation of portfolio and exclusive responsibility remains uncertain.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has said the Tribunal can adopt any of the recourses, ordinarily observed in the Civil Court in executing its decrees under Order XXI of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.