Latest news with #IndianArmedForces
India Gazette
11 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Defence Secretary calls BrahMos a game-changer in Operation Sindoor
New Delhi [India], June 20 (ANI): Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh has said the Indian Armed Forces effectively used a mix of foreign-origin and indigenous weapons during Operation Sindoor that targeted terror sites in Pakistan. He called the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos a game-changer in the operation. In an exclusive interview with ANI, the Defence Secretary said, 'We were using a mix of foreign-origin and indigenous weapons effectively. And the indigenous weapons that were used did very well, and BrahMos, in fact, was probably, you could even call it a game changer.' He said that during the operation, there was a good fusion of different types of weapons, and the armed forces had done it in a very cohesive and coordinated manner. 'Indian origin weapons, some of them worked very well. I mean, BrahMos did amazing. Akash also did very well. Also, our ability to retrofit some of our older Air Defence systems with radar to improve their capability, upgrade their capabilities, particularly against things like drones and other types of low-flying threats. Those all worked very well,' he said. The Defence Secretary said the Indian Armed Forces were well prepared for Operation Sindoor. 'I think the services were very well prepared. They were very confident in terms of their capacity and their ability to access the precision standoff weapon we needed for this operation,' he said. India launched Operation Sindoor early on May 7 to hit at terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces also effectively repelled subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. The Defence Secretary pointed out that the defence modernisation budget has been growing at a rate of about 7 per cent in the last 10 years, but the difficulty has been absorbing some of those outlays. 'If you're talking in general about whether there are still capability gaps that we need to fill and resource gaps that need to be plugged, I would say that at least in the recent past, in the last 10 years or so, you would find that our budget has been growing at a rate of about 7 per cent. I'm talking only about the modernisation (in) capital budget. That's been growing at about 7% a year,' he said. The Defence Secretary laid emphasis on absorbing defence outlays. 'The difficulty has been in terms of absorbing some of those outlays. And in many years, we've ended up surrendering money. This year, we actually fully utilised our revised estimate. But at the RE (Revised Estimates) stage, we did have some reduction because the trend in expenditure was not adequate. More importantly, we signed contracts worth 2 lakh crores this year, which is double what has ever been done any time earlier. The highest that was ever achieved earlier was about 1 lakh crores in 2023-2024,' he said. 'So, unless you speed up procurements, unless you do the contract signings, then get after the vendors to ensure that those contracts are fulfilled, unless you complete those steps, your absorptive capacity itself is a bigger constraint than the budgetary constraint because now that we've fully utilized RE last year, we can ask for a higher share this year,' he added. India's defence production has grown at an extraordinary pace since the launch of the 'Make in India' initiative, reaching a record Rs 1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24. A robust defence industrial base includes 16 DPSUs, over 430 licensed companies, and approximately 16,000 MSMEs, strengthening indigenous production capabilities. (ANI)
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Rahim Yar Khan airbase stays shut as Pakistan extends NOTAM, a month after India's Operation Sindoor strike
Pakistan has extended the closure of its Rahim Yar Khan airbase until 4 July, according to a fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). The runway has remained offline since India's precision strikes under Operation Sindoor in early May 2025. The extended shutdown signals continuing repair challenges for Pakistan's military after India's retaliatory strikes. The longer the runway stays idle, the more pressure Islamabad faces to restore full air‑defence coverage in southern Punjab. Rahim yar khan air base notam extenrded to six weeks Open‑source intelligence expert Damien Saymon posted, 'Pakistan once again issues a NOTAM for Rahim Yar Khan, the runway struck by India in May 2025 now remains offline estimated till 04 July 2025.' The update replaced an earlier NOTAM that was set to expire on 18 May. — detresfa_ (@detresfa_) India's response to Pahalgam terror attack Operation Sindoor began after the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. New Delhi said the operation hit nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan‑occupied Jammu & Kashmir. The Indian government stated, 'carefully calculated move to neutralise Pakistan's military infrastructure while minimising collateral damage.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Elegant New Scooters For Seniors In 2024: The Prices May Surprise You Mobility Scooter | Search Ads Learn More Undo Rahim Yar Khan Airbase damage visible in released video Footage released by the Indian Armed Forces showed a crater on the Rahim Yar Khan runway. The base lies about 200 km south of Bahawalpur and is a key part of Pakistan's air‑defence network. Speaking about India's strikes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told supporters, 'Pakistan couldn't destroy the airbase here. Not far from here is Pakistan's Rahim Yar Khan air base which is in ICU because of India's air strikes.' Live Events RECOMMENDED STORIES FOR YOU He added, 'They thought that India would sit quietly. They didn't expect us to strike back. The ones who were proud of their arms are now shattered under debris.'
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Aamir Khan recalls spending 8 days with Indian soldiers after Kargil War: ‘I stayed a night in a bunker'
Actor Aamir Khan recently faced backlash for his production house's delayed post on Operation Sindoor, India's counter-response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. However, in a conversation with Rajat Sharma on Aap Ki Adalat, Aamir revealed that he is proud of the Indian Armed Forces and recalled a time when he spent eight days with Indian soldiers after the Kargil War. (Also Read: Aamir Khan reveals why his kids were named Junaid, Ira and Azad Khan despite having Hindu wives: 'I had no say in it') When asked if he believes he should visit soldiers and boost their morale at the border, Aamir shared, 'I had gone—perhaps you all don't know—but when the Kargil War happened and we won, I was the only person who spent eight days in Kargil. I landed in Leh, and from there, on the road that goes to Srinagar, I travelled for eight days. I met with every regiment. During those eight days, I met only the soldiers and went there to encourage them. That you fought this war for us, you protected us—I salute you and I'm grateful to you.' He added, 'But during those eight days that I spent with them, I realised that our soldiers don't really need encouragement. They live and defend us in such difficult terrain, yet their spirit is incredible—they have smiles on their faces, they're confident and happy. I thought I was going there to boost their morale, but instead, they boosted mine. During those eight days, I ate with them, asked them about their lives. One night, I even stayed at the border in a bunker. There were six to eight soldiers there, and I don't think anyone else has done something like that.' Aamir will next be seen in the film Sitaare Zameen Par. Directed by RS Prasanna, the sports drama is a remake of the Spanish film Campeones. Aamir stars as a basketball coach who trains a team of neurodivergent children for a basketball tournament. Genelia D'Souza also plays a key role in the film. It is scheduled to release in cinemas on June 20.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- General
- India Gazette
Civilians write to Indian Army, express gratitude for Operation Sindoor
New Delhi [India], June 15 (ANI): The Indian Army shared a compilation of letters from civilians, expressing support and gratitude for Operation Sindoor. Civilians saluted the Indian Army's efforts and congratulated them for the success of Operation Sindoor. On Sunday, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information, Indian Army, shared a video on X, compiling messages from civilians. Sharing the post, the Indian Army wrote, 'A heartfelt compilation of letters from civilians, expressing their unwavering support, deep admiration and gratitude for the Indian Army during Operation Sindoor. Their words echo pride, resilience and the enduring spirit of heroism that continues to inspire us all. Indian Army- Always in service of the nation, with honour and dedication!' Suryanarayana, Chairman of the State Civil Services Retired Officers' Association, congratulated the heads of the Indian Armed Forces for successfully countering attacks by Pakistan. He wrote, 'We salute and congratulate all the heads of Indian Armed Forces for countering the missile attacks launched by Pakistan to strike civilian and military locations in northern and western India. India had hit multiple terror infrastructure facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor.' Rupesh Harishchandra Mainkar wrote to Indian Army saying, 'I want no salary or compensation or recognition or any certificate. I just need your authorisation, uniform, and permission to fight for the country in the Infantry.' Meanwhile, Vaishnu Shankar S remembered the time when he served in the armed forces during the Kargil War. He wrote, 'During the Kargil War, I had the honor to serve as a volunteer, lending my shoulder to the brave hearts at Base Hospital Srinagar. That experience left an indelible mark on my soul, and I want you to know, Sir, that the josh to serve my nation still burns strong within me.' Parul Singh, Chairman and CEO of Parul Charitable Trust, offered help in form of ration, medicines, clothing and vehicles for the army. 'We are standing with you and the Armed Forces to show our solidarity at this stage. We are ready to provide all possible help including Ration, clothing, medicines and vehicles to our fighting troops,' Parul wrote. Meanwhile, on Friday, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff, said that Operation Sindoor is on a pause but is an 'operation in progress'. 'The Operation Sindoor is under pause, it is still underway. As a Naval Chief, I will reserve my comments on this. It's an operation in progress,' Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi told ANI. (ANI)
India.com
6 days ago
- Automotive
- India.com
This part of France's Rafale fighter jet is the most expensive because..., India to make...
This part of France's Rafale fighter jet is the most expensive because…, India to make… Rafale fighter jets were among the aircraft that were used by the Indian Armed Forces to target terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir during Operation Sindoor, launched by India in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The fighter jets successfully completed their mission and destroyed terror hideouts on the enemy's soil. The Indian Armed Forces' trust in Rafale jets has strengthened further following its performance during the India-Pakistan faceoff. There is no doubt that this Made-in-France fighter jet created an atmosphere of fear in the enemy's heart, helping in winning the psychological warfare even before the actual faceoff. Rafale is among the costliest and most high-tech fighter jets in the world and is known for its versatility and real-world mission readiness. But do you know which part of the aircraft is the most expensive one? Here's the answer. Rafale Parts That Will Be Made In India France's Dassault Aviation, the company that makes Rafale, has signed a major deal with the Tata Group. As per the deal, both companies will make the body of the fighter jet in India itself. However, important parts of Rafale will be manufactured in India. This includes the aircraft's fuselage, the entire rear portion, the central fuselage and the front portion. As per reports, the first fuselage of Rafale will be manufactured from this production plant by 2028. When the factory is fully developed, it will make two fuselages every month. It is noteworthy that the fuselage is the main structure of the Rafale as it connects the pilot cockpit, engine, weapons and electronic systems. Most Expensive Part Of Rafale The most expensive part of Rafale is its engine and airframe. However, its price may include a radar system, its weapons and other technical components. The cost of Rafale's engine is quite high because it is a powerful and modern engine which gives high speed to the aircraft. Rafale's airframe is very expensive because specially high-quality materials and techniques are used to make it.
