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The Print
14-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Operation Sindoor showed operational capability of India's armed forces: Raha
Stating the success of Brahmos supersonic missiles makes him 'very proud,' Raha, now Chancellor of Assam University, recalled that the project had begun years back. Operation Sindoor demonstrated the tremendous potential the country has gained over the years, he said at a conference organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce on the role of MSME in the defence sector. Kolkata, Jun 14 (PTI) Former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Arup Raha, on Saturday said the Operation Sindoor against terror bases in Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack showed the true operational capability of India's armed forces. 'India achieved a tremendous landmark. ISRO has become the leading organisation in the world in space research. From lunar to solar projects, ISRO is setting one goal after another. Under ISRO's guidance, we have developed a powerful rocket system. Our satellites are… used by other countries which are not strong economically. ISRO is meeting various requirements in different fields,' he said. Raha said satellites were also put in orbit by ISRO to strengthen defence operations. 'Command and control data, gleaned by satellites, are being processed using Artificial Intelligence and helping in surveillance, to keep track of borders, for dynamic targeting across borders during Operation Sindoor,' he said. In Operation Sindoor, Indian armed forces in the early hours of May 7 carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base Muridke. The operation was retaliation to the April 22 terror attack, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. In his speech, Raha said the missiles developed by DRDO are packed with 5 to 10 times the speed of sound through space. He said projects like the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and integrated command control project have taken India to the front-running nations, in the sectors of IT, ITes, space, efficient propulsion systems, ships, submarines, nanotechnologies, AI and robotics. Raha, however, added that there is one problem area, as India is not good at making jet jet propulsion engines. 'We are buying engines from Americans…..this dependency is not good. We are losing our strategic autonomy by importing state-of-the-art technologies which incur lots of expenses,' he said. The country needs to think about this in the next 10 years in terms of employment generation and export revenues, Raha said. 'Larger players both in public and private sectors need to build up a supply chain, a self-supporting ecosystem of building our capabilities and developing capability in the defence sector, in developing our capability in civil aviation,' he said. If hundreds of aircraft are bought from global aviation majors, billions of dollars would fly out of the country, the former Air Force officer said. 'Why pay money to outsiders? We need to have a combined plan and a strategic plan in the air sector,' he said. Raha advocated setting up a defence corridor and taking MSMEs of the eastern region to the defence hub elsewhere in the country. PTI SUS NN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Private sector will drive defence manufacturing
India's defence sector is in the midst of a transformative shift. From being largely dependent on public sector undertakings and imports, the country is now building a strong and self-reliant domestic defence industrial base. The catalyst for this change is a bold policy pivot towards strategic integration of the private sector in defence production and procurement. As we look ahead to India's ambition of becoming a global defence manufacturing hub, it is increasingly clear that the private sector must not only be a partner, but a leader in this journey. This is a much-needed response to the limitations observed in earlier Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)-dominated programmes like the Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas), which, despite eventual success, faced significant delays and cost overruns. The new model seeks to balance the strengths of DRDO's research capabilities with the execution muscle and industrial scalability of the private sector. India's defence procurement ecosystem has long been characterised by opacity, limited competition, and an overwhelming reliance on State-owned enterprises. However, over the past decade, the ministry of defence has moved towards a more transparent, market-oriented system. The announcement to develop the AMCA through competitive bidding must be seen as a natural extension of this evolving policy framework. For the first time, a high-value, strategically critical fighter aircraft programme is being opened to private sector-led development. This represents a higher level of confidence in the private sector's capacity to lead complex, end-to-end platform development. The private sector's share in India's defence production now stands at ₹32,000 crore and is about 21% of the total defence production. Start-ups are increasingly entering the fray with cutting-edge solutions in robotics, UAVs, surveillance systems, and AI-based battlefield intelligence. The success of companies like Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge, Tata Advanced Systems, and several others in supplying critical components, platforms, and sub-systems to the Indian armed forces and global OEMs demonstrates the readiness of Indian industry to take on higher-value and more strategic roles. What they now need is a consistent pipeline of projects, policy stability, and timely decision-making along with a significantly greater investment in research and development. India's target of reaching ₹3 lakh crore in defence production by 2029 is ambitious but achievable. While policy reforms have opened the doors for private participation in India's defence sector, realising its full potential will require sustained institutional support, streamlined processes, and deeper industry-government collaboration. Timely project execution will generate a predictable demand pipeline, enabling private firms to invest in long-term capacity. This will not only reduce cost overruns but also catalyse the emergence of domestic platform integrators with global delivery capabilities. Crucially, faster and more reliable execution of defence projects will enhance India's operational readiness and strategic autonomy, thereby strengthening national security. India can transition from being a technology importer to a global innovator by incentivising greater private investment in R&D through measures such as tax breaks and joint research initiatives. This shift would help build proprietary IP, attract global buyers and reduce strategic dependencies. Simplifying procurement and introducing a single-window clearance mechanism would reduce entry barriers and encourage a broader spectrum of players to enter defence production. While platforms like the National Single Window System (NSWS) have improved overall ease of doing business, a dedicated defence-focused clearance mechanism, with integrated MoD-specific approvals, is essential to streamline private sector entry into this highly regulated space. The resulting competition will boost efficiency and enhance quality in critical sub-sectors. Greater private sector participation in defence manufacturing will also unlock powerful spillover effects across the industrial ecosystem. As private companies ramp up production of high-tech defence platforms, demand will surge in allied sectors such as metallurgy, composite materials, precision tooling, electronics, and semiconductors, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing. This will drive India's industrial modernisation and enhance resilience of its manufacturing base. India is on the cusp of converting defence reform into an engine for broader industrial resurgence and global leadership. If India is to become a manufacturing powerhouse, defence is the first frontier. The internet, GPS, canned food, and the development of computers and digital cameras were all military innovations that made their way into everyday life. Amitabh Kant is India's G20 Sherpa and former CEO, Niti Aayog. The views expressed are personal.
India Gazette
05-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey slams Congress for
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nishikant Dubey on Thursday slammed Congress and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for 'surrendering country's pride and prestige to America,' by agreeing the Non-Attack Agreement with Pakistan in 1985, in which both countries agreed to not attack each other's nuclear facilities. Dubey posted pictures of declassified US documents from 1986, which talked about the US' role in ensuring peace between India and Pakistan. 'The nuclear deal was also done by Rajiv Gandhi on 17 December 1985 with Pakistan's President General Zia by surrendering his country's pride and prestige to America, document,' the BJP MP posted on X. Dubey's jibe comes two days after Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi criticised PM Narendra Modi for 'surrendering' to Pakistan after US President Donald Trump called him. Rahul Gandhi had said, 'When Trump called Modiji-Modiji kya kar rahe ho, Narender-Surrender and with 'ji hazooor', Narenderji followed Trump.' The document posted by Dubey is a memorandum for former US National Security Advisor John Poindexter, from September 30, 1986. It reads: 'Our key optimal goal in South Asia is peace between India and Pakistan. In practical terms, this means the conclusion of a peace treaty between New Delhi and Islamabad. However, peace cannot be meaningful unless it includes some limits on the nuclear weapons programs of both countries. Thus, we hope to facilitate progress on bilateral arrangements which institutionalise the Gandhi-Zia December 17, 1985 agreement not to attack each other's nuclear facilities...' The declassified document, as shared by Dubey, also cites as an incentive that the US can help former PM Rajiv Gandhi with his 'ambitious program of technological progress.' Continuing his attack towards the Gandhi family in multiple other posts on X calling them as, Dubey questioned other instances which he considered as former PM surrendering to Pakistan to ensure that India gets Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and a super computer from the US. 'Surrender despite the insignificant Shimla Agreement. Did Gandhi surrender to Pakistan under the deception of supercomputers and LCA aircraft or not? Should the meeting of Pakistan-India-US representatives on drug trafficking be considered American interference in the country's internal affairs or not? In this paper, America has also talked about money for the leadership of Pakistan. Did India also surrender for money like beggars?' Dubey questioned. The India-Pakistan Non-Attack Agreement was officially signed in 1988 and implemented in 1991. With the bilateral agreement, both countries decided not to target each other's nuclear facilities. Every year, both countries also share the locations of a set of their nuclear facilities with each other. (ANI)
Economic Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
HAL shares in focus as defence PSU denies report of stalled GE414 engine deal
Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) shares will be in focus on Thursday after the company refuted a media report claiming that its negotiations with General Electric (GE) for the local production of GE414 engines had stalled. The state-run aerospace and defence firm called the report 'factually incorrect and misleading.' ADVERTISEMENT 'An online article has inaccurately reported that negotiations between HAL and GE for the local production of GE414 engines have stalled, suggesting HAL is now in talks with another engine manufacturer,' the company said in a statement. 'HAL would like to clarify that this report is factually incorrect and misleading.' HAL reaffirmed that discussions with GE are on track and progressing well, and confirmed it is not in talks with any other company regarding engines for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk2.'Any information suggesting otherwise is incorrect,' it added. Also Read: MRF snatches India's highest-priced stock crown back from Elcid Investments ADVERTISEMENT In June 2023, HAL and GE Aerospace signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the production of fighter jet engines in India, as part of the Indian Air Force's LCA Mk2 programme. The agreement, signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the United States, was regarded as a key milestone in strengthening India–US defence MoU includes the potential joint production of GE's F414 engines in India. ADVERTISEMENT GE Aerospace has been active in India for over four decades, with a broad presence across engines, avionics, services, engineering, manufacturing, and local sourcing. Its operations include the John F. Welch Technology Centre in Bengaluru (opened in 2000) and the Multi-modal Factory in Pune (opened in 2015). Also Read: These 10 Nifty microcap stocks can rally 70-200% in the next 12 months ADVERTISEMENT According to Trendlyne, the average target price for HAL is Rs 5,585, indicating a potential upside of 13% from current levels. Among the 18 analysts tracking the stock, the consensus recommendation is 'Buy'.On Wednesday, HAL shares closed 0.47% lower at Rs 4,959.7 on the BSE, even as the benchmark Sensex rose 0.32%. The stock has gained 50% over the past three months and surged 213% over the last two years. HAL's market capitalisation currently stands at Rs 3,31,695 crore. Also Read: Ola Electric, Kalyan Jewellers among 10 firms where promoters pledge increased in Q4 (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times) ADVERTISEMENT (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
HAL shares in focus as defence PSU denies report of stalled GE414 engine deal
Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) shares will be in focus on Thursday after the company refuted a media report claiming that its negotiations with General Electric (GE) for the local production of GE414 engines had stalled. The state-run aerospace and defence firm called the report 'factually incorrect and misleading.' 'An online article has inaccurately reported that negotiations between HAL and GE for the local production of GE414 engines have stalled, suggesting HAL is now in talks with another engine manufacturer,' the company said in a statement. 'HAL would like to clarify that this report is factually incorrect and misleading.' HAL reaffirmed that discussions with GE are on track and progressing well, and confirmed it is not in talks with any other company regarding engines for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk2. 'Any information suggesting otherwise is incorrect,' it added. Also Read: MRF snatches India's highest-priced stock crown back from Elcid Investments In June 2023, HAL and GE Aerospace signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the production of fighter jet engines in India, as part of the Indian Air Force's LCA Mk2 programme . The agreement, signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the United States, was regarded as a key milestone in strengthening India–US defence cooperation. The MoU includes the potential joint production of GE's F414 engines in India. GE Aerospace has been active in India for over four decades, with a broad presence across engines, avionics, services, engineering, manufacturing, and local sourcing. Its operations include the John F. Welch Technology Centre in Bengaluru (opened in 2000) and the Multi-modal Factory in Pune (opened in 2015). Also Read: These 10 Nifty microcap stocks can rally 70-200% in the next 12 months HAL Shares Target Price According to Trendlyne, the average target price for HAL is Rs 5,585, indicating a potential upside of 13% from current levels. Among the 18 analysts tracking the stock, the consensus recommendation is 'Buy'. On Wednesday, HAL shares closed 0.47% lower at Rs 4,959.7 on the BSE, even as the benchmark Sensex rose 0.32%. The stock has gained 50% over the past three months and surged 213% over the last two years. HAL's market capitalisation currently stands at Rs 3,31,695 crore. Also Read: Ola Electric, Kalyan Jewellers among 10 firms where promoters pledge increased in Q4 ( Disclaimer : Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
