Latest news with #Tank
The Hindu
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Why India should address its propulsion gap
The story so far: There has been growing excitement in military and industrial circles over the fast-tracked indigenous fifth generation stealth Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Touted as a multi-role fighter with super-cruise capability, internal weapons bays, advanced avionics, and diverter-less supersonic intakes enhancing stealth and reliability, the AMCA is being hailed as a milestone in Indian aerospace history. However, a dose of historical realism is warranted particularly since India has a persistent propulsion gap, and is overly reliant on imported engines. Nearly seven decades of fighter development reveal cautionary lessons, starting with India's first indigenously designed fighter jet, the HF-24 Marut (Spirit of the Tempest). What happened to the HF-24 Marut? Launched in the 1950s by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under famed German engineer Kurt Tank — designer of several WWII Luftwaffe fighters — the twin-engine, swept-wing Marut was, like the AMCA, an ambitious project of its time. Sleek and capable of transonic speeds, it embodied post-colonial India's drive for self-reliance and entered service amid high hopes in the late 1960s. However, the Marut never reached its full potential, not because of design flaws, but entirely due to its underpowered British Bristol Siddeley Orpheus 703 turbojets. Although Tank had envisioned a more powerful engine, it never materialised, leaving the Marut's performance underwhelming. And, while it performed reasonably well in ground-attack roles during the 1971 war on the western front, its propulsion limitations ultimately proved crippling. HAL produced only 147 of these high-maintenance, low-output fighters, which were eventually 'number-plated' or retired by 1990. Indian Air Force (IAF) veterans who flew the Marut consistently cited the lack of a powerful engine as its Achilles' heel — highlighting the enduring reality that high-end fighters live or die by propulsion technology. Engines, after all, are not mere technical parts but the core of sovereign aerospace capability, shaping a combat aircraft's power, range, and mission effectiveness. Did India develop its own engines? Following the Marut's disappointing engine performance, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) assigned its Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) laboratory in 1989 to develop the Kaveri GTX-35VS afterburning turbofan for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which had been under design development since 1981-82. Over the next 35 years, GTRE spent around ₹2032 crore, as of 2020, on the project, but without success. Despite producing nine full-scale prototypes and four core engines — logging over 3,000 hours of ground testing and 73 hours of flight trials on an Ilyushin IL-76 flying test bed in Russia — the Kaveri failed to meet the LCA's performance benchmarks. It struggled with thrust-to-weight ratio, reliability, and thermal management under sustained high-performance conditions. Though spinoff versions were proposed for tanks, ships, and locomotives, none have so far entered operational use. A revival attempt in 2016, in collaboration with French engine-maker Snecma (linked to offset obligations from the IAF's Rafale deal) also collapsed. A parallel proposal by its partner Safran to co-develop a new engine for the Tejas MkII and AMCA met a similar fate, reportedly rejected by the DRDO due to institutional pride. Meanwhile, Kaveri's failure forced the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), responsible for the LCA's design, to adopt the U.S.-made General Electric (GE) F404-IN20 afterburning turbofan engine (producing 78-80 kN of thrust) around 2004. Although barely adequate — restricting Tejas' payload and high-angle-of-attack capabilities — the engine was eventually approved by the IAF, which inducted two Mk1 squadrons from 2015 onwards, with one squadron operating without full operational clearance, nearly 34 years after the LCA programme's inception. How is India affected by engine dependency? India's engine dependency issues resurfaced recently when GE delayed delivery of 99 F404 engines by 13 months for the upgraded LCA Mk1A — a lighter, more capable variant equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, advanced electronic warfare suites, and mid-air refuelling capability. Under a $716 million contract signed in 2021, engine deliveries were scheduled to begin by March 2024, but the first power pack arrived only in April 2025, as part of an initial batch of 12 expected by the end of the year. GE cited 'unprecedented supply chain pressures,' including disruptions from suppliers, as the cause for the delay, but for India it jeopardised the MK1As commissioning by deferring it further. This triggered sharp criticism from Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, who publicly rebuked HAL for chronic slippages in fighter deliveries amid a steep decline in IAF combat strength from a sanctioned 42.5 fighter squadrons to around 30 presently. Further reductions loom with two legacy MiG-21 'Bis' squadrons slated for imminent retirement. 'We need to be now ready to be future-ready,' Mr. Singh said at the CII Annual Business Summit in New Delhi on May 29. Citing HAL's blotted history of missed deadlines, he bluntly asserted that wars are won by equipping the military, not merely planning for the future. Simultaneously, HAL's negotiations with GE to locally manufacture the more powerful GE-F414 engine (90–96 kN thrust) — intended for the LCA Mk2 and initially the AMCA Mk1 — too has hit a roadblock. The deal, announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2023 U.S. visit, has reportedly been stalled by GE's demand for an additional $500 million over the original $1.5 billion agreement. More critically, GE appears unwilling to share core engine technologies like single-crystal turbine blades, thermal barrier coatings, and advanced cooling systems, all of which are vital for boosting engine durability and thrust. HAL continues to demand full technology transfer, but industry insiders point out that such proprietary know-how, developed at great expense, is rarely shared by global engine makers. Talks, however, are still ongoing. Both the LCA Mk2, which is under-development, and the initial AMCA Mk1 models are expected to rely on the F414 as a 'stopgap' powerplant, pending finalisation of the deal. The ADA is also scouting for a 110 kN-class engine for the AMCA Mk2, potentially via a joint venture. Intermittent discussions with France's Safran and the U.K.'s Rolls-Royce have so far yielded no concrete outcome. And, while these possibilities may serve as a short-term workaround, it reflects the same external engine dependence that had crippled the Marut. Consequently, a cross-section of IAF veterans and aerospace experts warned that unless India developed an indigenous engine to power future AMCA blocks, the programme risks being held hostage once again to geopolitical whims. How much is India dependent on external engines? India's external propulsion sourcing extends well beyond aerial platforms, affecting the Army and Navy as well, both of which are exclusively reliant on imported power packs or foreign engines assembled and built domestically under licence. The Army's Arjun Main Battle Tank, for example, is powered by the German MTU MB838 Ka-501 diesel engine paired with RENK RK-304 transmissions, while the recently trialled Zorawar Light Tank uses the U.S.-origin 1,000hp Cummins Advanced Combat Engine. The Navy too depends wholly on foreign propulsion systems — Russian, Ukrainian, French, German, and U.S. engines — that power all its indigenously designed and built frigates, destroyers, auxiliary vessels, troop carriers, corvettes, and fast attack craft. India's all-round engine development across aerospace, land, and naval platforms is critical to ensure strategic autonomy and enhance military capability. How important is autonomous engine development ? Aircraft engine development is vital for India to achieve aerospace autonomy and strategic self-reliance. Disruptions in foreign engine supplies delay production like that of the LCA Mk1A, hampers upgrades, and restricts exports as that would necessitate third-party approvals. The U.S., France, and China are able to assert dominance in global aerospace markets as they have harnessed indigenous propulsion. However, for India, mastering advanced jet engine technology is not merely a prestige project but is crucial to sustaining military readiness, ensuring credible deterrence, and insulating its defence sector from external shocks and global political vagaries. Without this core capability, India's broader ambitions in aviation and defence exports risk remaining perennially compromised. A broad spectrum of defence experts and IAF veterans contend that India's failure to develop advanced jet engines transcend technical hurdles and are fundamentally a political challenge. India's defence funding remains fragmented, largely focused on short-term projects, rather than being driven by a long-term, strategic vision. If India is genuinely committed to closing this glaring capability gap, mere slogans like Atmanirbhar Bharat will not suffice. Achieving true autonomy in engine technology demands comprehensive structural reforms, unwavering political will, and the cultivation of an innovation ecosystem which will seamlessly integrate private sector participation, academic research, and defence R&D institutions into a cohesive and competitive framework. Rahul Bedi is a veteran journalist based in New Delhi and Chandigarh specialising in military, defence and security matters.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Nathan Buckley's ex opens up about ‘horrible' split
Brodie Ryan has opened up about her split from Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley, admitting that she was left heartbroken. 'The first few months were hard, and breakups are always horrible,' she told the Herald Sun on Thursday. 'Time heals all wounds. The heartbreak is real, but we'll both be okay.' The 36-year-old revealed she had intended to be a housewife, and was disappointed that the plans were no longer in effect. 'I wanted that responsibility and revelled in that of being a housewife and a little family's support, but unfortunately it didn't end the way I'd hoped,' she said. In April this year, Ryan said her goal for this year was to focus on herself, telling the Herald Sun, 'Focusing on mental health and the stable lifestyle that I'm used to, and doing things that make me happy. That's my plan for 2025 … to focus on me.' The pair, who met in 2022 and have a 16-year age gap, have been an item since 2022. Ryan shared the news of their split in an Instagram story in May this year. 'After much reflection and consideration, Nath and I have decided to part ways,' she said. 'This decision was not made lightly, and we are grateful for the time we shared, the memories we created, and the support we received from each other.' In Ryan's lengthy post, she also thanked supporters for their kind messages 'over the past couple of months of heartache', and said she will always have respect for Nathan and 'a lot of love for him and his boys and our beautiful dog Tank'. Buckley, 52, did not share the same message to his social media platforms. AFL legend Buckley separated from his wife Tania Buckley, with whom he shares two children, in 2020 and in a candid interview a few years later referred to his marriage breakdown as 'the most traumatic thing that's happened to me recently'. 'Whilst it was a bloody tough period, I learnt a lot about being more open, being more vulnerable and that I actually couldn't hold it all in,' he told the Herald Sun. 'At the same point, my footy family, and then close friends, just rose to the surface. I'd never really understood the absolute value of friendship until I had nowhere else to turn, and I needed them.'
Miami Herald
12-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Dave Ramsey warns Americans to avoid dangerous money mistake
When inflation spiked in 2022, prices initially surged and have yet to come down nearly three years later. The rising cost of essentials such as housing, groceries, and utilities has significantly burdened many U.S. households. Given the impact of heightened consumer prices and stagnating wages, Americans may struggle to manage growing expenses. Don't miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet's FREE daily newsletter Household debt has also been on the rise for years, reaching new heights as the cost of living continues to outpace income. An increasing number of consumers are turning to credit to afford purchases ranging from everyday essentials to entertainment expenses. However, many may not fully understand the impact that overspending in the present could have on their financial future. In an exclusive interview with TheStreet, Dave Ramsey reveals how a small financial habit can quickly snowball and destroy your financial health. Consumer debt levels have been rising for years, exacerbated by rising post-Covid inflation. According to the New York Federal Reserve Bank, U.S. household debt rose to $18.2 trillion in Q1 2025. Although credit card debt dropped $29 billion from Q4 2024 levels, student loan defaults and delinquencies surged. The majority of Americans note they feel less financially secure than they did several years ago, and on average, they are saving less than 5% of disposable income. While rising prices and wage stagnation play a major role in increased financial stress, rising consumer spending may also contribute. More on retirement: Dave Ramsey sounds alarm for Americans on Social SecurityScott Galloway warns Americans on 401(k), US economy threatShark Tank's Kevin O'Leary has message on Social Security, 401(k)s Ramsey explains how overspending and accruing debt at any income level could have disastrous financial ramifications. "The financial habit that is quietly destroying Americans' futures is probably just not paying attention," he said. "I tried to out-earn my stupidity for years and I couldn't do it. I had to actually start paying attention and make the money that I have behave." Many households struggle financially, particularly younger generations trying to manage student loan payments and rising costs on entry-level salaries. A new study from The Harvard Kennedy School shows that 40% of Americans under 30 are "barely getting by financially," and 10% note that they struggle to make ends meet. Related: Dave Ramsey predicts major mortgage rate changes are coming soon Although younger consumers are hurting financially, they are less likely to cut down on spending. Indeed, 40% of Gen Z and 32% of Millennials expect to max out their personal budgets this year, and more than half of both regret making impulse purchases. Younger consumers also face a challenging job market, a housing affordability crisis, and the difficulty of planning for retirement. However, Ramsey warns that there is no way to "out-earn" unhealthy spending habits, and that not paying attention to your finances could have long-term consequences. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City signs 'Turf Tank' agreement to improve athletic field maintenance
PLATTSBURGH — The City of Plattsburgh's new autonomous 'Turf Tank' robot will make painting athletic field lines more cost effective and less time consuming going forward. 'What this does is this gives us the ability to take our man hours for painting fields and cut it down, probably, to about a third to a fourth,' DPW Assistant Superintendent Andrew Durrin told city councilors at their work session June 4. 'Basically, program it with all your field layouts, push a button and one person stays with it to paint all the fields.' According to its website, the Turf Tank Two is a 'robotic field painter designed to mark all types of sports fields easier, faster, and more efficiently.' Durrin clarified that the robot will allow DPW employees to focus and allocate their time elsewhere during the busy summer months. For instance, Durrin said there is a lacrosse tournament Father's Day weekend and there are 12 fields that need to be painted by four to six workers over an entire week. He estimated it would normally take $21,000 worth of time and material to paint the fields themselves. With the robot, they're already saving money and time, he said. It would likely take just a day and a half for one person to use the robot and finish the fields, he estimated. 'The rental for this Turf Tank is $16,000 a year,' he said, which doesn't include the first year start-up fee of $1,700. 'So already you'd save $4,000 just on the lacrosse tournament, not counting soccer fields that we paint, baseball fields, football fields.' Councilors approved the rental contract for a Turf Tank at their meeting June 4. The contract runs for three years and will cost the city $16,000 per year, plus an initial $1,700 set up fee for a total of $49,700. There is $3,000 worth of paint also included in the rental agreement. Durrin said the city can opt out of the contract at any time, There's also a clause to extend the contract another three years at the same rate, he added. 'From what it was explained during the work session, this is going to save the city a considerable amount of money,' Ward 4 Councilor Jennifer Tallon said before voting to approve it. 'Yes, and if it doesn't, we can get out of it,' Mayor Wendell Hughes said. 'That's the important part. We do have an out.' Among the benefits of the robot, the Turf Tank can also paint lines on pavement. 'If we repave a parking lot, we can actually put everything into the robot's data collector, and then paint all of the line strips and the parking lot,' Durrin said. 'Then we don't have to have another company come up and pay them to paint the lines.'
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jamie Foxx Honored by Stevie Wonder & Reflects on Health Scare at BET Awards: ‘You Can't Go Through Something Like That & Not Testify'
Stevie Wonder surprised everyone at the 2025 BET Awards when he stepped out to honor his longtime friend Jamie Foxx. During the 2025 BET Awards on Monday (June 9), Jamie Foxx was set to be honored with the Ultimate Icon Award. Throughout the night, it was teased that a 'special guest' would appear onstage to give Foxx his award. That guest was none other than Stevie Wonder. More from Billboard Here Are the 2025 BET Awards Winners (Updating Live) Quincy Jones Remembered by Lucky Daye, Luke James & Miles Caton With Smooth 2025 BET Awards Tribute Lil Wayne Brings 'Tha Carter' Album Series Full-Circle With 'A Milli' Performance at 2025 BET Awards Babyface and Ludacris also popped out to pay tribute to the artistic titan, performing a cover of 'Unpredictable' — the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 title track from Foxx's 2005 album — while Tank tackled a cover of Ray Charles' 'Night Time is the Right Time.' Foxx famously portrayed Charles in the 2004 film Ray, for which he won the best actor Oscar. Jennifer Hudson then took the helm and bodied a soulful cover of 'Gold Digger,' a 10-week Hot 100 No. 1 for Ye (formerly Kanye West) and Foxx back in 2005. T-Pain and Doug E. Fresh then popped out to close out the celebration with a rockin' cover of the 2009 No. 2 Hot 100 hit 'Blame It.' Through it all, Foxx could be seen laughing, nodding along and having a great time. 'Jamie, look at me!' Stevie joked at the end of the show before inviting Jamie to speak. 'I remember seeing you the first time at a club, playing piano and singing, but I knew from the moment I heard you sing that you had so much more. I admire and celebrate your talent and your love — for blind people. I'm very happy to be here tonight to see you honored as you so very well deserve.' During his acceptance speech, Foxx thanked all his friends and loved ones for showing up for him while he went through life-threatening medical complications back in 2023. He added that when he saw the 'In Memorium' segment, it made him reflect on his own health scare. 'You can't go through something like that and not testify,' Foxx concluded to a roar of applause. 'A career that I could only thank God for.' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
