Tata and Airbus joint venture to make C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force

India's Tata group poised to make military aircraft in the country. It will be a joint venture between Tata and Airbus and the first such project by a local private company. They would undertake manufacture of the C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The location of the project would be in Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate it. A statement of the defence ministry said - "This is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company.” Right now, only state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics makes aircraft for the armed forces. India is among the world's largest importers of defence items. The country has depended on Russia for decades for military equipment. However, over the years, the government has made efforts to reduce the country's dependency on international imports and shift to boost domestic output. Gujarat: Tata to make military aircraft with Airbus in India.

In the opinion of experts, this project is a step towards bolstering the Made in India campaign. Its success would mean India becoming a global manufacturing hub. The defence ministry views the deal as a "unique opportunity for the Indian private sector to enter into technology intensive and highly competitive aviation industry." In September 2021, the government approved the procurement of 56 C-295 military transport aircraft from Airbus Defense and the Spain-based Space SA. These would replace the aging fleet of the Avro aircraft of the Indian Air Force and meet the needs of the civilian sector. As per the contract, Airbus will deliver 16 aircraft in flyaway condition between September 2023 and August 2025. Subsequently, the Gujarat facility by the Tata group will take over and the first Made in India aircraft could roll out by September 2026.

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China and Russia launch war games to confront tensions with the United States

Russia wants to use the latest round of war-games Vostok 2022 to demonstrate that it has sufficient military might to undertake massive drills. This is in spite of its engagement in other fronts. The intention of the weeklong war games between China and Russia is to show their cooperation against the United States. The Vostok 2022 (East 2022) exercises will go on at seven firing ranges in Russia’s Far East and the Sea of Japan. The Russian participation would be of more than 50,000 troops and 5,000 weapons units. These would include aircraft and warships. China, on its part, would join with more than 2,000 troops along with more than 300 military vehicles, 21 combat aircraft and 3 warships. The chief of the Russian General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, will personally oversee the drills. These would involve troops from a number of former Soviet nations apart from countries like China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua and Syria. The Defense Ministry revealed that the navies of Russia and China would conduct exercises in the Sea of Japan. Russia launches war games with China amid growing tensions for both with the U.S. . This will be the first time that China has sent forces from three branches of its military to involve in a single Russian drill.

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US ignores India's appeals and finalizes F-16 deal with Pakistan

India had appealed to the US to refrain from supplying F-16 fighter planes to Pakistan but, it now appears that the deal is going through and that the US government has formally notified the intended sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. The deal is in its final stages.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 6 March 2016.

Pakistan adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had indicated in a news briefing in Washington earlier this week that Pakistan had initially requested for 18 F-16s. However, in view of financing problems, it was purchasing just eight. The total cost of the deal would be nearly $700 million. He also added that the F-16s were a critical tool in the war against terrorism.
The US justified the sale as a part of US foreign policy objectives and national security goals because the objective is to help improve the security of a strategic partner in South Asia.
But - India is not happy at this decision. The Indian government and some US lawmakers have criticized the rationale of Washington and have wondered how such an arms transfer will help combat terrorism. They claim that these fighter planes in the hands of Pakistan will change the military balance in South Asia and will ultimately be used against India.
The US has justified its actions by saying that the additional F-16 aircraft in the hands of Pakistan would facilitate operations in non-daylight environments and "enhance Pakistan`s ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations".


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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