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New Delhi, <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="Orion">India</keyword> on Thursday accorded an initial approval to defence acquisition projects worth Rs 2.23 lakh crore that included procurement of 97 <keyword id="6376012" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tejas" source="Orion">Tejas</keyword> light combat aircraft and 156 Prachand combat helicopters, in a major move to significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the armed forces. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared the projects, at a time India is locked in a bitter military standoff with China at a number of friction points in eastern Ladakh for over three years. The defence ministry said 98 per cent of the total procurement worth Rs 2.23 lakh crore will be sourced from the domestic industries and that the move will give a substantial boost to the Indian defence industry in achieving the goal of 'Aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in defence industry. The DAC also approved a proposal of the Indian Air Force to upgrade its Su-30 fighter fleet by state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (<keyword id="68124" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="HAL" source="Orion">HAL</keyword>). The DAC further accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) or initial approval for procurement of two types of anti-tank munitions namely area denial munition (ADM) type-2 and type-3. The top body on procurement of military hardware also cleared acquisition and integration of automatic target tracker (ATT) and digital basaltic computer (DBC) for T-90 tanks besides approving another proposal to buy medium range anti-ship missiles (MRAShM) for the Indian Navy. The MRAShM is a lightweight surface-to-surface missile which will be a primary offensive weapon onboard various Indian naval ships. "The DAC accorded AoNs for procurement of Light Combat Helicopter for Indian Air Force and Indian Army and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A for IAF from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category," the ministry said. Though it did not mention the specific numbers, official sources said 97 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (Mark 1A) are being procured for the IAF and 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) are being procured for the Army and the Air Force. In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF. With the additional fleet, the number of indigenously-developed Tejas aircraft being procured by the IAF would go up to 180. "The AoNs have also been accorded by the DAC for upgradation of Su-30 MKI aircraft indigenously from HAL. "While procurement of these equipment will provide enormous strength to the IAF, acquisition from domestic defence industries will take the indigenous capability to a new height," the ministry said in a statement. "It will also reduce dependability on foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) substantially," it added.

India approves defence acquisition projects worth Rs 2.23 lakh cr

As Indian startups face turbulence in the global funding winter, experts on Monday said they need to reserve cash, create a long-term goal and adopt a culture of customer feedback to survive in 2023. On the occasion of the 'National Startup Day', envisioned by Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> last year, industry experts said that the founders must continuously monitor the trends which are happening in the world. Indian startups fired more than 18,000 employees in 2022 amid a funding winter and macroeconomic uncertainty. "Investing in R&amp;D can be one of the finest ways to actually tackle disruption. Make sure that as a business, you keep some of your profits or your balance sheet reserves for investing into R&amp;D to actually learn more," Dr Ritesh Malik, Director, <keyword id="6365866" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="alliance" source="Orion">Alliance</keyword> for <keyword id="2947744" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="digital-india-foundation" source="Orion">Digital India Foundation</keyword>, or <keyword id="1429787" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="adif" source="Orion">ADIF</keyword>, told IANS. "If you feel that there is a platform like Instagram where the go-to-market strategy is more efficient, start learning Instagram and start promoting your products there," he added. According to <keyword id="6061635" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tejas-khoday" source="Orion">Tejas Khoday</keyword>, Co-Founder and CEO of trading platform FYERS, this year is special as India has emerged to be the third largest startup ecosystem in the world. "While the past year was turbulent with IPOs of several well-known startups not doing too well, the ongoing funding winter and related layoffs, in the long run, all this will be a blip on the radar," he said. That said, this will help the ecosystem to mature and hopefully and we will see startups achieve a better balance between scale and profitability in 2023, Khoday noted. While interacting with over 150 startups, <keyword id="2238662" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="pm-modi" source="Orion">PM Modi</keyword> last year announced the commemoration of National Startup Day on January 16 every year. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and the <keyword id="6416832" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ministry-of-commerce-and-industry" source="Orion">Ministry of Commerce and Industry</keyword> marked an entire week as <keyword id="16072714" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="national-startup-week" source="Orion">National Startup Week</keyword>, from January 10 to 16. According to Malik, startups must hear back from their customers. "The more you hear from your customers, the more you will be able to understand their changing needs. And the more your product becomes dynamic and you constantly change that product to the whims and fantasies of the customer," he noted. <keyword id="3337958" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ravish-naresh" source="Orion">Ravish Naresh</keyword>, CEO and Co-founder of Khatabook, said that there is a stronger acknowledgment of Indian startups' role in solving core problems of emerging economies to bridge the socio-economic gaps. "This year, our primary aim is to turn profitable and scale up the digital lending offerings to meet the unmet credit demand of Indian MSME businesses. We are optimistic about the Indian economy and its opportunities for the startup ecosystem," he said. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/logistics-startup-locad-raises-11-million-in-series-a-funding-led-by-reefknot-investments/articleshow/97020396.cms">Logistics startup Locad raises $11 million in Series A funding led by Reefknot Investments</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/foreign-investors-pull-out-15000-crore-from-stocks-in-the-first-two-weeks-of-2023/articleshow/97019987.cms">Foreign investors pull out ₹15,000 crore from stocks in the first two weeks of 2023</a>

Indian startups need to conserve cash & listen to customers, say experts

<ul><li>The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has reportedly approved the <keyword id="6376012" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="tejas" source="Orion">Tejas</keyword> Mark-2 project. </li><li>The CCS has approved ₹6,500 crore for prototypes, flight testing and certification. </li><li>The production of the Tejas Mark-2 is expected to begin around 2030. </li></ul>The Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has reportedly approved the Tejas Mark-2 project to boost India’s push for indigenous fighter aircraft. According to a <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cabinet-committee-on-security-approves-tejas-2-0-mega-project/articleshow/93914219.cms">report</a> by The Times of India, the CCS on Wednesday approved the Tejas Mark-2 project at a cost of over ₹6,500 crore. The government had already sanctioned ₹2,500 crore for the project. The ₹6,500 crore will reportedly be used for prototypes, flight testing and certification. Tejas is an indigenously developed light multi-role fighter aircraft developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). India has already ordered 40 Tejas Mark-1 aircrafts, 10 Mark-1 trainers and 73 Tejas Mark-1A aircrafts. While the Tejas Mark-1 is a lightweight aircraft, the Tejas Mark-2 will be a medium-weight aircraft and has been designed to be used for offensive operations in enemy territories. “Lightweight Tejas Mark-1 is primarily meant for air defence. Medium-weight Mark-2 fighter, with its heavy standoff weapons, will be for offensive operations into enemy territory. Its critical design review is complete,” a source familiar with the matter told The Times of India. The Tejas Mark-1, which weighs around 13.5 tonnes, was designed to replace the MiG-21s, and the Tejas Mark-2, which is expected to weigh around 17.5 tonnes, is expected to replace the Mirage and the Mig-29 The Tejas Mark-2’s first flight test will reportedly be conducted in the next two to three years and the production is expected to begin around 2030. In addition to the Tejas Mark-2, the government is also planning on approving the fifth-generation advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA) with stealth features and supercruise capabilities. The CCS is expected to approve ₹15,000 crore for the AMCA project. The Tejas Mark-2 will be equipped with the GE-414 engines in the 98 Kilonewton thrust class and offer a longer combat range and an increased weapon carrying capacity compared to the Tejas Mark-1. The Tejas Mark-2 will be an important part of the country’s armed forces. “Fly-by-wire, avionics, composites and other technologies have already been proven in Tejas Mark-1. The new project will upscale those into bigger and more powerful fighters. IAF is likely to induct at least six squadrons (110-120) of Tejas Mark-2,” the source added. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indias-tejas-fighter-aircraft-may-soon-make-its-international-debut-check-out-the-features/slidelist/93429613.cms">India’s Tejas fighter aircraft may soon make its international debut – check out the features</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/why-tejas-fighter-aircraft-maker-hal-share-price-up-in-2022/articleshow/93426056.cms">This defence sector stock boosted investor wealth by 75%</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/india-is-updating-its-air-force-for-a-modern-war-and-china-isnt-its-only-concern/articleshow/85853446.cms">India is updating its air force for a modern war, and China isn't its only concern</a>

Tejas Mark-2 project reportedly approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security

Mumbai, <keyword id="360594" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="actress-kangana-ranaut" source="Orion">Actress Kangana Ranaut</keyword>, who is gearing up for multiple films in her kitty, has called her upcoming film '<keyword id="38025" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="chandramukhi" source="Orion">Chandramukhi</keyword> 2', a "quintessential paisa-vasool entertainer", and her role as a larger-than-life one in the film. After delivering her performance as the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa in '<keyword id="12047665" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Thailaivii" source="Orion">Thailaivii</keyword>' (2020), the actress will be back on the Tamil screens with the P. <keyword id="21795" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vasu" source="Orion">Vasu</keyword> directorial 'Chandramukhi 2'. In the film, she steps into the role of a dancer who is known for her beauty and unmatched dancing skills. 'Chandramukhi 2' is a true blue commercial entertainer and a sequel to one of the most celebrated films in popular culture 'Chandramukhi' which has led to many remakes in multiple Indian languages. Talking about working in 'Chandramukhi 2', the four times National Award winning actress said, "I play a larger-than-life character in a quintessential paisa-vasool entertainer. It's a mix of genres, the film has a bit of action, comedy, horror, romance and is also a musical. In fact, this is the first time that I have been part of a big entertainer playing a larger-than-life character." She further mentioned, "My director, P Vasu has been an inspiration to work with. Working on this film has been one of the most enriching experiences in my life." 'Chandramukhi 2' is set to debut in theatres on September 15. Post this, the actress will be seen in 'Tejas' which is based on the life of air force pilot <keyword id="12691363" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="tejas-gill" source="Orion">Tejas Gill</keyword>. She also has her directorial in the pipeline, 'Emergency' in which she will portray the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. --IANS aa/svn

Chandramukhi 2 a quintessential paisa-vasool entertainer: Kangana Ranaut

Makers of the upcoming film '<keyword id="6376012" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tejas" source="Orion">Tejas</keyword>' starring <keyword id="2201" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="kangana-ranaut" source="Orion">Kangana Ranaut</keyword> as an Air Force Pilot on Wednesday unveiled the release date. <keyword id="2202" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="kangana" source="Orion">Kangana</keyword> took to Instagram and shared stills from the film along with the release date announcement. The first image showed Kangana dressed in a uniform as she walks out of Tejas, a multi-role combat aircraft. The second picture depicted an intense scene, a jeep burning in the background and Kangana in her action avatar. She posted this pic on her Insta stories as well and captioned it, "India's first aerial action movie is here." Kangana also shared a photo in complete uniform. As soon as the announcement was made on social media, the actor's fans flooded the comment section with heart and fire emojis. One of the users wrote, "Waiting Eagerly." "Banno tera swagger, lagey sexy, another comment read. Another commented, "That's woman power." 'Tejas' revolves around the extraordinary journey of Tejas Gill, an Air Force pilot, and aims to inspire and instil a deep sense of pride in the valiant soldiers who tirelessly defend our nation, confronting numerous challenges along the way. The Indian Air Force was the first of the country's defense forces to induct women into combat roles in 2016. Written and directed by Sarvesh Mewara, the film is all set to be in cinemas on October 20, 2023. Apart from this, Kangana will be next seen in the upcoming period film 'Emergency' in which she will be seen portraying the role of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. 'Emergency' marks her first solo-directorial film. The film also casts Anupam Kher, <keyword id="33098" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="mahima-chaudhry" source="Orion">Mahima Chaudhry</keyword>, Vishak Nair and <keyword id="4558" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="shreyas-talpade" source="Orion">Shreyas Talpade</keyword> in prominent roles. Also, she will be seen headlining 'Chandramukhi 2'. Helmed by P Vasu, the film is the sequel to the blockbuster hit Tamil horror comedy 'Chandramukhi' which starred Rajinikanth and Jyothika in the lead roles. In 'Chandramukhi 2' Kangana will portray the role of a dancer in the king's court, known for her beauty and dance skills. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/the-new-chairman-of-selectors-of-indian-cricket-had-some-unique-records-to-his-name/slidelist/101506688.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/the-new-chairman-of-selectors-of-indian-cricket-had-some-unique-records-to-his-name/slidelist/101506688.cms" target="_blank">The new chairman of selectors of Indian cricket had some unique records to his name</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/ideaforge-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/101491342.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/ideaforge-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/101491342.cms" target="_blank">ideaForge IPO allotment – how to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/cyient-dlm-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/101491430.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/cyient-dlm-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/101491430.cms" target="_blank">Cyient DLM IPO allotment – how to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more</a>

Kangana Ranaut set to bring aerial action movie 'Tejas' on this date, shares new stills

IN PICS: IAF displays its might with Rafale, Apache, Tejas, and others during the annual Air Force Day airshow

<ul><li>The Indian alcoholic beverages market is projected to grow at 11% per annum in value terms for the period between 2021 to 2025. </li><li>The alcohol and <keyword id="1453601" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="beverage-industry" source="Orion">beverage industry</keyword> in India is projected to cross 1200 million cases in volume by 2025. </li><li>India’s alcoholic beverages industry is having to deal with several obstacles – from tourists triggering pandemic scares to varying excise duties across the country. </li><li>Consumers are also switching from beer to whisky, rum, brandy and scotch on budgetary and health concerns. </li></ul>A growing spurt in post-pandemic social gatherings and socialising is seeing an uptick in food and beverages consumption, boosting <keyword id="13627872" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alcohol-sales-in-India" source="Orion">alcohol sales in India</keyword>. Consumers are also switching from beer to brown liquor like whisky, rum, brandy and scotch on budgetary and health concerns, industry experts say. “There has been a revenge buying going on in the market in the past 6 months. Many have shifted from beer to higher alcohol content products. Beer is comparatively more expensive as people tend to buy more of it due to less alcohol content,” said Ishwaraj Bhatia, COO of craft beer company <keyword id="138117" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="simba" source="Orion">Simba</keyword>, which witnessed a 35% growth post-pandemic. Indians have been getting out in droves to socialise in restaurants, clubs, pubs and bars – making up for all the lost social interactions after the Covid-19 pandemic’s forced isolation. Bangalore-based Ironhill, which claims to be the world’s largest microbrewery, clocked an overall sales in excess of ₹150 crore in 2022 alone. “The post pandemic era has been promising to us in many ways. Our sales have improved by steady dine-in footfalls across all our outlets. The consumption has been the highest in Bengaluru by a huge margin, followed by Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh and outlets in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh,” said <keyword id="12042815" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="teja-chekuri" source="Orion">Teja Chekuri</keyword>, Managing Partner of Ironhill India. Dine-in business of quick service restaurants or QSRs saw a strong growth in Q1FY2023 according to a <keyword id="87153" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="bnp-paribas" source="Orion">BNP Paribas</keyword> sector report. That bodes well for <keyword id="25441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alcohol-consumption" source="Orion">alcohol consumption</keyword> too. According to a Mirae Asset QSR report 2022, pubs, clubs and bars comprise 27% of the sales share. Pubs and bars are expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.8% and 9.5% in FY25, Paribas said. Indian alcohol beverage market is the third largest market in the world after China and USA by volume. This market is projected to grow at 11% per annum in value terms in 2021-2025, while by volume it is projected to cross 1200 million cases by<a href="https://www.bseindia.com/corporates/download/380455/Sula%20Vineyards%20Limited%20-%20DRHP_20220719121719.pdf"> 2025</a>. Changing excise policies a challenge Even as the alcoholic beverages industry in India slowly gets back on the road to recovery, it is having to deal with several obstacles – from tourists triggering pandemic scares to varying excise duties across the country. Delhi, a major market for alcoholic beverages, recently changed its excise policy. From September 1, Delhi and Ghaziabad went back to their old excise policies, leaving private players in the lurch. Private players were offering one plus one free alcohol to sell the remaining stock before the old excise policy came back. “The old excise policy favoured the private players more than the government vendors. Label and registration fees have gone up 100 fold and marketing is restricted. For registering a label in Delhi, we have to pay ₹15 lakh per year. For us, Delhi has been very expensive from the beginning, “ said Simba’s Bhatia. The entrepreneurs in the industry say Tier 1 cities were facing hiccups getting back on track due to the high inflow of travellers post pandemic leading to Covid cases. The tier 2 and tier 3 cities were quicker to adapt. “It is more difficult to sell alcohol in India rather than abroad because every state is a different country with its own excise rules. We have a separate team just to monitor the rapid changes in excise rules across states in India. The southern region of India is especially difficult to tap into as it forms 40% of the beer sales,” said Bhatia. Despite these issues, the Indian alcoholic beverage industry is expecting to grow robustly in the next few years and are looking to expand. UK-based research agency <keyword id="14971974" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="iwsr-drinks" source="Orion">IWSR Drinks</keyword> market analysis says Indian spirits segments will grow 4.4% in the next five years while beer will grow 9.3%. “We have been pushing our franchise model quite aggressively and have already begun talks for outlets in Maharashtra, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan among other states. We plan to have at least 30 outlets across India in the next few years,” said Ironhill India’s Chekuri. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/sanjay-khanna-appointed-ceo-of-american-express-india/articleshow/94169933.cms">Sanjay Khanna appointed CEO of American Express India</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/a-fire-at-an-ev-showroom-has-killed-8-several-injured-while-trying-to-escape/articleshow/94167880.cms">A fire at an EV showroom has killed 8, several injured while trying to escape</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech-buying-guides/amazon-great-indian-festival-sale-kickstarter-deals-revealed/articleshow/94157835.cms">Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale: Kickstarter deals revealed</a>

Spurt in social gatherings post-Covid is boosting alcohol sales in India

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the highest decision-making body for security issues headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the purchase of 83 Tejas fighter jets for the <keyword id="15141" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian Air Force</keyword> at a cost of Rs 48,000 crore, including infrastructure. The CCS approved the largest indigenous defence procurement deal worth about Rs 48,000 crore to strengthen the IAF's fleet of homegrown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas. "This deal will be a game changer for self reliance in the Indian defence manufacturing," Union Defence Minister <keyword id="6355121" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajnath-Singh">Rajnath Singh</keyword> said. Giving out details about the Cabinet decision, the <keyword id="43909" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Defence-ministry">Defence Ministry</keyword> in a statement said: "The Cabinet has approved procurement of 73 LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft and 10 LCA Tejas Mk-1 trainer aircraft at the cost of Rs 45,696 crore along with design and development of infrastructure sanctions worth Rs 1,202 crore." Light Combat Aircraft Mk-1A variant is an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured state-of-the-art modern 4+ generation fighter aircraft. This aircraft is equipped with critical operational capabilities of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar, Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile, Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite and Air to Air Refuelling (AAR) would be a potent platform to meet the operational requirements of Indian Air Force, IAF. The LCA-Tejas is going to be the backbone of the IAF fighter fleet in the years to come. LCA-Tejas incorporates a large number of new technologies many of which were never attempted in India. The indigenous content of LCA-Tejas is 50 per cent in the Mk1A variant which will be enhanced to 60 per cent. The Light Combat Aircraft Tejas is indigenously designed by the Aircraft Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by <keyword id="86569" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hindustan-Aeronautics-Limited">Hindustan Aeronautics Limited</keyword> (HAL). The HAL has already set up second line manufacturing facilities at its Nasik and Bengaluru Divisions. Equipped with the augmented infrastructure the HAL will steer LCA-Mk1A production for timely deliveries to the IAF. "The decision taken today will considerably expand the current LCA ecosystem and help in creating new job opportunities," the minister said. HAL follows a system integrator model in the LCA Mk1A programme and acts as an umbrella organisation, fostering manufacturing and design capabilities in private industry. The first squadron of the Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas was raised in 2016. The manufacturing of 83 jets will not only be a boost for 'Make in India' or self reliance but help in filling the gaps in the Indian Air Force as its current fleet is down to 30 squadrons, way below the sanctioned strength of 42. Each squadron comprises 18 fighter jets. These 73 Mark 1A jets are in addition to the 40 Mark 1 already ordered by the IAF. Last year in March, the <keyword id="6369097" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-defence">Ministry of Defence</keyword> gave the go-ahead for the purchase of 73 Tejas Mark 1A aircraft for the Indian Air Force. This was a major breakthrough as after cost negotiations for over three years between the Ministry of Defence and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the price for procurement of the advanced variant of the indigenously-made Light Combat Aircraft Tejas was slashed. The IAF has 20 Mark-1 jets of the earlier variant while another 20 are to be delivered. --IANS sk/kr

$6 billion defence deal boost for HAL — Government approves purchase of 83 Tejas fighter jets

<ul><li>The DefExpo kicks off tomorrow and it will be teaming with 1,000 companies from 40 countries around the world. </li><li>It will be an opportunity for domestic firms to find international partners to boost their technological capabilities. </li><li>According to Sameer Patil, an international security expert with GatewayHouse, India’s Armed Forces prefer to import equipment because domestic products either don’t meet their requirement or are of inferior quality. </li></ul>As <keyword id="8154465" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="DefExpo-2020">DefExpo 2020</keyword> is all set to kick off tomorrow, the many foreign players who will arrive for it, will bank on Indian love for imported equipment. Despite the push for ‘Make in India’, <keyword id="112134" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Armed-Forces">Indian Armed Forces</keyword> prefer to purchase high-quality products from global majors. “The DefExpo 2020 would provide a unique platform for defence industry OEMs, exhibitors and private industry to display their latest innovations and capabilities,” said defence minister <a href="https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh">Rajnath Singh</a>. According to him, over 1,000 companies from 40 different countries are scheduled to be present at the five-day event. However, the theme of the event is ‘Digital Transformation of Defence’ — an area where domestic firms don’t excel. “We have defence industrial capacity but our defence industrial capacity is not geared towards high-tech items but low-tech items, which doesn’t require complex expertise,” Sameer Patil, an international security expert with Mumbai-based think tank Gateway House told Business Insider India. An opportunity for foreign players to bag big deals India’s short-term requirements are mostly off-the-shelf items that foreign defence firms are already producing. The Armed Forces don’t favour picking up these items at home because homegrown products normally don’t live up to the hype. “The armed forces are saying that they would prefer imports rather than rely on the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop the equipment because sometimes it's of inferior quality and sometimes it doesn’t meet the requirements of the Armed Forces,” explained Patil. For instance, the Navy rejected the Naval Light Combat Aircraft — or Tejas — developed by the DRDO and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) because it was ‘overweight’. It’s size made it difficult to operate the aircraft from a carrier. However, the Tejas took nearly four decades to make in India. Regardless of the rejection, HAL is pursuing the project. The government’s military equipment manufacturing arm also saw tough times when the Dhruv helicopter crash instigated return-and-refund requests from Ecuador and the Maldives. The Navy also wanted an upgrade over the Dhruv helicopter. It applied to buy new naval utility helicopters with foldable rotor blades. However, HAL <a href="https://www.defencenews.in/article/MoD-expert-rejects-foreign-helicopter,-HAL-says-Dhruv-is-suitable-808920">argued</a> that its own design was robust enough and that it could develop foldable blades on its own over the next two to three years. An opportunity for domestic firms to tie up with foreign players When HAL first partnered with United Aircraft Corporation to manufacture the Sukhoi Su-57, the government expected a transfer of technology. “But because there was no planning or management culture in defence at that time, no one bothered to absorb those technical skills,” explained Patil. However, history is trying to correct itself. Tata, for example, already has a tie-up with Lockheed Martin to build F-16 wings and the F-21 fighter jet. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Larsen &amp; Toubro (L&amp;T) have also signed a pact to develop and manufacture defence products. “Because the private sector is more efficient, there is an expectation that they will absorb those tech skills. Given a chance, they can come up with indigenous equipment,” said Patil. However, defence indigenisation doesn’t happen overnight. According to Patil, it takes at least two decades to get the ball rolling and see visible results. Its realisation will mean catering to India’s medium and long term requirements for weaponry that isn’t available off the shelf — like robotic technologies. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/news/defexpo-2020-will-have-france-russia-south-korea-israel-us-and-african-countries-wooing-indias-defence-sector-for-partnerships/articleshow/73903166.cms">DefExpo 2020 will have France, Russia, South Korea, Israel, US, and African countries wooing India’s defence sector for partnerships</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/india-will-be-picking-up-ai-enabled-military-tech-from-south-korea-at-the-defexpo-2020/articleshow/73933364.cms">India will be picking up AI-enabled military tech from South Korea at the DefExpo 2020</a>

DefExpo 2020 will be an opportunity for domestic defence companies to prove their might to woo foreign firms

The term <a href="http://www.tejas.gov.in/specifications.html">Tejas</a> means ‘radiance’. Developed as a joint venture between Aeronautical Development Agency and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, <keyword id="6376012" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tejas">Tejas</keyword> is a lightweight aircraft technically described as multi-role, singing-engine tactical fighter. Specially manufactured for induction into the Indian Navy and <keyword id="15141" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian Air force</keyword>, Tejas comes with two variations. Tejas is an indigenously manufactured Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). Notably this is among the world’s smallest and lightest multi-role fighter aircraft belonging to the Supersonic class. The highlights of this tailless Aircraft include single-engine and a compound delta wing. In the mission of its development, we see ADA and HAL partner also making use of the expertise of DRDO, CSIR, BEL, DGAQA, IAF and IN. Upon its deployment, Tejas will meet the diverse requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy (IN). Specifications and performance of Tejas aircraft Tejas is known for its high degree of agility and maneuverability. These characteristics are achieved by virtue of its tailless compound wing delta configuration that is said to be aerodynamically unstable. Tejas is designed to satisfy the demands of the modernized air force. This multi-role aircraft is capable of challenging air defense roles and all-round air superiority. In the aerodynamic designing of this aircraft, a deep study and experimentation with the principles of computational fluid dynamics and wind tunnel studies have gone into. The most amazing aero-dynamic features of Tejas makes it stand for an excellent performance across a broader fighter envelope. The highly optimized wing of the aircraft shows up the right variation of thickness, twist and camber though its span. The designers have ably adjusted the cross-sectional area distribution for achieving remarkable high speed characteristics. The leading edge slats are particularly suitable for promising aerodynamic performance. In order to prevent buzz and to bring down distortion throughout the flight envelope, the makers have incorporated wing-shielded and bifurcated air intake duct fitted with diverts. These aspects harmoniously match with the engine design. Dimensions of Tejas aircraft Length: 13.20 meters; Height: 4.40 meters; and Wing Span: 8.20 meters Weights of Tejas aircraft Empty: 9800 Kilograms; Take Off clean: 6500 kilograms; and External Stores: 3500 kilograms Tejas aircraft Performance Altitude: 50,000 feet; Max Speed at all altitudes: Supersonic; and ‘g’ limits: +8/-3.5 Power plant F404-GE-IN20 Size: Diameter 890 mm, Length 3.9 m Weight: Max Weight 1,035 kg (2,282 lb) Engines capability: Thrust 9,163 kg (20,200 lb) Tejas aircraft Weapons capacity The efficiency and worth of any modern fighter aircraft depends on the weapons it is capable of delivering on the target. Tejas can carry a veritable plethora of air to surface, air to air, standoff and precision guided weaponry. In the air-to-air arena, Tejas can carry long range and beyond visual range weapons. It can also tackle any kind of close combat threat by handling highly agile and high off-boresight missiles. A broad range of air to ground munitions and a highly accurate navigation and attack system makes it possible for the aircraft to prosecute the surface targets both over the land or at the sea with the mission accomplished with high degree of accuracy. These features bestow the multi-swing role capabilities to this highly touted fighter jet aircraft Tejas.

All you need to know about India’s light combat aircraft Tejas

<ul><li><keyword id="6738479" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="India-defence-expenditure">India defence expenditure</keyword> is unlikely to change in the coming year. </li><li>Most will go towards salaries and pensions, while the rest will go towards the military, army and naval services. </li><li>Most of 2020’s defence expenditure will go towards acquiring new <keyword id="3089319" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tejas-MK-1A">Tejas Mk 1A</keyword> aircraft. </li></ul>India’s is modest when it comes to spending on defence. This year’s budget allocation of ₹4.3 lakh crore — 1.6% of the GDP — was the lowest since the 1962 war against China. And, that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon. "Allocation to remain static, selection is key," said ICICI Securities report on expectations for 2020. Nearly 71% of the budget went towards defence services and 26% towards pensions — leaving only 3% for the Ministry of Defence’s civil operations. Even in that, more than half goes towards salaries and pensions. While some may argue that India’s reserved defence spending leaves more money for development, it also leaves little room for modernisation. More weapons, more power Out of the total allocation of the defence budget, nearly one-third went towards acquiring new weapons. "The headline capital expenditure growth of 10% is the highest since FY13 and not due to some restructuring of heads as was the case in FY17, but genuine addition of allocation across Army, Navy and Air Force," said the report. While this meant that some quick money was spent, not a lot was done in terms of modernisation. Most of next year’s budget to be eaten up by Tejas Mk 1As The outlook for the coming year points to not much change in the future. Most of next year’s budget will go towards acquiring the Tejas Mk 1A — India’s homegrown fighter jet. "There is no decision of Tejas Mk 1A orders yet, an acquisition which we expect will complete in CY20. This can consume a significant chunk of the CY20 budget allocation," said the ICICI Securities report. The Tejas Mk 1A spent four decades in the making to match the capabilities of the MiG-21 aircraft — and yet, it falls short in comparison to other leading fighter jets around the world. The manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) — which was responsible for making the Tejas Mk I aircraft — has only been able to deliver 8 aircraft a year. In comparison, bigger manufacturers are able to deliver 16 to 17 in a year. Moreover, India has plans to order 83 Tejas Mk1A jets in the coming year. "We also expect steady allocation towards naval platforms and perhaps CY20 capital allocation will reflect the same," said the report. No room for modernisation The Indian Army is currently struggling to upgrade its equipment because of the resource crunch. In addition to being cautious about bringing new projects on board, it’s also grappling to pay for past contracts. Against a requirement of ₹1.1 lakh crore for committed liabilities, the budget allocation fell short by ₹67,363 crore — nearly half the requirement, according to the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (<a href="https://idsa.in/issuebrief/indias-defence-budget-2019-20-lkbehera-080719#footnote1_efqm4yp">IDSA</a>). Acquiring new equipment is only one of the problems — the other is being sustainable. Investment towards research and development has been increasing 8% annually, according to ICICI Securities. But it still remains a very small proportion of the total defence budget. In 2019, only ₹19,021 crores — 4.4% of the budget — was allocated to the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO). See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defence-budget-2019-20indias-defence-budget-has-nearly-doubled-in-5-years/articleshow/70037360.cms">India’s defence budget has nearly doubled in 5 years but the money is not enough to upgrade the weapons</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/isro-risat-2br1-spy-satellite-surveillance-along-borders/articleshow/72454280.cms">ISRO's all-weather ‘spy satellite’ will help India watch its borders closely</a>

India’s ready to spend on defence — just not on modernisation

<keyword id="15141" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian Air Force</keyword> (IAF) got the first squadron of ‘Made in India’ fighter jets ‘<keyword id="6376012" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tejas">Tejas</keyword>’, now named 'Flying Daggers 45'. 
 
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over two Tejas aircrafts, which were inducted in Bengaluru, and seven more will be added by 2017 to become fully operational. 
 
All squadrons of Tejas will be made up of 20 planes in total, including four in reserve. 
 
These Light Combat Aircrafts (LCA) entered Air Force 33 years after the project was conceived, giving a major boost to Indian defence aviation system. 
 
Tejas will eventually replace the ageing fleet of MiG-21 planes. 
 
Here are the other details about Tejas that you should not miss 
 1. The name Tejas, which means radiance, was given by former Indian Prime Minister <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword>. 
 
2. The first Commanding Offier of the ‘Flying Daggers 45’ will be Group Captain M Rangachari. He will have seven officers under him 
initially, 42 air warriors and about 20 non-commissioned officers. 
 
3. IAF's squadron number 45, 'Flying Daggers', has to its credit the shooting down of a Pakistani naval surveillance aircraft in 1999, some 300 km northeast of Karachi, killing all 16 people on board. 
 
4. Tejas is far superior to Pakistan's JF-17 built jointly with China. 
 
5. While the idea to have an indigenous fighter aircraft was conceptualised in 1970s, actual work started on the aircraft only in the 1980s and the first flight took place in January 2001. 
 
6. It is pegged as the world's smallest and lightest supersonic fighter, a project which was started in 1983 with Rs 560 crore funds. Now, the total cost stands at around Rs 55,000 crore. 
 
7. The upgraded version of Tejas, with Active Electrically Scanned Array Radar, Unified Electronic Warfare Suite, mid-air refuelling capacity and advanced beyond the vision range missiles, will cost between Rs 275 crore and Rs 300 crore. 
 
8. Due to its small size and the extensive usage of carbon composits, Tejas’ radar cross section is very less compared to other aircrafts like MiG-29, F-16. 
 
9. Tejas will have a reach of at least 400-km and will mostly be used for close air-to-ground operations. For any strikes which happen deep into enemy territory will have to be undertaken by Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKIs or the Rafales. 
 
10. IAF plans to induct over 80 aircraft with better specifications known as Tejas 1A. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

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