"with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and said the Asian nation held 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons."
Slap's Trump's mouth
This baby can leak so many STRATINT
Given that SCAF is dead due to the workshare dispute, what happens to the engine programme if France continues to pursue it, either with Sweden, India, or solo effort, from technical POV
Specifically:
Is there any indication the engine being designed as a Variable Cycle Engine similar to the US NGAP, rather than a conventional low-bypass turbofan?
It was expected to be 11 ton which should make it around 25-30 ton MTOW, so was it confirmed?
TASL-> FAL
MBDA weapons and missiles-> L&T
Saffran-> HAL
40% indiginisation expected in first few matches which goes upto 60%
20 made in France, rest in India
Indiginous weapons are to be integrated, which potentially includes Astra Mk1/2/3, NGCCM( ASRAAM), Rudram series, PG bombs/glide bombs, and ALCM
Moving on, my notes:
This deal is also likely linked with Saffran AMCA engine partnership, which will be co-development by GTRE-Safran for 120kN engine
Deal isn't bad considering this, and the fact that money unspent would just go back to consolidated fund of India, so its better if it's spent for better capability and helping the squadron strength.
Per my calculation, assuming 12% annual growth in IAF CAPEX( it was 18% this FY) they could easily fund the programs in next 10 years, 180×LCA MK1A, 110×LCA MK2, 80×SU30 upgrade, 6×Netra Mk2, 6×Netra Mk1A, 5×Kusha, QRSAM, 110×LUH, 66× Prachand, 3×ISTAR, 7×S400, QRSAM, Akash NG, few dozen of Ghatak, first 2 squadrons of AMCA plus few billion in fighter weapons and so on. Basically all the programs currently in development or in production, with 2-3 billion to spare
It's only bad if it's bought instead of SU57, but that has CAATSA risk and Defence secretary recently said they're not looking at more Sukhoi
France is plannig on going FCAD route and building a TD by 2031
Basically Indian LRAD, with 3 different interceptors
M1-> 150km
M2-> 250km
M3-> 350km
Trial seems to be for M2 interceptor, and per Defence Secretary, system's trials had begun back in Jan 2026
Facility for production was inaugurated in Feb 2026
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2228831®=3&lang=1
IAF will replace order of 5 squadrons in the first phase
Development partner are Solar industry and BDL
At 16:05 marker
Turns out DRDO replaced the T/R modules to GaN based ones in the last AEW&C
So they already operate one Netra Mk1A
( Haven't watched the whole thing yet)