IAF gets BIG boost, Rafael's Ice Breaker Missile emerges as a game-changer, IAF and LCH Prachand will now…, Bangladesh, China, Pakistan to…
While the IAF has already received the ICE BREAKER as part of a broader weapons offering from RAFAEL, sources in the Indian Air Force have told idrw.org that a formal decision on its induction is yet to be taken. Here are some of the key features of ICE BREAKER: The ICE BREAKER is a long-range, autonomous, multi-platform missile system
The Ice Breaker is designed to engage high-value land and naval targets with precision and survivability.
It weights approximately 400 kg
The missile is exceptionally lightweight for its class and boasts a range of 300 km, making it suitable for fighter jets like the Rafale and MiG-29K
It is also suitable for rotary-wing platforms such as the LCH and future Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH).
Meanwhile, the Indian Navy too has been offered the ICE BREAKER for its carrier-based fleet of MiG-29K and Rafale M fighters, expanding the potential for cross-service interoperability of the weapon.
The ICE BREAKER's state-of-the-art electro-optical and GPS guidance systems enable precise targeting even in GPS-denied environments. Its ability to launch multi-directional attacks allows it to effectively engage both moving maritime targets and fortified land-based infrastructure. This capability would greatly enhance the operational effectiveness of the LCH in high-threat areas like the Line of Actual Control (LAC), where long-range standoff strikes with minimal exposure are critical for mission success.
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Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Indian Express
Memories of a Delhi gone by: DDA's oldest housing colony near Hauz Khas, where flats once cost Rs 20k, may be up for revamp
'We used to play badminton together, sing songs, and eat with each other,' says Mohini Judge, 84, one of the oldest residents of Bhim Nagri Apartments, as she remembers a time that was 'much simpler, when this was a community. We were so close that if someone didn't come down for a festival, we used to go into their houses and wake them up.' Located in Hauz Khas, Bhim Nagri Apartments is the oldest housing complex built by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in the National Capital, with its earliest residents moving into their homes in 1969. The first of the quintessential DDA flats – winning the lottery for which has long been a mark of prestige, though it is steadily eroding of late – remains tucked inside the tony Safdarjung Development Area (SDA). Hemmed in on both sides by villas quickly transforming into monolithic glass-and-steel builder flats, Bhim Nagri stands like an island relatively untouched by the winds of change rushing through Delhi. A joint government-industry task force, constituted by Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, recently submitted a report titled 'How to Revitalise Delhi' to the government, recommending ways to unlock the region's 'latent real estate potential.' Among its key recommendations is the redevelopment of housing societies older than 50 years, which will also cover Bhim Nagri. 'These buildings are likely to have significant structural issues and may not meet modern safety and infrastructure standards,' the report recommends. Rs 5,000 down payment for flats costing Rs 20,000 Judge was 32 when she moved into one of the 72 flats housed in the eight buildings of Bhim Nagri, and her daughter was just a year old. 'When I used to go to the market, I would leave her at the church nearby without any worry,' Judge says, harking back to a time when residents say they had a small but strong community. 'I remember Sonu running around the houses, with his mother chasing and calling him back,' Judge adds about Sandeep Behl, another original inhabitant of the society. 'At that time, most of us knew each other and people used to live in large joint families,' says Behl, who is also the general secretary of the Residents' Welfare Association (RWA). But over time, most of the earliest inhabitants moved out, selling or leasing out their flats. 'The newer people are not that interested in socialising with everyone else,' he adds. Behl remembers that his family had to make a down payment of Rs 5,000 for the Middle-Income Group (MIG) flat and pay monthly instalments of Rs 200 for seven years, making the cost of the flat approximately Rs 20,000. MIG flats today can cost between Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore. The DDA's attempt to create a well-planned and green Capital, while seldom successful across Delhi, is visible here with three parks interspersed with buildings in the society. But Judge says it came later. 'Earlier, the spaces between buildings were just vacant. It was all an open area with hard soil. The parks came in around 1975.' Solid construction amid greenery 'We could also see the Qutub Minar from here in those days as the sky was clear and there were no tall buildings. Now, because of the pollution, you can't see it,' Judge's daughter says. 'There were also small sparrows back then, which one can't see now because there are so many Wi-Fi poles around,' she adds. While the colony is currently not surrounded by high-end markets with expensive shops, residents remember a time when they started coming up. Behl says that keekar trees stood where Aurobindo Market is now, and the SDA Market started coming up in the 1990s. Judge also recollects a time when Evergreen was not the massive sweets shop it is at present, but a small store. 'I remember when they used to fry samosas and jalebis in the open. They knew all of us and would call us over: 'Aao aao bhabhi!' Compared to contemporary DDA residences, where homeowners are often seen complaining about substandard material and poor planning, residents here sing praises about the construction. 'These walls are rock solid. We can't even put nails in them using just a hammer. You need a drilling machine,' says Behl. 'Bricks were not used for the construction of the outer walls. All of them were pre-fabricated,' says V S Sarma, another old-timer who remembers the exact date he moved into his flat: January 29, 1969. All the buildings were the same colour at first, residents say, with Behl remembering them as grey while Sarma contends they were yellow. Today, the buildings are of different colours: some are yellow, some white, others brown. 'It was like the coming of Eastmancolor, with black and white turning into various hues,' Sarma says, comparing it to the technology used in the 1950s and 1960s to bring out movies and photographs in colour. Devansh Mittal is a trainee correspondent with The Indian Express. He studied political science at Ashoka University. He can be reached at ... Read More
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Only 29% of plots sold under MIG housing initiative
1 2 Visakhapatnam: Nearly three years after its launch, Andhra Pradesh's 'Smart Townships' scheme — renamed 'NTR Smart Townships' under the new govt — has struggled to deliver on its promise of affordable housing plots for middle-income groups (MIG). Of the 36 projects initiated across Assembly constituencies, only 29% of plots have been sold, yielding just 23% of the projected revenue. Meanwhile, urban development authorities (UDAs) have sanctioned 38 additional projects across 37 constituencies, currently in various stages of development. The poor performance of the scheme is attributed to several structural constraints — an annual income cap of 18 lakh for eligibility, plot allocation through lotteries with no buyer choice, a rule restricting each beneficiary to only one plot, and lack of competitive pricing compared to private offerings. To address these bottlenecks, the govt has stopped accepting new applications for existing projects. Remaining applications will be processed via lotteries, and unsold plots will be auctioned commercially. Unlaunched projects may be developed as regular commercial layouts, subject to UDA notification. A formal order to this effect has been issued. For instance, the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) is developing MIG layouts in Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, and Anakapalli districts. Of these, only a few, such as the Palavalasa layout near Anandapuram and certain layouts in Vizianagaram district close to the upcoming Bhogapuram airport, have attracted significant interest. When the Palavalasa layout was first announced three years ago, the price was fixed at 18,000 per square yard. Following a poor response, the price was reduced to 14,500 in subsequent months. While layouts in Visakhapatnam have seen improved demand recently, similar interest has not been observed in other regions of the state. I n a move aimed at benefiting MIG plot buyers, the govt a few months has also decided to split the registration value of MIG plots into two parts. While 60% will be recorded as the sale price, 40% will be declared as development charges. Though the revised registration process is yet to begin due to delays in updating the format, this change is expected to reduce the overall registration charges for buyers by around 40%. The Smart Townships Scheme was envisioned as a boon for the middle and upper-middle-class segments — particularly those who are often excluded from govt welfare schemes and subsidies. For many in this group, the dream of owning a residential plot has long remained unfulfilled. The scheme also included a provision reserving a certain percentage of plots for govt employees and pensioners at a discounted rate compared to regular MIG applicants. Despite this inclusive approach, the scheme has not achieved the anticipated success. Notably, the initial demand survey for MIG plots under the initiative drew an overwhelming response, with around 3.9 lakh people showing interest in buying the plots. However, this enthusiasm did not translate into actual plot purchases, highlighting a gap between interest and conversion that can be attributed to several structural and pricing challenges within the scheme. Infographics: Pricing, Eligibility Hurdles Stall Sales A demand survey was conducted before the launch of the MIG layout scheme It has garnered interest from about 3.9 lakh individuals A total of 36 smart township projects have been launched by different UDAs in last 3 years 38 more projects have been approved in 37 Assembly constituencies Of the launched projects, only 29% of plots have been sold And just 23% of the expected revenue has been realised plots in these layouts are allocated through a lottery system at a fixed price Plots are developed in three sizes – 150, 200 and 240 square yards
NDTV
4 days ago
- NDTV
India Receives Second GE404 Engine For Tejas Mark 1A, 12 More To Come
The much-awaited General Electric's F404 engine, which will power the multi-role Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark 1A, has arrived in India today. The second engine was received by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the state-run firm that has built the fighter jet. Tejas Mark 1A is an upgraded version of the Tejas Mark 1, which is serving in two squadrons of the Indian Air Force - No. 45, the Flying Daggers and No. 18, the Flying Bullets. HAL is expected to receive 12 GE-404 engines by the end of this financial year, officials said. The Indian Air Force has placed orders for 83 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets, and a proposal to buy 97 more of these planes is at an advanced stage after the Defence Ministry's clearance, officials added. However, it is important to note that the G3 F404-IN20 engines for the LCA Mk1 programme are running almost two years behind schedule in delivering the engines, which has impacted the induction of the fighter jets in the Indian Air Force, an issue even flagged by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. The Indian Air Force will retire the last serving mighty MiG-21s from the force by September this year. Only two squadrons of the Air Force, both located at the Nal Air Base in Rajasthan, will get the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet after the MiG-21s are phased out of service. With the phasing out of MiG-21s, the Indian Air Force's squadron strength will drop to 29, the lowest ever. The sanctioned squadron strength is 42. Each squadron has around 18 fighter jets. Tejas Mk1A Goes Airborne On March 28 last year, Group Captain KK Venugopal (Retired), a test pilot, took the Tejas Mk1A to the skies and was airborne for 15 minutes. The sortie was the first successful flight of the MK1A version of the fighter jet. Group Captain Sunit Krishna, a test pilot of the LCA Tejas Mk1, spoke to NDTV India and said, "With time, the technology has to be improved and have to be integrated. The Indian Air Force wanted new systems to be integrated into the Tejas so that it could be in service for the next three decades." "The aircraft might look similar from the outside, but new electronics, processors, display systems, and the hardware of fly-by-wire systems have been list out, it has new AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, air-to-ground, air-to-air modes and self-protection jammers, and the mission computer in MK1A is new and indigenous. The aircraft is future-ready," Group Captain Krishna said. The design of an aircraft poses limitations to integrating new systems. The HAL has incorporated the latest technology with slight modifications in the design to give a newer aircraft. The new variant will have almost 50 per cent more indigenous content than its predecessor. The MK1A version will have 40 more improvements than the previous one. The Tejas Mk1A will have the advanced Israel EL/M-2025 AESA Radar. It will soon be replaced by the Uttam AESA Radar, indigenously developed by Bharat Electronics Limited and HAL. The Uttam Radar can track multiple targets and reportedly has a range of more than 200 km to give the aircraft a 360-degree scanned view of its surroundings. It will be used in the later variants like Tejas Mk2 and the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighters (TEDBF). The HAL has maintained a commonality between the Mk1 and Mk1A variants. The new version will have enhanced situational awareness with a slightly bigger canopy and changes in the jet aerodynamics to improve its manoeuvrability. Mk1A will have around nine hard points on its underbelly to carry various types of weaponry like the Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles, Air-to-Air/Ground missiles, and Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air missiles (ASRAAM). External self-protection jammer pods will allow the aircraft to engage in electronic warfare. An indigenously developed digital fly-by-wire flight control computer was integrated into the Tejas jet. Fly-by-wire systems in aircraft replace mechanical flight controls with an electronic interface.
