Govt official among five killed in Pakistani shelling in Jammu and Kashmir
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India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
China's Largest Aircraft Carrier Hits The Sea; J-15T, J-35 Jets To Be Deployed – A Threat From Taiwan To The Indian Ocean?
Beijing: China has moved its most powerful aircraft carrier, the Fujian Type 003, into open waters. This step marks a milestone for China's naval development. The ship was built entirely by Chinese engineers. The launch system on the carrier uses electromagnetic catapults, similar to the technology used by the United States. Only two countries have this capability now: the United States and China. Beijing's state broadcaster, CCTV, released footage of the aircraft carrier at sea. The video showed flight tests involving the J-15T fighter jet. This aircraft is a newer version of the J-15, which itself is based on the Russian Su-33 design. The J-15T, along with other aircraft such as the stealth J-35, may soon be a regular feature on the carrier. The navy plans to test different types of aircraft onboard, including training planes and surveillance aircraft. China has two other carriers already: Liaoning and Shandong. With the Fujian, the total rises to three. Another carrier, the Type 004, is under construction. China wants to have at least six carriers in service by 2035. The Fujian, which displaces around 80,000 tons, is heavier than its predecessors but still lighter than the US Navy's largest carriers. The USS Gerald R. Ford, for instance, displaces over 100,000 tons. The Fujian's design has a few unique features. Its island structure is shaped to reduce radar detection. The deck supports advanced radar and electronic systems. China says the Fujian can carry 50 to 60 fighter jets. This could reduce the time it takes for China to respond in a crisis. India, in contrast, is moving more slowly. It operates two carriers: INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. Plans for a third carrier remain uncertain. Some military leaders question the value of large ships in an age of long-range missiles. Former Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat supported more submarines instead. India is currently working on six submarines under Project 76. The IAC-3 or INS Vishal was once considered the next step for India. But the project faced delays. Costs are high. The technology is complex. India has not so far committed to building it. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh did say in 2024 that a new carrier would be built. But this may refer to replacing an older ship, not adding a third. The Chinese navy is moving in a different direction. Officials say the Fujian could enter full service by the end of 2025. Once that happens, China will usually have two active carriers at sea. The third can rotate for repairs. The Fujian's launch shows how China plans to expand its presence across oceans. The ship is not limited to nearby waters. It could operate across the Indo-Pacific. Future carriers, including the Type 004, may be nuclear-powered. China also plans to use drones, helicopters and early-warning aircraft alongside its fighters. The goal is China wants to build a navy that can operate anywhere in the world. The Fujian is a major step toward that future.
India.com
4 hours ago
- India.com
Su-57 Or F-35? Which Jet Could Power India's Next Leap In Air Dominance
New Delhi: India's skies are about to change. Not today, maybe not this year, but the Indian Air Force (IAF) is already preparing for what is coming next. It will mark a new era and a new generation of fighter jets. The clock is ticking. India is working on its own fifth-generation fighter jet project. The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) has already moved past the blueprint stage. Engineers are building and scientists are testing. But the finish line is still years away. That is why New Delhi is now weighing options beyond its borders. No fighter jet defines power like a fifth-gen stealth aircraft. China already flies the J-20. The United States has its F-35. Russia flies the Su-57. But India, which is a nuclear-armed regional power, has none in active service so far. The IAF knows the gap is growing. It knows the future belongs to low-observable jets that can fly deep into enemy airspace and return unseen. Stealth is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity. So, where does India go next? India's Jet of the Future Still in the Making The AMCA is a homegrown dream. It stands for autonomy and reflects capability. But the aircraft is not going to take to the skies before the end of this decade. That is the reality. This timeline has opened space for new discussions. Foreign platforms are being evaluated. India is not rushing. It is watching, listening and calculating. Among the contenders, two names often come up – the Russian Su-57 and the American F-35. Both are stealth fighters, which promise air superiority. But both come with complex political baggage. The government has not made its choice. Experts, too, remain cautious. No official confirmation exists about which jet, if any, India is truly leaning toward. F-35 Still a Name on Paper There were murmurs and headlines. Some even claimed India had shown interest in the F-35. But Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh set the record straight in Parliament. He said there have been no formal talks between India and the United States on the F-35. He referred to a joint statement made in February 2025, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with US President Donald Trump. In that statement, Washington said it would review its fifth-gen fighter export policy to India. But that was it. There were no follow-ups, no negotiations and no detailed proposals. For now, the F-35 remains outside India's hangars. Experts Flag Integration Issues Defense expert Dinakar Peri said India cannot ignore the fifth-gen void for long. The IAF needs it. But even a small batch of jets would come with cost, infrastructure changes and long-term support requirements. He said India's own AMCA project is making steady progress. It may take up to 10 more years, but it will be India's own. If New Delhi buys foreign jets in the meantime, the risks are resources, manpower and focus may shift away from the AMCA. A senior fighter pilot from the IAF, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said picking a jet is not only about its top speed or radar profile, It is about compatibility. Can it work with our current systems? Can it talk to our radar? Will it fit our airbases and logistics chains? He raised a flag about the F-35. It is embedded in America's digital warfighting ecosystem. Plugging it into India's mixed inventory, which is Russian, French and Israeli, will not be seamless. F-35 Might Be Overkill Peri also made another point. The F-35 may be the best fighter jet in the world, but the best is not always the best fit. India does not have the digital infrastructure that supports the F-35. Building that framework would take time, effort and billions. He also questioned how much the United States would allow India to modify or customise the jet. India uses Su-30MKI fighters. It operates the S-400 missile system. Its radars and guidance systems come from multiple countries. If the F-35 cannot 'speak' to these systems, its stealth and combat edge could be wasted. Could Su-57 Fill the Gap? If the F-35 feels too distant, some believe the Su-57 might be closer. Russia and India share decades of military cooperation. Many Indian pilots already fly Russian aircraft. The Su-57 would not be a cultural shock. But nothing is simple. Western sanctions on Moscow are real. Supply lines are not stable. Payments could get stuck. Production delays have happened before. Technical concerns have also surfaced. Trusting the Su-57 would still be a gamble. That said, the Su-57 does offer one potential advantage that Russia may be willing to share more technology than the United States would. The jet could integrate better with India's Russian-made airframes. Maintenance, too, may be easier. But even this path remains full of 'ifs'. The Sky Is Watching India has time but not forever. The AMCA is coming. But the wait is long. China is moving fast and Pakistan is watching closely. The geopolitical chessboard is shifting. The IAF has always flown a mixed fleet. It has managed French, Russian and indigenous jets with discipline and skill. But fifth-gen warfare will test every system, every radar and every pilot. The decision India makes in the coming months could define its air dominance for the next two decades. Will it fly stealth with America, partner deeper with Russia or wait for its own jet to rise? No one knows. But the sky will not wait forever.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Cong's Brijendra hits out at Centre over pruning of voters' list in Bihar
Hisar: Congress leader and former Lok Sabha member from Hisar Brijendra Singh on Sunday claimed that deletion of over 65 lakh votes by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in Bihar was an attack on the Constitution, which the country had held for 75 years. Brijendra Singh, during a meeting of the party workers from the nine assembly constituencies of Hisar, termed the ECI move an unprecedented instance where a constitutional institution was used to undermine the spirit of Constitution. Citing Bihar's 243 assembly constituencies, Singh noted that it translated to an average removal of 27,000 votes per constituency, adding that the margin of defeat in many constituencies ranged between just 1,000-3,000 votes. Former Union minister Chaudhary Birendra Singh was the chief guest at the meeting. "Previously, it was the duty of the Election Commission to ensure that every citizen above 18 years of age was enrolled to vote. However, the current stance of the Commission — questioning why someone should be enrolled — is a grave threat to democracy," said Brijendra Singh. He also pointed out the disparity between the states, highlighting: "In Maharashtra, where the population growth rate is low, 40,000 new votes were added, whereas in Bihar, where the population growth rate is significantly higher, a large number of votes were removed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Even a blind person can see the govt's intention behind this manipulation." On the criticism of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Singh questioned why the context of his rise to leadership was never discussed. Responding to questions about the release of 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war following the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Singh redirected attention towards 'Operation Sindoor' and the ceasefire declared just four days after it began. He accused the govt of acting in favour of corporate interests, saying: "The objective, which the govt claims was achieved, was already fulfilled by Aug 6." He further said as a result of the govt's foreign policy decisions, countries like the USA and China were now favouring Pakistan, while Russia remained neutral, a situation few could have foreseen. Singh also claimed that following Operation Sindoor, Pakistan had no need to send delegations abroad, as even Muslim countries now question India's human rights record. "Members of the Indian delegation reported being confronted with allegations of genocide in India, even as they attempted to talk about terrorism," he said. He further criticised the central govt's claim of India being the world's fifth-largest economy, noting the contradiction in providing free ration to 80 crore people while making such claims. Push to gain strength (BOX) Former Union minister Chaudhary Birendra Singh on Sunday said their primary objective was to reorganise the Haryana Congress and bring the party back to power. He also announced plans for five regional meetings covering 15 assembly constituencies, including nine from the Hisar Lok Sabha segment and six from Jind, Kalayat, and Fatehabad. These meetings will be held in Jind, Hansi, Kalayat, Barwala, and Adampur. Each meeting will also serve as a training session for the party workers from three respective constituencies. The first such meeting is scheduled in Jind on Aug 20 – birth anniversary of former PM late Rajiv Gandhi. Congress workers from Jind, Julana, and Safidon will participate in it. Intellectuals and senior Congress leaders will be invited to these meetings to articulate the ideological differences between the Congress and the RSS, Singh added. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
