Operation Sindoor: Has India called Pakistan's Nuclear Bluff?
But amid all the chest-thumping and conflicting versions of who bested whom, the main question centres on what are India's takeaways from this conflict. Talking to Senior Journalist Neena Gopal on the topic are a battery of experts, Air Marshal Matheswaran, Indian Air Force veteran; Air Commodore Ashminder Singh Bahal, Ex-IAF officer, author; Srinath Raghavan, strategic affairs expert, historian; Bharat Gopalaswamy, formerly Director of the South Asia program at Atlantic Council.
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India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
Operation Sindoor: Modi government upgrades India's defense capabilities, Pumps in Rs 3000000000000 to procure..., Army gets Rs 360000000000 for…
Rs 360000000000 deal: 'Baby S-400' ready to create havoc, weakness of Operation Sindoor will be…, Pakistan in tension because… New Delhi: The Modi government is working relentlessly to upgrade India's defense capabilities. According to the reports, the Central government has pumped in Rs 3 lakh crore into military modernisation and is on a mission to acquire or indigenously develop fighter jets, submarines and advanced missile systems. One by one, big-ticket purchases are being cleared, and the pace is relentless. To recall, earlier this month, the Ministry of Defence approved military procurements worth over Rs 1 lakh crore. Among them, Rs 44,000 crore has been set aside for 12 Mine Counter Measure Vessels and Rs 36,000 crore has been sanctioned for six regiments of the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile system, better known as QRSAM. It is important to note that these six QRSAM regimenhe QRSAM isn't just any system. It's being called the 'Baby S-400″, a nod to its smaller size but strategic will be split evenly between the Indian Air Force and the Army. However, reports suggest that there is only a fraction of what the armed forces actually asked for. The Army had requested 11 regiments but received only three. The Air Force's separate request also went unfulfilled. Had both services been granted their full requirement of 11 regiments each, the total cost would have escalated to ₹1.12 lakh crore. However, the government chose to scale back. The QRSAM isn't just any system. It's being called the 'Baby S-400″, a nod to its smaller size but strategic importance. Baby S-400: The S-400 is developed by the DRDO The S-400 is the air defence system that can neutralise enemy aircraft, drones, and missiles within a 30 km radius. While that range may seem modest compared to the 400 km reach of the Russian-origin S-400 and the 100–200 km envelope of the Akash system, QRSAM's quick reaction time and battlefield mobility give it a distinct tactical edge. India currently operates three S-400 regiments, with two more slated for delivery next year. Operation Sindoor demonstrated the level of aerial defence coordination made possible by these systems, with Indian forces deploying both S-400 and Akash platforms to counter potential threats. However, a gap remained—particularly in effectively responding to drone swarms and low-flying objects in real time.
Economic Times
3 hours ago
- Economic Times
Video shows Trump caught cheating at golf course, internet says 'Him and Kim Jong Un would be insane scramble partners'
Reuters Social media users soon got hold of the video that appeared to show the US President cheating in the sport he claims to love During his trip to Europe, US President Donald Trump decided to visit some of his golf courses and play a few rounds of the sport he loves the most. Trump's love for golf is no secret. But a camera captured a moment where one of the caddies in Trump's party decided to help him out more than what is allowed. A video filmed from inside a nearby building captured the moment Trump arrived at Turnberry, pulling up in a golf cart just left of the fairway—facing a bunker ahead and a patch of light fescue to his left. ALSO READ: 'Made me a meme': Ex-Astronomer CEO Andy Byron to sue Coldplay over viral kiss cam controversy. Chris Martin reacts As two caddies passed by, one paused, bent slightly, and discreetly dropped a ball in front of the president. Moments later, Trump stepped out of the cart, club in hand, and walked toward the ball as if preparing to take a shot. The footage cuts off just before he swings. — hissgoescobra (@hissgoescobra) Social media users soon got hold of the video that appeared to show the US President cheating in the sport he claims to love. This is the latest in a long line of cheating accusations against the 79-year-old on the golf course. The clip went viral on social media, with multiple commenters calling out the 79-year-old for 'cheating'. "Who needs a foot wedge when you have a personal ball dropper???" wrote one commenter on X, formerly Twitter. Another account posted, "Him and Kim Jong Un would be INSANE scramble partners". ALSO READ: Julian Brown missing: Atlanta inventor posts disturbing social media post before his 'disappearance'. Who is he? One account which appears to belong to a PGA professional commented, "Such a perfect metaphor for our Commander-in-Cheat." " like I need these fellas as Caddies with the way I hit it anymore," another post Trump did indeed hit that ball, it's not the first time that he's been accused of 'cheating' in the reportedly played 18 holes with his son Eric and US Ambassador Warren Stephens at Turnberry during the trip that included trade talks with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. During the President's first term in office back in 2019, a book named 'Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump,' was published by author Rick Reilly. ALSO READ: New Covid variant symptoms seen in US amid surge in summer wave: Check symptoms and states at the highest risk In the book, Reilly dissects Trump's relationship with golf, accusing the President of cheating."To say 'Donald Trump cheats' is like saying 'Michael Phelps swims,'" Reilly wrote. "He cheats at the highest level. He cheats when people are watching, and he cheats when they aren't."He cheats whether you like it or not. He cheats because that's how he plays golf... if you're playing golf with him, he's going to cheat."Earlier this year, film star Samuel L. Jackson accused him of cheating when the pair played a round together. Asked who the better golfer was, the Pulp Fiction actor said: 'Oh, I am, for sure. I don't cheat.' ALSO READ: Largest great white shark ever captured in Florida leaves scientists stunned. It measures 13.8 feet and weighs 1,653 pounds Taking to social media to reply to Jackson, Trump responded by saying he had never played with him on a course. Jackson's opinion is one echoed by fellow actor Anthony Anderson, as he accused Trump of cheating back in 2016. During an appearance on the Late Night With Seth Meyers that year, Anderson said: 'Trump is a great golfer. I'm not going to say Trump cheats. His caddy cheats for him.'Asked on whether he saw Trump cheat with his own eyes, Anderson replied: 'Oh yes, several times. Several times'.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
India Has Only 522 Fighter Jets. This Is How Many China And Pakistan Have
Last Updated: The US has offered the F-35, but it's not just extremely expensive with each jet costing over Rs 2,000 crore, but also incompatible with India's current systems and doctrine India may have drawn global applause for its swift and daring action during Operation Sindoor, a three-day cross-border offensive that delivered serious blows to Pakistan's terror infrastructure. But scratch beneath the surface of this battlefield success, and a deeper concern emerges; India's combat aircraft fleet is shrinking, while its two adversaries are expanding theirs at pace. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is supposed to operate 42 fighter squadrons to defend a country bordered by two hostile powers. Right now, it has just 31, and that number is about to drop further. Two squadrons of aging MiG-21s are on the brink of retirement, cutting the effective strength to 29 squadrons, or roughly 522 fighter jets. That's a gap of 13 squadrons, nearly 234 aircraft. Meanwhile, China alone fields about 66 squadrons, with an estimated 1,200 combat aircraft, some units comprising up to 20 jets. Add Pakistan's 25 squadrons (around 450 jets) and the math is clear: the China-Pakistan military partnership brings 1,650 fighter jets to the table. That's more than triple India's current fleet. The IAF's top brass knows this is a crisis. But as Air Force officials have pointed out, 'fighter jets are not like air conditioners or refrigerators", they can't be picked off a shelf and delivered overnight. India signed the Rafale deal in 2016 to plug some of the gaps, purchasing 36 jets from France at a total cost of Rs 4.68 lakh crore, roughly Rs 1,600 crore per aircraft. But even that was a fraction of what's needed. At today's prices, replacing 234 missing aircraft would cost upwards of Rs 4.68 lakh crore again, if India were to rely solely on high-end imports. So why not just buy more? Here's the problem. Only three countries produce fifth-generation fighters: the US, Russia, and China. The US has offered the F-35, but it's not just extremely expensive with each jet costing over Rs 2,000 crore, but also incompatible with India's current systems and doctrine. That leaves Russia, whose Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter remains a possible, but not ideal, fit. The government says it wants to go domestic. On paper, that's a smart call. But execution is lagging badly. The indigenous Tejas programme, conceived in 1984, still hasn't hit full stride. HAL has orders for 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets, but deliveries haven't begun. Mk-2s are in development. The planned fifth-generation stealth jet – AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) – may begin production by 2035 if everything stays on schedule, which, given past delays, is a big if. One major bottleneck? Engine supply. The entire Tejas program hinges on American GE engines, which are arriving far slower than expected. Without those engines, HAL's assembly lines are stuck. Meanwhile, China is racing ahead. It already deploys around 200 5th-gen J-20 stealth jets and plans to double that by 2030. Reports suggest it may even export them to Pakistan, giving both India's adversaries a serious edge in aerial warfare. Pakistan's current fleet includes F-16s and JF-17s, and it's actively acquiring more advanced aircraft from China. India's frontline jet remains the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, a heavy, twin-engine multirole fighter. It's a solid platform, but based on fourth-generation tech, and no match for stealth-enabled fifth-gen adversaries. Going fully indigenous would not only cut costs over time but also strengthen the domestic defence industry. But time is not on India's side. Global trends are shifting towards sixth-generation aircraft, and India hasn't yet fielded its fifth. The Defence Ministry has reportedly cleared acquisition of two to three squadrons of fifth-gen fighters. Whether that's the Russian Su-57 or something co-developed remains unclear. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
