Latest news with #French-made
News18
18 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Indian Air Force To Retire MiG-21 Fighter Jets: A Look At IAF's Fighter Jets And Aircrafts
1/8 Rafale: A multirole fighter jet from France. It is the largest entry into the air force, having being inducted in July 2020. It is equipped with advanced avionics and weapons for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. (File Pic) Sukhoi Su-30MKI: Developed in collaboration with Russia, it is India's frontline fighter jet. It is known for its long range and versatility. (File Pic) Mirage 2000: A French-made multirole jet famed for its precision strikes. Known for its agility and precision strike capability, it played a key role during the 1999 Kargil conflict and was instrumental in the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) SEPECAT Jaguar: First operated in 1979, the Jaguar has been a key strike aircraft in the IAF's fleet for decades. The Indian jaguar have now been upgraded with modern avionics and navigation systems to enhance precision strike capabilities. Reportedly, it was recently involved in Operation Sindoor. (Image: X) The IAF also operates a combinations of various transport aircraft including Antonov An-32, Dornier 228, and Hawker Siddeley HS 748 aircraft. (File Pic)
Saudi Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Trump says five jets shot down during India-Pakistan conflict in May
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that at least five fighter jets were shot down during the latest round of hostilities between India and Pakistan in May, and insisted that it was the United States that 'stopped the war' between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. 'Planes were being shot out of the air ... I think five jets were shot down, actually,' Trump said during a dinner meeting with Republican lawmakers at the White House on Friday night. He did not clarify whether the jets were Indian or Pakistani. This marks the first time a head of state from a third country has confirmed the downing of jets in the four-day conflict that erupted in early May. The fighting followed the April 22 bombing at the Pahalgam tourist resort in Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad denied the accusation and called for a neutral probe. Pakistan has claimed responsibility for shooting down six Indian aircraft, including three French-made Rafale fighter jets, during India's cross-border airstrikes on May 7. India has not confirmed those figures, though Gen. Anil Chauhan, India's chief of defense staff, later acknowledged that some aircraft were lost. 'What is important is not the jet being down, but why they were down,' Chauhan said at the said the escalation was 'getting bigger and bigger,' but was ultimately 'solved through trade,' describing how Washington leveraged ongoing trade negotiations to pressure both sides into restraint.'We said, you guys want to make a trade deal. We're not making a trade deal if you're going to be throwing around weapons, and maybe nuclear weapons—both very powerful nuclear states,' Trump said.'We stopped a lot of wars. And these were serious,' he added, referencing repeated claims he has made about U.S. mediation efforts in South May conflict marked one of the most dangerous flare-ups between India and Pakistan in recent years, with cross-border strikes, high-altitude dogfights, and mounting fears of a broader military confrontation. — Agencies
India Today
14-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Drone, missile strikes kill 3 Ulfa leaders in Myanmar, Indian Army denies role
The proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) or Ulfa (I), which is involved in a secessionist movement against India, claimed that three of its top leaders were killed, and several others injured in drone and missile strikes in Myanmar's Sagaiang region. The terrorist organisation issued statements on Sunday and blamed the attacks on its mobile camps on the Indian Army. The Army denied any role in the attacks, while Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state's police weren't involved in any such anti-talks Ulfa (I) faction seeks to establish a sovereign Assam through armed struggle and operates from multiple mobile camps in Myanmar, along the 1,600-kilometre border with Paresh Barua-led faction has reduced numbers and influence when compared to the heydays of militancy of the 80s. Internal rifts and the government's engagement with the pro-talks faction have further curtailed Barua's strength on the ground in Assam.150 DRONES, MISSILES USED TO KILL 3 TOP LEADERS, SAYS ULFA According to a statement issued by the outlawed secessionist group, the first strike occurred in the early hours of Sunday, targeting multiple mobile camps with drones in outfit claimed that Nayan Asom alias Nayan Medhi, the chairman of Ulfa(I)'s so-called "lower council", was killed in the drone attack, and around 19 others were injured, reported news agency Ulfa-I claimed the attacks came in waves between 2 am and 4 am, involving over 150 Israeli and French-made drones, according to a report in The Times of India. Drone and missile strikes, as claimed by the Ulfa, hit camps near Longwa and Pangsau Pass along the India-Myanmar border. (Image: Author) The Ulfa-I said that after Nayan Asom was killed, Ganesh Asom and Pradip Asom were killed in a second drone strike during the former's agency PTI reported that it was the second attack, during which missiles were launched, that killed the other two top leaders, self-styled brigadier Ganesh Asom and self-styled colonel Pradip alleged aerial attacks, as claimed by Ulfa-I and Manipur's Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), were spread across the India-Myanmar border near Longwa in Nagaland and Pangsau Pass in Arunachal Pradesh, reported The Times of ASSAM CM DENIES INVOLVEMENT, KNOWLEDGE OF ALLEGED ATTACKSThe Indian Army denied any knowledge or role in such an operation in Myanmar."There are no inputs with the Indian Army of such an operation," Guwahati-based Defence PRO, Lt Col Mahendra Rawat, was quoted as saying by the news Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also serves as the state's home minister, ruled out any involvement by the state police or operations launched from within Assam."The Assam Police is not involved in it and no attack has been carried out from our soil," Sarma added that such operations, if conducted, are usually acknowledged by the armed forces."More information is required on the matter... I think it will be clearer by evening," Sarma was quoted as saying by news agency Indian Army and the paramilitary Assam Rifles guard the 1,643-kilometre-long India-Myanmar border, which has been affected by civil war since the military coup in Myanmar in February of now, there is no independent confirmation of the attack or the deaths reported by Ulfa(I).The Indian Army has not issued any formal statement beyond the denial of knowledge, and there has been no response from Myanmar's side either, where the Ulfa(I) has long operated from hideouts along the had in 2019 carried out joint cross-border operations with Myanmar codenamed Operation Sunrise, targeting insurgent camps of groups like Ulfa(I), Naga militant outfit NSCN, and other Northeast rebel groups. However, no such operation has been officially acknowledged in the current instance.- Ends advertisement
Express Tribune
14-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PM to visit China next month
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a review meeting on Hajj arrangements for the upcoming year in Islamabad on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Photo courtesy: Radio Pakistan Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to lead a high-powered delegation to China next month in a visit focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and reviewing regional developments, including the May conflict between India and Pakistan. According to officials familiar with the development, the prime minister will be accompanied by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. The visit is likely to take place in August, with exact dates currently being finalised through diplomatic channels. The upcoming trip by Pakistan's top civil and military leadership carries added significance in the wake of the four-day military conflict with India during which Pakistan gained the upper hand, with its Air Force shooting down six Indian fighter jets, including the French-made Rafale. The conflict drew attention to China's military hardware, with several Western capitals closely monitoring the developments in South Asia. Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets and beyond-visual-range PL-15 missiles played a critical role. However, it was Pakistan's indigenous systems integration that made the Chinese hardware even lethal. During a recent visit to Pakistan, the chief of the Chinese Air Force expressed a keen interest in learning from Pakistan's combat experience and multi-domain operations. In a related development, the Indian Deputy Chief of Army Staff recently claimed that India was engaged in a two-front conflict, while pointing out Chinese involvement in Pakistan's military success. Pakistan procures 80 per cent of its military hardware from China. However, the Pakistan army chief at a recent Corps Commanders' meeting clarified that the May conflict was "unmistakably bilateral". When asked about the Indian general's claim, a senior Chinese official reportedly laughed off the assertion. The official reaffirmed that while Pakistan and China enjoy long-standing defence cooperation, Beijing has no desire to see conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. He noted that China consistently encourages both countries to resolve disputes through dialogue. Meanwhile, ahead of the prime minister's scheduled visit, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to travel to Beijing this week. According to a Foreign Office statement, Dar will lead the Pakistani delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting, taking place from July 14 to 16 in Tianjin, China. The visit comes at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Foreign ministers from all SCO member states, including Pakistan, China, Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, will participate in the CFM. Belarus will attend for the first time as a full member. The CFM is the third-highest decision-making body within the SCO framework. It deliberates on issues related to international relations and the foreign and security policies of member states. The council also finalises key documents, declarations and decisions that are later considered by the Council of Heads of State (CHS). The next CHS meeting is scheduled for August 31 to September 1, 2025, in Tianjin. During his trip, Dar is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines of the CFM session.
News18
13-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
3 Top ULFA(I) Leaders Killed In Drone Strikes Near Myanmar Border, Army Says 'No Information'
Last Updated: The proscribed ULFA(I), who seemed to be the target, claimed the attacks on its camps along the Myanmar border as having been carried out by the Indian Army There are reports that the Indian Army carried out drone strikes in Myanmar, though the military said there is no information of any such incident. The proscribed ULFA(I), who seemed to be the target, claimed the attacks on its camps along the Myanmar border as having been carried out by the Indian Army. But, when contacted, a defence spokesperson said there 'are no inputs of such an operation". 'There are no inputs with the Indian Army of such an operation," Lt Col Mahendra Rawat was quoted in reports. More than 100 armed drones were reportedly launched in a pre-dawn operation between 2 to 4 am on Sunday, targeting insurgent bases in Myanmar's Sagaing region. The strikes focused on the Naga Self-Administered Zone, hitting locations such as ULFA(I)'s Eastern Command headquarters at Hoyat Basti and 779 Camp in Waktham Basti. Additionally, camps of the NSCN-K, PLA, and RPF were also struck by Indian drones. The ULFA(I), in a press statement, said Nayan Asom alias Nayan Medhi, who was the 'chairman' of its 'lower council', was killed in the attacks. It said two other senior leaders, 'brigadier' Ganesh Asom and 'colonel' Pradip Asom, were killed in the second round of attacks during Nayan Asom's funeral. At least 19 others were injured, it added. The ULFA(I) has declared India as the aggressor and threatened retaliation. According to sources, the drones used in the operation are believed to be Israeli and French-made combat UAVs known for their high-precision strike capabilities. Despite the significant impact of the operation, neither the army nor Assam Rifles confirmed their involvement. The sources, however, suggested that the operation might have been coordinated with Myanmar's military junta though there is no official statement yet. They said the targeted areas are protected by China-linked private security companies due to their role in safeguarding Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects. Sagaing has become a sanctuary for insurgents from India's northeast amid Myanmar's civil conflict. They added that this operation marks India's first known use of mass drone swarms in a cross-border counter-insurgency. The follow-up funeral strike indicates a deliberate, layered targeting strategy with a zero-tolerance approach. The ULFA(I) has accused India of colonial occupation and warned of armed retaliation in Assam and northeast, the sources said. This action bears similarities to earlier Indian operations, such as the 2015 Myanmar raids but witnessed advanced aerial technology. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, meanwhile, denied involvement of the state police or any attack from its soil stating that 'things will be clearer towards the evening". 'The Assam Police is not involved in it and no attack has been carried out from our soil," Sarma told reporters on the sidelines of an official visit to Golaghat district. Sarma said in case of such operations, the army comes out with a statement, but nothing has been issued so far. 'More information is required on the matter… I think it will be clearer by evening," he said. About the Author Manoj Gupta First Published: Latest News Rajasthan: Social media influencer held with 150 gm of mephedrone Agency feeds Agency feeds Goa Police nabs fake CBI officer in digital arrest scam Agency feeds Small plane crashes at London Southend Airport Sports Pop! Champagne Cork Hilariously Delays Play During Sinner-Alcaraz Wimbledon Final: WATCH India 3 Top ULFA(I) Leaders Killed In Drone Strikes Near Myanmar Border, Army Says 'No Information' latest news
