India Commissions Two State-Of-The-Art Warships

VISAKHAPATNAM, Aug 26: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today commissioned two multi-mission stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, at the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the warships, Singh congratulated the Navy and said, "You have launched the indigenous F35 warship. One nation has a flying F-35, and you have built a floating F-35, that also made in India."

The Union Defence Minister was alluding to America's F-35 jets, which are known for their stealth and speed.

He said the weapons and sensor packages make the warships the "invincible guardians of our seas".

"These warships have been built entirely in India. Their weapons and sensor packages make them the invincible guardians of our seas. I have been informed that several advanced capabilities have also been integrated into these warships. They are equipped with long-range strike weapons, supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, rocket launchers, torpedo launchers, combat management systems, and fire-control systems... all state-of-the-art and indispensable technologies," he added.

Udaygiri is the second ship from Project 17A stealth frigates and was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. While Himgiri is the first of P17A ships to be constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. Both the frigates represent a generational leap over earlier designs.

Both frigates were named after earlier INS Udaygiri (F35) and INS Himgiri (F34), which were in service for more than 30 years before being decommissioned.

Singh also called for harnessing new-age technology and emphasised the need to develop a modernised stock of weaponry and keep the forces future-ready.

"In today's era, old thinking won't work. We need to anticipate new threats and keep creating new solutions. Under the leadership of Modi, our government has given priority to research and development in the defence sector," he said.

"Due to the constantly evolving nature of wars, it has become essential that we not only keep ourselves updated but also think in directions that are still unexplored and unexpected," he added.

Singh also emphasised that "India is fully capable of safeguarding its maritime boundaries and is prepared to respond swiftly and decisively under any circumstances".

"With the commissioning of these two warships, the Indian Navy has been further strengthened as a true Blue Water Navy."

India’s multi-layer ADS maiden test successful

NEW DELHI, Aug 24: In the first step towards Project Sudarshan Chakra, India has successfully conducted the maiden flight-tests of its Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha.

Conducted Saturday, the trials demonstrated the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed multi-layered system that brought together the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM), Advanced Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), and a Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) to defend against contemporary aerial threats.

A government statement Sunday said that the inaugural test involved three aerial targets: two high-speed fixed-wing UAVs and a multi-copter drone. Each was engaged simultaneously, with the QRSAM, VSHORADS and DEW performing flawlessly at different ranges and altitudes.

“All components of the weapon system, including the missile systems, drone detection and destruction system, command-and-control, communication, and radars performed flawlessly, which was confirmed by range instruments deployed at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, to capture the flight data,” the statement read.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, the armed forces and the defence Industry for successful development of IADWS. “This unique flight test has established the multi-layered air-defence capability of our country and is going to strengthen area defence for important facilities against enemy aerial threats,” he posted on ‘X’.

How it operates

The IADWS functions as a layered, network-centric shield that combines kinetic interceptors and directed-energy weapons under a unified command architecture.

At its centre is the Centralised Command and Control Centre (C2C2), which integrates radar and electro-optical sensor feeds, generating a real-time air picture. Based on parameters such as velocity, altitude, radar cross-section and flight path or approach vector, the C2C2 allocates each threat to the most suitable effector.

The QRSAM equipped with active radar homing and mounted on high-mobility launchers, constitutes the system’s outer tier. It is optimised to engage fast-moving aircraft, helicopters and stand-off precision weapons (including cruise missiles and glide bombs), at interception ranges of about 25-30 km and altitudes approaching 10 km. Its mobility and short reaction time allows it to rapidly reposition and counter sudden incursions.

Penetrating targets that evade this layer are engaged by the VSHORADS. Shoulder-fired and employing an imaging infrared seeker, VSHORADS provides close-in protection against low-flying threats such as rotary-wing platforms, UAVs and slow-moving fixed-wing aircraft.

Its effective engagement envelope extends to roughly 6 km in range and up to 4 km in altitude, making it a flexible point-defence option against pop-up or terrain-masking threats.

The innermost tier is the Directed Energy Weapon (DEW), a high-power laser system developed by DRDO’s Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS). This is optimised for counter-UAV use and emits concentrated energy bursts capable of weakening airframes or disabling onboard electronics.

Unlike missile interceptors, the DEW offers virtually unlimited firing capacity, allowing sustained engagements and the ability to neutralise multiple drones or loitering munitions at close range with greater cost-effectiveness and operational simplicity.

Sources explained that by integrating multiple layers of missiles and directed-energy systems under the C2C2, the IADWS ensures that both conventional aerial threats such as high-speed aircraft and cruise missiles, and asymmetric threats, including swarming drones and loitering munitions are countered within a single system.

They added that the system is intended to provide area defence for high-value military and national assets, ranging from forward air bases, radar and missile sites and command-and-control nodes to critical infrastructure including nuclear facilities, space installations, power plants and industrial hubs.

India successfully test-fires Agni-5 intermediate range ballistic missile

CHANDIPUR, Aug 20: In a major boost to India's defence and a demonstration of its military might, the locally-developed intermediate range ballistic missile Agni-5, which can go as far as 5,000 kilometres, was successfully test-fired on Wednesday.

The test was conducted from the range in Chandipur, Odisha, the defence ministry said, adding, “The launch validated all operational and technical parameters. It was carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command.”

This missile can bring almost the entire continent of Asia, including the northernmost parts of China, and some regions of Europe within striking range.

The test comes less than four months after a military conflict between India and Pakistan, though officials did not speak of a link with that.

The missile test-fired on Wednesday is a variant of the Agni-5 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that can reach around 7,000 kilometres.

The missile is developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and it was reported back in June that DRDO is planning an upgrade, expanding its range to 7,500 kilometres.

Last year, India carried out the maiden flight test of the Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV)-capable Agni-5 missile. This technology helps the weapon system to tackle multiple nuclear warheads.

6 Pak Aircraft Shot Down During Op Sindoor, Says Air Force Chief

NEW DELHI, Aug 9: Six Pakistani aircraft - including five fighter jets and another large aircraft - were downed during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force has confirmed, in their first big revelation on the extent of damage caused to the Pakistani side during the mega military offensive.

The "big bird" that was downed was an AEW&C (airborne early warning and control system), the loss of which dealt a massive blow to Pakistan's air strength during the May 7 operation after the Pahalgam attack. Besides the six aircraft that were hit mid-air, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh also confirmed the losses that the Pakistan Air Force suffered on the ground in the aerial strikes at Pakistan airbases.

"We have five confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT or an AEW&C aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of 300 kms. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about," the Air Chief Marshal said at the 16th Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Lecture in Bengaluru.

Calling the Russian-made S-400 a "game-changer", he said that Pakistan was unable to penetrate the surface-to-air missile system.

"Our air defence systems did a wonderful job. The S-400 system, which we had recently bought, has been a game-changer. The range of that system has really kept their aircraft away from their weapons like long-range glide bombs that they have. They have not been able to use any of those because they have not able to penetrate the system," said the Air chief.

The IAF had also struck hangars in Jacobabad and Bholari in Pakistan. Some US-made F-16s, which were under maintenance at one of the hangars, were destroyed in the aerial strikes. In Bholari, another AEW&C aircraft is also believed to have been destroyed.

"We have an indication of at least one AWC in that AWC hanger, and a few F-16s, which are under maintenance there, (were destroyed)," the Air chief said.

The Indian forces were able to cause so much damage that Pakistan realised they would suffer more losses if the conflict continued, said the Air Chief Marshall. This prompted the Pakistani side to seek a ceasefire, he added.

The hostilites ended May 10.

Air Chief Marshal Singh also credited the political leadership for giving the forces the full freedom to plan and execute the attacks.

"A key reason for success was the presence of political will. There were very clear directions given to us. No restrictions were put on us. If there were any constraints, they were self-made. We decided how much to escalate. We had full freedom to plan and execute. Our attacks were calibrated because we wanted to be mature about it," said Air Chief Marshall Singh.

He also shared 'before and after' satellite images of the terror targets that were struck during the May 7 attack. "Not only did we have satellite pictures, but also from local media, through which we could get inside pictures," said the Chief of Air Staff, recalling that it was difficult to convince people without such evidence after the Balakot attack.

India had struck nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), eliminating over a hundred terrorists, during Op Sindoor. The massive military operation was carried out in response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre in which 26 innocent people were killed by Pakistan-linked terrorists.

Philippines, India hold first joint sail in South China Sea

MANILA, Aug 4: The Philippine and Indian navies have sailed together for the first time in the South China Sea, officials said on Monday, as President Ferdinand Marcos left Manila for New Delhi for a state visit.

The Philippines has conducted "maritime cooperative activities" with foreign navies since late 2023 as part of its push to counter China's expansive claims in the waterway, including joint passages with treaty ally the United States, as well as Japan, Australia, France and Canada.

An Indian official said the passage was in the West Philippine Sea and part of a bilateral exercise with Manila, where its ships arrived on Friday as part of India's outreach to build partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner said the idea for the two-day joint passage, which started on Sunday and was inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, came about when he met his counterpart in India in March.

"We did not experience any untoward incidents, but there are still those shadowing us - as we had already expected," Brawner told reporters, without referring directly to China.

China's foreign ministry said in a statement that territorial and maritime disputes should be resolved between the countries directly involved and no third party should intervene.

Indian Navy ships that took part included guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, tanker INS Shakti and corvette INS Kiltan. The Philippines deployed two frigates, BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Jose Rizal.

The exercise coincided with Marcos' departure for a five-day trip to India, where he said he would look to deepen maritime ties and seek cooperation on sectors including defence, pharmaceuticals and agriculture.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, overlapping with maritime zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The waterway is a strategic shipping route where $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce takes place.

A 2016 ruling of an international arbitral tribunal found Beijing's sweeping claims had no basis under international law, a decision China rejected.