Bengal Air - West Bengal's Attempt To Fly

The Communist Government of West Bengal, a quarter century ago, ventured into the civil aviation sector. Named Bengal Air, a consortium of the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation [WBIDC] & Bengal Air Services Limited [BASL] was to operate it.

'Torkham' - USSR's Machination To Dismember India And Instigate An Indo-pak War

India, in 1971, signed a pact with the erstwhile Soviet Union, called the 'Treaty of Peace, Friendship & Cooperation'. It was to ensure that in case India got embroiled in an armed external conflict, the Soviets would come to India's aid & take measures to stop it. In reality, these measures were aimed towards triggering an all-out war between India & pakistan.

PLAAF Flying LCA Tejas

 As China’s 6^th-generation combat aircraft breaks cover, one can find a curious footnote in the history of military aviation – Chinese participation in India’s Light Combat Aircraft [LCA] program.

While it would seem unfathomable to sow the seeds of an India-China military program, history has been replete with such instances.

This article appeared in the August 1994 edition of the Flight International magazine. One can give adequate credence to this report, considering the credibility of the publication. A possible Chinese attempt to sniff the air to gauge the state of advancement of the programme.

Godspeed

IAF's First C-295 Aircraft Has Been Spotted In Malta, Heading Home

The first of the Indian Air Force [IAF] C-295 Aircraft is making it's way to India. The Airbus subsidiary EADS CASA handed over this CA-7101 airframe 5 days ago, on Sept. 13, '23. This photograph was captured when it landed yesterday, at the Malta International Airport for refueling & replenishment. The flight is being operated by a mixed crew consisting of IAF personnel & Airbus pilots.

via  Redeemer Saliba Photography 

The IAF would be inducting 56 of these aircraft into the fleet. They would help alleviate India's medium-haul logistics woes. The current platform performing this role, the Soviet-origin An-32 is heading towards obsolescence &, as Russian weapon systems go, also marred by poor availability.

As Airbus states,

"With 283 orders from 41 operators, the C295 is the undisputed leader in its segment and stands out for its versatility. It can carry up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, airdrop cargo, be used for medical evacuation and take off and land in short and unpaved runways."

The deal would see 40 of these aircraft being assembled in India by the Tata Advanced Systems Limited [TASL]. A milestone for the Indian private sector Aircraft industry.

via PlaneSpotters

Godspeed

Also Read:  This Tiny Aircraft Was India’s 1st All-Composite Bird Built In The Country

Kakrapar IPHWR-700 Nuclear Reactor Finally Starts Full-Fledged Operations

India's largest Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor [PHWR] recently commenced commercial operations at the Kakrapar Nuclear facilty, the KAPP-3.

First Video Of INS Arighat - India's 2nd Nuclear Submarine

H/T @vivekrathod17

An intrepid ship-spotter caught the INS Arighat surfaced off the coast of Vizag. This is the first video of India's second in class indigenously developed Nuclear-powered Ballistic missile submarine [SSBN]. More in the pipeline.

From the picture, 14 years ago, where the wife of India's then Prime Minister broke a pre-weakened coconut on to a tiny exposed surface of the boat, to this video capturing it's crew "soaking in the sun" in the sail of the submarine, it has been a long-drawn wait.

Update: Earlier version of this post identified it as the INS Arihant. However, the towed Array Sonar [TAS] enclosure of this boat is more lengthened than that observed in the INS Arihant. Therefore, a high probability it's INS Arighat, the next submarine in the Arihant-class series.

Godspeed

Also Read: Stories Of Indian Navy's Submarines …….And Some Sweet Photos

Top Gun: Maverick - A Fanboy's Pilgrimage To The Theatres

"Maverick is re-engaging", three words that are akin to the eponymous "At the stroke of the midnight hour….." for an Indian Mil-avia fanboy. In real-life, a renewed thrust towards achieving something that isn't going as per intent, evokes a "Maverick is re-engaging" euphoria. "Rooster is re-engaging", on the other hand, sounds like a tortured poseur.

At India's Largest Indigenous Nuclear Reactor, Ventilation & Cooling Issues Have Halted Operations

Some new information, throwing light on the stalled Unit 3 operation at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station [KAPS], in Gujarat.

RAPS-7, India's Third 700 MW Nuclear Reactor To Go Critical Only By 2023, Delayed By another Year

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. [NPCIL] has postponed electricity generation from it's upcoming Nuclear Reactor in Rawatbhata by a year.

ISRO's AstroSat Satellite - The Scientific Payloads

The satellite, AstroSat, which the Indian Space Research Organisation [ISRO] launched, back in 2015, was designed for a purpose without precedence in the organisation.

NPCIL Halts Commissioning Of IPHWR-700 At Kakrapar & Other Indian Nuclear Updates

India's news cauldron recently witnessed a bit of churning, when it was announced that the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. [NPCIL] would be building 10 Nos. of Nuclear Power Plants, in Fleet Mode, within the next 10 years - दस का दम.

Indian Navy MH-60R Maritime Surveillance Helicopter

The Indian Navy is set to receive 24 of the MH-60R Helicopters, that Lockheed Martin manufactures at an estimated cost of $2.4 Billion USD. This Airframe, IN751, is retained in USA to impart training to Indian Naval Avatiators.

H/T SBGrad & Robert Brooks

Godspeed

Also read: Kopp-Etchells Effect Seen On IAF's Mi-17's Rotor Blades [Image Of The Day]

Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team At The Dubai Airshow

The Indian Air Force's air display team performing at the Dubai Air Show, last year.

This Neat Illustration Depicts The LCA Tejas Aircraft’s Widely Diverse Weapon Loadout

The Sanskrit saying, 'Big Thing Comes In Small Packages' or, as the Norwegians like to say, 'छोटे पैक में बड़ा धमाका', could well have been the design brief for the Light Combat Aircraft [LCA] Tejas.

46 Angry MiG-23 Aircraft Set To Make Their Bollywood Debut

This brief 3 seconds clip shows a CGI formation of MiG-23 fighters on a strike mission.

Outboard Motors Powering This Indian Army BMP-2 ICV Is Perhaps The Only Such Attempt In The World

Having 3000-odd examples of a system & some surplus under-utilised engines in inventory allows one to tinker with it that result in such curious, one-of-a-kind sight.