Current Events in Asia-Pacific

From Defence Talk Indian Air Force Retires More Old MiGs Agence France-Presse | Mar 21, 2007 India’s air force bid farewell March 20 to some of its last active Soviet-era jets, which are set to be replaced by new hardware from either Russia, the U.S. or Europe. Four of its five remaining MiG-23 jets, which have top speeds of up to 2,500 kilometers (1,150 miles) an hour, staged a fly-by from an air base in western India before the entire squadron was declared retired, an air force spokesman said. The planes — referred to by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as "Floggers" — were bought from the Soviet Union in the early 1980s during a frenetic a…

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

Global Security

From Flight International Indian navy set to issue maritime reconnaissance aircraft shortlist within days By Siva Govindasamy New Delhi to step up contest for new reconnaissance platforms, while interest in V-22 Osprey emerges The Indian navy is poised to announce the shortlist for its maritime reconnaissance aircraft contest "any day now", says Boeing, which is offering a P-8I variant of its 737-based P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft now in development for the US Navy. Other types in contention for the eight-aircraft programme include a special mission version of the Airbus A319/A320 from EADS, a package based on Dassault's Falcon 900 business jet al…

Anyone with this edition or access to the USNI website, a vey interesting article can be found pp 38-42 discussing current Indian naval strategies/concerns. It can provide outstanding scenario fodder. I believe that you need "access", but here is the link anyway. Find article here - hopefully. I could always post a copy if it is believed to be "ok"

Indian Army Successfully Tests BrahMos Block-III Deep Penetration Variant (The Diplomat, Flashpoints blog)

India Successfully Tests Indigenous Sub-Launched Missile (DefenseNews)

India Test Fires Nuclear-Capable Missile India Test Fires New Nuclear-Capable Missile Agni III, State Government Official Says By MUNEEZA NAQVI The Associated Press NEW DELHI - India test fired a new missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads across much of Asia and the Middle East, a state government official said Thursday. An earlier test firing of the Agni III missile had failed when it plunged into the Bay of Bengal short of its target in July last year. There was no immediate comment whether the current test was successful. The missile was launched from Wheeler Island off the eastern state of Orissa, the state government official said on condition o…

India tests sea based Brahmos missile (RIA Novosti)

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

From Defense Aerospace Indian Navy to Build Nuclear Submarine Base (Source: Forecast International; issued June 17, 2010) NEW DELHI --- The Indian Navy will construct a new base for its nascent nuclear submarine fleet. The project, codenamed Project Varsha, will be located on India's east coast. It will involve special features to ensure the safety of the submarines and their maintenance personnel. Reportedly the base will be modeled on the Chinese nuclear submarine base on Hainan Island, implying that it will consist of underground facilities linked to the sea by tunnels. Currently, one locally built submarine, the INS Arihant, is undergoing its criticality …

From Defense Aerospace India Likely to Buy More Carrier Borne Mig-29K Fighters (Source: ddi Indian government news; issued Sept. 25, 2008) India is to buy 30 more carrier borne Mig-29K (Fulcrum-D) fighters for the Indian navy and an agreement to this effect would be firmed up during the upcoming visit of Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov's to India next week. Serdyukov's tour here at the head of a high level officials and industry delegation is also likely to pave the way for signing of the new contract for acquisition and delivery of the carrier Admiral Gorshkov, according to top officials in Moscow. Russians have demanded a price escalation of …

From Defense Aerospace Antony Favours Brahmos Model to Develop World-Class Defence Products (Source: Indian Ministry of Defence; issued Dec. 28, 2006) Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has favoured more BrahMos-type cooperation with industry to develop world class defence products for the country. Speaking to a large number of scientists, industrialists and service personnel from both Russia and India after his maiden visit to the missile centre here today, Shri Antony said the fastest supersonic cruise missile BrahMos has given a boost to the country's defence preparedness with its speed, precision and power. He desired the quick development of the air versi…

India To Get Soviet-era Aircraft Carrier in 2013 (DefenseNews) Maybe.

India to launch BrahMos from Russian sub By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI - Staff writer Posted : Sunday Sep 9, 2007 9:36:17 EDT NEW DELHI — India’s supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, built jointly with Russia, is ready to be launched from a submarine, Defence Minister A.K. Anthony reportedly told the Indian Parliament on Sept. 5. Currently, the Indian navy’s submarines do not have the capability to launch BrahMos missiles. Sources in the Indian Defence Ministry said the BrahMos will be tested on an unspecified Russian submarine later this year. Versions of the BrahMos have been developed for the Indian army, navy and air force. The air version will be integrated on …

India to Launch 2nd Strategic Nuclear Sub by End of 2017 (The Diplomat)

From Defense Aerospace [excerpt]

From Jane's [excerpt]

https://news.usni.org/2016/04/20/indias-first-boomer-leaves-on-acceptance-trials

India's Indigenous Nuclear Submarine, Agni-V ICBM Set To Launch In 2015 (The Diplomat, Flashpoints)