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5th Feb 2021
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HAL to Make Unmanned Fighter Jet Cats Warrior
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n an attempt to make a major technological leap, the state-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) announced its plan to make an unmanned fighter jet. Called ‘Cats warrior’, the unmanned fighter jet will be controlled by pilots in another fighter jet flying behind it. A full-scale model of Cats Warrior is on display at the Aero India 2021 and HAL said that the low-cost autonomous jet will add to the air-combat power of IAF. The plan is to develop an unmanned jet that can go into combat as a loyal wingman drone with IAF’s manned fighter jets like LCA Tejas and Rafale to complement and maximize their effectiveness in the mission. The unmanned jet will carry a set of missiles to target enemies in the air as well as on the ground. The unmanned fighter jet will be part of a pack of manned-jets and have the capability to go deep into enemy territory and hit a target. While the manned jet will remain in own territory the ‘Cats Warrior’ will fly ahead and hit target up to 700 Kms far. The engine of the ‘Cats Warrior’ is developed in house and is the tweaked version of the Lakshya pilotless aircraft. HAL termed the concept ‘manned–unmanned’ teaming which is touted as the latest technology in aerial warfare. A few companies in the United States have already demonstrated the capability to conduct such a flight. R Madhavan, Chairman and Managing Director, HAL while briefed the media on the ‘Cats-Warrior’ programme at the Aero India said, “We will be ready to fly it in four-five years’ time and have put in Rs 400 crore of our own money on the project. So far, it is being ‘mated’ with Tejas and the Jaguar,” he said.
HAL Receives RFP for Basic Trainer HTT40 from IAF
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AL has received a Request for Proposal (RFP) from the Indian Air Force for their Basic Trainers requirement at the on-going Aero India 2021. The documents were handed over to R. Madhavan, CMD, HAL by Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, DCAS and V. L. Kantha Rao, DG (Acquisition), Ministry of Defence. The RFP is for 70 aircraft with additional clause for 38 more. The certification will be given against the PCQR. The production will take place at HAL’s two manufacturing units at Bengaluru and Nashik. The RFP has come within six years from the first flight of HAL which is shortest time-line in aircraft industry. The trainer will have more than 60 percent indigenous content and is supported by agencies such as CEMILAC, RDAQA, ASTE and others.
Rafael and BDL to sign MOU for Anti-Torpedo Defense System
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afael Advanced Defense Systems and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for joint induction of an AntiTorpedo Defence System called SHADE for the Indian Navy. The MoU will be signed by Eli Hefets, Rafael's Corporate
Regional Director for India and NP Diwakar, Director (Technical), BDL, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during the Bandhan Ceremony today, during the Aero India. SHADE will be the first system in the world to employ a combination of soft kill and hard kill decoys, thereby providing a robust and effective defence against modern torpedoes. The joint induction of SHADE is part of Rafael's commitment to the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (selfreliance) initiative of the Government of India. This MoU will be a precursor for cooperation on futuristic systems for the Indian Armed Forces in India, entailing advanced ToT, and a very high indigenous content, leading to selfsufficiency in the field of cutting-edge technology in defence. This MoU represents an ideal opportunity for industrial cooperation between Israel and India, leading to closer collaboration and co-development of advanced systems in India. Parties will work together to identify joint opportunities for export, subject to export control guidelines of the two governments.