Following three flawless rehearsals this week, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is all set to enthral the people of the city of&nbsp;Chennai on Sunday&nbsp;(Oct&nbsp;6) between 11:00 am-1:00 pm (local time), as part of a grand air show involving 72 aircraft.&nbsp;

The event is to take place at Chennai's iconic Marina Beach, where more than a million people are expected to gather. It is after a hiatus of two decades that an air shoe is returning to Chennai and the Indian Air Force has a stellar lineup for mesmerising those at the Marina.

Sunday's air show is part of the Indian Air Force's 92nd-year celebrations. Following the open-to-public air show on Sunday, a restricted-access IAF Day parade will be held on&nbsp;Tuesday (Oct 8), at Air Force Station Tambaram, on the outskirts of Chennai city.&nbsp;

Over the last two years, the Raising Day of India's tri-services have been held in different cities across the country.

This is aimed at showcasing the valour, might, and capabilities of the Indian armed forces, while also inspiring youngsters to take up a career in service of the nation. Notably, among the aviators that will be flying on Sunday are two Chennaiites.&nbsp;

<h2>A rare mix of Russian and Western aircraft</h2>

A total of 72 aircraft will be taking part in the air show and this will include fighter jets, transporter aircraft, helicopters, and special aerobatic display teams, vintage aircraft.&nbsp;

Notably, air shows by the Indian Air Force have the unique distinction of featuring both Western aircraft and Russian aircraft, which is extremely rare. Sunday's air show will feature the French-origin Rafales, Mirage-2000, Airbus-C295MW, the Russian Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mig-29 fighters, the IL-78 MD Refuelling tanker, the European SEPECAT Jaguar deep penetration strike aircraft, the American C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifted, P-8I 'Poseidon' anti-submarine warfare aircraft, among others. The air shoe will also feature vintage planes such as the Dakota and Harward.

Interestingly, the Indian Air Force is the world's largest operator of the Russian-origin Sukhoi-30, of which the MKI version is the India-specific aircraft. With more than 260 in number, the Su-30MKI is regarded as the backbone of the Indian Air Force's fighter fleet.

The massive Su-30, also known as the 'Flanker' is the world's largest operational fighter aircraft. A fully loaded Sukhoi-30 weighs around 39 tons.&nbsp;

<h2>India's indigenous 'birds' to roar over Marina - Tejas and Prachand</h2>

Indigenously designed and developed Indian platform - Light combat aircraft Tejas, the lightest fighter jet in the world and the Prachand helicopter, the world's highest-flying combat helicopter are to showcase their mettle over the Marina Beach. These platforms indicate the progress that India's homegrown defence sector has made over the last several decades.

The Indian government has set an ambitious target of surpassing $5 billion&nbsp;in defence exports by 2025, from the present $2.63 billion. This ambition stems from the export potential that the Indian establishment sees in the homegrown defence ecosystem.&nbsp;

<h2>Brand ambassadors of the IAF - Sarang and Suryakiran</h2>

While most aircraft performing at the airshow would be of the standard metallic grey colour, there will also be unique aircraft that are painted in vibrant shades of red.

These are the brand ambassadors of the IAF – The Suryakiran (Rays of the Sun), Aerobatic Team flying the BAE Hawk Mk132 jets and the Sarang (Peacock) Helicopter Display Team flying the Dhruv Helicopters, both of which have enthralled crowds at international air shows on foreign soil.

The Suryakiran team comprises nine aircraft, while the Sarang team comprises five helicopters. From formation flying to daring aerobatic manoeuvres and risky high-proximity stunts, they'll do it all, while painting the sky in vibrant hues.&nbsp;

<h2>Flying Formations - A tribute all things Tamil Nadu&nbsp;</h2>

As different types of aircraft fly over the Marina beach, their formations will carry a significant touch of Tamil Nadu. Each of the formations has been named after unique facets of the history, culture, legacy, and geography of the state. The formations are called: Puyal (storm), Sangam, Pallava, Chera, Chola, Kanchi, Natraj, Nilgiri, Marina, Pandian, Mahabali etc.

Following three flawless rehearsals this week, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is all set to enthral the people of the city of Chennai on Sunday (Oct 6) between 11:00 am-1:00 pm (local time), as part of a grand air show involving 72 aircraft.

Following three flawless rehearsals this week, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is all set to enthral the people of the city of Chennai on Sunday (Oct 6) between 11:00 am-1:00 pm (local time), as part of a grand air show involving 72 aircraft. The event is to take place at Chennai's iconic Marina Beach, where more than a million people are expected to gather. It is after a hiatus of two decades that an air shoe is returning to Chennai and the Indian Air Force has a stellar lineup for mesmerising those at the Marina. Sunday's air show is part of the Indian Air Force's 92nd-year celebrations. Following the open-to-public air show on Sunday, a restricted-access IAF Day parade will be held on Tuesday (Oct 8), at Air Force Station Tambaram, on the outskirts of Chennai city. Over the last two years, the Raising Day of India's tri-services have been held in different cities across the country. This is aimed at showcasing the valour, might, and capabilities of the Indian armed forces, while also inspiring youngsters to take up a career in service of the nation. Notably, among the aviators that will be flying on Sunday are two Chennaiites. A rare mix of Russian and Western aircraft A total of 72 aircraft will be taking part in the air show and this will include fighter jets, transporter aircraft, helicopters, and special aerobatic display teams, vintage aircraft. Notably, air shows by the Indian Air Force have the unique distinction of featuring both Western aircraft and Russian aircraft, which is extremely rare. Sunday's air show will feature the French-origin Rafales, Mirage-2000, Airbus-C295MW, the Russian Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mig-29 fighters, the IL-78 MD Refuelling tanker, the European SEPECAT Jaguar deep penetration strike aircraft, the American C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifted, P-8I 'Poseidon' anti-submarine warfare aircraft, among others. The air shoe will also feature vintage planes such as the Dakota and Harward. Interestingly, the Indian Air Force is the world's largest operator of the Russian-origin Sukhoi-30, of which the MKI version is the India-specific aircraft. With more than 260 in number, the Su-30MKI is regarded as the backbone of the Indian Air Force's fighter fleet. The massive Su-30, also known as the 'Flanker' is the world's largest operational fighter aircraft. A fully loaded Sukhoi-30 weighs around 39 tons. India's indigenous 'birds' to roar over Marina - Tejas and Prachand Indigenously designed and developed Indian platform - Light combat aircraft Tejas, the lightest fighter jet in the world and the Prachand helicopter, the world's highest-flying combat helicopter are to showcase their mettle over the Marina Beach. These platforms indicate the progress that India's homegrown defence sector has made over the last several decades. The Indian government has set an ambitious target of surpassing $5 billion in defence exports by 2025, from the present $2.63 billion. This ambition stems from the export potential that the Indian establishment sees in the homegrown defence ecosystem. Brand ambassadors of the IAF - Sarang and Suryakiran While most aircraft performing at the airshow would be of the standard metallic grey colour, there will also be unique aircraft that are painted in vibrant shades of red. These are the brand ambassadors of the IAF – The Suryakiran (Rays of the Sun), Aerobatic Team flying the BAE Hawk Mk132 jets and the Sarang (Peacock) Helicopter Display Team flying the Dhruv Helicopters, both of which have enthralled crowds at international air shows on foreign soil. The Suryakiran team comprises nine aircraft, while the Sarang team comprises five helicopters. From formation flying to daring aerobatic manoeuvres and risky high-proximity stunts, they'll do it all, while painting the sky in vibrant hues. Flying Formations - A tribute all things Tamil Nadu As different types of aircraft fly over the Marina beach, their formations will carry a significant touch of Tamil Nadu. Each of the formations has been named after unique facets of the history, culture, legacy, and geography of the state. The formations are called: Puyal (storm), Sangam, Pallava, Chera, Chola, Kanchi, Natraj, Nilgiri, Marina, Pandian, Mahabali etc.

Indian Air Force all set for grand airshow at Chennai's Marina Beach

India is all set to make its debut in a new and unique sport as athletes will compete in surfing at the Asian Games 2026. The Games, which will be held in Japan, will be an opportunity for Indian surfers to showcase their talent. While the focus is on the 2026 Asian Games, the surfers in India got much-needed attention in Chennai’s Kovalam, a small town in India’s South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In an event hosted in sponsorship with Red Bull, popular Irish surfer Conor Maguire helped train 17 surfers while he was in the town for a surfing festival.

<h2>Conor in awe of the Indian coastline</h2>

“India has one of the longest coastlines and has an archipelago on both coasts, so the potential for waves here is awesome. I've noticed surfing hotspots on both coasts, clearly, India is an amazing place to come and surf. Travelling surfers bring a lot to the table. Those from Australia and Hawaii, they do really well,” Conor said while speaking to WION.

Red Bull has put in efforts towards strengthening the surfing ecosystem in India and mentoring young Indian surfers. He also reckoned the current facilities and hunger for success have got them going and helped them qualify for the Asian Games.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/icc-rankings-bumrah-gains-top-spot-in-test-bowlers-jaiswal-goes-third-in-batters-after-bangladesh-win-763871">ICC Rankings: Bumrah gains top spot among Test bowlers, Jaiswal third in batting after Bangladesh win</a>

“Our end goal is to select an Indian surfer that Red Bull can support and sponsor. There's one girl who started as young as 3, her younger brother started as young as 7 months," Conor said about the Indian surfers he's been training at Kovalam.

The waves in Chennai are perfect for training as they are small and consistent. According to Conor, surfing is all about practice and repetition, contests usually take place in wave conditions like these.

While India prepares for the 2026 Asian Games, for now, the focus stays on the next crop of surfers as the long-term target remains the Olympic Games.

India is all set to make its debut in a new and unique sport as athletes will compete in surfing at the Asian Games 2026. The Games, which will be held in Japan, will be an opportunity for Indian surfers to showcase their talent.

India is all set to make its debut in a new and unique sport as athletes will compete in surfing at the Asian Games 2026. The Games, which will be held in Japan, will be an opportunity for Indian surfers to showcase their talent. While the focus is on the 2026 Asian Games, the surfers in India got much-needed attention in Chennai’s Kovalam, a small town in India’s South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In an event hosted in sponsorship with Red Bull, popular Irish surfer Conor Maguire helped train 17 surfers while he was in the town for a surfing festival. Conor in awe of the Indian coastline “India has one of the longest coastlines and has an archipelago on both coasts, so the potential for waves here is awesome. I've noticed surfing hotspots on both coasts, clearly, India is an amazing place to come and surf. Travelling surfers bring a lot to the table. Those from Australia and Hawaii, they do really well,” Conor said while speaking to WION. Red Bull has put in efforts towards strengthening the surfing ecosystem in India and mentoring young Indian surfers. He also reckoned the current facilities and hunger for success have got them going and helped them qualify for the Asian Games. ALSO READ | ICC Rankings: Bumrah gains top spot among Test bowlers, Jaiswal third in batting after Bangladesh win “Our end goal is to select an Indian surfer that Red Bull can support and sponsor. There's one girl who started as young as 3, her younger brother started as young as 7 months," Conor said about the Indian surfers he's been training at Kovalam. The waves in Chennai are perfect for training as they are small and consistent. According to Conor, surfing is all about practice and repetition, contests usually take place in wave conditions like these. While India prepares for the 2026 Asian Games, for now, the focus stays on the next crop of surfers as the long-term target remains the Olympic Games.

'India is an amazing place for surfing': Conor Maguire praises conditions

In a significant boost for India-Morocco defence and economic ties, the Indian-origin Wheeled Armoured Platform 8x8 will undergo final assembly and integration at an Indian factory in Casablanca, Morocco. This is the result of a strategic partnership between The Kingdom of Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces and the Indian firm Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL). Morocco is learnt to have placed orders for 150 WhAP vehicles. Interestingly, despite WhAP being Indian-origin, it has been procured in very low numbers domestically. For lesser-known reasons, the Indian Government is keen to procure the US-origin Stryker vehicle made by General Dynamics Land Systems, despite the Modi Government's emphasis on indigenous development and "Atmanirtbharta"(self-reliance).

Dubbed as India's first amphibious infantry combat vehicle on wheels, the WhAP is jointly developed by Tata Advanced Systems and Tata Motors with Defence Research Development Organization(DRDO). This armoured vehicle stands as a successful example of Indian private sector and government partnership. Simply put, it is a light armoured all-terrain vehicle that can safely ferry troops in and out of combat zones. The vehicle's armour can handle incoming fire from small arms, and can return fire from its mounted gun. Such vehicles can be deployed to perform various roles including medical evacuation, surveillance, troop transport etc.&nbsp;

Expected to be operational in a year, the upcoming Tata facility in Morocco would be the North African country's first large defence manufacturing plant, and the first overseas defence manufacturing plant by an Indian defence Original Equipment Manufacturer. Given that the Moroccan facility would be performing assembly and integration, significant content of the vehicle would be exported from India. However, the plant in Morocco will provide local employment, value addition and support.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwix8OWD2OqIAxWIa_UHHX2aDLIQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-couldve-offered-pakistan-more-money-than-imf-aid-if-defence-minister-rajnath-singh-763070" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-couldve-offered-pakistan-more-money-than-imf-aid-if-defence-minister-rajnath-singh-763070&amp;ved=2ahUKEwix8OWD2OqIAxWIa_UHHX2aDLIQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE">'India could've offered Pakistan more money than IMF aid if...': Defence minister Rajnath Singh</a>

"This partnership with Tata Advanced Systems marks a new era in the development of our defence industry. It is a strategic step that will not only contribute to our national self-reliance but also our ability to scale up our defence industry quickly and reliably," said&nbsp; Abdeltif Loudyi, Honourable Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of the Administration National Defence.&nbsp;

Significant content of the TASL platform 8x8 will be exported from India, while also meeting a commitment for local employment, value addition and support in Morocco. The production facility in Casablanca covering 20,000 sqm&nbsp;has been identified. While the initial contracted quantity is entirely to meet the needs of Royal Moroccan Army, this facility will be a 100% subsidiary of Tata Advanced Systems, and become an export hub to meet the requirements of other countries in Africa.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwix8OWD2OqIAxWIa_UHHX2aDLIQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/brahmos-aerospace-becomes-first-company-in-india-to-announce-reservations-for-agniveers-762447" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/brahmos-aerospace-becomes-first-company-in-india-to-announce-reservations-for-agniveers-762447&amp;ved=2ahUKEwix8OWD2OqIAxWIa_UHHX2aDLIQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE">BrahMos Aerospace becomes first company in India to announce reservations for Agniveers</a>

"This contract is of significant size and of strategic importance for us. This not only enables TASL to help initiate Morocco’s defence ecosystem but also acts as a launch point for TASL into rest of Africa for select defence systems," said Sukaran Singh, CEO and MD, TASL.

Tata Advanced Systems is to closely work with the Moroccan government to engage with the local supply chain partners and vendors, offer training and skill development to the workforce, help maintain the armoured vehicles in-country. Gradually, the firm is also expected to increase local sourcing of components.&nbsp;

In a significant boost for India-Morocco defence and economic ties, the Indian-origin Wheeled Armoured Platform 8x8 will undergo final assembly and integration at an Indian factory in Casablanca, Morocco.

In a significant boost for India-Morocco defence and economic ties, the Indian-origin Wheeled Armoured Platform 8x8 will undergo final assembly and integration at an Indian factory in Casablanca, Morocco. This is the result of a strategic partnership between The Kingdom of Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces and the Indian firm Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL). Morocco is learnt to have placed orders for 150 WhAP vehicles. Interestingly, despite WhAP being Indian-origin, it has been procured in very low numbers domestically. For lesser-known reasons, the Indian Government is keen to procure the US-origin Stryker vehicle made by General Dynamics Land Systems, despite the Modi Government's emphasis on indigenous development and "Atmanirtbharta"(self-reliance). Dubbed as India's first amphibious infantry combat vehicle on wheels, the WhAP is jointly developed by Tata Advanced Systems and Tata Motors with Defence Research Development Organization(DRDO). This armoured vehicle stands as a successful example of Indian private sector and government partnership. Simply put, it is a light armoured all-terrain vehicle that can safely ferry troops in and out of combat zones. The vehicle's armour can handle incoming fire from small arms, and can return fire from its mounted gun. Such vehicles can be deployed to perform various roles including medical evacuation, surveillance, troop transport etc. Expected to be operational in a year, the upcoming Tata facility in Morocco would be the North African country's first large defence manufacturing plant, and the first overseas defence manufacturing plant by an Indian defence Original Equipment Manufacturer. Given that the Moroccan facility would be performing assembly and integration, significant content of the vehicle would be exported from India. However, the plant in Morocco will provide local employment, value addition and support. Also read: 'India could've offered Pakistan more money than IMF aid if...': Defence minister Rajnath Singh "This partnership with Tata Advanced Systems marks a new era in the development of our defence industry. It is a strategic step that will not only contribute to our national self-reliance but also our ability to scale up our defence industry quickly and reliably," said Abdeltif Loudyi, Honourable Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of the Administration National Defence. Significant content of the TASL platform 8x8 will be exported from India, while also meeting a commitment for local employment, value addition and support in Morocco. The production facility in Casablanca covering 20,000 sqm has been identified. While the initial contracted quantity is entirely to meet the needs of Royal Moroccan Army, this facility will be a 100% subsidiary of Tata Advanced Systems, and become an export hub to meet the requirements of other countries in Africa. Also read: BrahMos Aerospace becomes first company in India to announce reservations for Agniveers "This contract is of significant size and of strategic importance for us. This not only enables TASL to help initiate Morocco’s defence ecosystem but also acts as a launch point for TASL into rest of Africa for select defence systems," said Sukaran Singh, CEO and MD, TASL. Tata Advanced Systems is to closely work with the Moroccan government to engage with the local supply chain partners and vendors, offer training and skill development to the workforce, help maintain the armoured vehicles in-country. Gradually, the firm is also expected to increase local sourcing of components.

Indian-origin 'WhAP' armoured vehicle to be assembled in Morocco

For the second time in two years, American Naval ship Charles Drew is undergoing repairs at the Larsen and Toubro (L&amp;T) shipyard at Kattupalli, near the southern Indian metropolis of Chennai. The vessel sailed in on Wednesday (Sep 25) and is expected to spend around a month here.

USNS Charles Drew was the first American ship to undergo voyage repairs (short-term repairs that last a few weeks) at an Indian shipyard and was followed by USNS Matthew Perry and USNS Salvor. While all these ships are US Naval vessels, they are not warfighting or weapons delivery platforms, they only perform combat support roles such as logistics, replenishment of supplies, firefighting, salvaging, towing etc.&nbsp;

“While the US Navy had previous ship repair visits to India, this will be the longest ship visit yet and most complex since the US&nbsp;Navy signed three master ship repair agreements in 2023. This mid-term availability begins to capitalise on the vision of India serving as a ship repair hub for US Navy vessels in the IOR," US Defense Attaché Rear Admiral Michael Baker told WION.

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US Navy Ship Charles Drew is back in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chennai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chennai</a>, is undergoing repairs at L&amp;T Kattupalli, is the 4th <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a> ship to do so 
 
The 689ft long, 106ft wide ship, with displacement of 41,000tons (~INS Vikrant), manned by a 53-member crew, supplies spares, fuel, food, ammo to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USNavy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USNavy</a> ships <a href="https://t.co/3vgpffBLrs">pic.twitter.com/3vgpffBLrs</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1839331466444185979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Last year, the US Navy inked a five-year Master Shipyard Repair Agreement (MSRA) with L&amp;T shipyard in Kattupalli. This marked the US Navy's first such agreement in India, indicating the growing US-India partnership. In July 2023, USNS Salvor sailed into Kattupalli to undergo a mid-voyage repair under this agreement and was the first vessel to do so after the MSRA was inked. After the MSRA with L&amp;T Kattupalli, the US Navy inked MSRAs with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai and the government-run Cochin Shipyard Limited.

The MSRA is a legally non-binding arrangement between the US Navy and private shipbuilding contractors to pre-approve shipyards to repair American naval vessels. While it is an enabling agreement, it does not specify or guarantee how many vessels would come for repairs in a said period.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjgq47Ft-OIAxW81DgGHeUdJMwQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-naval-ship-charles-drew-visits-india-for-repairs-for-second-time-762318" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-naval-ship-charles-drew-visits-india-for-repairs-for-second-time-762318&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjgq47Ft-OIAxW81DgGHeUdJMwQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE">US Naval Ship Charles Drew visits India for repairs for second time</a>

MSRA allows the repair and refit of US Navy warships here, but there are no plans to conduct repairs of US Navy warships at this Indian facility, an official from the US Embassy, New Delhi, had earlier told WION.&nbsp;

The official had emphasised that MSRA was not about offering bases for US Navy ships in India. “This is just an enabling agreement, which allows a company (in this case, L&amp;T) access to US Navy's contracting system to bid on projects that are available. This is in no way a basing agreement,” he had told WION.&nbsp;

<h2>About USNS&nbsp;Charles&nbsp;Drew</h2>

The vessel is known as United States’ Military Sealift Command’s Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS&nbsp;Charles&nbsp;Drew. The&nbsp;Charles&nbsp;Drew&nbsp;is a cargo-carrier vessel that provides critical support to the US&nbsp;Navy fleet operating in the Indo-Pacific Region. 

The ships of MSC’s CLF (Military Sealift Command Combat Logistics Force) are the supply lines to the US Navy ships at sea. These ships provide virtually everything US Navy ships need, including fuel, food, fleet ordnance and dry cargo, spare parts, mail, and other supplies. 

All CLF ships are government-owned and operated by US government civil service mariners. In addition to US Navy ships, Military Sealift Command’s Combat Logistics Force also resupplies international partners and allies operating in the Indo-Pacific Region. CLF ships enable the US Navy fleet to remain at sea and combat ready for extended periods of time.  

The USNS Charles Drew is 689 ft long, 106 ft wide and has a displacement of 41,000 tons and can travel at a speed of 20 knots. The ship is manned by a 53-member crew and it can carry over 6,600 tons of dry cargo, over 1,700 tons of refrigerated stores and 18,000 barrels of cargo fuel.

For the second time in two years, American Naval ship Charles Drew is undergoing repairs at the Larsen and Toubro (L&T) shipyard at Kattupalli, near the southern Indian metropolis of Chennai.

For the second time in two years, American Naval ship Charles Drew is undergoing repairs at the Larsen and Toubro (L&T) shipyard at Kattupalli, near the southern Indian metropolis of Chennai. The vessel sailed in on Wednesday (Sep 25) and is expected to spend around a month here. USNS Charles Drew was the first American ship to undergo voyage repairs (short-term repairs that last a few weeks) at an Indian shipyard and was followed by USNS Matthew Perry and USNS Salvor. While all these ships are US Naval vessels, they are not warfighting or weapons delivery platforms, they only perform combat support roles such as logistics, replenishment of supplies, firefighting, salvaging, towing etc. “While the US Navy had previous ship repair visits to India, this will be the longest ship visit yet and most complex since the US Navy signed three master ship repair agreements in 2023. This mid-term availability begins to capitalise on the vision of India serving as a ship repair hub for US Navy vessels in the IOR," US Defense Attaché Rear Admiral Michael Baker told WION. US Navy Ship Charles Drew is back in #Chennai, is undergoing repairs at L&T Kattupalli, is the 4th #USA ship to do so The 689ft long, 106ft wide ship, with displacement of 41,000tons (~INS Vikrant), manned by a 53-member crew, supplies spares, fuel, food, ammo to #USNavy ships pic.twitter.com/3vgpffBLrs — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) September 26, 2024 × Last year, the US Navy inked a five-year Master Shipyard Repair Agreement (MSRA) with L&T shipyard in Kattupalli. This marked the US Navy's first such agreement in India, indicating the growing US-India partnership. In July 2023, USNS Salvor sailed into Kattupalli to undergo a mid-voyage repair under this agreement and was the first vessel to do so after the MSRA was inked. After the MSRA with L&T Kattupalli, the US Navy inked MSRAs with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai and the government-run Cochin Shipyard Limited. The MSRA is a legally non-binding arrangement between the US Navy and private shipbuilding contractors to pre-approve shipyards to repair American naval vessels. While it is an enabling agreement, it does not specify or guarantee how many vessels would come for repairs in a said period. Also read: US Naval Ship Charles Drew visits India for repairs for second time MSRA allows the repair and refit of US Navy warships here, but there are no plans to conduct repairs of US Navy warships at this Indian facility, an official from the US Embassy, New Delhi, had earlier told WION. The official had emphasised that MSRA was not about offering bases for US Navy ships in India. “This is just an enabling agreement, which allows a company (in this case, L&T) access to US Navy's contracting system to bid on projects that are available. This is in no way a basing agreement,” he had told WION. About USNS Charles Drew The vessel is known as United States’ Military Sealift Command’s Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Charles Drew. The Charles Drew is a cargo-carrier vessel that provides critical support to the US Navy fleet operating in the Indo-Pacific Region.  The ships of MSC’s CLF (Military Sealift Command Combat Logistics Force) are the supply lines to the US Navy ships at sea. These ships provide virtually everything US Navy ships need, including fuel, food, fleet ordnance and dry cargo, spare parts, mail, and other supplies.  All CLF ships are government-owned and operated by US government civil service mariners. In addition to US Navy ships, Military Sealift Command’s Combat Logistics Force also resupplies international partners and allies operating in the Indo-Pacific Region. CLF ships enable the US Navy fleet to remain at sea and combat ready for extended periods of time.   The USNS Charles Drew is 689 ft long, 106 ft wide and has a displacement of 41,000 tons and can travel at a speed of 20 knots. The ship is manned by a 53-member crew and it can carry over 6,600 tons of dry cargo, over 1,700 tons of refrigerated stores and 18,000 barrels of cargo fuel.

US Naval Ship Charles Drew in India on 'longest, most complex' visit 

For the second time in two years, American Naval ship Charles Drew is undergoing repairs at the Larsen and Toubro (L&T) shipyard at Kattupalli, near the southern Indian metropolis of Chennai. The vessel sailed in on Wednesday and is expected to spend a few weeks at the shipyard. USNS Charles Drew was the first American ship to undergo voyage repairs (short-term repairs that last a few weeks) at an Indian shipyard, and was followed by USNS Matthew Perry and USNS Salvor. While all these ships are US Naval vessels, they are not warfighting or weapons delivery platforms, they only perform combat support roles such as logistics, replenishment of supplies, firefighting, salvaging, towing, etc. US Navy Ship Charles Drew is back in #Chennai, is undergoing repairs at L&T Kattupalli, is the 4th #USA ship to do so The 689ft long, 106ft wide ship, with displacement of 41,000tons (~INS Vikrant), manned by a 53-member crew, supplies spares, fuel, food, ammo to #USNavy ships pic.twitter.com/3vgpffBLrs — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) September 26, 2024 × Last year, the US Navy inked a five-year Master Shipyard Repair Agreement (MSRA) with Larsen & Toubro shipyard in Kattupalli. This marked the US Navy's first such agreement in India, indicating the growing US-India partnership. In July 2023, USNS Salvor sailed into Kattupalli to undergo a mid-voyage repair under this agreement and was the first vessel to do so after the MSRA was inked. The MSRA is a legally non-binding arrangement between the US Navy and private shipbuilding contractors to pre-approve shipyards to repair US Naval vessels. MSRA allows the repair and refit of US Navy warships here, but there are no plans to conduct repairs of US Navy warships at this Indian facility, an official from the US Embassy, New Delhi, had earlier told WION. The official had emphasised that MSRA was not about offering bases for US Navy ships in India. "This is just an enabling agreement, which allows a company (in this case, L&T) access to the US Navy's contracting system to bid on projects that are available. This is in no way a basing agreement," he had told WION. About USNS Charles Drew The vessel is known as United States’ Military Sealift Command’s Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Charles Drew. The Charles Drew is a cargo-carrier vessel that provides critical support to the U.S. Navy fleet operating in the Indo-Pacific Region. The ships of MSC’s CLF (Military Sealift Command Combat Logistics Force) are the supply lines to U.S. Navy ships at sea. These ships provide virtually everything US Navy ships need, including fuel, food, fleet ordnance and dry cargo, spare parts, mail, and other supplies. Also read: Taiwan scrambles jets, naval ships after detecting massive Chinese military activity All CLF ships are government-owned and operated by U.S. Government civil service mariners. In addition to U.S. Navy ships, Military Sealift Command’s Combat Logistics Force also resupplies international partners and allies operating in the Indo-Pacific Region. CLF ships enable the US Navy fleet to remain at sea and combat-ready for extended periods of time. The USNS Charles Drew is 689 feet long, 106 feet wide, has a displacement of 41,000 tonnes, and can travel at a speed of 20 knots. The ship manned by a 53-member crew can carry over 6,600 tonnes of dry cargo, over 1,700 tonnes of refrigerated stores, and 18,000 barrels of cargo fuel.

US Naval Ship Charles Drew visits India for repairs for second time

General Atomics MQ-9B 'Sea Guardian', a sophisticated long-range maritime reconnaissance drone that was being operated on lease by the Indian Navy, crashed off the Chennai coast in southern India, following a mid-flight technical failure.

General Atomics MQ-9B 'Sea Guardian', a sophisticated long-range maritime reconnaissance drone that was being operated on lease by the Indian Navy, crashed off the Chennai coast in southern India, following a mid-flight technical failure. The United States-origin 'Predator' drone that cost around $150 million (approx Rs 1200 crore) was carrying out a routine surveillance mission, after taking off from an Indian Naval Air Station, INS Rajali, near the southern Indian city of Chennai. Notably, India has been negotiating a deal with the US to purchase 31 of these drones for a whopping $4 billion (well over Rs 34,000 crore). It remains to be seen whether this technical failure and recent incidents of these drones being shot down by Houthi rebels will impact this high-profile weapons deal. $150mn US-origin MQ-9B Long-range maritime reconnaissance drone crashes at sea off #Chennai #TamilNadu #india It suffered mid-flight failure #IndianNavy has been operating 2 of them on lease.#India looking to buy 31 of them from #USA for $4bn for #Army #Navy & #AirForce pic.twitter.com/1ny65V2hzW — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) September 18, 2024 × According to the Indian Navy, the high-altitude long endurance (HALE) drone encountered a technical failure around 2:00 pm IST, while on a routine surveillance mission, and it could not be reset while flying. "The aircraft was navigated to a safe area over sea and carried out a controlled ditch at sea off Chennai. A detailed report has been sought from the Original Equipment Manufacturer," read the Indian Navy's statement. The massive drone weighs well over 4 tons (4,000kg), has a wingspan of 24 metres and measures 11.7 metres in length, and can fly at altitudes of 40,000 feet (which is also the maximum altitude at which most commercial planes fly). It is capable of carrying a wide range of bombs, missiles and sensors, depending on the role that it is deployed for. According to the American firm General Atomics, the SeaGuardian is designed to fly in day and night conditions, over the horizon via satellite control for over 30 hours (depending on configuration) in all types of weather. This aircraft carries highly versatile maritime patrol and reconnaissance technologies, including a maritime radar, an automatic identification system, electronic support measures, and a self-contained anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission kit. It is said to be the first drone in its class to enable real-time search and patrol above and below the ocean’s surface. The firm markets the drone as being capable of undertaking a wide range of missions, such as humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, search and rescue, law enforcement, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, airborne mine countermeasures, long-range strategic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. "This is perhaps a first-of-its-kind mishap in so many years of this drone's operation in the areas of interest in the Indian Ocean region. While this incident has to be taken seriously, we must look at the total number of hours (well more than 10,000-20,000hours) that it has flown, proving its credentials for surveillance. There are no doubts that the operator and manufacturer would work together to identify what the root causes were and implement remedial measures," Commodore RS Vasan (Retd), an Indian Navy Veteran and Director General of Chennai Centre for China Studies told WION. The Indian government has been looking to procure 31 of these drones for the country's tri-services, and this deal had been recently cleared by the Indian Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. However, this deal has to also be approved by India's Cabinet Committee on Security, before it can be inked. This potential deal is for 15 MQ-9B SeaGuardian variant drones for the Indian Navy, and eight each of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian variants for the Indian Army and Air Force.

India: US-origin MQ-9B drone costing $150mn crashes off Chennai

The Union Cabinet led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally approved a host of high-profile, expensive space missions and long-term projects of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The Union Cabinet led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally approved a host of high-profile, expensive space missions and long-term projects of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). These projects include a 'Chandrayaan-4' that will land on and return samples from the moon, expansion of India's ongoing Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight programme (homegrown astronaut missions), an Indian space station that will enable long-term astronaut presence in Earth orbit, a Venus orbiter mission, heavy-lift and re-usable rockets for future missions. All of these are steps that will eventually lead to the Indian government's vision of landing Indian astronauts on the moon, by the year 2040. For several years, ISRO has been working on concepts and proposals for the above projects. However, the formal nod granted by the Indian government on Wednesday (Sep 18) helps put these grand plans into action, in the coming years and decades. Special budget and timeline for India's Space missions Over the last 25 years, India has repeatedly executed end-to-end space missions. This includes the design, development and launch of rockets and satellites, the ability to track and control these space vehicles and perform a host of functions. India has successfully accomplished missions to study the Moon, Mars, and Sun, launching space probes. In addition to this, ISRO's rockets perform commercial missions to ferry customer satellites and earn revenue for the Indian government. ISRO also performs a host of missions to cater to the needs of India's defence forces, weather agencies, commercial users, Earth-imaging, strategic uses etc. However, all of these are being done with an annual budget that has hovered around $ 1.5 billion (Rs.12,500 crore). With grand ambitions, now the Indian government has also announced a commensurate hike in the budgetary allocations for these newly approved projects. Chandrayaan-4 Following the successful lunar landing of Chandrayaan-3 in August 2023, ISRO is embarking on more challenging robotic lunar exploration missions. With the knowledge and experience gained from multiple robotic missions, ISRO can gradually gear up for human-led missions to the moon, given that India wants to land its astronauts on the moon by the year 2040 and return safely. ISRO is expected to carry out the Chandrayaan-4 mission within 36 months, which is by September 2027. For this mission, the Indian government has allocated approximately $250mn or Rs 2104 crore. The cost covers the development of two launches of India's largest rocket LVM3, external deep space network support (antennae), and special tests for design validation, finally leading to the mission of landing on the Moon's surface and safe return to Earth along with the collected lunar sample. Bharatiya Anthariksh Station (BAS) or Indian Space Station In less than a year, India will launch a humanoid robot to space on an Indian rocket and Indian capsule. The capsule will circle the Earth and return for a splashdown landing in the Indian Ocean. After successfully performing such robotic missions, India will launch astronauts to space and return them for a similar splashdown landing. There will be a total of four such missions. Titled Gaganyaan, this will be India's maiden homegrown astronaut mission. Further to this, India hopes to establish a long-term presence in space, which would mean setting up a lab that circles the Earth. Also read: Philippines plans full e-Visa service for Indians, space MoU with ISRO By 2028, India plans to launch the first unit of the country's independent space station. As part of testing and preparing technologies for the space station, India will perform four missions. Gradually, as the space station is expanded and readied, it will begin to host Indian astronauts from 2035. Thus far, only China operates its independent space station. The International Space Station is a multilateral effort involving the United States, Europe, Japan, Canada, and Russia. The ongoing Gaganyaan effort has received additional funding of approx $1.4 billion or Rs.11,170 crore. This takes the total funding for the Gaganyaan Programme to approx $2.4 billion or Rs. 20,193 crore. Mission to Orbit and Study Venus Venus is the closest planet to Earth and is believed to have formed in conditions similar to Earth. India's ‘Venus Orbiter Mission’ is meant to circle the planet to observe and understand the Venusian surface and subsurface, atmospheric processes and the influence of the Sun on Venusian atmosphere. Also read: ISRO delayed Chandrayaan-3’s launch by four seconds to avoid massive collision in space The total fund approved for the Venus Orbiter Mission” (VOM), is approx $150 million or Rs 1,236 crore. Out of this, Rs 824 crore will be spent on the spacecraft. The above mission cost includes the development of the spacecraft including its specific payloads and technology elements, global ground station support cost for tracking and navigation, and the rocket launch cost. This mission is expected to be completed by 2028. Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV): India's Future Rocket At present, India's largest rocket LVM3 can only carry 10 tons to orbits near the Earth, when it comes to travelling farther from the Earth, this lifting capacity falls down to 4 tons. This is highly inadequate considering India's big ambitions. Therefore, the Indian Government has approved the NGLV, a rocket that will have 3 times the present payload capability of LVM3, while costing just 1.5 times as much. This low cost will be achieved by using reusable technologies, efficient fuels etc. Capable of carrying 30 tons to orbits near the Earth, the NGLV is expected to be developed by 2032. By then, ISRO is to complete three developmental flights of the rocket and showcase its capabilities. ISRO has been allocated approx $1bn or Rs.8240cr for the development, three developmental launches, facility establishment, and other activities related to the new rocket.

Space station, Venus orbiter, mega rocket: Indian government grants approvals, funds

As of Monday (Sep 16),&nbsp;hundreds of Samsung India workers at the firm's Sriperumbudur factory are understood to be continuing their protest, demanding higher pay, balanced work hours, and formal recognition of their Left-affiliated Workers Union. Since last Monday, staff who are involved in the assembly of home appliances such as televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners have been away from work, affecting the output of the factory near Chennai city in Southern India.

According to those who were leading the protest, the workers and the Trade Union leaders were to march towards the Kanchipuram District Collector's Office by 10 am, Monday. However, the Police are said to have foiled their plans by placing a few Trade Union members under preventive detention and picking up the others who are arriving at the pre-designated protest spot. "CITU District President Muthukumar and a few others were picked up from the CITU office. They are being illegally detained, and we don't have any information on their whereabouts. Cops have also confiscated Muthukumar's phone. I am on my way to the protest spot to assess the unfolding situation," Soundararajan, CITU, State President, shared his allegations with WION.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:83,&quot;y&quot;:270,&quot;w&quot;:451,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:116,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2006}" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/samsung-india-protests-go-on-for-3rd-day-workers-firm-on-demands-757861">Samsung India protests go on for 3rd&nbsp;day; workers firm on demands</a>

Muthukumar is not a Samsung India employee, he represents the protesting workers and is a Left-affiliated Trade Union Leader. "Samsung India management has not agreed to talk this out and listen to our demands, so we will continue our protest," Muthukumar had told WION last week. Back then, Samsung India issued a statement: "We actively engage with our workers to address any grievances they may have and comply with all laws and regulations. We will also ensure that there is no disruption to our consumers."&nbsp;

According to Soundararajan, Samsung's Management did not take kindly to the formation of the Workers Union, and they formed a rival committee and urged workers to join that instead. However, after the week-long protests, the Management has said that they will only speak to the Union representatives who are employed with Samsung India, he added. While Soundararajan is not a Samsung employee, he is the honorary president of the workers' union, which has been a bone of contention.&nbsp;

In recent months, in Samsung's home country, South Korea, 36,500 members of Samsung Electronics' biggest workers union had protested. They too demanded higher wages and benefits.&nbsp;

Likewise, the absence of hundreds of workers at Samsung's India plant comes at a crucial time in the market. The final four months of the calendar year are crucial for the Indian consumer appliance business, as the festive season sees a sharp spike in sales of consumer electronics and other goods. Samsung is a leader in the highly competitive, lucrative Indian consumer goods market.&nbsp;

As of Monday (Sep 16), hundreds of Samsung India workers at the firm's Sriperumbudur factory are understood to be continuing their protest, demanding higher pay, balanced work hours, and formal recognition of their Left-affiliated Workers Union.

As of Monday (Sep 16), hundreds of Samsung India workers at the firm's Sriperumbudur factory are understood to be continuing their protest, demanding higher pay, balanced work hours, and formal recognition of their Left-affiliated Workers Union. Since last Monday, staff who are involved in the assembly of home appliances such as televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners have been away from work, affecting the output of the factory near Chennai city in Southern India. According to those who were leading the protest, the workers and the Trade Union leaders were to march towards the Kanchipuram District Collector's Office by 10 am, Monday. However, the Police are said to have foiled their plans by placing a few Trade Union members under preventive detention and picking up the others who are arriving at the pre-designated protest spot. "CITU District President Muthukumar and a few others were picked up from the CITU office. They are being illegally detained, and we don't have any information on their whereabouts. Cops have also confiscated Muthukumar's phone. I am on my way to the protest spot to assess the unfolding situation," Soundararajan, CITU, State President, shared his allegations with WION. Also read | Samsung India protests go on for 3rd day; workers firm on demands Muthukumar is not a Samsung India employee, he represents the protesting workers and is a Left-affiliated Trade Union Leader. "Samsung India management has not agreed to talk this out and listen to our demands, so we will continue our protest," Muthukumar had told WION last week. Back then, Samsung India issued a statement: "We actively engage with our workers to address any grievances they may have and comply with all laws and regulations. We will also ensure that there is no disruption to our consumers." According to Soundararajan, Samsung's Management did not take kindly to the formation of the Workers Union, and they formed a rival committee and urged workers to join that instead. However, after the week-long protests, the Management has said that they will only speak to the Union representatives who are employed with Samsung India, he added. While Soundararajan is not a Samsung employee, he is the honorary president of the workers' union, which has been a bone of contention. In recent months, in Samsung's home country, South Korea, 36,500 members of Samsung Electronics' biggest workers union had protested. They too demanded higher wages and benefits. Likewise, the absence of hundreds of workers at Samsung's India plant comes at a crucial time in the market. The final four months of the calendar year are crucial for the Indian consumer appliance business, as the festive season sees a sharp spike in sales of consumer electronics and other goods. Samsung is a leader in the highly competitive, lucrative Indian consumer goods market.

Samsung India workers' protest on for a week; cops detain few

Today, 12th September, 2024, two American astronauts have done the unthinkable - flushed out all cabin air from the spacecraft that they call home, donned extravehicular activity suits (temperature, pressure controlled space suits that provide oxygen, communications, data monitoring), opened the protective hatch of their spacecraft, and temporarily exited into the vast nothingness of space.

Today, 12th September, 2024, two American astronauts have done the unthinkable - flushed out all cabin air from the spacecraft that they call home, donned extravehicular activity suits (temperature, pressure controlled space suits that provide oxygen, communications, data monitoring), opened the protective hatch of their spacecraft, and temporarily exited into the vast nothingness of space. While two astronauts took turns and performed a spacewalk, two others sat inside the capsule, wearing the same suits that their spacewalking counterparts wore, monitoring all the activities that were unfolding. All this action unfolded 700 km above the earth's surface. For those who aren't familiar with the domain of human spaceflight, this feat might sound routine. However, this five-day Polaris Dawn mission is among the gutsiest space ventures thus far of the 21st century. Here's why: First private spacewalk Over the last three decades alone, astronauts have performed nearly 470 spacewalks. In fact, the first spacewalk (floating in space, outside the protective confines of the spacecraft) was performed by Soviet Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, back in March 1965. However, all these efforts have been undertaken by government-trained astronauts. In the Polaris Dawn mission, all four crew members are private citizens and are undertaking this mission in partnership with the private firm SpaceX. The rocket that flew them to space, the spacecraft that houses them, the spacesuits being used, all of them are privately designed and developed by SpaceX. The crew members are: Jared Isaacman, a billionaire who funded this mission, Scott Poteet, a former US Air Force aviator, SpaceX staffers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis, both of whom are with ground teams that work with astronauts. Other than Isaacman, all are undertaking their maiden spaceflight. The furthest human spaceflight in 52 years Between 1969-72, the American Apollo series of missions attempted multiple crewed Lunar missions, which also included the iconic Apollo-11 moon landing. The moon is four lakh kilometres away from the earth and this is the furthest that humans have gone from the home planet. After the Apollo missions, human spaceflight has been restricted to the International Space Station and its precursors, all of which are positioned 400 km above the earth. Polaris Dawn flew to a maximum altitude of 1400 km, which is the highest that humans have ventured, since the Apollo-era. This is also the furthest that a non-Lunar mission has ever flown and the furthest that women have flown. A risky flight through earth's radiation belts The Van Allen radiation belts are zones of energetic charged particles, primarily originating from the solar wind, that are captured and held around Earth by its magnetic field. These belts extend from 640 km to 58,000 km above the earth. The spacecraft carrying the Polaris Dawn crew, flew into this region. For accomplishing this feat, their craft and on-board systems would be shielded adequately to protect from the risks posed by radiation. It is also crucial that the craft protect its occupants from higher-than-usual doses of radiation. As humans prepare to perform missions to Moon and Mars, plan for long-term bases on other celestial bodies, understanding radiation is crucial. 19 people in space, circling the earth Right now, there are 19 people who are in space, circling the earth. This is the highest number of people at a time who are in space. This showcases how far humanity has come in its ongoing and never-ending journey to explore the unknown. Usually, there are about 12 people or so in space, on a constant basis, considering that there are two orbiting labs - International Space Station and Chinese Tiangong space station. At present, there are nine crew members aboard the International Space Station, three aboard the Chinese Space Station, three crew on the Soyuz MS-26 capsule that is flying to the space station, and four members aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon that is performing the private mission Polaris Dawn. Notably, unlike the other well-trained, government-representing astronauts, the 'Polaris Dawn' crew undertook their space voyage as a personal risk, with a common determination to push humanity further in an endless journey of space exploration. The EVA suits they've been testing are the first version of what SpaceX intends to use in the long-run for their missions that take humans further into space, to other planets. The Polaris Dawn crew are also performing close to 40 experiments and testing out new technologies that can push the limits of human-led space exploration.

Explainer: Why Polaris Dawn is a daring, multiple record-breaking spaceflight

Over the next 18 months, the Indian government will be spending Rs 2,000 crore (approx $250mn) to significantly enhance the country's weather observation and forecast capabilities.

Over the next 18 months, the Indian government will be spending Rs 2,000 crore (approx $250mn) to significantly enhance the country's weather observation and forecast capabilities. Dubbed 'Mission Mausam', this effort is being helmed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), which aims to make India ‘Weather Ready’ and ‘Climate Smart’. Three institutes of the Ministry of Earth Sciences: the India Meteorological Department, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting will primarily implement Mission Mausam. The academia will be supported by their sister institutions from India's MoES, and their global counterparts. According to Dr M Ravichandran, secretary of MoES, the first phase of this long-term project would be about scaling up weather monitoring infrastructure. This involves setting up 50 Doppler Weather Radars (DWR), 60 Radio Sonde/Radio Wind (RS/RW) stations, 100 disdrometers (to measure rain rate, fall velocity, precipitation type, droplet size), 10 Wind Profilers, 25 radiometers, an Urban testbed, a Process testbed, an Ocean Research station and 10 Marine Automatic Weather Stations with upper air observation. He added that most of this hardware would be built by Indian industry, which means that the money spent for procuring the hardware would be pumped into the country's economy. Critical elements of Mission Mausam will include the deployment of next-generation radars and satellite systems with advanced sensors and high-performance supercomputers, the development of improved Earth system models and a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based automated Decision Support System for real-time data dissemination. Once these systems are operational, the overall quality and frequency of weather forecasts are expected to go up several notches. This is because the new hardware additions would help precisely monitor many more weather-related parameters than are being done currently. The forecasts derived from this modern equipment will immensely benefit agriculture, disaster management, defence, environment, aviation, water resources, power, tourism, shipping, transport, energy, and health. 'Weather is managing us; can we manage Weather'? Over the next five years, the MoES will set up dedicated facilities to simulate and better understand cloud formation, evolution and related phenomenon. In these specialised 'cloud chambers', teams will conduct several experiments to understand how weather can be 'managed' via scientific intervention. Elaborating on this, Dr Ravichandran said that there are possibilities of scientifically intensifying a certain weather phenomenon or reducing its intensity (suppressing it). He was referring to the process of cloud seeding, which is undertaken to generate extra rainfall, during a deficit, or to meet specific requirements. Conversely, when there is a risk of very high rainfall and flooding, scientific interventions can be brought about to suppress the rainfall. Also read: ISRO scientists uncover Ram Setu secrets with undersea map Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique aimed at altering the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds. This is typically done to increase rain or snow, reduce hail, or disperse fog. Silver iodide and potassium iodide are among the chemicals used for this purpose and are dispersed into the clouds by drones or aircraft. However such methods are widely debated by the global scientific community and require a very cautious and calculated approach. Citing an example, he said that when there are a considerable amount of clouds over a drought-hit region, these clouds can be scientifically enhanced, so that the parched region can receive good rainfall. Likewise, the intense rain clouds headed for a flood-prone city can be suppressed. When queried about the possibility of creating scientifically induced rainfall to curb winter pollution and smog in Northern India, he said that clouds are a prerequisite to either enhance or suppress rainfall and that wintry months usually don't offer favourable cloud conditions for creating rainfall. Also read: ISRO successfully demonstrates satellite tech to study ocean, and soil parameters Once India gains considerable expertise and experience in this field, there is a possibility that such technologies can be used to 'manage weather'. 'MausamGPT': India's ChatGPT for Weather MoES also plans to develop a weather-specific solution that's on the lines of the popular ChatGPT conversational AI model. The primary aim of MausamGPT would be to provide weather-related alerts to those using phones and other devices. For instance, when a farmer wishes to know the weather in his region for the next five days, he can dial a number on his mobile phone (need not be a smartphone), and over the call, he can get the information from an automated voice. Depending on where the call is being made from, we intend to provide such alerts in the Indian languages as well, Dr Ravichandran said.

Mission Mausam: India's $250mn plan to enhance weather forecast capabilities

Hundreds of Samsung India workers involved in the assembly of home appliances such as televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners, are continuing their protest for the third day, by the South Korean electronics giant's factory in Sriperumbudur, in the outskirts of the Southern Indian metropolis of Chennai. The workers are demanding pay hikes, balanced work hours, other benefits, and the management's recognition of their left-affiliated workers union.&nbsp;

"Samsung India management has not accepted to talk this out and listen to our demands, so we will continue our protest," Muthukumar, Kanchipuram district secretary of the Left-affiliated&nbsp;Centre of Indian Trade Unions&nbsp;(CITU) told WION. These protests began on Monday (Sep 9)&nbsp;after the Samsung India management allegedly failed to recognise the Left-affiliated Samsung India Workers Union. Muthukumar is not a Samsung employee, he represents the protesting workers, who do not wish to reveal their identities, fearing backlash from their employer.&nbsp;

When requested, Samsung India did not issue any fresh clarification on the deadlock. In an earlier statement, a Samsung India spokesperson had said, "We actively engage with our workers to address any grievances they may have and comply with all laws and regulations. We will also ensure that there is no disruption to our consumers."&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjxsujt8rqIAxV4slYBHfZWCSUQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/samsung-india-workers-protest-for-second-day-disrupt-production-757351" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/samsung-india-workers-protest-for-second-day-disrupt-production-757351&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjxsujt8rqIAxV4slYBHfZWCSUQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">Samsung India workers protest for second day, disrupt production</a>

In recent months, in Samsung's home country, some&nbsp;36,500 members of Samsung Electronics' biggest workers union have protested. Their demands were for higher wages and benefits.&nbsp;

Owing to the absence of hundreds of workers, the rollout of thousands of units of varied home appliances has been affected at Samsung's facility. The final four months of the calendar year are crucial for the Indian consumer market, as the festive season sees a sharp spike in sales of consumer electronics and other goods.&nbsp;

The protests at the leading consumer electronics assembly facility occurred at a time when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and his industries team were in the US to attract investments to the state. Over the last ten days, the CM&nbsp;has been announcing that MoUs worth millions of dollars have been signed with prospective investors from across sectors, including electronics and electronics component manufacturing. The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has maintained that it is working towards tripling its state economy to $1 trillion by 2023.

Hundreds of Samsung India workers involved in the assembly of home appliances such as televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners, are continuing their protest for the third day, by the South Korean electronics giant's factory in Sriperumbudur, in the outskirts of the Southern Indian metropolis of Chennai.

Hundreds of Samsung India workers involved in the assembly of home appliances such as televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners, are continuing their protest for the third day, by the South Korean electronics giant's factory in Sriperumbudur, in the outskirts of the Southern Indian metropolis of Chennai. The workers are demanding pay hikes, balanced work hours, other benefits, and the management's recognition of their left-affiliated workers union. "Samsung India management has not accepted to talk this out and listen to our demands, so we will continue our protest," Muthukumar, Kanchipuram district secretary of the Left-affiliated Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) told WION. These protests began on Monday (Sep 9) after the Samsung India management allegedly failed to recognise the Left-affiliated Samsung India Workers Union. Muthukumar is not a Samsung employee, he represents the protesting workers, who do not wish to reveal their identities, fearing backlash from their employer. When requested, Samsung India did not issue any fresh clarification on the deadlock. In an earlier statement, a Samsung India spokesperson had said, "We actively engage with our workers to address any grievances they may have and comply with all laws and regulations. We will also ensure that there is no disruption to our consumers." Also read: Samsung India workers protest for second day, disrupt production In recent months, in Samsung's home country, some 36,500 members of Samsung Electronics' biggest workers union have protested. Their demands were for higher wages and benefits. Owing to the absence of hundreds of workers, the rollout of thousands of units of varied home appliances has been affected at Samsung's facility. The final four months of the calendar year are crucial for the Indian consumer market, as the festive season sees a sharp spike in sales of consumer electronics and other goods. The protests at the leading consumer electronics assembly facility occurred at a time when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and his industries team were in the US to attract investments to the state. Over the last ten days, the CM has been announcing that MoUs worth millions of dollars have been signed with prospective investors from across sectors, including electronics and electronics component manufacturing. The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has maintained that it is working towards tripling its state economy to $1 trillion by 2023.

Samsung India protests go on for 3rd day; workers firm on demands

With sights firmly set on the Indian Air Force's requirement for 40-80 Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA), Tata-Lockheed Martin is expanding their existing collaboration in India. The Indo-American venture has entered into an agreement to establish a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in&nbsp;India&nbsp;to support the Indian Air Force's (IAF) existing C130J fleet comprising 12 aircraft, as well as other global Super Hercules fleets. The C-130 is a versatile tactical airlifter that has been in operation for more than 70 years, fulfilling the roles of transportation of troops, supplies, equipment, and special operations, under challenging scenarios.&nbsp;

Presently, all C130Js are built at the Super Hercules production facility in&nbsp;Marietta,&nbsp;Georgia, USA. Since 2010, the Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd., (TLMAL) joint venture in Hyderabad, Southern India, has been building the tail structures of the C-130Js and is the only global source for this component. To date, TLMAL has manufactured more than 220 C-130J empennages. Further, Tata and Lockheed are looking to carry out&nbsp;manufacturing and assembly of C130Js in&nbsp;India, to produce aircraft for the IAF's Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program, subject to approvals from the US and Indian governments. Lockheed Martin will establish additional production and assembly capacity in&nbsp;India&nbsp;if awarded the MTA contract, the firm said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjQ0pOM0biIAxVZ1jgGHamFDuAQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/probe-ordered-after-iaf-jet-inadvertently-releases-air-store-near-pokhran-752066" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/probe-ordered-after-iaf-jet-inadvertently-releases-air-store-near-pokhran-752066&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjQ0pOM0biIAxVZ1jgGHamFDuAQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE">Probe ordered after IAF jet ‘inadvertently’ releases ‘air store’ near Pokhran</a>

"Collaborating with Lockheed Martin on the C-130J platform proposition for IAF's MTA project is a milestone for Tata Advanced Systems," said Sukaran Singh, CEO &amp; MD of Tata Advanced Systems. "The current announcement is also significant as it marks the entry of Tata Advanced Systems into the defence MRO space in&nbsp;India&nbsp;for large aircraft platforms," he added.&nbsp;

Since 2011, the Indian Air Force has been operating the C-130J aircraft, and has carried out landings at the world's highest airfield, Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), in Ladakh's Depsang Valley, daring night operations in inclement weather. The global C-130J fleet spans 27 operators in 23 nations. These aircraft are used for search and rescue, peacekeeping, combat delivery, maritime patrol, special operations, aerial refueling, commercial cargo transport, medevac and humanitarian response missions.&nbsp;

<h2>Indian Air Force's Requirement for Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA)</h2>

According to the Indian Air Force's Request for Information (RFI), they are looking at an aircraft with 18-27 tons load carrying capacity.&nbsp;The three potential contenders in this contest are the Lockheed Martin C-130J, Embraer C-390 and Airbus A400M. However, each of these aircraft offers different lift capabilities. While the C-130J and A400M are powered by turboprop engines, the C-390 uses jet engines.

In 2023, the IAF began inducting the Airbus C-295MW planes, gradually replacing its fleet of HS-748 Avro aircraft. IAF had placed orders for 56 planes from Airbus, of which, the first 16 are to be fully made abroad. Whereas, the remaining 40 would be made by Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), in Gujarat. While it is common for a force to maintain more aircraft of a similar make, the C-295, with its lifting capacity of 9 tonnes does not qualify for the Medium Transport Aircraft requirement.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjQ0pOM0biIAxVZ1jgGHamFDuAQxfQBKAB6BAgNEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rafale-indian-navy-might-end-up-paying-twice-the-amount-iaf-had-paid-for-the-fighter-jets-claims-report-727329" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rafale-indian-navy-might-end-up-paying-twice-the-amount-iaf-had-paid-for-the-fighter-jets-claims-report-727329&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjQ0pOM0biIAxVZ1jgGHamFDuAQxfQBKAB6BAgNEAE">Rafale: Indian Navy might end up paying twice the amount IAF had paid for the fighter jets, claims report</a>

Notably, in recent decades, India has been purchasing a significant number of American Aviation platforms, including Lockheed Martin C-130J planes and MH-60R helicopters, Boeing's C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter, Apache attack helicopters, Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, and Poseidon-8I long-range maritime surveillance planes. However, India has never purchased American fighter jets. India's fighter fleet comprises Russian-origin and European-origin jets.&nbsp;

With sights firmly set on the Indian Air Force's requirement for 40-80 Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA), Tata-Lockheed Martin is expanding their existing collaboration in India.

With sights firmly set on the Indian Air Force's requirement for 40-80 Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA), Tata-Lockheed Martin is expanding their existing collaboration in India. The Indo-American venture has entered into an agreement to establish a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India to support the Indian Air Force's (IAF) existing C130J fleet comprising 12 aircraft, as well as other global Super Hercules fleets. The C-130 is a versatile tactical airlifter that has been in operation for more than 70 years, fulfilling the roles of transportation of troops, supplies, equipment, and special operations, under challenging scenarios. Presently, all C130Js are built at the Super Hercules production facility in Marietta, Georgia, USA. Since 2010, the Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd., (TLMAL) joint venture in Hyderabad, Southern India, has been building the tail structures of the C-130Js and is the only global source for this component. To date, TLMAL has manufactured more than 220 C-130J empennages. Further, Tata and Lockheed are looking to carry out manufacturing and assembly of C130Js in India, to produce aircraft for the IAF's Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program, subject to approvals from the US and Indian governments. Lockheed Martin will establish additional production and assembly capacity in India if awarded the MTA contract, the firm said. Also read: Probe ordered after IAF jet ‘inadvertently’ releases ‘air store’ near Pokhran "Collaborating with Lockheed Martin on the C-130J platform proposition for IAF's MTA project is a milestone for Tata Advanced Systems," said Sukaran Singh, CEO & MD of Tata Advanced Systems. "The current announcement is also significant as it marks the entry of Tata Advanced Systems into the defence MRO space in India for large aircraft platforms," he added. Since 2011, the Indian Air Force has been operating the C-130J aircraft, and has carried out landings at the world's highest airfield, Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), in Ladakh's Depsang Valley, daring night operations in inclement weather. The global C-130J fleet spans 27 operators in 23 nations. These aircraft are used for search and rescue, peacekeeping, combat delivery, maritime patrol, special operations, aerial refueling, commercial cargo transport, medevac and humanitarian response missions. Indian Air Force's Requirement for Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) According to the Indian Air Force's Request for Information (RFI), they are looking at an aircraft with 18-27 tons load carrying capacity. The three potential contenders in this contest are the Lockheed Martin C-130J, Embraer C-390 and Airbus A400M. However, each of these aircraft offers different lift capabilities. While the C-130J and A400M are powered by turboprop engines, the C-390 uses jet engines. In 2023, the IAF began inducting the Airbus C-295MW planes, gradually replacing its fleet of HS-748 Avro aircraft. IAF had placed orders for 56 planes from Airbus, of which, the first 16 are to be fully made abroad. Whereas, the remaining 40 would be made by Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), in Gujarat. While it is common for a force to maintain more aircraft of a similar make, the C-295, with its lifting capacity of 9 tonnes does not qualify for the Medium Transport Aircraft requirement. Also read: Rafale: Indian Navy might end up paying twice the amount IAF had paid for the fighter jets, claims report Notably, in recent decades, India has been purchasing a significant number of American Aviation platforms, including Lockheed Martin C-130J planes and MH-60R helicopters, Boeing's C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter, Apache attack helicopters, Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, and Poseidon-8I long-range maritime surveillance planes. However, India has never purchased American fighter jets. India's fighter fleet comprises Russian-origin and European-origin jets.

Eyeing aircraft deal for IAF, Tata-Lockheed to expand India operations

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Zee News Rajasthan

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