Archive For November, 2016

S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems delivery to India can begin in 2020

Delivery of Russia’s most advanced anti-aircraft defense system, the S-400 Triumph, to India could begin in 2020 according to an agreement signed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the BRICS summit in India. “An intergovernmental agreement has been signed today, under which the Russian side has undertaken to deliver […]

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China launches manned space mission

China moved a step closer to establish its permanent space station by 2022 as it launched a spacecraft carrying two astronauts, in its longest-ever manned space mission, who would later join its second experimental space lab orbiting the Earth. Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng, 50, and Chen Dong, 37, were blasted off into space by Shenzhou-11 […]

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ISRO has plans to go small with lighter satellites

Even as it moves into making heavier communication spacecraft weighing 4,000 kg to 6,000 kg, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has also firmed up a strategy to a make increasingly smaller satellites for earth observation and scientific, experimental and other missions. The plan for small satellites is two-pronged and can range from 10 kg […]

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Needed, many more ISROs in key areas

The government’s reported plan to shed its controlling stakes in 22 listed and unlisted companies is welcome. Simultaneously, the government should set up new enterprises to provide the economy with new competitive capacity that the private sector finds too risky or too complex to enter. This requires espousing a dynamic, not ideological, approach to the […]

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GSAT-18 will add to ISRO’s communication muscle

GSAT-18, India’s heaviest satellite to date at 3,404 kg, is scheduled to be launched from the European spacepad of Kourou in French Guiana between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. IST on October 6. It. is expected to add a few new transponders for Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The 48 transponders on the new satellite […]

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IAF faces longer wait for own satellite as ISRO yet to get nod

The Indian Air Force (IAF)’s decision to equip itself with a satellite based information gathering system as part of its ‘network centric warfare’ (NCW) programme will have to wait as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is yet to get an approval for it. Key to the IAF’s NCW strategies, the satellite will provide a major boost to its […]

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It may be a while before Govt’s plan to build fighter jets in India takes off

The government’s plan to manufacture single-engine fighters in the country is likely to face delays even though the Defence Ministry has notified request for information (RFI) from three firms to participate in the programme under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. US aerospace giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin and Sweden’s SAAB have approached the government as […]

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CSIR wants labs to stop random filing of patents

The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has sent out a stern message to its 38 laboratories to avoid indiscriminate filing of Indian and foreign patents. In order to “inculcate responsible behaviour” CSIR has decided that “henceforth 25% of expenses incurred on prosecution and maintenance of Indian patents and up to 50% of expenses on foreign […]

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Chinese astronauts enter space lab Tiangong-2

China’s Shenzhou-11 spacecraft carrying two astronauts docked with an experimental space lab orbiting the earth through a remote-controlled automatic operation in the wee hours. The astronauts entered the space lab Tiangong-2 after the spacecraft successfully docked with the space station and completed the automatic docking around 1 AM (Indian Standard Time), Beijing Aerospace Control Centre […]

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India’s Brahmos to Pack a Bigger Punch Now

India’s offensive capacity, especially against Pakistan, is set to take a huge step forward with New Delhi and Moscow deciding to jointly develop a new generation of Brahmos missiles with 600 km-plus range and an ability to hit protected targets with pinpoint accuracy. This range enables these missiles to strike anywhere within Pakistan. That Russia […]

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