The Air Force will get 3 modern I-STAR spy aircraft; These will provide accurate information about enemy targets, this technology is with the US, Britain and Israel

The Air Force (IAF) is soon going to get three modern I-STAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) spy aircraft. The cost of the project is Rs 10,000 crore.

The Defense Ministry will place its proposal for approval in the high-level meeting to be held in the fourth week of June. After getting the aircraft, India will join select countries like America, Britain and Israel, which have this technology.

With the help of I-STAR spy aircraft, the Air Force will get accurate information about enemy ground targets like radar stations, air defense systems and mobile targets. These three aircraft will be purchased from foreign companies like Boeing and Bombardier through open tender, but all the systems installed inside them will be completely indigenous.

Will be equipped with internal indigenous systems developed by DRDO

Inside the modern I-STAR spy aircraft, indigenous systems developed by DRDO’s Center for Airborne Systems (CABS) will be installed. These have already been successful in testing. I-STAR aircraft will be used to gather intelligence from heights, conduct surveillance, identify targets and attack them.

They will be able to operate in any weather, day and night. Through these, enemy activities can be monitored from a distance. The I-STAR system will work in both air and ground and will increase the security capabilities of the Indian Army manifold. This will greatly help the country in identifying threats in time and retaliating to them.

The production model of AMCA was approved on 27 May

Earlier on 27 May, the production model of the 5th generation fighter aircraft i.e. Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) to be made in India was approved. The Defense Ministry said that along with the government, private companies will also be given an opportunity to bid to make the aircraft.

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) will soon issue an Expression of Interest (EoI) for this. The announcement of giving opportunity to private companies to manufacture aircraft led to a rise of about 6 percent in the shares of companies in defense and related sectors. The Nifty India Defense Index also reached a new 52-week high of 8,674.05.

AMCA project approved in 2024

• In April 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved a project worth Rs 15,000 crore for the design and development of 5th generation indigenous fighter jets. This fighter jet is ‘Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft’ (AMCA).
• ADA is the nodal agency for the execution of this program and designing the aircraft. ADA comes under the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
• It will be better than other fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force. It will be equipped with high-tech stealth technology to avoid enemy radar. It will be similar to or even better than other 5th generation stealth fighter aircraft being used internationally.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will manufacture AMCA in India itself. HAL is already producing Tejas.
• Hal Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will manufacture AMCA in India itself. HAL is already producing Tejas.

AMCA is the second fighter jet to be made with indigenous technology

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft i.e. AMCA will be the second fighter aircraft to be developed in the country. Earlier, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and its advanced version Tejas Mark-1 have been prepared in India. Work is going on on its more advanced version Mark-1-A. According to the information, AMCA will be available for deployment in the Air Force and Navy by 2035.

Indian Air Force is using Tejas jets made in the country

On July 30, the Air Force deployed light fighter aircraft Tejas MK-1 at Avantipora Airbase in Jammu and Kashmir. The army says that this was done so that the pilots can practice flying in the valley.

Kashmir is sensitive for the neighbouring countries China and Pakistan. Tejas MK-1 is a multirole light fighter aircraft, which will further strengthen the Air Force in the forest and mountainous areas of Kashmir. The Indian Air Force currently has 31 Tejas fighter planes.

Tejas is different due to 4 features

• 50% of the parts of this aircraft i.e. machinery has been prepared in India itself.
• It has Israel’s EL/M-2052 radar installed in it. With this, it is capable of tracking 10 targets simultaneously and targeting them.
• It has the ability to take off on a very small space i.e. a runway of 460 meters.
• This fighter jet is lighter than Sukhoi, Rafale, Mirage and Mig. Its weight is 6500 kg.