Independent Defence Journalist Aerospace & Indo-Pacific
Bengaluru South, India
Joined April 2019
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Pilots. Aircraft. Take-off.
An exclusive 75-second look at the LCA Tejas Mk1A from the flight line.
🎥 Watch here: youtube.com/watch?v=AlS8kx_W…
Our thanks to @HALHQBLR for the exclusive access that made this film possible ahead of @FIAFarnborough.
#FIA2026 #TejasMk1A #HAL #LCA #IndianAirForce #Aerospace #Defence
Atul Chandra retweeted
What happens when the capabilities you need are a generation ahead of the fleet you can afford to replace? For one air force, the answer was a comprehensive Su-25 modernization program.
Atul Chandra retweeted
💥 Thursday Thunder: Su-35 Makes Physics Look Optional 🥱🚀
The Su-35 belongs to the same fighter family as India’s Su-30MKI fleet — the aircraft New Delhi is looking to upgrade.
🇷🇺🇪🇹Russia Delivers First Batch of Su-35 Fighter Jets to Ethiopia
Ethiopia has received 12 Russian-made Su-35 fighter jets – with four S-400 air defence systems to be delivered later, PM Abiy Ahmed said on X.
‘This historic achievement further strengthens our nation's sovereignty,’ the Ethiopian PM added.
Atul Chandra retweeted
The commencement of production announced on 28 October, follows a procurement contract from the Indian Army in November 2025. The Indian order marked the first expansion of the BvS10 into Asia.
By @CheckSix_Bison
fw-mag.com/shownews/1320/dom…
Atul Chandra retweeted
Dassault Aviation, Thales, MBDA France and Safran are proud to present the award for the best salesperson.
Good night!
Atul Chandra retweeted
An F-22 pilot executed airborne tactical control of a YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft. This milestone validates the crewed-uncrewed teaming required to dominate contested airspace.
See how we are forging the future of air combat 👇
dvidshub.net/r/eb8m1t
Atul Chandra retweeted
@combatpaparazzi @TakahashiKosuke @ianjbowers @navalnewscom @tjroehrig
Seoul announces that development program of indigenous amphibious attack helicopter for Marine Corps has completed.
20 helicopters will be produced from next year.
defensehere.com/en/south-kor…
Atul Chandra retweeted
✈️FQUROHプロジェクト✈️
川崎重工業株式会社（KHI）の低速低騒音風洞において、国内最大のCRM-HL 8%半裁模型を用いた機体騒音の風洞試験を実施しました。
✅詳細はこちら
aero.jaxa.jp/research/ecat/f…
#FQUROH #騒音低減 #航空研究
ALT 開放型測定部に設置したCRM-HL 8%半裁模型の様子
Atul Chandra retweeted
New on the Royal Aeronautical Society YouTube channel! 'Winkle and the German Jets' given by @beaver_paul #avgeek youtube.com/watch?v=bS5vT10j…
Atul Chandra retweeted
The ‘Indian Naval Despatch’ website has been revamped & it is now easier to read (and share) all old articles of the journal. Do take a look. There is a wealth of ‘good-reads’ there!
Sharing below an article of mine that appeared in the inaugural issue (2020) where I argued that jugaad is not *necessarily* bad.
(This was written just after #NIIO #TDAC was launched & my formulation of what the nascent organisation should strive for was heavily modified up the chain before the presentation at the Naval Commanders’ Conference. The word jugaad was first put in italics and later removed altogether. I still felt we need to be comfortable with it…so I put pen to paper. I told (then) Rear Admiral SJ Singh @SanjayJSingh1, Comdt Naval War College who was goading me to write an article “sir, I can write it, but you won’t publish it”. He said “there should always be room for a dissenting view. You write it. I will publish it”. I wrote not only my views about jugaad but also the “frozen middle”. Yes, they did publish it!)
Do read. Happy to discuss.
“DE-ITALICIZING ‘JUGAAD’: MAKING INNOVATION SUCCEED”
indesfoundation.in/article/d…
@CaptDKS @captsinghjs @acorn @kartha_tara @Gen_RajShukla @Kbsingh03
Atul Chandra retweeted
Congratulations to ROK and Malaysia! First batch of RMAF FA-50M Block70 left KAI factory, heading to their home this morning.
Both of them carrying 275gal and 300gal fuel tanks from F-5E/F-16 for long range ferry flight.
Please check the link of the report.🔗
Atul Chandra retweeted
From testing to production.
Air Force awards contract for the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon – advancing high-speed, standoff strike capabilities and strengthening America's Arsenal of Freedom.
dvidshub.net/r/5vasx3
Atul Chandra retweeted
✈️ Un Rafale Marine… en studio ! 🎬
Pour la série “LE CHARLES”, un cockpit a été reconstitué et un pilote de chasse de la @MarineNationale a accompagné les acteurs pour un maximum de réalisme.
📅 À voir dès maintenant sur @PrimeVideoFR.
Atul Chandra retweeted
Post 2 on #Swavlamban2026.
Some amazing aviation innovation being undertaken by @XinfinitiA under @India_iDEX for @indiannavy.
HEFS (Helicopter Emergency Floatation System), the first fully designed & made-in-India CEMILAC-compliant safety-critical float for Naval Chetak (also later aimed at ALH) is ready for wide implementation after successfully completing development & trials in record time. This would probably be the fastest case in aviation. I personally have never come across CEMILAC clearance so fast. The stall allotted was number 1 & the place assigned for the display right under the banner which read ‘Success Stories’! That itself gives you an idea about the current status of induction.
Another interesting ongoing case by the same startup is the NCAS (Naval Chetak Autonomous System) via M2UC manned-to-uncrewed conversion. Smart way to extend life of legacy platforms with autonomy, ISR/ASW capability and lower risk. Would also be useful for @adgpi, @IAF_MCC & @IndiaCoastGuard. With unmanned systems many limitations of night flying, high altitude & even payloads can be overcome.
#NIIO #TDAC #AtmanirbharBharat
(BTW, someone had commented, rather sarcastically, on my article on the naval helicopter history saying I should also check why the unmanned Chetak is not moving. I did. It is)
@BharatShaktiBSI @nitingokhale @ragebaitop
Atul Chandra retweeted
Rs 20,000 crore LMRH programme cleared by DAC today to replace Cheetah Chetaks in Army IAF. Tata-Airbus , Adani Leonardo front runners in the project which will be split between the L1 and L2. Great idea to have three different types of choppers in light category . Read @qni story
aninews.in/news/national/gen…
Atul Chandra retweeted
NAF STRENGTHENS M-346 MAINTENANCE CAPABILITY THROUGH SPECIALISED TRAINING IN ITALY
Keeping advanced combat aircraft mission-ready requires more than modern platforms; it demands skilled personnel capable of sustaining their serviceability. In line with the Command Philosophy of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is strengthening its M-346 maintenance capability through specialised training in Italy. The programme, which commenced on 13 July 2026, involves 13 personnel comprising 4 officers and 9 airmen and airwomen, receiving training in airframe, propulsion and engine run procedures.
The training progressed from theoretical instruction in Turin, focusing on airframe and propulsion systems, to practical sessions at the M-346 production facility in Venegono, Varese. The practical phase was successfully completed on 25 September 2026, equipping participants with hands-on aircraft maintenance skills. The final phase, covering engine run procedures, involves 2 officers and 4 airmen and airwomen, with completion scheduled for 25 October 2026.
The initiative reinforces the NAF’s commitment to developing specialised technical expertise, improving aircraft serviceability and sustaining operational readiness. It also advances the CAS’s emphasis on professionalism, standardised training and mission-focused capability development, strengthening the Service’s capacity to deliver effective airpower in defence of Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
#NAF #WillingAbleAndReady #AirPower #CapacityDevelopment #M346 #OperationalReadiness
Atul Chandra retweeted
24 Special Utility Helicopters to be inducted by the @IAF_MCC for safe, secure n comfortable transport of VVIPs within the country. Long pending project n much required to replace the old workhorse Mi-17s in the role
Read @ani story
aninews.in/news/national/gen…
