Russia Stepping Up Production of Tu-214, Tu-160M
Russia is stepping up the production of Tu-214 up to ten pieces a year. In the future, production may be increased to 20 aircraft annually, according to Sergey Chemezov, General Director of Rostec State Corporation. 1/n At the same time, the enterprise is increasing the production of the White Swan Tu-160 strategic missile carrier.

Production facilities of the two aircraft at the Kazan Aviation Plant are undergoing large scale modernization and technical re-equipment. 2/n

Is India Arming Ukraine Against Russia?

France has reportedly been training Ukrainian pilots on Mirage 2000 aircraft for a month and a half

Accelerated training on French fighter is taking place at Mont-de-Marsan and Nancy air bases.

https://twitter.com/vkthakur/status/1638790443696791553

The decision to train Ukrainian pilots was made on the eve of Zelensky's visit to Paris on Feb 8.
If a political decision is made, France could supply AFU with a dozen Mirage 2000 fighters, writes Le Figaro.
Here is the catch - France likely doesn't have Mirage 2000 fighters!

Why a NATO / Russia Confrontation Maybe Inevitable

Repeated proclamations by US/NATO leaders that they don't want to become a party to the conflict in Ukraine need to be interpreted as they don't want to become a party to the conflict in Ukraine as of now. 1/n The proclamations don't rule out an intervention eventually.

The Russian military campaign in Ukraine is carefully calibrated to preserve Russia's ability to fight NATO, should it choose to intervene. 2/n

Russia continues to develop its Soviet era Su-25 ground attack aircraft. The most modern iteration of the aircraft - the Su-25SM3 - has now been deployed in Ukraine. Besides facilitating use of new weapons, the aircraft features the Russian-made SOLT-25 OLS 1/ SOLT-25 includes conventional & thermal imaging observation channels with a two fold increase in range and a laser rangefinder-target designator that facilitates use of laser homing "smart" ammunition. The system is supplemented with the ability to automatically track targets. 2/

Some interesting observations on the Russian missile attack against Ukrainian infrastructure on Feb 16
1. None of the 12 Kh-22 missiles launched from Tu-22M3 bombers was intercepted
2. Russian forces are launching cruise missiles at night, instead of day. 1/ The Kh-22 cruises at speeds between M 3.5 to M 4.6 at altitudes upto 40-km.
On launch, the missile climbs to about 40 km, leaving the stratosphere, then vertically dives down on the target, making it extremely difficult to shoot down 2/

DRDO says Uttam AESA radar will eventually be integrated with IAF Su-30MKI & MiG-29!

On February 14, 2023, Director General - Electronics & Communication Systems (ECS) at DRDO, BK Das, said that the Uttam AESA will be mapped to LCA Mk-1 within 6 months to an year. 1/ The Uttam radar is currently being tested on two LCAs — LSP2 and LSP3 — and one executive jet. (Production variant of the Tejas Mi-1 likely differ internally from the LSP variants.) 2/

An industry source has told TASS, that a KTRV ARM has shown "highest efficiency thanks to a new universal warhead" during the ongoing SMO in Ukraine.
It's likely the source was referring to the Kh-31PD, the latest variant of which now features a broadband homing head... ...which covers the entire range of current and predicted operating frequencies for potential enemy air defence systems.

According to the source, earlier variants of the missile had to use different warheads for different types of targets.

A Su – 34 drops bombs Jaguar style! Russians criticise their Air Force for exposing 4.5 gen fighters to MANPADS, the West says Russia is desperately short of PGMs Keep in mind - Russian fighters have MAWS sensor, automated flare dispensing and EW (Khibiny wing tip pods) to evade MAPNADS. Flares take care of IIR homing missiles & EW spoofs active seeker missiles.

Our contention that the CCP has unilaterally altered the LAC for good is reiterated by reports that the PLA has moved one regiment of S-400 opposite Chumar sector and is in the process of moving another regiment opposite Depsang sector.

https://twitter.com/SBarniyal/status/1308686678366670848

The combination of the S-400 & J-20 will restrict @IAF_MCC fighters to Indian airspace & force them to rely largely on cruise missiles. Alas! We don't have many cruise missiles! Indian AFs can hold ground under intense PLA pressure, the question is - Can our babus & politicians?

India, China FMs Moscow Meeting: It's possible that by signing the seemingly "give away all" joint statement on September 10, 2020, India was tearing pages out of China's imperial book that says ground realities always supersede agreements. India may well be buying... ...time with the agreement - to consolidate its own salami slicing in the "border area" and procure war fighting equipment from abroad. India will likely discard the agreement at the first sign of CCP intransigence, such as a refusal to restore status-quo-ante. ...

My English is very poor.

WTF does "not allowing differences to become disputes" mean in the context of national boundaries? How can differences in border perceptions NOT be disputes?! Anything that needs resolution is a dispute! What doesn't need resolution is a difference. The sellout
... the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side. They agreed therefore that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance and ease tensions.

An earlier "successful" test of the HSTDV on June 12, 2019 likely didn't involve scramjet light up/sustained operation going by the use of the term "flight tested" for current test. Hopefully, @DRDO_India will share details of flight duration, speed achieved & distance covered

https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/1302855419270844424

The HSTDV is not a weapon. The launch vehicle (Solid Booster Rocket) & the cruise vehicle (Scramjet powered vehicle) stack is 18m tall!! It's a pure technology demonstrator. If the scramjet sustained hypersonic flight, it's a great achievement. @DRDO_India has yet to confirm.

The facetiously conciliatory tone of this GT article could well be a cover for an impending massive land grab by the PLA before winter onset. It's clear that the PLA build up is aimed at choking IA supply lines & consolidating LAC realignment @PMOIndia
globaltimes.cn/content/119996… Sans continued IA SOF tweaking of the LAC to keep the PLA off balance, the PLA would be able to assert its logistics superiority to impose higher economic & human costs through the winter on us. The IA needs a free hand @PMOIndia

I think Cloud Computing, AR/VR, Robotics, Big Data Analytics, Small Sat, 5G/6G, Quantum Computing represent technology progression. Electronic, cyber warfare & spoofing, disinformation, dark web, hacking, data theft are disruptive technologies pib.gov.in/Pressreleasesh… AWACS is tech, Long range stratosphere cruise & dive air-to-air missile to take down an AWACS is cheaper disruptive tech. ABM system is tech, fighter launched ballistic missile to make ABM systems redundant is cheaper disruptive tech.

Recent reports of a dual seat #J20 variant sighting, in the context of China's earlier claim that a dual seat variant is under development, confirms that the J-20's sensor fusion is subpar - otherwise there's no operational reason to put another seat! But, a dual-seat variant ... ... also suggests that China's is confident about the fighters low observability, notwithstanding the narrative in the Indian MSM based on a misinterpretation of the former CAS' remark that @IAF_MCC Su-30MKI could detect a #J20, he never claimed a Su-30MKI could engage a J-20!

The successful integration of the MICA a2a missile with the Su-30MKI is a tribute to the reliability of both nations as defense suppliers. France apparently dropped its earlier objections to the integration of the MICA to a Russian platform. Notwithstanding Chinese objections,... Russia didn't balk at supplying the reported 400 RVV-SD (longer range R-77) ordered post haste after the shortcoming of the Ukrainian supplied R-77s came to the fore during the PAF's botched Op Swift Retort, the riposte to the @IAF_MCC 's punishing Balakot strike in February 2019

Here's an attempt to put into perspective the threat to the @IAF_MCC from the J-20

The limited number of operationally deployed PLAAF J-20 are reportedly based in Wuhu, Anhui Province, near the eastern coast.

https://twitter.com/RupprechtDeino/status/1295408243955699712

The highly specialized J-20 likely depends on a lot of support facilities at its operating base. It's RAM coating, for example, would need frequent tending. It's unlikely that the J-20 could operate from Hotan (4,672 ft) or Kashghar (4, 529 ft) for operationally significant time.

Comparing J-20 and Rafale is like comparing oranges and apples, but driven by nationalist fervor, the clamor for a comparison is so loud that comparing oranges and apples seems perfectly logical! So here goes
thumkar.blogspot.com/2020/07/j-20-v… I have updated the J-20 vs Rafale comparison factoring in the likely presence of AWACS cover for the J-20. I suggest everyone go over the article again including the somewhat changed conclusion. thumkar.blogspot.com/2020/07/j-20-v…,

There is not need for India to rethink its relations with Russia on account of growing Russian proximity to China because there has been no change in Russia's dealing with India. Russia continues to be a reliable defense partner.

https://twitter.com/StratNewsGlobal/status/1286964921851248640

India's view of the world is more closely aligned with Russia than the US. Russia has never sanctioned India. The US has and continues to threaten sanctions. Even today the US would not be ready to share with India strategic technology that Russia has shared with India.

A war would not achieve any worthwhile aim. (Starting a war to teach its adversary a lesson is what the CPC does, not India). A war would be inconclusive and end with a 'LIVE' LAC.

https://twitter.com/vskochar/status/1286507671491756032

The better option for India is to make the LAC 'LIVE' without loosing manpower & eroding its war fighting ability. A live LAC implies troops holding tactical positions based on terrain & supply lines not based on a hypothetical line on the map.

The DAC on July 2, 2020 approved BMP-2 Armament Upgrade for the IA. The upgrade wasn't listed among indigenously developed weapon systems so it could be the kit based Russian Berezhok upgrade that can be implemented at low cost and in short time. The upgrade, which requires minimal modifications of the tower, equips the BMP-2 with 3rd gen Kornet-E ATGM, 30-mm automatic grenade launcher (AG) AH-30, automatic target tracking and ballistic computer with the sensor system, and a television Panoramic sight for the commander.