India-US Defence Trade & Technology Initiative: News & Discussion

[Rakesh]

They could have lost manned fighters if not for these drones...

For us the drones are used (or to be used) extensively during peace time - saving airframe life of other assets.

Yes, we obviously need our own india-made drones but geo-politics sometimes demands payment of jiziya to King Khan..

^ This is *NOT* the jiziya to pay. Neither is the Stryker or the F-35 or the AH-64 Apache.

This is what we need to invest in with regards to US mil hardware ---> CH-47, P-8I, MH-60R, C-130. Not fancy, but this is vital.

[Manish_P]

...
This is what we need to invest in with regards to US mil hardware ---> CH-47, P-8I, MH-60R, C-130. Not fancy, but this is vital.

Unkil primarily wants us to keep an eye on Cheen.

To that end the Sea Guardian UAV, P-8i fit the bill very well

I would personally have loved to have more C-17s

[Rakesh]

Stryker IFV in India: An Unnecessary Import?
https://defencefrontliner.com/stryker-i ... ry-import/
06 March 2025

[drnayar]

Meantime the MQ 9 s are being swatted by the houthis.
Yemen’s Ansarallah Takes Down Another U.S. MQ-9 Reaper

For the 16th time, Yemen’s Armed Forces have successfully shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone, this time over Dhamar Governorate.

Each Reaper costs $32 million, meaning Ansarallah has now taken out over half a billion dollars’ worth of U.S. drones since the hostilities began.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/190 ... YWZPg&s=19

[Tanaji]

How do they do it? Houthis have SAMs?

[fanne]

The Indian reaper costs 3 times the American one.

[ernest]

How do they do it? Houthis have SAMs?

The Iranian '358' SAM has been the go to weapon for downing reconnaissance UAVs
The 'loitering SAM' is quite peculiar. Has a jet engine and all, and can be launched from a minimalistic rail launcher. Works well for slow flying targets
https://www.twz.com/bizarre-iranian-loi ... e-minister

[Manish_P]

Meantime the MQ 9 s are being swatted by the houthis.
...
Each Reaper costs $32 million, meaning Ansarallah has now taken out over half a billion dollars’ worth of U.S. drones since the hostilities began.
...

The options are Satellites, high-flying manned Spy planes (like the U2), Mach 3 plus planes like the retired SR-71 or Stealthy planes (some which may be still classified).

Each would be costlier than the Reapers with the unmanned Satellites being the most survivable..

[drnayar]

The Indian reaper costs 3 times the American one.

pretty sure those gold plated drones cant be used in a war even with the pakis , hope we find a excuse to cancel the whole deal.. or maybe only for "peace time reconnaissance" .. sigh..

[fanne]

Sir, it is jaziya payment from our side.

[AkshaySG]

Sir, it is jaziya payment from our side.

Why can't our Jaziya payments be for useful stuff ..
Would have happily paid a pretty penny for 10 more C-17s when it was available.

Even today more MH-60, P8s,Chinooks, Extra GE engines etc etc are far more better value for money than the gold plated reapers ,Apaches or god forbid the Strykers.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/dperi84/status/1905628616538386868 ---> Just In: In the first Flight Refueling Aircraft to be wet leased by the Indian Air Force, MoD today signed a contract with Metrea Management for Wet Leasing of one FRA, Boeing KC-135, for training pilots of IAF & Indian Navy. Metrea will provide FRA within six months.

VIDEO: https://x.com/livefist/status/1905923567507902635 ---> After 3 failed attempts, the IAF finally leases an American mid-air refuelling tanker to train pilots. A step forward, but still a Band-Aid on a long-festering gap. India can’t stay hooked to patchwork fixes—time to commit to tankers the IAF can truly call its own.

https://x.com/sneheshphilip/status/1905630656757195004 ---> MoD signs Wet Leasing of one Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA) for providing air-to-air refuelling training to pilots of IAF and Indian Navy. Contract signed with Metrea who will provide Boeing KC135 Aircraft within six months. Airbus loses out.

https://x.com/AjayshreeSamby3/status/19 ... 1044765801 ---> MoD signs contract with Metrea Management for wet leasing of one Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA) for providing air refuelling training to pilots of IAF and Indian Navy. Metrea will provide FRA (KC-135 aircraft) within six months, which will be the first FRA leased.

[Manish_P]

Why can't our Jaziya payments be for useful stuff ...

Sir, Jaziya is for use of the extortionist and not the one who is paying...

Khan is hitting multiple birds with the same stones.

With Sea Guardians/P8s over IOR, khan is probably getting access to the survey data thus helping him keep an eye on cheen. India being in the QUAD is just the formal cover.

Buying the costly stuff from him keeps our funds low for putting into our own projects thereby slowing our rise, and leaves less money for buying stuff from Russia/France thus reducing income for them (especially Russia) and finally giving immediate breathing space to his favorite courtesan, the Pakis...