Indian Defense
14 Israeli Hostages Set For Release Amid Swap Deal With Hamas; 42 Palestinian Prisoners To Be Freed
Tel Aviv: Fourteen more Israeli hostages are poised for release on Saturday, as confirmed by an Israeli official acquainted with the list received on Friday night. Simultaneously, the Israel Prison Service revealed that it received a list comprising 42 Palestinian terror convicts, slated for release today.
This exchange is part of a complex deal with Hamas, which will also witness the liberation of a group of hostages from Gaza later in the day.
At least fourteen Israeli hostages will be released on Saturday, an Israeli official familiar with the list of names handed to Israel told CNN.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office currently believes 213 people are being held hostage in Gaza after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
This comes following the first groups of hostages were released on Friday amid an agreement that brought a temporary ceasefire to fighting in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Israel Prison Service said it received a list of 42 Palestinian terror convicts who are to be released today as part of the deal with Hamas that will also see a group of hostages released from Gaza later on Saturday, The Times of Israel reported.
The report also stated that this is the second day out of four in which similar exchanges are expected to be held, with additional days of ceasefire possible if Hamas agrees to release more hostages.
The Prison Service also stated that the prisoners will be moved to Ofer Prison in the West Bank for medical check-ups by the International Red Cross, before their release to the West Bank or East Jerusalem.
They will be set free only after the group of Israeli hostages is released and properly identified, The Times of Israel reported.
The 13 Israeli hostages released on Friday are in good, stable condition following their release, doctors said on Saturday.
The Schneider Children’s Medical Centre in Petah Tikva, east of Tel Aviv, said in a statement that “the condition of the four children and the four women who returned to Israel last night is determined good.”
“They are together with their family members in the dedicated and separate compound, surrounded by medical and psycho-social teams,” the statement said, according to CNN.
Meanwhile, the Wolfson Medical Centre in Holon, south of Tel Aviv, said “The condition of five returnees who were admitted yesterday at Wolfson Hospital is stable.”
“Each one is being treated according to the medical examination carried out yesterday by the medical team, and they are being embraced by their family.”
“We are waiting and hoping for the return of all the abductees,” the statement added.
Roughly 20 Thai nationals are still being held by Hamas as hostages in Gaza, CNN reported, citing the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Saturday.
Of the 10 hostages released on Friday, four had not been previously confirmed as missing by Israeli authorities.
“The families of the released hostages have been notified, and Thai Embassy officials are in the process of making “necessary arrangements for their travel back to Thailand,” said the ministry.
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry also thanked the governments of Qatar, Israel, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia and the International Committee of the Red Cross, expressing its “deepest appreciation to all of the parties from whom the Thai authorities had sought assistance and support.”
“We sincerely hope that the remaining hostages will be treated humanely and released safely as soon as possible,” CNN reported.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office shared a list of all 13 hostages who returned home to their loved ones after being taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 terror attacks.
The Israeli PM Office informed that among those rescued as part of a swap deal with Hamas were 11 foreign nationals. In exchange for 24 Hamas hostages, who were rescued as part of the deal brokered by the US and Qatar, Israel also freed 39 Palestinian prisoners.
“The Israeli government embraces our citizens returning home. The Israeli government is committed to the return of all abductees and missing persons,” the PM Office said in a statement.
“Our citizens underwent an initial medical examination and their families were informed by the appointed officials that they were back,” it added.
The Israeli PM Office also put out details of the 13 nationals who returned to their homeland.
The solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its under-development sister vessels. INS Arihant, which became fully operational in November 2018 to complete India’s nuclear triad, is currently armed with the much shorter K-15 missiles with a 750 km range.
“The K-4 is now virtually ready for its serial production to kick-off. The two tests have demonstrated its capability to emerge straight from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory,” said a source.
India has the land-based Agni missiles, with the over 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile now in the process of being inducted, and fighter jets jury-rigged to deliver nuclear weapons. But INS Arihant gives the country’s deterrence posture much more credibility because nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles are considered the most secure, survivable and potent platforms for retaliatory strikes.
Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India narrow the gap with countries like the US, Russia and China, which have over 5,000-km range SLBMs. The K-4 missiles are to be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range class.
The 6,000-ton INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, in turn, is to be followed by INS Arighat, which was launched in 2017. The next generation of nuclear submarines, currently called S-4 and S-4*, will be much larger in size.
India has received clearance to upgrade 84 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will result in 78% indigenization after the upgrade
In a significant step towards bolstering its military might with indigenously developed technology, India is poised to witness its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets evolve into a domestic platform. Speaking at a recent lecture.
The upgrade program is being led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with the Indian Air Force and other partners. The upgrade is expected to cost US$7.5 billion.
This initiative is a part of a larger effort by the Indian Air Force to modernize its ageing fleet. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari asserted the critical role of an offensive air force as demonstrated in current global conflicts and emphasized India’s move towards an indigenized arsenal. To this end, the IAF has been proactive, from upgrading its Mirage 2000 to enhancing its MiG-29 fleet.
In summary, the IAF’s commitment to updating their combat forces with the latest technology, including shifting to fifth-generation fighter jets, ensures operational preparedness and a strong deterrence capability. The gradual indigenization of its air fleet marks a pivotal shift in India’s defence landscape, reducing dependency on foreign imports and fostering technological sovereignty.
According to unconfirmed reports, Armenia is a top contender for an export order for Akash SAM system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
The Akash export version will also be slightly different from the one inducted by the armed forces. The 100-km range air-to-air Astra missiles, now entering production after successful trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, also have “good export potential”, said sources.
Akash is a “tried, tested and successfully inducted systems”. Indian armed forces have ordered Akash systems worth Rs 24,000 crore over the years, and MoD inked a contract in Mar 2023 of over Rs 9,100 crores for improved Akash Weapon System
BDL is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence that was established in 1970. BDL manufactures surface-to-air missiles and delivers them to the Indian Army. BDL also offers its products for export.
Akash Weapon System
The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In order to meet aerial threats, two additional Regiments of AWS with Upgradation are being procured for Indian Army for the Northern borders. Improved AWS has Seeker Technology, Reduced Foot Print, 360° Engagement Capability and improved environmental parameters.
The project will give a boost to the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem as a whole. The project has overall indigenous content of 82% which will be increased to 93% by 2026-27.
The induction of the improved AWS into the Indian Army will increase India’s self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability. This project will play a role in boosting the overall economy by avoiding outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries, increasing employment avenues in India and encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing. Around 60% of the project cost will be awarded to the private industry, including MSMEs, in maintaining the supply chain of the weapon system, thereby creating large scale of direct and indirect employment.
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