Indian Defense
Iran Chafes As India Drags Heels Over Allowing Iranian Bank To Open In Mumbai

India pends final nod to Iran’s Bank even as sanction hit Tehran offers strategic port to boost trade
Iranian authorities have expressed their concerns over New Delhi’s delay in giving its final approval for Pasargad Bank to start operating in Mumbai. Iran has already spent more than a million dollars on rent and equipment and the Iranians hoped that the bank would play an important role in reinvigorating Iran’s trade with India which has plummeted by 75 percent since 2018.
Iranian sources told Sputnik that the Pasargad Bank branch in Mumbai is fully equipped and has been “ready to operate since last year”. The Indian government had given Iran permission to open a bank branch in Mumbai in January 2019 and, at the time, India’s minister for shipping, Nitin Gadkari, said that the bank would start operating by April 2019.
“Despite the six-month extension of Pasargad Bank’s licence to operate in India until 10 April 2021, we are still waiting for the Indian government’s final permission to officially open the branch,” Ali Chegeni, Iran’s ambassador to New Delhi said.
Indian government sources said that the two sides have been in touch to sort out the obstacles. But they did not divulge details or the date by which the matter can be resolved.
Last year, Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Pasargad Bank – Iran’s biggest bank – could use the capital it already has in India as initial capital to start the operation.
“Legally, the government of India can accept [capital in India], and I hope they will accept it, and we can establish that as the foundation capital for Pasargad Bank, which is one of our biggest, privately owned banks,” Zarif said, adding that there are difficulties in transferring hard currency from Iran because of US sanctions.
The Iranians, while expressing frustration over the delay in being granted approval, also agreed that it is high time to reset its relationship with India so that it is “immunised against any third-party factors”, hinting at hiccups caused by US sanctions.
In the midst of positive signals from global powers on reviving the JCPOA, or Iran nuclear deal, India resumed talks with Iran on a broader level with Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and defence minister Rajnath Singh while visiting Tehran last year. Iran’s Defence Minister, Brigadier General Amir Hatami, in February became his country’s first defence minister for 40 years to visit India, opening a new avenue of cooperation between Tehran and New Delhi.
These developments infused hope that New Delhi may resume oil trade with Tehran which was stopped in mid-2019 after sanctions were slapped on the Persian Gulf nation by the Trump administration.
Ali Rabii, Iran’s government spokesman, said on Tuesday that Tehran is “close” to seeing the lifting of US sanctions.
The bilateral trade between India and Iran reached $17 billion at its peak in 2018. However, because of US sanctions the trade volume has dropped to $4.8 billion.
Meanwhile, Iran continues to make friendly overtures to India. Iran expects that after American sanctions are lifted, there is the possibility India’s plan might be revived to invest $20 billion in the Chabahar Economic Free Zone (EFZ) to set up petrochemical and fertilizer plants either independently or through joint ventures with Iranian public-private companies.
Iran has also offered India to develop its Bandar-e-Jask port project where Indian oil refiners can store crude oil to meet emergency needs in case of disruptions to supply.
Indian Defense
INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’

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.
Indian Defense
After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%

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.
Indian Defense
Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace

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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