Connect with us

india

India signs deal with US to procure 31 Predator drones

Published

on

India signs deal with US to procure 31 Predator drones

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the acquisition of 31 Predator drones last week.

India will procure 31 Predator drones from the US defense major, General Atomics, under a government-to-government framework, officials said on Tuesday.

The two countries today signed the much-anticipated deal.

The Indian Navy will get 15 Sea Guardian drones whereas the Indian Air Force and Army will receive eight Sky Guardian drones each, reported PTI.

Advertisement

Under the ₹32000 crore deal, a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility will also be launched in India, The deals were signed by both sides in the presence of senior officials, said defence officials.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the acquisition of 31 Predator drones last week.

The American team of military and corporate officials are in India for the inking of these contracts.

Top Indian defence officials, including Joint Secretary and Acquisition Manager for the naval systems, were slated to be present during the signing ceremony.

Advertisement

India had been discussing the deal with the US for many years but the final hurdles were cleared a few weeks ago at the Defence Acquisition Council meeting.

What are Predator drones?

The MQ-9B ‘hunter-killer’ drones will crank up the surveillance apparatus of the armed forces, especially along the contested frontier with China.

In June last year, the Defence Ministry approved the procurement of the MQ-9B Predator armed drones from the US under a government-to-government framework.

Advertisement

The MQ-9B drone is a variant of the MQ-9 “Reaper” which was used to launch a modified version of the Hellfire missile that eliminated al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in the heart of Kabul in July 2022.

Also read: Centre clears crucial plan for submarines, Predator drones

The high-altitude long-endurance drones are capable of remaining airborne for over 35 hours and can carry four Hellfire missiles and around 450 kgs of bombs.

The Sea Guardian drones are being procured as they can carry out a variety of roles including maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and over-the-horizon targeting among others.

Advertisement

The high-altitude long-endurance drones are capable of remaining airborne for over 35 hours and can carry four Hellfire missiles and around 450 kgs of bombs.

Group Media Publications
Entertainment News Platforms – anyflix.in      
Construction Infrastructure and Mining News Platform – https://cimreviews.com/
General News Platform – https://ihtlive.com/
Podcast Platforms – https://anyfm.in

Bollywood

Fauji 2: Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic 1989 series to be rebooted with Vikas Jain, Gauahar Khan.

Published

on

By

Fauji 2: Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic 1989 series to be rebooted with Vikas Jain, Gauahar Khan.

Sonu Nigam has lent his voice to the title track of Fauji 2. It will feature 11 songs with music composed by Shreyas Puranik, Shashi Suman and Jazim Sharma.

In a much-anticipated return to Indian television, the beloved serial Fauji, which first brought Shah Rukh Khan to the forefront in 1989, is being reimagined as Fauji 2. Filmmaker Sandeep Singh has teamed up with the national broadcaster Doordarshan to breathe new life into this classic show. (Also Read | How Fauji’s director convinced Shah Rukh Khan to be punctual: ‘I ran after him with a stone’)

Sandeep Singh expressed his excitement in a press release shared by his team, “We are bringing back one of the greatest shows ever seen on television but in a new and exciting version. The 1989 Fauji gave us Shahrukh Khan, who captivated the entire nation with his extraordinary energy and talent. With Fauji 2, I hope to recreate history and connect with every Indian, especially the youth.”

The new series introduces Bigg Boss 17 fame Vikas Jain as Colonel Sanjay Singh and actor Gauahar Khan as Lieutenant Colonel Simarjeet Kaur, a cadet trainer specializing in weaponry. Sandeep Singh is set to introduce 12 new actors to the audience, selected for their talent from various regions across India.

Advertisement

The cast includes Aashish Bhardwaj as Daksh Desai from Surat, Utkarsh Kohli as Rangrez Phogat from Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, Rudra Soni as Harun Malik from Srinagar, Ayaan Manchanda as Aakash Chhetri from Darjeeling, Niel Satpuda as Vijay Sachan from Kanpur.

It also includes Suvansh Dhar as Abhimanyu Rai from Deolal in Maharashtra, Priyanshu Rajguru as Subbu Balakrishnan from Chennai, Aman Singh Deep as Vikram Singh Bagga from Chandigarh, Udit Kapur as Arjun Negi from New Delhi, Maansi as Kavya Rajadhyaksha from Deolali, Maharashtra and Sushmita Bhandari as Kinjal Joshi from Surat.

Sandeep also elaborated on the storytelling approach, mentioning, “We spent six months brainstorming to develop a story that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Unlike the usual television narratives, Fauji 2 has a unique storytelling style.”

“It’s rich in emotion and offers a close look at the lives of army personnel, their bonds despite cultural and religious differences, and their dedication to safeguarding the country. Fauji 2 is a tale of courage and inspiration,” he added.

Advertisement

Navneet Kumar Sehgal, Chairman of Doordarshan, highlighted the enduring legacy of the original show, stating, “Fauji, one of our most prestigious shows, continues to rule hearts, and it just had to come back for today’s audience.” He expressed excitement for viewers to experience the valour of army officers once again.

Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO of Doordarshan, echoed this sentiment, noting, “When we came across the concept of Fauji 2, it took us no time to begin working on this iconic project. The show will be on-air very soon, and we are ecstatic to bring the magic of Fauji back to the Indian audience,” as per the press release shared by the Fauji 2 team.

Adding to the series’ allure, singer Sonu Nigam has lent his voice to the title track. Fauji 2 will feature 11 songs, with music composed by Filmfare Award-winning music director Shreyas Puranik, along with contributions from Shashi Suman and Jazim Sharma.

Produced by Sandeep Singh, with Vicky Jain and Zafar Mehdi as co-producers, Fauji 2 is written by a team including Amarnath Jha, Vishal Chaturvedi, Anil Choudhary, and Chaitanya Tulsyan.

Advertisement

The series also marks the directorial debut of Abhinav Pareek. Fauji 2 will air on Doordarshan in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Bengali, making it accessible to a wide audience. The release date of the show is yet to be announced.

Group Media Publications
Entertainment News Platforms – anyflix.in      
Construction Infrastructure and Mining News Platform – https://cimreviews.com/
General News Platform – https://ihtlive.com/
Podcast Platforms – https://anyfm.in

Continue Reading
Anyskill-ads

Facebook

Trending