Author: Defenceline Webdesk

France has signalled its strongest willingness yet to meet India’s demands on technology transfer, local manufacturing, and indigenous weapons integration in the proposed ₹3.25 lakh crore acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets.The deal, expected to be finalised within a year, is being framed as a Make in India partnership rather than a traditional buyer-seller arrangement.France has conveyed that it is comfortable sharing technology and aligning the Rafale program with India’s Make in India initiative. Senior French diplomatic sources emphasised that the relationship has matured into an equal partnership, moving beyond the conventional provider-customer dynamic.This shift reflects a decade-long transformation in…

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Zone 5 designs and manufactures mass-producible interceptors. Credit: Kongsberg. Norway’s Kongsberg Gruppen has completed its acquisition of US missile company Zone 5 Technologies after receiving approval from US regulatory authorities.  Kongsberg is buying a 90% stake in Zone 5, while the company’s founder and chief executive, Thomas Akers, and existing management team will retain an ownership share.   Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms. Find out more Following the closing, Zone 5 will continue operating as an independent subsidiary following the closing.   The companies have not disclose financial terms of the transaction.  Based in California, Zone 5 designs and manufactures…

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar undertook a significant visit to Bulgaria, where he engaged with the country’s senior leadership to strengthen bilateral cooperation and deepen India’s engagement with both Bulgaria and the European Union.His discussions with Bulgarian leaders, including Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova, focused on expanding collaboration across a wide range of sectors and on shaping a partnership that is contemporary and forward-looking.In his press remarks following the meeting with Foreign Minister Petrova-Chamova, Jaishankar emphasised the longstanding ties between India and Bulgaria, noting that the task now is to refashion these into a modern relationship…

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External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has once again underlined India’s consistent position that dialogue and diplomacy must prevail in the face of multiple ongoing global conflicts. Speaking in Sofia after his meeting with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova, he emphasised that the world is passing through an exceptionally volatile and uncertain period marked by wars, economic insecurity, the lingering impact of the pandemic, and the recurring threat of terrorism. He declared firmly that “this is not an era of war” and stressed that the only viable solution lies in dialogue and diplomacy.Jaishankar highlighted India’s role as the voice of the Global South,…

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India has lodged a strong protest against the United States at the United Nations following the attack on an Indian merchant vessel near Oman.Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, delivered a firm statement underscoring New Delhi’s concerns over the escalating maritime conflict and its direct impact on Indian nationals and economic interests.He emphasised that nearly ten million Indian citizens live and work in the Gulf region, making their safety and well-being an absolute priority for the government.The ambassador highlighted that India’s trade and energy supply chains are heavily dependent on stability in the Gulf, and any disruption…

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All 20 Indian crew members aboard the MT Jalveer are reported safe after a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room off Oman’s Shinas port. Evacuation is underway with six seafarers yet to be brought ashore, coordinated by the Royal Navy of Oman and the Indian Embassy.This marks the third maritime incident involving Indian sailors in the Gulf of Oman within a week, amid escalating US military actions and regional tensions.The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways confirmed that the Guinea‑Bissau‑flagged bitumen tanker MT Jalveer, measuring 119.95 metres in length and 16.84 metres in width, was involved in a…

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The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday confirmed the deaths of three Indian seafarers in the attack on the vessel MT Settebello.The identification process of the deceased has been completed, and arrangements are being made to bring their mortal remains back to India at the earliest. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, speaking during an inter‑ministerial briefing on developments in West Asia, stated that the attack on MT Jalveer was carried out by the United States Navy operating in the region.He clarified that the three ships involved in recent incidents were foreign‑flagged vessels, with two registered under the Palau flag and one…

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