Gandhinagar, (Gujarat) [India], October 18 (ANI): Already successful in selling the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to the Philippines, BrahMos Aerospace on Tuesday said that it was looking to bag orders worth USD 5 billion by the year 2025.

Chennai [Tamil Nadu], April 30 (ANI): Marking the 75 years of Indo-Russian diplomatic relations, a walk of friendship was organized at Besant Nagar beach in Chennai on Saturday.

Thiruvananthapuram Feb 20 PTI Despite changes in the geo-political situations Indo-Russian relations remain unchanged as they are rooted centuries back and time-tested Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said here on Sunday Tharoor was speaking at the inauguration of the 75th anniversary celebrations of Indo-Russia diplomatic ties organised by the Russian House here a statement issued by Ratheesh C Nair Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation said Speaking on the occasion Tharoor said it was necessary to strengthen diplomatic relations among the nations to create a peaceful world The statement quoted Tharoor as saying in his inaugural address thatIndo-Russian relation is unique Despite changes in the geo-political situations the relations remain unchanged The basic reason is that the relationship is rooted centuries back and is time-tested After the disintegration of the Soviet Union we thought the friendly relations would decline But Russia being a longstanding friend continued to support our economic development and security Our special and privileged strategic partnership is significant despite new allies among nations he said Nair who is also the Director of the Russian House in Thiruvananthapuram in the statement said a series of seminars exhibitions discussions and competitions would be organised as part of the 10-month long celebrations PTI HMP NVG NVG

New Delhi Dec 20 PTI Seven aircraft of the Indian Air Force have crashed in the last two years the government said in Rajya Sabha on MondayMinister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said this while replying to a question in the HouseA total of seven aircraft of the Air Force have crashed in the last two years including the Mirage 2000 which crashed recently in Madhya Pradesh he saidThe minister said every aircraft accident in the IAF is investigated by a Court of Inquiry CoI to ascertain the cause of the accidentThe recommendations of the completed Court of Inquiry are implemented Only after completion of the Court of Inquiry the quantum of loss is finalised he saidReplying to a separate question Bhatt said indigenously-developed Tejas aircraft is not being inducted as a replacement for MIG-21 fighter jets but as a part of the modernisation of the IAFHe said an amount of Rs 6653 crore was spent on the manufacturing of 24 Tejas jets till September 30Bhatt said 123 Tejas fighter aircraft are to be manufactured and that further production depends on the requirement of the services as well as possible exportsReplying to another question on whether the government is planning to propose compulsory military training for youths he said there is no such planOur armed forces have a large number of volunteers to draw upon and there is no problem in getting adequate numbers of volunteer recruits All the able-bodied persons of the country therefore do not compulsorily need to be given military training he saidAsked about the AK-203 rifle contract with Russia Bhatt said the first lot of 35000 guns is required to be delivered within 10 months of making the advance payment to the Indo-Russian joint ventureThe contract for procurement of quantity 601427 Assault Rifles AK-203 from Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited IRRPL has been signed on December 6 the minister saidAs per the contract the first lot of quantity 35000 rifles is required to be delivered by 10 months of the release of advance payment to IRRPL he said PTI MPB DIV DIV