Taking a step ahead in the modernisation of the Navy, India will become the fourth country in the world to build its own aircraft carrier or air defence ship (ADS) after the United States, Russia and France.

With the first successful landing of an AN-32 at Nyoma airstrip in eastern Ladakh, the IAF is all set to convert the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) into a full-fledged airbase for fixed wing transport aircraft in the next couple of years.

As the race in the Indian Air Force's $10-billion tender for 126 combat jets reached the crucial stage of flight trials, Russia, on top of a full technology transfer, is offering India help in building its own advanced radar.

Russia will complete the upgradation of Indian Air Force's 60 MiG-29 fighters by 2013 which will extend their service life by another 15 years.

Indian Navy has okay-ed the placement of an order for six Naval Tejas Light Combat Aircrafts (N-LCA). At an approximate cost of Rs 150 crore per aircraft, this will provide a Rs 900 crore infusion into the Naval LCA programme.

Indian defence authorities, led by Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju, are looking to see the international response to some of the latest multi-role combat aircraft on display at the Farnborough Air Show here which are being evaluated by India for upgrading its air force.

LineMint reports that the Aeronautical Development Agency has sent proposal requests to GE Aviation for its state-of-the-art F414 military aviation engines to propel the HAL Tejas light combat fighter jet.

Boeing has completed the final design review for the Indian Navy 737-based maritime patrol P-8I, a variant of the U.S. Navy's P-8A, and is preparing to begin fabrication of the first aircraft in the fourth quarter.

The Indian Army intends to buy the US-designed Javelin anti-tank guided missile to equip its troops with the capability to defeat enemy armour systems.

About a decade after being designed, the Army has approved bulk production of lightweight modular hand grenades developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for induction.

Raytheon and India's Elcome Marine Services have completed inspection and maintenance on two Phalanx Close-in Weapon Systems for the Indian navy.

Indicative of the increase in bilateral military ties with the nation, Army Chief General VK Singh will be visiting Vietnam next week to hold talks with the top military brass, besides the political leadership.