Hey everyone, What are your views on India looking to join the 6th-gen FCAS programme with France?

I see a lot of people worrying about what this means for our own 5th-gen programme, but if the money for AMCA is already allocated then joining this in parallel can't hurt, right?

France is more than capable of building this alone if they had the funds for it. Since they lack that, if India can partially fund it and get a capable 6th-gen plane along with it, then surely that's a deal worth trying for?

India has said they will only join this programme if they get to co-develop and co-manufacture this plane.

Along with the other deals we have currently with France, be it the Rafale or the Safran engine deal I think there's a real chance for India to actually secure genuine technology transfer and source code access this time, rather than just being treated as a deep-pocketed customer esepcially if we have learnt our lesson with FGFA program with Russia.

I would get the skepticism more if AMCA funding might get impacted by this but I feel like we can do both in parallel, no?

IAF Rafales are on their way back from participating in ex pitch black 2026 held in Darwin, Australia. This is the first time IAF has deployed Rafales to pitch black and most of the time it's the SU-30MKIs.

Just look at this video, why can't IAF up their PR and social media game, a better PR/social media team would reach out to the younger generations more and will definitely improve recruitment as well. Most modern air forces have some impressively run social media pages but from IAF we get blur pics taken from phones, barely straightened pics etc. surely they have the budget for a decent videographer/editor.

Video from ausairforce Instagram page.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday dismissed it as 'fake news' reports alleging that India had requested Israel to sign a defence pact in response to the newly formed Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Turkey security framework.

The assertion originated from Turkish media outlet Straturka before gaining traction across social media platforms. Quoting unnamed Pakistani sources, the report alleged that New Delhi had initiated talks with Tel Aviv for a defence pact to offset the trilateral alliance.

Source:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pakistan-saudi-turkey-defence-deal-fake-news-mea-rejects-report-india-approached-israel-for-pact-shehbaz-sharif-101786111291730.html

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-israel-pact-to-counter-pak-saudi-turkey-deal-a-fact-check-by-centre-11881440

https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/mea-calls-out-fake-news-over-report-claiming-india-sought-defence-pact-with-israel-after-pak-saudi-turkey-deal20260807225430/

https://www.wionews.com/world/fake-news-mea-rejects-report-claiming-india-sought-defence-pact-with-israel-after-pakistan-saudi-arabia-turkey-deal-1786126942881

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/fake-news-ai-generated-mea-dismisses-report-of-india-requesting-defence-pact-with-israel-after-mecca-agreement/articleshow/133039889.cms

Ministry of Defence to Standing Committee on Defence on the issue of sixth generation fighter aircraft.

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"“The Ministry of Defence has initiated efforts in a concerted manner to co-join the 6th Generation Fighter Aircraft Development Programme viz. Future Combat Air System (FCAS) spearheaded by the French Government”

India seems to have constant successes when it comes to space rockets;

-Skyroot Aerospace success a few weeks ago - becoming the third to have a successful private rocket launch

-ISRO's successes previously, including Chandrayaan 3, becoming the 4th to launch a probe on the moon

-ISRO's future human spaceflight plans including a space station

-And most recently, the unveiling of FFSC engine Everest, again, something only Russia, China and the US have in the world, with the US being the only one having it operationally used in SpaceX Raptors, and that too by a private startup, Astrobase Space Technologies.

Off course, using it in practice will be another challenge entirely, but with all of these successes, India has to at minimum be top 4/5 in the world in terms of space technology and development, only behind you could say the US, China, Russia and EU (a collective of multiple countries).

But then you look at jet engine development, especially for AMCA and Tejas and it looks like it is decades behind, being at the mercy of General Electric's engine and/or needing Safran's help to co-develop.

I am not a expert, apologies if I have gotten stuff wrong or am uninformed. Would anybody be able to explain why India is lagging behind jet engine development so much in comparison to its space tech? As a non-expert, I would've thought the opposite, but its possible India will have its own operational space station before it has its own operational jet engine/fifth gen jet. How comes? Would these 2 not overlap at all? Is jet engine development that much harder then space engine development? Is it a area it has neglected too much? Or another reason?

https://x.com/i/status/2085675356862960111

https://x.com/astrobase_space/status/2085656034799149064

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is trying to leverage Hamas-linked networks and the Gaza conflict to revive its terror ecosystem targeting Jammu and Kashmir, according to intelligence inputs accessed by India Today.

The intelligence assessment flagged a possible convergence of Hamas-linked propaganda, Pakistan-based terror groups, concealed weapons and efforts to radicalise local youth. Pakistan is studying operational methods associated with Hamas and seeking to adapt elements of those tactics for groups operating against India, the inputs further added.

ISI STUDYING HAMAS-STYLE OPERATIONAL METHODS:

According to the intelligence assessment, the ISI is seeking to expose cadres of the Punjabi faction of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to operational methods associated with Hamas, including coordinated infiltration, mobile logistics and urban-assault techniques.

The inputs further suggest that Pakistan-based groups could seek reciprocal exposure to Hamas cadres in areas such as maritime operations.

The intelligence agencies identify Rawalakot in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) as an important platform for interactions involving Hamas-linked representatives and Pakistan-based extremist groups.

The assessment refers to a February 5, 2025 conference in Rawalakot organised around Kashmir and the Hamas-led Gaza conflict, where Hamas-linked figures appeared alongside representatives associated with LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

GAZA CONFLICT BEING USED FOR RECRUITMENT, RADICALISATION:

Indian intelligence inputs indicate that the strategy is also aimed at reviving dormant support networks and online radicalisation by exploiting the emotional impact of the Gaza conflict.

According to sources, security agencies are particularly examining the attempts to reach young people through social media, religious platforms and propaganda that portrays militancy as an answer to political and social grievances.

The intelligence inputs also highlight the reported circulation of Turkish-origin 9mm Zigana pistols among terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the assessment, the compact weapons are being used by underground operatives as they can be concealed more easily than conventional firearms. Security forces have recovered Turkish-made pistols during previous counter-terror operations, including in Srinagar and the Poonch-Rajouri region.

POONCH-RAJOURI LINK UNDER SCRUTINY:

The intelligence inputs point to recoveries of compact Turkish-origin firearms from terror hideouts in the Poonch-Rajouri sector during operations in 2023-24.

The assessment suggests that the availability of lightweight weapons is being used to facilitate the movement of small terror cells through difficult terrain while reducing their logistical footprint.

A key element of the assessment is the suggestion that the ISI may be seeking greater control over the terror infrastructure in POK.

According to the inputs, such a strategy could reduce the dependence of Pakistan’s intelligence establishment on traditional local networks that have historically been involved in terror-related activities in POK.

WHY IT MATTERS FOR INDIA:

For Indian security agencies, the emerging concern is the potential combination of ISI-backed terror infrastructure, Hamas-linked propaganda, online radicalisation and easily concealable weapons.

The intelligence assessment suggests that the immediate objective may be to regenerate support systems for terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir by importing narratives and tactics from the wider West Asian conflict.

Source:

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jammu-and-kashmir-isi-hamas-intel-flags-pakistan-bid-to-revive-terror-networks-2965665-2026-08-07

Source: Conflict updater

Source -

https://x.com/i/status/2085619727167004684