In a major leap toward self-reliance in defense technology, India is set to develop its very own fifth-generation fighter jet—the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) . In a historic move, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved an innovative execution model for the indigenous stealth fighter programme. This model brings together Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and private industry players in a competitive framework, marking a significant shift in how India approaches military aviation manufacturing. This bold initiative comes at a critical time, as China has already fielded two fifth-generation fighters , and reports indicate it will supply 40 J-35 stealth jets to Pakistan . Against this backdrop, fast-tracking the AMCA has become an urgent national security imperative. AMCA: India’s Indigenous Stealth Fighter Dream The AMCA project , spearheaded by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) , received its l...
Giant Plasma Tides Beneath the Sun: Indian Scientists Unlock Solar Secrets That Could Shape Space Weather
In a groundbreaking discovery that may significantly alter our understanding of solar dynamics and space weather, an international team of solar physicists, led by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), has mapped giant tides of plasma flowing beneath the surface of the sun. These hidden plasma currents, located in a zone known as the near-surface shear layer (NSSL), have been shown to shift with the sun’s magnetic activity and could be a critical piece in solving the complex puzzle of space weather phenomena that affect life on Earth. The research, published in the prestigious Astrophysical Journal Letters , was carried out in collaboration with experts from Stanford University and the U.S. National Solar Observatory (NSO). The findings not only uncover previously invisible solar plasma flows , but also link them with magnetic field changes and solar cycles, offering new insight into the sun’s mysterious behavior. The Hidden Engine Beneath the Sun: What is the Near-Surface S...