On Tuesday, US aerospace company Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) announced a partnership to compete for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) medium transport aircraft (MTA) tender, which involves the acquisition of up to 80 planes.

Lockheed Martin has proposed its C-130J Super Hercules aircraft for the competition and is exploring the possibility of establishing a manufacturing line in India. This bid would place Lockheed against two other global aircraft manufacturers in a multi-billion-dollar deal.

“Collaborating with Lockheed Martin on the C-130J platform for IAF’s MTA project is a major milestone for Tata Advanced Systems,” TASL CEO Sukaran Singh stated. He added that the partnership also marks TASL’s entry into the defence maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector in India for large aircraft.

In June, HT reported that Lockheed was likely to partner with TASL for the MTA bid.

The agreement outlines a framework for further collaboration, including expanding the manufacturing and assembly of C-130Js in India, subject to government approvals from both countries. It also includes plans for an MRO facility in India to support IAF’s existing fleet of 12 C-130Js, as well as other global Super Hercules fleets, according to a joint statement by the two companies.

Should Lockheed Martin secure the MTA contract, it will establish additional production and assembly capacity in India.

The two other contenders for the MTA contract are Airbus Defence and Space, offering the A-400M, and Embraer Defense and Security with its C-390 Millennium aircraft.

“The C-130J is regarded as the world’s workhorse, not only because of its global footprint but also its international supply chain, which includes Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) in Hyderabad as the sole supplier of empennages (tail assemblies),” said Rod McLean, vice president of Air Mobility and Maritime Missions at Lockheed Martin.

TLMAL has been the exclusive global supplier of empennages for the C-130J since 2010, having delivered more than 220 assemblies. These assemblies are installed on C-130Js produced in the US and supplied to global customers, including the IAF.

IAF’s current C-130J fleet has been heavily utilized for various missions, including support to forward deployments in Ladakh, where tensions with China persist.

This three-way competition for the MTA contract aligns with India’s “Make in India” initiative, aiming to boost self-reliance in the defence manufacturing sector. The IAF is seeking a transport aircraft with a cargo capacity of 18 to 30 tonnes to meet its expanding airlift needs. The C-130J offers a 20-tonne capacity, compared to the C-390’s 26 tonnes and the A-400M’s 37 tonnes.

In February, Embraer and Mahindra signed an agreement to bid for the MTA order, while Airbus has yet to announce its Indian partner. Potential candidates include TASL and the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

India is expected to issue a tender for the MTA procurement after the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, grants its acceptance of necessity (AoN) for the project, which is the first step in the military procurement process under India’s defence rules.

The Tihar Jail Superintendent has defended its decision before the Delhi High Court to deny Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh permission to meet Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in jail, citing that Singh is an “ex-prisoner.” The superintendent referred to Rule 588 of the Delhi Prison Rules, which prohibits ex-prisoners and habitual offenders from meeting friends in prison unless there is a valid reason for the meeting.

Singh is currently out on bail in connection with alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22, the same case for which Kejriwal is currently incarcerated.

The court was hearing Singh’s plea challenging the jail superintendent’s decision to refuse his requests to meet Kejriwal on two occasions, citing his status as an ex-prisoner. In an affidavit filed on Saturday, the Tihar superintendent argued that the decision was neither “unjust” nor “arbitrary.” The affidavit noted that when Kejriwal was remanded to judicial custody in April, he had requested the inclusion of eight family members, including Singh, in his visitors’ list. However, this request was denied from the outset based on Rule 588.

The prison authorities further argued that the right to visit or interview prisoners is a privilege, not a right, and is subject to the regulations of the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018. “The decision taken by the respondent cannot be considered unjust or arbitrary. The respondent had already declined UTP (under trial prisoner) Arvind Kejriwal’s request to include Sanjay Singh in the list of visitors before the petitioner made his request to visit,” the affidavit said.

It added that the rules were put in place to ensure the effective administration of prisons, requiring strict adherence to maintain order and discipline within the system.

New Delhi: Following the Defence Acquisition Council’s (DAC) approval of the Predator drone deal on July 30, the Defence Ministry is set to approach the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to finalize the acquisition next month.

Although the Ministry has not officially commented on the process, sources indicate that the Cost Negotiation Committee (CNC) has finalized the purchase price at approximately USD 3.1 billion from the US-based company General Atomics. The Defence Ministry will now seek expenditure approval from the Finance Ministry before obtaining the final authorization from the CCS. The acquisition must be completed before October 31 to avoid a price increase by the manufacturer.

The Modi government is acquiring 31 MQ-9B drones equipped with air-to-surface missiles and laser-guided bombs from General Atomics through a government-to-government agreement. Of these, 16 will be allocated to the Indian Navy for maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region, eight to the Indian Army, and the remaining seven to the Indian Air Force for strike missions along the land borders.

It is reported that General Atomics briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his team on the drones’ capabilities during his visit to the US in August. The Predator drone has a strong track record in the Middle East and Afghanistan for precision strikes and eliminating high-value targets.

India has already been operating two units of the unarmed Sea Guardian variant of the Predator drone from INS Rajali in Tamil Nadu, leased from General Atomics for maritime surveillance. Although the lease expired in January 2024, the Indian Navy extended it for another four years. The Sea Guardian drones provide real-time maritime surveillance from the Sunda Straits in Indonesia to the Suez Canal and the southern Indian Ocean.

With the increasing use of armed drones, as seen in the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts, India recognizes the importance of acquiring this capability, especially since non-state actors like the Houthis and Hezbollah have also begun using drones to target international shipping and Israel. The acquisition has become a strategic priority for India, given that China and Pakistan are already operating CH-4 weaponized drones, with Beijing supplying these platforms to Islamabad.

Crown Prince Khaled Bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday became the third generation of the UAE’s ruling family to plant a sapling at Rajghat, the memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.

In 1992, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father and first president of the UAE, planted a Cassia Fistula (Amaltas) sapling during his visit to India. His son, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, now the UAE president, continued the tradition in 2016 by planting a Mimusops Elengi (Molshri) sapling at Rajghat.

On Monday, Sheikh Khaled planted an Amaltas sapling, marking a continuation of this family tradition. It was the first time in Rajghat’s history that three generations of leaders from the same nation have planted trees in honor of Mahatma Gandhi, according to officials.

This gesture also underscores the deepening ties between India and the UAE. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted the significance of the event in a post on X, noting that Sheikh Khaled’s act reflects the “India-UAE sustainability connection and Mahatma Gandhi’s universal teachings.”

The sustainability partnership is a crucial aspect of the growing relationship between the two countries, officials said.

Sheikh Khaled also observed a moment of silence and laid a wreath at the memorial, paying tribute to Gandhi’s contributions to India’s independence and development. He also tended to the trees planted by his grandfather, Sheikh Zayed, and his father, Sheikh Mohamed.

Expressing pride in the shared bonds between the two nations, Sheikh Khaled emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to foster growth and strengthen bilateral ties.

In the guestbook, Sheikh Khaled wrote: “Mahatma Gandhi will forever be remembered for his sacrifices in promoting the values of love and peace. Similarly, our Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, spread these same noble values worldwide through his legacy of generosity and humanitarian action.”

Rajghat, where Gandhi was cremated on January 31, 1948, has long been a site for visiting heads of state to honor his legacy by planting a sapling. Since 1950, nearly 200 saplings have been planted by foreign dignitaries, including Queen Elizabeth II, former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, former U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.

Researchers have identified a highly effective antibody that can neutralize a wide range of SARS-CoV-2 variants, as well as related coronaviruses, raising hopes for better treatments and vaccines against COVID-19 and future pandemics.

While COVID-19 is now considered endemic, much like the flu, scientists remain cautious due to Long COVID and the potential for dangerous mutations. This makes the discovery particularly valuable for public health.

The study, published in Cell Reports Medicine and led by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, focuses on an antibody called SC27. This antibody bridges the gap between vaccine-derived immunity and hybrid immunity, which refers to the stronger protection in individuals who have both recovered from infection and received a vaccine.

Typically, vaccine-induced antibodies target a small portion of the virus’s spike protein, which attaches to human cells. However, hybrid immunity tends to target the spike protein more broadly. SC27 follows this pattern by targeting the virus more comprehensively, enhancing its ability to neutralize the virus, even if it mutates.

“We found these antibodies cover the entire spike, including both the arc and stalk of the protein, similar to an umbrella,” explained Greg Ippolito, co-corresponding author and research associate professor in UT Austin’s Department of Molecular Biosciences. “The immune system sees the entire spike and works to neutralize it.”

SC27 was isolated from the blood of a person who had received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and later experienced a breakthrough infection. Laboratory tests confirmed that SC27 neutralized all major SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron strains, which have largely evaded other antibody treatments. Additionally, it neutralized the original SARS virus from 2003 and several bat and pangolin coronaviruses, which could potentially cause future outbreaks.

In a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) last month, the agency noted that despite COVID-19 no longer being a global public health emergency, the virus continues to circulate, with increased cases reported over the summer in Europe. The WHO emphasized the importance of updated vaccines to reduce hospitalizations and deaths, especially for high-risk groups such as older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and healthcare workers. Updated vaccines also offer greater protection against Long COVID, which can cause long-term health issues like brain fog and cardiovascular problems.

The researchers behind the SC27 study also highlighted the ongoing emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants and the presence of zoonotic reservoirs—animals that host and allow the virus to evolve. This underlines the need for a comprehensive understanding of how to target these pathogens.

SC27’s broad potential stems from its ability to target a specific region of the spike protein that has remained relatively unchanged as the virus has evolved. Using advanced imaging techniques, the researchers visualized how SC27 binds to the virus, forming an unusually stable connection, which may explain its potency. SC27 exhibited a stronger binding affinity to the spike protein than any other known human antibody, including those previously approved for clinical use.

When tested in mice, SC27 prevented the virus from replicating in the lungs.

The discovery sheds light on how hybrid immunity produces broad and potent antibodies against coronaviruses. The study found that over 60% of the antibody response in people with hybrid immunity stemmed from their initial exposure to the virus, either through infection or vaccination. This “imprinting” effect helps explain why hybrid immunity provides enhanced protection.

The research team suggests that future vaccines could be designed to elicit SC27-like antibodies, offering broader protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants and related coronaviruses. However, further studies are required to determine if SC27 or similar antibodies can be developed into effective treatments or used to guide vaccine development.