Category Archives: Science & Technology

Dassault Aviation partners with Tata Advanced Systems for Rafale fighter fuselage production in India

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Describing it as a significant step forward in strengthening the country’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities and supporting global supply chains, Dassault Aviation said the facility represented a vital investment in India’s aerospace infrastructure.

Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited have signed four Production Transfer Agreements to manufacture the Rafale fighter aircraft fuselage for India and other global markets.

Describing it as a significant step forward in strengthening the country’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities and supporting global supply chains, Dassault Aviation said the facility represented a vital investment in India’s aerospace infrastructure and would serve as a critical hub for high-precision manufacturing.

Under the agreement, Tata Advanced Systems will set up a production facility in Hyderabad for the manufacture of key structural sections of Rafale, including the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section.

The first fuselage sections are likely to roll off the assembly line in 2028, with the facility expected to deliver up to two complete fuselages per month.

“For the first time, Rafale fuselages will be produced outside France. This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India. Thanks to the expansion of our local partners, including TASL, one of the major players in the Indian aerospace industry, this supply chain will contribute to the successful ramp-up of the Rafale and, with our support, will meet our quality and competitiveness requirements,” said Eric Trappier, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Dassault Aviation.

Sukaran Singh, CEO and managing director, Tata Advanced Systems Limited, said: “This partnership marks a significant step in India’s aerospace journey. The production of the complete Rafale fuselage in India underscores the deepening trust in Tata Advanced Systems’ capabilities and the strength of our collaboration with Dassault Aviation.”

“It also reflects the remarkable progress India has made in establishing a modern, robust aerospace manufacturing ecosystem that can support global platforms,” he said.

“The signing of these contracts reflects Dassault Aviation’s strong commitment to India’s ‘Make in India’ and AtmaNirbhar initiatives. This partnership aims to strengthen India’s position as a key player in the global aerospace supply chain while supporting its goal of greater economic self-reliance,” said Dassault Aviation.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Bound for space: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla set for SpaceX mission with halwa

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Shukla will be the pilot on the Dragon spacecraft commanded by US astronaut Peggy Whitson with Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisiniewski and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu as mission specialists on the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) during their 14-day stay on the orbiting laboratory.

Indian Air Force combat pilot Shubhanshu Shukla is set to fly to the International Space Station next week from a US spaceport aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and become India’s second astronaut since Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 Soyuz mission.

Shukla will be the pilot on the Dragon spacecraft commanded by US astronaut Peggy Whitson with Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisiniewski and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu as mission specialists on the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) during their 14-day stay on the orbiting laboratory.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Ax-4 crew aboard the Dragon from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 10. While aboard the ISS, the Ax-4 astronauts plan to conduct over 60 science experiments, public outreach and technology demonstrations. The launch was earlier set for June 8.

Shukla is a group captain with over 2,000 hours of experience flying multiple combat aircraft.

Shukla is one of four candidate astronauts selected for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (Isro) Gaganyaan human space flight mission expected to take place in 2027.

“It’s been an amazing journey until now — the best is yet to come,” Shukla said on Tuesday at a countdown-to-launch media conference organised by Axiom Space, a US-based private aerospace company engaged in commercial missions to the ISS and working towards building the first commercial space station.

Shukla and fellow IAF group captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, who’s serving as his designated backup, have been under training for the AX-4 mission since August 2024. All the AX-4 crew have undergone training at Axiom Space, Nasa’s Johnson Space Centre and SpaceX. The training has involved simulations of the launch and docking practice, emergency response drills, space station systems training and scientific payload operations.

“We’re ready to go, we’ve trained for all scenarios, bonded as a team,” said Whitson, who will be commanding her second commercial human spaceflight mission and add to her standing record of 675 days for the longest cumulative time in space by an American astronaut.

Shukla revealed during the media briefing that an air show during his school years and a fascination for fighter jets had drawn him into his career as a combat pilot. “When the opportunity (for an Indian human spaceflight mission) arose in 2018, I instinctively applied,” he said.

Among the seven science experiments Shukla will carry for India, one will examine the impact of microgravity on edible microalgae — a nutrient-rich food source. Another experiment will probe the growth of the organisms called Spirulina, a blue-green algae often described as a “superfood” in space.

Shukla will carry mango nectar, carrot halwa and moong dal halwa to share with his fellow astronauts on the ISS.

The experiments, developed under a tie-up between Isro and India’s department of biotechnology with support from Nasa, are intended to generate data for self-sustaining life support systems for future long-duration space travel.

“From orbit, I hope to speak to students, educators, and members of India’s space industry,” Shukla said, outlining some of the crew’s planned outreach activities from the ISS. Uznanski-Wisiniewsky plans to demonstrate physics experiments to students across Poland.

India’s space agency views the Ax-4 mission as yet another step towards its human spaceflight ambitions.

“The experience and the knowhow from the AX-4 mission is significant to us and will feed into our Gaganyaan programme,” Sudeesh Balan, project director at Isro, had said at a mission overview media briefing earlier this month.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

IISc researchers develop novel nanozyme which prevents excess clotting

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When a blood vessel is injured, specialised blood cells called platelets get activated, and cluster together around the vessel to form protective blood clots. However, when these signals go haywire, oxidative stress and levels of toxic Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) increase, leading to over-activation of platelets.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) have developed an artificial metal-based nanozyme that can potentially be used to clamp down on abnormal blood clotting caused by conditions like pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE).

According to IISc., under normal circumstances, when a blood vessel is injured, specialised blood cells called platelets get activated, and cluster together around the vessel to form protective blood clots.

This process, known as the blood clotting cascade (haemostasis), involves a complex series of protein interactions triggered by signals from physiological agonists (chemicals), such as collagen and thrombin.

However, when these signals go haywire in conditions like PTE or diseases like COVID-19, oxidative stress and levels of toxic Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) increase, leading to over-activation of platelets. This triggers the formation of excess clots in the blood vessel, contributing to thrombosis, a major cause of morbidity and mortality.

To tackle this challenge, researchers led by G. Mugesh, professor in the Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, have developed nanomaterials that mimic the activity of natural antioxidant enzymes, which scavenge reactive oxidative molecules.

These nanozymes work by controlling ROS levels, thereby preventing the over-activation of platelets that leads to excess clot formation or thrombosis.

The team synthesised redox active nanomaterials of different sizes, shapes, and morphologies via a series of controlled chemical reactions starting from small building blocks. They then isolated platelets from human blood, activated them using physiological agonists, and tested how effectively the different nanozymes could prevent excess platelet aggregation.

The team found that spherical-shaped vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanozymes were the most efficient. These materials mimic a natural antioxidant enzyme called glutathione peroxidase to reduce oxidative stress.

“The unique chemistry of the vanadium metal is crucial because the redox reactions that reduce ROS levels are happening on the surface of the vanadium nanomaterial,” said Prof. Mugesh.

The team injected the nanozyme in a mouse model of PTE. They found that it significantly reduced thrombosis and increased the animals’ survival rates. They also observed the weight, behaviour, and blood parameters of the animal for up to five days after injecting the nanozyme, and did not find any toxic effects.

The team now plans to explore the efficacy of the nanozyme in preventing ischemic stroke, which is also caused by clogging of blood vessels.

“We are hopeful about clinical studies in humans because we have done our experiments with human platelets, and they worked,” said Prof. Mugesh.

source/content: thehindu (headline edited)

India’s space sector created 22,000 job in last decade, positively contributed to economy: study

The study noted that the number of homegrown space startups in India surged from 1 in 2014 to 229 by mid-2024.

A marked increase in homegrown space startups, industries manufacturing space-qualified products, and a growing reliance on satellite-based services have all positively impacted India’s economy, a new study has found. It also said the space sector has contributed to the country’s employment and overall social development.

The study, titled ‘Space economy of India, its impact on the rest of the economy’, published in the journal Space Policy enlisted the creation of around 22,000 new jobs in this sector in the past decade.

In 2020–21, the space sector contributed a modest 0.19 per cent of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but this share has been rising, as per the study. Monetarily, the New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), generated a revenue worth Rs 2,940 crore in 2022-2023, the study noted.

The year-on-year increment in the revenue is estimated to remain around 24 per cent, said the study authored by experts from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram; Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram; Ahmedabad University and National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.

Policy-level changes with the introduction of Space Activities Policy 2023 and the establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (In-SPACe), too, created a positive shift in the way the space economy has shaped in recent years, according to the study.

According to the study, with more countries turning into private players for venturing into space, employment generation holds potential even in India.

“Private space startups are attracting substantial investments, generating revenue through satellite manufacturing, launch services and space-based applications. Sectors like telecommunications, agriculture and navigation have benefited from satellite services, enhancing their operational efficiency and productivity,” said the study.

In India, the number of homebred space startups went from one to 229 from 2014 mid-2024, and they are believed to employ about 2,500 people at present.

ISRO has remained the primary driver of space-related activities in India and the space agency directly employs over 17,000 people. The overall employment covering the broader space industry is estimated to be 45,000–50,000.

India’s space economy covers manufacturing, operations and applications. The space manufacturing segment includes the production of launch vehicles, satellites, spacecraft subsystems, scientific instruments and ground equipment.

Space operations encompass launch services, satellite operation and brokerage, ground station management, in-orbit servicing, space surveillance, debris removal, space tourism, in-space manufacturing and the operation of spaceports. Space applications cover services like direct-to-home broadcasting, satellite communications, location-based services, satellite data processing and downstream applications using satellite signals.

According to the study, some of the key emerging areas in this sector include deep exploration missions, greater involvement of private players and international collaborations.

Even with modest spending with respect to the country’s GDP, the space sector holds immense potential and far-reaching and multi-sectoral reach, the study said. Improvements brought through satellite-based services and geographical information services-based tools are immensely benefitting sectors like agriculture, disaster management, national security, weather forecasting, urban planning, energy planning, navigation, infrastructure development, land management and more, it said.

The researchers said the technological innovations and spillovers to sectors also added to the overall contribution to the economy.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

UoH faculty member elected as Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry

G.S. Vaitheeswaran from University of Hyderabad’s (UoH) School of Physics has been elected as a Fellow of the prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry for his contributions to understanding the electronic structure of solids, particularly in the field of energetic materials.

The fellowship will enable Prof Vaitheeswaran to expand his research network and collaborations with universities worldwide, facilitating international funding and participation in conferences.

He has received several notable awards, including the DAE Young Achiever Award, B.M. Birla Science Prize in Physics, and the Chancellor Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research, as per a press release on Friday (May 1, 2025).

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Aurobindo arm’s biosimilar for breast cancer gets EMA panel nod

Aurobindo Pharma subsidiary CuraTeQ Biologics’ biosimilar for breast cancer has been recommended for marketing authorisation by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

“The CHMP has adopted a positive opinion recommending marketing authorisation of Dazublys (150 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion), CuraTeQ Biologics s.r.o. trastuzumab biosimilar, for the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic and early breast cancers,” Aurobindo Pharma said on Saturday.

The positive opinion is based on demonstrating comprehensive analytical similarity and clinically no meaningful differences between Dazublys and the reference biologic product Herceptin in terms of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity. Upon European Commission approval that is expected in July, Dazublys will be available for use across EU member states, Aurobindo Pharma Director and CEO Biologics, Vaccines and Peptides Satakarni Makkapati said.

“This marks our third biosimilar to receive CHMP’s endorsement and the fourth overall in the EU, alongside the approval of Bevqolva (a bevacizumab biosimilar) by the MHRA in November 2024. Biosimilars are playing an important role in improving cancer care, and we remain committed to expanding our biosimilars portfolio,” he said in a release.

Aurobindo Pharma Vice Chairman and MD Nithyananda Reddy said the company is working towards building biosimilars as one of the core businesses. “By 2030, we are committed to launching at least 10 biosimilars across oncology and immunology therapy segments,” he said.

On Trastuzumab, which a monoclonal antibody, the company said the biosimilar specifically binds and inhibits the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein, which is over-expressed on certain types of solid cancers such as breast and gastric cancer. By binding to the extracellular domain of HER2, trastuzumab disrupts its ability to signal, leading to cell cycle arrest, reduced tumour growth and potentially immune system activation to destroy cancer cells.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

IIT Bombay scientists develop lotus leaf-like solar evaporators for salt water treatment

A new hydrophobic graphene-based material developed by IIT Bombay scientists could support efforts to address fresh water crisis in the world.  

In a significant breakthrough to tackle the freshwater scarcity in various parts of the world, scientists from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay have developed a new material that can facilitate water desalination.  

Researchers Professor Swatantra Pratap Singh and Aiswarya C. L. have developed Dual-Sided Superhydrophobic Laser-Induced Graphene (DSLIG) evaporator that addresses multiple shortcomings of earlier evaporators and has the potential for large-scale applications. 

While water is abundant on Earth, only about 3% of it is freshwater, and even within that, less than 0.05% is easily accessible. Removing salt (desalination) from seawater and brackish water is seen as one of the solutions to address this problem, with researchers working towards developing more efficient and faster desalination techniques. However, brine (concentrated salt solution) from desalination is a big problem in landlocked places, and industries are looking for zero liquid discharge.  

The researchers said that solar energy-based desalination methods are considered desirable due to their reduced carbon footprint. However, factors such as fluctuations in intensity and availability of sunlight and reduced rates of absorption of light greatly affect the efficiency and consistency of solar energy-based desalination techniques.   

Mr. Singh explained that in recent years, interfacial evaporation systems have emerged as a promising approach. The key component of these systems is an evaporator made from materials that can absorb solar energy and heat up. The evaporator, placed on the surface of the water, focuses solar heat on a thin layer of water at the evaporator’s surface rather than heating the entire volume. This localized heating minimizes heat loss and enhances the efficiency of the desalination process.  

However, despite this advantage, the problems with traditional solar desalination techniques do affect interfacial evaporators as well.  

“Fluctuations in solar radiation cause temperature variations on the evaporator’s surface. On cloudy days, the performance of the interfacial system is halted due to the lack of solar energy. Additionally, the variation in solar radiation during the day affects the evaporation process, with evaporation rates typically peaking around 2 pm when solar intensity is highest,” Mr. Singh said.  

Another major challenge with interfacial evaporation systems is the deposition of salt crystals on the surface of the evaporators. Salt deposition on the surface prevents water from coming in contact with the evaporator, and consequently, its efficiency diminishes over time.  This research aims to address both of these issues. In addition to solar heating, DSLIG evaporators can also be heated using electricity (known as Joule heating), Mr. Singh said.   

By combining solar and electric heating, the material is protected from fluctuations in the availability of sunlight. When there is less or no sunlight, electricity can be used to heat the evaporator and maintain similar temperatures, ensuring consistent performance. Additionally, DSLIG has a superhydrophobic property, meaning it repels water like lotus leaves. 

Owing to the characteristics of their surfaces, superhydrophobic materials reduce the contact area between water droplets and the material surface, making droplets roll over them instead of wetting.

“In desalination applications, the superhydrophobic nature of DSLIG helps prevent salt dissolved in water from sticking to the evaporator surface, thus maintaining efficiency over time. The primary goal of our work was to create a superhydrophobic surface, exhibiting the lotus effect, capable of functioning with both solar and Joule heating,” Mr. Singh explained.

The researchers fabricated DSLIG by coating a layer of a polymer called polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) on one side of a thin layer of another polymer LIG, poly (ether sulfone) (PES). Graphene was then engraved on the PVDF polymer side of the material using laser-based engraving technology. “The material derives its name from the fact that it has two distinct sides formed by the two polymers and the fabrication technique used. PES doesn’t repel water, but it is essential to prevent the evaporator from breaking easily. If only PES were used, the final surface would get wet on both sides. However, using PVDF resulted in hydrophobicity on both surfaces. The use of PES as a substrate ensured mechanical stability, while the PVDF layer contributed to the hydrophobic characteristics necessary for efficient evaporation processes,” the professor said.  

Laboratory tests show that DSLIG not only exhibits lotus leaf-like behavior, preventing salt deposition and excellent efficiency for desalination under both electric and solar heating, but is also very effective in treating extremely concentrated salt solutions. This makes it an ideal candidate for treating salt water discharges from other desalination outlets as well as industrial wastewater. 

The researchers have also demonstrated that the performance of DSLIG improves when multiple evaporators are stacked on top of each other. While the low carbon footprint, low toxicity, and cost-effectiveness make DSLIG a potential candidate for large-scale sustainable desalination applications and the treatment of industrial wastewater. Mr. Singh said that further field testing is required before such large-scale applications can be made.

“One of the major hurdles the team faces in ensuring and testing the industrial readiness of this technology is a lack of funding. In the meantime, we are looking forward to developing more such superhydrophobic materials that can simultaneously utilise both solar and electric energy with even greater efficiency,” Mr. Singh added.  

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

CSIR collab with Australian agency to purify mineral ores critical to aerospace and solar technology

They are to be investigating the recovery of titanium dioxide and vanadium-bearing titanium minerals of Indian origin.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) through the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT) has signed a research agreement with Australia’s national science agency, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), to work with critical minerals.

They will investigate the recovery of titanium dioxide and vanadium-bearing titanium minerals of Indian origin. These minerals are critical to aerospace and solar technology.

Director, CSIR-IMMT Dr Ramanuj Narayan said: “The project aims to develop CSIRO’s innovative titanium and vanadium processing technology for extracting titanium and vanadium from ilmenite and vanadiferous magnetite ores which are abundant in India and Australia.”

He said, “India focuses on space technology, solar and electric vehicle motors. To excel in these fields, one needs to explore the critical minerals essential in these sectors. Titanium and vanadium are classified as critical minerals in both India and Australia. Titanium is widely used in metal alloys, while vanadium is also a key component in redox flow batteries, which are rechargeable and well-suited for large-scale energy storage.”

Dr Narayan said: “We stress on the beneficiation (the process of treating ore or similar material from the earth to improve its quality and make it suitable for further processing, typically by removing unwanted materials and concentrating valuable minerals process). Odisha has rich deposits of low-grade iron ore and coal. We still depend on Australia for coal. Through value addition, we can turn them into high-grade iron and coal.”

The project will advance the processing of Indian origin ores, potentially unlocking India’s vast titanium deposits — the third-largest in the world — while complementing CSIRO’s ongoing research on Australia deposits.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

Inventors from Hyderabad-based LVPEI get Australian patent for potential therapy to treat damaged corneas

Two inventors from L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) in Hyderabad have been granted an Australian patent for a cell therapy that can be used to repair damaged corneas from a variety of corneal diseases. However, the therapy needs more validation before it is used on patients.

The two inventors who were granted the patent are Sayan Basu and Vivek Singh. Dr. Basu is a corneal surgeon and a clinician-scientist at LVPEI. He is the Prof. D Balasubramanian Chair of Eye Research at the Brien Holden Eye Research Centre (BHERC); and the Director of the Centre for Ocular Regeneration (CORE) at LVPEI. Dr. Vivek Singh is a scientist at the Sudhakar and Sreekanth Ravi Stem Cell Biology Laboratory and Centre for Ocular Regeneration (CORE), LVPEI.

Clinical trials underway

“The patent is granted for the advanced cell compositions comprising limbal epithelial and stromal cells for treating and preventing corneal diseases, along with their production methods and therapeutic applications. The therapy was previously granted a patent by the Patent Office, Government of India , for a period of 20 years in accordance with the provisions of the Patents Act, 1970. Government of India approved clinical trials are also under way. It will need more validation before it is available for patient use,” as per a press release issued on Thursday (March 13, 2025).

What is a cornea?

Cornea is a dome-shaped, transparent outer layer of an eye which protects it from debris and more. It filters ultraviolet light.

How do corneas get scarred?

Corneal scarring happens when the cornea is damaged and turns opaque due to infection or accidents. Corneal blindness is a major cause of blindness and vision impairment, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Current and potential treatments:

Most forms of corneal blindness currently require corneal transplants, which are complex and require lifelong management. This patented composition has the potential to offer a viable alternative to transplants that uses either the person’s own, or donor corneal stem cells to repopulate the corneal surface with healthy, clear cells, as per the press release. 

Dr. Sayan Basu said, “If the clinical trials are successful, this cell-based therapy could revolutionise the treatment of various corneal pathologies.”

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

DRDO successfully conducts high-altitude trials of indigenous integrated life support system for LCA Tejas Aircraft

The Defence Bio-Engineering & Electro Medical Laboratory (DEBEL), a Bengaluru-based lab under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), successfully conducted high-altitude trials of the Indigenous On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS)-based Integrated Life Support System (ILSS) for the LCA Tejas aircraft on Tuesday.

Congratulating DRDO, IAF, Public Sector Undertakings, and industry partners on this significant achievement, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted that the development of the Indigenous ILSS reaffirms India’s commitment to cutting-edge defence technologies and aligns with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047.’

The OBOGS-based ILSS is a state-of-the-art system designed to generate and regulate breathable oxygen for pilots during flight. This system eliminates the need for traditional liquid oxygen cylinder-based systems, providing greater efficiency and safety. The ILSS underwent rigorous testing on the LCA-Prototype Vehicle-3 aircraft, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).

The system was tested under extreme conditions, including altitudes of up to 50,000 feet above mean sea level and high-G maneuvers, to ensure its performance met stringent aeromedical standards. The tests evaluated critical parameters such as oxygen concentration, demand breathing, and the availability of 100% oxygen during various flight phases, including aerobatic maneuvers, take-offs, cruises, G turns, and approach and landing.

The system’s performance during these tests was deemed successful, meeting all specified parameters for full functional testing of components such as the Anti-G Valve and Breathing Oxygen System (BOS) during key flight stages. With clearance from the Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC), the ILSS has proven its reliability and efficiency.

The ILSS integrates 10 Line Replaceable Units, including the Low-Pressure Breathing Regulator, BOS, Emergency Oxygen System, Oxygen Sensor, and Anti-G valve, among others. These components work together to ensure real-time oxygen generation, significantly enhancing pilot endurance and operational effectiveness during flight.

Manufactured by L&T as a Development cum Production Partner, the system represents a remarkable collaboration between DRDO and Indian defence industries. Notably, the ILSS has 90% indigenous content, reflecting India’s growing self-reliance in aerospace technology. With suitable modifications, the system can be adapted for use in other aircraft, such as the MiG-29K.

source/content: ddnews.gov.in (headline edited)