NEW DELHI — India has approved a plan to buy 30 billion rupees ($500 million) worth of night-vision equipment for its armed forces, a government official says. At an April 2 meeting of the Defense Acquisition Council, the highest decision-making body in the country’s defense affairs, Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony approved the procurement of around 5,000 third-generation thermal-imaging and night-vision devices for the country’s Russian-origin T-72 and T-90 battle tanks and its BMP Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs), a defense official says.

NEW DELHI — The most advanced version of India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) has made its first flight, setting the stage for its induction into the country’s air force. The limited series production aircraft (LSP-8) is the last in the indigenously developed Tejas’ flight line before it is prepared for deployment for operational service by 2015.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to tie up with local airlines and state-run oil companies to meet the fuel requirements of domestic airlines. The AAI, which operates 125 airports in the country, will hold a 13% stake in the joint venture, “with other stakes being held by different partners,” says Chairman V. P. Agarwal. AAI currently is working out the details of the initiative, which include inviting “airlines to be part of the joint venture.”