Air India’s entry into Star Alliance has been delayed indefinitely after the airline alliance put on hold the Indian flag carrier’s application for a membership. The final decision on suspending Air India’s integration into the 27-airline alliance was made by Star’s executive board at a meeting July 31 in Frankfurt. A seemingly baffled Air India says it fulfilled all conditions of membership, but that is not how Star saw it.

Buoyed by the success of their first lunar probe three years back, India's space scientists are planning an ambitious sequel in 2013 that may establish the groundwork for a future robotic mission to Mars. Drawing on Russia's long experience exploring planetary surfaces, including the upcoming mission to the Martian moon Phobos, India's second lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, will consist of a domestic spacecraft and rover, with a Russian landing platform that underscores the international aspect of India's budding planetary exploration program.

NEW DELHI — Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. plans to pursue multiple opportunities in the Indian defense market, and has responded to the Indian navy’s recently issued Request for Information (RFI) for a second batch of multi-role helicopters, a top company official says. “We don’t know the numbers” of aircraft needed, says A.J.S. Walia, Sikorsky’s executive vice president for India and South Asia. The company has the option of offering its S-70 Bravo or the MH-60R “Romeo” helicopter, which it offers jointly with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy.