India is looking to take its shipbuilding ambitions to the next level, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh calling for Indian shipyards to become globally competitive in terms of quality, cost, technology and delivery. Speaking at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam on October 6, Singh said India must move beyond simply meeting its own requirements and develop the capability to serve international markets as well. The Defence Minister emphasised that self-relian

India is strengthening its indigenous aerospace manufacturing capabilities with a major expansion of Shakti helicopter engine production at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Koraput facility in Odisha. A second production line for the engine will be established with an investment of ₹218 crore, with capacity expected to reach up to 100 engines annually by 2028-29. The expansion comes as India increases production of indigenous helicopters, particularly the Dhruv Advanced

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has emphasised that peace cannot be sustained simply through the fear of war and that nations must maintain credible defence capabilities to protect their sovereignty and security. Speaking at DefCon 2026 in New Delhi, Singh said India does not favour war but must remain prepared to respond to threats when necessary. “A peace which comes from fear of war is condemnable; a war that is fought for peace is essential,” Singh said, underlining the im

The Indian Air Force is preparing to host the second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti, a major multinational air exercise that will bring advanced fighter aircraft and air forces from several countries together in Rajasthan. The exercise, scheduled from September 26 to October 12, 2026, will be held at Air Force Station Jodhpur and adjoining air bases. One of the biggest highlights will be the participation of the US F-35 Lightning II, which will join an Indian military exer

India’s indigenous defence aviation programme is set to enter a new phase as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) prepares to begin deliveries of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by the end of 2026. The announcement, made by HAL Chairman and Managing Director Ravi K, signals an important step in enhancing India’s air combat capabilities through domestically designed and manufactured fighter aircraft. The Tejas Mk1A is the most advanced p

India has taken another significant step towards strengthening its military capabilities, with the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, giving in-principle approval to capital acquisition proposals worth around ₹1.10 lakh crore for the Indian Armed Forces. The approvals cover a broad range of equipment for the Army, Navy and Air Force, including advanced helicopters, surveillance radars, electronic warfare systems, mobility platforms a

India is preparing to enhance the capabilities of its frontline Su-30MKI fighter fleet by integrating the Russian-origin RVV-BD long-range air-to-air missile, a weapon capable of engaging aerial targets at distances of up to 300 kilometres. The proposal is currently under consideration by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) and is being viewed as a significant step toward strengthening the Indian Air Force's (IAF) long-range air combat capabilities. With more than 260 Su-30

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully conducted the drop trial of the indigenously developed Khagantak-243 Long Range Glide Bomb (LRGB), marking a significant achievement for India’s defence sector and military modernization efforts. The successful test demonstrates the growing capability of Indian industry to design and develop advanced precision-guided weapons that can enhance the operational effectiveness of the armed forces. The IAF described the trial as a major mi

Russia is offering India two of its most advanced systems: the S-500 Prometheus air-and-missile defence network and the Su-57 Felon fifth-generation fighter. The pitch followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek on 31 August and comes ahead of another meeting in New Delhi around the BRICS summit. India is strengthening air defence and combat aviation while expanding domestic programmes such as Project Kusha and the Advanced Medium

India has taken another important step in strengthening its defence manufacturing capabilities with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV), a partnership between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, to explore the co-production of Javelin anti-tank missiles in India. The agreement comes shortly after India finalised a deal with the United States to procure Javelin systems for the Indian Army. Under the new MoU,

India's drive towards defence self-reliance received a significant boost after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the transfer of technologies developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for all conventional missile systems to Indian defence companies. The decision will allow qualified domestic manufacturers to produce advanced missile systems within the country, strengthening India's indigenous defence ecosystem and enhancing its strategic capa

In a landmark development for India's defence industry, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has invited private Indian companies to become partners in the development and production of strategic missile and bomb weapon systems. The initiative marks a major shift in India's indigenous defence manufacturing policy, with the Astra Mk-2 air-to-air missile expected to be the first major project opened to private industry, followed by the Pralay tactical ballis

India has taken a further step to strengthen its domestic defence manufacturing base by notifying the sixth Positive Indigenisation List. The Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence has placed a phased ban on the import of 405 strategically important items. This decision is expected to create a domestic business opportunity valued at approximately ₹3,070 crore and forms part of the broader effort to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers while expanding o

More than a year after Operation Sindoor, the military confrontation between India and Pakistan continues to generate competing claims. A new documentary has now brought renewed attention to Pakistan’s portrayal of the conflict, particularly claims that it emerged victorious under Field Marshal Asim Munir. The documentary revisits the events of May 2025 and questions whether Pakistan’s post-conflict narrative reflects the broader military picture. While Islamabad has repeated

In the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on Indian soil, the country’s highest political and security leadership faced a familiar yet high-stakes challenge. Cross-border terrorism had once again claimed innocent lives, and the long-standing shadow of nuclear signalling from across the border raised questions about the limits of a conventional response. What followed was a carefully considered process of assessment and decision-making that reshaped India’s approach to dete

India has taken a major step towards modernising the Indian Air Force’s transport fleet by issuing a tender for 60 Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) in a programme estimated at nearly ₹1 lakh crore, or around $10 billion. The acquisition is intended to strengthen the IAF’s airlift capabilities and gradually replace its ageing Soviet-origin An-32 fleet, which has been a key part of India’s military logistics for decades. The programme is significant not only because of its scale

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to significantly enhance its ability to counter the growing threat posed by drones by equipping helicopters with artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled radar systems and lightweight micro-missiles. The initiative is aimed at converting helicopters into agile counter-drone platforms capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralising hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) before they can threaten military installations, troop formations, or s

The Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Gyanendra Pratap Singh, has assured personnel of the force's unwavering support while urging them to carry out their duties without fear. His remarks come amid the ongoing discussion over the alleged use of plastic pellet rounds during the recent anti-NEET paper leak protests in Delhi. Addressing officers and jawans during the CRPF Investiture Ceremony, Singh said personnel should never hesitate while performing

India's aerospace and defence manufacturing sector has received a significant boost with Bharat Forge signing a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with French aerospace company FLYING WHALES to jointly develop and manufacture heavy-lift airships in India. The agreement, signed during the Farnborough International Airshow, marks a major step towards expanding India's capabilities in advanced aviation technology while supporting the country's vision of becoming a globa

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has partnered with Amar Chitra Katha (ACK), India’s beloved publisher of illustrated stories, to bring the nation’s aerospace heritage to a new generation of readers. The forthcoming book celebrates HAL’s remarkable transformation from its early days of aircraft assembly to becoming a leader in designing and producing advanced indigenous fighters, most notably the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Mk1A. This collaboration seeks to present India’s