India’s DRDO successfully tested the Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology, enhancing its air combat capabilities by enabling longer-range, powerful air-to-air missiles, marking a significant advancement in defense technology.
The Indian Air Force expects to receive five Tejas Mk1A Light Combat Aircraft by March 2026, with delays attributed to supply chain issues. HAL has overcome engine delivery challenges to meet this timeline.
The Indian Army has chosen Shield AI’s V-BAT unmanned aerial systems and Hivemind software for operations along its borders, enhancing military capabilities with autonomous technology for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
The Indian Navy and Bharat Electronics Limited developed the Advanced Autonomous Navigation & Control Software, enabling fully autonomous operations of warships, enhancing indigenous defense capabilities and supporting unmanned warfare at sea.
The Indian Army plans to create a ‘Rocket-cum-Missile’ Force to address strategic threats from China and Pakistan. Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi emphasizes modernization and integrated structures for enhanced combat capabilities.
India and France are advancing towards a significant deal for Rafale fighter jets to enhance the Indian Air Force, with a focus on local manufacturing under ‘Make in India’ initiatives.
India’s Defence Research & Development Laboratory achieved a breakthrough in hypersonic warfare with a successful scramjet combustor test, enhancing the country’s capabilities for Hypersonic Cruise Missiles and self-reliance in defense technology.
On November 28, 2025, the Indian Navy received Taragiri, the fourth Nilgiri-class frigate, as part of Project 17A, promoting self-reliance in shipbuilding. Designed for advanced combat capabilities, Taragiri reflects efficient construction practices, achieving shorter build times, and contributing to India’s defense industrial growth, creating numerous job opportunities.
Rosatom plans to develop a new nuclear power plant in India featuring VVER-1200 reactors, enhancing Indo-Russian nuclear cooperation. This move supports India’s goal of 100 GW nuclear capacity, promotes local manufacturing, and aligns with the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The introduction of Small Modular Reactors could revolutionize energy access and bolster clean energy efforts.
India’s naval modernization is advancing rapidly, with a new indigenous warship or submarine joining the fleet every 40 days. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi outlined plans for over 200 domestically built vessels by 2035, emphasizing self-reliance, strategic partnerships, and technological integration in defense manufacturing.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) plans to acquire a controlling stake in Sri Lanka’s Colombo Dockyard PLC for US$52.96 million, marking India’s first major international acquisition in maritime. This strategic move enhances India’s presence in the Indian Ocean, addresses financial challenges at Colombo Dockyard, and counters China’s influence in the region.
On June 26, 2025, the Indian Coast Guard launched ‘Adamya’, the first of eight Fast Patrol Vessels built by Goa Shipyard Limited. Equipped with advanced technologies like Controllable Pitch Propellers and a 30mm naval gun, Adamya enhances India’s maritime security and reflects the nation’s commitment to self-reliance in shipbuilding.
By N. C. Bipindra Stockholm/New Delhi: A new nuclear arms race is accelerating across the globe, with South Asia and East Asia emerging as major flashpoints, according to the SIPRI Yearbook 2025, released June 16, 2025, by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The report warns of rising […]
By A Correspondent Bengaluru (Karnataka): India will host Asia’s largest air show at the Yelahanka air base here beginning Feb. 10, 2025, and it has attracted over 900 aerospace and defence companies, including 150+ foreign and 750+ Indian firms, to showcase their military hardware to the world. India’s […]
Taking another step towards realising our collective vision of an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, India today approved the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for drones and drone components. The PLI scheme comes as a follow-through of the liberalised Drone Rules, 2021 released by the Narendra Modi government on Aug. 25, 2021. “The PLI scheme and […]
