Two senior Indian Air Force instructors will train Royal Air Force fighter pilots in the UK, marking a unique military collaboration. Stationed at RAF Valley, they’ll instruct on the BAE Hawk T Mk2 jet trainer for three years starting post-October 2026, enhancing defense ties and interoperability between India and the UK.
India plans to invest INR 65,400 crore (USD 7.44 billion) in fighter aircraft engines, aiming for self-reliance in aerospace. By 2035, approximately 1,100 engines will be needed, reducing foreign dependence. Collaboration with international firms for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and an emphasis on domestic capabilities will support this initiative.
India is advancing towards replacing its MiG-21 fleet by launching the Tejas Mk1A, domestically developed Light Combat Aircraft, on October 17, 2025. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted India’s growing self-reliance in defense, targeting increased production and exports while incorporating private industry into the supply chain, enhancing capability and efficiency.
The Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard conducted their inaugural joint scuba diving expedition, “Forging Bonds Beneath the Waves,” from October 8, 2025, off Maharashtra’s Vijaydurg coast. The initiative, involving 20 divers, aimed to enhance cooperation, operational coordination, and marine conservation, showcasing the unity and teamwork between India’s air and maritime forces.
India’s Ministry of Defence has contracted Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to produce 97 Tejas Mk1A aircraft for USD 7 billion. The order includes 68 fighters and 29 trainers, with deliveries commencing in 2027-28. The aircraft will feature advanced indigenous systems and generate significant local employment, enhancing indigenisation in defence.
India has approved the acquisition of 97 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk1A fighter jets to enhance its defense capabilities under the Make in India initiative. Produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, these jets will replace the aging MiG-21 fleet, featuring advanced technology and over 65% indigenous content, boosting self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
On August 5, the Defence Acquisition Council of India approved proposals worth ₹67,000 crore to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force and bolster indigenous manufacturing. Key acquisitions include advanced night combat systems, unmanned maritime platforms, mountain radars, and Medium Altitude Long Endurance drones, targeting improved surveillance and strike capabilities.
French aeroengine company Safran has announced a new MRO facility for Rafale aircraft engines in Hyderabad, enhancing India’s aerospace capabilities. Set to support over 600 engine modules annually, it highlights the Indo-French defense collaboration, fostering self-reliance and generating 150 skilled jobs by 2040 for India’s defense sector.
By N. C. Bipindra In the wake of India’s Operation Sindoor against terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in May 2025, what stood out was the indigenous military systems that defended civilians and military infrastructures against Pakistani missiles, drones, and artillery fire. The effectiveness of Indian military […]
By A Correspondent Bengaluru (Karnataka): In a significant boost to India’s indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities, state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has received the first centre fuselage assembly for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A from Hyderabad-based VEM Technologies on May 30, 2025. India’s Secretary (Defence Production), Sanjeev […]
By John Spencer India’s transformation into a modern defence power began in 2014, when Prime Minister Modi launched the “Make in India” initiative. The goal was clear: reduce dependence on foreign arms imports and build a world-class domestic defence industry. The policy incentivised joint ventures, opened the defence […]
By N. C. Bipindra In a significant push to enhance indigenous defence capabilities and foster a robust domestic aerospace industrial ecosystem, India approved the execution model for its ambitious fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme on May 27, 2025. The decision comes just days after India’s indigenous […]
By An Indian Air Force Veteran As an Indian Air Force (IAF) veteran, one reflects with immense pride on the unprecedented and decisive role played by the IAF in compelling the Pakistani forces to seek a ceasefire a mere 90 hours after the initiation of full-scale offensive air […]
By A Correspondent New Delhi: India‘s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 12, 2025, warned Pakistan of a nuclear catastrophe, referencing the 1974 and 1998 Indian nuclear weapons tests, albeit in a veiled threat, by talking of Gautama Buddha‘s birth anniversary today and Shakti (Power) in the same […]
By N. C. Bipindra New Delhi: India, on May 10, 2025, accepted Pakistan‘s request for a ceasefire under Operation Sindoor following a United States backchannel diplomacy to stop military operations of the last four days. India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a statement, said the Director General of […]
