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Prior to 2022, the Indo-Russian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile had not secured a single international buyer. Fast forward to today, and the weapon system has evolved into a highly coveted asset on the global arms market. Following a landmark acquisition by the Philippines, Vietnam has quietly finalized a procurement agreement, while Indonesia is nearing the conclusion of its own deal. With nations like the United Arab Emirates expressing strong interest and even Russia exploring...

As India continues to fortify its multi-layered air defence network with the Russian-made S-400 Triumf and the indigenous Project Kusha (Extended Range Air Defence System), a unique tactical question frequently arises: could these surface-to-air systems be modified to strike ground targets during an emergency? While the short answer is technically yes, the reality is much more complex. Exploring this possibility reveals the intricate mechanics of modern air defence systems and highlights...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is currently working to manufacture the British MBDA Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) in India to serve as its primary close-combat weapon. This missile is set to become the standard choice for an expanding roster of fighter jets, including the indigenous Tejas Mk1A, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and the MiG-29UPG. While the ASRAAM offers unmatched within-visual-range combat capabilities, its premium price tag may encourage the IAF to look for a more...

As India pushes forward with its homegrown Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project, which targets a prototype flight by 2029, a vital strategic question is taking shape: how should the nation approach sixth-generation combat aviation? Recent developments highlight New Delhi's delicate balancing act between the UK-Italy-Japan Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and the French-led Future Combat Air System (FCAS). With China rapidly advancing its stealth fleets and testing...

Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh has strongly affirmed that traditional manned fighter jets will continue to play a vital role in modern combat, despite the rising prominence of autonomous systems. Addressing the India Defence Conclave hosted by BharatShakti in New Delhi, he rejected the idea that future aerial warfare will be entirely unmanned. He stressed that human presence—often referred to as having a "man in the loop"—remains essential for making complex...

The Indian Ocean Region has become a theatre of intense strategic rivalry, prompting India to rapidly scale up its maritime intelligence and monitoring capabilities. While advanced aerial assets like the MQ-9B SeaGuardian drone offer excellent high-altitude surveillance, they cannot single-handedly cover the entirety of this vast maritime expanse. Spanning from the Strait of Hormuz to the Malacca Strait, the sheer magnitude of the Indian Ocean requires affordable, persistent surveillance...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is grappling with a severe shortfall in its combat aircraft fleet, a challenge that cannot be resolved solely by purchasing new fighter jets. While the IAF is officially mandated to maintain 42 fighter squadrons to successfully manage potential two-front threats, the current strength has plummeted to an estimated 29 squadrons. This critical gap is widening as legacy Soviet-era aircraft, primarily the ageing MiG-21s, are steadily retired. Meanwhile, domestic...

Pakistan recently introduced a new long-range loitering munition, the D-248, officially unveiled by Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) at the Indus Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Expo 2026. According to the manufacturer, this "kamikaze drone" boasts an impressive operational range of up to 3,000 kilometers and can stay airborne for 12 to 14 hours. Because this range surpasses almost every conventional missile currently in Pakistan's arsenal, the announcement has sparked widespread...

In a significant development following a newly minted trilateral defence alliance, Turkish military transport planes have reportedly delivered hundreds of armed drones to a key Pakistani airbase. On August 18 and 19, 2026, a Turkish Air Force A400M transport aircraft completed multiple back-to-back trips from Istanbul to Pakistan's PAF Base Murid, a central hub for unmanned aerial operations. Open-source intelligence analysts claim these flights brought an estimated 850 Asisguard Songar...

The defence relationship between India and the Philippines is poised for a significant expansion, moving beyond the successful delivery of the BrahMos cruise missile to include advanced surface-to-air weaponry. According to recent reports, Manila is anticipated to finalize an estimated US$200 million agreement in 2026 for India's Akash 1S air-defence system. This potential procurement, heavily influenced by the successful execution of the previous BrahMos contract, would represent a major...

India and the United Kingdom are reportedly close to finalizing an expanded procurement agreement for the Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM), commonly known as the Martlet, manufactured by Thales Air Defence in Belfast. According to British officials who spoke to the Indian media, the updated contract is anticipated shortly. Once signed, this acquisition will position India as the second-biggest operator of the Martlet worldwide, trailing only Ukraine, which has received thousands of...

When discussing the historical delays in India’s Kaveri jet engine project, critics typically point to a lack of funding, changing military requirements, or design flaws. However, they rarely mention a critical missing element: the industrial furnace. The real hurdle in building a fully indigenous fighter engine has been a lack of advanced metallurgy, rather than just aerodynamics. The core of a jet turbine operates at temperatures exceeding 1,500°C, which would melt ordinary steel or...

India's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has granted private defence contractors an additional two months to submit their proposals for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project. Through a third corrigendum issued on August 27, 2026, the deadline for bid submissions has been extended from August 27 to October 30. Consequently, the bids will now be opened on October 31 instead of the previously scheduled date in August. ad The official tender, overseen by the Department of...

Indian intelligence networks have reportedly observed the presence of Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operated by Pakistan near the Line of Control (LoC). Security assessments indicate these advanced drones are currently being utilised to monitor Indian Army positions and gather critical border intelligence. This escalation occurs against a backdrop of ongoing friction between the two nations, highlighting a modern shift in military strategy where both countries...

India and the United Kingdom are on the verge of finalising an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to supply the Indian Army's tactical units with British Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs), according to recent reports. In October of the previous year, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK, the two nations revealed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a £350 million ($468 million) government-to-government contract. The weapon, also referred to as the Martlet—named...

The Indian Army has formalised a contract to purchase approximately 100 FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missiles from the United States. Valued at $93 million, the procurement was executed under the Foreign Military Sales programme via the emergency acquisition route, following initial clearance from the US State Department in November 2025. The comprehensive package equips the infantry with 100 missiles, 25 reusable command launch units (CLUs), one fly-to-buy round, simulation equipment...

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has launched a new initiative to develop a domestically manufactured Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) logistics drone. Powered by a heavy-fuel internal combustion engine, this unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is specifically being designed to sustain Indian Army troops stationed at extreme altitudes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. ad Delivering essential supplies to...

India is getting ready to test its domestically made 500-kg Precision-Guided Bomb (PGB-500) once again. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) will carry out these joint flight tests between September and October 2026. The heavy-duty weapon will be launched from a Su-30MKI fighter jet. According to recent reports, these crucial carriage and release trials are planned to take place at Air Force Station Jodhpur and the Chandan firing range...

During the Cold War, the Soviet-designed MiG-21 emerged as one of the world's most prominent supersonic fighter jets. However, India and China adopted fundamentally contrasting approaches to integrating this aircraft into their military fleets. While India chose to assemble the jet under official license through Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), China engineered the aircraft into its own long-lasting J-7 fighter series. This distinct Chinese effort ultimately laid the groundwork for its...

On August 7, 2026, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye officially enacted the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. This trilateral treaty features a mutual-defence clause declaring that an armed assault on any single member is viewed as an attack against all three. This bold language has sparked widespread speculation that a military conflict between India and Pakistan could automatically pull Riyadh and Ankara into a large-scale war. However, a deeper examination reveals that immediate...