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How German Facet Stealth on Indian Type 214 Subs Promises Ghost-Like Invisibility Against China-Pak ASW Hunters
In a definitive move to secure underwater supremacy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Indian Navy is set to acquire six advanced Type 214 diesel-electric submarines from Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). Cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in August 2025 under the ₹43,000-crore Project 75I (P-75I) programme, this acquisition represents a generational leap in sub-surface warfare. These vessels, to be constructed jointly with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited...
Indian Navy Seeks AoN for 11,000-Tonne P-18 Destroyers to Dominate Indian Ocean in 2040s
The Indian Navy is set to achieve a pivotal advancement in the modernisation of its surface fleet by officially initiating the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) process for its futuristic Next Generation Destroyers (NGD). Internally known as the Project-18 or P-18 class, these vessels represent a bold step towards securing maritime superiority in the coming decades. Vice Admiral Sanjay J. Vatsayan, the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, addressed the media during a recent naval commanders'...
MoD Engages Boston Consulting Group to Restructure HAL by March 2026 as Record Orders Strain Capacity
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has appointed the global management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to formulate a sweeping restructuring plan for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) by March 2026. This move comes as India’s premier aerospace major and newest Maharatna PSU struggles to manage an unprecedented order book of ₹2.52 lakh crore, which has severely strained its existing production infrastructure. According to defence sources, BCG was formally engaged in September...
BrahMos Pavilion at Dubai Airshow Overwhelmed as Op Sindoor Success Drives Tripled Export Inquiries
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has transcended its reputation as merely the fastest weapon in its class to become a symbol of uninterceptable precision. Following the decisive 'Operation Sindoor' in May 2025, where the missile system reportedly evaded China's most sophisticated export-grade air defence networks, the BrahMos Aerospace pavilion has emerged as the most frequented Indian exhibit at the Dubai Airshow 2025. According to senior representatives from BrahMos Aerospace, the...
How AMCA Jet's Superior Stealth and EW Capabilities Poised to Render Russian Su-57 ToT Offer Irrelevant for Indian Defence
Despite Moscow’s persistent offers of "deep technology transfer" to entice India back into the Su-57 Felon programme, defence experts and insiders are now firmly dismissing the proposal as outdated and strategically unnecessary. In exclusive interactions with defence analysts, it has become clear that the argument for the Su-57—that it would accelerate India’s own fifth-generation capabilities—no longer holds water. Experts assert that by the time any potential Su-57 deal could be...
India's Su-57 Stealth Ambitions Clash with Tejas Production Realities at HAL’s Overburdened Nashik Defence Facility
As discussions regarding Indo-Russian defence cooperation intensify, reports suggest that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) may repurpose a significant portion of its Nashik production line to manufacture the Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter. A recent technical assessment by a Russian delegation, presented to Indian officials, claims that HAL already has 50% of the necessary infrastructure to produce this fifth-generation jet. This proposal positions the Nashik facility, currently the hub...
CVRDE and Ashok Leyland’s 600 HP Engine Delivers Staggering 675 HP Output During High-Altitude Defence Trials
In a landmark achievement for India’s indigenous defence capabilities, the Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE) has reported a major breakthrough in propulsion technology. The Chennai-based DRDO laboratory confirmed that its jointly developed 600 HP high-power-density diesel engine successfully delivered a peak output of 675 HP during recent validation trials, surpassing its initial design specifications by a significant margin. ad Surpassing Expectations The...
Tejas Mk2 To Feature Swashplate "Uttam Mk2" AESA Radar With 100°+ Field Of View For Superior Dogfight Capabilities
The Indian Air Force’s future combat capabilities are set for a major technological leap as the Tejas Mk2 program integrates a significantly advanced radar system. The 4.5-generation multirole fighter will feature the "Uttam Mk2," an upgraded version of the indigenous Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. This new iteration incorporates a mechanical "swashplate" mechanism, a critical innovation that physically repositions the radar antenna. This allows for a field of view (FOV)...
How DRDO’s RAM Breakthrough Promises Stealthy Su-30MKI Fleet, Yet Implementation Delays Threaten Strategic Advantage
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is the undisputed backbone of the Indian Air Force (IAF), with a massive fleet of over 260 jets dedicated to air superiority and strike missions. This formidable platform is now set for a revolutionary transformation under the "Super Sukhoi" upgrade programme. The initiative centres on reducing the aircraft’s Radar Cross-Section (RCS) using indigenous radar-absorbent material (RAM) technology. Recent trials have shown that this upgrade could significantly lower the...
How IAF’s Diverse Procurement Wishlist Risks Creating a Logistical Nightmare While Battling Critical Squadron Strength Depletion
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is currently navigating one of the most precarious periods in its history. Grappling with a depleted combat strength that has fallen to approximately 31 squadrons—well below the sanctioned strength of 42 needed for a two-front war—the force finds itself at a strategic crossroads. In an attempt to reverse this decline, the IAF has drafted a procurement plan that resembles an ambitious, albeit disjointed, wishlist: additional Rafale jets for immediate impact, the...
Russia Courts India with Co-Development of Twin-Seater Su-57 at Dubai Airshow, Eyes to Revive FGFA Program
Amidst the advanced aerospace exhibitions at the Dubai Airshow 2025, Russia’s state-owned defence giant, Rostec, has made a significant strategic move in the international arms market. In a surprising proposal directed at New Delhi, Russian officials have offered to jointly develop a twin-seater version of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), based on the advanced Su-57 platform. This ambitious pitch expands upon Moscow’s existing offer of the export-oriented Su-57E and signals a...
How India's Aerospace Giants Forge Critical Engine Parts yet Remain Distant from Achieving True Self-Reliance
Prominent headlines have recently celebrated the entry of Indian manufacturing firms into the high-stakes arena of global commercial aviation. With Godrej Aerospace securing agreements with Pratt & Whitney for turbine components and Azad Engineering manufacturing essential parts for Rolls-Royce jet engines, the prevailing narrative suggests India is on the verge of becoming an aerospace superpower. These manufacturers are now producing sophisticated components that power the massive...
HAL Proposes Limited Pre-Certification Tejas Mk2 Production to Boost IAF Squadrons, Commits to 24 Jets/Year
In a decisive strategy to accelerate induction timelines and address the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) dwindling fighter strength, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has formally proposed the commencement of limited-series production for the Tejas Mk2 prior to the aircraft receiving its final operational certification. This ambitious proposal, revealed by senior industry officials, envisions HAL preparing three dedicated manufacturing lines to support a high-tempo production run immediately...
Russian Assessment Claims HAL Nashik Plant is Halfway Ready for Su-57 Production, But Engineers Remain Highly Skeptical
As diplomatic and defence engagements between India and Russia intensify ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s expected visit to New Delhi in December 2025, reports regarding the manufacture of the Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter have sparked considerable debate. A recent technical assessment provided by a Russian delegation from the Sukhoi Design Bureau suggests that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) already possesses approximately 50% of the necessary infrastructure to produce this...
Safran-GTRE Plans to Repurpose AMCA Prototype for 120kN Engine Trials, Fast-Tracking 5th-Gen Fighter Readiness by Years
In a significant move to accelerate India's ambition for a fully indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet, the French firm Safran S.A. and the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) are poised to sign a landmark joint venture agreement. This partnership will focus on the co-development of a high-power, 120-kilonewton (kN) class engine, which is the critical next step for the nation's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) MkII program. The collaboration, valued at approximately $7...
MDL Confident of P-75(I) Sub Pact with TKMS Before March 2026, Fulfilling Indian Navy’s Critical AIP-Enabled Hunter Needs
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), India’s foremost warship construction facility, has expressed strong confidence in securing a crucial multi-billion-euro deal for six advanced submarines under Project 75(I) before the current financial year concludes in March 2026. This optimism was shared by the company’s Chairman and Managing Director, Capt. Jagmohan, during an earnings conference call on October 28. Capt. Jagmohan stated that the contracts for both the advanced Project 75(I)...
IAF Accelerates Plans for Dedicated Electronic Warfare Aircraft, Su-30MKI and Tejas Mk2 Emerge as Frontrunners
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has intensified its efforts to develop a specialized electronic warfare (EW) aircraft designed to disrupt hostile electronic countermeasures and protect valuable strike formations. According to defence sources, this renewed initiative follows the shelving of previous proposals to modify Sukhoi-30MKI fighters into a "Desi Growler"—an indigenous equivalent to the U.S. Navy's EA-18G—which faced significant financial and logistical challenges. ad Currently, the IAF...
DRDO Developing 350km Range M3 Missile under Project Kusha to Counter 4 km/s IRBM and Stealth Intruders
India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is actively developing a new, highly advanced air defence system known as Project Kusha. This indigenous system is being engineered as a long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) network capable of countering a wide range of aerial threats. The primary goal of Project Kusha is to detect and destroy sophisticated targets, including stealth aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and particularly, Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles...
Safran-GTRE Engine to Match GE F414 Dimensions, Allowing Easy Retrofit for AMCA, Tejas Mk2 and TEDBF
French aerospace firm Safran Aircraft Engines has given assurances that its next-generation fighter engine, being co-developed with India's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), will be designed with the exact physical specifications as the American-made General Electric F414 engine. This strategic decision to match the engine's dimensions—including its length, diameter, and mounting interfaces—will create a "plug and play" powerplant. Such a design would allow the new engine to be...
How India's Colonial-Era "Buy, Not Build" Mindset Risks Strategic Reckoning Against China's Indigenous Modernisation
India's long-standing reliance on foreign military hardware is creating a significant strategic vulnerability, particularly as its primary regional rival, China, aggressively pursues indigenous modernisation. This "buy, not build" approach to defence procurement has been criticized for fostering dependency and failing to deliver platforms engineered to meet India's specific long-term security challenges. The most immediate consequence is visible in the Indian Air Force (IAF). As of late...
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