Featured News

The departure of Angela Merkel as German Chancellor in 2021 signaled a significant shift in Germany's defence export policies, paving the way for ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to re-emerge as a leading contender in India's ambitious P75I submarine project. Under Merkel's 16-year leadership, TKMS faced considerable hurdles in its pursuit of the Indian contract. Despite being a frontrunner, stringent export controls and demanding technology transfer requirements imposed by the Indian...

In a move likely prompted by India's growing arsenal of loitering suicide drones, China has upgraded its Type 15 light tanks with prominent anti-drone "cope cages." This development, first observed during a high-altitude combat exercise in the PLA's Western Theater Command on October 6, 2024, highlights the increasing importance of drone defence in modern warfare. ad The Type 15, designed for mountainous and jungle terrain like that found along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India, is...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is actively pursuing the development of anti-drone capabilities using its fleet of attack helicopters, including the Boeing AH-64 Apache and the indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand. This initiative comes in response to the growing threat of armed drones and remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs) in modern warfare, as evidenced by their prominent role in recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. ad Drones often evade traditional air...

The Indian Navy's highly anticipated decision on Project 75(I), a critical program to build six new submarines, is expected to be a key point of discussion during upcoming visits from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez later this month. Both countries are vying for this lucrative contract, adding a significant layer of strategic importance to their diplomatic visits. Chancellor Scholz, accompanied by a large delegation including Defence Minister Boris...

Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer of the Rafale fighter jet, is facing scrutiny over its upgrade programs, with experts raising concerns about high costs and protracted timelines. This comes in the wake of Dassault's recent statement that replacing the Rafale's current RBE2 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar with India's indigenous Uttam AESA could take up to eight years. ad This announcement has rekindled memories of the drawn-out Mirage-2000 upgrade program, which...

The Indian Army is significantly enhancing its anti-drone capabilities in response to the growing threat of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) on modern battlefields. A recent Request for Information (RFI) reveals the army's intent to acquire advanced High-Power Microwave (HPM) systems, a cutting-edge technology designed to neutralize small drones. This move comes as countries like Turkey, China, the UK, and Russia increasingly utilize small drones in military operations. ad HPM systems offer a...

NEW DELHI – In a major boost to its defence capabilities, India is set to acquire 31 MQ-9B Predator drones from U.S.-based General Atomics, following approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The deal, expected to be finalized by the end of 2024, will see the Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force receive these advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) between 2027 and 2030. ad The MQ-9B platform is renowned for its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities...

In a significant boost to India's indigenous defence manufacturing ambitions, France has pledged its support for the development of a powerful 110kN engine destined for the nation's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. This collaborative effort will see France provide crucial technical expertise and support in the complex process of designing and building the advanced engine, which is expected to significantly enhance the AMCA's long-range strike capabilities. ad The partnership...

India is poised to enter the elite club of nations capable of manufacturing indigenous fighter jet engines, a significant advancement for its defence industry. Currently, this complex technology is mastered only by the permanent members of the UN Security Council: China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US. As India seeks to develop a cutting-edge engine for its next-generation fighter jets, it is fielding offers from several global defence giants, including France's Safran, the UK's...

India's pursuit of self-reliance in defence technology is gaining momentum with the Tejas Mk2 fighter jet program. Prabhulla Chandran VK, director of avionics and weapons systems at the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), has revealed that the Tejas Mk2 is projected to achieve an impressive 90% indigenous content by the time it enters production in 2031. ad This ambitious goal will be achieved in stages. The first Tejas Mk2 prototype, slated to take flight in 2026, will already feature...

In a significant move to bolster its naval capabilities and counter China's growing presence in the Indo-Pacific, India has approved the construction of two indigenously designed nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs). This decision, made by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marks a major step forward in India's quest for strategic deterrence. ad The project, estimated to cost Rs 45,000 crore, will see the submarines built at the Ship...

In a significant move to enhance its military prowess, India has approved the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones from US-based General Atomics. The deal, worth an estimated $3 billion, was greenlit by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. This acquisition marks a major step in bolstering India's defence capabilities and deterring potential adversaries in the region. ad The Predator drones, armed with Hellfire missiles, GBU-39B...

The Indian Navy's ambitious Project 75 India (P-75(I)) to acquire six advanced diesel-electric submarines with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) has hit a snag. Both leading contenders, Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and Spain's Navantia, have failed to fully meet the Navy's stringent requirements for AIP technology during field evaluation trials, according to sources within the defence establishment. ad The AIP system, which allows submarines to operate submerged for extended...

In a surprising turn of events, Russia has expressed renewed interest in collaborating with India on its ambitious Project 75I submarine program. Igor V. Vilnit, CEO of Rubin Design Bureau, the Russian submarine design firm, recently stated their willingness to partner with Indian industry and the Navy, aligning with India's "Make in India" and "Self-Reliant India" initiatives. This announcement comes after Russia withdrew from the Project 75I tender in 2022. At the time, Russian officials...

In a significant leap forward for India's indigenous fighter jet program, Optics and Allied Engineering Pvt. Ltd. (Optica), based in Bangalore, has revealed a cutting-edge Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) housed in a single sapphire casing, designed for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). This development brings the AMCA closer to achieving true fifth-generation fighter capabilities and puts it on par with global counterparts. ad The EOTS is a lightweight, multi-functional...

India is poised to significantly bolster its naval aviation capabilities with the acquisition of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets from France. While the final price tag remains undisclosed, sources indicate a potential cost of $161 million (€146 million) per jet, marking a substantial increase from the $101 million (€91.7 million) paid for Rafale jets acquired by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2016. This price difference is largely attributed to inflation adjustments over the past eight years. ad...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has expressed reservations about the military utility of the proposed HAL/NAL Regional Transport Aircraft-90 (RTA-90), a civilian aircraft intended for the UDAN program connecting smaller Indian cities. While the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is considering approving the project, the IAF is concerned about the aircraft's limited cargo capacity and suitability for military operations. ad A senior IAF officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, highlighted the...

Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), a subsidiary of India's Tata Group, is establishing a new manufacturing facility in Casablanca, Morocco, to produce the WhAP 8×8 armored vehicle. This facility, with an annual production capacity of 100 units, is poised to become a key export hub for Tata, serving other African markets with the "Made in Morocco" WhAP 8×8. ad Morocco has already placed orders for 150 WhAP 8×8 vehicles, demonstrating its confidence in the platform's capabilities. This...

In a historic display of naval cooperation, the Indian Navy and the Italian Navy conducted their first-ever joint Carrier Strike Group (CSG) exercise last week. This landmark event saw the INS Vikramaditya, India's flagship aircraft carrier, sail alongside the ITS Cavour, Italy's newest carrier, in a series of complex maneuvers and drills. ad The exercise, which took place off India's west coast, marked a significant step in strengthening bilateral maritime ties between the two nations. A...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) eyeing to extend service life of its aging MiG-21 Bison fighter jets due to ongoing delays in the delivery of Tejas Mk1A aircraft. The delays stem from a shortage of F-404 engines supplied by GE Aerospace, a critical component of the domestically produced Tejas Mk1A. This decision comes as a setback to the IAF's modernization plans, which heavily relied on the timely induction of the Tejas Mk1A to replace the MiG-21 Bisons. Originally slated for complete...