A landmark agreement for the co-production of advanced F-414 jet engines in India, a cornerstone of the nation's military modernisation, is facing significant delays, with the final deal now expected to be signed by March 2026.
This revised timeline was confirmed by DK Sunil, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), more than two years after a preliminary Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with US-based GE Aerospace in June 2023.
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India's ambitious plan to develop an indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) is encountering serious delays, casting significant doubt on its initial goal of a first flight by 2026.
The program, crucial for the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier capabilities, is bogged down by stalled design reviews and uncertainty over funding, potentially forcing the Navy to rely on its aging fleet of MiG-29K jets well into the next decade.
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The TEDBF is envisioned as a cutting-edge, 5-minus...
An ambitious Indian Air Force (IAF) plan to lease a fleet of Russian-made Tupolev Tu-160M "White Swan" strategic bombers is confronting significant obstacles, casting serious doubt on the future of a deal that would dramatically enhance India's long-range strike capabilities.
The proposed agreement faces headwinds from the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has strained Russia's defence production, and a complex geopolitical environment.
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The proposal involved the lease of six to eight newly...
In a major advancement for India's indigenous defence capabilities, two separate High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) drone programs are being fast-tracked with formal endorsement from the Indian Army and Air Force.
State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) are leading parallel projects to develop turbojet and turboprop-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), respectively.
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These initiatives are designed to meet distinct...
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has initiated a major programme to extend the service life of its rugged Antonov An-32 transport fleet until at least 2040.
This life-extension will be achieved through a comprehensive overhaul conducted within India, marking a significant step in the nation's push for self-reliance in defence maintenance.
The project will see IAF’s Base Repair Depots collaborating with private Indian companies to modernise at least 60 aircraft.
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The An-32, a Soviet-era...
An unconfirmed strategic proposal from India to supply Greece with its advanced Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LR-LACM) has ignited speculation across the Aegean.
According to Greek media reports, the offer could provide Athens with a formidable weapon capable of neutralizing high-value targets, including Turkey's sophisticated S-400 air defence system, potentially shifting the regional balance of power.
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The discussions, reportedly initiated during the DEFEA 2025 defence...
In a significant move that underscores the enduring strategic partnership between Moscow and New Delhi, Russia has reportedly offered India the opportunity to lease a second Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN).
This proposal comes as India works to modernise its underwater fleet and project power across the Indo-Pacific region, reaffirming deep-rooted trust in bilateral defence technology collaboration.
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The offer is for a vessel in addition to the Akula-class submarine...
In a major boost to India's combat aviation capabilities, the indigenous Astra Mk1 Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) is scheduled to begin captive trials on the Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale fighter jets by the end of 2025.
Live firing tests of the advanced missile are anticipated to take place in 2026.
This critical integration project is being jointly executed by French aerospace firm Dassault Aviation and India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
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The...
In a significant advancement for India's indigenous military aviation, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is redesigning the internal weapons bay of the upcoming Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Mk2.
The primary goal of this optimisation is to enable the fifth-generation fighter to carry up to six Astra Mk2 air-to-air missiles internally, substantially boosting its firepower while preserving its crucial stealth characteristics.
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The AMCA is a cornerstone of India's future air...
India is taking significant strides to modernise its nuclear triad, the three-pronged capability to launch nuclear weapons from land, sea, and air that forms the bedrock of its strategic defence.
While the sea and land-based legs of this triad are being fortified with advanced submarines and missiles, the air component, managed by the Indian Air Force (IAF), faces a growing capability gap, raising concerns about its effectiveness in a high-threat environment.
The principle of a nuclear...
A high-stakes competition has erupted among five major states—Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana—to become the manufacturing hub for India's prestigious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
As the nation pushes forward with this ambitious fifth-generation stealth fighter program, state governments are rolling out attractive incentives, including land, tax breaks, and access to a skilled talent pool, to secure a project that promises decades of economic...
India's long-standing ambition to develop a homegrown jet engine is approaching a significant milestone. The Kaveri Derivative Engine (KDE), a specialised power plant for unmanned aircraft, is scheduled to commence its final in-flight testing phase in Russia by late 2025.
Officials from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have indicated that the successful completion of these tests will lead to the engine's certification by 2026, a critical step for its integration into...
The potential acquisition of Chinese J-35A fifth-generation stealth fighters by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is compelling a significant shift in Indian military strategy, according to defence analysts.
Experts suggest that to counter the advanced threat, the Indian Air Force (IAF) must prioritise preemptive strikes on Pakistani airbases before terrorist infrastructure to cripple the PAF fleet before it can be deployed in any counterstrikes.
This emerging doctrine is heavily influenced by...
India is making rapid advancements in next-generation warfare technology with an ambitious programme to develop a dozen distinct hypersonic missile systems.
Led by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), this major initiative is set to establish a formidable hypersonic triad, enabling the armed forces to launch these ultra-high-speed weapons from land, air, and sea by the end of the decade.
This strategic push, featuring efforts like the secretive 'Project Vishnu', aims...
India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully developed the nation's first Photonic Radar, a groundbreaking technology that uses light to detect and track targets with exceptional precision.
This major advancement promises to significantly enhance India's air defence capabilities, offering the potential to identify even the most advanced stealth aircraft and drones that are designed to be invisible to conventional systems.
The new system, developed as part...
The head of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has provided a significant clarification on the future of the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet program, dismissing recent reports that all units of current order would be fitted with Israeli-made radars.
In a recent media interview, Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Chairman of DRDO, addressed the speculation surrounding the choice of radar for the advanced indigenous aircraft.
He confirmed that while initial batches will use a foreign...
The combat effectiveness of Pakistan's premier Chinese-made HQ-9B air defence system has been critically undermined following its comprehensive failure to counter a series of Indian air strikes in early May.
The system, long promoted by Beijing as a direct competitor to Russia's formidable S-400 Triumf, was unable to intercept any Indian missiles or drones during the recent "Operation Sindoor," exposing significant technological and operational vulnerabilities.
The operation, which took...
According to sources, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has established a clear position that it will not compromise the operational deployment of its Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defence system as a prerequisite for any potential acquisition of the American F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet.
This stance refutes speculative reports suggesting that India might accept operational limits on its strategic assets to gain access to the fifth-generation aircraft.
Amidst a complex geopolitical...
India's advanced indigenous fighter jet, the Tejas Mk2, is set for its first flight in the first quarter of 2026 (April to July 2026), according to Dr. Samir V. Kamat, the head of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
This confirmation aligns the programme's key milestones, following a statement from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) that the aircraft's assembly would be completed and rolled out by March 2026.
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The Tejas Mk2 is being developed as a significantly more...
A top Indian defence official has called for the accelerated development of India's indigenous long-range air defence and anti-stealth radar systems to counter the growing threat from advanced fifth-generation fighter jets, such as China’s J-20, deployed along the border.
Speaking at a defence conclave on June 28, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, stressed the strategic necessity of enhancing India's air defence shield.
He warned that the ability to detect and...
