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Following closely on the heels of its proposal to supply the upgraded Lancet-E loitering munition, Moscow has reportedly presented India with a significantly more advanced option: the Geran-3. This long-range, turbojet-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is said to be in full-scale production, offering a strategic strike capability that far exceeds earlier models. ad A Quantum Leap in Performance The Geran-3 represents a major departure from previous designs, moving away from simple...

In a scathing The Print column published on 10 December 2025, Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd), the former Chief of Naval Staff and a distinguished strategic thinker, has delivered a stark indictment of India’s aviation establishment. His assessment is grim: despite ambitious rhetoric surrounding the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and the Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), both programmes remain effectively grounded. The cause is not a lack of funding or desire...

The narrative surrounding the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Su-30MKI fleet has long been dominated by debates over delayed modernisation. With squadron strength falling and timelines for the Rafale and Tejas Mk2 stretching further into the future, critics have often pointed to a "lost decade" in upgrading India’s frontline fighter. However, defence analysts now argue that this delay has inadvertently created a unique strategic opening: the chance to launch a "Super Sukhoi" program that mirrors...

Despite facing initial delays in delivering the first batch of Tejas Mk1A fighter jets, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has expressed strong confidence that the Indian Air Force (IAF) will eventually expand its procurement beyond the currently planned 180 units. This potential increase is driven by the urgent need to maintain combat squadron strength as the IAF retires its ageing fleets of MiG-21s and Jaguars over the coming decade. ad A Growing Requirement Beyond 180 Jets The IAF has...

India’s roadmap for its fifth-generation fighter jet faces a significant realignment, with new projections indicating that the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Mk2 may not enter service before 2040. This potential delay stems from revised timelines for the indigenous 120 kN engine programme, a critical joint venture between France’s Safran and India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE). While the collaboration remains strategically vital for India's self-reliance in defence...

In a significant development for India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing, Adani Defence & Aerospace is preparing to hand over the first batch of domestically manufactured Negev NG-7 light machine guns (LMGs) to the Indian Army. Through PLR Systems—its joint venture with Israel Weapon Industries (IWI)—the company is scheduled to commence deliveries in the first quarter of 2026. ad A Milestone in Private Sector Defence Production This upcoming handover marks the initiation of a major...

In a recent assessment of the conflict earlier this year, veteran journalist and Moscow-based strategic analyst John Helmer has emphasised the decisive role played by India’s integrated missile capabilities. Helmer asserts that the operational synergy between the S-400 Triumf air defence system and the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile during 'Operation Sindoor' in May 2025 was instrumental in securing a favourable outcome for India against Pakistan. Unprecedented Air Dominance According...

A significant transformation is currently underway in the strategic military partnership between India and Israel. Moving away from the traditional dynamic where India served primarily as a purchaser of Israeli hardware, Tel Aviv is now preparing to funnel substantial direct investments into India’s defence manufacturing sector. Senior diplomats and officials from both nations have indicated that this shift is designed to integrate Israeli innovation with India’s industrial scale...

In a significant move that could redefine the future of aerial warfare, the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has invited Indian private companies and start-ups to collaborate on the development of quantum-based avionic sensors. These advanced technologies are considered the essential core of sixth-generation combat aircraft. From Science Fiction to Strategic Reality Quantum avionics represents a major technological leap beyond current...

Following the decisive performance of the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) system during the recent Operation Sindoor, India and Israel have moved to fast-track a comprehensive enhancement package for the weapon platform. Sources confirm that officials from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are now in advanced talks to implement the next generation of capabilities for the system, also known as Barak-8. The MR-SAM...

In a strategic move designed to secure the operational readiness of the Indian Navy, the Russian Federation has formally proposed the establishment of a local production line in India for the M-90FR marine gas turbine engine. The offer, reportedly tabled during high-level discussions amidst President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to New Delhi, aims to provide a permanent solution to the supply chain crisis affecting India’s frontline warships due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. ad...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has taken a decisive step towards enhancing its strategic reach and operational endurance by issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for six flight refuelling aircraft (FRA). In a significant shift from previous procurement attempts, the IAF has specified that these six tankers will be converted from pre-owned commercial passenger jets, prioritising domestic industrial participation and cost-efficiency. ad HAL and IAI Emerge as Frontrunners According to defence...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has definitively ruled out any reduction in its planned procurement of the indigenous Project Kusha air defence system, ending speculation that a potential follow-on order for Russian S-400 regiments might impact the domestic programme. Speaking to Aero India Features, senior IAF officials confirmed that all ten sanctioned squadrons of the long-range system will be inducted as originally planned. No Compromise on Indigenous Capability Recent reports following...

The Indian Navy is poised to achieve a historic strategic milestone by late 2026: the capability to maintain Continuous At-Sea Deterrence (CASD). Senior naval officials have indicated that the induction of the fourth Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), currently designated as 'S4 Star' (S4*), will allow India to keep at least one nuclear-armed submarine on patrol at all times. This development is widely viewed as a pivotal step in maturing India’s nuclear...

In a strategic push to enhance its deep-strike capabilities, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is reportedly urging European missile manufacturer MBDA to adapt the SCALP-EG air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) for its Russian-origin fighter fleet. Currently exclusive to the French-made Dassault Rafale within the IAF inventory, the subsonic stealth missile is now being considered for integration onto the Su-30MKI and MiG-29, as well as the forthcoming indigenous Tejas Mk2. This initiative comes as...

In a landmark development for India’s strategic autonomy, the Pralay tactical quasi-ballistic missile system is set to be equipped with INDIGIS—a fully indigenous Geographic Information System (GIS). Developed originally by the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), a laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), this integration marks a decisive step toward complete indigenisation of one of India’s most potent conventional strike assets. ad...

In a significant development for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) upcoming medium-lift transport capability, Russia has aggressively re-entered the competition for the Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme. Officials from Aviastar-SP, a subsidiary of the Ilyushin Aviation Complex, have confirmed that the long-delayed Il-276 (SVTS) is nearing serial production, marking a determined effort to reclaim its position in a project that was once a joint Indo-Russian venture. ad Resurrecting a...

The Indian Army is currently assessing a proposal to significantly upgrade its fleet of Kalyani M4 armoured vehicles, transforming the infantry carriers into specialised mobile units capable of countering aerial threats. This initiative aims to equip the high-mobility, mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles with automated systems to detect, track, and destroy hostile drones, specifically along high-altitude borders and forward areas. ad Strategic Shift for Northern Command...

India’s roadmap for hypersonic weaponry is gaining significant momentum, with the much-anticipated BrahMos-II missile now scheduled for its maiden flight test in the 2027–28 timeframe. According to a recent report by WION, this development represents a watershed moment in the nation's missile history, placing India within an elite tier of countries striving for reliable and repeatable hypersonic strike capabilities. Preliminary indicators suggest that BrahMos-II will not merely be an...

In a significant geopolitical pivot, Turkey appears poised to divest itself of its Russian-made S-400 air defence batteries to secure readmission into the American-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Recent reports indicate that negotiations have accelerated, with officials suggesting a resolution to the long-standing dispute could be reached within months. The diplomatic standoff, which began in 2019 when Ankara was expelled from the F-35 consortium following its purchase of the S-400...