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Russia has commenced a comprehensive modernisation programme for its flagship S-400 Triumf air defence system, integrating hard-won operational lessons from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These critical upgrades, focused on countering modern aerial threats such as suicide drones, cruise missiles, and electronic warfare, are expected to feature prominently in the remaining two S-400 regiments scheduled for delivery to India. Lessons from the Battlefield The conflict in Ukraine has served...

In a calculated move to secure undisputed beyond-visual-range (BVR) dominance, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is fast-tracking the acquisition of MBDA’s Meteor air-to-air missiles. This procurement drive is specifically aimed at equipping its future-ready fleet, comprising the second batch of Tejas Mk1A fighters, the upgraded Su-30MKI ‘Super Sukhoi’, and the next-generation Tejas Mk2. With operational requirements expected to surge dramatically over the coming half-decade, IAF planners are...

Following the successful conclusion of the landmark contract to supply 31 MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones to the Indian Tri-Services, US aerospace major General Atomics (GA) is now targeting India’s next major requirement in unmanned aviation: Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). According to sources familiar with the matter, General Atomics officials have expressed a strong interest in offering the Gambit-2, an advanced unmanned combat platform, to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The company is...

In a significant endorsement of India’s aerial dominance during May’s Operation Sindoor, a leading Russian military analyst has validated the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) record-breaking long-range interception of a Pakistani AWACS aircraft. Alexei Mikhailov Petrenko, a Moscow-based defence strategist, stated that the downing of the Saab 2000 Erieye at a distance of 314 kilometres by an S-400 'Triumf' battery is not only credible but consistent with the system's proven performance in the...

In a frank evaluation that may prompt serious discussions within the Indian military establishment, Jack Watling, a leading expert on land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), has advised India to urgently re-evaluate the combat resilience of the Russian S-400 air defence system. His comments come amidst growing evidence from the Ukraine conflict regarding the system's performance against modern, high-intensity aerial threats. Speaking to The Hindu, Watling, who has...

A Parliamentary committee has heavily criticised the state-run aerospace major, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), for significant delays in obtaining international civil aviation certifications for its helicopters. In a report tabled in Parliament on December 12, the Committee on Public Undertakings (CPU) highlighted that these delays have resulted in a financial loss of over ₹108 crore and severely impacted India’s ability to export indigenous rotary-wing aircraft. ad A Decade-Long...

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has officially launched a crucial phase in the development of India’s next-generation airborne surveillance capabilities. The Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), DRDO’s nodal laboratory for such complex systems, has released its first open tender for the Netra Mk2 Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS) programme. This tender invites Indian private aerospace companies to design and manufacture the "Metallic Hood"—the...

The high-altitude deserts of Ladakh have historically served as the ultimate testing ground for military equipment, where the combination of thin air and rugged landscapes quickly distinguishes effective machinery from the inadequate. During September and October 2024, the Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicle, manufactured by the U.S. firm General Dynamics Land Systems, underwent critical trials in this challenging environment under the supervision of the Indian Army. While the tests were...

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has significantly revised its delivery targets for the indigenous HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft for the current financial year. The state-owned aerospace major now expects to hand over only three aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by March 2026, a sharp reduction from the originally planned 12 units. The delay is primarily attributed to persistent supply chain bottlenecks affecting the delivery of TPE331-12B turboprop engines from the US manufacturer...

In a significant development that has reignited strategic debates across South Asia, the United States formally approved a $686 million sustainment package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet on 8 December 2025. The deal, notified to Congress by the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), is officially framed as a necessary measure to maintain the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) interoperability with US and allied forces. However, defence analysts in New Delhi view the package not merely as routine...

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is making rapid progress on the indigenous Virupaksha radar, a critical component of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) ‘Super-30’ modernisation programme. Designed to upgrade the formidable Su-30MKI fleet, this advanced sensor is being specifically tuned to detect stealth aircraft at long ranges, addressing the growing proliferation of fifth-generation fighters in the Asian region. ad Advanced Technology for Superior Detection The...

The development of India’s next-generation trainer aircraft, the Hindustan Lead-in Fighter Trainer-42 (HLFT-42), is gathering significant momentum. According to the latest reports, the programme is approaching a critical juncture, with the final design freeze anticipated to occur next year. This step will pave the way for the first prototype to be rolled out by 2031, establishing a new timeline for one of the country's most advanced aerospace projects. ad Bridging the Training Gap The...

The Indian Army is undertaking a major strategic shift in its air defence operations, repurposing its Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) to specifically counter the rising threat of sub-sonic cruise missiles. While these shoulder-fired missiles were originally designed to target helicopters and low-flying aircraft, military planners are now training ground crews to use them as an effective shield against cruise missiles that fly close to the ground to evade detection. Countering...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is advancing a critical procurement programme to acquire 12 new aerial refuelling aircraft, a move designed to significantly extend the operational range of its fighter fleet. While European aerospace leader Airbus has technically bested its rivals in two previous tanker competitions, it now faces a formidable strategic disadvantage. The emerging synergy between Boeing’s KC-46A Pegasus and a parallel proposal by a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Israel...

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...