The Indian Air Force (IAF) is preparing for a significant capability boost for its Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets through the 'Super-30 Program'. This initiative aims to upgrade 84 of these frontline aircraft beginning in 2026.
Central to the upgrade is the installation of the domestically developed Virupaksha Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which uses advanced Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, along with a state-of-the-art digital cockpit.
This program highlights India's...
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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is conceptualizing a major advancement in its aerial warfare capabilities with plans for a future supersonic Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV).
This forward-looking project aims for an aircraft capable of sustained supersonic flight (supercruise) and carrying a substantial internal weapons load of up to 4 tons, according to informed sources.
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This long-term vision complements the IAF's more immediate focus on the Ghatak UCAV program. The Ghatak, currently...
The Indian Air Force (IAF), responsible for safeguarding some of the world's most complex airspace, is confronting significant challenges stemming from its highly diverse fleet of fighter jets.
Operating seven different aircraft types sourced from Russia, France, the UK, and India – including MiG-21s, Su-30MKIs, Mirage 2000s, and Rafales – has created substantial logistical hurdles.
This variety, a result of decades of varied procurement strategies, impacts maintenance, training, and...
Uralvagonzavod (UVZ), a key Russian tank producer operating under the state-owned Rostec corporation, has revealed a significantly altered version of its T-90 main battle tank.
Developed using insights gained from recent combat experiences, including the conflict in Ukraine, this new variant represents a major design evolution by removing the rotating turret, a standard feature on Soviet and Russian tanks since the T-64 model.
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According to statements from UVZ, the necessity for future...
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has formally decided to modernize its current fleet of Kfir fighter aircraft through a US$49 million agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
This strategic choice involves upgrading five existing jets (models C2, C7, and TC2) and means the rejection of proposals for new aircraft, specifically India's Tejas Mk1A and the Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder.
The overhaul aims to bring the selected Kfirs close to the advanced 'Block 60' standard, featuring...
The Indian Navy's plan to acquire 26 Rafale-M fighter jets has moved forward significantly with approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). This decision aims to enhance the Navy's aircraft carrier capabilities.
However, industry experts anticipate that the first of these French-made jets will not arrive before late 2030, even if the purchase agreement is signed in the coming months. Production limitations and existing orders at Dassault Aviation in France mean the Navy faces a...
Recent reports circulating on Pakistani defence-focused YouTube channels suggest a significant development in Sino-Pakistani military relations. These sources claim that during a recent meeting in Beijing, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun assured Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar, that Pakistan could potentially receive China's highly secretive sixth-generation fighter jets by the year 2030.
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This purported assurance, if verified, would represent a major...
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is actively developing an innovative operational strategy called the "Wolf Pack" to enhance its air combat capabilities. This forward-thinking approach combines advanced technology with new tactics, creating a connected battlefield system.
The concept centres around advanced manned fighter jets, termed the "Wolf," leading a coordinated group—the "Pack"—comprising various manned and unmanned aircraft, helicopters, and advanced munitions.
Still under development as...
A Japanese strategic analysis group has proposed a significant strengthening of defence ties between India and Japan, suggesting the joint development of a tactical strike system with a range of 2,000 to 3,000 kilometres.
This initiative, outlined in a recent report, aims to create a "shared deterrence" capability designed to counter China's increasing military power and influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
The report notes that while the United States possesses long-range strike options...
Producing Russia's advanced Su-57E stealth fighter jet at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) Nashik facility could require remarkably little new investment, according to a senior official from Rostec, Russia's state-owned defence and technology corporation.
The official stated that the existing infrastructure used for manufacturing Su-30MKI aircraft means only 20-30% new tooling would be necessary to adapt the plant for the fifth-generation fighter.
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This potential efficiency stems...
India is intensifying efforts to acquire a new fleet of specialized surveillance aircraft, signalling a significant move to upgrade its airborne intelligence gathering and electronic warfare capabilities.
According to reports dated March 21, 2025, Indian authorities have entered discussions with major international defence firms, positioning US-based L3Harris Technologies and France's Thales as leading contenders to supply advanced systems for these future platforms.
This initiative...
New photographs offering the most detailed view so far of China's next-generation fighter jet have generated significant interest among aviation observers and defence analysts. The aircraft, developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) and provisionally named J-50 "Shengad" by watchers, represents a major step in China's military aviation capabilities.
Seen undergoing flight tests near Shenyang in late 2024, this advanced aircraft showcases features expected of a sixth-generation...
The Indian Navy is preparing to significantly enhance its strategic capabilities with the planned induction of INS Aridhaman, the nation's third nuclear-powered submarine capable of launching ballistic missiles (SSBN), expected later this year.
As an improved version within the Arihant-class series, following INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, INS Aridhaman is set to strengthen India's sea-based nuclear deterrent power. This addition is a vital element of India's overall strategic defence...
India is preparing for a major expansion of its space-based military capabilities with plans to launch 52 satellites specifically designed for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
This ambitious initiative was announced by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan at the recent Indian DefSpace Symposium in New Delhi. The event, organized by the Indian Space Association (ISpA), gathered experts from the armed forces, the space industry, and government to...
India has formally expressed its desire to participate in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a significant international effort by Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy to develop a next-generation fighter aircraft.
According to reports citing diplomatic sources in both Japan and India, the Indian government has approached Japan to discuss joining the ambitious project, which aims to deploy an advanced stealth fighter jet by 2035. The GCAP initiative, established in December 2022...
The Indian Army's aviation modernization plans are currently navigating significant hurdles. Delays in receiving the first American-made Apache AH-64E attack helicopters coincide with stalled progress on the indigenous Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) program, which awaits final government approval.
Amidst these challenges, the domestically developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand is emerging as a key focus for India's high-altitude combat aviation needs.
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Delivery of the six...
A new conceptual design is sparking discussion about India's indigenous aerospace capabilities. Kuntal Biswas, a prominent Indian 3D military system and defence animation specialist, has unveiled a rendering of a twin-engine variant of the Tejas Mk2 fighter jet.
This visionary concept imagines the aircraft powered by two indigenous Kaveri engines, each potentially delivering 75kN of thrust, placing its projected performance in a similar category to established international fighters like...
India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) highlighted its advanced military technology at the LAAD Defence and Security Expo in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, held from April 1st to 4th, 2025.
A key exhibit was the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8, signalling India's strategic intent to enter the competitive Latin American market for armoured vehicles.
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This strategic presentation in Brazil follows a major achievement in India's defence export history: securing substantial...
India is nearing a significant defence agreement with the Philippines for the supply of the indigenous Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system, expected to be finalised within 2025.
This potential deal, estimated to be worth over $200 million, would represent India's second major defence export to the Philippines, building upon the $375 million contract for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system signed in 2022.
Although it is not yet confirmed whether the Philippine Army or the...
A retired senior officer of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has asserted that Pakistan is on track to achieve air power superiority over the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the next decade to decade-and-a-half.
Writing in The Express Tribune on April 7, 2025, Air Commodore (Retd) Zahid Ul Hassan stated that the PAF's focus on integrating advanced 5th generation aircraft contrasts sharply with the IAF's ongoing struggle between developing indigenous technology and purchasing aircraft from foreign...
