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India's program to develop a domestically-built fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), has seen a major shift in its private-sector partnerships. Mahindra Defence Systems, a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra, is no longer in the running to participate in the aircraft's production, leaving Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) as the primary contenders. ad The AMCA program represents a departure from India's traditional...

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF), has expressed serious doubts regarding recent Chinese claims of having flown a sixth-generation fighter jet. Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2025, the Air Chief Marshal emphasized that simply achieving flight with a new airframe is insufficient to categorize an aircraft as a true sixth-generation fighter. ad Earlier this year, reports originating from Chinese state media outlets and aviation publications...

Despite India's rapidly growing aviation market and strong government pressure, aerospace giants Airbus and Boeing are showing significant reluctance to establish Final Assembly Lines (FALs) within the country. This hesitancy is reportedly rooted in a desire to protect their existing manufacturing bases and, crucially, to avoid fostering a potential Indian competitor, mirroring their experience with China's COMAC. ad India is projected to require nearly 2,000 new aircraft over the next two...

LAT Aerospace, a startup backed by Zomato founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal, is entering the Indian aviation market with plans to develop affordable, 24-seater Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft. This move positions the company as a direct competitor to established public sector projects, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) Hindustan 228 and the National Aerospace Laboratories' (NAL) Saras MkII. ad Goyal has invested $20 million in LAT Aerospace, signaling a significant...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is exploring ways to speed up the development of its ambitious fifth-generation fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), by potentially leveraging the expertise of the winner of a separate, large-scale fighter jet procurement. This was indicated by Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, at the India Today Conclave held at the Taj Palace in New Delhi on March 7-8, 2025. Air Chief Marshal Singh suggested that the company winning the...

Facing increasing tensions along the Sino-Indian border, the Indian Army is urgently seeking to modernize its surveillance capabilities with new, high-performance, domestically-produced drones. The Army has issued a strong call to action to both India's public and private defense sectors to rapidly develop and deliver advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of operating in the challenging Himalayan environment. ad The Army's existing fleet of UAVs, primarily consisting of...

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is undergoing a significant strategic shift, moving away from its long-standing reliance on single-engine fighter aircraft and embracing twin-engine, 5th-generation platforms. This change is primarily driven by Pakistan's perceived need to counter India's growing air power, particularly the Indian Air Force's (IAF) acquisition of Rafale and Su-30MKI fighters, and the future induction of the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). ad For decades, the...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) was correct in its decision to not pursue a variant of the Navy's Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) program, according to prominent defence analysts. The TEDBF, a 4.5++ generation fighter intended for aircraft carrier operations, has faced significant developmental delays, making it unsuitable for the IAF's modernization plans, which are now focused on the Tejas Mk2 and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). ad The TEDBF program, managed by the...

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF), recently described the successful defensive maneuvers of the IAF's Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets during a heightened military standoff with Pakistan in 2019. Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Air Chief Marshal Singh detailed how two Su-30MKIs protected crucial Indian assets from a potential attack by Pakistani F-16 fighter jets equipped with advanced AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile)...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking to significantly enhance the firepower of its domestically-produced Tejas fighter jets. Negotiations are underway with the European missile manufacturer MBDA to equip the Tejas Mk1A and the future Tejas MkII with the advanced Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM). ad Currently, the Meteor missile is only deployed on the 36 Rafale fighter jets India purchased from France, and will also be integrated onto the 26 Rafale M aircraft slated...

India's largest private-sector defence manufacturer, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), has indicated a strong interest in helping to resolve the Indian Air Force's (IAF) urgent need for new fighter jets. J.D. Patil, head of aerospace and defence at L&T, recently suggested the company is exploring the possibility of creating a production line for domestically-built fighter aircraft. While Patil did not disclose which specific aircraft L&T might produce, the statement reflects the increasing pressure...

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, a fifth-generation fighter jet, has been considered as a potential addition to the Indian Air Force (IAF). However, concerns have been raised in India about a supposed "kill switch" – a mechanism that would purportedly allow the United States to remotely disable the aircraft. While this idea has gained some traction, it lacks a factual basis. This article examines the systems often associated with this concern and clarifies the actual nature of U.S...

The Indian Navy is actively exploring options to acquire deck-based Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft for its future aircraft carriers. This initiative is part of the Navy's broader modernization effort, Vision 2047, designed to enhance its operational capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in light of China's growing naval presence. The addition of the AWACS will provide a all round radar surveilance system. ad Currently, the Indian Navy's operational...

India's defence capabilities are set to receive a substantial upgrade through a new partnership between Belgium's John Cockerill Defence (JCD) and India's Electro Pneumatics and Hydraulics (EPH). The collaboration will focus on producing advanced turret systems within India for the Indian Army's "Zorawar" light tank program, a project designed to enhance India's military presence along its borders. ad The joint venture, with JCD holding a 60% majority stake and EPH 40%, is in line with the...

A new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reveals a substantial increase in Pakistan's arms imports, which rose by 61% between the periods of 2015-2019 and 2020-2024. The report highlights China's increasing dominance as Pakistan's main arms supplier, providing 81% of the country's total arms imports during the most recent period. ad The significant rise in Pakistan's arms acquisitions coincides with the nation's ongoing efforts to upgrade its military...

Reportedly, a high-level committee within India's Ministry of Defence has approved a recommendation from the Indian Air Force (IAF) to potentially broaden the scope of the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender to include 5th-generation fighter jets. This significant development, confirmed by sources, opens the door for the first time to potential offers of 5th-generation platforms within the MRFA framework, which calls for 110 aircraft with provisions for technology transfer (ToT) and...

French aerospace company Dassault Aviation is considering setting up a final assembly line (FAL) for its Rafale fighter jets in India, a move that could significantly impact India's defense manufacturing capabilities. This development, initially reported by the French publication L'Usine Nouvelle, comes in response to growing international demand for the Rafale and anticipated large-scale orders from India. ad Dassault Aviation's CEO, Éric Trappier, indicated that the potential assembly...

The Indian Navy is preparing to modernize its submarine fleet, planning to gradually retire its Shishumar-class submarines starting around 2033. This transition will coincide with the introduction of new, technologically superior submarines built under Project-75I and additional Kalvari-class vessels. The Indian Navy currently operates four Shishumar-class submarines. These vessels, based on the German Type 209 design from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), were commissioned between 1986...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is reportedly experiencing a decline in confidence in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the government-owned aerospace company responsible for manufacturing fighter jets to enhance India's aerial defense capabilities. This growing distrust stems from ongoing production delays, concerns about manufacturing quality, and HAL's difficulty in meeting the IAF's operational deadlines. These problems are jeopardizing India's defense readiness, particularly in light of...

Indian defence experts are strongly advocating for the domestically produced Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), as the superior choice for the nation's high-altitude military requirements. This endorsement highlights the LUH's advanced engineering and represents a significant step towards India's goal of self-sufficiency in defence production. ad The LUH's backing comes as Airbus Helicopters markets its H125, a design originating in the 1970s...