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India's need for a modernized and powerful air force has become increasingly urgent due to growing regional tensions and the need to maintain a credible deterrent against potential adversaries, such as China and Pakistan. The possibility of acquiring Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II fighter jet from the United States presents a significant opportunity for India to significantly enhance its stealth capabilities. To get the most strategic benefit from this potential purchase, India should...

The recent acquisition of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles by the Philippines from India, while a significant step in their defense partnership, may not provide the operational advantage Manila seeks without substantial improvements to its supporting military infrastructure, a former U.S. official has warned. Ashley Tellis, formerly with the U.S. Department of State and currently a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, highlighted these concerns in a recent...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is showing little interest in acquiring the Russian-made Su-57E fighter jet, citing concerns that the aircraft does not meet the stringent requirements for a true fifth-generation platform. A senior IAF official, speaking at the Aero India 2025 event, stated that the Su-57E has several shortcomings. ad The IAF's assessment is that even if it were to buy the Su-57E, significant changes would be needed. Specifically, the plane's radar and avionics systems – the...

The Indian government has formed a high-level committee to explore ways to accelerate the production of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A, potentially including a significant role for the private sector. This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), aims to rapidly increase the Indian Air Force's (IAF) fighter squadron numbers and bolster India's self-reliance in defense manufacturing. ad The committee, announced in early February 2025 and chaired by...

The possibility of India acquiring the American-made F-35 Lightning II and Pakistan obtaining the Chinese-made J-35 has fueled discussions on how these technologically advanced, stealth-capable fighter jets could alter the balance of air power in South Asia. Both aircraft are considered fifth-generation fighters, incorporating features like advanced stealth, sensor fusion (the ability to combine data from multiple sensors into a single, comprehensive picture), and network-centric warfare...

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), a major Indian shipyard, is set to simultaneously construct six advanced German U-214NG submarines and three enhanced Scorpene-class submarines for the Indian Navy. This ambitious undertaking follows recent approval from the Indian Ministry of Defence, signaling a major boost to India's naval strength. ad The U-214NG submarines will be built in partnership with Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). MDL confirmed that the construction will...

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is exploring the possibility of adapting its Pinaka multi-barrel rocket system for air-launched roles, a move that could significantly enhance the Indian Air Force's (IAF) combat capabilities in both air-to-ground (A2G) and air-to-air (A2A) scenarios. This expansion of the Pinaka program includes developing both an air-launched surface strike weapon and a potential air-to-air variant. DRDO is currently in consultation with the IAF to...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is gradually transitioning away from its decades-long dependence on Russian fighter jets, marking a significant shift towards self-reliance in defence production. This change is being driven by the increasing capabilities of domestically produced aircraft like the Tejas and the future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). ad The IAF's relationship with Russian (and previously, Soviet) military aviation dates back to the late 1960s, with the introduction of the...

India is exploring a partnership with Russia to domestically produce the advanced Pantsir-S1 air defence system, significantly bolstering its air defence capabilities. Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) Chairman and Managing Director, Commodore A Madhavarao (Retd.), confirmed that talks regarding local production are progressing positively. This potential collaboration builds upon decades of defence cooperation between the two countries. ad The possibility of Indian production arose from a...

The global market for fifth-generation fighter jets is heating up, but India's domestically developed Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is noticeably absent from international partnership and export discussions, even as Turkey's Kaan fighter jet has rapidly secured potential collaborators after only a couple of test flights. This difference in approach raises questions about India's export strategy for its advanced aircraft. ad Turkey's Kaan program, led by Turkish Aerospace Industries...

China's long-standing military assistance to Pakistan has been a key element of its strategy to constrain India, creating a persistent security challenge for New Delhi on its western border. Beijing has consistently provided Islamabad with advanced military hardware, ranging from fighter jets to potentially hypersonic missiles, using their close "all-weather" relationship to offset India's regional influence. In contrast, India, despite its growing defence manufacturing capabilities and...

Retired Major General G.D. Bakshi, a well-known Indian military analyst, recently asserted that Russia's Su-57 "Felon" fighter jet, despite lacking the stealth capabilities of the American F-35 Lightning II, possesses superior overall performance compared to China's J-20 and J-36 fighters. Bakshi made these remarks at a defense symposium held in New Delhi in February 2025. His assessment highlights the Su-57's strengths, particularly in areas beyond stealth, which is a crucial factor in the...

Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), a subsidiary of the Solar Group of Industries, is exploring the development of a military transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), according to industry sources. While the proposal is in its preliminary stages, it could signal a significant shift in India's domestic defence manufacturing landscape. ad The exact specifications of the proposed aircraft remain undisclosed. However, considering Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) is currently...

Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has requested permission from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to begin development of a High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for the Indian military. This move, if greenlit, would mark the first instance of an Indian private sector company undertaking a project in a field traditionally controlled by the government's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), specifically its Aeronautical Development Establishment...

India's Navy is on the verge of a major upgrade in its offensive capabilities. The indigenously developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile-Medium Range (NASM-MR), is set to begin developmental trials. This missile, designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is slated to be India's first air-launched anti-ship missile with a range greater than 350 kilometers. A model of NASM-MR was displayed at the Aero India 2025 show in Bengaluru. ad The NASM-MR is a sea-skimming missile...

The U.S. Department of Defense (the Pentagon) is actively encouraging India to acquire the F-35A Lightning II fighter jet. This move is seen as a significant step toward strengthening the collective defence capabilities of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), a strategic alliance between the United States, India, Japan, and Australia, particularly in response to growing concerns about China's military expansion in the Indo-Pacific region. ad The F-35A, produced by Lockheed Martin, is...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is still in the process of completing the Request for Proposal (RFP) for its long-pending project to acquire 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA), a Ministry of Defence (MoD) official confirmed recently. This crucial procurement, designed to significantly enhance India's air combat power, has faced delays since the initial Request for Information (RFI) was released several years ago. ad The primary cause of the delay is the IAF's ongoing work on finalizing the...

India is reportedly revisiting the possibility of acquiring more CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters for the Indian Air Force (IAF). This reconsideration is occurring within the context of ongoing discussions to strengthen the strategic partnership between India and the United States. In 2015, India finalized a significant agreement with Boeing, the American aerospace manufacturer, to purchase 15 Chinook helicopters. The deal, valued at roughly $1.1 billion, included a provision...

Bharat Forge's subsidiary, Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), is on the verge of opening a major new manufacturing plant in Jejuri, near Pune, significantly bolstering India's defense production capabilities. This facility is designed to produce a substantial volume of military equipment, including up to 300 artillery guns and more than 1,000 military vehicles each year. This positions KSSL as a major player in the international defense industry and strongly supports India's...

The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is facing a difficult decision regarding the future of its aging Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets. These aircraft, once a critical part of Greece's air defense strategy, particularly in relation to regional rival Turkey, are now nearing the end of their operational lifespan. Recent attempts to sell the aircraft to India and France have failed, forcing Greece to consider phasing them out due to increasing maintenance costs. ad Greece's plan to sell its fleet of 25...