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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...

Bharat Forge and its defence subsidiary, Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd. (KSSL), are poised to significantly ramp up artillery production, aiming for an output of over 350 guns per year. This ambitious goal, announced by Chairman and Managing Director Baba Kalyani, would establish KSSL as a major player in the global artillery market. ad The company's recent success in exporting nearly 100 artillery guns in 2024 highlights its growing international presence. This achievement demonstrates...

Russia has proposed a transfer of technology (ToT) to India for the S-400 air defence system, alongside an offer for local manufacturing of system components. This offer comes as Russia faces delays in delivering the final two squadrons of the S-400 system to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The proposal is intended to allow India to produce S-400 parts domestically, facilitating both replenishment of existing systems and potential future expansion of its inventory. ad In 2018, India contracted...

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is preparing a proposal for a new, domestically-produced Self-Propelled Air Defence Gun Missile System (ADGM-SP) to enhance the Indian Army's air defence capabilities. This system will be based on the chassis of the Light Tank Zorawar, and is designed to protect the Army's mechanized units, such as tanks and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), from a range of aerial threats. ad The proposed ADGM-SP represents a significant upgrade in...

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has announced the commencement of a project to develop new external fuel tanks, commonly known as "drop tanks," for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk2. These tanks are crucial for increasing the aircraft's range, providing greater flexibility in mission planning and execution. Drop tanks are supplementary fuel containers that can be externally mounted on an aircraft. This significantly boosts the aircraft's fuel capacity, allowing it to fly...

India's state-owned aerospace company, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is taking steps to introduce its Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) to the commercial aviation sector. The company has started the process of obtaining type certification for the civilian version of the LUH from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's aviation regulatory body. HAL's Chairman and Managing Director, D.K. Sunil, stated that flight tests for this civilian model are expected to begin in...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) might consider purchasing fifth-generation fighter jets from foreign manufacturers as a temporary solution if Pakistan acquires similar aircraft, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh confirmed. This potential move would aim to maintain the regional balance of power until India's own fifth-generation fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), becomes operational. ad Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2025, Air Chief Marshal addressed concerns about Pakistan...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is currently navigating a crucial period of modernization, balancing the retirement of older fighter jets with the acquisition of new aircraft, all while maintaining operational readiness in a complex regional security environment. A recent projection by India Today suggested the IAF's fighter squadron count could decrease significantly by 2035, potentially reaching parity with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). However, a closer examination reveals a more nuanced...

As the Indian Army modernizes its forces to meet contemporary warfare challenges, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, the acquisition of attack helicopters remains a crucial element. However, persistent delays in the delivery of Apache helicopters from the United States have prompted calls for a greater focus on the indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand. ad The Indian Army is actively enhancing...

India's next generation of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), the S5 Class, may be equipped with a more powerful nuclear reactor than initially planned, according to sources familiar with the program. This development suggests a significant enhancement in the capabilities of India's future underwater nuclear deterrent. ad The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has been developing a 190-megawatt (MW) pressurized light-water reactor (PWR) fueled by enriched uranium for...

The upcoming introduction of India's new Astra Mk3 air-to-air missile, recently named "Gandiva," is set to significantly alter the balance of air power between India and Pakistan, according to a Pakistani defence expert. Retired Squadron Leader Fahad Masood, speaking at a defence forum in Islamabad, stated that the Astra Mk3's advanced features could give the Indian Air Force (IAF) a considerable advantage. ad The Astra Mk3 Gandiva, developed by India's Defence Research and Development...