Category: Defence

New Delhi: India has the technological and industrial potential to develop a globally competitive private defence drone manufacturer on the lines of Turkey’s Baykar. However, achieving this ambition will require sustained government backing, long-term research funding and real-world operational experience rather than an overdependence on conventional procurement tenders. Turkey’s Baykar has emerged as a major player in the global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry, largely through its Bayraktar TB2 combat drone. By the end of 2024, the platform had reportedly accumulated one million flight hours and secured exports to more…

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Jaisalmer: India’s defence budget has increased to Rs 7.85 lakh crore for the financial year 2026-27, with Rs 2.19 lakh crore allocated for modernisation and capital procurement, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said while addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee in Jaisalmer. Emphasising the government’s commitment to strengthening the armed forces, Singh said adequate financial resources were essential for modernisation and that budgetary allocations had been increased consistently to meet the military’s operational requirements. He highlighted the changing nature of warfare, pointing to the growing importance of drones, missiles,…

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Atlanta: External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar has called for diplomatic solutions rather than military options to address global crises, reiterating India’s emphasis on peace, dialogue and international cooperation at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the Quad ministerial meeting in Atlanta, United States. Addressing a key plenary session, Jaishankar expressed concern over disruptions in global energy markets, stressing that the current crisis was not caused by a shortage of production but by growing international uncertainty, artificial disruptions, high costs and difficulties faced by developing countries in accessing resources. He…

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Abu Dhabi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri undertook an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on November 1 and 2, reviewing progress in the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and exploring opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation across key sectors. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the visit was part of the regular high-level engagements that characterise India-UAE relations. In Abu Dhabi, Misri held discussions with Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Special Envoy to India. Both sides reviewed the…

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New Delhi: Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has outlined an ambitious roadmap for the Indian Air Force (IAF), placing operational preparedness, indigenous defence capabilities, technological innovation and joint military operations at the centre of his priorities as he assumed charge as the country’s 29th Chief of the Air Staff on Sunday. Dixit said the IAF would remain vigilant, continuously modernise its capabilities and maintain the readiness required to respond to any national security challenge. He identified restoring the force’s combat strength towards its authorised level as one of his immediate…

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New Delhi: India’s indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme has entered a crucial phase, with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Bharat Forge-led consortiums submitting their bids for the ₹15,000-crore Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) prototype development project. The programme, being spearheaded by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), aims to develop an advanced stealth fighter for the Indian Air Force. The Ministry of Defence is in the process of selecting a Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP), which will be responsible for…

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New Delhi: The Indian Navy is reportedly exploring the concept of a long-range, air-launched, rocket-assisted torpedo system designed to strengthen its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), amid concerns over the expanding presence of Chinese submarines in the region. The proposed system could potentially be launched from manned fighter aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), allowing the Navy to engage hostile submarines from greater distances while reducing the exposure of aircraft to enemy air-defence systems. According to preliminary conceptual descriptions, the weapon would combine a conventional…

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New Delhi: India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is reportedly developing an advanced Pinaka Mk4 rocket artillery system designed to extend the Indian Army’s deep-strike capabilities, with a claimed range of up to 300 kilometres. The proposed system, also referred to as the Extended Long Range Guided Rocket (ELRGR), is expected to represent a major evolution of the indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher family. According to a report published by Defence.in, recent tender documents associated with Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, point to a proposed 370-mm rocket motor for…

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