Category: Defence

New Delhi: India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been working for several years on the Supersonic Target (STAR) missile, a domestically developed, ramjet-powered aerial target designed to support realistic air-defence and naval weapons testing. Despite progress in component development and system integration, the programme is still awaiting an officially confirmed first flight. The delay has drawn attention because STAR is intended to provide India with a reusable and relatively economical platform capable of simulating the high-speed, manoeuvring threats faced by modern military forces. A Target Designed to Replicate…

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New Delhi: The effectiveness of a modern air-defence network is increasingly measured not simply by how many incoming targets it can destroy, but by how efficiently it can deploy limited and expensive interceptors against a diverse range of threats. India’s experience during Operation Sindoor, as described in the source material, highlights the importance of a layered air-defence architecture in which high-end missiles are reserved for the most dangerous targets, while guns, electronic warfare systems and lower-cost interceptors tackle drones and other lower-tier threats. At the centre of this architecture are…

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New Delhi: India has picked up the pace on building out its air and missile defence capabilities in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, running a series of trials this year that mark real progress on three key interceptor systems — the AD-1, AD-2, and Project Kusha. Together, these programmes reflect New Delhi’s push to build a layered, largely indigenous shield capable of handling everything from enemy fighter jets to cruise missiles and long-range ballistic threats. One of the year’s standout achievements was a successful flight test of the AD-1 interceptor.…

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Imphal: Security forces have arrested nine cadres from banned insurgent groups following a string of intelligence-driven operations across Manipur’s Thoubal, Kakching and Churachandpur districts, officials said. According to a Defence Spokesman, the operations were carried out on Sunday by joint teams from the Assam Rifles, Manipur Police, and state Commandos. Six columns, working alongside commando units, coordinated closely to track down and detain the militants. Those arrested belong to three outlawed outfits: the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and its political front, the United People’s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK), as well…

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New Delhi: India and Armenia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday covering cooperation in research, development, innovation and joint production in the defence industry, the Ministry of Defence said. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh called on Armenia’s Minister of High Tech Industry, Davit Tadevosyan, in Yerevan on August 17, where the two sides signed the MoU, reaffirming their intent to widen bilateral defence-industrial cooperation in areas of shared interest, the ministry said on X. Earlier the same day, the Defence Secretary met Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan in Yerevan…

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New Delhi: The US Embassy in India said on Monday that it welcomes the Ministry of Defence’s contract with General Atomics for the lease of two MQ-9B Sea Guardian systems to the Indian Navy. In a post on X, the embassy said the capability will strengthen maritime domain awareness and provide sustained ISR coverage across the Indian Ocean Region, calling it a step forward for the two countries’ shared commitment to a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific. The embassy added that it looks forward to continued progress in the US-India…

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Mumbai: India’s aerospace sector is undergoing a significant shift, with the government handing over production of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) — the country’s upcoming 25-tonne fifth-generation stealth fighter — to a private-sector-led industry consortium. Beyond fulfilling the Indian Air Force’s requirements, this newly appointed group has also been officially cleared to market and export the jet internationally, a notable departure from how India has traditionally approached defence manufacturing. For decades, India’s defence production has prioritised domestic military needs above all else, with export ambitions treated as a secondary…

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New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has initiated a major effort to modernise its advanced fighter-pilot training fleet, seeking information from Indian and international aerospace manufacturers for approximately 150 Stage-III jet trainers. The Ministry of Defence has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to assess available aircraft, technologies and potential suppliers for the programme. The proposed acquisition is intended to eventually replace the BAE Hawk Mk-132 fleet, which has been a key component of the IAF’s advanced pilot-training programme since its induction in 2008. The proposed programme is expected…

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New Delhi: India’s second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-2) is shaping up to cost somewhere between $300 million and $500 million more than its predecessor, INS Vikrant — and the reason largely comes down to drones. Sources familiar with the project say the additional funding is earmarked for design changes that will let the new carrier launch and recover unmanned aircraft, including Medium and High Altitude Long Endurance (MALE and HALE) drones as well as deck-based combat drones. The figures are still preliminary, and the project is waiting on final sign-off…

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