Category: Defence

New Delhi: Russia has renewed its pitch for closer fifth-generation fighter cooperation with India by highlighting its new twin-seat Su-57D, linking the aircraft’s configuration to operational requirements that India had raised during the earlier Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) programme. Speaking at the NDTV Defence Summit 2026, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov said the development of the twin-seat Su-57 reflects concepts that had previously been discussed by India and Russia. The remarks have brought renewed attention to the long-running differences that contributed to India’s withdrawal from the FGFA programme.…

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New Delhi: India is exploring possible engagement with international sixth-generation fighter programmes while continuing to develop its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), reflecting a broader effort to prepare the armed forces for increasingly technology-driven warfare. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking at the NDTV Defence Summit 2026, outlined a vision for a “future-focused” military, noting the growing importance of advanced technologies and multi-domain operations in future conflicts. As part of this approach, India is examining opportunities associated with the UK-led Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), involving the United Kingdom, Italy…

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Lucknow: India’s plan to buy more Rafale jets from France will give the country a second fighter production line and push indigenisation further, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Sunday. Speaking at a fireside chat titled “Strategy to Capability: Building India’s Defence Edge” at the NDTV Defence Summit 2026, Singh talked about where India’s defence capabilities stand today, from fighter requirements to homegrown development and domestic manufacturing. Besides his role as Defence Secretary, he also holds additional charge as Secretary of DDR&D and Chairman of DRDO. On why the…

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Jaipur/New Delhi: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has described the ongoing Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 as a reflection of the growing defence partnership between India and the United States, highlighting the trust, interoperability and operational coordination demonstrated by troops from both countries. Gor visited the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan on Thursday, where Indian and US Army personnel are conducting joint training as part of the bilateral military exercise. “Impressive to see US and Indian forces training together at Mahajan Field Firing Range,” Gor said in a post…

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New Delhi: The United States Army has deployed its Mobile-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (M-LIDS) to India for the first time, bringing an advanced layered counter-drone capability to the 22nd edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas. The bilateral military exercise is being conducted at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan, where Indian and US forces are training together on a range of battlefield scenarios involving unmanned aerial systems, precision fires and integrated air defence. M-LIDS is designed to counter small and low-flying drones through a combination of…

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New Delhi: The 22nd edition of the India-US bilateral military exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 has expanded its focus on integrated aviation and ground operations with the participation of the Indian Army’s AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. Indian and US troops are conducting combined combat drills designed to strengthen coordination between ground units and attack aviation, including joint mission planning, battlefield communications and target engagement. The exercise is being conducted simultaneously in two distinct environments — the high-altitude Auli Foreign Training Node in Uttarakhand and the arid Mahajan Field Firing Range in…

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New Delhi: The Indian Army’s Zorawar light tank programme is facing fresh design challenges as the force seeks enhanced armour protection for the high-altitude combat vehicle, potentially increasing its weight and requiring changes to its powerpack. The Zorawar was conceived as a highly mobile tank of around 25 tonnes for deployment in mountainous areas such as eastern Ladakh. The requirement emerged after the 2020 border standoff, which highlighted the difficulties of operating heavier T-72 and T-90 tanks at high altitudes. The Army is now seeking substantially higher protection levels. The…

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