Category: Defence

New Delhi: India’s ongoing military reforms centred on Joint Theatre Commands (JTCs) are expected to significantly enhance the armed forces’ ability to conduct integrated operations across land, air, sea, cyber and space domains. Defence analysts believe the restructuring will enable faster decision-making, better coordination among the Army, Navy and Air Force, and a more credible deterrence against cross-border threats. The proposed theatre command system seeks to replace service-specific operational structures with integrated commands capable of planning and executing joint missions under a unified leadership. The objective is to improve operational…

New Delhi: State-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has awarded a ₹64.31 crore manufacturing contract to RRP Defense for the supply of advanced telescopic day sights, marking another step towards strengthening India’s indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities under the Make in India initiative. Under the agreement, RRP Defense will manufacture and supply 16,035 MEPRO X6 Day Sights to BEL. The MEPRO X6 is a compact, lightweight 6x magnification telescopic sight designed for use with assault rifles and light machine guns, providing enhanced target acquisition and accuracy during daylight operations. The project is…

New Delhi: Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), the defence public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Defence, has announced the appointment of Shailesh Vagerwal as its new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD). He officially assumed charge. Before taking over the leadership of BDL, Vagerwal served as Chief General Manager at the Ordnance Factory, Khamaria, Jabalpur, a unit of Munitions India Limited. An officer of the Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS), he brings nearly three decades of experience in India’s defence manufacturing sector. A graduate in Mechanical Engineering from MBM Engineering College,…

Jakarta/New Delhi: India and Indonesia have taken another significant step towards strengthening their strategic defence partnership, with India set to supply additional BrahMos supersonic cruise missile systems and the indigenously developed Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) to the Southeast Asian nation. The announcement coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day visit to Indonesia from July 6 to 8, during which he held wide-ranging discussions with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta. The leaders reviewed progress under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2018, and explored avenues for deeper cooperation in…

New Delhi: India and Rwanda have agreed to broaden their defence partnership by expanding cooperation in military training, joint exercises, defence manufacturing, and military healthcare during the second meeting of the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) held in New Delhi on July 6 and 7. The two countries also approved an implementation roadmap with defined timelines to carry forward the decisions taken during the meeting, reflecting their commitment to strengthening long-term defence engagement. The JDCC was co-chaired by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary in India’s Ministry of Defence, and Brigadier General…

New Delhi: A mountaineering team from the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports (JIM & WS), Pahalgam, has successfully completed a challenging expedition to the Khyam Tso Massif in the remote Rumtse Phu region of Ladakh, scaling multiple high-altitude peaks under extreme weather conditions. The 22-member expedition, led by Colonel Hem Chandra Singh, began on June 26 and followed a carefully planned acclimatization schedule before attempting the demanding ascents. The team’s first major achievement came on July 2, when it reached Peak Pt 5901 metres despite harsh weather. Marking…

New Delhi: Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful flight-test of Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur on July 08, 2026. The rocket was tested for a user defined minimum range of 60 kms. Demonstrating all in-flight manoeuvres as planned, the LRGR impacted on the target with textbook precision exactly following the predicted trajectory. All the deployed range instruments tracked the flight throughout its trajectory. The Pinaka LRGR rocket is designed by Armament Research and Development Establishment in association with High…

New Delhi: Indian Naval Sail Training Ship (STS) INS Sudarshini concluded her port call at New York, USA, on 08 Jul 2026, marking another significant milestone in the ongoing Lokayan 2026 transoceanic expedition. The visit showcased India’s rich maritime heritage while further strengthening the strategic and cultural partnership between India and the United States. As part of the Indian Navy’s 10-month transoceanic deployment, the indigenously built three-masted barque represented India at the International Naval Review 250 and Sail4th 250 celebrations, organised to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States. A major…

New Delhi: Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann, a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vayu Sena Medal (VM), assumed charge as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Southern Air Command of the Indian Air Force on July 1, 2026. He was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Southern Air Command headquarters on the occasion. Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 16, 1989, Air Marshal Mann is a highly accomplished fighter pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours on…