Category: Defence

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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New Delhi: In a significant push toward greater self-reliance in aviation, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are working on a joint proposal to develop a homegrown turboprop engine — one that would eventually power the indigenous Saras Mk2 light transport aircraft and lay the groundwork for India’s future High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles. The proposal is still at an early stage and will need funding approval from the Ministry of Defence. Whether that approval comes through will…

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New Delhi: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) appears to have found real momentum in its long and often criticised effort to build India’s first indigenous turbofan engine. According to the company’s latest annual disclosures, the core of the HTFE-25 engine has now been put through rigorous testing — demonstrating reliable light-up, smooth acceleration, and reaching 99.5 percent of its maximum design speed. For a programme that has drawn nearly a decade of criticism over delays, hitting near-peak core speed is a strong signal that the underlying design is sound and that…

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