Category: Defence

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) faces a growing challenge in maintaining combat strength as it prepares for the possibility of simultaneous threats from China and Pakistan. Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs), also known as loyal wingmen, could offer a cost-effective way to expand operational capability without relying exclusively on additional manned fighter jets. At his recent Air Force Day press conference, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh stressed the need for the IAF to induct at least two fighter squadrons annually to prevent its combat strength from declining further. The…

New Delhi: Russian state-owned defence conglomerate Rostec has reportedly offered its TKB-1167 ‘Bizon’ anti-drone system to the Indian Army, pitching the platform as a potential solution to the growing threat posed by small, low-flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Designed to intercept agile aerial targets that can evade conventional air-defence systems, the Bizon combines high-volume machine-gun fire with automated target tracking and specialised ammunition intended to improve interception accuracy and reduce ammunition consumption. The system’s combat module features four 7.62mm PKT machine guns with a reported combined rate of fire of…

New Delhi: French aerospace company Safran has proposed a joint development approach for the 120kN-class fighter engine planned for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Mk2, drawing on the co-development model being used for the Aravalli helicopter engine. Safran India CEO and Country Head Jetendra Gavankar, speaking at DEFCON 2026, indicated that the partnership structure developed for the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) engine could provide a framework for future cooperation on the AMCA powerplant. Under the proposed arrangement, Indian and French engineers could share design and development responsibilities on a…

Mumbai: Tata Advanced Systems has completed internal trials of its indigenous 155mm Mounted Gun System (MGS), marking a significant step in India’s efforts to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing and artillery capabilities. The truck-mounted system combines a 155mm/52-calibre artillery gun with a high-mobility 6×6 military vehicle, eliminating the need for a separate towing platform. The design is based on technologies developed under the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) programme, in which DRDO and Indian industry have played key roles. A major feature of the MGS is its automated ammunition-handling system,…

New Delhi: India’s ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme is approaching a decisive stage, with the government targeting September 2028 for the maiden flight of the country’s indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter. Meeting that deadline, however, could prove challenging given the programme’s development schedule, engine-related uncertainties and the complexity of integrating advanced combat systems. The Ministry of Defence has extended the deadline for private-sector companies to submit bids for the AMCA development and production contract to October 30, 2026. Tender conditions provide the selected development-cum-production partner up to 30 months…

Commander Sumit Ghosh In an era of rapid technological disruption, the ability to develop, secure and deploy critical technologies is becoming central to national security, economic competitiveness and societal progress. Semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, space, telecommunications, quantum technologies, blockchain, energy storage and biotechnology are emerging as key pillars of 21st-century power. The Semiconductor Foundation Semiconductors are the foundation of the digital economy, powering everything from smartphones and electric vehicles to advanced computing and defence systems. As AI and data requirements expand, innovations in chip fabrication, memory and high-bandwidth connectivity…

Lucknow: The 279th Raising Day of the Defence Accounts Department was celebrated with enthusiasm at the Ramayan Auditorium of the Regional Training Centre in Lucknow on Thursday. One of the country’s oldest departments functioning under the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Accounts Department marked the occasion with a series of cultural and sporting competitions. The celebrations also highlighted the department’s work culture, team spirit and commitment to social responsibility. A week-long series of activities preceded the main ceremony, including the “Cleanliness is Our Responsibility” campaign, a seminar organised on the…

Lucknow: Lieutenant General Sanjay Mitra, AVSM, assumed charge as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Indian Army’s Surya Command in Lucknow on October 1, 2026. Following the assumption of command, the Army Commander paid homage to fallen soldiers at the Smritika War Memorial in Lucknow, honouring their courage and supreme sacrifice. He subsequently inspected the Guard of Honour at a ceremonial parade. Lt Gen Mitra reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining the highest standards of operational preparedness, enhancing strategic response capabilities and strengthening multi-domain capabilities across the theatre. He also…

New Delhi: Future Indian Air Force fighter aircraft could potentially engage targets without switching on their own onboard radars, as warfare increasingly moves towards interconnected networks of space, airborne, ground and passive sensors. The concept was highlighted by Deputy Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Tejpal Singh at the NDTV Defence Summit 2026. He described a shift away from the traditional model in which individual fighters independently detect, track and engage targets. Under a network-centric approach, information from multiple platforms could be combined to create a common operational picture.…