New Delhi: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has successfully extended the Total Technical Life (TTL) of the AL-31FP turbofan engine to 2,500 flying hours — a significant development for the Indian Air Force. The first engine to be overhauled under this life-extension programme was handed over to the IAF on January 8, 2026, marking an important step toward improving the long-term operational readiness of the Su-30MKI, India’s primary air superiority fighter. Manufactured at HAL’s Koraput facility in Odisha under a deep technology-transfer arrangement, the AL-31FP powers the Su-30MKI, the twin-engine fighter…
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Egypt Weighs India’s Pinaka Rocket System as It Looks to Boost Firepower, Cut Costs, and Diversify Arms Suppliers
Cairo / New Delhi: Egypt is reportedly evaluating India’s Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), as it looks to upgrade its military capabilities. For Cairo, the system offers an appealing mix of affordability, precision, and battlefield flexibility that fits well with where the Egyptian armed forces want to go. The move fits into a broader pattern for Egypt, which has spent the past decade actively diversifying its defence partnerships rather than depending heavily on a handful of traditional suppliers. That shift has…
Read MoreDassault Deepens India Manufacturing Ties Across Rafale and Falcon Programmes, Eyes Full MRFA Deal
New Delhi: French aerospace major Dassault Aviation has signalled a growing reliance on Indian industry as part of its global operations, underlining its commitment to the “Make in India” push through a widening web of local partnerships. In its 2026 half-year financial report, the company revealed it is drawing up a comprehensive production plan — one that includes complete aircraft assembly and flight testing in India — as it prepares to bid for the Indian Air Force’s 114-jet Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) requirement. The filing makes clear that Indian firms…
Read MoreHow Defence Policy Became the Backbone of India’s Rising-Power Story
NEW DELHI — For most of India’s post-independence history, defence policy was largely about one thing: securing the country’s borders. That framing has changed substantially over the past decade. Today, defence has become one of the central pillars of how India tells its own story as a rising global power — tied as much to industrial growth, technological ambition and diplomatic leverage as it is to military security itself. The shift is closely bound up with the government’s twin push toward self-reliance, branded as Atmanirbhar Bharat, and the longer-term goal…
Read MoreNCC, Scouts & Guides: Shaping the Next Generation of Army Aspirants
Discipline, Leadership and Service Form the Foundation of India’s Future Armed Forces New Delhi: For thousands of young Indians, wearing the olive-green uniform of the Indian Armed Forces is more than a career aspiration—it is a lifelong dream of serving the nation. While rigorous preparation, physical fitness and academic excellence are essential to achieving that goal, institutions such as the National Cadet Corps (NCC), Bharat Scouts and Guides, and similar youth organisations play an equally significant role in preparing young minds for a life of discipline, leadership and national service.…
Read MoreLIEUTENANT GENERAL J. DEBNATH ASSUMES THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMANDANT, ARMY MEDICAL CORPS (AMC) CENTRE & COLLEGE AND OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF AMC RECORDS
LUCKNOW, 01 AUG 2026 Lieutenant General J. Debnath assumed the appointment of Commandant, Army Medical Corps Centre & College and Officer-in-Charge (OIC), AMC Records on 01 Aug 2026. Prior to present appointment, the General Officer was MG (Med) at Headquarters Eastern Command. The AMC Centre & College, located at Lucknow, is the premier training establishment of the Indian Army responsible for training and shaping the future leadership of the Army Medical Corps while upholding the highest standards of military medical education and professional excellence. An alumnus of Silchar Medical…
Read MoreIndia’s Leading Defence Analysts (2026)
Lucknow: India’s defence and strategic affairs ecosystem is shaped by a distinguished group of military veterans, journalists, and policy experts whose analyses influence public discourse, government thinking, and international understanding of national security. Their expertise spans military operations, defence procurement, geopolitics, border security, emerging technologies, and foreign policy. While no official ranking exists, the following list is based on professional credibility, military experience, research output, journalistic excellence, influence on strategic discourse, and public engagement. 1. Nitin A. Gokhale A veteran defence journalist with more than four decades of experience, Nitin…
Read MoreDRDO, Azad Engineering Achieve Milestone with Indigenous 350 kg Thrust Turbojet Engine
New Delhi: India has achieved a significant breakthrough in indigenous aerospace technology with the successful development of its first expendable turbojet engine in the 350 kg thrust class, marking a major step forward in strengthening the country’s defence manufacturing capabilities and self-reliance. Designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), the engine has been manufactured and assembled in collaboration with Hyderabad-based Azad Engineering. The completed engine was successfully realised and formally delivered to GTRE on July 22, representing a landmark achievement for India’s aerospace…
Read MoreOperation Sindoor Demonstrates India’s Resolve Against Cross-Border Terror: Rajnath Singh
Dras: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Operation Sindoor has demonstrated India’s ability to respond decisively to cross-border terrorism, asserting that any future provocation from Pakistan would be met with a stronger and more determined response. Addressing the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorations at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras, he reiterated that India would hold both terrorists and those supporting them equally accountable. Referring to the operation as a defining example of India’s military capability, Singh said Pakistan had blurred the distinction between state institutions and terrorist organisations by providing…
Read MoreIndia’s Record Defence Budget Signals Modernisation Drive Amid Calls for Greater Investment
New Delhi: India has announced its highest-ever defence allocation in the Union Budget 2026–27, reinforcing its commitment to military modernisation, indigenous defence production and national security amid evolving regional challenges. While the record allocation has been welcomed as a major step forward, defence experts say sustained investment and structural reforms will be crucial to address long-term capability requirements. The Ministry of Defence has been allocated ₹7.85 lakh crore for 2026–27, representing a 15.2 per cent increase over the previous year’s Budget Estimates. The allocation accounts for nearly 14.7 per cent…
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