Asianet Newsable

India's Netra AEW&C Gets Final Operational Clearance: What It Means for IAF

Anish Kumar — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 18:05:03 +0530

New Delhi: India’s indigenous airborne surveillance capability is set to achieve a major milestone later this month, as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will formally award Final Operational Clearance (FOC) to the Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system on June 25 at the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) in Bengaluru.

What Is Final Operational Clearance?

The certification marks the culmination of a programme aimed at providing the Indian Air Force with a fully operational airborne early warning platform equipped with indigenous mission systems. Final Operational Clearance signifies that a military system has successfully completed all developmental and user trials and is considered fit for operational deployment.

A ceremony for the declaration of Final Operational Clearance (FOC) of Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System is planned on 25 June 2026 at Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), DRDO, Bengaluru. The FOC is a major milestone achieved for an indigenous system of… pic.twitter.com/wD90TAEyTO

— DRDO (@DRDO_India) June 12, 2026

What Is Netra AEW&C Mk1?

The Netra AEW&C programme involved integrating advanced surveillance and mission avionics onto Embraer EMB-145 aircraft. Three aircraft have already been supplied to the Indian Air Force in the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) configuration, following extensive developmental testing carried out with active participation from the service.

Designed to detect and track airborne and maritime threats, the platform combines active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, electronic support measures and secure communication systems. The aircraft acts as an airborne command post, transmitting real-time information to controllers on board and to ground-based command centres.

Over the years, the system underwent a series of evaluations to validate critical subsystems, including software-defined radios, radar warning receivers and other mission equipment, paving the way for full operational certification.

All About Netra Mk-2 Programme

Meanwhile, India is preparing for the next phase of its airborne surveillance capability with the Netra Mk-2 programme.

On July 17, 2025, Prime Minister-Narendra Modi-headed Cabinet Committee on Security cleared the proposal worth ₹19,000 crore for the development of six AEW&C aircraft based on the Airbus A321 platform. The larger aircraft will carry more powerful AESA radars offering near 360-degree coverage and significantly enhanced detection ranges.

The Need For Organic Air Power For Indian Army: A Justified Military Requirement, Not an Unjustified Duplication

Anish Kumar — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:50:32 +0530

New Delhi: A recent article published by a defence think-tank sounded alarm bells about wasteful duplication and optimisation in India’s defence establishment. While the discussion appears academic and well-researched in form, it mischaracterises Army aviation and invokes the concept of wasteful duplication to advocate consolidating India’s air assets under a single Air Service.

However, careful examination of history and doctrine will show that not only is the Indian Army’s quest for organic air power justified, but it is also necessary for military purposes.

Fallacies of Wasteful Consolidation over Necessary Optimisation

A fundamental assumption in the argument is that a consolidated air force yields better military results. The historical evidence proves this assumption wrong. During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, army aviation proved crucial in providing necessary logistical support and air cover in areas where the Air Force’s tasking process could not respond.

Similarly, the Siachen operations since 1984 have shown that special skills in piloting helicopters and conducting ground-based operations at such high altitudes are required, which can only come from personnel trained and familiar with the Army’s operational tempo.

The same was true of the Kargil war of 1999, when the IAF provided excellent fixed-wing air cover for the army, but the latter’s helicopters belonging to the Army Aviation Corps (Cheetah and Chetak) proved essential in bringing logistics to heights as high as 5,250 meters.

As noted in the book, The Indian Defence Budget, during the Kargil campaign, AAC conducted 2,500 missions and more than 2,700 hours of flight, successfully evacuating 900 casualties in the process.

This was only possible due to the fact that the AAC helicopters were under the control of the Army Command and responded according to the requirements of the Army Command at a pace impossible otherwise.

Unsung Global Precedents of Organic Aircraft

One of the arguments used throughout the article is that even the US has a centralised Air Force and therefore the Indian Army’s demand for organic air assets is unnecessary. On the contrary, the US Army operates 4,300 rotary-wing aircraft that belong to the United States Army Aviation, making US Army Aviation the second largest air force in the world after the United States Air Force (USAF).

This arrangement is based on the reality that doctrine dictates the need for close air support, air assault and logistics in the land-war context, which requires an asset capable of responding in real time. Similarly, the UK Army has its own Apache helicopters in service with its 3rd and 4th regiments of Army Aviation Corps, again independent of the RAF.

The Land-based BrahMos Missile System: Another Example of Inter-Service Duplication?

Another case of inter-service duplication which is conveniently ignored in the above article is the induction of surface-to-surface BrahMos missiles into the IAF inventory.

In this respect, it should be recalled that the Indian Army inducted its first BrahMos regiment way back in 2007. Since then, the Army has set up multiple surface-to-surface BrahMos regiments along the border with both Pakistan and China. However, what should be pointed out in this respect is that the Indian Air Force, instead of just focusing on the BrahMos-A air-to-surface missile for the Su-30 MKI aircraft, went ahead and inducted two squadrons of the surface-to-surface BrahMos missile in 2007.

This happened because, at the time, it was considered a ‘stop-gap’ solution until the air-launched BrahMos became operational. The air-launched version of BrahMos entered service with the IAF on the Su-30 MKI aircraft in 2020.

This means that for two years, the IAF operated the BrahMos land-attack missile on the same platform that belongs to the Army. Under the same logic as that applied to Army aviation, this should be considered wasteful duplication. However, that argument never surfaces in this article.

Multi-Programme Fighter Acquisition: How Much Optimisation Can IAF Afford for the Nation?

The other aspect missing in this discussion is how much wastefulness the IAF can afford in its fighter programme acquisitions. For instance, in 2016, the Rafale deal of 36 aircraft for the IAF cost the nation ₹59,000 crore. The latest contract for purchasing 83 aircraft of Tejas Mk1A cost Rs 48,000 crore, followed by another contract for an additional 97 Tejas Mk1A aircraft in 2025, worth ₹62,370 crore.

Lastly, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme received cabinet clearances in March 2024, with ₹15,000 crore allocated for the Full-Scale Engineering Development (FSDE) programme.

Thus, in total, the IAF is now working with four programmes, including the Tejas Mk2, which is still under development, in addition to the FSDE and AMCA programmes. Each of these programmes will require its own procurement and support systems, training programmes, and maintenance. The above calculation makes clear how much wasteful duplication is going on. Moreover, it also shows how much fiscal wastefulness the country’s constrained budget cannot afford.

In conclusion, the fact is that the Indian Army does not require its organic aircraft for turf-protection purposes, but simply because of its operational needs. And as far as saving the exchequer money, maybe the quote “A dollar spent on duplicative capability comes at the expense of essential capacity or capability elsewhere” holds true for multifarious procurements by other services also.

Zen Technologies Emerges as Lowest Bidder for Indian Army’s Rs 85 Crore Weapon System Tender

Anish Kumar — Wed, 27 May 2026 15:38:46 +0530

New Delhi: Zen Technologies Limited, a Hyderabad-based defence company, has emerged as the lowest bidder (L-1) in a ₹85.21 crore tender floated by Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) for Remote Control Weapon Systems (RCWS) to be installed on Indian Army Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs).

The tender calls for the supply of 81 Remote Control Weapon Stations. Once installed, these systems will allow soldiers to operate machine guns from within the safety of the vehicle, eliminating the need to physically expose themselves to enemy fire.

Why ARVs Need Weapons

Armoured Recovery Vehicles are support platforms used to tow and repair damaged tanks — including the Army’s T-72 and T-90 fleet — during active combat. Because they operate in live battle zones, they are frequent targets of enemy fire, drone strikes, and ambushes.

“Modern warfare demands that even support vehicles be combat ready,” a defense expert said. “The Russia-Ukraine conflict and Middle East engagements have clearly demonstrated the battlefield value of remote weapon systems.”

The Technology on Offer

RCWS technology allows a vehicle crew member to operate a weapon remotely from an armored position using cameras, thermal imagers, day-night vision, and auto-tracking systems.

Zen Technologies’ “Phanish” platform — widely seen as the likely candidate for this project — can mount a 12.7mm heavy machine gun, detect targets at up to 14 kilometers, and operate round-the-clock in all weather conditions.

The system also features AI-based target recognition and fiber optic gyro stabilization for accurate firing on the move.

Indian Army Receives 106 Peacekeeper Kamikaze Drones From SMPP, Expands Long-Range Strike Capability

Anish Kumar — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:50:05 +0530

New Delhi: Delhi-based defence manufacturer SMPP has completed the delivery of 106 turbojet-powered loitering munitions, known as the Peacekeeper (Agniveg), to the Indian Army, 100 operational units and six training systems. The Peacekeeper is a one-way attack drone, or kamikaze system, designed to strike targets at distances of up to 180 kilometres at speeds of up to 450 kmph.

During user trials, the system recorded a circular error probable (CEP) of under five metres, a measure of strike accuracy, while operating in electronically contested conditions involving jamming and GPS spoofing.

A CEP of five metres is considered competitive for this class of weapon.

SMPP Completes Delivery of 106 Jet Based Kamikaze Drones to Indian Army, Strengthening Indigenous Deep-Strike Capabilities.@SMPPDEFENSE pic.twitter.com/Gu2ojj9EQ7

— Anish Singh (@anishsingh21) June 11, 2026

The system is turbojet-powered, setting it apart from the battery-electric propulsion used in most short-range loitering munitions currently in service with the Indian army.

Ashish Kansal, chief executive and director of SMPP, said the company had met its delivery commitment on schedule.

“Modern warfare is increasingly defined by precision, autonomy and affordability,” he said, adding that SMPP intended to offer an extended-range variant of the system for future procurement consideration.

The induction comes at a time of rapid and large-scale drone acquisition by the Indian army.

Since Operation Sindoor in 2025, the Indian Army has inducted loitering munitions, kamikaze and surveillance drones worth over Rs 5,000 crore from domestic firms, with the defence acquisition council approving a further Rs 3,000 crore in drone procurement in late 2025.

In early April 2026, the army released a comprehensive technology roadmap for unmanned aerial systems and loitering munitions, targeting the acquisition of 30 distinct drone variants and the deployment of tens of thousands of locally manufactured drones over five years.

SMPP is perhaps better known as a manufacturer of ballistic protection equipment. In July 2025, the company won a Rs 300 crore contract to supply 27,700 bulletproof jackets and 11,700 advanced ballistic helmets to the Indian army.

The Peacekeeper occupies a capability niche between conventional tube artillery and longer-range cruise or ballistic missiles.

Unlike artillery, it can be redirected or aborted mid-flight. Unlike costlier missile systems, it is expendable and the company claims, can be produced at a fraction of the price of a conventional strike platform.

NDA’s 150th Course Graduates 353 Cadets, Including Officers From 21 Nations

Anish Kumar — Sat, 30 May 2026 10:32:23 +0530

A total of 353 cadets, including 21 from friendly foreign countries passed out from the National Defence Academy Khadakwasla in Maharashtra on May 30. These cadets were the part of NDA’s 150th course.

Jawaharlal Nehru University conferred bachelor’s degrees on 236 cadets during the ceremony, spread across three streams: 112 in computer science, 65 in science, and 59 in arts. The presence of foreign cadets – whose nations send officers-in-training to Khadakwasla as part of bilateral military cooperation arrangements, underscores the academy’s role not merely as a training institution but as a soft-power instrument of Indian foreign policy.

The chief guest, Kiran Bedi, the retired IPS officer and former lieutenant governor of Puducherry, urged the graduating cadets to think of themselves as “scholar warriors” – officers equipped to lead in what she described as an increasingly dynamic and complex global security environment. Bedi, who broke barriers as India’s first female IPS officer in 1972, has remained a prominent voice on discipline, governance, and leadership.

The academic report was presented by Vinay Deep, officiating principal of the NDA.

Among the academic toppers, cadet Ranvijay Tyagi of ‘J’ Squadron led the computer science stream with a final grade point average of 8.50, receiving the commandant’s silver medal and the admiral’s rolling trophy – instituted by Admiral Sureesh Mehta, the former chief of naval staff.

In the science stream, cadet Peeyush Rautela of ‘M’ Squadron topped with an FGPA of 7.97, earning the commandant’s silver medal and the COAS rolling trophy, instituted by General K. Sunderji.

Cadet Sushant Varma of ‘P’ Squadron led the social science stream with an FGPA of 7.35 and received the commandant’s silver medal and the CAS trophy, presented by air chief marshal N.C. Suri.

In the B.Tech stream, cadet Mannela Nithin of ‘G’ Squadron recorded the highest cumulative grade point average of 8.18 over six semesters of NDA training, winning the commandant’s silver medal and the CISC trophy, awarded by headquarters integrated defence staff.

The NDA, established in 1954 at Khadakwasla near Pune, is among Asia’s oldest tri-service academies. Cadets undergo a three-year residential training programme before commissioning into the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force.

The 150th course marks a significant institutional milestone for an academy that has trained generations of senior Indian military officers, including several chiefs of staff.

The passing-out parade, typically a separate ceremonial event held on the NDA’s parade ground, draws families of cadets and senior defence officials. Friday’s convocation was the academic counterpart, focused on degree conferment and recognition of academic achievement.

How Suryakiran Became Asia's Only Nine-Aircraft Aerobatic Team In 30 Years

Anish Kumar — Sun, 24 May 2026 14:21:24 +0530

New Delhi: When nine red-and-white jets streak across the sky in impossibly tight formation, trailing the tricolour in smoke, something stirs deep within every spectator below. That is the magic of the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) and on May 26, the Indian Air Force’s most celebrated ambassadors mark 30 extraordinary years of flight.

The history of Suryakiran

The story began quietly at Air Force Station Bidar on May 27, 1996, when a new aerobatic team was formally raised and christened “Suryakiran” meaning ‘Rays of the Sun’.

Flying the indigenously built Kiran Mk-II trainer aircraft, the team made its public debut just months later in September 1996 at Coimbatore, thrilling audiences with synchronised precision that few had seen before. It was the beginning of something spectacular.

Taking the flight on the world stage

Over the next decade, Suryakiran grew steadily in ambition and ability. In 2001, the team made its long-awaited foreign debut, taking the skies over Colombo, Sri Lanka. That first international outing opened the floodgates.

The team went on to perform in the UAE, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and China, earning widespread admiration from aviation enthusiasts worldwide.

A particularly memorable chapter was written at the Dubai Air Show, where Suryakiran performed alongside some of the finest aerobatic teams on the planet, including the Saudi Hawks, Russia's Knights, and the UAE's Al Fursan.

A Nation transfixed

Back home, the team’s reach has been equally breathtaking. One of the most memorable domestic displays was an aerial show over Chennai that drew an estimated 1.7 million spectators along the coastline.

More recently, the team dazzled crowds at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, performing Tejas and Yuva formations, barrel rolls, DNA and Loop manoeuvres, with tricolour smoke trails painting the skyline.

The Hawk takes over

A major evolution came in 2015, when the team transitioned from the aging Kiran to the modern Hawk Mk-132, licence-manufactured by the state-owned plane maker, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), flying in extremely close proximity at a distance of less than five metres.

This makes Suryakiran the only nine-aircraft aerobatic team in Asia, a distinction that fills every Indian with quiet pride.

As SKAT celebrates three decades aloft, its motto – “Sadaiva Sarvottam”, “Always the Best” – rings truer than ever. The Rays of the Sun have never shone brighter.

Indian Navy Neutralizes Unexploded Missile Warhead Aboard Oil Tanker MT Olympic Life

Anish Kumar — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:34:21 +0530

New Delhi: The Indian Navy has successfully defused and removed a live missile warhead from a crude oil tanker MT Olympic Life, averting a potentially catastrophic maritime incident. The Marshall Islands-registered vessel was en route from Fujairah, UAE, to Kochi when an explosion struck its hull on May 26, while sailing off the Omani coast. The tanker, which carried no Indian nationals, continued toward Kochi with an unexploded ordnance embedded in its structure.

The Specialized Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team

Acting on intelligence relayed through the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), the Indian Navy swiftly mobilized a specialized Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team from Kochi's Southern Naval Command.

Upon inspection, an Indian Navy official said that the team discovered that a projectile had pierced the vessel's hull, passed through several internal compartments, and come to rest inside a fuel storage tank, a scenario carrying enormous risk of explosion.

“The EOD team took a careful, step-by-step approach to the extraction. Using advanced diagnostic tools, they first identified and disabled the warhead's detonation mechanism before safely removing it along with surrounding debris.”

The recovered ordnance has since been transferred to a secure facility for storage and further analysis. “The operation underscores the Indian Navy's advanced capabilities in explosive ordnance disposal and its ability to coordinate complex, high-stakes responses at sea.”

Officials noted that “the Navy's swift action, regardless of the vessel's flag or crew nationality, reflects its broader commitment to maritime safety and its standing as a dependable security partner across the Indian Ocean region.”

The incident took place just days after the US forces reportedly struck two Iranian boats allegedly attempting to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz, alongside attacks on a naval facility near Bandar Abbas.

Who Is General NS Raja Subramani? India’s Third Chief of Defence Staff Takes Charge

Anish Kumar — Sun, 31 May 2026 13:52:49 +0530

New Delhi: General NS Raja Subramani assumed charge on Sunday as India’s third chief of defence staff (CDS), stepping into the country’s highest military office at a juncture when the armed forces are grappling with an ambitious but still-unfinished transformation of their command structure.

Raja Subramani, who was appointed by the government on May 9, 2026, succeeds General Anil Chauhan, whose three-year-and-eight-month tenure included the planning and execution of Operation Sindoor and a sustained, if incomplete, drive to restructure the army, navy and air force under integrated theatre commands.

The new CDS brings to the role nearly four decades of military experience across a wide range of command, staff and instructional appointments.

General NS Raja Subramani assumes charge as India's third Chief of Defence Staff.His first and official photo after taking charge on Sunday morning. pic.twitter.com/2gg5d3H2N4

— Anish Singh (@anishsingh21) May 31, 2026

Commissioned into the 8th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles on December 14, 1985, after training at the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy, he has commanded formations on both India’s western and northern borders. His senior commands included 16 Garhwal Rifles in counter-insurgency operations in Assam under Operation Rhino, 168 Infantry Brigade in Jammu and Kashmir, 17th Mountain Division in the central sector, and II Corps – the Indian Army’s premier strike formation on the western front.

He later served as general officer commanding-in-chief of the central command at Lucknow before becoming vice chief of the army staff in July 2024, a post he held until his retirement on July 31, 2025.

After retirement, Raja Subramani was appointed military adviser to the National Security Council Secretariat with effect from September 1, 2025 – a role that placed him at the interface of military operations and national security policy at a particularly sensitive time following the Pahalgam terror attack of April 2025.

He also attended the Joint Services Command Staff College at Bracknell in the United Kingdom and the National Defence College in New Delhi.

An unfinished agenda

The most pressing agenda on the new CDS’s desk is the theatre commands proposal, which Gen Chauhan formally submitted to the ministry of defence before leaving office but was unable to see through to cabinet approval. The plan envisages reorganizing India’s existing 17 service-specific commands – seven each for the army and air force, and three for the navy – into a smaller number of geographically defined integrated commands, each with operational control over all war-fighting assets. A decision by the cabinet committee on security, which has yet to approve the plan, is considered the essential next step.

Raja Subramani’s central challenge will be translating the blueprint into an operational reality. The strategic logic behind theatrisation is straightforward: India faces potential simultaneous threats on two fronts, with Pakistan to the west and China to the north, and the current structure, in which the three services plan and operate largely independently, is seen as inadequate for managing a two-front conflict.

The new model is intended to shorten the decision-making cycle and allow a single commander to deploy assets from all three services in a coordinated response.

Role and responsibilities

As CDS, Gen Raja Subramani functions as the principal military adviser to the defence minister and also serves as secretary to the government in the department of military affairs within the ministry of defence. The post, created by the cabinet committee on security on December 24, 2019, and the department of military affairs, established on December 30, 2019, were both outcomes of recommendations that trace back to the Kargil Review Committee of 1999 and, more recently, the Shekatkar Committee of 2016.

The CDS is colloquially known as the “primus inter pares” – first among equals – in relation to the three service chiefs.

The first holder of the office, General Bipin Rawat, died in a military helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu in December 2021. Gen Chauhan was appointed as the second CDS in September 2022, the first time a retired officer was appointed to the role.

His tenure was originally to end in September 2025 but was extended by the government. Raja Subramani is the third consecutive CDS to come from the Indian Army.

The broader context

Raja Subramani takes charge at a time when the armed forces are also pursuing force modernization, including expanding indigenous defence production under the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat policy, and integrating emerging technologies – drones, artificial intelligence-enabled surveillance and precision-strike systems into their operational toolkit.

The lessons of Operation Sindoor, which demonstrated both the capabilities and the limitations of India’s joint operational framework, are widely expected to shape the reform priorities of the new CDS.

What Is an ECGNSS Jammer? India’s New Naval System Can Jam and Spoof Enemy Navigation Signals

Anish Kumar — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:47:59 +0530

New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence on Wednesday inked a contract with Bengaluru-based Accord Software and Systems Private Limited (ASSPL), for the procurement of 20 enhanced capability global navigation satellite system (ECGNSS) jammers for the Indian Navy at a cost of Rs 449 crore.

As per the contract, the system should have minimum 75 percent indigenous content.

The system’s capabilities include degrading the satellite signal acquisition and tracking performance of the adversary GNSS receiver and signal spoofing or deceptive jamming.

A defence official said that its entry into service would pave the way for safe operations by the ships of the Indian Navy in a multi-threat environment.

“It marks a critical milestone in the ongoing efforts to bolster defence capabilities and indigenise advanced military technology.”

Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Accord Software and Systems Private Limited (ASSPL), Bengaluru for the procurement of 20 Enhanced Capability Global Navigation Satellite System (ECGNSS) Jammers for the Indian Navy at a total cost of Rs 449 crore with minimum 75%… pic.twitter.com/cpskeGYpXE

— Anish Singh (@anishsingh21) June 10, 2026

What Is an ECGNSS Jammer?

Modern warfare increasingly relies on satellite-based navigation. Systems like GPS, Russia’s GLONASS, and China’s BeiDou guide everything from warships and missiles to troop movements.

GNSS jammers work by overwhelming satellite navigation receivers with powerful radio signals that drown out signals from these satellite constellations, rendering the receiver unable to calculate position or time accurately.

The ECGNSS Jammer takes this a step further. Beyond simple signal disruption, GNSS spoofing maliciously manipulates a user’s position and time data and jamming is often used first to force the receiver out of its satellite signal lock, after which false signals are fed to mislead the target system entirely.

In practical terms, these systems are capable of degrading an adversary’s satellite signal tracking, and can also execute deceptive jamming, making enemy platforms believe they are somewhere they are not.

In general warfare contexts, jamming delivers denial of service while spoofing aims at deception, tricking a receiver into computing a false navigation solution.

For the Indian Navy, operating in complex, multi-threat maritime environments, such capabilities are critical.

India Conducts Massive War Drill Near Pakistan Border, Tests Integrated IACCS, Akashteer Networks

Anish Kumar — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 17:23:46 +0530

New Delhi: The Indian armed forces have recently conducted Exercise Josh 2, a joint air-land drill on the western front with Pakistan that tested their ability to plan and execute combat operations under a single integrated command framework. The exercise involved the Indian Air Force’s western air command alongside the army’s northern command, western command and south western command.

At the centre of the exercise was the Indian Air Force’s integrated air command and control system, known as IACCS, which the military says substantially cut the time between detecting a threat and directing firepower against it – what planners call the sensor-to-shooter cycle.

Defence officials said the system also demonstrated redundancy and data-linking capacity, both critical requirements in contested airspace where communication links can come under attack.

A notable element of Josh 2 was the integration of Akashteer, the army’s automated air defence control and reporting system, with the IAF’s IACCS network.

Akashteer, developed by Bharat Electronics Limited, is designed to give ground-based air defence units real-time situational awareness and automated engagement sequencing.

Its seamless plug-in with IACCS during the exercise points to a maturing interoperability between the two services.

The exercise also worked through the challenge of running military flight operations without disrupting civilian air traffic, a coordination problem that becomes acute during any large-scale mobilization along India’s western border, where commercial air corridors are dense.

Procedures for airspace de-confliction were rehearsed to allow military and civil aviation to operate simultaneously in overlapping zones.

In a sign of broadening the concept beyond strictly military assets, the drill incorporated joint user airfields – civil airports that can be pressed into military service during a conflict – as part of what the defence establishment describes as a “whole of nation” approach. The idea is to plan from the outset for using national infrastructure, not just dedicated military bases, to sustain high-intensity operations.

The western front has been the primary focus of India’s defence planning since tensions with Pakistan sharpened following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 and the subsequent Operation Sindoor in May 2025, during which the IAF struck targets inside Pakistani territory.

India has been steadily pushing to close the operational gap between its air force and army through joint exercises, common communication protocols and shared command platforms.

The IACCS, which has been progressively expanded since the early 2010s, is the backbone of that effort. Its integration with systems such as Akashteer and its demonstrated data-linking across multiple commands during Josh 2 suggests the architecture is reaching a level of maturity that planners have long sought.

AMCA Fighter Programme: India’s Answer To American F-35, China’s J-35 Moves Closer To Reality

Anish Kumar — Wed, 27 May 2026 17:00:55 +0530

New Delhi: Taking a significant step toward indigenizing its combat aviation industry, the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday issued a request for proposal (RFP), inviting private companies to manufacture prototypes of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), the country’s first attempt at a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet.

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), operating under the ministry of defence, has called on pre-qualified bidders to build five flying prototypes and one structural test specimen of the AMCA, a twin-engine, medium-weight, multi-role, low-observable aircraft being developed to meet Indian Air Force (IAF) requirements.

As per the RFP, the winning bidder will be required to set up manufacturing infrastructure, integrate advanced systems, support flight testing, and ultimately position itself as the backbone of the country’s future combat aircraft production.

What Is the AMCA?

The AMCA is India’s answer to fifth-generation fighters such as the American F-35 Raptor, the Chinese J-35, and Russia’s Su-57.

Designed to incorporate stealth characteristics through radar-absorbing materials and structures, the aircraft is envisaged as a twin-engine platform capable of carrying weapons internally — a hallmark of low-observable design — while performing multiple roles across air superiority and ground attack missions.

Development of the AMCA has been led by ADA, the same Bengaluru-based agency that designed the Tejas light combat aircraft. While the Tejas was built primarily by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a state-owned company, the AMCA programme marks a departure: the government is seeking a private sector partner to manufacture the prototypes, signalling a broader policy shift toward opening defence production to Indian private industry.

Scope of Work

The selected industry partner will be responsible for an end-to-end realization of the prototypes, including manufacturing aerostructures, assembling and integrating avionics, propulsion, hydraulic, fuel, electrical, and flight control systems, and establishing test facilities and ground support infrastructure.

Timeline and Milestones

The AMCA programme is structured around 14 mandatory and indicative contractual milestones spanning 84 months — seven years — from the date of the purchase order.

The last date for submission of the bid is July 27, 2026.

As per the RFP, the delivery of the first prototype’s structural modules and first flight should be done by 30 months while all the five prototypes flying by 64 months from date of purchase order.

The completion of 1,800 flight test sorties should be by 84 months.

Notably, the winning bidder will be required to incorporate an entirely new company within three months of being declared the winner.

Strategic Context

The AMCA programme carries considerable strategic weight. The IAF currently operates a mix of ageing Soviet-era MiG-29s — alongside Sukhoi Su-30MKIs, Rafales, Mirage 2000s, and the indigenous Tejas Mk1A.

The service has long flagged a declining squadron strength, with the sanctioned number of 42 squadrons having shrunk to roughly 30.

A fifth-generation aircraft of AMCA’s intended capability would place India in a small club of nations able to design and produce such platforms. However, the programme has faced years of delays in funding approvals and design maturation.

First ‘Made-in-India’ C295 Aircraft Completes Maiden Flight, Tata-Airbus Set For IAF Delivery in 2026

Anish Kumar — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 08:10:47 +0530

New Delhi: In a major milestone for Indian defence and aerospace, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus have successfully conducted the maiden test flight of the first ‘Made-in-India’ C295 military transport aircraft from their final assembly line (FAL) in Vadodara, Gujarat.

The first C295 transport aircraft is expected to be delivered to the Indian Air Force in September 2026.

First ‘Made-in-India’ C295 Aircraft Completes Maiden Flight, Tata-Airbus Set for IAF Delivery in 2026. pic.twitter.com/d4seoQlOPG

— Anish Singh (@anishsingh21) June 10, 2026

This marks the first time a private Indian company has successfully set up and operated a complete military aircraft assembly line in the country, reflecting a major shift in India’s aerospace production ecosystem under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Airbus Defence announced on X: “This maiden test flight is a crucial step in the aircraft's post-production testing process. As the first of 40 aircraft to be built in India, the test flight advances the programme's objective of delivering the first 'Made in India' C295 aircraft this year to the Indian Air Force.”

“The Indian Air Force congratulates the entire team behind the successful maiden flight of the first India-made C-295. The achievement reinforces India’s growing aerospace capabilities and underscores the Indian Air Force commitment to fostering indigenous defence capability under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” the IAF said in a post on X.

Background and Strategic Significance

The Ministry of Defence inked a ₹21,935 crore contract with Airbus in September 2021 to procure the C295 transport aircraft, primarily to replace the IAF's ageing Avro fleet.

Plans call for the Vadodara line to produce 40 C295s for the Indian Air Force, with 16 examples already delivered from Airbus’s facility in Seville, Spain.

All About C295 Transport Aircraft The C295 is a transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity featuring contemporary technology, which can carry 40 paratroopers or 71 passengers. The C295 aircraft is capable of landing on short and even unprepared runways.

Its versatility makes it ideal for troop movement, cargo transport, medical evacuation, maritime patrol, and disaster relief operations, particularly useful in remote and difficult terrains.

Airbus said: “The programme's progress reflects the steady and dedicated work of Airbus, Tata Advanced Systems Limited and the several Indian MSMEs manufacturing parts across India. We thank the Indian Air Force, Ministry of Defence and Government of India for their unwavering trust. We are building the future of Indian aerospace.”

Indian Navy Seeks Tech Partners to Build Next-Gen Weapons Management System

Anish Kumar — Mon, 25 May 2026 15:47:12 +0530

New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence has invited technology companies to help design and build an upgraded digital platform to manage the Indian Navy’s weapons and armament logistics, issuing a formal Request for Information (RFI) for a system called INAMS Version 2.0.

The new platform will replace INAMS Version 1.0, which is currently operational across Naval Armament Depots (NADs) spread across the country.

INAMS, short for Indian Naval Armament Management System, is the Navy’s core software for tracking and coordinating weapons, ammunition, explosives, and related supply chains.

A Large-Scale Modernisation Push

The upgraded system is expected to support up to 1,200 simultaneous users, linking Naval Armament Depots nationwide with Naval Headquarters in New Delhi.

Its functions will span explosive handling, guided weapons management, personnel administration, procurement, and production planning.

The project has been structured over a five-year period, two years for development and full deployment, followed by three years of operations and maintenance.

Security at the Core

Given the sensitivity of naval armament data, the RFI sets out strict cybersecurity requirements.

Bidders must incorporate multi-factor authentication, AES-256 encryption — among the strongest data protection standards available and artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities.

The final system must also clear a rigorous cyber audit by the Indian Navy’s Naval Cyber Group before it can go live.

Navy Retains Full Ownership

In a significant condition for prospective vendors, the RFI specifies that all source code and intellectual property rights will transfer entirely to the Indian Navy upon delivery, giving the service full long-term control over the platform without dependence on external vendors.

Who Is Admiral Krishna Swaminathan? India’s 27th Navy Chief Takes Charge

Anish Kumar — Sun, 31 May 2026 13:51:28 +0530

New Delhi: Admiral Krishna Swaminathan assumed charge as the chief of the naval staff on Sunday, becoming the 27th head of the Indian navy at a moment when the service is navigating an ambitious modernization agenda and mounting strategic competition across the Indo-Pacific.

He succeeds Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, who retired after completing his tenure. The change of guard was formalized in a ceremony in New Delhi.

Indian Navy's new chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan takes charge from outgoing chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi. pic.twitter.com/klOnKeVM9z

— Anish Singh (@anishsingh21) May 31, 2026

Immediately before his elevation, Swaminathan served as flag officer commanding-in-chief of the Western Naval Command – the navy’s most operationally critical formation, overseeing India’s maritime frontier along the Arabian Sea and key sea lanes that carry a large share of the country’s trade and energy imports.

Commissioned into the navy on July 1, 1987, Swaminathan is a specialist in communication and electronic warfare and brings close to four decades of operational and command experience to the role.

Over the course of his career he has commanded a range of frontline warships, among them the missile boats INS Vidyut and INS Vinash, the missile corvette INS Kulish, the guided-missile destroyer INS Mysore, and the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya – the navy’s largest vessel before the induction of INS Vikrant in 2022.

All about Swaminathan

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Swaminathan also attended the Joint Services Command and Staff College in the United Kingdom, the College of Naval Warfare, and the United States Naval War College – a profile that reflects the navy’s investment in senior officers with broad international exposure. Before heading the Western Naval Command, he served as vice chief of the naval staff and chief of personnel.

His appointment comes at a pivotal point for the Indian navy. The service is in the midst of expanding its surface and subsurface fleet, with several indigenous warship construction programmes under way under the government’s ‘Make in India’ defence initiative.

The navy is also pursuing a submarine acquisition project to replace its ageing fleet, and is integrating unmanned aerial and underwater systems into its operational inventory.

The broader strategic environment adds urgency to these efforts. China’s expanding naval presence in the Indian Ocean – through port investments, submarine deployments and diplomatic engagement with littoral states – has sharpened India’s focus on maintaining maritime dominance in its near-neighbourhood.

The navy has stepped up its participation in multilateral exercises and partnerships, including with the United States, France, Australia and Japan, under the Quad framework.

Soon after taking charge, Swaminathan signaled continuity in the navy’s operational priorities, underlining readiness, combat capability and maritime security. “I will devote every single day of my life to make the Navy a better, stronger, sharper, and more impactful service,” Admiral Krishna Swaminathan said.

The emphasis is consistent with the approach of his predecessor, who oversaw the navy’s response to the surge in Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea in 2024, during which Indian warships were deployed to protect vessels in the Arabian Sea.

Indian Army Plans ₹23,000-Crore Deal for Additional 300 K9 Vajra Guns in Biggest Artillery Procurement in Decades

Anish Kumar — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 22:00:59 +0530

The Indian Army is preparing to seek government approval for the purchase of over 300 additional K9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers in a programme valued at approximately ₹23,000 crore.

Sources in the defence and security establishment said that the proposal is expected to come before the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) this week.

If approved, the order would go to Larsen & Toubro (L&T), which assembles the K9 Vajra in the country under licence production from South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace. It would also represent the single largest artillery procurement the army has undertaken in decades, and would push L&T’s cumulative K9 Vajra production mandate well past 500 guns.

Background and earlier contracts

A 155mm/52-calibre tracked howitzer, the K9 Vajra is capable of engaging targets beyond 40km. In 2017, the India Army inked its first deal with L&T for 100 guns at a cost of around ₹4,500 crore. Deliveries were completed ahead of schedule in 2021, and the guns were deployed primarily in desert sectors along the western border.

In December 2023, the defence ministry signed a follow-on contract for a further 100 guns at roughly ₹7,600 crore.

The rationale

The acquisition is driven by the army’s need to strengthen long-range firepower on two fronts simultaneously. Tracked self-propelled guns offer a significant advantage over towed artillery in mobility, crew protection and the ability to shoot and move quickly, a critical requirement in both the Thar Desert in the west and, increasingly, in high-altitude terrain along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

Trials of a cold-weather-adapted variant of the K9 Vajra were conducted in Ladakh, and the system was reported to have performed satisfactorily in those conditions. The expanded procurement is expected to address deployment gaps in both theatres.

India Floats RFP To Upgrade 258 Su-30MKI Fighters With Anti-Jamming Navigation System

Anish Kumar — Mon, 25 May 2026 17:04:24 +0530

New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to upgrade the Su-30MKI fighters fleet with a state-of-the-art anti-jamming, anti-spoofing multi-constellation GPS (Global Positioning System) antenna, in a significant push toward self-reliance in defence electronics.

The RFP invites bids from technically and financially capable indigenous firms to supply and install the advanced Antenna Electronic Unit system across 258 Su-30MKI fighter aircraft — the backbone of the Indian Air Force’s combat fleet.

Why the Upgrade Matters

The new system is designed to dramatically enhance the Su-30MKI’s navigation resilience in contested electronic warfare environments.

The antenna will support multiple satellite navigation constellations simultaneously, including India’s own NaVIC system, GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, and the GAGAN satellite-based augmentation system. It will give pilots reliable positioning data even when adversaries attempt jamming.

The system is specified to reject single interference sources by up to 85 dB and multiple simultaneous interference sources by up to 80 dB, making it exceptionally difficult to jam.

It must operate across the full flight envelope of the Su-30MKI, functioning at altitudes up to 21 kilometres, speeds up to Mach 1.5, and at accelerations ranging from -2g to 9g.

Scope of the Contract

The RFP mandates bidders to deliver 300 antenna systems along with 50 field-level testers and 10 base-level testers.

The contract also includes certification trials on two aircraft, full installation across the fleet, and structured training for IAF personnel at 9 TETTRA School.

The entire project is to be completed within 24 months of contract signing.

Make in India Priority

The procurement is restricted exclusively to Indian firms, reflecting the government’s broader push to reduce import dependency in defence.

Bids must be submitted online by June 22, 2026, with technical bid opening scheduled for the following day.

India’s Future Tanks To Carry Kamikaze Drones as AVNL Floats Major EoI

Anish Kumar — Fri, 29 May 2026 16:01:29 +0530

New Delhi: Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited has issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) to identify Indian industry partners for the design, development and supply of advanced drone systems for its future main battle tanks, signalling a major push towards integrating unmanned systems into next-generation armoured warfare capabilities.

The EoI, floated through Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Avadi, seeks companies capable of developing three categories of drones for the AVNL Main Battle Tank platform – loitering munitions, untethered surveillance drones and tethered drones.

The procurement is aligned with the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, with a strong emphasis on indigenous technology and domestic manufacturing.

According to the document, AVNL plans to procure three prototype sets during the development phase, followed by potential series production of 590 systems if the company’s tank platform is selected by the Ministry of Defence under the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) programme.

The proposed drone ecosystem is intended to significantly enhance battlefield awareness and beyond-line-of-sight strike capability for Indian armoured formations.

The loitering munition system is expected to engage armoured targets with a penetration capability of at least 500 mm rolled homogeneous armour (RHA), with a desirable threshold of 600 mm, including the ability to defeat explosive reactive armour through top-attack profiles.

The loitering munition is also expected to have a minimum operational range of 15 kilometres, endurance of at least 45 minutes and circular error probability of less than one metre.

The system is required to operate in plains, deserts, forests, urban terrain and mountainous regions, including at altitudes up to 18,000 feet above mean sea level.

For surveillance roles, AVNL has sought untethered drones capable of transmitting 2K video at 30 frames per second over 20 kilometres while operating in electronic warfare environments. The surveillance drones are expected to feature encrypted communications, autonomous navigation in GNSS-denied conditions, automatic target tracking and return-to-home capability.

The EoI also outlines plans for tethered drones that would provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance as well as communication relay functions for armoured fighting vehicles. These systems are expected to draw power directly from the vehicle, enabling prolonged aerial surveillance during combat operations.

AVNL has mandated a minimum indigenous content level of more than 50 per cent during the prototype phase, rising progressively to 80 per cent by the final production lot. The company has reserved the right to physically verify claims related to indigenous design and development.

The EoI is open only to Indian companies, including MSMEs, public sector undertakings and government entities. Firms participating directly in the Indian Army’s FRCV, FICV, ARV or light tank platform-level programmes have been barred from participating in this drone project.

The document underscores the growing importance of drone warfare lessons emerging from recent global conflicts, particularly the increasing integration of unmanned systems with armoured platforms for reconnaissance, targeting and precision strike missions.

Also read: Future-ready combat vehicles to replace Indian Army's T-72 tanks from 2030

History Made: First NDA-Trained Women Officers Cross IMA's ‘Antim Pag’, Join Indian Army

Anish Kumar — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 10:50:38 +0530

In a historic first for the Indian armed forces, women who trained at the National Defence Academy graduated as commissioned officers on Saturday, stepping across the IMA’s storied “Antim Pag” – the Final Step – for the very first time.

The moment marks the end of a journey that began with a Supreme Court ruling four years ago.

President Droupadi Murmu attended the Passing Out Parade at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the ceremony at the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad.

How it came to be

Women have served as officers in the Indian military for many years, but the doors of the NDA, the country’s premier tri-service training institution, remained closed to them.

In 2021, the Supreme Court ordered that women be admitted. The first batch entered the NDA in June 2022, with new cohorts joining every six months since. Saturday’s parade marks the commissioning of that pioneering first batch.

The Antim Pag

The IMA’s most hallowed tradition is the Antim Pag, a marked line on the parade ground that a cadet crosses the moment they are commissioned as an Army officer. On Saturday, women crossed it for the first time in the academy’s history.

Of the 515 cadets graduating from IMA, including 34 from 16 countries, nine are women from the NDA’s inaugural batch. Three of them will join the Army’s Artillery regiment, a branch that has been open to women for approximately three years.

Air Force Academy

At the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad, 231 cadets received their wings, including 194 men and 37 women. Five of the women are from the NDA’s first batch. Two will fly fighter jets; the remaining three will serve in the technical branch.

Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026: Indian and US Armies to Train Near LAC in Uttarakhand and Rajasthan Desert

Anish Kumar — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:03:37 +0530

New Delhi: India and the United States will conduct the 22nd edition of their annual joint army exercise, Yudh Abhyas, in the first week of September, deploying roughly 350 soldiers each across two geographically contrasting locations: the high-altitude snowfields of Auli in Uttarakhand and the arid expanse of the Mahajan field firing range in Rajasthan.

Why Auli?

The choice of Auli carries strategic weight. Situated at an altitude of roughly 2,500 metres and approximately 95 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, the exercise site at Auli offers realistic training ground for high-altitude operations of the kind that have become central to India’s military thinking since the prolonged stand-off in eastern Ladakh that began in 2020.

The three-week exercise will, for the first time in this series, incorporate AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and long-range vectored assets, giving both armies the opportunity to practise combined-arms operations, precision engagement and simulated close-air support across terrain that shifts from thin-air mountain ridges to open desert.

The Apache’s inclusion signals a deliberate effort to refine air-ground integration, target acquisition and dynamic manoeuvres under varied geographic and climatic conditions.

Training at Auli will test high-altitude logistics, acclimatization protocols and infantry manoeuvres where reduced oxygen and harsh weather impose a physical ceiling on operations.

Drills at Rajasthan's Mahajan

At Mahajan, the focus will shift to live-fire drills, mechanized manoeuvres and integrated artillery-aircraft coordination.

The previous edition, held in Alaska in September 2025, placed both armies in sub-arctic conditions.

Launched in 2004 as a modest bilateral initiative, Yudh Abhyas has grown into one of the largest recurring land-forces engagements between the two countries.

Over two decades, its scope has widened from counterinsurgency and counterterrorism drills to high-altitude warfare and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, evolving in step with India’s expanding defence relationship with Washington and with the changing security calculus in the Indo-Pacific.

Yudh Abhyas is one of a battery of bilateral and multilateral exercises in which India and the US participate together. These include the naval exercise Malabar, which also involves Japan and occasionally Australia, and the air force exercise Cope India, as well as the broader Quad military engagements.

Ministry of Defence to Impose Penalty on HAL Over Tejas Mk1A Delivery Failures

Anish Kumar — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:22:01 +0530

New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence is moving to impose financial penalties on state-owned plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) after it failed to deliver a single LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter jet to the Indian Air Force. The delay has now stretched well over two years past the original deadline.

The ministry had signed an agreement with HAL in 2021 to supply 83 LCA Tejas Mk1A aircraft, comprising 73 fighters and 10 trainers, to the IAF at a cost of ₹45,696 crore. The deliveries had to begin from February 2024. That deadline has long passed, and not a single operational aircraft has been handed over to the Air Force.

The contract had envisaged HAL delivering approximately 8 aircraft per year to the IAF.

The ministry of defence to impose financial penalty on state-owned plane maker — Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Prior to this, the ministry had shut down the door for the Bengaluru-based company in the #AMCA fighter programme, inviting the private sector players like TASL,… pic.twitter.com/ZoO6gTf7zO

— Anish Singh (@anishsingh21) June 8, 2026

The Bengaluru-based company is yet to supply a single aircraft to the IAF, primarily due to a delay of more than a year by US aviation major General Electric in supplying the critical F404-IN20 engines.

In the past, the HAL has defended itself by pointing to the engine supply failure. Out of the 99 engines ordered under a $716 million contract signed in 2021, GE has managed to deliver only six units as of April 2026.

The supply was originally to begin from April 2023, which did not happen, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had to take up the issue with his US counterparts multiple times.

HAL had confirmed that five LCA Mk1A aircraft are fully ready for delivery incorporating major contracted capabilities, while an additional nine aircraft were built and flown earlier with test engines pending replacement by the GE F404-IN20 powerplants. Despite this, no aircraft has been formally handed over to the IAF.

Around 20 Mk1A airframes have been fully assembled and are currently waiting on the factory floor solely because they lack propulsion systems.