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Indian Army Fires Hellfire Missiles From Apache In First-Ever Pokhran Exercise (WATCH)

Anish Kumar — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:28:31 +0530

An AH-64 Apache attack helicopter fired AGM-114 Hellfire missiles at ground targets during live field firing exercise ‘Brahmastra’ at Rajasthan's Pokhran ranges on Thursday. It was for the first time the American-built gunship has conducted such an exercise in India since its induction into the Indian Army five years ago.

The Apache successfully engaged targets with Hellfire missiles and other onboard weapon systems at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges, in what the Army described as a demonstration of rapid target acquisition and precision strike capability in support of ground troops.

Indian Army’s Apache attack helicopter fires Hellfire missiles just few kilometres away from Pakistan in Rajasthan’s Pokhran. The helicopter was inducted into the force in 2020 and it was for the first time that Hellfire missiles were fired in the field. pic.twitter.com/COrBVdFwGC

— Anish Singh (@anishsingh21) April 9, 2026

The exercise marked a significant operational milestone for the Army Aviation Corps, establishing the Apache's live combat readiness in the Indian theatre.

The two-day exercise was designed to demonstrate how attack helicopters can operate in direct support of ground troops in contested environments — including conditions involving small arms fire, man-portable air defence systems, and drone threats.

Also Read: Game-Changer At Sea: INS Taragiri Joins Indian Navy With Advanced Weapons And Stealth Tech

The Apache entered service with the Indian Army in 2020 under a government-to-government deal with the United States, and is deployed primarily in anti-armour and close support roles along the northern and western sectors.

An Indian Army official said advanced sensors, fire control systems, and real-time data links enabled faster decision cycles during the exercises, allowing battlefield intelligence to be converted into immediate strikes.

The Army characterised the Apache as extending the reach and lethality of ground forces, while the Prachand was presented as evidence of India's growing self-reliance in combat aviation.

The demonstrations reflect a broader doctrinal shift within the Indian Army towards tighter integration of air and land assets — an approach that has gained renewed urgency following conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, where coordination between rotary-wing aviation and ground forces has proved tactically decisive.

A day earlier, on Wednesday, Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi flew aboard the Light Combat Helicopter Prachand at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's facility in Bengaluru — a sortie that carried its own institutional weight, signalling the Army leadership's backing for the indigenous platform at a time when HAL is seeking further orders from both the Army and the Navy.

The Prachand, developed by HAL and inducted in 2022, is optimised for high-altitude operations — a capability of particular relevance given the continuing military standoff in eastern Ladakh.

Also Read: From Drones to Munitions: Sagar Defence Enters Explosives and Ammunition Manufacturing Space

Game-Changer At Sea: INS Taragiri Joins Indian Navy With Advanced Weapons And Stealth Tech

Anish Kumar — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:28:12 +0530

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday commissioned the fourth platform of the Project 17A class – INS Taragiri into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. A master-class in modern naval shipbuilding, this latest stealth frigate, with a displacement of approximately 6,670 tonnes, has been designed by the Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, with the support of MSMEs, for multi-role operations.

“It utilizes advanced stealth technology to achieve a significantly reduced radar signature, providing a lethal edge in contested environments,” Indian Navy PRO Captain Vivek Madhwal said.

With over 75% indigenous content and built in significantly reduced timelines, INS Taragiri exemplifies India’s shipbuilding prowess and strong public-private collaboration.

Rajnath Singh on INS Taragiri

In his address, Rajnath Singh described INS Taragiri as not merely a warship but a symbol of India’s growing technological prowess, self-reliance, and formidable naval power.

“This ship is capable of high-speed transit and can remain deployed at sea for extended periods. It is equipped with systems designed to monitor enemy movements, ensure its own security, and if necessary, deliver an immediate response.”

“It features modern radar, sonar, and missile systems, such as BrahMos and surface-to-air missiles, which further augment its operational prowess. From high-intensity combat to maritime security, anti-piracy operations, coastal surveillance, and humanitarian missions, it fits perfectly into every role, making it a unique naval platform,” he said.

Rajnath Singh asserted that India, with a coastline stretching over 11,000 kilometers, is surrounded by the sea on three sides, and it cannot view its development in isolation from the ocean.

He added that approximately 95 percent of the country’s trade is conducted via maritime routes, and energy security is dependent on the sea, which makes building a strong and capable Navy not merely an option, but an absolute necessity.

Highlighting the immense significance of the maritime domain in the evolving security landscape, the defence minister stated that the Indian Navy maintains a round-the-clock presence across the Indian Ocean region amidst the global uncertainties.

“The vast expanse of the ocean contains numerous sensitive points, where our Navy has consistently maintained an active presence to ensure the smooth flow of goods. Whenever tensions flare, the Indian Navy steps-in to guarantee the security of commercial vessels and oil tankers. It is not only safeguarding India's national interests, but is also prepared to take every necessary measure to protect our citizens and trade routes across the globe. It is this capability that firmly establishes India as a responsible and formidable maritime power,” he said.

“We must not limit ourselves to safeguarding our coastlines; we must also ensure the security of critical sea lanes, choke points, and digital infrastructure that are inextricably linked to our national interests.”

“The Indian Navy is proactively engaged in all these security endeavors. This approach prepares us for future challenges. Whenever India constructs and deploys advanced vessels such as INS Taragiri, it serves as a guarantee of peace and prosperity for the entire region,” he said.

Rajnath Singh also pointed out that whenever a crisis arises, be it evacuation operations or humanitarian assistance, the Indian Navy invariably stands at the forefront, serving as a symbol of India's core values and unwavering commitment.

“INS Taragiri will further augment the strength, values, and commitment of our Navy,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi highlighted INS Taragiri’s rich legacy, recalling the erstwhile Leander-class frigate commissioned in 1980, which played a pioneering role in advancing India’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities and operational innovation.

Reflecting on the evolving maritime security environment, he underscored the growing complexities of the Indian Ocean Region, shaped by dynamic geopolitics, emerging technologies, and non-traditional threats.

Indian Army UN Peacekeepers Save Lives In Swift Response To Congo Fire

Divya Danu — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:21:20 +0530

Indian Army UN peacekeepers quickly controlled a fire in Goma, Congo. The blaze spread to three houses in a crowded area. Troops from Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion evacuated residents and coordinated firefighting efforts.

Indian Army UN peacekeepers acted quickly after a fire broke out in a residential area in Goma, a city in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The incident took place in the Bujovi Quarter along Bunyerezo Avenue.

According to officials, the fire started due to an electrical short circuit. It quickly spread to three nearby houses in the densely populated area, creating panic among residents.

Troops from the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion (INDRDB), stationed at the BFI–CHU Camp, rushed to the spot as soon as they were alerted.

On reaching the site, they immediately took control of the situation. Their quick and organised response helped prevent the fire from spreading further.

The Quick Reaction Force quickly cordoned off the area to ensure safety. Around 10 to 12 residents were safely evacuated from the affected houses.

At the same time, the Fire Fighting Team started efforts to control the flames. They also searched the houses carefully to make sure no one was trapped inside.

During the rescue, first aid was given to around six to seven injured civilians.

The Indian troops also guided and coordinated with firefighting teams from the LAVA site. This teamwork ensured a fast and well-managed response.

Because of their efforts, the fire was brought under control without any further loss of life or major damage to nearby properties.

Officials said the incident shows the professionalism and readiness of Indian UN peacekeepers. Their actions also highlight their commitment to protecting civilians and helping people in emergency situations.

The response has been seen as a strong example of how trained forces can act quickly and effectively in difficult conditions.

Why Pahalgam? Inside the Calculated Terror Attack on Kashmir’s Tourism Hub

Anish Kumar — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:01:44 +0530

New Delhi: There is a reason terrorists chose the Baisaran valley. It was accessible, along with being symbolic.

For years, the meadow had been doing quiet diplomatic work. Every family that rode a pony up its slopes, every tourist who photographed its impossible green against snow-capped peaks, was living proof of a government claim: that Kashmir was healing, that it was open, that it was safe. The tourism boom was the narrative. Baisaran was its most photogenic backdrop.

On April 22, 2025, armed men walked into that meadow and killed 26 people. They moved through the crowd asking each person their religion. Those identified as Hindu were shot. The attack was over within minutes. What it left behind — in the valley, in the tourism industry, in the minds of hundreds of thousands of potential visitors — would linger far longer.

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A deliberate target, not a random one

The choice of Baisaran was not opportunistic. It was strategic. The valley sits about seven kilometres from Pahalgam town, accessible only on foot or horseback. That remoteness, which makes it so appealing to tourists seeking escape, also meant no immediate armed response was possible. By the time security forces could reach the site, the attackers had retreated into the surrounding forests.

The Resistance Front — TRF, a front organisation for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — initially claimed responsibility, framing the attack as opposition to demographic change brought about by the 2019 abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status. The messaging was calculated. Tourism in Kashmir, TRF's statement implied, represented an influx of outsiders and a political normalisation that the group rejected. Tourists were not collateral damage. They were the point.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar put it plainly when he described the attack at the United Nations on July 1, 2025: "It was an act of economic warfare. It was meant to destroy tourism in Kashmir, which was the mainstay of the economy. It was also meant to provoke religious violence because people were asked to identify their faith before they were killed."

What tourism actually means for Kashmir

To understand the attack's intent, it helps to understand what Kashmir's tourism revival represented — and to whom.

For the Indian government, a thriving tourist season was evidence that its 2019 decision to revoke Article 370 had stabilised rather than inflamed the region. Visitor numbers had climbed steadily. International attention had softened. The imagery of families holidaying in meadows was politically useful in a way that security briefings could never be.

For local Kashmiris — the pony operators, the hotel owners, the shopkeepers, the guides — tourism was simply income, often the primary source of it. The valley's economy runs on summer visitors. A disrupted season is not an abstraction. It is empty rooms and cancelled bookings and families trying to calculate how to get through winter.

The attack hit both simultaneously.

In the immediate aftermath, tourists flooded out of Jammu and Kashmir. Air India operated additional flights to accommodate the surge in departures. Hotel occupancy fell to near zero, with hoteliers slashing room rates by up to 50 per cent in desperate attempts to retain any visitors at all. Compared to the same period in 2024, tourist numbers dropped by more than half. Several tourist sites remained closed for months.

The numbers capture the economic damage. What they cannot capture is the slower, harder-to-measure damage to perception — the hesitation that will linger for years among people considering whether Kashmir is safe enough to visit with their children.

The doctrine of "soft targets"

In counter-terrorism terms, Baisaran was a textbook soft target: high civilian concentration, minimal security presence, terrain that made rapid response nearly impossible. These are the characteristics that make open tourist spaces — meadows, pilgrimage sites, markets, beaches — so attractive to groups seeking maximum impact with minimum operational risk.

The shift toward civilian spaces as primary targets reflects an evolution in terrorist strategy. Attacking security forces generates military confrontations. Attacking tourists generates fear, economic disruption, global media coverage, and political pressure — often all at once, with fewer tactical risks. The Pahalgam attack achieved all four.

What made it additionally potent was its setting. A massacre in a conflict zone is terrible but, to a distant audience, comprehensible within a familiar frame. A massacre in a place that looks like Switzerland — a family meadow, on a sunny afternoon, amid people who had come precisely because they thought it was safe — breaks a different and more fundamental sense of security.

What followed — and what it revealed

India's response to the attack ultimately escalated into Operation Sindoor in May 2025 — cross-border strikes on terrorist infrastructure, followed by Pakistani retaliatory strikes, before a ceasefire was agreed on May 10. The military chapter closed relatively quickly. The question of how to secure open civilian spaces without destroying what makes them worth visiting did not.

Across Muslim-majority towns in Kashmir — Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag, Baramulla, and others — protests were held against the attack. Local Kashmiris, whose livelihoods depend on the same tourism the attackers were trying to destroy, made clear they were not the constituency these terrorists claimed to represent. That response matters. Any long-term security strategy for tourist zones in Kashmir will depend less on checkpoints than on the communities who live there year-round, who know the terrain, and who have every reason to want visitors to feel safe.

The harder question

The tactical response is relatively straightforward — more intelligence-led operations, better-positioned rapid-response units, enhanced surveillance in high-footfall areas, coordination with local guides and operators who know when something feels wrong.

The harder question is the one no security apparatus can fully answer: how do you restore a sense of safety to a place that has become synonymous with loss?

Tourism is unusually sensitive to perception. The families who visited Baisaran before April 22 did so because they believed it was safe. That belief — not the meadow itself, not the ponies, not the views — is what was destroyed. Hotel occupancy levels that plunged to near zero can recover when normalcy returns. The psychological calculus of a family deciding whether to take their children to Kashmir will take much longer to recalibrate.

The terrorists understood this when they chose Baisaran. Rebuilding what they broke will require understanding it too — and responding to it with something more durable than a security cordon.

India Signs Rs 1,950 Crore Deal For Indigenous Mountain Radars To Boost Air Defence Power

Anish Kumar — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:23:17 +0530

New Delhi: In a significant stride toward realising India’s vision of self-reliance in defence manufacturing, the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday inked a capital acquisition contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the procurement of two state-of-the-art Mountain Radars, along with associated equipment and requisite infrastructure, for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The contract is valued at approximately ₹1,950 crore.

Advancing Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence

The contract has been concluded under the Buy (Indian – Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured), or IDDM, category — the highest priority classification under the Defence Acquisition Procedure.

“This designation underscores the government’s firm commitment to promoting domestic defence industrial capacity and reducing strategic dependence on foreign suppliers,” an official said.

The Mountain Radar system has been indigenously conceptualised, designed, and developed by the Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), a premier laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

BEL, a Navratna defence public sector undertaking, will be responsible for the serial production, integration, and delivery of the systems.

Strategic and Operational Significance

Designed specifically for deployment in challenging high-altitude and mountainous terrain, the Mountain Radar is engineered to provide robust, all-weather air surveillance and threat detection capabilities along India’s sensitive borders.

Upon successful installation and commissioning, these radars will significantly enhance the IAF’s situational awareness, strengthen the country’s integrated air defence network, and contribute directly to national security.

The induction of these systems is expected to fill a critical operational gap in India’s radar coverage across difficult geographic corridors, where conventional surveillance infrastructure faces inherent limitations.

Deepening the Defence Industrial Ecosystem

“The contract represents a tangible outcome of the Government of India’s Make in India initiative in the defence sector, reinforcing its policy of prioritising indigenously developed platforms and systems.”

“The collaboration between DRDO’s research establishment and BEL’s manufacturing expertise exemplifies the model of public sector synergy that the government seeks to replicate across defence acquisition programmes.”

Lessons From Operation Sindoor: Defence Ministry Floats RFI For Next-Gen Air Defence Gun To Counter Drone Swarms

Anish Kumar — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:09:09 +0530

New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence has floated a request for information (RFI) for the procurement of next-generation air defence gun system (ADG-NG) and ammunition for the Indian Army, designed to counter evolving aerial threats, including drones, aircraft, and missiles.

The next-generation air defence gun system (ADG-NG) and ammunition must have indigenous content of at least 50%, with emphasis on local manufacturing and technology transfer.

The move comes at a time when the threat landscape has fundamentally shifted from conventional fighter jets and helicopters to electrically operated drones with very low radar cross-section and infrared signatures.

The RFI explicitly references Operation Sindoor, noting that adversaries on the Western Front employed drones and swarm drones for both surveillance and strikes against civil and defence installations.

Why does Indian Army want to procure ADG-NG system?

The Army intends to procure these gun systems to ensure timely detection, tracking and cost-effective neutralization thereby protecting the Vulnerable Areas and Vulnerable Points (VAs/VPs) from critical damage.

Envisioned as a vehicle-mounted or towed gun platform, the next-generation air defence gun can autonomously detect, track, and engage a wide range of aerial and ground threats – day or night – using an integrated Electro-Optical Fire Control System (EOFCS).

The system must provide terminal all-weather air defence protection, capable of engaging a broad spectrum of threats, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters (including hovering), remotely piloted aircraft and drones, cruise missiles, precision-guided munitions, and RAM (Rocket, Artillery & Mortar) threats at ranges of 4000 meters or more, with a target engagement speed of 500 m/s.

The gun should have a rate of fire of at least 300 rounds per minute with effective engagement height of 2500 meters or more.

As per the RFI, micro-light aircraft, para-motors, paragliders, and aero models have also been listed as targets.

The power supply options must include onboard generator, batteries, or mains, with silent operation capabilities. The system should be upgradeable, modular, and capable of integration with existing radars and navigation systems.

On the ammunition front, the Indian Army requires the gun to fire both smart programmable rounds – pre-fragmented and proximity-fused – and standard High Explosive rounds with tracers.

All rounds must feature self-destruction capability. The autoloader system must allow reloading by no more than two personnel, and ammunition must carry a shelf life of at least 10 years.

The RFI also sought specific detection, recognition, and identification (DRI) ranges for targets including a DJI Mavic Pro 3 drone, a Cheetah helicopter, and a Rafale fighter jet.

Vendors have been asked to submit detailed technical and product information by June 11.

India Declares End Of Naxalism After 50 Years: How Development And Security Changed The Red Corridor

Anish Kumar — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:59:24 +0530

New Delhi: India formally announced the end of the Naxal menace on March 31 — a chapter of violent Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) that had haunted the country's tribal heartland for over five decades.

What began as an agrarian uprising in Naxalbari, West Bengal in 1967 and evolved into one of Asia's most persistent insurgencies has been brought to its knees not merely by superior firepower, but by an unprecedented fusion of security operations, infrastructure investment, and grassroots welfare delivery that reached the most remote forest clearings of Bastar and beyond.

The transformation did not happen overnight. Beginning in 2014, successive governments pursued a doctrine that treated LWE not only as a law-and-order problem but as a symptom of developmental exclusion.

The strategy's success is now written in hard numbers across health, education, finance, infrastructure, and democratic participation.

Healing the Heartland: Healthcare Reaches the Forest

For generations, tribal communities in Chhattisgarh's Sukma and Bijapur districts lacked access to even basic medical care. That changed decisively with the construction of a 240-bed Super Specialty Hospital in Jagdalpur — a facility that would not look out of place in any state capital.

Complementing it, two brand-new Field Hospitals were erected in Bijapur and Sukma, taking quality care directly into conflict zones.

Six additional field hospitals were upgraded, raising the total network of frontline medical infrastructure to unprecedented levels.

The impact has been measurable in lives. Since 2017, these facilities have collectively treated over 67,500 patients, many of whom previously had no alternative but forest healers or a multi-day journey to distant towns.

Simultaneously, the state's community health architecture deepened its roots. The Mitanin Programme — Chhattisgarh's flagship community health scheme — empowered over 70,000 grassroots health workers, more than 80 per cent of them drawn from marginalised or tribal backgrounds.

In urban pockets, women-led Mahila Arogya Samitis tackled food security (74.1%), sanitation (70.8%), and gender-based violence (60.8%).

Over 12,927 special health camps served 7,66,585 beneficiaries, making healthcare a lived reality rather than a distant promise.

Banking the Unbanked: Financial Inclusion at Scale

If roads are the veins of development, financial inclusion is its lifeblood. In LWE-affected regions, exclusion from formal banking had long kept communities dependent on money-lenders and outside middlemen — fertile ground for Naxal recruitment.

Since 2014, that reality has been systematically dismantled. The Department of Posts alone opened 6,025 new post offices with full banking services, carrying the state's financial reach into the most isolated hamlets.

A further 1,804 bank branches became operational, supported by 1,321 new ATMs.

Most crucially, 75,000 banking correspondents — local agents who carry financial services door-to-door — were activated across the region, ensuring that even villagers unable to travel to a branch could access savings, insurance, and government transfers.

Knowledge as Liberation: Schools in the Jungle

Education has long been the Naxal movement's most effective recruiting tool — or rather, its absence has been.

The government's response has been to build at a pace that has no precedent in the region's history.

Since 2014, a total of 9,303 schools have been constructed in LWE-affected areas. Of 258 Eklavya Model Residential Schools sanctioned for tribal children, 179 are now fully operational, offering hostel facilities and quality education to students who previously walked hours to reach a classroom.

Eleven Kendriya Vidyalayas and six Navodaya Vidyalayas have also been established, anchoring high-quality central government schooling in former stronghold districts.

Government Schemes: Welfare Finds Its Address

The most politically significant shift may be the most prosaic: welfare schemes are finally reaching their intended beneficiaries.

PM Awas Yojana housing beneficiaries in LWE districts surged from 92,847 in 2024 to 2,54,045 in 2025 — a near-tripling in a single year.

MGNREGA enrolment climbed from 8,19,983 to 9,87,204 over the same period, a direct signal that the state administration is now present and functional in areas it once could not safely enter.

Connecting the Corridor: Roads, Towers, and Rail

Perhaps nothing symbolises the transformation more vividly than the infrastructure now threading through what was once the "Red Corridor."

Over 17,500 kilometres of roads have been built in Maoist-affected areas, ending the geographic isolation that Naxals had carefully cultivated as a shield.

Nine thousand mobile towers have been installed, with 2,343 upgraded to 4G, connecting communities to commerce, information, and emergency services.

Rail connectivity — once unthinkable in South Bastar — is advancing rapidly. A 95-kilometre rail line between Dallirajhara and Raoghat is complete; a 140-kilometre stretch between Raoghat and Jagdalpur is developed; and a survey for a further 180-kilometre line from Dantewada to Munuguru in Telangana is underway, knitting the region permanently into the national mainstream.

Democracy's Return: Ballots Replace Bullets

The most eloquent verdict on India's decade of counter-insurgency has been delivered not by security forces but by tribal voters.

In Bastar, voter turnout climbed from 66.04% in 2019 to 68.29% in 2024 — a 2.25 percentage point increase in a region where Naxals had for years enforced election boycotts at gunpoint.

Similar gains were recorded in Kanker (up 1.81%), Rajnandgaon (1.22%), and Mahasamund (0.37%).

Balod district became India's first child-marriage-free district under the "Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat" initiative in 2025; Surajpur declared 75 village panchayats free from child marriage.

Active implementation of the Forest Rights Act has secured individual and community land titles for tribal families, giving them genuine stakes in the democratic system.

India's Naxal chapter is closing because the state chose to fight on two fronts simultaneously — with security forces in the forest and with development in the village.

The lesson encoded in those 17,500 kilometres of road, in the 240-bed hospital in Jagdalpur, in the 75,000 banking correspondents, and in the rising voter turnout of Bastar is simple and hard-won: lasting peace is not declared — it is built, school by school, road by road, and vote by vote.

India Did Not Help Israeli Jets In Iran Strike: PIB Fact Check Busts Pak Propaganda Channel's Naliya Airbase Claim

Divya Danu — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:25:26 +0530

The Government of India has clarified that a viral claim about the Indian Air Force supporting Israeli jets is completely false. PIB Fact Check has said that reports claiming India helped Israeli aircraft during a strike on Iran are fake and misleading.

Some social media accounts claimed that Israeli jets received refuelling and logistic support from the Indian Air Force’s Naliya airbase in Gujarat. The claim suggested that this support was given during a recent Israeli strike on Iran's Chabahar port.

Pakistani propaganda accounts are claiming that the Indian Air Force’s Naliya airbase in Gujarat provided refueling and logistic support to Israeli jets in a recent Israeli strike on Iran’s Chabahar port. #PIBFactCheck: ❌ This claim is #FAKE. This narrative is part… pic.twitter.com/b4nNuWIAjI

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) April 8, 2026

The post also mentioned that the airbase is located in Gujarat’s Kutch district, near the Sir Creek border area.

Government response and clarification

PIB Fact Check strongly rejected the claim. It said that the information being shared online is false and part of a planned attempt to spread confusion.

Officials described it as a case of disinformation aimed at creating tension.

The government also pointed out that such claims are being spread by certain propaganda accounts on social media platforms.

Warning against misinformation

Authorities have urged people not to share unverified information. They said that spreading such false news can create panic and harm public trust.

People have been advised to rely only on official sources for information related to the Indian Air Force.

For accurate updates, the government asked users to follow Indian Air Force official channels.

How to report fake news

The government has also shared ways to report misleading content. Citizens can report such posts through WhatsApp or email to the fact-check team.

Officials said that public cooperation is important to stop the spread of fake news.

The latest clarification makes it clear that India did not provide any support to Israeli jets in the reported strike. The government has called on people to stay alert and avoid sharing rumours.

Operation Sindoor Anniversary: Army Showcases L70 Guns, Drone Power (WATCH)

Asianet News Central — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:40:53 +0530

Bhuj, Gujarat: As India approaches the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army's Air Defence regiment showcases the L70 air defence guns, a symbol of vigilance, precision, and unwavering readiness.

These guns played a crucial role during Operation Sindoor, effectively countering enemy drone threats and reinforcing India's air defence shield.

#WATCH | Bhuj, Gujarat: As India approaches the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army’s AD regiment showcases the L70 air defence guns, a symbol of vigilance, precision, and unwavering readiness.These guns played a crucial role during Operation Sindoor,… pic.twitter.com/unuzas6m62

— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2026

Army Showcases Tactical Prowess

The Indian Army demonstrated its technological edge by deploying advanced drones during Operation Sindoor. During the exercise the Indian Army's AD showcased unmanned aerial systems for surveillance, target acquisition, and real-time intelligence gathering across challenging terrain.

Indian Army exhibited its formidable tactical prowess in waterborne operations, with specialised battle groups swiftly manoeuvring through shallow waters in agile assault boats.

During Operation Sindoor, these highly versatile vessels were deployed in a state of high readiness, fully prepared to intercept and neutralise any enemy ships attempting to approach India's borders.

The amphibious operation drill by the Indian Army to carry out an attack and dominate the enemy territory showcased how the Indian Army dominated the Creek Area during Operation Sindoor both on land and in water.

'Justice Will Be Served': India Commemorates Anniversary

Earlier, marking one year since the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, the Indian Army reiterated its resolve against terrorism, remembering the decisive military response under 'Operation Sindoor' and warning assured retaliation for acts against India.

Commemorating the anniversary, in a post on X, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) of the Indian Army wrote, "For acts against India, the response is assured. Justice will be served. Always," along with a Sindoor graphic which read, "Operation Sindoor continues..."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the 26 victims of the attack, reiterating the country's unified stand against terrorism. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the lives lost would "never be forgotten" and expressed solidarity with grieving families.

"As a nation, we stand united in grief and resolve. India will never bow to any form of terror. The heinous designs of terrorists will never succeed," Modi stated.

Operation Sindoor: The Decisive Response to Terror

The terror attack, carried out in Pahalgam, one of Jammu and Kashmir's prominent tourist destinations, had shocked the nation after Pakistan-backed terrorists entered a village and killed 26 civilians. The assailants reportedly targeted victims based on their religious identity, drawing widespread condemnation and outrage across the country.

In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The Indian armed forces struck multiple terror launchpads linked to groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen, significantly damaging their operational capabilities.

The operation triggered retaliatory actions from Pakistan, including drone attacks and cross-border shelling, leading to a brief four-day military escalation. Indian forces responded with precision strikes, reportedly targeting key radar installations in Lahore and areas near Gujranwala.

Following the escalation, both countries agreed to a ceasefire on May 10 after communication between their respective Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO).

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

India Commissions INS Aridhaman, Completing Historic Nuclear Submarine Triad Expansion

Anish Kumar — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 14:37:41 +0530

New Delhi: India on Friday commissioned its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Aridhaman, enhancing the country's sea-based nuclear deterrence. The commissioning ceremony took place in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi at Visakhapatnam.

INS Aridhaman had completed successful final sea trials in late 2025.

INS Aridhaman, whose name translates to “Perpetually Victorious,” is a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine and the third of the Indian Navy's Arihant-class.

It is designated S4 Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine and displaces approximately 7,000 tonnes.

The vessel was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam.

INS Aridhaman will join the existing INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, giving the Indian Navy three operational Arihant-class SSBNs at sea for the first time and expanding the submarine component of the nuclear triad.

A More Capable Submarine

INS Aridhaman represents a major step forward over its predecessors in both size and firepower.

Featuring an enlarged hull compared to INS Arihant, the submarine has an overall length of about 130 metres, a beam of 11 metres, and a draft of approximately 9.5 to 10 metres.

The submarine's displacement is consistently given as about 6,000 tonnes on the surface and approximately 7,000 tonnes submerged, with a complement of roughly 95 to 100 crew members.

The vessel carries a significantly larger missile payload than earlier boats.

Unlike INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, which feature four missile tubes, as per the reports, Aridhaman is equipped with eight vertical launch tubes, enabling it to carry up to 24 K-15 Sagarika missiles with a range of 750 km, or a combination of longer-range K-4 missiles with a range of 3,500 km.

Years in the Making

The submarine was laid down around 2017–18, launched on November 21, 2021, and has been undergoing harbour acceptance and sea trials since 2022, with final weapon and reactor checks completed by mid-2025.

Strategic Implications

INS Aridhaman commissioning comes at a time of heightened maritime competition in the Indo-Pacific.

Her induction will mark the operationalization of three SSBNs, providing continuous at-sea deterrence and bolstering the credibility of India's no-first-use nuclear doctrine.

India Seeks Wet Lease of 3 Heavy-Lift Helicopters to Boost IAF Airlift

Anish Kumar — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:50:07 +0530

The Ministry of Defence has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to procure three Ultra Heavy Lift Helicopters (UHLHs) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) on a damp lease basis for an initial period of two years, with an option to purchase them at the end of the lease term.

The damp lease, also known as “wet lease” is an arrangement that includes the aircraft along with maintenance crew and technical support from the vendor.

The move would help in plugging a critical gap in the Indian Air Force’s heavy airlift capabilities, particularly for high-altitude logistics, disaster relief and large-scale troop deployment operations along the borders with Pakistan and China.

As per the RFI, the vendors must demonstrate an internal or external payload capacity of at least 20,000 kg, with a maximum cruise speed exceeding 230 km/h.

The helicopters must be capable of operating at altitudes of 5,500 metres or above, making them suitable for deployment across the Himalayan terrain. It should have a capacity to carry a minimum of 45 troops or accommodating 20 stretchers for casualty evacuation roles.

Also Read: Why the Indian Army Needs 83 Akashteer Air Defence Carriers for Frontline Combat

The platform must also be equipped with day and night visual monitoring systems for underslung loads.

The RFI further stated that the vendors are expected to guarantee an availability rate of 95%.

Besides, the aircraft must be fitted with a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) for threat detection and display, along with a Counter Measure Dispensing System (CMDS).

Critically, the CMDS must be integrated with both the RWR and MAWS to enable automatic or semi-automatic dispensation of countermeasures, providing survivability in contested airspace.

As far as the delivery timeline is concerned, the vendor has to deliver the helicopters within 3-6 months of contract signing.

In Indian context, the Boeing CH-47 Chinook, already in service with the IAF in a medium-lift variant, and the Russian-origin Mil Mi-26 would be the main contenders for the competition.

The Mi-26 has previously operated with the IAF, giving it a legacy advantage, while the Chinook brings NATO-standard interoperability and proven reliability.

Also Read: Operation Sindoor Anniversary: Army Showcases L70 Guns, Drone Power (WATCH)

From Drones to Munitions: Sagar Defence Enters Explosives and Ammunition Manufacturing Space

Anish Kumar — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:08:55 +0530

New Delhi: Aiming to reduce import dependency, leading defence tech startup Sagar Defence Engineering said on Tuesday that it has been granted an industrial license to manufacture explosives and ammunition at its facilities in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

The development marks a pivotal shift in the company's journey from autonomous systems developer to a full-spectrum defence manufacturer.

Established itself as a key innovator in India's defence ecosystem, Sagar Defence Engineering currently builds next-generation unmanned and autonomous platforms across maritime surface, sub-surface, aerial and terrestrial domains.

The company currently has portfolio that include autonomous weaponized boat swarms, autonomous underwater vessels, and unmanned aerial vehicles deployed for national security operations.

With the newly acquired license, the startup plans to integrate explosives and ammunition manufacturing with its existing strengths in autonomous systems over the next two years.

Sagar Defence Engineering Founder Nikunj Parashar said: “The expansion will be anchored by a dedicated new facility at Juvvaladine Fishing Harbour in Andhra Pradesh, designed to significantly scale up production capacity.”

India's requirement of explosives and ammunition

India's ammunition market is projected to grow from USD 2.66 billion in 2026 to USD 4.44 billion by 2031, at a compound annual growth rate of 10.8%.

State-owned defence company Munitions India Limited (MIL) has got its highest-ever budget allocation of ₹745.45 crore in FY2025 to modernize infrastructure and expand production capacity.

On the private sector front, Bharat Forge is now setting up a dedicated explosives manufacturing facility to move beyond shell casings toward fully assembled, ready-to-fire ammunition.

Adani Group has invested ₹7,000 crore in the ammunition market, with its 500-acre Kanpur facility currently producing 150 million rounds annually and targeting a scale-up to 500 million rounds per year.

In December 2025, the Ministry of Defence announced that it has been able to indigenize production of 154 out of 175 ammunition variants, which works out to 88 per cent, required by the Indian Army.

Securing the Blue Economy: Indian Navy's 516-Officer Training Effort in Mauritius

Anish Kumar — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 19:22:44 +0530

New Delhi: The Indian Navy has trained 516 personnel from the Mauritius National Coast Guard, reflecting its growing role in strengthening maritime capacity in the island nation. This support is closely linked to the security of Mauritius’ blue economy, which is vital for its growth and livelihoods. The recent visit of INS Trikand to Port Louis in the second week of March further highlighted this partnership, combining training efforts with operational engagement at sea.

The figure that Mauritius' planners return to when making the case for maritime security investment is not strategic — it is economic.

Blue economy

More than ten percent of the country's GDP flows from the blue economy. Around 10,000 jobs, outside the tourism sector alone, depend on the health and security of Mauritian waters. These are not abstract interests to be weighed against geopolitical considerations; they are the material basis of ordinary economic life on the island. Understanding this makes the visit of INS Trikand to Port Louis in the second week of March legible in a way that pure security framing does not quite capture.

The ship arrived as Mauritius celebrated its 58th Independence Day and 34th year as a republic — Indian naval personnel marched in the March 12 parade, the ship's band played, and a helicopter flew overhead. These are the ceremonial elements that signal political commitment.

The more economically relevant work happened below deck, in the training sessions that Mauritius National Coast Guard personnel attended aboard the frigate. Watchkeeping skills, firefighting procedures, damage control drills — these build the human capacity that converts equipment into capability. India has invested substantially in the equipment side: the interceptor boat C-139, the Dornier aircraft, and the coastal surveillance radar systems. But hardware without trained operators produces coverage gaps that the operators of illegal fishing vessels and drug trafficking boats are adept at finding. The training deployment addresses this.

The scale of what Mauritius must monitor is the defining fact of its maritime security situation. An EEZ of 2.3 million square kilometres, patrolled by a coast guard whose resources are finite, requires both technological assistance and the kind of operational support that India provides through joint exercises like the one INS Trikand conducted with CGS Valiant after leaving Port Louis on March 13.

Passage Exercise and joint EEZ surveillance

The Passage Exercise and joint EEZ surveillance that followed the port call are not ceremonial. They are the means by which Mauritius stretches its monitoring capacity across an ocean that dwarfs its land area by a factor of roughly one thousand.

India's training investment in the region is most visibly documented in the Mauritius figure — 516 National Coast Guard officers over nine years. But the same approach is applied, at different intensities, across the Indian Ocean littoral. The logic is consistent: train the officers of partner navies in Indian institutions and aboard Indian ships, and you build professional relationships that serve multiple purposes simultaneously. They create interoperability for joint operations. They shape the institutional cultures of partner services. They produce, over time, networks of senior officers who understand how India operates and are comfortable working alongside it.

The Agaléga Island airstrip and jetty, inaugurated in early 2024, added physical infrastructure to this partnership, enabling faster response times to incidents in Mauritius' outer islands.

India's assistance with hydrographic surveys has improved the mapping of Mauritian waters, with implications for navigation, port development, and the sustainable management of marine resources.

The Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region provides the data-sharing backbone that turns bilateral exercises into multilateral maritime awareness. India's support for Mauritius on the Chagos Archipelago issue and its rapid response to Cyclone Chido in December 2024 sit within the same framework — a relationship that India has invested in across all dimensions simultaneously, not treating security as separable from diplomacy or economic interest.

The MAHASAGAR vision is explicit about this: maritime security and growth are presented as linked conditions, not competing priorities.

When INS Trikand sailed out of Port Louis, the blue economy of Mauritius continued its daily operations: fishing vessels at sea, container ships on approach, and coast guard patrols scanning an ocean whose security is ultimately a shared responsibility. The training week had ended. Its results would take longer to measure, and they would show up not in press releases but in the quiet, unspectacular competence of officers who had learnt their trade alongside one of the Indian Ocean's most experienced navies.

Operation Sindoor: How India’s Precision Strike Followed The Pahalgam Massacre

Anish Kumar — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:29:36 +0530

On April 22, 2025, terrorists struck the tourist town of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 civilians — Hindu tourists and a Muslim pony handler in an attack that was not random.

The victims were chosen by religion. The location, a beloved holiday destination, was chosen for visibility. The perpetrators belonged to The Resistance Force, a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, operating with the backing of the Pakistani state.

India's response, launched on May 7, was Operation Sindoor. It was a long time coming.

A Doctrine Forged Over Time

India has absorbed decades of cross-border terrorism. For much of that period, its responses were measured in diplomatic statements rather than military action, a restraint born partly of strategic caution, and partly of the belief that the international community would eventually hold Pakistan to account. That belief proved difficult to sustain.

The turning point came gradually. The 2016 surgical strikes after Uri signalled that India was willing to act across the Line of Control. The 2019 Balakot airstrikes after Pulwama pushed that threshold further. With each operation, India signalled that the rules of engagement had quietly changed.

Operation Sindoor is the clearest expression of that change yet. It reflects a doctrine built on three principles — precision over scale, speed over prolonged engagement, and intelligence-led targeting over broad offensive action and it applied them at a scale neither of its predecessors had attempted.

The Operation

In the early hours of May 7, Indian forces struck nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, targeting infrastructure belonging to both Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Drones, loitering munitions, and standoff weapons were the tools of choice — selected not just for their accuracy, but for their ability to keep Indian personnel out of harm's way.

India's rules of engagement were deliberate and clearly communicated from the outset: no Pakistani military installations, no civilian infrastructure. The message was precise: this was punishment directed at terrorism, not a provocation directed at Pakistan as a state. Within 88 hours, the stated objectives had been achieved and a ceasefire agreed upon.

Also Read: J&K's Sanasar Valley sees tourist surge, locals expect busy season

Strategic Messaging

Military operations of this kind carry meaning beyond the physical damage they inflict. Operation Sindoor spoke to several audiences at once.

To Indian citizens grieving the Pahalgam dead, it affirmed that their government would respond with more than words. To the international community, it reinforced India's argument — long made but inconsistently heard that cross-border terrorism has an address, and that address is in Rawalpindi. And to Pakistan and the networks it shelters, it delivered a message that diplomatic channels had failed to: that the costs of continued sponsorship were rising.

That India managed to frame all of this as a counter-terrorism operation rather than an act of interstate aggression was itself a significant diplomatic achievement and a deliberate one.

The Risks That Cannot Be Overlooked

It would be misleading to present Operation Sindoor as an uncomplicated success. Two nuclear-armed states exchanged fire. The margin between a limited punitive strike and a broader conflict is narrower than strategists would like to admit, and during those 88 hours, the world had reason to be concerned.

Strategic stability was maintained but it was not inevitable. That restraint held on both sides is as much a part of this operation's success as the precision of the strikes themselves. It should not be taken for granted in any future reckoning.

Also Read: Operation Sindoor: 15 civilians killed, 43 injured in Pakistan firing along Poonch sector

Conclusion

Operation Sindoor marks a genuine shift in India's security posture — one that has been building for nearly a decade and has now been stated plainly. India is willing to act, it is capable of acting with precision, and it has demonstrated that it can do so without triggering the wider escalation its critics feared.

Whether this produces lasting deterrence is a harder question. The infrastructure of terrorism is not dismantled by strikes alone. The deeper challenge of compelling Pakistan to dismantle the networks it has long regarded as strategic assets remains unresolved, and no military operation, however well-executed, can substitute for that reckoning.

Operation Sindoor delivered justice for the victims of Pahalgam. Whether it delivers lasting security will depend on what comes next — in Islamabad, in Washington, and in the corridors of an international community that has too often looked the other way.

How Sirsa Air Base Stopped Pakistani Missile Strike During Operation Sindoor

Divya Danu — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:38:16 +0530

A year after the Pahalgam terror attack, new details reveal how an Indian Air Force unit in Sirsa intercepted a Pak ballistic missile aimed at Delhi during Op Sindoor. Led by Air Commodore Rohit Kapil, the Barak-8 system stopped the threat mid-air.

On April 22, 2025, India was shaken by a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, a popular tourist spot in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan-backed terrorists entered a village and killed 26 innocent people. The attack shocked the country and left many families broken.

As India marks one year since that day, attention has turned to a major but lesser-known moment that followed, when a possible missile strike on the national capital was stopped in time.

Missile threat during peak tension

During the height of the India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025, a serious threat emerged. A Pakistani ballistic missile, believed to be from the Fateh or Shaheen series, was launched and was heading towards India.

The suspected target was Delhi.

The situation was critical. A successful strike could have caused large-scale damage and loss of life.

At this crucial moment, an Indian Air Force (IAF) unit stationed in Sirsa, Haryana, stepped in.

Sirsa is an important forward air base located close to the western border. Because of its position, it plays a major role in India’s air defence system.

The unit detected the incoming missile and acted quickly.

Mid-air interception saves lives

The IAF unit successfully intercepted the missile in mid-air over Haryana before it could reach its target.

The interception was carried out using the Barak-8 surface-to-air missile system, according to a report by India Today. This system is known for its ability to detect and destroy incoming threats at long range.

The quick response ensured that the missile was neutralised safely, preventing a possible disaster.

The operation was led by Air Commodore Rohit Kapil, who was the Air Officer Commanding of the 45 Wing at Sirsa.

His leadership and quick decisions played a key role in the success of the mission.

Air Commodore Kapil is also a Su-30MKI fighter pilot and has led an operational squadron in the past.

His experience helped guide the team during a very tense situation.

Recognition for bravery and planning

For his role during the conflict, Air Commodore Kapil was awarded the Yudh Seva Medal in 2025.

The award was given by President Droupadi Murmu in recognition of his leadership and service during active operations.

His work included both defensive actions, like intercepting threats, and planning offensive responses.

Days after the interception, debris was found in Sirsa.

The recovered parts confirmed the scale of the threat and showed how close India had come to a major escalation.

Made a tweet on the night of 10th May when this happened and again on 19th May when I was confirmed it was a ballistic missile. The Derby footage is in the quoted tweet. The man who shot it down was Air Commodore Rohit Kapil who commanded an MRSAM battery at Sirsa.Source:… https://t.co/XZU5ktzfNo pic.twitter.com/SGuc97aEuf

— (@Kunal_Biswas707) April 21, 2026

At the time, images and videos of the debris were widely shared, drawing public attention.

Even a year later, this remains a strong reminder of the danger India faced.

After the Pahalgam attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025.

The aim was to target terror groups operating from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

Indian forces carried out strikes on nine major terror launchpads linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

More than 100 terrorists were killed during the operation.

Escalation and four-day conflict

Following India’s strikes, Pakistan responded with drone attacks and shelling.

This led to a four-day conflict between the two countries.

India responded strongly, carrying out counter-strikes and damaging key Pakistani military targets.

Radar installations in Lahore and facilities near Gujranwala were destroyed.

The situation remained tense until Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) contacted his Indian counterpart.

A ceasefire was agreed on May 10, bringing the immediate conflict to an end.

In another major success, Indian forces carried out Operation Mahadev.

This operation focused on tracking down the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack.

Security forces managed to find and eliminate three terrorists linked to the attack.

Non-military steps taken by India

Apart from military action, India also took strong non-military steps.

The government decided to end the Indus Waters Treaty and stopped all bilateral trade with Pakistan.

These decisions were seen as part of a broader response to the attack and ongoing tensions.

On April 21, 2026, just a day before the anniversary, the Indian Army sent a clear message.

In a post on X, the Army said that when 'boundaries of humanity are crossed, the response is decisive'.

The message also stated that India does not forget such acts.

This was a reminder of the country’s stand against terrorism.

While security forces acted strongly, families of the victims are still dealing with their loss.

The wife of Prasanta Kumar Satapathy, who died in the Pahalgam attack, shared her struggle.

She said life has not been the same since her husband’s death. He was the main earner of the family.

She now works in a temporary job just to manage daily expenses.

She also said that although financial help was given, a government job promised to her has not yet been provided.

She has asked the government to fulfil its promise as soon as possible.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that any terror attack on India will get a strong reply.

He made it clear that India will not separate terrorists from those who support them.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Operation Sindoor is still ongoing in spirit.

Tri-service coordination praised

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi described Operation Sindoor as a strong example of coordination between the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

He said the operation showed how all three services worked together under clear political direction.

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh also called the operation a defining moment.

He said it showed the Indian Air Force’s strength, accuracy, and unity.

Role of Navy in the conflict

The Indian Navy also played an important role.

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said that deploying a carrier battle group in the northern Arabian Sea affected Pakistan’s naval movement.

This forced Pakistani naval forces to stay closer to their own ports.

On Independence Day 2025, Prime Minister Modi announced Mission Sudarshan Chakra.

This plan aims to improve India’s defence system and make it stronger against future threats.

It focuses on better coordination, faster response, and improved technology.

Building a stronger air defence system

India is working on a multi-layered air defence system under the Sudarshan programme.

This includes advanced systems like S-400, Barak-8, and other indigenous interceptors.

The aim is to create a strong shield that can stop threats at different levels.

Why Sirsa interception matters today

The interception over Sirsa stands out as a key moment.

It showed how quick action, good planning, and modern technology can prevent disaster.

It also highlighted the importance of being ready at all times.

As India remembers the Pahalgam attack, this moment serves as a reminder that vigilance and preparedness can save lives.

(With ANI inputs)

Why the Indian Army Needs 83 Akashteer Air Defence Carriers for Frontline Combat

Anish Kumar — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:39:03 +0530

The Ministry of Defence has issued a request for proposal (RFP) for 83 Carrier Air Defence Tracked (CADET) systems -- purpose-built tracked platforms designed to carry Akashteer air defence command-and-reporting hardware into mechanized combat zones.

The Akashteer system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is designed to integrate various air defence sensors and weapons into an automated, real-time network.

Linking it to a tracked mobile platform -- rather than fixed or wheeled vehicles -- is intended to ensure it can keep pace with tank and armoured infantry columns, which are particularly vulnerable to aerial and drone threats during offensive operations.

These systems will be procured under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, mandating indigenous design and manufacture with at least 65 per cent local content -- part of the defence ministry’s broader push to reduce dependence on imported military platforms.

What it does

Conceived as a mobile command post for air defence gun-missile units, the CADET will operate alongside armoured formations.

It must carry Akashteer electronics -- supplied as buyer-furnished equipment and match the cross-country mobility of tank columns across plains, deserts and mountains up to 5,000 metres.

The platform is also earmarked for future drone detection, interdiction and counter-swarm systems, reflecting the army's recognition that battlefield air threats have expanded well beyond conventional aircraft.

Also Read: Securing the Blue Economy: Indian Navy's 516-Officer Training Effort in Mauritius

Technical specifications

The vehicle must operate in temperatures from minus 30 to plus 50 degrees Celsius, cover 320-plus kilometres on a tank, hit 45 kmph on roads and 15 kmph across country and accommodate at least four crew in a climate-controlled cabin.

Ballistic protection is set at STANAG Level III frontally and Level II on remaining surfaces.

A 30-kilowatt auxiliary power unit must sustain onboard systems for six hours independently of the main engine.

Navigation must draw on GPS, GLONASS and NavIC simultaneously, with the operator able to block any constellation against jamming. The platform must also meet US MIL-STD 461E and 464 electromagnetic compatibility standards.

Delivery and commercial terms

All 83 systems must be delivered within 36 months of advance payment.

If two qualified vendors emerge, the order splits 60:40 between the L1 and L2 bidders at the L1 price.

The warranty runs 24 months from acceptance; the designed service life is 20 years.

Significance

The programme addresses a recognised gap: wheeled command vehicles cannot keep pace with armoured formations in high-altitude terrain.

Required compatibility with C-17 airlift aircraft signals rapid-deployment intent -- a priority sharpened by the 2020 Ladakh standoff with China.

Also Read: Why Pahalgam? Inside the Calculated Terror Attack on Kashmir’s Tourism Hub

Inside Exercise Dweep Shakti: How India Tested Rapid Response And Maritime Defence Strength

Anish Kumar — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:39:58 +0530

New Delhi: India’s tri-service has conducted a high-intensity exercise “Dweep Shakti” along the coastal and island defence operations from March 24 to 28, validating integrated capability for rapid response.

In seamless synergy, Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force executed coordinated amphibious assaults, maritime dominance operations and complex beach landing drills employing Next-Generation equipment and drones, reaffirming precision, jointness and mission-ready interoperability.

“The exercise also refined integrated tactics, techniques and procedures, reinforcing the armed forces’ growing multi-domain capability and steadfast commitment to securing India’s maritime frontiers and island territories,” a defence official said.

Deployment of Army, Navy and Air assets across the islands, along with activation of key operational and support mechanisms in coordination with local civil administration of Andaman & Nicobar, formed a vital component of the exercise.

Officials on Exercise Dweep Shakti 2026

According to the officials, ‘Exercise Dweep Shakti 2026’ demonstrated a high level of operational preparedness and robust military capability of the armed forces in safeguarding India’s maritime interests and ensuring security of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN), witnessed the exercise and commended participating troops from various formations for their professionalism and successful conduct of operations.

“Such exercises continue to strengthen defence preparedness while reinforcing commitment towards maintaining peace and security in the region.”

Fortifying India's 'Chicken Neck': Why Strengthening This 22-km Stretch Could Change War Readiness

Anish Kumar — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:20:29 +0530

New Delhi: There is a stretch of terrain in northern West Bengal that has kept Indian defence planners occupied for decades. The Siliguri Corridor, 22 kilometres wide at its narrowest point, is the sole overland connection between India's eight northeastern states and the mainland. Cut it for long enough, and what follows is a strategic, economic, and humanitarian crisis occurring simultaneously.

Kishanganj: The Strategic Gateway

Kishanganj sits at the western approach to this corridor. What happens in Kishanganj shapes what options India has in a crisis. Which is precisely why the infrastructure investment required here is not regional development work. It is national security planning with a geographic anchor.

The first requirement is road redundancy. The corridor's existing network offers limited alternatives when primary routes are disrupted. A major flood, a damaged bridge, a sustained standoff, any of these creates a chokepoint on a route that currently has few bypasses.

Constructing strategic alternate road networks within the Kishanganj zone and through the corridor proper gives the system the resilience it currently lacks. A single route is a single point of failure. Two or three routes, even if some carry lower capacity, reduce that failure from a crisis to a manageable disruption.

Forward Military Presence: Speed Over Distance

Forward military positioning is the second element. Rapid-deployment units based at permanent forward posts near Kishanganj can respond to a developing corridor scenario in hours rather than the days it takes to move forces from distant bases.

The Indian Army's Integrated Battle Groups concept, developed primarily around the China and Pakistan threat axes, envisions agile, forward-positioned capabilities that represent the kind of responsive military architecture the corridor's western approach requires.

Adapting that framework to anchor a credible fast-response presence in the Kishanganj zone would extend its logic to a vulnerability that has, so far, received less structured attention.

The Overlooked Threat: Utility Infrastructure

But there is a dimension of corridor defence that rarely surfaces in public discussion. Utility infrastructure: power lines, communication cables, fuel pipelines. These run through the corridor zone and are as operationally critical as any road or railway. And considerably more vulnerable. An underground utility corridor, built to dual civil-military specifications, protects these arteries from aerial action, sabotage, and natural disaster. An army that cannot communicate, cannot fuel its vehicles, and cannot power its equipment is operationally paralysed regardless of numbers. The utility layer is not incidental infrastructure. It is part of the defensive architecture.

India's defence budget for 2024-25 reached Rs 6.21 lakh crore, reflecting a sustained national commitment to security investment. A corridor-specific allocation within that framework for alternate road networks, forward basing, and utility hardening is not an exceptional ask. It is proportionate attention to one of the country's most documented strategic vulnerabilities.

Deterrence vs Escalation: Setting the Record Straight

The argument that fortification escalates regional tensions gets the logic backwards. A corridor with visible weaknesses invites pressure because adversaries see leverage. A corridor with demonstrated redundancy and visible military readiness communicates something different: that disrupting it carries a high cost and low probability of durable effect. Deterrence is not aggression. It is what makes aggression less likely.

The Chicken's Neck will not get wider. Twenty-two kilometres is twenty-two kilometres, and no infrastructure programme changes the underlying geography. But what is built around that geography, the bypasses, the forward posts, the hardened utilities, determines whether it remains a vulnerability defined by its narrowness or becomes a defensible, redundant position.

India has the capacity. What the corridor needs is the intent to match.

GE Aerospace Signs Depot Contract With Indian Air Force For LCA Tejas Engine

Shweta Kumari — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:47:50 +0530

New Delhi: US major GE Aerospace on Monday announced a contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to establish an in-country depot facility for the F404 -IN20 engines that power IAF’s Light Combat Aircraft Tejas fleet.

The facility will be set up by the IAF with technical inputs from GE Aerospace and is expected to help India’s indigenous defense sustainment effort.

Once operational, the facility will eliminate the need to depend on the overseas repair centers, significantly improving turnaround times. The depot facility will be owned, operated, and maintained by the Indian Air Force with GE Aerospace providing technical inputs, training, support staff, and the supply of necessary spares and specialized equipment. “This collaboration marks the next step in the four decade-long partnership between GE Aerospace and the IAF,” the company said.

"Our commitment to supporting India’s armed forces continues to guide our collaboration and partnership in expanding local sustainment capabilities of the Tejas fleet," said Rita Flaherty, Vice President of Sales and Business Development for Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace.

"Through the upcoming depot facility, we will support the availability of the F404-IN20 engines for the Indian Air Force, ensuring they have ready access to cutting-edge technology to power their defense needs.”

“GE Aerospace is committed to developing India’s aerospace ecosystem, spanning design, development, manufacturing, and sustainment for both commercial and military aviation. For example, 150 engineers have passed out of the company’s local two-year Edison Engineering Development Program which develops engineering leaders.”

“Several skilling initiatives over ten years have helped train over 5000 people with core manufacturing skills at the company’s Pune factory.”

In September 2025, the GE Aerospace Foundation, in partnership with United Way, launched Next Engineers at Bengaluru, the four-year college and career readiness program that will help 4000 young engineering aspirants.

Other than the Tejas, GE Aerospace engines also power the Indian Navy's P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and MH60R helicopters, as well as the Indian Air Force’s AH-64 Apache helicopters, while LM2500 marine gas turbines provide the power for the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and the P-17 Shivalik Class frigates.

Defence Ministry Seeks AI-Powered Simulators to Train Indian Army’s T-90 Tank Gunners

Anish Kumar — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 15:01:06 +0530

New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence has floated a request for information (RFI) to procure around 50 Basic Gunnery Simulators (BGS) for the Indian Army’s Tank T-90 fleet training. The simulators will train T-90 gunners without putting them on a live range.

As per the RFI, the equipment should be robust enough to meet military grade ruggedness in design to withstand terrain, climatic variations and should enable training of basic and advanced gunnery skills of the Tank T-90 Gunner.

The simulators should be capable of replicating live firing conditions, including AI-generated enemy threats of escalating difficulty.

What the simulator must do

A gunner must be able to practise the full firing sequence, including spotting, identifying, tracking, ranging, aiming and firing for the main 125mm gun, the 7.62mm co-axial machine gun, the INVAR missile and smoke grenade launchers, all from inside a replica of the T-90's gunner station.

The replication must be faithful -- autoloader conveyor, brow-pad recoil, lighting, and the physical jolt of a 125mm round going off.

The fire control system simulation must cover the TISAS/TIFCS suite in normal, manual and emergency modes, with ballistic solutions for HE, HEAT and APFSDS ammunition.

“Recoil and muzzle flash will be CGI-rendered; the audio must reproduce engine noise, autoloader cycling, incoming fire and general battlefield sounds,” the RFI stated.

AI-driven training

The RFI puts artificial intelligence (AI) at the centre of the training design. Enemy forces in the simulator must grow harder to engage with each successive exercise, or as set by the instructor.

Vendors are asked whether their software can run single-player and multiplayer combat missions set in terrain matching actual ground along India's western and northern borders – the international boundary, line of control and line of actual control.

The AI must also assess the trainee automatically, flagging errors in technique and feeding corrections back into the training loop without the instructor stepping in.

A conventional instructor console will handle malfunction injection, scenario programming, performance recording and replay, with an external display for waiting crew members to watch ongoing engagements.

Size, weight and endurance

The simulator must fit inside an Ashok Leyland Stallion lorry – roughly 5.2m by 2.4m footprint, height just under 4m and weigh no more than around 6.5 tonnes. It must work in temperatures from -10°C to 45°C, run 12 to 16 hours a day, and carry 30 minutes of UPS backup.

The required service life is 15 years, with a condition that the vendor give two years' notice before shutting down the production line so the government can stock up on spares.