Indian Defence News

Bengaluru-based Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA) and European major SKETCHPIXEL LDA forged partnership to manufacture AI (artificial intelligence) combat aircraft – Kaal Bhairava in Portugal, for the first time. Portugal is a NATO member state.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Vietnam and South Korea from May 18 to strengthen defence cooperation. In Vietnam, talks on the BrahMos supersonic missile deal are at an advanced stage, valued at ₹5,800 crore. Vietnam could become the third BrahMos buyer. In South Korea, India will promote the new KIND-X defence innovation platform.

A powerful long-range missile roared into the air from the Odisha coast, leaving behind a glowing trail that was seen by thousands of people across Odisha, West Bengal, and even faraway Bangladesh.

Following a brief 2025 conflict initiated by Indian strikes, Pakistan sought a ceasefire after its retaliation failed and India struck key air bases. Despite framing the ceasefire as a diplomatic success, Pakistan immediately began a massive military overhaul.

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan is the new Indian Navy chief, succeeding Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi. Commissioned in 1987, Swaminathan specializes in Communication and Electronic Warfare. A highly decorated officer, his extensive career includes commanding the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and serving as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.

The government has appointed Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani (Retd) as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He will also serve as the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs. With a distinguished career spanning over 40 years, Subramani has held key posts including Vice Chief of the Army Staff.

China has officially confirmed for the first time that its engineers were present at a Pakistani air base during last year's military conflict with India. Chinese media aired interviews with AVIC engineers linked to Pakistan's Chinese-made J-10CE fighter jets. India had earlier claimed China gave Pakistan real-time support during the conflict.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have successfully conducted the maiden flight-trial of Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon off the coast of Odisha.

India is building a new integrated and layered air defence system to tackle modern aerial threats such as drones, loiter munitions and ballistic missiles. The move gained speed after Op Sindoor, which military officials called a turning point in defence reforms. Lt Gen said system will combine radar, AI tools and space-based surveillance.

Marking one year of Operation Sindoor, Indian military leaders said the mission showed that terror hideouts in Pakistan were no longer safe. Launched after the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, the operation targeted 9 terror camps in Pakistan and PoK. Senior officers said the strikes marked a major shift in India's counter-terror strategy.