Blueprint Bureau

News in brief - global: From drone shields to nuclear submarines

Here are the news in brief from defence sector as featured in Blueprint's September 2026 edition

News in brief (region) - South Asia

From an Indian naval visit to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh's fighter-jet plans to military upgrades in Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Afghanistan, here are key developments from South Asia.

The diary of an astronaut

An extract from Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's book recounts a day aboard the International Space Station, from bodily changes and 16 sunrises to a tightly controlled schedule.

Leader of the 'free world'

A new book by two veteran New York Times journalists examines Donald Trump's "imperial presidency" during his second term

Cost of conflict

How cinema has captured moods from the trenches to the labs

Market radar: July 23, 2026 to August 22, 2026

The Business Standard Defence Index is designed to track the performance of 25 key defence stocks

The wheel of valour

India's highest military award

News in brief global: From China's Long March 10B to NATO's new initiatives

Global defence developments include China's reusable rocket milestone, US space warfare capability, autonomous drones and Nato's industrial initiatives.

Market radar: June 23, 2026 to July 22, 2026

The Business Standard Defence Index is designed to track the performance of 25 key defence stocks

News in brief (Region)- Australia

Australia builds first indigenous howitzer

Market radar: May 23, 2026 to June 22, 2026

The index saw a bullish trend, with 22 of its 25 companies advancing and only three declining

Market radar: April 22, 2026 to May 22, 2026

The index witnessed a mixed trend, with 12 constituents posting gains. The combined market capitalisation of the companies stood at over ₹11.5 trillion for the second straight month

Conflict by design

China's Wars - The Politics and Diplomacy Behind its Military Coercion traces how the country has utilised methods of military coercion to exert dominance without getting into a major conflict

Market radar: March 21, 2026 to April 22, 2026

The index reached a market capitalisation of ₹11.6 trillion, with all 25 constituents moving northward. MTAR Technologies and Apollo Micro Systems led the surge

Market radar: February 21, 2026 to March 20, 2026

The Business Standard Defence Index is designed to track the performance of 25 key defence stocks

Market radar: January 20, 2026 to February 20, 2026

The Business Standard Defence Index is designed to track the performance of 25 key defence stocks

CONFLICT ZONE: Yemeni civil war

A drone-and-missile theatre

Market radar: December 22, 2025 to January 22, 2026

The Business Standard Defence Index is designed to track the performance of 25 key defence stocks

Market radar: November 21, 2025 to December 22, 2025

The Business Standard Defence Index is designed to track the performance of 25 key defence stocks

Market radar: October 21, 2025 to November 21, 2025

The Business Standard Defence Index is designed to track the performance of 25 key defence stocks