Defence And Geopolitical News
Power arcade: Remotely operated systems
Below are pictures of the latest remotely operated weapons as featured in Blueprint July 2026
A big moment for small arms
An in-depth report on the industry in India that has evolved from amateur designs to export items
 "A big moment for small arms")
Declining EU-China relations
Their economic partnership is increasingly facing the strategic challenge of avoiding a trade war
 "Declining EU-China relations")
More than a stealth fighter
The Amca programme could deliver the defence sector's own Maruti moment
 "More than a stealth fighter")
News in brief global: From fifth-generation jets to 3D-printed drone boat
Here are the news in brief from defence sector as featured in Blueprint's July 2026 edition
 "News in brief global: From fifth-generation jets to 3D-printed drone boat")
Supersonic torpedo
The system targets submarines from long range, though questions remain on its efficacy
 "Supersonic torpedo")
Commercial space as a battleground
Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict for India's space security
 "Commercial space as a battleground")
News in brief: Western Europe
Here are the news in brief from defence sector as featured in Blueprint's July 2026 edition
 "News in brief: Western Europe")
Conflict zone: Israel-Lebanon
A contest of arsenals
 "Conflict zone: Israel-Lebanon")
India's military modernisation: Strong but uneven
Beneath the defence budget's headline numbers lie cuts, windfalls and diverging fortunes
 "India's military modernisation: Strong but uneven")
The Quad's crucible
The US has acted in a unilateral manner in the Hormuz and its transgression of humanitarian law and convention is at variance with the principles underpinning the Quad
 "The Quad's crucible")
Illusions of a stable world order
The nature of warfare in modern times has gone far beyond the boundaries of the battlefield
 "Illusions of a stable world order")
China's Taiwan options
With reunification ambitions intensifying, the Taiwan Strait remains Asia's most volatile flashpoint
 "China's Taiwan options")
Trump fallout on India-US defence ties
A partnership forged in opportunity now confronts the realities of great-power politics
 "Trump fallout on India-US defence ties")
ULPGM missile: The aerial hunters
It is an air-to-ground and air-to-air munition, which can carry three different types of warheads
 "ULPGM missile: The aerial hunters")
Energy crisis and India's diplomatic limits
If the country's energy vulnerability is structural, so must be the response to it
 "Energy crisis and India's diplomatic limits")
Explained: How indigenous Astra missile is redefining air combat capability
The missile is equipped with an active radar seeker in its terminal phase, allowing it to independently track and destroy airborne targets
 "Explained: How indigenous Astra missile is redefining air combat capability")
China hints at sixth-generation fighter jet in official video: Report
It marks the first time PLA hinted at its next-generation fighter programme, which until now was only seen through unverified photographs and videos
 "China hints at sixth-generation fighter jet in official video: Report")
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes charge as Vice Chief of Indian Air Force
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff during Operation Sindoor, took charge as the new Vice Chief of the Air Staff on Wednesday, officials said. He succeeded Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, who superannuated on June 30 after four decades of service in the Indian Air Force (IAF). Air Marshal Dixit was accorded a guard of honour at the Vayu Bhawan the headquarters of the IAF as he took charge as the new Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS). Prior to the ceremony, the air officer visited the National War Memorial and laid a wreath to pay homage to the fallen heroes of the armed forces. Before being appointed as VCAS, he was serving as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) at the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) here. Air Marshal Dixit assumed the appointment of CISC on May 1, 2025, which he relinquished on June 30. The HQ IDS said in an X post on Tuesday, "His tenure at HQ IDS was defined by landmark contributions that reshap
 "Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes charge as Vice Chief of Indian Air Force")
What is Helina? India's indigenous helicopter-launched anti-tank missile
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, the missile climbs sharply after the launch and then plunges directly onto the top of the tank
 "What is Helina? India's indigenous helicopter-launched anti-tank missile")