Defence And Geopolitical News
India's defence production surged four-fold since 2014: Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said India's domestic defence production has nearly quadrupled over the last decade to around Rs 1.80 lakh crore, while exports have surged to nearly Rs 39,000 crore, as the country moves steadily towards self-reliance in the defence sector. Singh made the remarks after laying the foundation stone of a Rs 472-crore facility for the overhaul of T-series battle tanks at the 57-year-old Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ), an ordnance unit here. "Domestic defence (arms and ammunition) production, which stood at Rs 46,000 crore in 2014, has now reached approximately Rs 1.80 lakh crore. Similarly, defence exports have increased from around Rs 1,000 crore in 2014 to nearly Rs 39,000 crore," he said. The government has set a target of achieving defence exports worth Rs 50,000 crore by 2028-29, the defence minister said. "India's defence sector has now taken firm steps towards complete self-reliance. The world's perception of India is changing, and the
 "India's defence production surged four-fold since 2014: Rajnath Singh")
'Space, AI, other tech integration to shape India's geopolitical future'
Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Sunday said the convergence of streams like space technology, AI, quantum technologies, robotics, semiconductors and high-performance computing will determine a nation's geopolitical positioning. Speaking here on the 3rd National Space Day, the Union culture and tourism minister also said private participation in the space sector does not mean reducing the importance of entities like ISRO. Privatisation of space is the "democratisation of space opportunities," Shekhawat asserted at the event, organised by the Space Applications Centre (SAC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Science. Today is the age of space technology, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, robotics, humanoids, advanced materials, semiconductors and high-performance computing, he said, adding that life will certainly be transformed in the coming years. "Just as science is ultimately integrating in the form of a pyramid, in the coming
 "'Space, AI, other tech integration to shape India's geopolitical future'")
India's defence sector reaches an inflexion point as private firms rise
Defence production has risen 140% since FY17, while private-sector output has grown 198%, as policy reforms increasingly open strategic programmes to industry.
 "India's defence sector reaches an inflexion point as private firms rise")
China's 90% Model: America has the tools, but can't counter China alone
The identification of industries and products to apply chokes on China merits attention and greater focus on execution
 "China's 90% Model: America has the tools, but can't counter China alone")
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")