Page 2 - Defence Ministry

Op Sindoor a reality check, certain capability gaps noticed: Defence secy

Amid rising competitive populism and economic protectionism around the world, India needs to project its hard power alongside its soft power, said Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Friday. Singh was speaking at the Southern Command Defence Tech 2025 seminar (STRIDE 2025) here. Addressing the gathering, Singh said the trend of increasing globalisation and free trade has been brought to a halt by geopolitical factors linked to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Europe and the rise of populist leadership patterns across the globe. These trends are causing competitive populism and economic protectionism around the world, accompanied by economic fragmentation, the decline of multilateral institutions, and a growing tide of nationalism. As a result, the need to back a soft power with hard power is becoming more and more critical at a time when strategic deal-making requires you to be able to project hard power as well, said Singh. He also said there is a need to bring ..

PM Modi to inaugurate Combined Commanders' Conference in Kolkata on Sept 15

The Armed Forces will host the Combined Commanders' Conference (CCC) 2025 in Kolkata, West Bengal, from September 15 to 17, 2025. The theme for this year's conference is 'Year of Reforms - Transforming for the Future', said a statement from the Ministry of Defence on Monday.The conference will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister and will also be graced by the Defence Minister, National Security Advisor, Raksha Rajya Mantri, Chief of Defence Staff and Defence Secretary. Secretaries from other Ministries are also likely to be present in addition to officers from the three Services and the Integrated Defence Staff.The CCC 2025 will focus on Reforms, Transformation & Change and Operational Preparedness. Together, these reflect the Armed Forces' commitment to institutional reforms, deeper integration and technological modernisation, while sustaining a high level of multi-domain operational readiness.The deliberations will seek to further strengthen the Armed Forces, which are agile .

India's 15-year defence plan includes nuclear-powered carrier, navy jets

India also plans to induct an unspecified number of new-generation twin-engine, deck-based fighters and light combat aircraft, both being developed by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for navy

India's defence can't depend on 'uncertain foreign interference': Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh outlined plans for Sudarshan Chakra air defence system, citing Operation Sindoor and shifting geopolitics to stress self-reliance

Theatre commands 'ultimate goal': Navy Chief on military integration

Warning that technology is accelerating the trend of grey zone activities, the Navy Chief said innocuous fishing vessels could also carry out major offensive actions in the near future

Gaganyaan mission marks new chapter in Atmanirbhar Bharat journey: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said Gaganyaan mission symbolises a "new chapter" in the journey of Atmanirbhar Bharat and called astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and the other three chosen Gaganyatris as "gems." At an event hosted by the IAF at Subroto Park here, Singh felicitated the four Gaganyatris. The ceremony comes after the successful Axiom 4 mission, of which Shukla was a part. Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla are the four chosen Gaganyatris. Their names were revealed for the first time in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram in February 2024. The Gaganyaan mission of India symbolises a new chapter in the journey of Atmanirbhar Bharat, he said. The Gaganyaan project, formally announced by Modi in 2018, aims to send a three-member crewed flight into the 400 km-orbit for a three-

India conducts maiden flight tests of integrated air defence weapon system

India has "successfully" conducted the maiden flight tests of an integrated air defence weapon system (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the developer of the platform, and the armed forces on the flight tests. The indigenous air defence system was flight-tested 1230 hours off the coast of Odisha on Saturday. The flight tests of the new air defence system came three-and-half months after Operation Sindoor. IADWS is a multi-layered air defence system consisting of all indigenous quick reaction surface-to-air missiles, very short range air defence system (VSHORADS) missiles and a high power laser based directed energy weapons (DEW) system. "I congratulate the DRDO, Indian armed forces and the industry for successful development of IADWS," Singh said on social media. "This unique flight test has established the multi-layered air-defence capability of our country and is going to streng

Govt halts US arms deals after Trump slams 50% tariffs on India, MoD denies

Post publication of this story, India's government issued a statement it attributed to a Ministry of Defence source describing news reports of a pause in the talks as "false and fabricated."

Inaugural India-New Zealand defence strategic dialogue held in Delhi

The inaugural edition of India-New Zealand Defence Strategic Dialogue was held here on Tuesday with an aim to discuss security perspectives and further bolster bilateral cooperation, officials said. The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), defence ministry, Amitabh Prasad and Head of International Branch, Ministry of Defence, New Zealand, Kathleen Pearce. "Both nations expressed satisfaction at the ongoing defence cooperation and identified means to enhance the existing areas of collaboration, especially in the fields of training, capability building, defence industry, maritime security and multinational cooperation," the Indian defence ministry said. The co-chairs also articulated steps in the direction of emerging areas of cooperation and issues pertaining to global commons, officials said. "The Indian side complimented New Zealand for its successful command of CTF-150 in which five Indian Navy personnel were also deputed as staff. Both sides als

Private industry expects a timebound defence acquisition rules review

Must include clear measures to enforce shorter procurement, say insiders

From flying snacks to striking targets: India tests missile-capable drones

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says the UAV platform is a major boost to India's military capability and indigenous research and development

Rossell Techsys aims to double role in defence aircraft, eyes 15% share

The Bengaluru-based firm aims to double its role in defence aircraft output, targeting a 15% platform share in 3-5 years as it expands capabilities and workforce to meet rising global aerospace demand

Navy to induct first indigenous diving support vessel 'Nistar' on July 18

'Nistar', the first indigenously constructed diving support vessel that can undertake deep-sea diving and rescue operations, is set to be inducted into the Indian Navy on July 18, officials said on Thursday. The ship will be commissioned at a ceremony to be held at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, they said. 'Nistar', designed and constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, was delivered to the Indian Navy on July 8 at Visakhapatnam. The ship will also serve as the 'Mother Ship' for Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) to rescue and evacuate personnel in case of an emergency in a submarine underwater, a Navy spokesperson said on Wednesday. On commissioning, 'Nistar' will join the Eastern Naval Command to support deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations. The ship is highly specialised and can undertake deep-sea diving and rescue operations -- a capability with select navies across the globe, the Navy officia

India's advanced artillery gun system exemplary mission-mode success: MoD

In line with the steps to modernise the Army's artillery regiments and enhance operational readiness, indigenously-made Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) will replace the vintage and smaller calibre guns, with the Defence Ministry on Wednesday calling the project an "exemplary mission mode success". ATAGS is designed by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, a laboratory of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). The ministry shared a post on X along with a video showcasing ATAGS, whose maximum range is 48 km. "We started this project in the year 2012. And, within a span of 12 years, we could complete the total process of design to manufacturing, testing and induction," said ARDE Director A Raju in the recorded video. The key features are its quite advance system, he said, adding, ARDE is playing a crucial rule in "Atmanirbharta of our nation". Earlier on March 26, the Defence Ministry had signed contracts with Bharat Forge Limited

Rajnath to focus on cooperation to counter terrorism at SCO meet in China

In line with India's diplomatic offensive against Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to press the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to ramp up efforts to contain terrorism at a two-day conclave of the bloc in China's Qingdao that begins on Wednesday. Singh is travelling to Qingdao, a port city in China's eastern Shandong province, for the conclave which is expected to extensively deliberate on the evolving regional security scenario. The defence minister's plan to call for greater regional cooperation to counter terrorism comes nearly a month-and-a-half after India carried out precision strikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistani territories in response to the horrific Pahalgam terror attack. It is the first visit to China by a senior Indian minister after the ties came under severe strain following the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh that began in May 2020. NSA Ajit Doval is also ..

Panel formed to review Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020: Defence ministry

A committee led by the DG (Acquisition) will assess DAP 2020 to align defence procurement with national security, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Make in India goals

Hack-proof communication? DRDO, IIT Delhi test quantum entanglement tech

The defence ministry said that this form of communication can support applications such as long-distance quantum key distribution, secure data transmission, and the development of quantum networks

Govt to sign ₹2 trn in defence contracts in FY26 as well: Defence Secy

After record Rs 2.09 trillion awarded in FY25, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh says FY26 to continue momentum, prioritising domestic industry and technology

NCC expedition team gets hero's welcome in Delhi after Mt Everest conquest

An expedition team of the National Cadet Corps whose members summited Mt Everest recently and successfully unfurled the tricolour there, on Thursday received a hero's reception at the DG-NCC Camp in Delhi. Ten NCC cadets -- five male cadets, five female cadets -- four officers, two junior commissioned officers, a female cadet instructor and 10 non-commissioned officers achieved the feat of scaling the world's highest peak in the early hours of May 18. The ten cadets, with an average age of 19 years, "displayed exemplary courage, resilience and teamwork, achieving a 100 per cent summit success rate despite harsh weather and difficult terrain," officials said. The youngest team member was 16 years old, the defence ministry said in a statement. The expedition team was warmly received at the DG-NCC Camp in Delhi Cantonment after successfully summiting the world's highest peak, it said. "Historic moment... Mt Everest Expedition Team of NCC summited Mt Everest today at 0445 hours. Summi

Defence ministry weighs licensing reform; DAP 2020 revision by Nov-end

The revision of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 document, aimed at streamlining the defence procurement policy, will be completed within six months