Page 2 - Defence Ministry

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

HAL, private firms to compete for Amca prototype contract: Defence ministry

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approves stealth jet programme execution model, which provides equal opportunity to both private- and public-sector players on a competitive basis

Indian forces acted like surgeons during Operation Sindoor: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded the forces for surgical precision during Operation Sindoor, saying they struck at the root of terrorism while sparing civilian lives

Operation Sindoor showcased tri-services synergy: Defence ministry

India's national security architecture has demonstrated the strength of convergence and strategic foresight during Operation Sindoor, the defence ministry said on Sunday. The operation showcased a calibrated, tri-services response that embodied precision, professionalism, and purpose, it said. Operation Sindoor was conceived as a punitive and targeted campaign to dismantle the terror infrastructure across the Line of Control (LoC) and deeper inside Pakistan. Under the operation, India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure early on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. The Pakistani attempts were strongly responded to by the Indian side by inflicting heavy damages to a number of key Pakistani military installations including air bases, air defence systems, command and control centres and radar sites. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on May 10 annou

If women fly Rafale in IAF, why fewer in Army legal wing: SC asks Centre

If a woman can fly Rafale fighter jet in the Indian Air Force, then why are fewer women officers in gender neutral posts of Judge Advocate General (legal) branch of the Army, the Supreme Court wondered recently and questioned the Centre's rationale on a 50-50 selection criterion. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan on May 8 reserved its verdict on the plea of two officers Arshnoor Kaur and Astha Tyagi, who despite securing 4th and 5th ranks respectively -- higher in merit than their male counterparts -- weren't selected for the JAG department due to fewer vacancies earmarked for women. The officers challenged the disproportionate vacancies for men and women and said they could not be selected as there were only three vacancies for women out of the total six posts. "Prima facie, we are satisfied with the case set up by the petitioner 1 Arshnoor Kaur," the bench noted while reserving its verdict. The top court went on, "Accordingly, we direct the respondents to initiate .

Ex-defence minister AK Antony backs armed forces' action against Pakistan

Congress stalwart A K Antony on Saturday said he fully backs the steps taken by the Indian armed forces in the ongoing conflict with Pakistan. Speaking to reporters here, the former Union Defence Minister said the central government has left it to the Armed forces to take appropriate action and he fully supports them. "Beyond that, I have nothing more to say. I am not going to sit and discuss the action they are taking," he said. Tensions between the two neighbours soared significantly after the Indian armed forces on Wednesday conducted precision strikes, under Operation Sindoor, targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that had cross-border linkages. Antony said that families in Kerala of soldiers who are deployed in the border areas should be supported and comforted by the government and the local residents. The Congress leader also welcomed the recent reshuffle in the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committ

Op Sindoor: Defence min calls up 14 Territorial Army battalions for duty

The defence ministry order is backdated to take effect from February 10, 2025, and will remain valid for a period of three years, until February 9, 2028

SEAD, off-ramp, and the Pahalgam trigger: A conflict vocabulary grows

Terms like kinetic action, SEAD, and escalatory ladder now define how India and Pakistan are scripting a conflict that shows no signs of stepping off the warpath