Page 2 - Defence

Think long-term: Rafale-M deal good, but IAF's bigger needs remain

The question now is how to fill the increasingly urgent needs of the IAF. It is worth recalling that the desired strength of the IAF is 42 squadrons, though it now has 31 squadrons

India, US to begin tri-service HADR exercise 'Tiger Triumph' on Tuesday

The Tiger Triumph humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise comes even as India continues its efforts to assist Myanmar under Operation Brahma, following last week's devastating earthquake

Ashok Leyland's defence unit bags orders worth Rs 700 cr from Indian Army

Contracts are for diverse range of vehicles combining 'superior reliability with exceptional off-road capability'

Govt clears Rs 62,000 crore deal to buy 156 Light Combat Helicopters

This would be the biggest order for the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited so far, and the choppers would be built at their plants in Bengaluru and Tumkur in Karnataka

Ashok Leyland's defence business bags multiple orders worth Rs 700 cr

With these orders, Ashok Leyland has further strengthened its position as a leader in advanced land mobility solutions for the armed and paramilitary forces

Indian, French Navies conclude 23rd Varuna Exercise with fleet review

The 23rd edition of bilateral exercise Varuna between Indian and French navies culminated on Saturday, following which French Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle and INS Vikrant did a fleet review some 80 nautical miles off the Goa coast. It saw the two navies working on below the surface and above the surface warfare domain as well as interacting with Indian submarines and aircraft like MiG29Ks and Rafale. The fleet review by French Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle and INS Vikrant took place at 4pm. The senior officials from both the navies had a debriefing before the culmination of the exercise. Captain Georges Antoine Florentin, commanding officer of Charles de Gaulle, and Rear Admiral Jacques Mallard, chief of the French strike group, told PTI on board the aircraft carrier that the aim was to work together to improve interoperability. Varuna 2025 that started on March 19 had an exhilarating array of maritime exercises and complex manoeuvres across the sub-surface, surface, and

Germany's likely next leader seeks approval for huge defence, infra package

Germany's would-be next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, is asking lawmakers Tuesday to allow the country to put whatever it takes into defense as doubts mount about the strength of the trans-Atlantic alliance, and to authorise an enormous fund for investment in its creaking infrastructure, financed by hefty borrowing. The outgoing parliament is set to meet for a final time to vote on the plans as Merz's center-right Union bloc works to put together a governing coalition with the center-left Social Democrats of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz after winning last month's election. Two-thirds majority needed The plans will need a two-thirds majority in parliament's lower house, the Bundestag, because they involve changes to Germany's strict self-imposed borrowing rules the so-called debt brake, which allows new borrowing worth only 0.35% of annual gross domestic product and is anchored in the constitution. That forced the prospective coalition partners into negotiations with the ...

Parliamentary panels' reports on defence, external affairs tabled in House

The MoD ranked second after the MoF in terms of budgetary allocations for 2025-26, while the MEA ranked 22nd

Army, IAF, and Navy chiefs push for 'Aatmanirbharta' to win future wars

Speaking in separate sessions at a conclave in the capital, the chiefs of the three services outlined the challenges of future conflicts, likely to be prolonged, and how the nation can address them

Dharma Guardian: India, Japan hold 7th Army talks, discuss defence ties

ADG also informed that the Japanese delegation was briefed on Indian Army's United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and the training being conducted by Centre for UN Peacekeeping

MoD to expand competitive bidding for defence procurement: Defence Secy

As part of its 'Year of Reforms' agenda, the Ministry of Defence will enhance ease of doing business, streamline export approvals, and address procedural challenges for private firms

EU Commission proposes 800-billion-euro plan to boost defence capabilities

The 150 billion euros of new joint borrowing is to go towards building pan-European capability domains like air and missile defence

Private investment key to India’s defence growth: Experts at BS Manthan

Private investment key to India’s defence growth: Experts at BS Manthan

BS Manthan: Can private firms drive India's defence self-reliance?

Can private firms drive India's defence self-reliance? BS Manthan brings top experts to discuss policy reforms, industry innovation, and the future of military technology

Time for private industry to take a lead in defence manufacturing: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's call to private industry follows the MoD designating 2025 as the 'Year of Reforms', including streamlining defence acquisition, a long-standing challenge

85% of acquisition by Army indigenous in nature: Chief General Dwivedi

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday announced that a whopping 85 per cent of the army's acquisitions are now indigenous, marking a significant milestone in the country's journey towards self-reliance in defense production.Speaking on the growing emphasis on self-reliance, he stated, "85% of the acquisition by the Indian Army is indigenous in nature. Since we have a lot of revenue & capital requirements, starting from UAV, counter-UAV, and aviation we are looking at it in a big way as of now."The Indian Army is also looking to upgrade its existing equipment and platforms, and General Dwivedi emphasised the importance of collaboration with the Indian industry to achieve this goal."We are also looking at ATGMs and MANPATS. These are the issues we are looking at immediately. As far as the upgradation of various equipment and platforms are concerned, we are looking for great support from the Indian industry..," he said.One notable success story is the Advanced Light .

Govt expects stable delivery of GE-powered fighter jets next fiscal year

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) would have the capacity to hand over 16 to 24 aircraft in the fiscal year that starts in April following stable delivery of the engine

Budget 2025: Rs 20k cr Nuclear Mission for small modular reactor, 5 by 2033

Global interest in small modular reactors has been increasing due to their ability to provide flexible power generation and base-load power for a range of applications, says NITI Aayog report

Govt capex rose 8.2% from July-Nov 2024, led by defence, railways, roads

Economic Survey 2025: Government capex on key infrastructure has grown by 38.8% over the past five years

Wars to become more violent, unpredictable in coming times, says Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said emergence of "non-state actors" in many countries and their resorting to terrorism is a "matter of concern". In his address at an event here to mark the 77th Army Day, he also said conflicts and wars will become more violent and unpredictable in the coming times. He also said the government is leaving no stone unturned to transform the armed forces into a modern warfare machine, adding that dynamic geopolitical world order and the constantly-changing character of warfare would have to be kept in mind. "I feel, in coming times, conflicts and wars will become more violent and unpredictable. Unconventional and asymmetrical methods (in warfare) is gradually increasing," Singh said. Without naming any country, he said that emergence of "non-state actors in many countries" and their resorting to terrorism is a "matter of concern". Also, due to the rapid technological advancements, future wars will witness a change to a great extent. Cyber