At 12:41 PM on Thursday, the Nifty India Defence index was the top gainer among thematic indices up 2.6% at 9,641.
Astra Microwave secured an order worth ₹2,205.20 crore from HAL for procuring 122 AAAU and 121 Interface Frames for the indigenous Uttam AESA Radar programme.
The defence stock was in focus on reports that Data Patterns secured the L1 position for an order worth ₹1,300 crore from HAL for Buffer amplifier and BITE (Built-In Test Equipment) modules.
HAL delivers its 1,000th overhauled AL-31FP engine for the IAF, highlighting India's growing aero-engine MRO capability amid delays in GE F414 engine negotiations
Since April, the Nifty India Defence index has zoomed 33 per cent, as against 8 per cent rally in the Nifty 50.
At 11:29 AM on Friday, the BSE India Defence index was the top gainer among thematic indices up 1 per cent as compared to 0.11 per cent rise in the BSE Sensex.
In the March quarter (Q4FY26), HAL reported a 5.5 per cent increase in net profit to ₹4,196.04 crore, as compared to ₹3,976.63 crore a year ago
The Nifty India Defence index hit an intra-day high of 9,093.20, up 1.3 per cent on the NSE in intra-day deals, and was inching towards its 52-week high of 9,159.55 touched on June 24, 2025.
JM Financial Institutional Securities maintains 'Buy' rating on HAL with a target price of ₹4,875.
At 09:22 AM on Monday, the Nifty Defence index rose 1.1 per cent, as compared to 1 per cent decline in the Nifty 50 amid rising US-Iran tensions.
Thus far in the month of February, the Nifty India Defence index slipped 5.5 per cent, as against 1.3 per cent rise in the Nifty 50.
Final decision on developer and builder of India's first stealth fighter prototypes due in about a month at the soonest
Unimech Aerospace and Manufacturing, Mtar Technologies and Data Patterns rallied in the range of 5 per cent to 6 per cent on the NSE in intra-day trade.
On the bourses, HAL share price was trading 0.27 per cent lower at ₹4,734 per share at 10 AM. By comparison, the BSE Sensex was trading flat at 84,463.92 levels.
R&D spending by India's defense PSUs over the next five years is slated to increase with a projected expenditure of ₹32,766 crore, exceeding ₹30,952 crore invested in the past 10 years.
At 10:20 AM; Nifty India Defence index was up 1.5 per cent, as compared to 0.35 per cent rise in Nifty 50 in Friday's trade.
Nomura maintains a 'Buy' rating on HAL with a target price of ₹6,100, citing the streamlined delivery process and the bolstered order book as key positives.
The major contenders have finished shaping their strategies ahead of the September 30 deadline to respond to the expression of interest (EoI) for AMCA prototype development
At 10:32 AM; Nifty India Defence index was up 2.6 per cent, as compared to 0.28 per cent rise in Nifty 50.
Around 2:30 PM, Hindustan Aeronautics share price was trading 1,99 per cent higher at ₹4,542 per share. By comparison, BSE Sensex was trading 0.31 per cent higher at 81,350.68 levels.