Indian Defence

Multi-domain operations a present imperative for India: Air Marshal Dixit

Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on Thursday said India's environment makes the transformation towards Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) urgent, as the country faces threats that do not respect domain boundaries. Asserting that preparedness must be multi-domain from the outset, he said that MDO is not a future option, but a present imperative. He was delivering the keynote address at the second edition of "Ran Samwaad 2026", with a theme "Multi-Domain Operations: An Imperative for Addressing Conventional and Irregular Threats." "India's environment makes this transformation urgent - not aspirational. We face threats that do not respect domain boundaries," Dixit said. Noting that along our northern borders, surveillance drones, satellite monitoring, electronic warfare, and rapid force mobilisation coexist in a state of permanent readiness, he said in the maritime domain, sea lines of communication intersect with space-based surveillance, undersea competition

SC asks Centre if disabled military cadets can get 'ex-servicemen' status

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre if military cadets who become unfit due to disabilities sustained during training can be given ex-servicemen status, enabling them to avail reservation benefits in government and semi-government jobs. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said a majority of the military cadets were below the age of 30 and would need employment. "During the course of submissions, one of the aspects that was discussed was as to whether the boarded-out cadets could also be considered as ex-servicemen or ex-military personnel for the purpose of having the benefit of reservation for such persons in various governmental and semi-government jobs and posts," the bench said. "Learned ASG to seek instructions on this aspect, so that the scope of the ex-military personnel could also include the boarded-out cadets, since a majority of them are in their 20s, 30s", it said. Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman, appearing for the Union of India, said it

Women SSC officers in armed forces entitled to full pension benefits: SC

In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that women Short Service Commission (SSC) officers in the Army, Navy, and Air Force, who were denied Permanent Commission due to arbitrary assessment, are entitled to full pensionary benefits. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh held that the officers would be "deemed" to have completed the minimum qualifying service of 20 years required for a pension, even if they were released from service earlier. The judgment came on a batch of petitions, including those filed by Wing Commander Sucheta Edan and others, challenging the denial of Permanent Commission (PC) based on policy changes in 2019 and previous Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) rulings. Reading the operative parts of the judgment, the CJI said the Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) for women officers were often graded "casually" under the assumption that they would not be eligible for career progression or PC. "The A

Rajnath unveils vision document, roadmap for future-ready military

An ambitious vision document broadly outlining a series of strategic reforms, capability enhancements and organisational changes required to bolster the Indian military was unveiled by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday. The release of the document came eight months after the military conflict between India and Pakistan. Following the May 7 to 10 conflict, all three forces were asked to work on the lessons learnt from it. The 'Defence Forces Vision 2047: A Roadmap for a Future-Ready Indian Military' envisages the transformation of the military into an integrated, multi-domain and agile force capable of deterring adversaries and effectively responding to any conflict. A central pillar of the vision is the emphasis on jointness and synergy among the services, promoting greater coordination in planning, operations and capability development, according to the defence ministry.

Everything about India's long-range swarm attack drone Sheshnaag-150

India is developing the Sheshnaag-150, a long-range swarm attack drone that can fly over 1,000 km, carry powerful warheads and strike targets

Tough to define allies or enemies, India on its own: CDS Gen. Chauhan

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Friday said assumptions about permanent friends or adversaries are increasingly becoming unreliable in the current global order and asserted India must remain prepared - mentally, structurally, materially - to act independently when required. Emphasising the need for pursuing strategic autonomy, the CDS noted partnerships are valuable when aligned with national interest, but they cannot substitute for indigenous capability or the power to exercise freedom of choice. "In today's world, it is difficult to define who are your friends, who are your allies, who are your enemies and who are your adversaries. Strategic alignments have become fluid and transactional," General Chauhan observed. He was speaking at the 'JAI' (Jointness, Aatmanirbhar Innovation) seminar organised by the Southern Command here. "India must, therefore, be prepared to act independently when required. That preparedness has to be mental, structural and material," he ..

COAS Gen Dwivedi meets Sri Lankan army commander, discusses defence ties

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi met Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), Deputy Minister of Defence & Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Secretary of Defence, Sri Lanka, on Thursday to discuss ways to advance bilateral defence cooperation and military-to-military relations.Their talks focused on enhancing strategic ties, expanding joint military training, and examining the current geostrategic landscape in the region.Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting regional peace and stability. "#GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS held discussions with Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), Deputy Minister of Defence & Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Secretary of Defence, Sri Lanka. The interaction focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, enhancing military-to-military engagement including cooperation for Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief and reinforcing collaboration in areas of mutual interest, ...

DAC okays defence procurement proposals worth ₹79K cr to boost capabilities

The DAC cleared proposals to acquire loitering munition systems for artillery units, low-level lightweight radars, and long-range guided rocket ammunition

Indian defence forces committed to adapting to changing environment: CDS

Asserting that war and warfare is at the cusp of a major revolution, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Saturday said the Indian Defence forces are committed to adapting to changing environment and imbibing reforms to remain ready and relevant. Addressing the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) of 216 Course held at the Air Force Academy at Dundigal near here, General Chauhan said India's strength rests on robust institutions, democratic stability, and unwavering professionalism of our Armed Forces. He said the intensity of operations may have ebbed, but Operation Sindoor continues. "You (new officers) also join the Air Force at a moment when a new normal has firmly taken shape. An era defined by a high degree of operational preparedness, 24-7, 365 days. The intensity of operations may have ebbed, but Operation Sindhur continues," he said. He further said the newly trained officers are entering the Indian Air Force during a phase of deep transformation of the Indian

DRDO hands over seven indigenous defence technologies to armed forces

From a long-life seawater battery system for sustained underwater sensing and surveillance applications to a waterjet propulsion system for fast interceptor craft, the DRDO has handed over seven technologies to the armed forces, the government said on Friday. These technologies have been developed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme, the defence ministry said. "Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over seven technologies developed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme to the three Services," it said in a statement. "The technologies are -- an indigenous high-voltage power supply for airborne self-protection jammers, a tide-efficient gangway for naval jetties, advanced very low frequency-high frequency switching matrix systems, VLF loop aerials for underwater platforms, indigenous waterjet propulsion system for fast interceptor craft, a novel process for recovery of lithium precursors from used lithium-ion batteries and a long-li

A strong India strengthens global peace and economy: Rajnath Singh

Rajnath said that to ensure that this positive influence translates into lasting strength, the government is strengthening national capacity with focused reforms

Pak's arms push, China's expanding naval power key concerns: Navy official

Post-Operation Sindoor in May, Pakistan has been shopping all around the world for arms and ammunition which is a matter of concern, while China, too, remains an enduring challenge on the back of its growing assertiveness, a top Indian Navy officer said on Wednesday. Vice-Admiral K Swaminathan, who heads the crucial Western Naval Command headquartered in Mumbai, noted the Chinese Navy has already become the largest in the world and has added fleet to the size of the Indian Navy in just last decade and expanding like never before. He was speaking at a security conference organised by the Bramha Research Foundation. Swaminathan noted that the commissioning of Fujian, the third aircraft carrier of the Chinese Navy, along with the demonstration of fifth and sixth generation fighters, is part of the Communist nation's global strategic narrative and signalling. "China, also worryingly for us, continues to maintain five-eight ships in the Indian Ocean Region," he said. This group ...

No nation secure alone, shared defence innovation vital: Army chief Dwivedi

In a world of complex threats, no nation stands secure alone and shared defence innovation is the "strongest shield", Chief of Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi said on Tuesday. In his address at India Defence Conclave 2025, he also said that India's "two-and-a-half front challenge" and "post 'Op Sindoor' empowerment" is giving the armed forces more flexibility for spiral development and induction. In his 20-minute address to a gathering of senior military officers, defence experts, industry representatives and others, he emphasised on the evolving nature of warfare, and the need to build capabilities, invest in defence research and development (R&D) and leverage emerging technologies. "The future of warfighting will not be defined by any single domain or doctrine, but by how decisively we convert ideas into enduring capabilities," Gen Dwivedi said. He asserted that the journey from concept to capability is in truth a journey from "dependence to dominance, from preparing for the ...

Indian Army to deploy first Bhairav battalion on Nov 1: DG Infantry

While highlighting the role of the Bhairav Battalion, the DG mentioned that the Indian Army is also raising Ashni (fire) platoons in its infantry battalions, responsible for drone operations

Pakistan still recuperating from severe blow: Rajnath Singh on Op Sindoor

Operation Sindoor was an "extraordinary" demonstration of tri-services synergy and Pakistan is still recuperating from the "severe blow" inflicted by India's military, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday. The operation reaffirmed India's resolve of devising coordinated, adaptive and preemptive strategies to deal with emerging national security challenges, he said. Singh was speaking at a book launch event. "Operation Sindoor witnessed extraordinary jointness and integration among the three services, and reaffirmed the government's resolve of devising coordinated, adaptive and preemptive defence strategies to deal with the challenges arising out of the changing world order and evolving methods of warfare," he said. The defence minister emphasised that traditional defence outlook is no longer sufficient in today's times as wars are fought not only on the borders, but have now taken a hybrid and asymmetrical form. He asserted that the government has undertaken several "b

War is fought by entire nation, not just armed forces: CDS Gen Anil Chauhan

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Monday asserted 'Operation Sindoor' against Pakistan in May created a "new matrix of decision and timing in warfare" and insisted a war is not fought by the armed forces alone, but by the entire nation. He said political leaders, diplomats and soldiers all play their respective roles at the time of a war. After Operation Sindoor, which saw Indian armed forces target terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK with precision air strikes, a new normal has emerged -- talks and terrorism cannot go hand in hand -- and the country cannot tolerate even the threat of a nuclear attack, General Chauhan affirmed. "Operation Sindoor created a new matrix of decision and timing in warfare. Many challenges still lie ahead for the armed forces. No war is fought by the armed forces alone; the whole nation fights it. Leaders, diplomats and soldiers know their roles," he said addressing students at the 128th Foundation Day celebrations of Scindia School in ...

Rajnath highlights India-Australia strategic ties at defence round table

Rajnath emphasised that the India-Australia relationship stands on three vital pillars- government-to-government collaboration, people-to-people connections, and expanding business and industrial ties

Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 ends in Alaska, strengthens India-US ties

The two-week India-US bilateral exercise in Alaska saw joint command drills, live-fire operations and training in sub-arctic terrain, reaffirming strong defence ties