Recent 6 months news in Defence

'Operation Southern Readiness 26-2' has commenced at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. The exercise is hosted by the Southern Naval Command under the the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154), in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

The engagement involves 254 participants from 26 countries. It is to be noted that the CTF 154, which functions as the dedicated Training Task Force of the CMF, is currently commanded by the Indian Navy under the leadership of Commodore Milind M Mokashi.

INS Sudarshini, an indigenous three-masted sail training barque of the Indian Navy (IN), has represented India at the 'Sail4th 250' and the 'United States International Naval Review 250' celebrations held in New York Harbour.

The festival was organised to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States.

The 8th Defence Policy Dialogue between India and Japan was held in Tokyo, Japan. The Indian delegation was led by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

Both countries reviewed the progress in bilateral defence cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

Adani Defence and Aerospace, a division of the Adani Group, has invested ₹2,500 crore to establish a facility in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, to create the largest private-sector missile ecosystem in South Asia.

This will be the first private-sector complex in India to integrate composite propellant production, Trinitrotoluene (TNT) manufacturing, and missile system integration at a single location.

General Dhiraj Seth has assumed office as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). Upon taking charge, he unveiled the 'VIJAY' roadmap, a high-tech blueprint designed to transform the Indian Army into a technology-enabled, future-ready force.

The roadmap is structured around five core pillars: Vigilance (border security and emerging threats), Innovation and Transformation (modern doctrine and technology-driven warfare), Jointness and Integration (tri-services approach for Viksit Bharat 2047), Aatmanirbharta (self-reliant defence), and Yodha (human capital development).

The Indian Navy has commissioned the indigenously built advanced stealth frigate 'INS Mahendragiri (F38)' into its Eastern Fleet at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The frigate was constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai, based on an in-house design by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) of the Indian Navy.

The vessel, which has over 75% indigenous content, has a displacement of 6,670 tonnes and is 149 metres long. It uses a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, is capable of reaching a top speed of 28 knots, and has an operational range of 5,500 nautical miles.

The DRDO has successfully conducted a flight-test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur. The rocket was tested for a user-defined minimum range of 60 km and successfully demonstrated all planned in-flight manoeuvres.

The Pinaka LRGR was designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in collaboration with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Union Minister Rajnath Singh, has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for various acquisition proposals for the defence forces, estimated at ₹52,000 crore.

For the Indian Army, the DAC approved the procurement of the 'AKASH TARANG' Anti-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Electronic Warfare System, Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) Systems, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) Weapon System, Very Short Range Air Defence System (V-SHORADS), Active Protection System for Tanks, and a Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone System.

For the Indian Navy, the council granted approval for the procurement of Multi Influence Ground Mines (MIGM), Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial Systems (NSUAS), and the establishment of a Land Based Testing Facility (LBTF) for Electric Propulsion Systems. For the Indian Air Force (IAF), approval was accorded for the procurement of Fixed-Wing Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (FW-HAPS).

Indian Naval Ships (INS) Udaygiri, INS Shakti, and INS Kavaratti have concluded their port call at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore.

The deployment of these Eastern Fleet ships was led by Rear Admiral Alok Anand, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF).

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has completed the construction of a 180-foot triple-double reinforced Bailey bridge in Kurung Kumey, Arunachal Pradesh.

Situated along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) corridor, this bridge restores vital connectivity along the Hapoli–Sarli–Huri road network. The project was executed under 'Project Arunank' by the 756 Task Force and Team 85 Road Construction Company (RCC).

The Indian Navy has participated in the 30th edition of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC 2026), the world's largest multinational maritime warfare exercise.

Hosted by the US Navy, the exercise was conducted at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) in Hawaii, USA. The theme for the 30th edition of RIMPAC was 'Partners: Integrated and Prepared'.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has received the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) from the DRDO for the indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system named 'Netra'.

The system is integrated onto the Brazilian modified twin-engine Embraer EMB-145I aircraft platform and has a radar detection range of 240–300 km It is to be noted that the 'Netra' programme was initiated in 2003 and sanctioned in 2004, with the IAF receiving the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) in 2017.

The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) of the USA, which administers the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, has notified a proposed sale of sustainment support services and equipment to India at an estimated cost of $482.2 million.

This includes $230 million for the sustainment of M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers and $198.2 million for the AH-64E Apache helicopters.

Union Minister Rajnath Singh has released the 'Delegation of Financial Powers to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) (DFP-2026)' in New Delhi. The framework aims to expedite local clearances by expanding financial powers across various management levels of the DRDO.

Under the new policy, the financial powers for competitive procurement and sanctioning new projects for the Secretary, Department of Defence R&D (DRDO Chairman) have been doubled from ₹75 crore to ₹150 crore.

The sanctioning autonomy for Directors General (DGs) has been increased from ₹25 crore to ₹75 crore, and for Laboratory Directors from ₹2 crore to ₹5 crore. Additionally, single-tender and proprietary procurement limits have been upgraded, authorizing the Secretary, DRDO up to ₹75 crore, DGs up to ₹37.5 crore, and Lab Directors up to ₹2.5 crore.

The Indian Army is participating in the 23rd edition of the multilateral joint military exercise 'KHAAN QUEST' 2026, hosted by Mongolia at the Five Hills Training Area in Ulaanbaatar.

The Indian contingent consists of 40 members, including troops from the JAT Regiment and other Arms & Services. The exercise involves personnel from 18 participating countries.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned the ICGS Akshay, a new-generation Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV), into its fleet.

The vessel, built by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL), was inducted at the GSL facility in Vasco, Goa. It features over 60% indigenous content and is the fourth vessel in the Adamya-class FPV series.

The Ministry of Defence has granted permission to the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Ltd (MRDCL) to use 83.814 acres of defence land under the Artillery Centre in Hyderabad.

The land, valued at ₹533.42 crore, has been allocated for the Gandhi Sarovar Project at Bapu Ghat, Hyderabad, under the Equal Value Infrastructure (EVI) Policy.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has inducted its first indigenously constructed Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV), designated H-561, at the Rassaim shipyard facility in Goa.

The vessel, built by the Goa-based Chowgule & Company Pvt Ltd (CCPL), is made of marine-grade aluminium and contains over 50% indigenous content. The ACV can accommodate up to 42 personnel and an 8-tonne payload, with a maximum speed of 45 knots.

India has successfully tested the indigenous 120-millimeter (mm) vehicle-mounted mortar system named "Garudastra", developed by Nibe Ltd for the Indian Army.

The Ministry of Defence has granted in-principle approval to establish a National Military Drone Technology Hub at the IIT Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

The project, valued at ₹500 crore, aims to strengthen India's capabilities in advanced unmanned systems.