Recent 6 months news in Defence

Union Minister Rajnath Singh has launched the ‘Greater Than Us’ fundraising campaign of the IIT Kanpur, targeting $1 billion by March 2029 to strengthen research, innovation, and technological infrastructure.

The IIT Kanpur has also announced plans to establish a defence drone hub in partnership with the Ministry of Defence to indigenise critical components and reduce dependence on imports.

INS Tarkash of the Indian Navy has participated in the 9th edition of the India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime (IBSAMAR IX) Exercise 2026. The maritime exercise was hosted by South Africa at Simon’s Town in the Western Cape.

The 33rd edition of the bilateral maritime exercise “SIMBEX-2026” between India and Singapore is held in Visakhapatnam.

INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta of the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) ship RSS Supreme participated in the exercise.

The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) to procure the Improved Low Level Light Weight Radar (LLLR-I) system at a cost of ₹770 crore.

The LLLR-I system can detect and track fighter-size targets and drones, alongside an additional feature for prioritizing aerial targets.

Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd (SDAL), a subsidiary of Solar Industries India Ltd, has delivered 450 Nagastra-1R loitering munitions to the Indian Army (IA).

The 5th edition of the India-Australia joint military exercise “AUSTRAHIND 2026” has commenced at the Foreign Training Node in Thiruvananthapuram.

120 personnel each from the Indian Army and the Australian Army participated in the exercise. The Indian contingent comprises troops from the Garhwal Rifles, while the Australian Army contingent comprises troops from the 13 Brigade.

DRDO has successfully configured and tested its Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) platform on the live network of the Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE) in Chandipur, Odisha.

The QKD platform aims to secure real-time observations and telemetry associated with artillery and armoured weapon trials, strengthening the quantum-secured communication capabilities of India.

The 14th Joint Working Group meeting between the Defence Ministries of India and Mongolia was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both nations to strengthening their bilateral defence partnership.

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan has commissioned ‘INS Samarthak’, the Indian Navy’s first indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV), at the naval base in Karwar, Karnataka.

Constructed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T), the vessel is the first of four planned Multi-Purpose Vessels for the Indian Navy. It features over 75% indigenous content. The crest of the ship features an Indian elephant emerging from the waves, with the official motto “Victory is Our Sole Aim”.

The Ministry of Defence has signed contracts worth ₹4,106 crore to procure a dedicated communication satellite (GSAT-7C) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Varunastra Heavy Weight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy.

The ₹2,563 crore contract for the GSAT-7C satellite was signed with New Space India Ltd, while the ₹1,543 crore contract for the Varunastra torpedoes was inked with Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL).

The bilateral naval exercise “Exercise INDRA 2026” between the Indian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy has commenced at Vladivostok and the adjacent waters of the Sea of Japan.

The Indian Navy is represented by ‘INS Sahyadri’, an indigenous Shivalik-class guided-missile stealth multi-role frigate, while the Russian Federation Navy is represented by the Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov, a Steregushchiy-class corvette from the Pacific Fleet of Russia.

DRDO has successfully conducted the flight trial of an indigenous High-Altitude Platform (HAPS) aimed at creating a long-endurance stratospheric aerial surveillance platform.

The HAPS was developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. During the trial, the platform reached 21 km Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL) and maintained 20 km AMSL for over 30 minutes.

Additionally, DRDO has successfully conducted the maiden live jump trial of the indigenous Advanced High-Altitude Parachute (AHAP) at Nyoma (Mudh Drop Zone) in Ladakh, demonstrating its efficacy and tactical employability in extremely high-altitude terrain.

Union Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi have presided over the launch of ‘Bharat Rice’ by the Indian Army in New Delhi to improve the quality of daily rations and streamline frontline logistics for defense forces.

During the event, a five-year MoU was also signed between the Indian Army and the Food Corporation of India, acting as a strategic force multiplier.

The Indian Navy has commissioned ‘INS Mangrol’, its third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.

The vessel was built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) in Kochi with over 80% indigenous content, including the indigenous Abhay hull-mounted sonar.

The annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy (IN) and the British Royal Navy (BRN) named “KONKAN 2026” is held off the coast of Plymouth, UK.

INS Trishul, a frontline Talwar-class guided-missile stealth frigate of the IN, and HMS Richmond, a Type 23 anti-submarine warfare frigate of the BRN, participated in the exercise.

Kochi-based EyeROV (IROV Technologies Pvt Ltd) has delivered two “EyeROV TROUT” military-grade underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) systems to the Indian Navy (IN). This marks the first-ever delivery of an indigenously manufactured military-grade ROV in India.

The system is designed and developed within the country to meet the technical requirements of naval operations. It is to be noted that the current supply is part of a larger contract for five TROUT systems commissioned by the IN.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) has launched the first Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) named “Yard 3040 (Shreyas)” in Kolkata.

The vessel, measuring 113 metres in length and 14.6 metres in width, has a displacement of 3,000 tonnes. It is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 23 knots and offers an endurance range of 8,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 14 knots.

Union Minister of State Sanjay Seth has inaugurated the 12th National Maritime Search & Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2026) organised by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) off the Paradip coast in Odisha.

The exercise witnessed the participation of 32 observers from 30 countries to bolster international cooperation and operational synergy in maritime safety.

The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in Bengaluru, under the DRDO, has developed the Kaveri Dry Engine (KDE), also known as the Kaveri Derivative Engine.

The KDE has successfully completed high-altitude test facility evaluations and flight trials in Russia for the ‘Ghatak’ Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV).

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has signed a share transfer agreement to acquire a 50% stake in the Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation Flying (HATSOFF) Helicopter Training Private Limited.

With this, HATSOFF will become a 100% wholly-owned subsidiary of HAL, giving the latter complete management control.