Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma has become the first non-medical woman officer in the Indian Defence Services to attain the rank of Air Vice Marshal or equivalent. She assumed charge as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters on September 1, 2026, the Indian Air Force said. Commissioned into the IAF’s Education Branch in 1994, Sharma has served for over three decades at training establishments, field stations and headquarters. She earlier became the first woman officer from the Tri-Services to command a Sainik School, serving as principal of Sainik School Kapurthala. (PC: India Today)

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed to have shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper over the Strait of Hormuz, though Washington had not confirmed the loss. The $50 million Reaper is a long-endurance combat drone capable of surveillance and precision strikes. India also operates MQ-9B Sea Guardians, but they serve a different role. India’s Sea Guardians are primarily used for long-range maritime surveillance and can remain airborne for about 30 hours. The Navy currently operates four leased drones, while India has ordered 31 MQ-9B drones under a Rs 32,000 crore deal, with deliveries expected from 2029. (PC: India Today)

The National Security Guard (NSG) has launched its first Mahila Commando Conversion Course at its Training Academy in Manesar, marking a significant step in women’s participation in specialised counter-terror operations. Begun on August 24, the 12-week residential programme trains women personnel from State Police Forces and Central Armed Police Forces in physical conditioning, weapons handling, marksmanship, tactical intervention and hostage rescue. Twenty-five women from Rajasthan’s RAC 5th Battalion are among the first participants. The trainees will return to their parent forces after completing the course in November, carrying advanced skills to strengthen counter-terror preparedness and cross-agency cooperation. 

The DRDO has successfully tested its indigenous Military Combat Parachute System (MCPS) at the Nyoma-Mudh drop zone in Ladakh, one of the world's highest-altitude zones. Three test jumpers jumped from 22,000 feet above mean sea level in freezing temperatures of minus 15 degrees Celsius. The parachute system was deployed at 20,000 feet, and all three jumpers landed safely at an altitude of about 13,700 feet. The successful trial demonstrated the MCPS's performance in extreme high-altitude conditions, marking a significant step towards strengthening India's indigenous military airborne capabilities.

The National Security Guard (NSG) has launched its first Mahila Commando Conversion Course at Manesar in Haryana’s Gurugram, training women personnel from State Police Forces and Central Armed Police Forces for specialised counter-terror operations. The intensive 12-week programme covers physical conditioning, weapons proficiency, marksmanship, tactical intervention, hostage rescue and other specialised skills. NSG said the initiative aims to create a larger pool of operationally capable women, establish common professional benchmarks and strengthen interoperability across India’s security establishment. After completing the course, the women will return to their parent forces as force multipliers, carrying enhanced combat skills and operational expertise. The NSG described the initiative as a milestone in women’s empowerment and national security preparedness.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the transfer of technology for all conventional missile systems developed by the DRDO to eligible Indian defence companies. The move will allow domestic firms to manufacture these missile systems, subject to required qualifications, certifications and regulations.   The Defence Ministry said the decision aims to boost indigenous manufacturing, reduce dependence on imports and expand the role of Indian companies, including MSMEs, in the defence supply chain. The initiative is also expected to help move DRDO-developed missile systems from the development stage to large-scale industrial production, strengthening India’s domestic defence capabilities. (PC: HT)

India’s AK-203 assault rifle, named ‘Sher’, has achieved 100% indigenisation, with full-scale domestic production set to begin at Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited’s Korwa plant in Amethi. Ten fully indigenous prototypes will be handed to the Indian Army within a month for user, quality assurance, infantry and environmental trials. The rifles have already completed 3,000 successful factory test firings. Deliveries are scheduled from April 2027, with 7,000 rifles planned in the first three months. IRRPL aims to produce 1.5 lakh annually and fulfil its over-six-lakh rifle order by 2030-31, ahead of schedule. Localising 50 major components, 180 child parts and 1,600 precision gauges required extensive engineering work. Export plans are also underway. (PC: News18)

India's first fully indigenous AK-203 assault rifle, named ‘Sher’, has been successfully test-fired at the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. The rifle is expected to undergo Indian Army trials in September. The development marks a major step in India's efforts to increase domestic defence production and reduce dependence on imported components. The AK-203 rifles are being manufactured under the India-Russia joint venture and are intended to strengthen the Indian Army's infantry capabilities. Successful trials could further advance the indigenisation of the AK-203 programme under the government's Make in India initiative.  

India has signed a ₹1,943 crore deal with US-based General Atomics to lease two more MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones for the Navy. The 30-month lease will help prevent a gap in maritime surveillance before India receives its own drones. The Navy already operates two leased MQ-9Bs, which have supported anti-piracy missions in the Arabian Sea. India signed a $3.99 billion deal in 2024 to buy 31 MQ-9B drones for the Navy, Army and Air Force. Deliveries are expected from 2029. The drones can fly for up to 27 hours and provide long-range intelligence and surveillance over land and sea.

India has signed a Rs 1,943-crore contract with US defence company General Atomics to lease 2 MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones for the Indian Navy for 30 months. The high-altitude, long-endurance drones can remain airborne for more than 30 hours and operate above 40,000 feet. Equipped with advanced sensors and an anti-submarine warfare kit, they will strengthen India’s maritime surveillance and intelligence capabilities across the Indian Ocean Region. The lease comes after India signed a $3-billion deal to acquire 31 MQ-9B drones for the 3 services. The Navy will receive 15 SeaGuardians, while the Army and Air Force will get 8 each. (PC: NDTV)