India plans to significantly ease foreign investment rules in defence firms to boost domestic manufacturing following last year's Pakistan conflict. The government will raise the FDI cap under the automatic route from 49% to 74% for companies with existing licenses, sources reveal. Currently, 74% foreign ownership is only permitted for firms seeking new licenses. Authorities are also considering dropping the vague "modern technology access" condition for investments beyond 74% and eliminating maintenance facility requirements for export-oriented manufacturers. Despite operations by Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and Rafael, foreign defence investments totaled only $26.5 million in 25 years through September 2025. The defence ministry seeks 20% budget increase for fiscal 2026/27. (PC: Reuters)

India and France have broadly agreed on terms to buy 114 Rafale F4* fighter jets for the Indian Air Force, with the contract expected in 2026 or early 2027. The deal is valued at about ₹3.25 lakh crore. Eighteen aircraft will be delivered in fly-away condition, while the rest will be built in India in phases with up to 60% local content. The final assembly line will come up at Dassault’s Nagpur unit. Existing IAF Rafales will be upgraded to the F4 standard, with an option for future F5 upgrades. Deliveries may start around 2030. (PC: The Print)

The Indian Army is using the Aeroarc-made Multi-Utility Legged Equipment, or MULE, as a robotic support partner in difficult terrain. The four-legged robot is designed to walk across snow, sand and shallow water. It can climb steps, carry supplies and reduce risk to troops in dangerous zones. The system can be fitted with cameras and sensors to help in watch duties and in detecting explosive threats. Around 100 units have been supplied by Delhi-based firm Aeroarc and have been shown at public events and field trials. The robot is built to work in extreme heat and cold and can also move in groups with other MULE units. 

India will discuss a plan to buy 114 Rafale fighter jets from France at a high-level Defence Ministry meeting this week, officials said. The deal is valued at about ₹3.25 lakh crore. Most jets will be made in India with around 30% local content. About 12 to 18 aircraft may be bought in fly-away condition for quick use by the Air Force. India has asked France to allow Indian weapons and systems to be fitted on the jets, though source codes will stay with the French side. If approved, this will be India’s largest defence purchase so far. (PC: Economic Times)

India’s Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the **PSLV-C62 mission on January 12, 2026 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, carrying the EOS-N1 satellite (nicknamed “Anvesha”), developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The hyperspectral Earth-observation spacecraft will significantly enhance surveillance, strategic monitoring, agriculture and environmental mapping capabilities from orbit, tracking terrain and features that are otherwise hard to detect. The mission also carries 18 co-passenger satellites from Indian and international partners, reaffirming ISRO’s role in global space collaboration and continuing its trusted PSLV workhorse launch record. (PC: ISRO)

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a major defence technology milestone by conducting a long-duration ground test of a full-scale scramjet engine at its Defence Research & Development Laboratory in Hyderabad. The actively cooled scramjet combustor ran for over 12 minutes at the advanced Scramjet Connect Pipe Test facility, validating design and test infrastructure as part of India’s hypersonic cruise missile programme. Hypersonic missiles can exceed five times the speed of sound, and this breakthrough positions India among nations advancing sophisticated air-breathing propulsion technology. Defence officials called it a “solid foundation” for future missile development. (PC: NDTV)

The Border Security Force installed newly designed 12-feet-high fencing across 75% of the strategically vital Chicken's Neck (Siliguri corridor) region amid Bangladesh civil unrest. The upgraded border security system, difficult to cut or climb, is backed by pan-tilt-zoom cameras providing live feeds for rapid response, creating a "smart border." Enhanced area domination plans now target cattle collection points several kilometers inside Indian territory. BSF launched community-centered initiatives discouraging villagers from border crimes through confidence-building measures with families of suspected smugglers. Since January 2025, BSF seized contraband worth Rs 8.5 crore, apprehending 440 Bangladeshis and 152 Indians. After thorough background checks, 187 Bangladeshis were returned to Border Guard Bangladesh with fingerprint verification. (PC: PTI)

India on Tuesday tested the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile from the nuclear-powered submarine INS Arighaat in the Bay of Bengal. Officials said the trial took place off the coast of Visakhapatnam. The missile is designed to strike targets up to 3,500 kilometres away. The K-4 was inducted into the Navy in August 2024. It is adapted from the Agni-III land missile for underwater launch. The weapon can rise from a submarine silo, reach the surface, and then ignite its rocket motor. The missile can carry a nuclear payload and can be launched from Arihant-class submarines. The test adds to India’s sea-based nuclear strike capability.

India's Defence Acquisition Council, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, will convene December 26 to discuss Emergency Procurement for the armed forces. The Navy seeks over 700 MR-SAM medium-range surface-to-air missiles, jointly developed by DRDO and an Israeli firm, with 70km range capabilities against aircraft, missiles, and drones. The Air Force plans acquiring over 600 Astra Mark-2 Beyond Visual Range missiles with approximately 200km range, enabling strikes from within Indian territory. Following Operation Sindoor, over 300 Israeli SPICE precision-guided munitions may be ordered. The Army requires additional low-level lightweight radars. Emergency Procurement enables quick weapon delivery in limited quantities, with individual system budgets around Rs 300 crore. (PC: Times Now)

Sai Jadhav, 23, has created history by becoming the first woman officer to pass out from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun after 93 years, ending a wait since the institution's 1932 establishment. Commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Territorial Army, she underwent six months of rigorous training alongside male cadets through special permission. Sai represents the fourth generation of military service in her family, following her great-grandfather (British Army), grandfather, and father Sandeep Jadhav (current Indian Army officer). Over 67,000 male officers graduated before her. Currently, eight women cadets from NDA's 2022 intake are training, marking expanding opportunities for women in armed forces. (PC: X)