Aero India 2027 will take place from February 8 to 12 at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru. It will be the 16th edition of Asia’s largest airshow. The event aims to promote India's defence industry and increase defence exports. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will lead the event with support from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). Indian and foreign companies will meet to explore new business opportunities. The government hopes to expand local defence manufacturing through the airshow. Officials expect this to be the biggest Aero India event so far, with more global participation than previous editions.

The Indian Navy will commission the stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. It is the fourth naval ship to join the fleet in less than a month. India aims to build a 200-warship navy by 2035 using Indian shipyards. However, many future warship projects are still waiting for approval. Experts say these delays could create gaps as older ships retire. They also point to slow shipbuilding and dependence on foreign technology as major concerns. The Navy is working to increase local production and improve its defence industry to meet future security needs.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been ranked 3rd in the 2026 Global Airpower Rankings released by the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA), behind only the United States and Russia. The ranking marks the fifth consecutive year since 2022 that the IAF has been placed ahead of China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), which is ranked 4th. Despite the achievement, the report highlights key capability gaps, including a shortage of fighter squadrons and the need for faster modernisation. The findings underline both the IAF's growing strength and the challenges it must address.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the flight test of the Pinaka Long-Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, on July 8. The rocket accurately struck its target after completing all planned in-flight manoeuvres during a user-defined minimum range test of 60 km. Launched from the in-service Pinaka launcher, the trial demonstrated compatibility with multiple Pinaka variants using the same platform. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the achievement as a major milestone in India's indigenous defence capabilities, while DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh congratulated the teams involved. 

The Indian Navy will commission INS Mahendragiri, its sixth indigenous stealth frigate under Project 17A, on July 11 in Visakhapatnam. Designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, the warship has more than 75 per cent indigenous content. It is equipped with advanced missile systems, electronic warfare technology and anti-submarine capabilities. The multi-role frigate can carry out anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine operations, along with search and rescue and humanitarian missions. Officials said INS Mahendragiri will strengthen India's naval power and support the country's goal of building advanced warships at home.

Security forces have intensified a major counter-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district after surveillance cameras captured two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists hiding in an orchard. A joint team of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF has sealed all escape routes while clearing four of seven villages under a tight cordon. The trapped terrorists, identified as Latif and Zakir from Kulgam district, reportedly opened fire, triggering a fierce gunbattle. Zakir is believed to have joined Lashkar in 2024 and Latif in 2025. Officials said eliminating local operatives remains crucial to dismantling terror logistics and recruitment networks, especially in Shopian’s dense summer terrain that offers natural cover. (PC: X)

Security forces resumed their anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Sunday, with two suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists still trapped inside a dense orchard after an overnight pause. The joint operation by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force entered its second day in the Meemandar area, where surveillance cameras first detected the terrorists on Friday. Officials identified the suspects as Zakir and Latif, both residents of Kulgam district. Zakir allegedly joined LeT in 2024, while Latif became associated with the outfit in 2025. The encounter began after the terrorists opened fire on Army personnel, prompting retaliatory action. Security forces have sealed all escape routes while search operations continue.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved defence procurement proposals worth ₹52,000 crore to strengthen the capabilities of the Army, Navy and Air Force. The clearance includes anti-tank guided missiles, kamikaze drones, Akash Tarang anti-UAV systems, medium-range and very short-range air defence systems, and advanced protection systems for tanks. The Navy will receive new unmanned aerial systems, sea mines and propulsion testing facilities, while the Air Force will procure a high-altitude pseudo satellite for surveillance and reconnaissance. The approvals mark another major step in India's military modernisation programme. (PC: HT)

The government has, for the first time, officially disclosed the names of armed forces personnel killed during Operation Sindoor, the cross-border military operation launched on May 7, 2025, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Six personnel lost their lives during the operation, including one member of the Indian Air Force. The announcement marks the first formal acknowledgment of military casualties from the mission, which targeted terrorist infrastructure across the border. By releasing the names, the government paid tribute to the fallen personnel and recognised their sacrifice in the operation. The disclosure comes more than a year after Operation Sindoor was conducted following the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday commissioned three indigenously built naval ships — Dunagiri, Sanshodhak and Agray — in Kolkata. The vessels were designed and built in India and contain more than 75% indigenous content. Speaking at the event, Modi said, “No nation can become a big power without maritime prowess.” The ships will strengthen India's capabilities in maritime combat, hydrographic surveys and anti-submarine warfare. The government said the vessels reflect the success of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. More than 200 MSMEs contributed to their construction, highlighting India's growing shipbuilding and defence capabilities.