GE Aerospace has signed a deal with the Indian Air Force to set up an engine repair depot in India. The facility will support F404-IN20 engines used in the HAL Tejas Mk1. It will be owned and run by the IAF, with technical support from GE. The move will reduce delays and improve aircraft availability. Officials said it will cut dependence on foreign repair centres. The project also supports India’s push for self-reliance and better defence preparedness.

India significantly boosted its naval strength as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned INS Aridaman and INS Taragiri into the Indian Navy. INS Aridaman, an advanced Arihant-class submarine platform, follows INS Arihant (2016) and INS Arighaat (2024), strengthening India’s nuclear triad and maritime deterrence. Simultaneously, INS Taragiri, a 6,670-tonne Project 17A stealth frigate built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, features reduced radar cross-section, over 75% indigenous content, and advanced weapons including supersonic missiles and anti-submarine systems. Designed for high-speed, multi-dimensional operations, it enhances combat readiness, supports Indo-Pacific engagement, and reinforces India’s push for Aatmanirbhar defence manufacturing. (PC: Times Now)

A parliamentary panel has asked the Indian Air Force to fully use its budget for modernisation. It stressed the need to improve combat readiness. The IAF’s capital budget has increased by over 37% for 2026–27. Funds are planned for fighter jets, transport aircraft, and surveillance systems. The force is facing a shortage of fighter squadrons. The panel said upgrades and new purchases are important in the current global situation. “Use the allocated funds for modernisation,” the report said. Key deals, including aircraft procurement, are under review. Officials said these steps will strengthen the Air Force’s capabilities.

A Sukhoi Su-30 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force has gone missing from radar contact in Assam, officials confirmed on Wednesday night. Authorities said efforts are underway to trace the aircraft and establish communication. The circumstances leading to the loss of radar contact have not yet been disclosed. Search operations have been initiated as per standard protocol, with relevant agencies coordinating to determine the jet’s last known position. Further details regarding the number of personnel onboard or the nature of the sortie were not immediately available. Officials said more information will be shared once verified as the situation develops. (PC: X)

As Iran's Shahed-136 and America's LUCAS suicide drones reshape modern warfare in the Middle East, India is quietly accelerating development of its homegrown Sheshnaag-150 swarm attack drone, built by Bengaluru-based startup Newspace Research Technologies. With a range exceeding 1,000 km, five-hour endurance, and 25-40 kg warhead capacity, the drone is designed for autonomous coordinated swarm strikes overwhelming enemy defences. Its core advantage lies in proprietary AI-driven "mother-code" enabling intelligent, self-coordinating attacks even in GPS-denied environments. Post-Operation Sindoor, where Pakistan saturated Indian defences with cheap drones, urgency around Sheshnaag has intensified dramatically. India's battlefield experience across Operation Sindoor and Operation Epic Fury has firmly established that the drone warfare era has arrived. (PC: NDTV)

India is looking at buying Russian Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets, sources said. The Air Force may order around 40 aircraft if the plan moves ahead. The talks come less than a year after Operation Sindoor. Air battles during the operation gave new lessons to India’s defence forces. Modern air war now depends more on detection than dogfights. The Su-57 is built with stealth features. It uses radar-absorbent material and advanced systems. Sukhoi says the jet has “deeply integrated avionics” and can share data in real time. India is also developing its own Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft. Its first flight is expected around 2028-29. (PC: X)

Three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Sunday, nearly 35 days after Operation Trashi-I was launched on January 18. The terrorists' bodies were charred beyond recognition after their mud hut hideout caught fire during the exchange of fire in the Passerkut area of Chhatru. Preliminary assessments suggest JeM commander Saifullah, active in the region for five years and allegedly linked to a July 2024 attack killing four soldiers may be among the dead. Three AK-47 rifles were also recovered. With Sunday's neutralisation, four terrorists linked to the group have now been eliminated across six gunfights over 35 days.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has lost its third Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to a suspected technical glitch during a routine landing at a key operational air base. The pilot ejected safely, though the aircraft sustained severe airframe damage and may be written off. In response, the IAF grounded its entire fleet of approximately 30 single-seat Tejas jets for intensive technical investigation. This follows two previous losses that includes a March 2024 crash near Jaisalmer and a fatal November 2025 Dubai Airshow incident that killed Wing Commander Namansh Syal. The accident compounds existing concerns around the delayed Tejas Mk1A programme, despite a massive Rs 62,370 crore deal signed for 97 additional aircraft. (PC: IAF)

Galgotias University was asked to vacate its stall at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The action followed a viral video. It showed university staff presenting a Chinese-made robot dog as their own product. The robot was identified as Unitree Go2, made by a Chinese company. It was displayed as “Orion” at the event. Social media users accused the university of misleading claims. The university later said it had only bought the robot for learning. It denied building the machine. A Community Note on X said earlier claims were misleading. Officials have not confirmed further action.

The Defence Acquisition Council has cleared defence purchase proposals worth ₹3.60 lakh crore, including 114 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force. Officials said most of the jets will be made in India. The approval also covers combat missiles and high-altitude surveillance air systems. The defence ministry said the Rafale deal will “enhance the capability of undertaking air dominance roles” and boost long-range strike power. The missiles are meant to improve deep-strike accuracy. New systems will support intelligence and surveillance work. Clearances were also given for Army vehicles, anti-tank mines, and Navy power and patrol aircraft projects. (PC: X)