The Defence Ministry today approved the proposal for procuring 12 Su-30MKI fighter jets for the Indian Air Force, to be manufactured indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The Rs 11,000 crore project will include the aircraft as well as related ground systems. As per officials, the aircraft will have over 60% indigenous content and will be equipped with various Indian weapons and sensors, making them the most modern Su-30MKIs in the IAF's fleet. The move highlights India's push towards indigenous defence manufacturing and enhancing the combat capability of the Air Force. The Su-30MKI has been the backbone of the IAF's fighter fleet and the addition of 12 new jets will provide a timely boost.

The Indian Army paid tribute to army dog Kent, a 6-year-old female labrador of the 21 Army Dog Unit, who was killed in action during an encounter operation in J&K's Rajouri. Kent was leading troops on the trail of fleeing terrorists when she came under heavy fire. Despite being fatally shot, Kent continued shielding her handler till the end. The brave canine made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. She was given full military honors as army personnel mourned the loss of the heroic dog.

A heartbreaking video shows retired Jammu and Kashmir top cop Ghulam Hassan Bhat taking 10 heavy steps to lay a wreath on the body of his slain son Humayun Bhat, a Deputy SP killed in an Anantnag encounter. The 33-year-old officer suffered fatal injuries during the gunfight with terrorists. The dignified grief of the father bidding farewell to his son killed in the line of duty underscores the human tragedy behind terrorism. Humayun was among three officers killed in the encounter. Large crowds attended his last rites in Budgam.

The Indian Army conducted the last rites for a 6-year-old female labrador Kent on Wednesday. Kent belonged to the Army's 21 Dog Unit and sacrificed her life shielding her handler in a recent encounter in J&K's Rajouri. Visuals showed Army personnel carrying Kent's body to pay final respects to the canine soldier. Kent was part of 'Operation Sujaligala' and lost her life protecting her handler while at the forefront of the Rajouri encounter with terrorists. The farewell comes on the day 3 security officers including an Army colonel died in a separate fierce gunfight with terrorists in Anantnag, Kashmir.  

The Indian Air Force (IAF) received its first C-295 military aircraft from Airbus in Spain today as part of a deal to procure 56 planes to replace the aging Avro fleet. Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari received the aircraft being built at the Airbus plant in Seville. The plane is expected to land at the Hindon air base in UP next week and will be officially inducted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. While 16 aircraft will be ready-to-fly from Airbus, 40 will be manufactured in India by Tata Advanced Systems Limited under the 'Make in India' initiative. The manufacturing facility in Vadodara, spread over 1.2 million sq meters like Airbus' Spanish facility, will be operational by November 2024 with the first India-made plane expected in 2026.

Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami inaugurated the 'India Pavilion' at DSEI 2023, showcasing the best of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' defence equipment. The largest ever Indian Defence Industry Delegation is participating in the DSEI 2023 at Excel, London. Speaking at the DSEI 2023 Curtain Raiser event on Monday, Doraiswami called for strengthening the India-UK defence relationship into a more "two-way partnership." The event highlights India's indigenous defence capabilities, underscoring the vast potential for deeper defence collaboration between India-UK. The India Pavilion at DSEI 2023 is an opportunity to showcase India's progress towards self-reliance in the fields defence and security.

Kent, a 6-year-old female labrador from the Indian Army's 21 Dog Unit, made the ultimate sacrifice while leading soldiers to fleeing terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. Coming under heavy fire during the encounter in Rajouri, Kent shielded her handler but succumbed at the scene. The brave canine was at the forefront of 'Operation Sujaligala' when she laid down her life in line of duty, upholding the highest traditions of the Indian Army. One terrorist and one army jawan were also killed in the clash, while 3 more jawans were injured. Kent's selfless act underscores the invaluable role of army dogs and their handlers in counterinsurgency operations.

The National Army Museum in London is hosting the exhibition: "British Indian Army: Soldiers of the First World War" which highlights the vital role of Indian soldiers during World War I. Featuring items from the museum's collections, it shows how 1.4 million Indian men served across fronts like the Western Front and Gallipoli, making up the largest volunteer force ever assembled at the time. As museum liaison Julian Farrance stated, though “overlooked” in the UK's memory, Indian troops were "absolutely vital" and their "huge contribution" played a pivotal role in the outcome of the war. The exhibition runs through till November 5, spotlighting this critical part of history.

Speaking at the DSEI 2023 curtain raiser, Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami called for strengthening the India-UK defence partnership. He said defence ties have lagged behind compared to the overall relationship between the two nations. Doraiswami advocated more two-way cooperation in technology and quick business successes in defence. With the largest Indian industry delegation present, he expressed confidence in progressing ties through platforms like DSEI. The high-level engagement shows India and UK's commitment to boosting strategic defence collaboration. Doraiswami outlined a practical vision for realizing the potential, signaling robust engagement as partners eye new initiatives at the premier UK defence event.

The largest-ever Indian defence industry delegation is visiting London for the DSEI 2023 exhibition from September 12-15. At the curtain raiser event on Sunday, UK Minister for Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan called India a trusted and valued security partner, stressing shared prosperity and security interests in the Indo-Pacific strategic region. Underscoring the British government's India-focused approach under PM Sunak, she said the UK welcomes India as a permanent UN Security Council member. Trevelyan highlighted deepening Indo-UK defence ties. The high-level Indian presence at the premier global defence event demonstrates expanding cooperation.