India has successfully tested the Vayu Astra loitering munition developed by private company Nibe Limited. The system completed trials in mountain areas of Joshimath and desert regions of Pokhran. The drone can carry anti-tank and anti-personnel warheads up to 100 km. Unlike normal drones, it can stay in the air and wait for a target before attacking. It is controlled through a two-way communication link. The system can also be used for surveillance and later recovered with a parachute. Officials said the trials are still in the early stages. India also tested long-range rocket systems during the demonstration. 

The United States has approved a "$198.2 million" support package for India’s AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. The deal includes spare parts, technical help, training, and logistics support. The helicopters are used by the Indian Air Force and the Army Aviation Corps. The US said the package will help India "meet current and future threats" and improve homeland defence. Boeing and Lockheed Martin will be the main contractors. The US also approved a "$230 million" support package for India’s M777 howitzers.

India’s first locally built Airbus C295 military transport aircraft is expected to roll out soon from Tata Advanced Systems Limited’s facility in Vadodara. The same aircraft model was recently used by the United States Air Force in a mission to rescue pilots from Iran. The aircraft is being produced under a ₹21,935 crore deal between Airbus and the Indian Air Force. India will receive 56 C295 aircraft, with 40 being manufactured in the country. The project marks a major step in India’s private defence manufacturing sector. (PC: Airbus, Indian Air Force)

India has successfully carried out the first flight trial of the indigenously developed Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon system off the coast of Odisha. The trial was conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Indian Air Force on May 7. The Defence Ministry said TARA is India’s first indigenous glide weapon system that can convert unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons. The system was developed by Research Centre Imarat in Hyderabad along with other DRDO labs. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the teams involved in the project. (PC: The Hindu)

India is set to receive its fourth S-400 Triumf squadron from Russia in May 2026, significantly strengthening its western air defence along the Pakistan border. The system, capable of tracking 300 targets at a range of 600 km, will plug critical surveillance gaps in Punjab and Rajasthan. However, India’s strategy goes beyond a single platform, integrating systems like MR-SAM, Akash missile system, and upcoming Project Kusha into a layered network. This multi-tier architecture ensures comprehensive protection against drones, missiles, and aircraft, positioning India among nations with the most advanced and resilient air defence systems globally. (PC: Reuters)

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)