SOURCE: AFI

Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) has marked a historic achievement with the successful completion of diving system trials on its advanced Diving Support Vessel (DSV), Nistar. This milestone not only strengthens India’s maritime capabilities but also positions the nation as a potential leader in exporting sophisticated naval vessels. As the first of two indigenously built DSVs for the Indian Navy, Nistar is designed for complex deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations, showcasing HSL’s technological prowess and engineering excellence.

The recently concluded trials validated Nistar’s air diving systems through rigorous unmanned and manned dives at varying depths, confirming the vessel’s reliability in challenging underwater conditions. Additionally, successful tests of the Observation Remotely Operated Vehicle (OROV) underscored its readiness for deep-ocean missions. With saturation diving trials slated for the coming months, Nistar is poised to further cement its advanced operational capabilities.

SOURCE: AFI

As global aerospace powers—the United States, China, and Europe—forge ahead with at least four distinct sixth-generation fighter jet programs, the urgency for India, home to the world’s fourth-largest air force, to initiate its own conceptual work on next-generation air combat platforms has never been greater.

With the Indian Air Force (IAF) already committed to the development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation stealth fighter, the time is ripe to begin exploring sixth-generation concepts. Doing so would ensure that India avoids playing catch-up once the AMCA enters service, positioning the nation as a competitive player in the future of air warfare.

SOURCE: AFI

As India strives to bolster its air power amid rising regional tensions and an evolving global security landscape, the production of fighter aircraft remains a critical pillar of its defense strategy. In a recent issue brief published by the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS), Air Commodore SP Singh, VSM (Retd), a Senior Visiting Fellow, argues that the time has come for India to pivot toward privatisation to accelerate and enhance its fighter jet manufacturing capabilities. Titled “Fighter Aircraft Production in India: Privatisation is the Need of Hour,” the piece underscores the limitations of the current state-dominated system and calls for a transformative role for the private sector.

India’s fighter aircraft production has long been anchored by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a public sector undertaking (PSU) that has delivered aircraft like the MiG series, Jaguar, Su-30 MKI, and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. While HAL has been instrumental in building India’s aerospace foundation, its track record is marred by delays, cost overruns, and an inability to meet the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) growing demands. With the IAF’s squadron strength languishing at 31 against a sanctioned 42, and older platforms like the MiG-21 nearing retirement, the urgency to ramp up production is palpable.

SOURCE: AFI

Tensions in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), commonly referred to as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), have reached a boiling point as local nationalists and separatists escalate their demands for freedom from Pakistani control. In a bold and defiant message directed at the Pakistan Army, nationalist groups have declared, “This is Azad Kashmir, not Balochistan. You can bring back the bodies of your people from Balochistan, but you won’t be able to take back the bodies from Azad Kashmir either. They will be found at the Mangla Dam.” This chilling warning underscores the growing unrest in the region and signals a deepening resistance against what many locals perceive as an oppressive military presence.

The statement reflects the frustration of AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) communities, where separatist sentiments have gained momentum in recent years. Unlike Balochistan, where Pakistan has faced long-standing insurgency and managed to recover the bodies of its personnel despite fierce resistance, nationalists in AJK are asserting that their region will pose an even greater challenge. The reference to the Mangla Dam—a critical infrastructure site in AJK—serves as a symbolic and strategic threat, hinting at potential disruptions or confrontations in areas of vital importance to Pakistan.