SOURCE: AFI

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s state-owned aerospace and defense company, found itself under renewed scrutiny in Parliament on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Already grappling with backlash over significant delays in the production of the indigenous Tejas fighter jets and the grounding of over 330 Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) for safety checks following a crash on January 5, HAL faced a barrage of criticism from the parliamentary committee on public undertakings. The committee’s scathing report highlighted prolonged project timelines, escalating costs, and missed strategic opportunities, accusing HAL of systemic inefficiencies that undermine its ability to meet the operational demands of India’s armed forces.

HAL’s flagship Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, intended to bolster the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) fighter fleet with a homegrown solution, has been plagued by delays since its inception. Despite achieving initial operational clearance in 2013 and full operational clearance in 2019, the delivery of Tejas jets has consistently fallen short of timelines, leaving the IAF reliant on aging aircraft like the MiG-21. The committee pointed to poor planning and execution as key factors, noting that the delays have compromised India’s defense preparedness at a time of heightened regional tensions.

SOURCE: AFI

In the annals of Indian aviation history, few stories are as poignant—or as frustrating—as the saga of the HF-24 Marut, India’s first indigenously designed jet fighter, and its eventual sidelining in favor of the British-built SEPECAT Jaguar strike aircraft. Recent revelations have shed new light on this episode, highlighting the irony that many Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots who transitioned from the HF-24 to the Jaguar found the latter inferior in certain critical roles, particularly as a low-level strike aircraft.

This decision not only marked the end of the HF-24 program but also led to the resignation of its brilliant designer, Dr. Raj Mahindra, whose departure signaled the demise of purely Indian-designed combat aircraft until the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas program decades later. The episode remains a stark reminder of the institutional shortsightedness that has, at times, hampered India’s quest for self-reliance in defence aviation.

SOURCE: AFI

On March 28, 2025, the Indian Army took a significant step into the future of tactical warfare with the successful trial of indigenous First-Person View (FPV) drones equipped with explosive payloads. Developed in-house by Major Cephas Chetan of the Fleur-De-Lis Brigade, in collaboration with a team from the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh, led by Dr. Raghvendra, this kamikaze drone marks a historic milestone.

With an initial batch of five drones inducted and 95 more in procurement, each costing ?1.4 lakh, the Army is dipping its toes into a technology that’s reshaping battlefields globally. Yet, these numbers feel modest—too modest—for a capability that could redefine India’s military edge if scaled ambitiously to, say, 100,000 units.

SOURCE: AFI

India has issued a fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) signaling an upcoming missile test slated to occur from April 9, 2025, at 10:00 AM IST to April 12, 2025, at 4:30 PM IST. The designated test zone spans a range of 475 kilometers, sparking speculation about the nature of the missile system set to be evaluated. This announcement, made on March 29, 2025, underscores India’s ongoing efforts to bolster its missile capabilities, a critical component of its defense strategy in an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape.

The NOTAM, a standard aviation alert designed to ensure airspace safety by notifying pilots of potential hazards, outlines a restricted area covering 475 kilometers. While the exact location—whether over land or sea—remains unspecified in public disclosures, the range provides key clues about the missile in question. The test window, spanning four days, suggests a comprehensive evaluation, possibly involving multiple launches or a complex flight profile to assess performance under varying conditions.

SOURCE: AFI

In the dense, rugged forests of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, where the threat of Naxal insurgency looms large, cutting-edge technology is transforming the battlefield. Superintendent of Police (SP) Neelotpal, the dynamic IPS officer leading Gadchiroli’s police force, has spotlighted the game-changing role of ideaForge’s SWITCH UAV in bolstering anti-Naxal operations. In a recent statement shared on March 26, 2025, via ideaForge’s official channels, Neelotpal detailed how this indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) enhances security efforts—tracking threats, monitoring movements, and enabling precision action—particularly along the volatile Chhattisgarh border.

Gadchiroli, a district long plagued by Left-wing extremism, shares a porous frontier with Chhattisgarh, a hotspot of Naxal activity. The region’s thick forests and hilly terrain have historically provided cover for Maoist cadres, making traditional policing a daunting challenge. Under Neelotpal’s leadership since October 2022, the Gadchiroli police have adopted a multi-pronged strategy, combining tactical operations, community engagement, and now, advanced aerial surveillance. The introduction of the SWITCH UAV, developed by Mumbai-based ideaForge, marks a significant leap in this fight, offering real-time intelligence and operational agility in one of India’s most intractable conflict zones.