SOURCE: AFI

India’s quest for a robust and modern air force has gained significant momentum in recent years, driven by rising regional tensions and the need to counter sophisticated adversaries like China and Pakistan. With the United States recently signaling its willingness to offer the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II to India, a unique opportunity has emerged for New Delhi to bolster its stealth capabilities. However, to maximize the strategic value of this potential acquisition, India could look to emulate Israel’s approach with its customized F-35I Adir variant. This article explores how India could procure F-35 jets tailored to its specific needs, akin to Israel’s model, and delves into what makes the F-35I Adir a standout among the global F-35 fleet.

Israel’s procurement of the F-35I Adir offers a compelling example of how a nation can adapt a foreign-built platform to align with its unique security requirements while maintaining operational independence. Unlike most F-35 operators, Israel negotiated significant concessions from the United States and Lockheed Martin, allowing it to integrate indigenous systems and establish a degree of self-reliance. This approach has made the F-35I Adir distinct from other variants, such as the standard F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C used by the U.S. and its allies.

SOURCE: AFI

India’s next-generation air defense capabilities are poised for a critical test as the Akash-NG (New Generation) surface-to-air missile (SAM) prepares for high-altitude trials within the next two months. Under the watchful eyes of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army, these trials will push the system to its limits in rugged, mountainous terrain—likely along the northern borders—marking a significant step toward its operational deployment. With developmental testing nearing completion, the Akash-NG is on track to bolster India’s ability to counter advanced aerial threats, from fighter jets to drones, in challenging environments.

The Akash-NG, an advanced iteration of the indigenous Akash SAM system, has been in development since 2016, with a budget of ?470 crore (approximately $78 million in 2023 terms). Designed by DRDO’s Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad, and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), this missile promises enhanced lethality over its predecessors. Unlike the original Akash, which has a range of 25-30 kilometers and an altitude ceiling of 18 kilometers, the Akash-NG extends its reach to 70-80 kilometers, thanks to a dual-pulse solid rocket motor and a sleek, lightweight design.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has embarked on an ambitious journey to revolutionize space travel with the development of a nuclear thermal rocket propulsion system, incorporating a cutting-edge 10 kW RF-powered plasma engine. This initiative, detailed in recent announcements, positions India at the forefront of advanced propulsion technologies, promising to unlock faster, more efficient interplanetary and deep-space missions.

With a specific impulse (Isp) ranging from 4,000 seconds at 300 mN thrust to an impressive 10,000 seconds at 120 mN, this engine leverages radio frequency (RF) excitation in helicon mode to generate plasma, offering unparalleled flexibility and scalability. Here’s a closer look at this groundbreaking endeavor and its potential to redefine India’s role in the cosmic frontier.

SOURCE: AFI

In a provocative critique, Ashley Tellis, a former advisor to the U.S. Department of State and a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has raised serious doubts about the operational effectiveness of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles recently acquired by the Philippines.

Speaking to India’s media outlet The Print in an article published on February 28, 2025, Tellis argued that while the $375 million deal marks a significant milestone in Philippines-India defence ties, the Southeast Asian nation lacks the critical infrastructure to fully leverage these advanced weapons. Without robust Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities, he warned, the BrahMos missiles risk being reduced to a symbolic gesture rather than a transformative military asset.

SOURCE: AFI

In a major boost to India’s defence export ambitions, Solar Industries India Limited, a Nagpur-based explosives and ammunition manufacturer, announced on February 28, 2025, that it, along with its subsidiary, has secured export orders worth ?2,150 crore for the supply of defence products.

Solar Industries India Limited, renowned for its expertise in explosives, propellants, and ammunition systems, revealed that the orders encompass a range of defence products, though specific details about the items and the recipient countries remain undisclosed due to strategic sensitivities. The company, along with its subsidiary Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), will collaborate to fulfill the contract, leveraging their combined manufacturing capabilities and technological prowess.

SOURCE: AFI

The Philippines is poised to deepen its defense partnership with India, expressing keen interest in acquiring the Akash Air Defence System after the successful induction of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in 2022. This development, reported widely in early 2025, signals Manila’s intent to bolster its military capabilities amid escalating tensions with China in the South China Sea. The potential deal, valued at over $200 million, could mark India’s second major defense export to the Philippines, reinforcing bilateral ties and India’s growing stature as a global arms supplier.

The Philippines’ interest in the Akash system follows the landmark $375 million BrahMos deal, India’s largest-ever defense export, finalized in January 2022. The BrahMos, a supersonic anti-ship and land-attack cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia, has already enhanced the Philippine Marine Corps’ coastal defense capabilities, with deliveries commencing in April 2024. Deployed along the country’s western seaboard, the BrahMos provides Manila with a credible deterrent against maritime incursions, particularly in the contested West Philippine Sea.

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant advancement for India’s indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program, the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) has successfully completed engine ground runs and taxi trials for two prototypes of the Archer-NG (Next Generation) armed UAV. The milestone, achieved in early February 2025, paves the way for the UAV’s highly anticipated first flight, expected within the next month. This development marks a crucial step toward bolstering India’s capabilities in aerial reconnaissance and precision strike missions.

The Archer-NG, an advanced iteration of the earlier Rustom series, is being developed by ADE in Bengaluru as a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV designed for both surveillance and combat roles. With a focus on enhancing India’s self-reliance in defense technology, the Archer-NG promises superior performance over its predecessors, featuring stealth characteristics, an increased operational ceiling, and the ability to carry precision-guided munitions.

SOURCE: AFI

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has long relied on its fleet of U.S.-supplied F-16 fighter jets as a cornerstone of its aerial combat capabilities. These advanced aircraft, however, come with stringent operational restrictions imposed by the United States, including their confinement to designated airbases. This arrangement, rooted in decades of U.S.-Pakistan military cooperation, has gained renewed attention following recent developments, such as the approval of a $397 million package by U.S. President Donald Trump in February 2025 to sustain and monitor Pakistan’s F-16 fleet. T

his article explores how Pakistani F-16s are operated out of designated operational airbases, the mechanisms ensuring compliance, and the implications for regional security, particularly in the context of India-Pakistan tensions exemplified by the 2019 Balakot airstrike.

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant step toward bolstering maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), India formally handed over the Indian Coast Guard Interceptor Boat C-449 to the Seychelles Coast Guard on February 26, 2025. The vessel, now commissioned as Patrol Boat (PB) Boudeuse, was presented during a ceremony presided over by Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan, underscoring the deepening defense partnership between the two nations. This handover marks the fifth Made-in-India patrol boat gifted to Seychelles, reinforcing India’s commitment to its “Security and Growth for All in the Region” (SAGAR) vision, championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The event, held at the Seychelles Coast Guard base on Île Perseverance, highlighted the strong bilateral ties between India and Seychelles, a strategically located archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. The PB Boudeuse, an advanced interceptor craft designed for coastal defense and surveillance, enhances Seychelles’ ability to patrol its vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and tackle emerging threats such as piracy, illegal fishing, and drug trafficking. With a top speed exceeding 45 knots and a robust design tailored for rapid response, the vessel is a valuable addition to the Seychelles Coast Guard’s fleet.