SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In a desperate bid to salvage its reputation following unsuccessful attempts to target Indian Air Force (IAF) airbases during the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, the Pakistan Army launched a provocative missile offensive aimed at civilian areas in India. According to sources cited by idrw.org, Pakistan fired its advanced Fatah-II guided rocket toward New Delhi, intending to demonstrate its ability to strike major Indian cities.
However, the missile was intercepted over Sirsa, Haryana, by India’s multi-layered air defence systems. Additionally, an older Hatf-I short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) aimed at another Indian border city was neutralized by the indigenous Akash missile system. These failures underscore the effectiveness of India’s tri-service air defence network and expose the limitations of Pakistan’s missile capabilities.
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In a significant step toward bolstering India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing, a new 9-inch barrel variant of the ASMI (Asmita) submachine gun was unveiled on June 19, 2025. The ASMI, meaning “pride, self-respect, and hard work” in Sanskrit, is India’s first indigenously designed 9x19mm machine pistol, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Indian Army. This latest variant enhances the weapon’s versatility, positioning it as a formidable alternative to imported SMGs like Israel’s Uzi and Germany’s Heckler & Koch MP5.
The ASMI was designed by Colonel Prasad Bansod of the Indian Army’s Infantry School, Mhow, in collaboration with DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune. The weapon was developed in a record four months, utilizing 3D printing for prototyping trigger components.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Army has initiated the formation of its third regiment of the indigenously developed Dhanush towed gun system, marking a significant step in enhancing its artillery firepower capabilities. According to sources in the defence establishment, as reported by idrw.org, the Army has successfully raised its second regiment of Dhanush guns and has already received several systems for the third unit.
Each regiment consists of 18 gun systems, bringing the total number of Dhanush guns across the three regiments to 54 once the third unit is fully operational. This development underscores India’s commitment to modernizing its artillery and achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
A British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning II fighter jet, which made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala on June 14, 2025, remains grounded over five days later due to suspected engine damage caused by fuel starvation.
According to sources cited by idrw.org, the fifth-generation stealth aircraft, operating from the HMS Prince of Wales, landed “literally running on fumes,” potentially damaging critical engine components. The jet, stationed in Bay No. 4 of the airport under tight security, faces ongoing repairs hampered by adverse weather and the complexity of its Pratt & Whitney F135 engine. This incident, following a joint India-UK naval exercise, highlights both the challenges of operating advanced fighters and the strength of bilateral defence cooperation.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
India’s Operation Sindoor, a four-day military campaign from May 7 to May 10, 2025, targeting Pakistan Air Force (PAF) bases and terrorist infrastructure, has drawn significant attention from global defense analysts, particularly due to the debris of advanced weaponry used in the strikes. According to Chris Clary, an associate professor of political science at the University at Albany, State University of New York, who closely monitors India-Pakistan security dynamics, the remnants of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, French-origin SCALP-EG cruise missiles, and Israeli-made Harop loitering munitions recovered from the conflict are of immense interest to India’s strategic partners and adversaries, including China.
Launched in retaliation for a Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 civilians, Operation Sindoor saw the Indian Air Force (IAF) execute precision strikes on 11 of 13 major PAF airbases, including Nur Khan (Rawalpindi), Bholari (Sindh), Sargodha, and Jacobabad, as well as terrorist hubs in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
India’s defense sector is witnessing a transformative phase as the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force collectively seek to procure 97 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to bolster intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and strike capabilities.
Two prominent contenders in this high-stakes competition are Adani Defence’s Akshi 7 UAS and the AAROK UAV, offered through a partnership between Bharat Forge and French aerospace firm Turgis Gaillard. Both systems, though of foreign origin, promise local manufacturing under India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative if selected. This article compares the Akshi 7 and AAROK, evaluating their capabilities, specifications, and strategic alignment with India’s tri-service requirements.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Bengaluru-based space-tech startup GalaxEye has announced the development of its second satellite, a significant step forward in bolstering India’s private space sector. The new satellite, designed to achieve an impressive near 0.5-metre resolution, promises to deliver sharper and faster geospatial insights, catering to critical sectors such as defence, disaster response, and urban security. This announcement follows closely on the heels of GalaxEye’s preparations for its debut satellite, Mission Drishti, slated for launch later in 2025.
Mission Drishti, equipped with a 1.25-metre resolution, will introduce the world’s first fusion of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and multispectral optical sensors in orbit. This groundbreaking SyncFusion Imaging System has already been validated through over 500 drone flights and the successful GLX-SQ payload mission on ISRO’s POEM-4 platform in December 2024. The technology demonstrated its robustness in the challenging South Atlantic Anomaly, delivering rapid, all-weather, high-resolution imagery—a capability that sets GalaxEye apart in the global space-tech landscape.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The UK must harness scientific and academic relationships with India as it becomes an increasingly powerful player in the science and technology space, Britain’s minister for science, research and innovation has said.
During a session on ‘Unlocking UK-India Collaboration for a New Era of Innovation’ at India Global Forum’s Future Frontiers Forum at the Science Museum in London on Thursday, Lord Patrick Vallance called for greater mobility of high-skilled professionals through the Global Talent Visa and the need to tap into complementary skills across all sectors.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
In an exclusive interview to IANS, Brazil’s Ambassador to India, Kenneth Felix Haczynski da Nobrega sheds light on the country’s priorities ahead of next month’s BRICS Summit at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro.
As geopolitical tensions continue to rise and the grouping expands, the Ambassador discusses Brazil’s dual engagement with the G7, the evolving Middle East situation, the push for UN Security Council reforms, and the broader role of platforms like IBSA. He also shared his thoughts on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s growing influence within BRICS and the outcomes expected from the upcoming summit.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
The Pinarayi Vijayan government on Thursday informed the Kerala High Court that it intends to file an admiralty suit against MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA, the owner of the vessel MSC Elsa-3 that sank off the state’s coast recently.
The state government submitted an affidavit detailing this before the High Court when it was hearing a public interest petition (PIL) filed by Congress leader and former Thrissur Lok Sabha member T.N. Prathapan.
Continue readingSOURCE: REUTERS
The Israeli military said on Friday it carried out strikes on dozens of military targets in Iran overnight, including the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research that it said is involved in Iran’s nuclear weapons development.
An industrial plant in northern Iran was damaged in an attack, Iranian media reported on Friday, hours after Israel issued a warning for residents to move away from nearby areas.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
With India projected to grow at over 6 per cent annually and its primary energy demand increasing at a CAGR of 5.5 per cent, there is an urgent need to safeguard oil and gas supply chains amid rising geopolitical and market uncertainties, according to a report released on Friday. Over 85 per cent of India’s crude oil needs are met through imports, positioning the country as the world’s third-largest oil importer.
“Geopolitical instability, especially in chokepoints like the Hormuz Strait and Suez Canal, threatens consistent crude supply and pricing,” said the report by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI). Brent crude prices are forecast to decline from $81 per barrel in 2024 to $66 per barrel in 2026, driven by supply expansion outside OPEC+ and moderate demand growth. “India’s economic growth trajectory demands resilient and diversified energy sources.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday alleged that over 5,000 social media accounts, mostly operated from Islamic countries, have become active in favour of the Assam Congress. Addressing a press conference, Sarma claimed that these accounts — originating from 47 countries, with the highest numbers from Bangladesh and Pakistan — have been focusing exclusively on the activities of a particular Assam Congress leader and the party’s state unit pages over the past month.
“It is surprising that they do not comment on or like posts by Rahul Gandhi or even the Indian National Congress. They are only focused on a particular leader and the Assam Congress,” Sarma said.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
The commerce ministry on Friday will meet stakeholders, including shipping lines, exporters, container firms, and other departments, to assess the impact of the Iran-Israel conflict on India’s overseas trade and address related issues, an official said.
The industry official said that the meeting will be chaired by Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal.
“The meeting is today. We will raise issues related to freight rates,” the official said. Barthwal has earlier stated that India is keeping a close watch on the situation.
SOURCE: IANS
An ongoing encounter between security forces and Maoist insurgents in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district has led to the neutralisation of one female Maoist operative, with reports suggesting the possibility of more casualties.
The exchange of fire erupted on Friday morning in the dense forested hills between the villages of Amatola and Kalpar, across the river in the jurisdiction of Chhotebethiya police station. According to police, the targeted operation was launched by the District Reserve Guard based on concrete intelligence inputs.
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