SOURCE: AFI

Recent reports suggest that Nigeria is set to become the first export customer for the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) built Prachand Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). According to the Financial Express, discussions between HAL and Nigerian officials are nearing completion, with an agreement expected to be signed soon. This would mark a significant milestone for India’s defense exports and HAL’s ambitions to establish a foothold in the global defense market.

The Prachand LCH is priced competitively, with HAL quoting $17 million per unit, positioning it as one of the least expensive light combat helicopters in its class. This cost-effectiveness has drawn attention, especially when compared to other light combat helicopters in the global market. For instance, the Eurocopter Tiger, developed by Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter) in the 1980s, is often cited as the most expensive helicopter in the light combat class, with a price tag of $73 million. Similarly, the Turkish TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform, costs approximately $45 million per unit. Even the A129 Mangusta, which saw limited production before closing in the early 2000s, had a unit cost exceeding $30 million.

SOURCE: AFI

The diplomatic relationship between India and Canada has reached an all-time low, largely attributed to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s “strategic myopia” and continued “anti-India rhetoric.” Defense experts in India are now urging the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) to reconsider ongoing negotiations concerning the acquisition of Stryker armoured vehicles, a platform derived from the Canadian LAV III and manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada (GDLS-C).

The Stryker family of eight-wheeled armoured vehicles, originally designed for the U.S. Army, is produced in a plant located in London, Ontario, Canada. Although the Stryker vehicles under discussion were expected to be locally manufactured in India, defense experts point out that some components and equipment could still originate from Canadian facilities. This potential benefit to the Canadian economy is causing concern among Indian defense experts, who argue that continued economic and defense collaboration with Canada sends the wrong signal in light of the current diplomatic climate.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Army is seeking private sector expertise to develop adaptive camouflage technology for its Mechanised Infantry, specifically targeting ‘A’ and ‘B’ vehicles. Currently, the vehicles employed by the Army lack advanced camouflage methodologies, leaving them vulnerable to detection in diverse terrain conditions. This new initiative aims to enhance the camouflage standards for these vehicles, enabling them to blend more effectively into their environments through adaptive camouflage technologies.

Camouflage has always been a critical element in military operations, allowing forces to maintain the element of surprise and reduce the chances of detection by enemy forces. However, the Indian Army’s current vehicle camouflage techniques are outdated and not scientifically designed to adapt to different terrains and operational environments.

SOURCE: AFI

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is looking to significantly expand the scope of its flagship Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme and has sought additional funds from the Finance Ministry to sustain and scale up the program. According to sources, the Department of Defence Production (DDP), which oversees the scheme, has already committed 90% of the funds allocated under the original budget for iDEX, signaling the scheme’s rapid uptake and success.

The iDEX initiative, which was launched with a budget of Rs 498.78 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26, was designed to encourage innovation and technological development within India’s defense sector by supporting startups, MSMEs, and individual innovators. With the steady success of the program, the DDP has committed nearly Rs 450 crore to ongoing projects, exhausting most of the available funds.

SOURCE: AFI

India’s decision to walk out of the 5th Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program with Russia, a joint venture aimed at co-developing and producing nearly 144 cutting-edge stealth jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF), has had long-lasting consequences. While the decision was reportedly based on several factors, including delays, cost concerns, and differences over technological transfer, the absence of a strong backup plan has left a significant gap in the IAF’s modernization plans and its ability to maintain squadron strength.

This move, which might have seemed strategically necessary at the time, now seems ill-conceived in hindsight, given the pressing need to replace aging fleets and ensure the IAF can meet future operational demands.

SOURCE: AFI

The delivery of the indigenously produced Dhanush artillery guns to the Indian Army is facing significant delays, raising concerns about meeting the targeted completion date of March 2026. The initial goal was to equip the Army with 114 of these advanced artillery systems, but production challenges have put the timeline in jeopardy, according to officials involved in the project.

Advanced Weapon Equipment India Limited (AWEIL), responsible for manufacturing the Dhanush guns at the Gun Carriage Factory (GCF) in Jabalpur, was scheduled to deliver an additional 48 guns by March 2025. However, production has been plagued by setbacks. The first batch of six guns was handed over in April 2019, but progress has been slow ever since.

SOURCE: AFI

With the recent transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago from the United Kingdom to Mauritius—except for Diego Garcia, where a major U.S. military base is located—there is increasing discussion on the strategic benefits of the Indian Navy establishing a presence in the region. India, which has been a consistent supporter of Mauritius’ sovereignty claims over the Chagos Islands, played a significant role in the negotiations behind this historic transfer. Given the Indian Ocean’s critical role in global maritime trade and security, the idea of the Indian Navy having a base at Chagos warrants careful consideration.

The Chagos Archipelago is located in the central Indian Ocean, a region of immense strategic value. The islands are situated near major global shipping routes that link Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, making the area a vital maritime crossroads. The proximity of the Chagos Islands to key choke points such as the Straits of Malacca, Hormuz, and Bab-el-Mandeb further enhances their significance.

SOURCE: AFI

Noida-based Brainwave Science Private Limited has made significant strides in the field of security and truth verification with the launch of its groundbreaking technology, iCognative. This innovative solution is poised to redefine the way deception is detected, offering features that promise unparalleled accuracy and efficiency.

iCognative leverages the power of artificial intelligence to analyze brainwave patterns in real-time. By employing advanced algorithms, the technology can identify subtle changes in brain activity that indicate deception. This is achieved through a headset that records the user’s brainwaves, allowing for a highly accurate assessment of their veracity.

SOURCE: AFI

As the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) engages with private sector entities to explore the operation of 220 MW small modular reactors (SMRs), experts are anticipating potential collaboration with Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom.

Rosatom, which is already involved in the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) project, has expressed interest in expanding its nuclear cooperation with India. Kavya Wadhwa, a nuclear energy advocate and policy analyst, highlighted that the numerous benefits of Bharat Small Reactors, including their cost-effectiveness, compact design, and the utilization of indigenous 220 MWe Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) technology, have garnered significant international attention.

SOURCE: IANS

Labelling them as “preposterous imputations”, India on Monday slammed the Canadian government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, asserting once again that it has “consciously provided” space to violent extremists and terrorists to harass, threaten and intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada.

“We have received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are ‘persons of interest’ in a matter related to an investigation in that country. The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics,” read a strongly-worded statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday afternoon.

SOURCE: AFI

The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a key laboratory under India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is actively working on integrating advanced radar systems with the TAPAS (Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The radar systems in focus include a Multi-Parameter Phased Array Radar (MPAR) and a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), designed to meet the stringent surveillance needs of the Indian Navy. This development comes in the wake of the Navy’s interest in procuring 10 TAPAS UAVs, primarily to bolster maritime surveillance in the strategically significant Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Indian Navy’s interest in TAPAS stems from the need for persistent and high-resolution intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), a vital maritime area where Chinese submarines and warships have frequently been sighted. TAPAS, with its long-endurance capabilities and the addition of MPAR and SAR radar systems, will play a crucial role in enhancing India’s ability to monitor and protect its maritime borders.

SOURCE: AFI

Russia is set to propose its BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) for India’s prestigious Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) program, aimed at replacing the aging Soviet-era BMP-II fleet that has been the backbone of the Indian Army’s Mechanised Infantry since the 1980s. The FICV project is a critical modernization effort by the Indian Army to enhance its capabilities, especially in light of ongoing border tensions and increasing security threats.

The Indian Army’s FICV program was initiated to replace its aging fleet of BMP-IIs, which have long outlived their operational utility. The BMP-IIs have been heavily deployed, particularly along India’s northern borders to counter China’s cross-border transgressions. However, they suffer from several limitations, including the lack of night-fighting capability, modern sensors, and anti-drone systems—crucial aspects in today’s modern battlefield environment.

SOURCE: AFI

The latest satellite imagery from Kochi reveals that the new dry dock under construction at Cochin Shipyard has been flooded. This significant development marks a major milestone in the project, which is set to become the largest dry dock facility in India.

The new dry dock is capable of handling vessels with a docking displacement of up to 70,000 tonnes. This impressive capacity will enable Cochin Shipyard to accommodate larger and more complex ships, further solidifying its position as a leading shipbuilding and repair facility in the country.

SOURCE: AFI

The Composites Research Center (CRC) is spearheading a groundbreaking project to develop a composite hull for an advanced armored platform, codenamed VIKRAM VT-21. This innovative initiative aims to enhance the protection and survivability of future armored vehicles by leveraging the superior properties of composite materials.

The VIKRAM VT-21 project is set to gain further momentum with the integration of the Nag Mk II anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). This powerful weapon system, known for its precision and long range, will significantly bolster the platform’s combat capabilities.

SOURCE: AFI

As three decades of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to simmer, a new phase in the conflict is taking shape, marked by the introduction of advanced air defense systems and fighter jets. Armenia has recently placed significant orders for India’s Akash 1S air defense interceptor missile system, while Azerbaijan has bolstered its air capabilities with JF-17 fighter jets developed by Pakistan and China. These acquisitions signal a potential shift in the military balance between the two nations, with both seeking to enhance their strategic advantages.

The Akash 1S air defense system, developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is poised to become the backbone of Armenia’s air defense network. Armenia’s decision to acquire the Akash 1S is a key part of its strategy to replace its aging Soviet-era air defense systems, which are now considered obsolete in the face of modern aerial threats.