SOURCE: AFI

Pakistan marked a modest milestone in its aerospace ambitions on March 18, 2025, as a scaled-down model of the KAAN fighter jet, named “IQBAL,” completed its first successful flight in Islamabad. Fully designed by a Pakistani team, the model was intended as a collaborative nod to Turkey’s TAI TF KAAN, a fifth-generation stealth fighter under development by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

However, the achievement has been met with derision from the Indian defense community, which mocked the IQBAL as a poorly crafted remote-controlled (RC) toy rather than a serious scale representation of an advanced fighter jet.

SOURCE: AFI

Raza Khan, host of Pakistan’s 24 News HD, has once again stirred the pot with a sensational report asserting that Pakistan’s anticipated acquisition of the Chinese J-35A stealth fighter jet is sending ripples of concern through the Indian Air Force (IAF). In his latest broadcast, Khan cited a report allegedly sourced from a Reddit Indian defense community thread, claiming that the J-35A could effortlessly overpower India’s mainstay fighter jets—the MiG-29 and Su-30MKI.

According to Khan, the Reddit post—which he presented as a credible reflection of Indian defense concerns—suggested that the J-35A’s advanced stealth capabilities would allow it to outmatch the IAF’s MiG-29 and Su-30MKI in combat with little resistance. The MiG-29, a Soviet-era air superiority fighter inducted into the IAF in the 1980s, and the Su-30MKI, a heavily customized Russian multirole jet forming the backbone of India’s air fleet, were portrayed as no match for the cutting-edge Chinese stealth platform. Khan emphasized that the J-35A’s low radar cross-section and modern avionics would give it a decisive edge, potentially shifting the balance of power in Pakistan’s favor.

SOURCE: AFI

China’s aerospace ambitions reached a new milestone as the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) successfully completed the second test flight of its highly anticipated J-36, a next-generation stealth fighter widely regarded as a contender for the sixth-generation category. The flight, which took place recently, follows the aircraft’s maiden voyage on December 26, 2024, signaling rapid progress in China’s pursuit of cutting-edge military aviation technology.

The J-36, developed by CAC—known for producing the J-20 Mighty Dragon, China’s premier fifth-generation stealth fighter—represents a bold leap forward in design and capability. Unlike its predecessors, the J-36 features a tailless, delta-wing configuration with a distinctive three-engine layout, a rarity among modern combat aircraft. This unconventional design is believed to enhance stealth characteristics while providing the power needed for supersonic performance and advanced onboard systems.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Navy’s guided-missile destroyer INS Imphal (D-68), a formidable asset of the Visakhapatnam-class, has recently been sighted bearing four kill markings on its Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM). These markings—three for surface targets and one for an aerial target—offer a rare glimpse into the operational achievements of this stealth destroyer, underscoring its growing role in securing India’s maritime interests. While details of these engagements remain classified, the markings highlight the ship’s combat readiness and versatility across multiple domains of naval warfare.

Commissioned into the Indian Navy on December 26, 2023, INS Imphal is the third of four Visakhapatnam-class destroyers built under Project 15B by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. Designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, this 163-meter-long warship displaces 7,400 tonnes and boasts a 75% indigenous content, reflecting India’s push for self-reliance in defense manufacturing. Named after the capital city of Manipur, INS Imphal holds the distinction of being the first major warship named after a Northeastern city, symbolizing national unity.

SOURCE: AFI

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, a cornerstone of fifth-generation fighter technology, is facing an uncertain future in the export market as several countries reconsider their orders. A combination of factors—chiefly the U.S. administration’s aggressive tariff policies under President Donald Trump, alongside doubts about reliability and shifting geopolitical priorities—has prompted nations to scale back or cancel their commitments.

This development presents a unique window for India, which has yet to commit to the F-35, to potentially acquire these advanced jets originally earmarked for export. With the U.S. Air Force (USAF) unlikely to absorb export-specific variants, India could bolster its airpower while capitalizing on a disrupted supply chain. But which countries are pulling back, how many aircraft are affected, and should India seize this moment?

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant boost to India’s indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has introduced a game-changing robotic drilling machine that has dramatically accelerated the production of wings for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas program. Partnering with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), L&T has reduced the time required to drill each hole in the wings from 25–35 minutes to just one minute, enhancing efficiency and supporting the accelerated production of the LCA-Tejas Mk1A variant.

Each wing of the LCA-Tejas requires approximately 8,000 holes to be drilled for assembly, fastening, and integration with other airframe components. Traditionally, these holes were drilled manually—a painstaking process that took between 25 and 35 minutes per hole, depending on the material, location, and tolerances required. For a single aircraft, this translated into thousands of hours of labor, creating a bottleneck in HAL’s production timeline as it sought to ramp up delivery rates to meet IAF requirements.

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant push towards modernizing its battlefield capabilities, the Indian Army is intensifying its focus on integrating cutting-edge drone technology into its operations. At the Bharat Drone Manthan 2.0, a key industry event organized by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) on March 11, 2025, Major General CS Mann, Additional Director General (ADG) of the Army Design Bureau (ADB), called upon industry partners to contribute to the evolving needs of the armed forces for advanced combat drones.

Highlighting the transformative role of unmanned systems in contemporary warfare, General Mann articulated the Army’s ambitious vision of equipping every soldier with an “Eagle Drone” for targeting and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) purposes, particularly along India’s borders.

SOURCE: AFI

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, one of India’s premier shipyards, has once again demonstrated its dedication to delivering high-quality warships to the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. On March 3, 2025, GRSE successfully completed the Contractor Sea Trials (CSTs) for two naval platforms—Himgiri (Yard 3022) and Androth (Yard 3035)—marking a significant milestone in their construction journeys. These trials, conducted simultaneously, underscore GRSE’s capability to manage multiple complex projects while adhering to stringent timelines and quality standards.

Himgiri is the first of three advanced stealth frigates being constructed by GRSE under the Indian Navy’s prestigious Project 17A. This program aims to deliver a series of seven Nilgiri-class frigates across two shipyards—GRSE and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)—to enhance the Navy’s blue-water capabilities. Named after a Himalayan peak, Himgiri is a follow-on to the Shivalik-class frigates but incorporates advanced stealth features, improved weapon systems, and cutting-edge sensors. Equipped with anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare capabilities, as well as air defense systems, these frigates are designed to operate in high-threat environments, providing the Navy with versatile multi-role platforms.

SOURCE: AFI

In a sobering assessment of the evolving nature of warfare, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF), has underscored the need for India to prepare for prolonged conflicts that could stretch over months or even years. Speaking at a recent defense conclave, Singh emphasized that the era of swift, decisive battles is over, and future wars—potentially involving adversaries like China and Pakistan—may involve sustained, low-intensity engagements.

Drawing lessons from the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, now in its third year, he stressed the critical importance of establishing local production lines for weapons, ammunition, and systems integral to IAF operations to ensure uninterrupted combat capability in the face of disrupted external supplies.

SOURCE: AFI

In a striking development in the Qandil region, the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla claimed responsibility for shooting down a Turkish state AKINCI-type drone, a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) manufactured by Baykar.

The incident has sparked discussions about the vulnerabilities of advanced unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in contested airspace and raised questions about their perceived invincibility, particularly for nations like Pakistan, which have heavily invested in Turkish drones such as the AKINCI and the Bayraktar TB2. With recent incidents, including a Bayraktar AKINCI crash in Libya and underwhelming performances in the Ukraine conflict, the sheen of these drones as game-changers in modern warfare is increasingly being called into question.

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant development for India’s aviation training sector, Austria’s Diamond Aircraft Industries has entered into a joint venture with Tamil Nadu-based Sakthi Group to establish a final assembly line (FAL) for its DA40 NG trainer aircraft in Haryana’s Hisar. The agreement, signed with the Aero Club of India, involves the supply of 200 DA40 NG aircraft to various flying training organizations (FTOs) across India, with 150 of these slated for local assembly.

While this move promises to bolster India’s pilot training infrastructure, it raises serious concerns for the future of the domestically developed Hansa-NG trainer aircraft by the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), which has struggled to gain traction due to poor marketing, past performance issues, and now, intensified competition.

SOURCE: AFI

In a stark reminder of the growing menace of cybercrime, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), one of India’s premier aerospace and defense companies, has been duped of $63,000 (approximately Rs 55 lakh) in an online scam. The incident, which unfolded during a procurement deal with a US-based company, has prompted HAL to lodge a police complaint, and a case has been registered under the Information Technology (IT) Act.

The scam came to light after HAL’s Kanpur division initiated a transaction to purchase three fighter aircraft parts from PS Engineering Incorporated, a US-based firm, in May 2024. What began as a legitimate business exchange took a sinister turn when a fraudulent email ID infiltrated the communication chain, leading to the siphoning of funds into a fake account.

SOURCE: AFI

Bharti Airtel, one of India’s leading telecommunications providers, announced a landmark agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet services to India. This partnership aims to bridge the digital divide by delivering broadband connectivity to even the most remote corners of the country, marking a significant milestone in India’s telecom landscape. However, the move has sparked concerns among defence analysts, who warn that the technology could be exploited by non-state actors, terrorists, and insurgents to wage war against the nation, potentially destabilizing India’s security apparatus.

The collaboration between Airtel and SpaceX is poised to revolutionize internet access in India, a country where vast rural and remote regions remain underserved by traditional telecom infrastructure. Starlink, operated by SpaceX, leverages a constellation of thousands of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide high-speed internet with low latency, capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing even in areas with little to no terrestrial connectivity. Airtel plans to explore offering Starlink equipment through its retail stores and providing services to businesses, communities, schools, and health centers, particularly in underserved areas.

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant stride toward self-reliance in defence technology, the Indian Army’s Fleur-de-Lis Brigade, in collaboration with the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh, has successfully developed and validated a combat-ready Kamikaze First-Person View (FPV) drone equipped with a customized warhead.

The Fleur-de-Lis Brigade, a specialized unit of the Indian Army, partnered with TBRL Chandigarh—a premier DRDO laboratory renowned for its work in ballistics and explosive technologies—to create this bespoke system. The customized warhead, tailored to mission-specific requirements, enhances the drone’s lethality while maintaining a compact and lightweight design. This collaboration has resulted in a combat-ready platform that promises to redefine India’s approach to drone warfare.

SOURCE: AFI

In its latest edition, Air Forces Monthly (AFM), a renowned military aviation magazine published by Key Publishing Ltd in Stamford, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, has shed light on a critical limitation of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) JF-17 Block-III fighter jet.

The report highlights that the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar equipping the Block-III variant falls short in range, rendering it incapable of independently operating advanced beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAMs) like the PL-15 or the advanced variant of the PL-17.