SOURCE: AFI

DK Sunil, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has stated that maintaining two competing players in India’s fighter jet manufacturing sector is not viable given the modest production volumes projected over the next 15 years. Speaking at a defense industry conclave, Sunil argued that the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) planned induction of 420 fighter jets, averaging 28–30 aircraft per year, does not justify the establishment of a second manufacturer alongside HAL, emphasizing the need for a consolidated approach to optimize resources and ensure economic viability.

The IAF’s roadmap includes seven squadrons (126 units) of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation stealth fighter, and 120 units of the Tejas Mark 2, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter, alongside 180 Tejas Mark 1A aircraft already on order. This totals 420 jets over the next 15 years, a scale Sunil described as insufficient to support two separate manufacturing entities. “The logic of having two competing players in fighter jet manufacturing doesn’t hold when the volumes are modest,” he said, highlighting that an annual production rate of 28–30 jets lacks the scale required for dual manufacturers to operate efficiently.

SOURCE: AFI

Iranian analysts and former officials have expressed growing frustration with Russia, accusing Moscow of failing to deliver promised Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets that could have bolstered Iran’s air force, which was recently decimated by Israeli airstrikes. The criticism highlights a perceived betrayal, as Russia has reportedly prioritized military cooperation with India, a U.S. ally, over Iran, despite Tehran’s significant support to Moscow in recent years.

According to posts on X, Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a former Iranian diplomat and nuclear negotiator, emphasized that Russia did not provide Iran with Su-35 jets or S-400 air defense systems, despite decades of threats from nuclear powers like the U.S. and Israel. He contrasted this with Russia’s offer to India of 117 Su-35M fighter jets and joint production of the advanced Su-57 with full technology transfer. “Iran feels betrayed after Russia offered Su-57 and Su-35 jets to India—while refusing to give even Su-35s to Tehran, despite Iran supplying over 1,700 Shahed-136 drones to Moscow,” one X post stated, reflecting the sentiment of betrayal among Iranian commentators.

SOURCE: AFI

Defence Secretary RK Singh has confirmed that India is moving forward with plans to procure US-made Javelin anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) through a combination of emergency procurement routes and long-term negotiations. The announcement underscores India’s urgency to enhance its anti-tank warfare capabilities amid evolving regional security challenges, particularly along its northern and western borders with China and Pakistan.

The Javelin, developed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, is a third-generation, fire-and-forget, shoulder-fired missile system renowned for its precision and effectiveness against modern armored vehicles. With a range of 2.5–4 km, a top-attack profile, and infrared guidance, the Javelin has proven its combat effectiveness in conflicts like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, where it earned the nickname “Saint Javelin” for its role in neutralizing Russian armor. The system’s lightweight design (11.8 kg) and reusable Command Launch Unit (CLU) with GPS and infrared zoom capabilities make it ideal for infantry and special forces operating in diverse terrains.

SOURCE: AFI

India has achieved a significant milestone in its defense capabilities by reducing the production turnaround time for missiles from 10–12 years to just 2–3 years, according to Dr. G Satheesh Reddy, president of the Aeronautical Society of India and former Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Speaking to the Times of India, Dr. Reddy hailed this advancement as a “huge leap in technology,” positioning India on par with developed nations like the United States, Russia, and China, despite these countries being one to two decades ahead in missile development.

“This reduction in development timelines reflects India’s growing expertise in missile technology and our commitment to self-reliance,” Dr. Reddy said. The accelerated production cycle has been driven by advancements in design, simulation, testing, and manufacturing processes, bolstered by increased collaboration with private industry and academia. The achievement underscores the success of DRDO’s efforts under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative to build a robust indigenous defense ecosystem.

SOURCE: AFI

Defence Secretary RK Singh has announced that India is set to significantly strengthen its defense capabilities through a substantial order for indigenous drones, emphasizing the country’s commitment to self-reliance under the Buy Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured (IDDM) route. Speaking at a media briefing, Singh described the upcoming drone procurement as “large enough” to sustain the domestic defense industry without requiring additional fiscal support, signaling a transformative push for India’s unmanned systems ecosystem.

“The size of the order for defense drones will be large enough, and industry will need no other fiscal support,” Singh stated, highlighting the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) confidence in India’s growing drone manufacturing capabilities. The order will encompass a range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including combat drones, swarm drones, and surveillance platforms, aimed at enhancing the Indian Armed Forces’ operational effectiveness across diverse scenarios, from border security to maritime surveillance.