SOURCE: AFI

In a notable triumph for India’s private defense manufacturing sector, Bengaluru-based SSS Defence has emerged as the lowest bidder (L-1) in the Uttar Pradesh Police’s tender for the procurement of 2,000 assault rifles. The company’s M-72 Assault Rifle, chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, outshone competitors such as Kalyani Strategic Systems and Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) by clearing the technical evaluation phase and offering the most competitive bid. This achievement underscores SSS Defence’s growing prominence in India’s small arms industry and its alignment with the nation’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliant India) initiative.

The Uttar Pradesh Police tender, floated in March 2024, sought to equip its forces with 2,000 modern assault rifles to enhance operational capabilities in urban and rural security scenarios. After a rigorous evaluation process spanning nearly a year, SSS Defence’s M-72 Assault Rifle was declared the L-1 bidder on February 26, 2025, signaling a landmark win for the private firm. The company, a subsidiary of Stumpp Schuele & Somappa Springs, has been steadily carving a niche in India’s defense landscape since its foray into small arms production in 2016.

SOURCE: AFI

China’s maritime presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is expanding once again, with the arrival of its next-generation deep-sea research vessel, Dong Fang Hong 03, spotted entering the area in late February 2025. This development follows the entry of its sister ship, Xiang Yang Hong 01, earlier in the month, signaling Beijing’s renewed focus on oceanographic exploration—and potentially strategic surveillance—in waters critical to India and its neighbors. As the Indian Navy keeps a watchful eye, the deployment of these advanced “silent” vessels raises questions about China’s intentions in this geopolitically sensitive region.

The Dong Fang Hong 03, often cited as the world’s largest “silent” research vessel, represents a leap forward in China’s marine technology. Delivered in 2019 to China Ocean University in Qingdao, this 103-meter, 5,000-tonne behemoth is designed for distant-water and deep-sea surveys. Its “silent” designation stems from its low-noise propulsion systems—electric azimuth thrusters and bow thrusters—allowing it to maneuver stealthily while conducting extensive research. With a crew capacity of 100 and specialized equipment for studying deep-sea ecosystems, microbial genetics, and polymetallic nodules, the vessel is a floating laboratory of unparalleled capability.

SOURCE: AFI

In a landmark revelation, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has confirmed that the indigenously developed Agni-5 missile, tested with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology under Mission Divyastra in March 2024, is capable of carrying four nuclear payloads, each targeting a distinct location.

This announcement, made in early 2025, puts an end to months of speculation among defence analysts about the missile’s warhead capacity and underscores India’s growing prowess in strategic missile technology. The integration of MIRV into the Agni-5 not only bolsters India’s deterrence posture but also elevates its ability to address multifaceted threats in an increasingly volatile region.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Army’s pursuit of modern Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) has hit a rocky patch, with two high-profile foreign systems—the Israeli Spike and the American Javelin—failing to impress in rigorous field trials. The Spike ATGM, procured in limited numbers since 2019, floundered during tests in the scorching Thar Desert, while the Javelin met a similar fate in the high-altitude terrain of Ladakh in September-October 2024.

These setbacks have ignited a firestorm among defence analysts, who are now questioning the Army’s procurement decisions—especially when locally developed ATGMs like the DRDO’s Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) face years of exhaustive trials before induction. As the Army pushes forward with plans to acquire more foreign systems, the contrast between imported failures and indigenous rigor is raising eyebrows and fueling calls for a rethink.

SOURCE: AFI

Air Commodore Nouman Ali Khan, who gained recognition for shooting down an Indian MiG-21 Bison while piloting an F-16 during the 2019 aerial engagement known as Operation Swift Retort, recently shared his insights in an interview with HUM News. When asked about India’s acquisition of the Rafale fighter jets in the last six years, he expressed his views on the regional air power dynamics and the capabilities of modern fighter jets.

The interview took a provocative turn when Khan was asked about India’s Rafale acquisition, a process that began in 2016 and saw 36 jets delivered by 2022, significantly bolstering the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Rafale, a 4.5-generation twin-engine fighter, is equipped with advanced AESA radar, Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles (150 km+), and stealth features, positioning it as a cornerstone of India’s air power against Pakistan and China.

SOURCE: AFI

In an exclusive interview with News18 on February 28, 2025, Russian Ambassador to New Delhi Denis Alipov emphasized Russia’s robust position in India’s military-technical market, even as India broadens its defence cooperation under the Make in India initiative. Alipov highlighted the deep-rooted Indo-Russian partnership, underpinned by decades of joint production and technology transfers, while acknowledging India’s openness to collaborate with various global players. This statement comes at a time when India is intensifying its push for indigenous defence manufacturing and diversifying its procurement sources, a dynamic that Russia aims to navigate with competitive offerings.

Ambassador Alipov underscored Russia’s enduring presence in India’s defence ecosystem, noting that systems of Soviet or Russian origin constitute over 50% of India’s weaponry, rising to 90% in certain sectors like armoured vehicles and fighter aircraft. “We have a very solid presence in this market and are prepared to compete. We have very strong positions in the Indian markets,” he told News18, pointing to Russia’s historical role as a reliable partner before the Make in India program gained momentum.

SOURCE: AFI

Air Commodore Nouman Ali Khan, a highly decorated PAF officer known for his MiG-21 kill in 2019, gave an exclusive interview to HUM News in late February 2025, where he claimed that stricter ROE prevented him from inflicting greater losses on the Indian Air Force during Operation Swift Retort.

Speaking to HUM News, Khan revisited the tense encounter, asserting that PAF jets adhered strictly to rules of engagement (ROE), which limited their actions to Pakistani airspace. “We shot down two Indian jets within those constraints,” he claimed. “If we had been given a free hand, more Indian jets could have been downed.” Khan’s assertion reflects Pakistan’s lack of will to do cross-border pursuits.

SOURCE: AFI

The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, a flagship product of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and a workhorse for India’s armed forces, is facing renewed scrutiny over a critical component: the swash plate assembly. Designed to translate pilot inputs into rotor blade movements, the swash plate is the beating heart of the helicopter’s flight control system.

Recent incidents have exposed vulnerabilities in this assembly—initially with failing aluminum control rods, now replaced with steel, and subsequently with fractured swash plates—raising alarm bells about material durability, design integrity, and inspection limitations. With the swash plate and its control rods under cyclical stress, any failure spells disaster, as evidenced by a string of Dhruv crashes that have dented its reliability reputation.

SOURCE: AFI

he Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has officially commenced the initial design phase for its next-generation launch vehicle (NGLV), Soorya, marking a significant milestone in India’s space ambitions. Padmakumar E S, Director of ISRO Inertial Systems Unit, Thiruvananthapuram, announced the development during the National Science Day celebration in the city.

Padmakumar emphasized that ISRO’s focus has now shifted toward the development of NGLV, and funds have been sanctioned to support the program. According to him, a dedicated team was set up earlier, and the design process is now underway. He further stated that the entire project is expected to take around seven years to complete, involving three test flights before full operational deployment.

SOURCE: AFI

In a pivotal move toward bolstering India’s self-reliance in defense technology, the Indian Army and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to transfer technical expertise from DRDO’s Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL) to the 509 Army Base Workshop.

Signed on February 27, 2025, this collaboration focuses on enabling the in-house production of 0.5 Watt Stirling Cryocoolers—critical components in thermal imaging devices that enhance the Army’s night vision and surveillance capabilities. This MoU not only marks a leap in indigenous manufacturing but also underscores India’s commitment to reducing import dependency while driving cost-effective innovation under the Atmanirbhar Bharat framework.