SOURCE: AFI

India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, a homegrown success story in aerospace innovation, has faced its share of challenges and triumphs since its inception. Recently, former Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) V R Chaudhari, shed light on how the aircraft’s Specific Qualitative Requirements (SQR)—the IAF’s technical and operational benchmarks—evolved over its development lifecycle. Among the two SQR changes he mentioned, one stands out as a critical pivot: the shift in missile type for the LCA’s outermost pylon. This story, detailed by aviation enthusiast VatsRohit (@KesariDhwaj) on X, reveals a near-miss that could have hobbled the Tejas’ combat potential—and the timely adaptation that saved it.

The LCA Tejas, designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), was initially conceived as a lightweight, agile fighter to replace the IAF’s aging MiG-21 fleet. In its early design phase, the outermost pylon—a hardpoint under the wing for mounting weapons—was engineered to carry the Soviet-era R-60 (NATO designation AA-8 ‘Aphid’) close-combat air-to-air missile. Weighing just 44 kg, the R-60 was a compact, infrared-guided missile suited for short-range dogfights, aligning with the Tejas’ initial role as a point-defence fighter.

SOURCE: AFI

In a resounding affirmation of India’s growing stature in the global defense industry, Baba Kalyani, Chairman & Managing Director of Bharat Forge Ltd, recently confirmed that Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd (KSSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bharat Forge, exported an impressive 100 artillery guns in 2024 alone. This achievement underscores the company’s pivotal role in advancing India’s “Make in India” initiative and establishes KSSL as a formidable player in the international artillery market.

Kalyani shared this milestone during a recent statement, highlighting the rapid strides KSSL has made in meeting global demand for advanced, indigenously developed artillery systems. “Kalyani Strategic Systems has exported 100 artillery guns in 2024 alone,” he noted, reflecting the company’s robust manufacturing capabilities and its success in securing international contracts. This export tally includes a variety of artillery platforms, ranging from towed guns like the Bharat-52 and Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) to mounted and ultra-light howitzers, showcasing the diversity and sophistication of KSSL’s offerings.

SOURCE: AFI

In a pioneering leap for India’s aerospace and defense technology landscape, NewSpace Research and Technologies, in collaboration with Delhi-based startup Threye Games, has unveiled a first-of-its-kind demonstration of a fighter-unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) paired mission. Conducted on February 21, 2025, this cutting-edge showcase—rooted in NewSpace’s Air Combat Intelligence Development (ACID) thrust—highlighted advanced Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) capabilities through a System Integration Test Lab (SITL) demo. The event featured a Mirage 2000 (M-2000) Push-to-Talk (PTT) simulation integrated with actual fixed-wing swarming and sophisticated MUM-T algorithms, marking a significant milestone in India’s pursuit of autonomous air combat solutions.

The demonstration, widely discussed across posts on X, simulated a tactical scenario where a manned M-2000 fighter jet coordinated seamlessly with a trio of UAVs to execute a complex mission. From the cockpit of the M-2000, the pilot interfaced with a custom MUM-T tablet, selecting a designated “kill box”—a predefined target area—for the UAVs to engage. Three UAVs, equipped for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) as well as kamikaze missions, sprang into action, autonomously navigating toward the target with precision path planning and scouting capabilities.

SOURCE: AFI

A previously unseen photograph of a Russian T-80U Main Battle Tank (MBT) in India has recently surfaced on Twitter, igniting curiosity among defense enthusiasts and shedding light on a lesser-known chapter of the Indian Army’s armored history. The image, believed to date back to 1992-1993, captures the T-80U during a critical evaluation period when it vied for a spot in the Indian Army’s Armoured Corps against its cousin, the T-72S “Shilden.” This rare glimpse offers a window into India’s quest for modern armor amid a pressing need to replace its aging fleet.

In the early 1990s, the Indian Army faced a significant challenge. Its British-origin Vijayanta tanks, derived from the Vickers MBT and inducted in the 1960s, were increasingly obsolete after over three decades of service. Plagued by maintenance issues and technological lag, the Vijayanta could no longer meet the demands of modern warfare. The indigenous Arjun MBT program, launched in the 1970s with the ambition of entering production in the 1980s, remained mired in delays and technical setbacks by the 1990s. With the Arjun nowhere near operational readiness, the Army turned its gaze to Russia’s formidable “Red Armour” to bridge the gap.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Navy stands at a pivotal juncture where embracing the Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) program could significantly augment its operational capabilities, particularly with an eye on future warfare that increasingly involves unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Here’s why the Navy should prioritize the development and acquisition of LHDs tailored for UAV operations.

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant stride towards enhancing India’s defense capabilities and reducing dependency on foreign technology, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has announced plans to develop its own Laser Designation Pod (LDP) for the Tejas Mk1A and MkII fighter jets. This move comes at a time when India heavily relies on Israeli-supplied LITENING targeting pods to meet its needs.

Talks with IAF on specifications and technical requirements more or less have been over and soon development is set to begin. IAF has demanded some next-gen features so that the it can be used on 4.5gen fighters as well as on 5th gen fighter in near future.

SOURCE: AFI

India’s pursuit of self-reliance in aerospace technology has taken a significant step forward with the development of the Kaveri Derivative Engine (KDE) for the Ghatak stealth Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV). A notable feature of this engine is its 75% commonality with the Kaveri Afterburner engine, a design choice that promises to streamline development, reduce costs, and accelerate India’s indigenous defense capabilities. This advancement, spearheaded by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), underscores a strategic evolution of the long-standing Kaveri engine program.

The KDE is a non-afterburning (dry) variant of the Kaveri engine, specifically engineered to power the Ghatak UCAV—a 13-tonne stealth platform designed for deep-strike missions in contested airspace. With a dry thrust output of approximately 49-51 kN, the KDE meets the power requirements of this unmanned system, where endurance and infrared signature reduction take precedence over the raw thrust needed for manned fighters. The Ghatak, envisioned as a complement to India’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), represents a critical component of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) future unmanned strike capabilities.

SOURCE: AFI

Kanpur-based MKU Limited has achieved a significant milestone with its Kavro Doma 360, a cutting-edge ballistic helmet now officially inducted into service with the Indian Army. According to company officials, the helmet is also undergoing trials abroad, though specific details about these international evaluations remain undisclosed. Unveiled initially at Milipol Paris 2023 and showcased again at Aero India 2025, the Kavro Doma 360 has garnered attention for its advanced protective capabilities and innovative design, positioning India as a rising force in global defence manufacturing.

The Kavro Doma 360 sets a new standard in head protection, engineered to withstand some of the most common and lethal rifle rounds in modern warfare. MKU claims the helmet offers uniform protection across all five zones of the head—front, back, left, right, and crown—against AK-47-fired 7.62×39 mm mild steel core (MSC) bullets, as well as 7.62×51 mm and 5.56×45 mm NATO rounds. This capability addresses a long-standing challenge for the Indian Army, whose personnel often face threats from AK-47s in counterinsurgency operations, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.

SOURCE: AFI

In a landmark move for India’s defense sector, DG Propulsion has signed a Strategic Agreement with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) to collaborate on cutting-edge jet turbine engines. The partnership will focus on developing propulsion systems for loitering munitions, high-speed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and other advanced applications, marking a significant step toward bolstering India’s indigenous defense capabilities.

The agreement, formalized recently, brings together DG Propulsion’s expertise in turbine engine technology and BDL’s established prowess in defense manufacturing. This collaboration aims to create high-performance engines tailored for next-generation aerial systems, including loitering munitions—often dubbed “kamikaze drones”—and high-speed UAVs designed for surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat roles. By pooling their resources, the two entities intend to reduce India’s reliance on imported propulsion systems while pushing the boundaries of homegrown innovation.

SOURCE: AFI

In a series of heartening updates, Air Marshal (Retd.) R.K.S. Rajkumar recently shared detailed insights into the development of India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk 2 and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), signaling significant strides toward self-reliance in aerospace technology. The updates, posted on X by@shiv_cybersurg on February 22, 2025, come straight from Rajkumar—a highly credible source—offering a rare glimpse into the ongoing work at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).

Rajkumar’s revelations follow his visits to HAL’s facilities, where he witnessed firsthand the progress on these flagship programs. His comments were sparked by an article in The Times of India by AVM (Retd.) Manmohan Bahadur, who discussed the implications of a potential U.S. offer of the F-35 stealth fighter to India. Bahadur concluded his piece with a call for the Government of India (GOI) to push HAL to deliver on the LCA Mk 2 and AMCA projects—a sentiment Rajkumar echoed while adding fresh details to bolster confidence in India’s indigenous efforts.