SOURCE: AFI

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is setting an ambitious goal to ramp up production of the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet to 30 aircraft per year by 2027, a move that underscores India’s drive toward self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the “Make in India” initiative. In a recent statement on February 18, 2025, HAL Chairman DK Sunil revealed that the company has placed orders with private sector firms to supply assembled fuselages, complete with internal components, to reduce assembly time at the final assembly line.

A key component of HAL’s strategy is outsourcing the production of assembled fuselages to private sector firms. Traditionally, HAL has handled the manufacture of major aircraft components, such as the front, centre, and rear fuselages, as well as wings, internally or through a network of over 270 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). However, to accelerate production and reduce bottlenecks at the final assembly line, HAL has now placed orders with private companies to deliver fuselages that come pre-assembled with internal components. This approach minimizes the time and labor required during final assembly, allowing HAL to focus on integrating avionics, weapons, and engines more efficiently.

SOURCE: AFI

India is reportedly considering a landmark proposal from Russia to locally manufacture the Sukhoi Su-57, its advanced fifth-generation fighter jet, in a move that could redefine the two nations’ decades-long defence partnership. Dmitry Shugaev, Director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), shared this development with Sputnik on the sidelines of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) 2025 in Abu Dhabi, signalling a potential expansion of collaboration under India’s “Make in India” initiative.

Shugaev’s comments to Sputnik suggest that India is actively evaluating the offer, though no final decision has been made. He emphasized Russia’s readiness to facilitate local manufacturing, potentially at facilities like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which has a history of producing Russian-designed aircraft such as the Su-30MKI. This move aligns with India’s strategic goal of reducing dependence on foreign imports and enhancing its indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities, a key pillar of the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” vision.

SOURCE: AFI

In a recent interview with DW, Chinese military expert and retired Senior Colonel Zhou Bo outlined a potential pathway for China and India to play significant roles in resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Speaking on February 17, 2025, Zhou suggested that both nations could contribute in three key areas: providing a collective security guarantee to Ukraine, participating in peacemaking efforts, and ensuring that any peacekeeping mission avoids escalating tensions with Russia.

Zhou Bo emphasized that China and India, as major global powers outside the NATO framework, could collaborate to offer a collective security guarantee to Ukraine. This role would involve assuring both Kyiv and Moscow that any ceasefire or peace agreement would be backed by credible measures to prevent future aggression. According to Zhou, such a guarantee could help rebuild trust between the conflicting parties, providing a buffer against renewed hostilities without escalating tensions with Russia.

SOURCE: AFI

As the threat from hostile drones and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) continues to escalate in both conventional and irregular warfare, India’s armed forces are intensifying efforts to counter this evolving menace. The proliferation of drones—demonstrated vividly in conflicts like Armenia-Azerbaijan, Israel-Hamas, and Russia-Ukraine—has underscored their potential to disrupt military operations, target critical infrastructure, and overwhelm traditional air defense systems. In response, the Indian Army, Air Force (IAF), and other security agencies are accelerating the induction of anti-drone systems, while emphasizing the urgent need for more advanced, indigenous solutions with enhanced capabilities.

The Indian Army recently floated a tender for the procurement of nine indigenous Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction Systems (IDD&IS), adding to those already inducted under emergency procurements to secure the frontier with China. These vehicle-mounted systems, currently in use by the Army Air Defence, are designed to detect and neutralize drones through a combination of “soft-kill” (jamming and spoofing) and “hard-kill” (laser-based destruction) measures. However, their limitations—such as a soft-kill range of 2 to 5 kilometers and a hard-kill range of just 800 meters—highlight the need for more advanced technologies.

SOURCE: AFI

On February 17, 2025, at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi, Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bharat Forge Ltd., introduced India’s pioneering 155mm/45Cal Mounted Gun System named MArG 45. The launch of this innovative defense technology was officiated by His Excellency Shri Sunjay Sudhir, the Ambassador of India to the UAE, marking a significant moment in the exhibition’s history.

MArG 45 is an upgrade of the MArG 39. The MArG 45 stands out as India’s first mounted gun system of its kind, designed to enhance the mobility and firepower of artillery units on a 4×4 in the world.

SOURCE: AFI

Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with US-based Ultra Maritime to locally manufacture sonobuoys in India. This strategic collaboration aims to bolster India’s indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities, particularly in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) technologies.

Sonobuoys are critical components in modern naval warfare, used for detecting and tracking submarines. With this partnership, BDL and Ultra Maritime will work together to establish a robust local production line for these essential ASW assets. This move aligns with the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, enhancing self-reliance in defense production.

SOURCE: AFI

On the inaugural day of NAVDEX 2025, held at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi, UAE, His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a distinguished member of the UAE Royal Family, made a notable visit to the BrahMos Aerospace pavilion. The visit underscored the growing defense collaboration between India and the UAE, focusing on advanced missile technology.

Mr. Praveen Pathak, Director of Market Promotion & Exports at BrahMos Aerospace, had the honor of briefing Sheikh Nahyan about the capabilities of the universal BRAHMOS Weapon System. The briefing highlighted the versatility and strategic importance of the BrahMos missile, which is a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.

SOURCE: AFI

During the bustling opening day of IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Shri Sunjay Sudhir, made a significant visit to the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) stall. This visit came shortly after the ambassador inaugurated the India Pavilion at the exhibition, highlighting the strong maritime and defense ties between India and the UAE.

At the MDL stall, Ambassador Sudhir was briefed by Shri Biju George, Director (Shipbuilding), who provided an in-depth overview of MDL’s products, capabilities, and recent achievements. MDL, one of India’s premier defense public sector undertakings, is renowned for its shipbuilding and submarine construction capabilities, playing a pivotal role in strengthening the Indian Navy’s fleet.

SOURCE: AFI

Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), a key player in India’s defense manufacturing sector, is poised to receive a significant order for the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) before the fiscal year ends on March 31, 2025. This development comes after KSSL emerged as the lowest bidder (L1) in the competition for supplying these state-of-the-art artillery systems to the Indian Army.

From the total order of 307 units, KSSL is anticipated to secure contracts for approximately 185 units. This allocation reflects KSSL’s competitive edge in the bidding process. The remaining units will be manufactured by the Tata Group, which was designated as the second-lowest bidder (L2). This split in orders underscores the strategic partnership between the Indian government and its domestic defense industry, fostering competition while ensuring that production capabilities within the country are maximized.