SOURCE: AFI

Nearly 15 years after its initial proposal, the Indian Army’s ambitious Future Main Battle Tank (FMBT) program remains in limbo, with the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR)—a critical document outlining the tank’s detailed specifications—yet to be issued. Conceived as a next-generation replacement for the aging fleet of Soviet-era T-72 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), the FMBT was envisioned to modernize India’s armored forces and bolster its combat capabilities. However, prolonged delays in finalizing requirements have left the project stalled, raising questions about the Army’s preparedness for future conflicts.

The FMBT initiative traces its origins to 2010, following the successful trials of the indigenous Arjun Mk1 tank against the Russian T-90 in Rajasthan. Buoyed by this achievement, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) proposed the development of a cutting-edge tank to succeed the T-72s, which have been the backbone of India’s armored corps since the 1980s. The Army currently operates around 2,400 T-72s, many of which have exceeded their 30-year service life and are increasingly obsolete in the face of modern warfare’s demands. The FMBT was intended to address these shortcomings, promising advanced features like active protection systems, enhanced mobility, and network-centric capabilities.

SOURCE: AFI

SSS Defence, a premier Indian defence weapon systems company, has established itself as a key player in the manufacturing of small arms, ammunition, and high-end optics for military and law enforcement applications. Backed by a 70-year legacy of manufacturing expertise through its parent company, Stumpp Schuele & Somappa Springs, SSS Defence has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation in India’s private defence sector.

In a recent development that has caught the attention of defence enthusiasts and analysts alike, the firm appears to be working on a stand-alone grenade launcher, a project that was inadvertently showcased, sparking intrigue about its potential capabilities and implications.

SOURCE: AFI

In a landmark decision for India’s space program, the Central Government has granted approval to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its ambitious Mars Lander Mission, officially known as Mangalyaan-2. This approval marks a significant step forward in India’s quest to expand its interplanetary exploration capabilities and solidify its position among the world’s leading spacefaring nations. Building on the success of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), or Mangalyaan-1, which made India the first Asian country to reach Martian orbit in 2014, Mangalyaan-2 aims to achieve an even more challenging feat: landing a spacecraft on the Red Planet.

The approval, announced on March 22, 2025, follows the Space Commission’s endorsement of the mission on February 21, 2025, and reflects the government’s commitment to advancing India’s space ambitions. Unlike its predecessor, which was an orbiter mission designed to study Mars from above, Mangalyaan-2 is poised to take India’s exploration efforts to the surface of Mars. The mission is expected to include a lander and a rover, with potential plans for a pioneering Martian helicopter, making it one of ISRO’s most complex undertakings to date.

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant step toward deepening military cooperation, India and Armenia have initiated discussions on conducting joint training for their Special Forces. This move comes alongside Armenia’s plans to procure loitering munitions from India to equip its elite Spetsnaz detachments, signaling a strengthening partnership between the two nations. The collaboration is poised to enhance Armenia’s military capabilities, particularly in mountainous warfare, while fostering a strategic counterbalance to regional geopolitical alignments, notably the Azerbaijani-Turkish-Pakistani axis.

As part of the proposed training initiative, Armenia’s Spetsnaz detachments and mountain servicemen could be deployed to India’s High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Jammu & Kashmir. Nestled in the rugged Himalayas, HAWS is renowned for its rigorous mountain warfare training programs, making it an ideal venue for Armenian forces to hone their skills in terrain similar to their homeland’s treacherous mountains.

SOURCE: AFI

In a provocative statement that has stirred controversy, Abdul Basit, the former Pakistan High Commissioner to India, has inserted himself into the ongoing debate over India’s proposed delimitation exercise. Basit, known for his contentious tenure as Pakistan’s envoy from 2014 to 2017, recently commented on the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led opposition to the delimitation process, suggesting that an imbalance favoring North India could push Tamil Nadu toward armed rebellion against the Indian state.

Delimitation—the periodic redrawing of electoral constituencies based on population—is a sensitive issue in India, given its federal structure and diverse demographics. The last full delimitation exercise was completed in 1976, with constituency boundaries frozen until after the 2001 Census under the 42nd Amendment. However, with the freeze set to expire post-2026, the upcoming exercise—likely based on the yet-to-be-conducted 2021 Census—has sparked concerns about a potential shift in political power from South India to the more populous North.