SOURCE: AFI

In a significant milestone for India’s defence manufacturing sector, the Ordnance Equipment Factory Hazratpur (OEFH) in Uttar Pradesh has successfully dispatched its first consignment of brake parachutes for Sukhoi-30 fighter jets to Malaysia. The event, marked by a simple yet proud ceremony on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, saw OEFH General Manager Amit Singh flag off a truck carrying the critical parachute brake systems. The ceremony was attended by Deputy General Manager H.L. Kumawat, Joint General Manager S.K. Meena, and other senior officers, highlighting the importance of this achievement.

The consignment comprises 10 pairs of brake parachutes, meticulously designed and manufactured for the Sukhoi-30, a versatile multirole fighter jet used by the Malaysian Air Force and several other nations, including India. These parachutes are essential for safely decelerating the high-speed aircraft during landing, ensuring operational safety and efficiency.

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant development for India’s military aviation, the Prachand light combat helicopters have been cleared for flight operations, following the recent approval of the Dhruv advanced light helicopters (ALHs) last month. The decision comes after both helicopter types, manufactured by the defence public sector undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), were grounded following a tragic crash on January 5, 2025, in Porbandar. The incident, which claimed the lives of two Indian Coast Guard pilots and an aircrew diver, prompted a thorough investigation and subsequent safety upgrades.

According to an officer familiar with the matter, the grounding of the Dhruv and Prachand helicopters was lifted after a defect investigation committee identified and addressed issues with certain components. “Some components” were replaced based on the committee’s recommendations, the officer stated on Tuesday, ensuring that both helicopter models meet stringent safety standards before returning to service.

SOURCE: AFI

In a recent analysis, Muhammad Shareh Qazi, a Lahore-based maritime security expert, warned of the “high probability” that India could target Pakistan’s naval installations on land in any future escalation between the two countries. Qazi emphasized that such an offensive could include strikes on radar stations and naval aircraft, describing the possibility as “alarming.”

The Indian Navy, while the smallest among India’s three military services, is also perceived as the most aggressive. According to Qazi, if the Navy is tasked with leading the next round of operations — a scenario he claims has already been confirmed — it will likely deploy its MiG-29K fighter aircraft to strike Pakistani naval assets. The primary target would likely be the Karachi Port and nearby naval facilities, which form the backbone of Pakistan’s maritime defense.

SOURCE: AFI

Pakistan has long boasted of possessing South Asia’s largest fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), primarily sourced from Turkey and China, positioning itself as a regional leader in drone warfare. With an inventory exceeding 1,000 drones, including advanced platforms like the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci, Chinese CH-4 and Wing Loong II, and indigenous models like the Burraq and Shahpar-II, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has heavily invested in unmanned systems for surveillance, precision strikes, and cross-border operations.

However, the four-day conflict with India in May 2025, known as Operation Sindoor, exposed critical limitations in Pakistan’s UAV strategy. Despite deploying 300–400 Turkish-made Asisguard Songar and Baykar YIHA-III drones, Pakistan’s UAVs were largely neutralized by India’s multi-layered air defense systems, highlighting their ineffectiveness in high-intensity conflicts against a well-equipped adversary. This article examines why Pakistan’s vaunted drone fleet failed to deliver and why Turkish and Chinese UAVs may have a limited role in conflicts where the opposing side possesses advanced air defenses, as seen in the recent India-Pakistan clash.

SOURCE: AFI

Solar Aerospace and Defence Limited (SADL) has successfully completed the trial of its Hybrid VTOL UAV Rudrastra at the Pokharan Firing Range on 11th June 2025. The trial was conducted in line with performance parameters laid out by the Indian Army, including vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), high endurance, precision targeting, and mission flexibility.

The UAV demonstrated robust operational capability, covering a mission radius of over 50 km with a stable real-time video link and successfully returning to the original launch point. The total range, including loitering at the target area, exceeded 170 km, with an estimated endurance of approximately 1.5 hours.