SOURCE: AFI

In a bold and meticulously planned operation, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) executed Operation Spider’s Web on June 1, 2025, targeting Russian airbases deep within enemy territory. The operation, which involved over 117 first-person view (FPV) drones striking strategic military assets, has been hailed as a game-changer in drone warfare. Reacting to this audacious assault, Colonel Devesh Singh (retd), an Indian expert in ammunition, explosives, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), emphasized that India is actively preparing for future conflicts by developing advanced FPV drones, counter-drone systems, and air defense innovations to counter similar threats.

Operation Spider’s Web, planned over 18 months, saw Ukraine deploy FPV drones to strike five Russian airbases—Belaya, Dyagilevo, Ivanovo Severny, Olenya, and Ukrainka—spanning multiple time zones, with some targets over 4,300 kilometers from Ukraine’s border. These drones, smuggled into Russia and concealed within wooden cabins mounted on trucks, were remotely launched to devastating effect, reportedly damaging or destroying over 40 Russian aircraft, including Tu-95, Tu-22M, and A-50 models. The operation’s success lay in its secrecy, precision, and innovative use of low-cost, high-speed FPV drones equipped with anti-tank payloads, which evaded Russian radar due to their small size and speed.

SOURCE: AFI

India possesses the capability to intercept and destroy nuclear or conventional warheads at high altitudes, according to Vijay Kumar Saraswat, the renowned missile scientist and former Director General of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat, Saraswat highlighted the robustness of India’s missile defense systems, emphasizing their ability to neutralize threats before they can cause significant damage.

“When a missile is launched, we can’t determine whether it is carrying a nuclear warhead or a conventional warhead. If it is carrying a nuclear warhead, we can intercept it at a high altitude. So, once it is destroyed at high altitude, its nuclear effect also becomes negligible,” Saraswat explained. He further elaborated that even in the event of a failure to intercept at high altitude, India has an endo-atmospheric interceptor capable of neutralizing the missile at 15 to 20 km altitude, where the nuclear impact would be minimal.

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant development for South Asian airpower dynamics, Pakistan is set to begin inducting the Shenyang FC-31 ‘Gyrfalcon’ multirole stealth fighter aircraft into its air force, according to a senior Pakistani government official cited by Janes on June 4, 2025. The acquisition of these Chinese-made fifth-generation stealth fighters, also referred to as the J-35 in some contexts, marks a strategic move by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to counter India’s growing aerial capabilities, particularly as the Indian Air Force (IAF) faces a squadron strength shortfall and awaits its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) by 2035.

The Janes report indicates that deliveries of the FC-31 are expected to commence within months, with PAF pilots and technicians already undergoing training in China to operate and maintain the aircraft. A senior Pakistani official confirmed to Janes that the FC-31s will be equipped with the advanced PL-17 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), boasting a reported range of 400 km, enhancing the PAF’s ability to conduct long-range strikes and maintain air superiority. This acquisition follows Pakistan’s preview of the PL-15 missile during the May 2025 India-Pakistan clashes, where debris recovered in India confirmed its use by PAF’s JF-17 Block III fighters.

SOURCE: AFI

In a landmark achievement for India’s defense sector, Reliance Infrastructure, led by Anil Ambani, has become the first private Indian company to design and develop next-generation 155mm artillery ammunition, a critical component for long-range ground warfare. This development, announced on June 3, 2025, marks a significant step toward reducing India’s reliance on imported munitions and strengthening its indigenous defense manufacturing under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The advanced 155mm artillery shells were developed under a Design-cum-Production Partner (DcPP) arrangement with the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune. According to a Reliance Infrastructure spokesperson, the company has successfully developed four types of these shells using fully indigenous technology, with development work completed and production ready to commence immediately. Ten Indian companies have been integrated into the supply chain, ensuring a robust domestic ecosystem for manufacturing.

SOURCE: AFI

The Rahim Yar Khan airbase in Pakistan’s Punjab province, a critical military asset, remains non-operational nearly a month after India’s precision airstrikes during Operation Sindoor on May 9, 2025. A recent Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) indicates that the airbase’s sole runway will remain offline until at least June 20, 2025, underscoring significant delays in repair efforts. This prolonged downtime speaks volumes about Pakistan’s runway repair capabilities and operational efficiency, offering valuable insights for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to assess its adversary’s resilience.

Geo-intelligence expert Damien Symon, known on X as @detresfa_, highlighted the issue in a post on June 4, 2025, stating, “Pakistan issues one more NOTAM for Rahim Yar Khan, runway now remains offline estimated till 20 June 2025.” This follows earlier NOTAMs extending the closure from May 18 to June 6, and now further to June 20, indicating that the damage inflicted by India’s strikes—reportedly involving BrahMos-A supersonic cruise missiles—has proven challenging to repair.