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SOURCE: IDRW.ORG

In a strategic push to counter the evolving threat of main battle tanks (MBTs) in modern warfare, the Indian Army is engaging with private sector companies to develop a new generation of drones specifically optimized for anti-tank roles. According to sources cited by Indian Defence Research Wing (idrw.org), these drones will feature GPS-independent navigation systems capable of operating in contested electromagnetic (EM) environments and munitions designed to “thwart” active protection systems (APS) on armored vehicles before penetrating their armor.

This initiative, driven by lessons from recent conflicts and the increasing survivability of MBTs equipped with cope cages, underscores India’s commitment to enhancing its tactical capabilities through indigenous innovation under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

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SOURCE: IDRW.ORG

Dassault Aviation officials have confirmed to idrw.org that the Indian Air Force (IAF) is free to integrate any indigenously developed weapons system onto the Rafale jets it currently operates or plans to acquire. Each weapon system integration will be tailored to align with the IAF’s desired capabilities, with no imposed limits on the types or numbers of weapons India wishes to incorporate.

The revelation comes as India continues to bolster its domestic defense industry under the “Make in India” initiative, seeking to customize foreign platforms with locally developed technologies. Dassault has assured that its team will collaborate with Indian counterparts to ensure seamless integration, leveraging the Rafale’s open architecture to support a wide range of munitions, from precision-guided bombs to advanced missiles. This flexibility could pave the way for the integration of systems like the indigenous Astra missile or future developments from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

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SOURCE: AFI

In a bold leap towards redefining future air combat dynamics, Paninian India Pvt Ltd, a Hyderabad-based defence tech startup, has unveiled the concept of SVAYATT-M1 — a Next-Generation Affordable Autonomous Aerial Platform. The system is aimed at delivering high-end combat and support capabilities at a fraction of the cost of traditional unmanned or manned systems.

SVAYATT-M1 has been conceptualised to bridge critical capability gaps in the Indian Armed Forces by offering a platform that is modular, scalable, and autonomous, while being cost-effective and survivable in high-risk, contested operational environments.

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SOURCE: AFI

Russian security experts and defense analysts have expressed growing frustration over reports that India is conditioning its potential procurement of the Su-57E—Russia’s export-variant fifth-generation fighter jet—on the integration of indigenous radar and sensor systems. This stance, while strategically aligned with India’s self-reliance agenda, has ruffled feathers in Moscow, where officials perceive it as a challenge to Russia’s aerospace technological prestige.

The Su-57E, touted by Russia as a strategic solution to bridge India’s fighter jet shortfall, has been offered with generous terms—joint production at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facilities, technology transfer, and even access to source codes. However, India’s primary concern lies with the Su-57E’s avionics suite, particularly its radar system, which is based on the N036 Byelka—a Gallium Arsenide (GaAs)-based Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar that some Indian experts argue is now lagging behind.

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SOURCE: AFI

Airbus is exploring a significant upgrade to its A400M Atlas military transport aircraft, aiming to increase its payload capacity to 40 tons through minor hardware adjustments and certification changes, according to posts on X. This enhancement could position the A400M as a direct competitor to the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) aging Ilyushin IL-76 fleet, which is slated for retirement starting in 2035. The upgrade aligns with Airbus’ ongoing pitch for the IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) tender, which seeks 40-80 aircraft to modernize India’s airlift capabilities.

The A400M, currently capable of carrying 37 tons, is a versatile four-engine turboprop airlifter designed for both tactical and strategic missions. The proposed 40-ton payload increase would bring it closer to the IL-76’s 48-ton capacity, making it a compelling option for the IAF, which operates 14 IL-76s procured in the 1980s. However, there is no clarity yet on whether the A400M’s cargo ramp, which has a 32-ton weight limit critical for vehicle transport, will also be modified to accommodate the enhanced payload.

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SOURCE: AFI

Dr. DK Sunil, Chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), announced at the Paris Air Show that the structural assembly of the first prototype of the Tejas MkII aircraft is currently in progress. Speaking to the Editor of GBP Daily News, Dr. Sunil revealed that the rollout of the prototype is scheduled for 2026, marking a significant milestone in India’s indigenous defense manufacturing program.

The Tejas MkII, an advanced variant of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, is designed to enhance India’s air combat capabilities with improved performance, advanced avionics, and greater payload capacity. Dr. Sunil emphasized HAL’s commitment to meeting the project timeline, underscoring the strategic importance of the Tejas MkII for the Indian Air Force.

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SOURCE: AFI

In the wake of Operation Sindoor, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has initiated a sweeping overhaul of India’s defence procurement process to fast-track acquisitions, improve cash flow to private vendors, and ensure rapid induction of critical military capabilities. Meetings held between the MoD and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) have outlined a roadmap for compressed procurement timelines, digitisation of trials, and incentivisation of indigenous production.

At the heart of the reform is a bold proposal to replace lengthy field evaluation trials (FETs) — which often stretch for years — with simulation-based and digital validation methods. This transition is intended to circumvent procedural bottlenecks and enable faster technical assessments of new systems, particularly for anti-drone systems, smart ammunition, and interoperable platforms like armored vehicles compatible with loitering munitions and guided missiles.

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SOURCE: REUTERS

Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab secured more aircraft orders on Wednesday, raising its total to $21 billion at this week’s subdued Paris Air Show, while rival Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab opted not to announce new sales following last week’s Air India 787 crash. Airbus firmed up an order for 10 long-haul jets from Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines in a boost for the European planemaker after one of its biggest customers, AirAsia, dashed expectations of another grand finale matching its earlier expansion.

Airbus won a total of 148 firm orders worth $14.2 billion including six previous ones disclosed publicly for the time, plus 102 provisional orders worth $6.7 billion, according to estimated delivery prices from UK-based Cirium Ascend.

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SOURCE: SAFRAN

At the 55th edition of the Paris Air Show, Safran Aircraft Engines, the world’s leading French engine manufacturer in the design, development and production of aircraft engines, signed an agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s leading aerospace and defense company, for the industrialization and production of rotating parts for LEAP engines.

This agreement supports the government’s “Make in India” policy and follows the memorandum of understanding signed by Safran Aircraft Engines and HAL in October 2023 to develop industrial cooperation in LEAP engine parts manufacturing, as well as the contract signed last February by both partners to produce forged parts.

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SOURCE: PTI

US President Donald Trump said the two “very smart” leaders of India and Pakistan “decided” not to continue a war that could have turned nuclear, the first time in weeks he did not credit himself for stopping the hostilities between the two neighbouring nations.

Trump made the remarks while speaking to the media in the Oval Office after hosting Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir, for lunch at the White House on Wednesday.

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SOURCE: REUTERS

India is a perpetrator of foreign interference, Canada’s intelligence agency said in a report published on Wednesday, just after India’s and Canada’s prime ministers vowed to strengthen ties at a global summit hosted by Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held what both sides called productive talks on Tuesday at the G7 summit in Alberta and agreed to reinstate top diplomats they had withdrawn last year.

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SOURCE: NASA

NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than Sunday, June 22, for launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4.

The change in a targeted launch date provides NASA time to continue evaluating space station operations after recent repair work in the aft (back) most segment of the International Space Station’s Zvezda service module.

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SOURCE: PTI

“We saw missiles in the sky and heard bombs in our neighbourhood. We were petrified,” said MBBS student Mir Khalif, his voice still trembling with fear, as he stepped out of the Delhi airport after being evacuated from war-hit Iran under Operation Sindhu.

Khalif arrived in the national capital early on Thursday in the first evacuation flight carrying 110 Indian students as part of the special operation launched by the Indian government in response to the escalating Iran-Israel conflict.

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SOURCE: PTI

The Congress on Thursday said it has been calling for a detailed debate on China for the last five years and hopes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will finally agree to such a discussion in the forthcoming Monsoon session of Parliament.

The opposition party also said it is important to collectively work towards a national consensus on vital national security and economic challenges posed by China’s emergence as the world’s dominant manufacturing power and as the world’s second-largest economy.

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SOURCE: PTI

A mobile tower has been installed at a remote village in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, where Naxals blew up a vehicle using an IED, killing eight security men and their civilian driver in January, the police said, allowing residents to access Internet and other telecom services.

A police official posted in the Bastar region said on Wednesday that the new mobile tower at Ambeli village started functioning on June 16. Residents of Ambeli and nearby villages — Uskapatnam, Karkeli and Tungeli — will now have access to faster mobile connectivity and Internet services, he said.

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