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SOURCE: IDRW.ORG

In a significant move to strengthen its military capabilities, the Indian Ministry of Defence has authorized the armed forces to replenish their inventory with advanced long-range loitering munitions, artillery shells, kamikaze drones, and beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles. This decision follows the critical role played by these precision weapons in recent military operations, notably Operation Sindoor, which targeted Pakistani military installations, according to a report by Hindustan Times.

The operation showcased India’s growing prowess in unmanned warfare, with long-range loitering munitions penetrating Pakistani airspace and neutralizing key assets, including a Chinese-supplied HQ-9 missile launcher and several Pakistan Air Force (PAF) radars.

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SOURCE: IDRW.ORG

Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T), India’s leading engineering and construction conglomerate, is poised to significantly expand its naval shipbuilding business by strengthening collaborations with state-owned defence shipyards and pursuing direct contract wins, according to a top company official. With a defence order book exceeding ?3,000 crore and a robust pipeline of opportunities, L&T is leveraging its expertise to capitalize on India’s growing naval modernization programs, export potential, and partnerships with public sector shipyards.

In an interview with ET Infra on May 27, 2025, Arun Ramchandani, Senior Vice President of Precision Engineering & Systems at L&T, outlined the company’s three-pronged strategy for growth in defence shipbuilding. “For now, our focus has been on defence shipbuilding, and we do see a potential for growth, one in terms of the number of shipbuilding programmes which are on the anvil, and two, a few export opportunities, and three, also working with the other yards,” Ramchandani stated. He highlighted the increasing demand for naval vessels and the capacity constraints faced by state-owned shipyards, which are prompting collaborative opportunities.

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SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) fleet of Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, renowned as one of the world’s most advanced combat platforms, has encountered significant operational challenges in 2025, with multiple emergency landings reported, including two within a single week. According to sources from Aviation Focus International (AFI), many of these incidents have been attributed to heat-related malfunctions, raising concerns about the helicopters’ performance in India’s extreme environmental conditions, particularly during high-temperature operations.

This week alone, two Apache helicopters were forced to make precautionary landings in farmlands due to onboard technical issues. On June 6, 2025, an Apache made an emergency landing in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, after developing a technical fault during a routine training sortie. The landing gear and fuselage sustained minor damage, but both pilots emerged unscathed, and the helicopter was later flown back to the Sarsawa airbase after ground checks. Just days later, on June 13, 2025, another Apache landed in a field near Halet Village, Nangalpur, in Punjab’s Pathankot district, following a cockpit warning indicating a technical glitch. The crew was safe, and no ground damage or injuries were reported. IAF personnel from the Pathankot airbase, where the 125 Helicopter Squadron “Gladiators” operates the Apaches, promptly responded to assess and recover the aircraft.

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SOURCE: AFI

India’s strategic push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing is steering its air force away from acquiring advanced foreign fighter jets like the U.S.-made Lockheed Martin F-35 or Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57E, according to Mumin Chen, a professor at the Graduate Institute of International Politics at National Chung Hsing University. Speaking to international media, Chen emphasized that India’s current priorities center on bolstering domestic fighter jet programs, particularly the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which is poised to become the cornerstone of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) future capabilities.

The F-35 Lightning II, a fifth-generation stealth fighter renowned for its advanced sensors and network-centric warfare capabilities, has long been speculated as a potential addition to the IAF’s fleet. Similarly, Russia’s Su-57E, an export variant of its fifth-generation stealth fighter, has been offered to India as part of longstanding defence ties. However, Chen argues that India’s commitment to its indigenous programs, driven by the “Make in India” initiative, makes the procurement of these foreign platforms unlikely in the near term.

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SOURCE: AFI

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s premier aerospace and defence public-sector undertaking, is grappling with a critical manpower shortage that threatens its operational efficiency and ability to meet growing project demands. According to G. Syam Nath, former Executive Director (Joint Ventures & Outsourcing) at HAL, the organization’s workforce has dwindled to half its previous strength, even as the complexity and volume of projects have surged. This alarming reduction in staffing, coupled with a lack of employee-friendly policies, has left HAL’s junior and mid-level staff overburdened, fatigued, and increasingly disheartened.

The manpower crisis at HAL is stark. Despite the rising number of high-profile projects—ranging from the production of advanced fighter jets like the Tejas to helicopters and aero-engines—the organization’s workforce has not been adequately replenished. Nath highlights that even when combining junior and mid-level staff as a single cluster, the staffing levels remain woefully insufficient. Employees at these levels are stretched thin, leading to burnout and declining morale, which could jeopardize HAL’s ability to deliver on critical defence contracts.

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SOURCE: AFI

The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), located in Kamra, Pakistan, is a pivotal institution in the country’s defense ecosystem, operating under the full ownership and sponsorship of the Ministry of Defence Production. Unlike India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which functions as a civilian public-sector undertaking, PAC is a military-owned entity with its corporate leadership directly appointed by the Air Headquarters of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). This structural distinction underscores PAC’s deep integration into Pakistan’s military framework, serving as a cornerstone for its aerospace capabilities.

PAC’s strategic significance has made it a focal point in regional military dynamics. Notably, it was reportedly marked as a potential target for strikes by the Indian Air Force (IAF) before Pakistan requested a ceasefire, highlighting its critical role in Pakistan’s defense infrastructure. The complex is not merely a maintenance hub but a key facility for the assembly and sustainment of PAF’s combat aircraft.

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SOURCE: AFI

Tensions within the Pakistani military establishment are reportedly simmering following the recent conflict with India, where the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) took a leading role while the Pakistani Army played a secondary role. The designation of the Line of Control (LoC) as a ceasefire line after the conflict has left the Army feeling sidelined, with growing discontent over General Asim Munir’s promotion to Field Marshal. Defence analyst Ranesh Rajan has warned that Pakistan may be planning a Kargil-like incursion to internationalize the Kashmir issue, especially as India has signaled its reluctance to engage in bilateral talks.

The Pakistani Army’s limited role in the recent conflict, dubbed Operation Bunyan Marsoos by Pakistan in response to India’s Operation Sindoor, has sparked frustration among its ranks. According to posts on X, the PAF’s prominence in countering Indian airstrikes overshadowed the Army’s contributions, leading to perceptions that the Army “had little to show” for its efforts. The conflict, which ended with a ceasefire on May 10, 2025, saw India claim significant success in targeting nine terrorist launchpads and damaging 11 PAF airbases, while Pakistan’s claims of downing 5–6 Indian fighter jets and conducting retaliatory strikes remain unverified.

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SOURCE: PTI

The Israeli military on Saturday (June 14, 2025) apologised for posting a map that incorrectly depicted Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan after objections from Indian social media users, clarifying that the image “fails to precisely depict borders”.

The map was posted by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on their X handle on Friday (June 13, 2025) to show the range of Iranian missiles. The post quickly drew criticism from social media users in India. 

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SOURCE: IANS

 In a grand display of discipline, precision, and national pride, the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) was held on Saturday at the Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal in Hyderabad, marking the successful culmination of pre-commissioning training for 254 cadets of the Indian Air Force.

The ceremony was graced by Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), who was the Reviewing Officer (RO) of the parade and conferred the President’s Commission upon the graduating officers.

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SOURCE: Bloomberg

The governments of Canada and India are set to establish a new structure to share information about cross-border crimes, their latest step toward rebuilding ties nearly two years after Canadian officials accused India of orchestrating the murder of a Sikh activist near Vancouver.

The new information-sharing arrangement, which includes law enforcement agencies from both countries, will allow them to swap intelligence on transnational crime and syndicates, terrorism and extremist activities, according to officials who asked not to be identified because the discussions are still private. For Canada, this also includes an emphasis on investigating extra-judicial killings.

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SOURCE: IANS

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on Saturday announced elimination of nine Iranian nuclear scientists during the opening phase of its military operation against Iran’s nuclear programme, which began early Friday.

Revealing details of the ongoing operation, the IDF described it as a critical blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. According to the IDF, the nine scientists were instrumental in advancing Iran’s efforts to acquire a nuclear weapon.

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SOURCE: PTI

The much-delayed Axiom-4 commercial mission to the International Space Station, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others, is now targeting a launch on June 19, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Saturday.

The Axiom Space mission was to blast-off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 11, but had to be delayed first due to a fuel leak in SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket and then due to a leak in the Russian section of the International Space Station (ISS).

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SOURCE: PTI

The Arunachal Pradesh government during a special Cabinet meeting reviewed the strategic and national security significance of the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), declared a ‘National Project’ by the Centre in 2008, and reiterated its commitment to equitable rehabilitation and compensation measures for families likely to be affected by the project.

The cabinet on Friday acknowledged concerns raised by sections of the public regarding the preparation of the pre-feasibility report (PFR) of the proposed hydro project and noted the state government’s sustained efforts to build consensus and allay fears among potential project affected families (PAFs) through a series of detailed consultations and interactions, a government statement said.

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SOURCE: PTI

 Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, on Saturday expressed optimism about India’s potential to mediate in the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran following a telephonic conversation between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“India has avenues for dialogue with both sides. It can indeed play a role. We are happy to have this sincere dialogue with India, which is a very good friend… We listen carefully to your concerns. I think they are legitimate,” Azar said in an interview with PTI Videos.

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SOURCE: IANS

In a tragic incident, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was martyred during an anti-Naxal operation in the dense Saranda forest region of Odisha on Saturday, underscoring the persistent threat posed by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in several parts of India despite significant gains made in recent years.

The deceased, ASI Satwan Singh of the CRPF’s 134th Battalion, sustained critical injuries after an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Naxals detonated during a routine search and combing operation by the force. ASI Satwan Singh was immediately evacuated to a private hospital in Rourkela, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

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