India Weighs US-Aussie Boeign MQ-28 Ghost Bat Purchase To Counter Pakistan’s Turkish UCAV Plans

India is actively weighing the acquisition of Australia’s Boeing-developed MQ-28 Ghost Bat UCAVs as a counterbalance to Pakistan’s potential induction of Turkey’s Bayraktar Kızılelma drones.

The Ghost Bat, already tested in autonomous combat by the Royal Australian Air Force, is being positioned as a force multiplier for the Indian Air Force in future Indo-Pacific operations.

India’s interest in the MQ-28 Ghost Bat comes amid reports that Turkey may proceed with the sale of its advanced Kızılelma unmanned fighter aircraft to Pakistan. The Kızılelma is a stealth-capable, AI-driven multirole UCAV, and its induction into the Pakistan Air Force would significantly alter the regional balance.

In response, New Delhi has been exploring options to strengthen its unmanned combat capabilities, with the Ghost Bat emerging as a leading candidate due to its maturity and proven performance.

The MQ-28 Ghost Bat is an uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft designed to operate alongside crewed fighter jets and airborne early warning platforms. Boeing describes it as a “force multiplier for advanced airpower systems,” highlighting its open-system architecture that allows mission flexibility, integration of third-party payloads, and rapid reconfiguration.

This modular design is centred on its missionized nose section, enabling quick swapping of payloads to suit different operational requirements.

The aircraft boasts a range of more than 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 kilometres), a top speed of Mach 0.9, and an operational ceiling above 40,000 feet. Measuring 11.7 metres in length with a wingspan of 7.3 metres, the Ghost Bat weighs approximately 3,175 kilograms.

Developed in Australia over the past eight years, it is the first military combat aircraft designed and manufactured in the country in over half a century. More than 70 Australian companies have contributed to the programme, underscoring its collaborative industrial base.

A major milestone was achieved in December 2025, when Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force conducted the first autonomous air-to-air combat kill engagement using an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.

This test demonstrated the Ghost Bat’s ability to independently detect, track, and neutralise aerial threats without direct human control, marking it as one of the most advanced UCAVs globally. By March 2025, the prototype had already completed over 100 test flights, supported by more than 20,000 hours of digital simulation.

India’s interest in the Ghost Bat was visibly reinforced during the 12th Air Staff Talks between the Indian Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force in Canberra in May 2026.

Photographs released from the meeting showed Air Vice-Marshal Sanjeev Taliyan alongside his Australian counterpart, Air Vice-Marshal Steven Pesce, with the MQ-28 Ghost Bat in the backdrop.

Discussions centred on operational synergy, interoperability, joint exercises, training, and future aerospace collaboration, signalling that the Ghost Bat is firmly on the agenda of Indo-Australian defence cooperation.

For the Indian Air Force, the Ghost Bat offers several advantages. Its autonomous capability reduces risk to pilots while enabling aggressive mission planning. Its ability to integrate seamlessly with manned aircraft such as the Su-30MKI and the upcoming AMCA makes it suitable for manned-unmanned teaming concepts.

Furthermore, its modular payload system allows India to adapt the platform for roles ranging from electronic warfare and surveillance to precision strike missions, enhancing flexibility in contested environments.

The potential induction of the Ghost Bat would also strengthen India’s strategic partnership with Australia, reinforcing Indo-Pacific security cooperation at a time when regional threats are intensifying. With Pakistan’s pursuit of Turkish UCAVs, India’s move to acquire the Ghost Bat would represent a decisive step in maintaining technological parity and operational superiority in unmanned aerial warfare.

Agencies

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India’s Project-76 Submarine Program To Transform Indigenous Undersea Warfare Capabilities

India’s Project-76 submarine program represents a decisive leap in indigenous naval capability, combining Air Independent Propulsion, lithium-ion batteries, advanced stealth, and Vertical Launch Systems to replace the ageing Kilo-class fleet.

The initiative is expected to deliver twelve hunter-killer submarines by the mid-2030s, significantly enhancing India’s deterrence and strike power in the Indian Ocean.

India’s Project-76 is a flagship initiative aimed at developing a new generation of diesel-electric hunter-killer submarines to replace the ageing Sindhughosh-class (Kilo-class) boats. The program is led by the Warship Design Bureau and the Defence Research and Development Organisation, with a strong emphasis on self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat framework.

The submarines are expected to displace around 3,000 tonnes and incorporate cutting-edge propulsion and combat systems.

A defining feature of these submarines will be the integration of India’s indigenous fuel-cell based Air Independent Propulsion system, which allows extended submerged endurance without surfacing. This will be paired with high-capacity lithium-ion batteries, offering faster recharge, higher energy density, and sustained performance compared to traditional lead-acid systems.

Together, these technologies will enable stealthy patrols lasting over twenty days, a critical capability in the vast Indian Ocean Region.

The design also includes advanced stealth measures to reduce acoustic signatures, making detection by adversaries far more difficult. Vertical Launch Systems will provide the ability to fire long-range land-attack cruise missiles, giving the submarines a formidable offensive reach in addition to their defensive role with heavyweight torpedoes. This dual capability ensures both sea-denial and strategic strike options.

Construction is planned to be split between Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and Larsen & Toubro, with each yard expected to deliver six submarines. This parallel production approach is intended to compress delivery timelines and ensure steady induction into the fleet.

Production orders are anticipated around 2028, with the first submarines entering service by 2034. Financially, the program is estimated at approximately ₹70,000 crore, making it one of India’s largest defence investments.

Sea trials of the indigenous AIP module are scheduled aboard INS Khanderi later in 2026, serving as a demonstrator for Project-76 technologies. Successful validation will pave the way for integration into the new submarines.

The endurance and stealth profile envisaged will allow the Indian Navy to maintain persistent undersea presence, a vital factor in countering expanding Chinese and Pakistani submarine capabilities.

Project-76 forms part of India’s broader submarine modernisation roadmap. Alongside Project-75I, which involves German-designed AIP submarines, and Project-77, which will deliver nuclear-powered attack submarines, Project-76 bridges operational gaps and ensures balanced fleet capability.

The long-term Submarine Building Perspective Plan approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security envisaged twenty-four submarines over three decades, with Project-76 representing the second phase focused entirely on indigenous design and construction.

The strategic implications are significant. With the induction of twelve advanced submarines, India will not only replace ageing assets but also strengthen its deterrence posture in the Indo-Pacific. The combination of indigenous propulsion breakthroughs, advanced stealth, and long-range strike capability positions Project-76 as a cornerstone of India’s maritime security strategy.

IDN (With Agency Inputs)

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India Marks Milestone With 1,000th Indigenous T-90 Bhishma Tank Delivered To Army

Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) has delivered the 1000th indigenously manufactured T-90(IM) “Bhishma” tank to the Indian Army, marking a historic milestone in India’s defence manufacturing drive.

With over 90% indigenous content, this achievement underscores India’s growing self-reliance in armoured vehicle production and strengthens the Army’s combat capabilities.

The 1000th T-90(IM) tank was rolled out from the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi, near Chennai, on 22 May 2026. The T-90(IM), designated “Bhishma” in Indian service, is produced under licence from Russia but has steadily integrated indigenous technologies and components.

Production began in 2001 with semi-knocked-down kits, followed by a 2006 agreement for licensed manufacture of 1,000 tanks. By 2009, the first fully indigenous T-90S tanks were produced in India, marking a significant leap in localisation.

AVNL, established in 2021 after restructuring the Ordnance Factory Board, oversees tank production at HVF. The factory has a long legacy of manufacturing armoured vehicles including the T-72 Ajeya, Arjun MBT, and Vijayanta tanks.

Over the years, production has transitioned from assembling imported kits to achieving deep indigenisation of critical systems. Notably, AVNL has fully localised the V-92S2 engine powering the T-90 Bhishma, as well as engines for the T-72 and BMP-2 platforms. Subsystems such as electromagnetic turret traverse systems have replaced older hydraulic drives, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.

The T-90 Bhishma is a formidable main battle tank equipped with a 125 mm smooth-bore gun capable of firing guided missiles, APFSDS, HEAT, and HE rounds. It has a crew of three, weighs 46.5 tons, and is powered by a 1,000hp engine delivering a power-to-weight ratio of 21.5 hp per ton.

The tank can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h and is fitted with explosive reactive armour, CBR protection, smoke grenade launchers, and fording capability up to 5 metres. These features make it a cornerstone of India’s armoured formations, complementing the T-72 fleet.

The Indian Army has also contracted for 464 upgraded T-90 Mk III tanks, deliveries of which began in 2024. These newer variants incorporate advanced fire-control systems, thermal imaging, and enhanced survivability features.

In addition, India is exploring integration of the Israeli Trophy Active Protection System (APS) into the Bhishma fleet, which would provide real-time interception of incoming threats, further boosting battlefield survivability.

This milestone of 1,000 tanks reflects India’s commitment to the “Make in India” initiative and the broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. By achieving over 90% indigenous content, the program not only strengthens national security but also supports domestic industries, including MSMEs, through component manufacturing. It also reduces reliance on imports, ensuring sustainability and resilience in defence production.

The delivery of the 1000th T-90(IM) Bhishma tank is a testament to India’s growing expertise in armoured vehicle technology and its ability to meet the evolving requirements of modern warfare. It reinforces the Indian Army’s operational readiness and highlights the country’s progress towards becoming a global leader in defence manufacturing.

Agencies

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India Declares Vast Arabian Sea Missile Zone After Pakistan’s Claimed Successful SMASH Test, Escalating Naval Rivalry

India’s declaration of a vast missile firing and naval aviation exclusion zone in the Arabian Sea has escalated tensions with Pakistan only days after Islamabad claimed to have successfully tested its SMASH anti-ship ballistic missile.

The Indian Navy has scheduled the exercise between 22 and 25 April 2026, covering waters stretching nearly 400 kilometres offshore from Goa and Karnataka, with restrictions extending up to 30,000 feet. 

This four-day operational window is designed to maximise combat readiness, weapons integration and surveillance, signalling India’s intent to demonstrate escalation dominance at sea.

The timing is significant because Pakistan’s Navy had just completed its live-fire demonstration of the indigenously developed SMASH missile, which is designed to threaten large Indian surface combatants such as aircraft carriers and destroyers.

Admiral Naveed Ashraf personally oversaw the trial, highlighting Pakistan’s determination to showcase asymmetric capabilities. Anti-ship ballistic missiles, unlike cruise missiles, travel at high speeds along ballistic trajectories, reducing warning times and complicating defensive responses.

Even a limited inventory of such weapons could force India to disperse its fleet and operate farther offshore, creating an anti-access environment in the northern Arabian Sea.

India’s response was swift and deliberate. Before Pakistan’s launch window closed, New Delhi deployed the missile-tracking and ocean-surveillance vessel INS Dhruv into international waters on 13 April. Equipped with advanced radars, telemetry receivers and electronic intelligence systems, INS Dhruv was positioned to collect data on SMASH’s launch procedures, trajectory and electronic signatures.

This intelligence strengthens India’s missile defence architecture and interception capabilities, underscoring that the real contest lies in surveillance and information dominance as much as missile launches themselves.

Pakistan’s exclusion zones earlier in April covered waters near Karachi, Ormara, Gwadar and Sonmiani, ranging between 200 and 450 kilometres offshore. These restrictions, issued between 14–15 April and again on 20–21 April, indicated ongoing missile preparations and post-launch monitoring.

Islamabad later confirmed the success of SMASH, reinforcing its strategy of leveraging cost-effective missile systems to challenge India’s numerically superior navy. The strategic logic is clear: Pakistan aims to deny India freedom of manoeuvre in the Arabian Sea, complicating carrier operations and forcing expensive countermeasures.

India’s newly declared zone, nearly twice the size of Pakistan’s, demonstrates broader force projection. Located near key naval air facilities such as INS Hansa and the Kadamba complex, the area allows integration of maritime patrol aircraft, fighters, surface combatants and potentially land-based missile systems.

The triangular geometry of the zone suggests long-range targeting and layered strike procedures are being tested. The vertical restriction up to 30,000 feet indicates close coordination between naval aviation and missile operations, possibly including air-defence validation with systems like the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile.

The Arabian Sea is increasingly becoming the frontline of India-Pakistan rivalry. Historically, competition centred on land borders and contested airspace, but the maritime domain now offers opportunities for deterrence and signalling without immediate escalation.

The region’s strategic importance lies in its sea lines of communication, vital for energy imports and global shipping. Any crisis here could disrupt international trade and energy markets. Both sides rely on NOTAMs and maritime warnings to manage competition below the nuclear threshold, reducing risks of accidents while normalising frequent military activity in commercial waters.

China’s growing maritime partnership with Pakistan adds another dimension, as Chinese-origin systems and cooperation bolster Islamabad’s deterrent posture. India, meanwhile, seeks to preserve superiority through expanded surveillance, missile defence and long-range aviation capabilities.

Despite the heightened activity, both governments have framed their actions as routine safety measures or readiness demonstrations, avoiding direct confrontation. Yet the sequencing—Pakistan’s missile test, India’s surveillance deployment, and India’s larger exercise—creates a powerful narrative of managed competition.

This rivalry is costly. India’s four-day exercise involves assets worth billions of dollars, while Pakistan’s SMASH programme represents a cheaper method of imposing strategic dilemmas. A single Indian destroyer costs around US$1 billion, making Pakistan’s missile threats disproportionately effective in forcing countermeasures.

The geography of India’s exclusion zone is particularly sensitive, lying astride approaches linking Pakistan’s ports to Gulf shipping lanes. Control of these waters could complicate Pakistan’s wartime access to energy and reinforcements. Pakistan’s emphasis on Gwadar, Ormara and Karachi highlights their growing role as frontline infrastructure, while areas near Sir Creek remain enduring flashpoints.

India’s western coastal bases allow rapid deployment of aircraft into the northern Arabian Sea, sustaining high sortie rates in a crisis. Pakistan, with its smaller fleet, must rely on missile-based denial strategies.

This imbalance explains the strategic weight of systems like SMASH, which can force India to disperse its warships and complicate carrier operations.

The continuing cycle of missile tests, surveillance deployments, and naval exercises suggests that future crises may unfold at sea rather than on land, making the Arabian Sea the newest frontier in South Asia’s strategic competition — a challenge India’s Blue Naval Power matrix is well placed to counter.

Agencies

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Project KAL Drone Strengthens India’s Indigenous Combat Edge

IG Defence’s Project KAL drone represents a significant leap in India’s indigenous unmanned combat systems.

Conceived as a modular platform, it is designed to seamlessly switch between strike missions and real-time ISR operations, thereby offering flexibility across the spectrum of battlefield requirements.

Its long-range endurance ensures that it can operate deep into contested zones, while advanced EO/IR sensors provide high-resolution intelligence and surveillance capabilities under diverse conditions. 

Encrypted SATCOM-enabled communications allow secure data transfer over extended ranges, and electronic warfare-resistant navigation systems ensure resilience against adversary attempts to disrupt or jam its operations.

The modularity of Project KAL is one of its defining strengths. Depending on operational needs, the drone can be configured for kamikaze strike missions, surveillance roles, decoy operations, or electronic warfare tasks.

This adaptability makes it a force multiplier, capable of filling multiple roles without requiring separate platforms. In kamikaze mode, it can deliver precision strikes against high-value targets, while in surveillance mode it can provide persistent monitoring of hostile territory.

As a decoy, it can mislead enemy air defence systems, and in electronic warfare configuration, it can disrupt adversary communications and radar networks.

A particularly notable feature is its swarm warfare capability. Project KAL drones can operate in coordinated groups, overwhelming enemy air defence systems through saturation attacks. This swarm-enabled autonomy reflects India’s growing emphasis on algorithm-driven combat systems, where multiple drones share data and execute synchronised manoeuvres. Such tactics are increasingly seen as essential in modern warfare, where traditional air defence systems struggle to cope with massed, autonomous threats.

The development of Project KAL also underscores India’s strategic push towards self-reliance in defence technology. By integrating indigenous design with advanced autonomy, encrypted communications, and electronic warfare resilience, IG Defence is contributing to the broader national vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.

The platform’s versatility ensures that it can be deployed across a wide range of missions, from deep-strike interdiction to frontline surveillance, thereby strengthening India’s deterrence posture.

Defence analysts note that the combination of endurance, modularity, and swarm capability positions Project KAL as a cornerstone of India’s future drone warfare doctrine. It reflects a shift from drones being supplementary assets to becoming central combat enablers.

In contested environments where adversaries deploy sophisticated counter-drone measures, Project KAL’s resilience and adaptability will provide India with a decisive edge. Its ability to integrate strike, ISR, decoy, and electronic warfare roles into a single platform ensures operational superiority in multi-domain warfare.

Agencies

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Marco Rubio Meets PM Modi In Delhi, Extends White House Invitation

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, marking a pivotal moment in the trajectory of India-US relations.

The discussions were wide-ranging, with energy security, trade tensions, defence cooperation and Indo-Pacific strategy dominating the agenda. Both leaders reaffirmed the strength of bilateral ties, underlining the importance of sustained progress in the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

According to the official release, Secretary Rubio briefed the Prime Minister on the growing momentum in cooperation across a broad strategic landscape. The talks spanned defence collaboration, emerging technologies, trade and investment, energy security, connectivity initiatives, education partnerships and expanding people-to-people ties.

This comprehensive agenda reflected the deepening engagement between the two nations at a time of global uncertainty.

Rubio assured Modi that Washington would not allow Iran to “hold the global energy market hostage,” stressing that American energy supplies could provide India with a crucial alternative. This assurance came against the backdrop of soaring fuel prices and supply disruptions triggered by the ongoing Iran conflict and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. For New Delhi, the promise of stable energy supplies was particularly significant as it sought to secure economic and energy stability.

The talks also carried geopolitical weight ahead of the upcoming Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting involving India, the United States, Japan and Australia. Rubio emphasised his commitment to advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region alongside Australia, India and Japan, signalling Washington’s intent to strengthen strategic alignment within the Quad framework. This message reinforced the shared vision of countering regional challenges and maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Rubio reflected on recent bilateral achievements, highlighting the growing flow of investments aimed at advancing President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Modi’s ambitious “Mission 500” target, which seeks to double India-US trade by 2030.

The initiative underscores the economic dimension of the partnership, complementing the defence and strategic cooperation already underway. The discussions also touched upon connectivity and education, broadening the scope of collaboration beyond traditional security concerns.

After the meeting, Prime Minister Modi described the discussions as productive and reaffirmed the growing strategic alignment between New Delhi and Washington.

In a post on X, he noted that India and the United States would continue to work closely for the global good, emphasising the importance of regional and global peace and security. His remarks captured the optimism surrounding the partnership and its potential to address pressing global challenges.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor revealed that Rubio had extended an invitation to the Prime Minister on behalf of President Donald Trump to visit the White House. This gesture added a symbolic dimension to the talks, signalling Washington’s intent to elevate the partnership further. The invitation is expected to pave the way for high-level engagements in the near future, reinforcing the strategic bond between the two nations.

Rubio’s India itinerary reflected both strategic and symbolic priorities. He began his four-day visit in Kolkata, where he visited Mother House and a children’s home, before flying to New Delhi for talks with the Indian leadership.

His tour will also take him to Agra and Jaipur, blending high-level diplomacy with cultural outreach. This approach highlights Washington’s effort to deepen engagement with India on multiple fronts, combining strategic dialogue with gestures of goodwill.

The high-level talks came at a turbulent moment for the global economy, with geopolitical fault lines widening across the region. For India, the meeting offered an opportunity to secure stability amid mounting challenges.

For Washington, it was a chance to recalibrate ties with New Delhi after months of friction over tariffs, Russian oil imports and remarks by President Trump on India-Pakistan tensions. The discussions in Delhi thus marked an important step in shaping the future of the India-US partnership.

Agencies

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No Power Can Stop India From Becoming Largest Weapons Exporter In 25–30 Years: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has declared that India, once a major importer of weapons, will become the world’s largest exporter within 25–30 years, emphasising that no power can stop this transformation. 

His remarks came during the inauguration of a major ammunition manufacturing unit in Shirdi, Maharashtra, where he highlighted the government’s target of raising private sector participation in defence production to 50 per cent.

At the unveiling ceremony of Veer Shiroamani Rao Duda’s statue in Nagaur, Rajnath Singh reiterated India’s determination to achieve self-reliance in defence. He stressed that the country’s defence sector is undergoing a historic shift, with the private sector emerging as a critical partner in producing advanced weapons systems rather than merely supplying components.

This vision, he explained, is central to India’s ambition of becoming a global hub for munitions and automation.

In Shirdi, Singh inaugurated the NIBE Defence Manufacturing Complex, a state-of-the-art facility designed to produce artillery shells, rocket launchers, kamikaze drones, and other advanced systems. Spread across 200 acres in Ahilyanagar district, the complex represents one of the largest private-sector investments in defence manufacturing, with an estimated outlay exceeding ₹3,000 crore.

The facility is expected to manufacture up to five lakh artillery shells annually, alongside missiles and clean energy infrastructure, creating around 2,000 jobs and boosting local MSMEs. Singh was joined by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, underscoring the strategic importance of the project.

The Defence Minister emphasised that future wars will be defined not by sheer numbers of soldiers but by technological superiority in munitions, automation, and indigenous innovation. He pointed to lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict and West Asia, noting that India must prepare for such realities by strengthening its domestic capabilities.

He also recalled India’s demonstration of technological strength during Operation Sindoor, which showcased the country’s growing defence prowess.

Singh underlined that the government’s vision, when combined with private sector innovation, would propel India to new heights. He insisted that the private sector is now recognised as a producer of cutting-edge systems, not just a supplier of basic parts.

This shift is part of the broader “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, which seeks to make India self-reliant in critical defence technologies and reduce dependence on foreign imports. He warned that reliance on external suppliers could compromise both national security and economic resilience, making indigenous production a necessity for peace, development, and strategic autonomy.

The inauguration also featured demonstrations of indigenous rocket launcher systems, including the “Suryastra” capable of ranges up to 300 kilometres, which has already received emergency procurement orders from the Indian Army.

The facility will serve not only as a production hub but also as a research centre for next-generation explosives and advanced weapons, further strengthening India’s armed forces.

Singh’s bold assertion that India will become the largest exporter of weapons within 25–30 years reflects the government’s confidence in its defence roadmap. Currently, according to SIPRI data, India accounts for just 0.2 per cent of global arms exports while remaining the second-largest importer.

Yet, with sustained investment, policy reforms, and private sector involvement, Singh believes India will surpass traditional leaders such as the United States, France, and Russia in the decades ahead.

PTI

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Zen Technologies Expands Into AI-Powered Defence And Autonomous Warfare Systems

Zen Technologies is undergoing a significant transformation as it expands beyond its established expertise in combat simulators into a wide array of advanced defence technologies.

The company is now actively developing remote weapon stations, micro-missiles, AI-powered defence systems, and counter-drone platforms, signalling a decisive shift towards autonomous combat solutions. 

This diversification underscores its commitment to indigenous innovation and aligns with India’s broader push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

The firm has strategically acquired companies working in loitering munitions, robotics, UAV propulsion, and naval defence training. These acquisitions are designed to broaden its technological base and strengthen its ability to deliver integrated solutions across multiple domains of modern warfare. By consolidating expertise in these critical areas, Zen is positioning itself as a comprehensive provider of next-generation defence systems.

Its new portfolio reflects this ambition, encompassing AI-enabled shooting ranges, unmanned ground vehicles, smart weapon systems, and naval counter-unmanned aerial system platforms. These developments highlight the company’s focus on combining artificial intelligence with indigenous hardware to create systems that can adapt to the evolving demands of the battlefield.

The emphasis on autonomous and smart technologies also reflects global trends in warfare, where speed, precision, and adaptability are increasingly decisive factors.

Zen’s expansion is emblematic of India’s growing determination to establish a robust ecosystem for indigenous high-tech defence manufacturing. The government’s initiatives under Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India have provided the framework for companies like Zen to invest in cutting-edge technologies while retaining full intellectual property ownership.

This ensures that critical defence capabilities remain under national control, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers and enhancing strategic autonomy.

The company’s focus on AI-powered systems and autonomous platforms also reflects lessons learned from recent conflicts worldwide, where drone warfare, swarm tactics, and unmanned systems have reshaped military doctrines.

By investing in these areas, Zen is not only strengthening India’s defensive capabilities but also preparing for future battlefield scenarios where traditional systems may be insufficient against rapidly evolving threats.

Zen Technologies’ trajectory demonstrates how private defence firms are playing a pivotal role in India’s self-reliance drive. Its integration of robotics, AI, and indigenous manufacturing into a cohesive defence portfolio positions it as a key contributor to the country’s emerging military-industrial complex. 

This expansion marks a decisive step in India’s journey towards building a technologically advanced, autonomous, and resilient defence ecosystem.

Agencies

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India Unveils Indigenous GT-IRSS To Boost Stealth of Navy Warships

India’s DRDO and BHEL have jointly unveiled the LM2500 Gas Turbine Infrared Suppression System (GT-IRSS), a breakthrough stealth technology for Indian Navy warships.

This system reduces infrared signatures from turbine exhausts, making vessels harder to detect by enemy sensors and heat-seeking missiles, while strengthening indigenous defence manufacturing under the “Make in India” initiative.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) has developed the GT-IRSS to address a critical vulnerability in naval propulsion systems.

The LM2500 gas turbine, widely deployed across frontline Indian Navy warships such as destroyers, frigates, and aircraft carriers, generates high-temperature exhaust plumes that can be easily tracked by infrared-guided weapons.

The suppression system cools these exhaust gases, significantly lowering the thermal footprint of vessels and enhancing survivability in contested maritime environments.

The GT-IRSS employs advanced thermal management techniques. Ambient air intake mechanisms draw cooler atmospheric air through specially engineered louvers, mixing it with hot exhaust gases via an eductor-diffuser arrangement. This reduces plume temperature before discharge.

Additionally, seawater mist injection is used to further cool the exhaust stream, while exposed exhaust structures are isolated and cooled to minimise heat radiation. These combined measures reduce both plume and surface thermal signatures without compromising turbine performance, ensuring operational efficiency alongside stealth.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has signed a Licensing Agreement for Transfer of Technology (LAToT) with DRDO-NSTL to manufacture, install, and commission the GT-IRSS across naval platforms.

This partnership represents a major step in expanding BHEL’s defence portfolio beyond its traditional power sector, leveraging its engineering expertise to absorb and execute critical defence technologies.

The agreement is fully domestic, aligning with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers for naval stealth systems.

The collaboration also reflects India’s broader strategic push to indigenise defence technologies. By enabling domestic production of advanced stealth systems, the Navy gains faster deployment capabilities, improved lifecycle support, and greater supply chain independence.

This is particularly significant in the Indo-Pacific region, where maritime competition and the threat of precision-guided weapons are intensifying.

The GT-IRSS will allow Indian warships to operate with enhanced stealth, reducing their detectability by adversary surveillance and missile systems.

Financially, BHEL has reported strong growth momentum, with a provisional turnover of ₹32,350 crore in FY26 and robust order inflows of approximately ₹75,000 crore.

The defence segment is now emerging as a key diversification area, and the GT-IRSS project positions BHEL as a central player in India’s naval defence manufacturing ecosystem.

The unveiling of the GT-IRSS is therefore not only a technological milestone but also a strategic achievement.

It strengthens India’s naval deterrence, enhances survivability of frontline warships, and demonstrates the country’s growing capacity to develop and deploy indigenous stealth technologies.

This initiative underscores India’s commitment to operational autonomy and its determination to secure maritime interests in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific theatre.

Agencies

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India’s UAV Journey Has Shifted From Dependence On Imports To Building Sovereign Capability

India’s UAV journey has shifted from dependence on imports to building sovereign capability across the entire stack, reported TOI.

The transformation is not limited to assembling hardware but extends to owning the software backbone, which is where true autonomy and resilience lie. UAVs have moved beyond novelty to become a sunrise sector, with the global UAV market expected to compound at nearly 9% over the next five years.

While commercial drones are proliferating in agriculture, logistics, mining, infrastructure, and utilities, the more consequential movement lies in defence UAVs. Globally, the defence UAV market is projected to reach around $18 billion by 2030.

India’s defence UAV market is forecast to grow from $1.76 billion in 2024 to $4.5 billion by 2030, supported by rising defence capital expenditure, ₹1.39 lakh crore of domestic procurement in FY 2026–27, and policy frameworks such as the Drone Rules and the Production-Linked Incentive scheme.

Over the next decade, nations that control their full UAV stack, especially software, will define military superiority, making India’s move strategically significant.

Recent border tensions triggered emergency procurement worth ₹5,000 crore across multiple private firms, underscoring the urgency of capability building. More striking is the larger procurement signal: a ₹67,000 crore defence package that includes a ₹32,350 crore program for 87 Medium Altitude Long Endurance drones.

The ambition is vast. The Indian Army’s target of 8,000 to 10,000 UAVs per corps across 14 corps implies a potential requirement exceeding 100,000 units. At the same time, contested-environment trials are imposing discipline on suppliers, with reports that 46 domestic firms failed recent evaluations.

This marks a shift from brochure-led participation to one defined by demonstrable systems competence.

Three value pools now define the sector’s strategic and industrial logic. The first, and largest, is persistent intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. India’s geography demands continuity of watch across active borders, inhospitable terrain, long coastlines, and expanding maritime surveillance responsibilities.

The airframe is only the outer layer of value; the real advantage lies in electro-optical payloads, EO/IR sensors, secure data links, SATCOM connectivity, onboard analytics, and mission software capable of operating in contested electromagnetic conditions.

The estimated ₹1.4 lakh crore demand for ISR over the next eight to ten years matters not only for its scale but also for the advanced technology envisaged. It is the mission system that confers persistence, transmission, exploitation, and therefore advantage.

The second value pool lies in strike capability through loitering munitions. Recent conflicts have demonstrated their utility beyond debate. These systems compress the chain between sensing and strike, expand tactical flexibility, and deliver precision at far lower cost than many manned alternatives. In India, disclosed domestic orders exceed a thousand units across platforms such as Nagastra, SkyStriker, ALS-50, and swarm systems.

More important than the headline figure is the change in procurement logic. A sector built on trials and demonstrations behaves differently from one built on replenishment. Once replenishment institutionalises, vendor qualification, explosives handling, production planning, testing, quality assurance, and sortie generation scale around recurring demand. That is the moment when a market begins to assume the discipline of an industry.

The third pool is cargo, logistics, and tactical resupply. High-altitude posts, island territories, exposed last-mile routes, and theatre-level mobility requirements create a mission set for unmanned cargo systems.

The Indian cargo and resupply opportunity, estimated at ₹5,000 to ₹7,000 crore over eight to ten years, is strategically significant not only for the defence demand it represents but also because it bridges into civilian UAVs.

A platform proven in moving payloads through dangerous, remote, or congested military environments has a clear migration path into medical delivery, industrial logistics, and difficult-terrain transport.

Defence UAVs are not merely another vertical within the drone economy; they are the laboratory in which the hardest advances in autonomy, ruggedization, payload integration, and secure communications are forged before diffusing outward.

As defence drones scale, spill over into civilian markets will be structural. It will be driven by talent migration from DRDO, armed forces, and defence start-ups into the private sector, dual-use technology transfer in autonomy, navigation, and secure communications, and regulatory enablers such as dual-spectrum licensing and evolving drone policies.

The wider ecosystem effect will follow from start-ups building defence-grade software platforms, allowing military-hardened capabilities to diffuse into commercial logistics, inspection, mapping, and public-safety applications.

The future battlespace will not be defined by a binary choice between manned and unmanned platforms but by their integration. Programs such as HAL’s CATS Warrior indicate a doctrinal shift in which crewed aircraft function as command nodes while unmanned wingmen extend reach, persistence, decoy value, and strike capacity.

Software-defined systems enable autonomy, resilience against electronic warfare, and faster adaptation in conflict scenarios. Control over algorithms, autonomy, and mission logic determines battlefield effectiveness, not just the physical drone.

This distinction is crucial, because scale alone does not amount to sovereignty. India has travelled this path before in aerospace and defence: assembly first, then local integration, and only thereafter genuine control over the value chain.

The decisive contest lies in the deeper stack – trusted electronics, propulsion, secure data links, navigation resilience in jammed or GNSS-denied environments, mission software, testing infrastructure, certification, qualification, maintenance, repair, overhaul, and lifecycle support.

The new rule requiring critical sub-components to be sourced from non-border-sharing countries matters not only because it reduces foreign dependence but also because it imposes discipline on provenance and trust.

Reports that technical committees are disassembling inducted UAVs to verify component origin and audit embedded firmware suggest the early contours of a sovereign certification and assurance regime. 

Ultimately, India must now build credible military-UAV certification, rigorous shared test infrastructure, procurement practices that reward reliability over theatre, trusted components as well as mission software, and supply chains resilient enough for wartime rather than demonstration.

TOI

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DRDO Is To Develop Curved Panels For Spherical Solid State Radome

DRDO has initiated the development of curved panels for spherical solid state Radomes, with ambitious plans to construct a 20-metre diameter sphere for S and Ka bands and a 12-metre diameter sphere for the X band.

This project is being executed through a tender process managed by LRDE, Bangalore, and represents a significant leap in India’s radar and defence technology capabilities.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has formally invited bids for the fabrication of curved panels that will form part of spherical solid state Radomes. These Radomes are critical structures designed to house advanced radar systems while protecting them from environmental conditions without interfering with their electromagnetic performance.

The tender, published on 4 May 2026, outlines the requirement for panels that will be used in spheres of 20 metres diameter for S and Ka band frequencies, and 12 metres diameter for X band frequencies.

The deadline for bid submission is 28 May 2026, with an earnest money deposit of ₹15,00,000 specified for participation.

The scope of work includes the design and fabrication of panels, structural and electromagnetic analysis, and the production of Radome test coupons for each frequency band. Contractors are expected to deliver detailed design documents, 3D solid models, material characterisation reports, and qualification test reports.

The panels are categorised into types A, B, and C, with specific quantities required for each band. For instance, the X band sphere requires multiple panels of type A and B, while the S and Ka band spheres demand a combination of all three types.

Agencies

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US‑Iran War Strains India's Energy Security As PM Modi Issues Urgent Three‑Point Directive

India’s energy security is under acute stress as the US‑Iran war continues to choke the Strait of Hormuz, driving up oil prices, weakening the rupee, and disrupting LPG supplies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s urgent three‑point directive to his ministers aims to cut red tape, secure alternative energy, and keep the long‑term vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 intact despite the crisis.

The escalating conflict in West Asia has become more than a distant geopolitical event; it is directly affecting Indian households and businesses. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20% of global petroleum passes, has triggered immediate consequences.

Petrol and diesel prices have risen by almost ₹4 per litre, while LPG shipments face delays, straining household budgets. Restaurants and small businesses that rely on LPG are struggling to maintain operations, with some forced to shut down temporarily. The government has prioritised household cooking gas over commercial use, leaving industries and eateries scrambling for alternatives.

The Prime Minister convened a four‑hour council of ministers meeting in New Delhi to address these challenges. His first directive was to accelerate governance by cutting bureaucratic red tape.

He stressed that ministries must act swiftly, simplify procedures, and embrace transparency to improve the ease of living. In times of global crisis, delays in decision‑making can worsen domestic vulnerabilities, so efficiency has become a national imperative.

The second directive focused on securing alternative energy and fuel sources. India’s dependence on crude oil and LPG imports from the Gulf has left it exposed to external shocks. Modi urged ministers to scale up biogas production, expand renewable solar and wind ecosystems, and strengthen domestic fertiliser supply chains.

These measures are designed to reduce reliance on volatile imports and build resilience against future disruptions. Analysts note that expanding strategic petroleum reserves, accelerating electric vehicle adoption, and deepening ethanol blending programs could further cushion India against energy shocks.

The third directive reaffirmed the long‑term national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Modi emphasised that transforming India into a developed nation by its centenary of independence is not just aspirational but a binding commitment. He called for next‑generation reforms that directly benefit citizens at the grassroots level, ensuring that short‑term crises do not derail long‑term progress.

The broader economic fallout is already visible. Moody’s has cut India’s 2026 growth forecast to 6%, citing subdued private consumption and industrial activity amid high energy costs. Inflation is projected to remain elevated at around 4.5%, while the rupee has depreciated sharply against the US dollar, widening the current account deficit.

Sectors such as aviation, FMCG, and manufacturing are under pressure due to rising input costs, while fertiliser shortages threaten agricultural productivity. Equity markets remain volatile, with Nifty earnings growth expected to slow significantly if the conflict drags on.

Diplomatic efforts continue, with a fragile ceasefire holding for now. Negotiations mediated by regional partners face hurdles, particularly around Iran’s nuclear programme and safe passage through shipping lanes. Until the Strait of Hormuz reopens fully, global oil markets are expected to remain unstable. India’s external affairs team, led by S Jaishankar, alongside NITI Aayog strategists, is working to align domestic resilience with international diplomacy.

The Prime Minister’s three‑point mandate reflects a dual strategy: immediate crisis management through governance and energy diversification, and unwavering commitment to long‑term national development. For citizens, the message is clear—while external shocks are unavoidable, India’s strength lies in decisive leadership and collective resilience.

Agencies

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India Advances Chenab–Beas Tunnel To Boost Irrigation, Hydropower And Water Security

India has begun work on the ₹2,352 crore Chenab–Beas Link Tunnel Project in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti, a strategic 8.7-km tunnel designed to divert water from the Chandra River into the Beas system.

This initiative is central to India’s broader effort to maximise domestic river resource utilisation following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan.

The Chenab–Beas Link Tunnel Project is being executed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and forms part of a larger inter-basin river-linking initiative.

The tunnel will transfer surplus water from the Chenab basin into the Beas river system, enhancing irrigation, hydropower generation, and long-term water management. A 19-metre-high barrage is also planned across the Chandra River in the Lahaul valley as part of Phase-I construction, ensuring controlled diversion and storage.

The project site is located near Koskar village, upstream of the north portal of the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang, in a high-altitude Himalayan terrain where India has already expanded road, tunnel, and energy infrastructure.

This location is strategically important, not only for water management but also for national security, given its proximity to sensitive frontier regions.

India’s decision to fast-track this project comes in the wake of its suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) earlier this year, following the Pahalgam terror attack. Under the treaty signed in 1960, Pakistan received primary rights over the western rivers—the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—while India retained rights over the eastern rivers and limited non-consumptive uses of the western rivers.

By moving ahead with projects like the Chenab–Beas tunnel, India is signalling a decisive shift towards optimising its share of western river waters, which had long remained underutilised.

The Chenab–Beas tunnel is expected to significantly boost hydropower capacity in the Beas basin, supporting India’s renewable energy goals. It will also improve irrigation potential across Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, helping stabilise agricultural output in water-stressed regions.

Additionally, the project is designed to strengthen sediment management and water flow regulation, reducing risks of flooding and ensuring sustainable water use.

Alongside this project, NHPC has also initiated work on a sediment bypass tunnel at the Salal Dam in Jammu & Kashmir, aimed at tackling siltation problems that have reduced reservoir capacity and turbine efficiency.

Together, these Chenab-linked projects represent an investment of nearly ₹2,600 crore and highlight India’s intent to modernise water infrastructure while reinforcing its strategic autonomy over river resources.

Experts believe the Chenab–Beas tunnel will reshape water utilisation in northern India, providing a reliable supply chain for irrigation and energy while reducing dependence on unpredictable monsoon flows.

It also reflects India’s broader policy of leveraging infrastructure to counter vulnerabilities in water-sharing arrangements with Pakistan, ensuring that surplus waters are channelled for domestic benefit rather than flowing unused across the border.

IDN (With Agency Inputs)

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Three Army Officers Survive Leh Helicopter Crash, Viral Selfie Highlights Miracle Escape

Three Indian Army officers, including Major General Sachin Mehta, miraculously survived a crash of a Cheetah helicopter in Ladakh’s Tangste region on 20 May 2026, reported Vishnu Som of NDTV.

Despite injuries, they managed to walk away from the wreckage, and a viral selfie taken by the Major General captured their resilience.

The incident has reignited debate over the ageing Cheetah fleet and accelerated calls for replacement with modern indigenous helicopters.

The crash occurred during a routine operational flight in the mountainous Tangste region near Leh. The single‑engine Cheetah helicopter was piloted by a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, with Major General Sachin Mehta, General Officer Commanding of the 3rd Infantry Division, travelling as a passenger.

The helicopter went down suddenly, leaving the officers injured but stable. Their survival was described by officials as “nothing short of a miracle” given the treacherous terrain and the operational demands of high‑altitude flying.

A striking image of Major General Mehta with the two pilots, taken moments after the crash, quickly spread across social media. The selfie showed them seated on rocks beside the heavily damaged helicopter, one of the pilots flashing a victory sign. The photograph became symbolic of the morale and resilience of Indian Army personnel even in the face of adversity.

The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerabilities of the ageing Cheetah fleet. These helicopters, introduced in the 1970s, have long been considered reliable for high‑altitude operations, including their role in Operation Meghdoot in 1984 during the Siachen Glacier conflict.

However, over the years, multiple accidents have raised concerns about their continued use. Many pilots have lost their lives in crashes involving Cheetah and its sister platform, the Chetak, underscoring the risks of operating decades‑old designs in extreme conditions.

The Indian Army has already initiated steps to modernise its fleet. The Cheetahs are being gradually phased out and replaced by the indigenous Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

The LUH is designed for demanding high‑altitude missions, with a top speed of 220 kmph, a service ceiling of 6.5 km, and an operational range of 350 km. Six limited‑series‑production LUHs have already been ordered, with deliveries expected later in 2026. This transition is seen as critical to ensuring safer and more reliable operations in regions like Ladakh and Siachen.

A formal Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the crash. While technical malfunction or environmental factors are suspected, no official details have yet been released. The investigation will be crucial in determining whether systemic issues within the fleet contributed to the incident.

The survival of the three officers has been widely celebrated, but the crash has also intensified scrutiny of India’s reliance on ageing platforms. Defence analysts argue that while the Cheetah has served faithfully for decades, the time has come for a complete transition to modern helicopters capable of meeting the operational challenges of the Himalayas. The incident serves as both a reminder of the risks faced by aviators and a call to accelerate modernisation efforts.

NDTV

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South Korea Rolls Out Indigenous KUS-FS MALE UAV With 24-Hour Endurance And 45,000-Foot Ceiling

South Korea has officially begun production of its KUS-FS Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV, a domestically developed platform with 24-hour endurance and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet. Equipped with SAR, EO/IR, and SATCOM systems, it marks a major step in Seoul’s drive for indigenous unmanned aerial capability, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.

The rollout of the first production-standard KUS-FS took place at Busan in April 2026, led by Korean Air in partnership with the Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), LIG Nex1, and Hanwha Systems. This milestone follows years of development that began in 2006, with the first prototype flight in 2012 and mass production formally starting in January 2024.

The program has achieved a localisation rate of around 90 per cent, underscoring South Korea’s industrial policy to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing.

The KUS-FS is a large platform in its category, weighing approximately 5.7 tonnes, with a length of 13 metres, a wingspan of 25 metres, and powered by a 1,200-horsepower turboprop engine developed by Hanwha Aerospace.

It can sustain missions of more than 24 hours, operating at altitudes between 33,000 and 45,000 feet. Its top speed is around 360 kilometres per hour, and it has an operational radius of 500 kilometres, making it suitable for persistent surveillance and reconnaissance missions along the Korean Peninsula.

The UAV is fitted with a comprehensive sensor suite, including synthetic aperture radar (SAR), electro-optical (EO), and infrared (IR) systems, enabling it to identify ground targets up to 130 kilometres away.

These systems allow real-time intelligence distribution across units, enhancing situational awareness in joint operations. The integration of SATCOM ensures secure, long-range communications, while its avionics and mission systems are supplied by South Korean defence firms, reinforcing the indigenous character of the programme.

The KUS-FS also features four underwing hardpoints capable of carrying munitions, including domestically produced Cheongeom air-to-ground anti-tank missiles. This gives the platform a strike capability in addition to its primary intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) role.

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) plans to induct two to three complete systems, totalling about ten air vehicles, with service entry scheduled for 2027 and deliveries continuing through 2028.

The program carries strategic significance. South Korea currently operates the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper under a Foreign Military Sales contract valued at approximately $800 million. While the KUS-FS does not match the Reaper’s payload or endurance, it represents a decisive shift towards self-reliance in unmanned systems.

Once operational maturity is achieved, Seoul is expected to reduce future MQ-9 orders, relying instead on its indigenous platform for surveillance of the heavily fortified border with North Korea.

The KUS-FS is part of a broader strategy to build an ecosystem of unmanned systems and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operations. Its development reflects lessons from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, where UAVs have proven decisive in shaping battlefield outcomes. For South Korea, the KUS-FS is not merely a supplementary asset but a core element of its future air power.

Agencies

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