TEJAS MK-2 And AMCA First Flight Dates Confirmed: Defence Secretary Unveils Timeline For India's Next-Gen Fighter Jets

India's TEJAS MK-2 medium-weight fighter prototype is now officially expected to fly no later than September 2027, while the stealthy fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is targeted for its first prototype flight in September 2028, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed at the NDTV Defence Summit in Delhi on September 27, NDTV reported.

He added that one squadron of TEJAS MK-1A aircraft from HAL is expected by year-end, and that TEJAS MK-2 prototype test flights are slated to take place between June and September next year, with a possible slippage of a few months around that window.

The TEJAS MK-2, also referred to as the Medium Weight Fighter, is being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore.

It is designed as a further upgrade of the current MK-1A version of TEJAS and is intended to replace the ageing Jaguar, Mirage-2000 and MiG-29 fleets in Indian Air Force service.

The aircraft will be powered by the General Electric F414-INS6 engine, producing 98 kN of thrust, and is designed for a maximum take-off weight of around 17.5 tons with a payload capacity of 6.5 tons.

Key design features include close-coupled canards for enhanced manoeuvrability, an indigenous Uttam active electronically scanned array radar, and an infrared search and track system.

The MK-2 will carry a wide range of indigenous weapon systems, including Astra air-to-air missiles, the Rudram anti-radiation missile, guided bombs and future missiles such as BrahMos-NG, across 11 hard-points.

Its planned mission set covers air superiority, deep strike and suppression of enemy air defences operations, giving the Indian Air Force a more capable medium-weight platform for high-intensity scenarios.

The AMCA is India's flagship stealth fighter program to build a fifth-generation combat aircraft, featuring a twin-engine design, internal weapons bay, radar-absorbing materials, sensor fusion and advanced electronic warfare systems.

In its MK-1 variant, AMCA will use General Electric F414 engines, while a more powerful indigenous engine is planned for the MK-2 version as part of a long-term growth path. The aircraft is expected to carry 1,500 kg of payload in its internal weapons bay while retaining low observability, with external hard-points available for missions where maintaining stealth is less critical.

AMCA is envisioned for air dominance missions, long-range precision strikes and network-centric warfare, forming the backbone of India's future high-end combat air capability.

The program received a major institutional boost in 2024 when the Cabinet Committee on Security cleared the Full Scale Engineering Development phase at a cost of roughly ₹15,000 crore for five flying prototypes.

In May 2025, the defence ministry approved a model under which ADA would execute the program jointly with a private industry partner, though the bidding deadline for the industry partner has been extended twice and now stands at end-September.

The winning company will have to build five prototypes and one structural test specimen, achieve a maiden flight within 30 months of signing the contract, and complete an 84-month, seven-year program involving 1,800 test sorties before series production can begin.

Even after the test bed is ready, the aircraft will undergo a seven-year testing phase, meaning earlier projections of prototype rollout in late 2026 or early 2027 and induction by 2034 now look increasingly dependent on when the production contract is finally signed.

Against this backdrop, South Korea's KF-21 Boramae program has already delivered its first production aircraft, with plans to formally declare the type operational in the second half of 2027, highlighting the competitive pressure on India's fighter-jet development timeline.

India is also looking further ahead, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stating at the same summit that the country is working towards sixth-generation fighter jets and building capabilities with the warfare of the next two decades in mind, despite anticipated challenges.

In a veiled message to Pakistan, Singh added that as long as "our neighbouring country persists with a state policy of terrorism, India remains fully free to carry out all forms of strikes against it", during a session attended by Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth and other senior officers.

Agencies

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India Pursues Sixth-Generation Fighter Jets As Rajnath Singh Unveils Future-Ready Defence Roadmap

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Sunday that India is actively working towards developing sixth-generation fighter jets, acknowledging that challenges lie ahead but affirming that the nation's resolve remains unwavering.

Speaking at the NDTV Defence Summit, attended by Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth and other senior armed forces officers, Singh emphasised that India is building capabilities with warfare scenarios of the next 10 to 25 years in mind.

The Defence Minister stated that the country aims not merely to import technology but to define it, marking a significant shift towards indigenous innovation in defence manufacturing.

Singh observed that the present era is one of fifth-generation warfare, where battlefields have expanded beyond land, water and air to include cyber space, outer space and even the human mind.

He noted that global supply chains have also emerged as new arenas of geopolitical conflict, while technologies such as drones, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and hypersonic systems are transforming the entire defence sector.

Modern warfare, according to Singh, is no longer confined to soldier-versus-soldier engagements but spans multiple domains including electronic warfare, information warfare, AI-driven autonomous systems, drones and precision-guided weapons.

Recognising that future security landscapes and battlefields will be technology-driven, the Defence Minister stressed that nations leading in technological innovation will hold decisive advantages on the battlefield.

India's defence strategy, he said, is being crafted to be future-ready, with focus extending well beyond present-day weaponry to encompass capabilities required for contact and non-contact, kinetic and non-kinetic warfare.

Singh envisioned a world where India advances alongside the entire global community, stating that India believes in peace and does not seek to occupy the territory of any country.

However, he cautioned that peace should not be mistaken for weakness, asserting that while India seeks global stability, it will not compromise its strategic autonomy. The Defence Minister made it clear that India remains firmly committed to safeguarding its security and strategic autonomy when threatened, and while dialogue is preferred, the scope for dialogue ceases when a country fuels terrorism against India.

Referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks at a recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting, Singh said countries using terrorism as an instrument of state policy and providing shelter to terrorists must receive a strong message that terrorism cannot serve as a strategic asset for anyone.

In a veiled message to Pakistan, the Defence Minister stated that as long as the neighbouring country persists with a state policy of terrorism, India remains fully free to carry out all forms of strikes against it.

Highlighting progress in defence manufacturing over the past decade, Singh revealed that large-scale efforts are underway across India to manufacture everything from aircraft engines to drone engines domestically.

He confirmed that India is working towards developing not just fifth-generation fighter jets but sixth-generation fighter jets as well, aware that challenges will emerge along this path but with unwavering resolve.

Singh expressed confidence that India is fully prepared to take a giant leap in defence manufacturing over the next decade, transitioning from being a technology user to a technology creator.

On hypersonic technology, the Defence Minister disclosed that India has successfully conducted a flight trial of a long-range hypersonic missile and tested a long-duration scramjet engine.

Recent reports indicate that the Defence Research and Development Organisation achieved a 1,200-second runtime test of its actively cooled scramjet full-scale combustor at the Scramjet Connect Pipe Test facility in Hyderabad during May 2026, building upon a 700-second test conducted in January 2026.

This breakthrough in scramjet technology forms a critical foundation for India's hypersonic missile programme, with the May 2026 test demonstrating sustained combustion at hypersonic speeds for approximately 20 minutes.

Based on these technological milestones, Singh underlined that India's armed forces are continuously strengthening their capabilities and preparedness across every dimension of warfare.

Highlighting India's march towards self-reliance in defence, the Defence Minister noted that defence exports have grown from ₹686 crore in 2013-14 to a record ₹38,424 crore in 2025-26, reaching more than 100 countries.

After achieving the ₹30,000 crore export target last year, India has now set an ambitious goal of ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029, signalling the country's emergence as a significant global defence supplier.

PTI

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Next-Generation Indigenous Software Defined Radios To Upgrade IAF Combat Fleet Capabilities By Year-End

The Indian Air Force expects the development of an indigenous next-generation communication system, the Software Defined Radio, conceived by the Defence Research and Development Organisation to finish by the end of this year, as reported by Business Line.

The system establishes a secured wireless communication network connecting fighter aircraft and ground stations, incorporating enhanced security protocols for operations.

The Indian Navy has already integrated the DRDO-developed SDR Tactical system to enable ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore, and ship-to-air voice, video, and data communication for network-centric operations while running four channels simultaneously.

The Indian Army is likewise integrating the indigenous SDR MANPAC system across its various arms and units. This equips them with high data transmission rates alongside Mobile Ad hoc Network capabilities, significantly boosting operational readiness.

Upon reaching the production stage, the SDR will provide the IAF with a native alternative to transition its communication infrastructure. Currently, the IAF relies on the Israeli B-Net system produced by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, which was acquired following a contract signed in 2017.

BK Das, Director General at DRDO's Bangalore-based Electronic Communication Systems cluster, confirmed that work on an SDR dedicated to the IAF continues, with expectations to prove specific waveforms by the end of this year. He noted that SDR variants for the Army and Navy have already been handed over.

Under SDR technology, waveforms are entirely defined, generated, and shaped using software and programmable logic, moving away from the fixed, dedicated hardware circuits utilized in legacy communication systems.

State-owned Bharat Electronics Limited serves as the primary manufacturing partner for the DRDO-designed Army and Navy SDR variants, supported by domestic supply chains from local industry and Start-Up enterprises.

Once the overarching SDR communication network architecture is established across the tri-services, secure voice, video, and data flows will become seamless, directly supporting the government's push toward Theaterisation of commands for modern warfare.

The Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory, a central DRDO hub for SDR system design, is developing the next version of the Indian Radio Software Architecture standard to ensure interoperability across military communications.

IRSA 1.0 was released in October 2025 to establish comprehensive software specifications, standardised APIs, execution environments, waveform portability, certification, and conformance mechanisms.

This transition from legacy single-purpose hardware-centric radios to flexible SDRs required extensive development, whereas major global militaries including the US, France, the UK, and Germany shifted away from older hardware architectures nearly two decades ago.

Agencies

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DRDO, CSIR-CGCRI Partner On ₹50-Crore Project For Lighter Bulletproof Glass For Armoured Vehicles

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has joined hands with the CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI) as the technology partner for a ₹50-crore project to develop indigenous, advanced lightweight bulletproof glass for armoured vehicles.

The four-year project is being implemented with DRDO laboratories, including the Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) in Maharashtra and the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh.

The project has reached an advanced stage and aims to take the technology from laboratory development to large-scale manufacturing. DRDO is expected to select an industry partner for the production phase.

The technology is intended to replace imported transparent armour while reducing its weight and thickness by up to 50 per cent. The project forms part of efforts to build domestic capability in advanced defence materials and reduce dependence on imported transparent armour technologies.

“The ₹50-crore project is aimed at developing advanced indigenous bulletproof glass technology for defence applications and aligns our research and development capabilities directly with national strategic requirements,” CSIR-CGCRI Director Bikramjit Basu told PTI.

The research focuses on advanced transparent glass-ceramics capable of providing multi-shot ballistic protection while being substantially lighter and thinner than conventional transparent armour used in armoured vehicles.

The primary objective is to develop material capable of withstanding direct AK-47 rifle fire from a distance of 100 metres at a specified velocity, in accordance with standard test methods for BIS Levels V and VI.

According to Atiar Rahaman Molla, Scientist-F in CSIR-CGCRI’s Specialty Glass Division and the project leader, the technology is expected to reduce weight and thickness by 30 to 50 per cent compared with conventional imported options.

Such a reduction could improve the mobility, fuel efficiency and payload capacity of armoured vehicles by lowering their overall weight and reducing the space occupied by transparent armour.

The material is based on a glass-ceramic in which nanometre-sized crystals are uniformly dispersed within a specially engineered glass matrix.

These crystals are produced through the controlled crystallisation of precursor glass. Their purpose is to provide high strength and toughness while retaining transparency. In initial ballistic trials conducted at DRDO-TBRL in Chandigarh, the material successfully stopped rounds fired from a Trichy Assault Rifle, or TAR, from a distance of 10 metres.

The TAR is comparable to the AK-47, and the rounds were reportedly fired at a velocity of approximately 695 metres per second.

The next stage will involve multi-shot testing, in which several rounds will be fired in quick succession. This will assess the material’s performance under more demanding ballistic conditions.

Transparent armour is a critical component of armoured vehicles, but its weight can increase the overall mass of a platform and constrain mobility, fuel economy and payload capacity.

The technology could also be used in other weight-sensitive defence platforms, including aircraft and naval systems. Potential applications may extend to security vehicles and critical infrastructure.

CSIR-CGCRI has been working on high-strength transparent glass-ceramics for armour applications. Its Specialty Glass Division has been developing transparent nanocrystalline glass-ceramics for armoured vehicles and other uses.

The project is also expected to support the transition from laboratory-scale development to commercial production through industry participation. Indian companies have expressed interest in exploring commercial applications for the glass-ceramic technology.

The initiative is therefore aimed not only at developing a lighter and thinner form of transparent armour, but also at establishing an indigenous manufacturing ecosystem for advanced ballistic protection.

PTI

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India Needs A Complete Roadmap For Future Propulsion

Any serious discussion on India’s defence and aerospace ambitions is incomplete without a complete roadmap for future propulsion.

The roadmap must cover low-bypass turbofans, high-bypass turbofans, turbo-shafts and turboprops. India’s progress in turboshaft development is becoming clearer through the Aravalli program, while piston-engine technology appears to be comparatively mature.

However, the country still requires a coordinated national effort to develop, test and certify the full range of aero-engines needed for combat aircraft, transport aircraft, helicopters, unmanned systems, cruise missiles and future space vehicles.

Low-bypass turbofans remain essential for fighter aircraft and other high-speed military platforms. India needs sustained work on core technologies such as high-pressure compressors, turbines, combustors, afterburners, single-crystal blades, thermal-barrier coatings, digital engine controls and high-temperature materials.

High-bypass turbofans are equally important for strategic autonomy. They are required for military transport aircraft, airborne early-warning platforms, maritime patrol aircraft and future civil-military aviation programs.

The development challenge is different from that of a fighter engine. High-bypass engines demand expertise in large fan systems, efficient compressors, lightweight structures, noise reduction, fuel efficiency, reliability and long-duration operation.

Turbo-shafts are critical for helicopters and other rotary-wing platforms. The Aravalli effort could provide an important foundation, but India will need a family of turbo-shafts covering different power classes rather than a single engine for one platform.

Turboprop development should also be treated as part of the larger ecosystem. Although piston engines may be relatively mature for some applications, turboprops are required for larger unmanned aircraft, regional aircraft, maritime surveillance platforms and special-mission aircraft.

The most important gap is not merely the absence of an engine design. It is the absence of a sufficiently broad, continuously available and nationally coordinated test-and-validation ecosystem.

India needs advanced facilities for compressor and turbine testing, combustor research, altitude simulation, icing, bird strike, foreign-object damage, vibration, endurance, acoustic analysis, emissions and full-engine certification.

It also needs high-pressure and high-temperature test rigs, materials laboratories, additive-manufacturing facilities, instrumentation expertise and secure data-acquisition systems.

These facilities must be available to the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Hindustan Aeronautics, public-sector laboratories, private companies, start-ups, universities and original equipment manufacturers through transparent access arrangements.

IIT-Kanpur already demonstrates how such an ecosystem could begin to take shape. Its aerospace facilities include a propulsion laboratory, a two-shaft gas turbine, combustion test equipment, high-speed jet facilities, wind tunnels, flight-test infrastructure and hypersonic research facilities.

The institute’s facilities can support measurements of power, torque, pressure and temperature, along with cycle analysis, combustion studies, fuel-atomiser testing, flame-stability research and exhaust-gas analysis.

Its high-speed facilities include supersonic blow-down wind tunnels, jet-test equipment and an indigenously developed jet acoustic chamber. IIT-Kanpur also hosts the National Wind Tunnel Facility and advanced hypersonic test infrastructure.

The institute’s Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory has developed facilities capable of reproducing flight conditions at several kilometres per second. These capabilities are relevant to spacecraft atmospheric re-entry, scramjets, ballistic missiles and reusable launch vehicles.

This makes IIT-Kanpur a strong candidate for becoming the nucleus of a much larger national propulsion research and testing network.

The question, therefore, is simple: can India create its own ONERA at IIT-Kanpur?

ONERA, (Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales. translated into English, it means the National Office for Aerospace Studies and Research) the French Aerospace Lab, combines fundamental research, applied engineering, advanced testing and industrial support. Its value lies not only in its laboratories, but also in its role as a trusted national bridge between government, academia, armed forces and industry.

India could establish a comparable institution by expanding IIT-Kanpur’s existing capabilities and linking them with national laboratories, engine manufacturers, universities, airworthiness authorities and the armed forces.

The proposed institution should not replace the existing organisations. Instead, it should connect them through common standards, shared test facilities, long-term research programs and a unified national propulsion database.

A phased roadmap could begin with components and sub-systems, followed by core demonstrators, complete engines, ground qualification, airborne testing and certification.

The first phase should focus on compressors, turbines, combustors, bearings, seals, engine controls, high-temperature alloys, ceramic-matrix composites and manufacturing processes.

The second phase should create demonstrators for low-bypass turbofans, high-bypass turbofans, turbo-shafts and turboprops. Each demonstrator should have a clear military or civil application and a defined transition path to production.

The third phase should establish national test assets for altitude simulation, endurance testing, high-altitude relight, extreme-weather operation, acoustic performance and certification.

The program should also include electric, hybrid-electric, hydrogen-compatible and alternative-fuel propulsion. These technologies may not immediately replace conventional engines, but early research will prevent India from falling behind in the next generation of aerospace systems.

A national propulsion mission must be insulated from short-term project cycles. Aero-engine development requires decades of investment, repeated failures, design iteration and a stable supply chain.

Private industry should receive access to test infrastructure without being forced to duplicate every expensive facility. At the same time, intellectual-property protection and export-control rules must be built into the system from the beginning.

The aim should not be to create another isolated laboratory. It should be to establish a national propulsion institution that converts research into certified, manufacturable and supportable engines. India’s defence modernisation, aviation industry and space ambitions will remain dependent on foreign propulsion unless this capability is pursued as a long-term national mission.

A complete propulsion roadmap, supported by detailed test facilities and centred on an institution modelled partly on ONERA, could provide the missing link between Indian aerospace research and operational self-reliance.

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Embraer Names Mahindra As Partner For IAF's 60-Aircraft Transport Tender

Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer has confirmed Mahindra Group as its Indian industrial partner for the Indian Air Force’s proposed acquisition of 60 Multi-Role Transport Aircraft, ANI reported.

The Embraer-Mahindra team will offer the KC-390 Millennium, a twin-engined tactical and strategic airlifter that Embraer is positioning as a replacement for the IAF’s ageing Antonov An-32 fleet.

The clarification from Embraer Defence & Security President and Chief Executive Bosco da Costa Junior underscores that Mahindra is the company’s chosen partner for the military transport aircraft campaign in India.

Embraer has stated that its military partnership structure for the program remains centred on Mahindra.

The arrangement is the product of a relationship that has developed over more than two years, rather than a newly created tie-up for the current procurement stage. Embraer Defence & Security and Mahindra first signed a Memorandum of Understanding in February 2024 to jointly pursue the IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft, or MTA, requirement with the C-390 Millennium.

That MoU was signed at the Embassy of Brazil in New Delhi and set out the partners’ intent to work jointly towards the possible acquisition of the aircraft by the IAF.

The initial agreement envisaged engagement with the IAF on the evolving procurement process, alongside outreach to India’s aerospace sector to develop an industrialisation plan for the aircraft.

Mahindra Defence Systems, a wholly owned Mahindra subsidiary with activities in armoured transport, defence electronics and related products, was the Mahindra entity involved in the original agreement. The partnership advanced in October 2025, when Embraer and Mahindra signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement to support the C-390 Millennium offer for the IAF’s MTA program.

That agreement broadened the proposed scope of cooperation beyond joint marketing. It included examining local manufacturing, final assembly, supply-chain development and maintenance, repair and overhaul, or MRO, activity in India.

The companies said their longer-term ambition was to establish India as a manufacturing and support hub for the C-390 Millennium, capable of serving domestic requirements as well as regional customers.

For Embraer, an Indian industrial base would support its efforts to expand the global supply and sustainment network required as the C-390 customer base grows.

For Mahindra, the campaign could provide a route into a major fixed-wing military aviation program involving production, lifecycle support and deeper integration with international aerospace supply chains.

The immediate opportunity is the IAF’s requirement for 60 medium transport aircraft. The program also contains an option for a further 50 per cent increase in quantity, potentially taking the overall requirement to 90 aircraft if the option is exercised. The procurement is intended to initiate replacement of the IAF’s ageing medium-lift transport fleet, especially the An-32, while improving fleet availability and operational resilience.

Embraer has said it is fully engaged in meeting the program’s stipulated timetable. Da Costa Junior said the IAF requires the capability quickly to raise the availability of its transport fleet. He described the C-390 as a suitable fit for the requirement and said Embraer is presenting it not only as an An-32 replacement, but as a possible common platform for standardising the IAF’s medium transport fleet.

The KC-390 is the air-to-air refuelling-capable variant of Embraer’s C-390 Millennium transport aircraft. The platform combines the roles of tactical airlifter, logistics aircraft, troop carrier and aerial refuelling tanker.

It is designed to undertake cargo and personnel transport, airdrop operations, casualty evacuation, search-and-rescue tasks, firefighting and humanitarian assistance missions. The aircraft can also be configured to receive fuel in flight, in addition to functioning as a tanker through underwing refuelling pods.

This tanker-receiver capability could offer operational flexibility for an air force seeking a multi-mission platform rather than a transport aircraft restricted solely to logistics duties.

Embraer states that the C-390 can carry payloads of up to 26 tons.

The company says the aircraft can fly at up to 470 knots, or about 870 km/h, and has been designed to combine strategic reach with tactical access. It is also certified for operations from temporary and unpaved surfaces, including compacted earth, soil and gravel. That characteristic is relevant to Indian military transport operations, which can require the movement of personnel, equipment and relief supplies into austere or damaged airfields.

Embraer has additionally cited an aircraft trial involving operations from unpaved desert runways with the United Arab Emirates Air Force. The company’s performance claims should nevertheless be viewed as part of a competitive procurement campaign, with final assessments dependent on the IAF’s operational, technical, commercial, industrial and lifecycle evaluation.

Embraer has highlighted availability and mission-completion performance as central elements of its offer. Da Costa Junior said the C-390 fleet was achieving 93 per cent availability and a 99 per cent mission-accomplishment rate.

The C-390 entered service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019. Portugal began operating the aircraft in 2023, while the fleet subsequently expanded through selections and orders by several European and other international customers.

Embraer and Mahindra have said the platform has been selected by the air forces of Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, South Korea, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia and Lithuania. The expanding overseas operator base is important to Embraer’s argument that India could become part of a wider support ecosystem rather than support a fleet in isolation.

In February 2026, Embraer and Mahindra announced plans to work towards establishing MRO capability in India if the C-390 is selected for the IAF program. The proposed facility would be intended to provide in-country maintenance and sustainment throughout the aircraft’s service life. The companies said the planned MRO scope could include base and heavy maintenance, structural inspections and testing, component repair and overhaul, avionics support, and training.

The Mahindra partnership is therefore central to Embraer’s India strategy for the medium transport competition. Mahindra provides the local industrial vehicle through which Embraer intends to pursue production, supply-chain localisation and fleet-support commitments. Embraer provides the aircraft design, global program experience and sustainment knowledge associated with the C-390 Millennium.

Together, the companies are seeking to frame their proposal as more than an aircraft sale.

Their stated offer combines the KC-390 airlifter with a prospective Indian industrial base, local lifecycle support and the potential integration of Indian companies into Embraer’s global supply network. The success of that proposition will depend on the IAF’s assessment of aircraft capability, delivery schedule, operating economics, maintainability, local industrial value and the credibility of the proposed support ecosystem.

ANI

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Embraer Taps Adani To Build India’s Civilian Aircraft Ecosystem

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has reaffirmed that Adani Group is its partner for civilian aviation in India, with the companies pursuing a separate commercial-aircraft and regional-connectivity programme from Embraer’s military transport activities.

The clarification was made by Bosco Da Costa Junior, President and Chief Executive of Embraer Defence & Security, who said Embraer’s civil aviation partnership with Adani is intended to address India’s rising requirement for regional air connectivity.

Da Costa said Adani would remain Embraer’s partner on the civilian side, distinguishing the arrangement from its defence-sector industrial partnerships in India.

“Adani is our partner for the civilian side. This is not going to change,” he said, underlining that the group’s role concerns Embraer’s commercial aviation ambitions rather than any military transport-aircraft program.

The arrangement builds on a memorandum of understanding signed by Adani Defence & Aerospace and Embraer on 27 January 2026 to develop an integrated regional transport-aircraft ecosystem in India. The MoU covers potential cooperation in aircraft manufacturing, local supply-chain development, aftermarket services and pilot training.

It also envisages an aircraft assembly line in India, followed by a phased increase in indigenous content.

Neither Embraer nor Adani has publicly disclosed the proposed investment, production rate, factory location, aircraft model or a firm manufacturing timetable. The agreement should therefore be viewed as an industrial framework and a feasibility-driven partnership, rather than a confirmed aircraft-production contract or a declared airline order.

The two companies have said they will evaluate the most viable, advanced and efficient solutions to support India’s regional transport-aircraft ambitions. For Embraer, the partnership offers a route to deepen its presence in one of the world’s most rapidly expanding aviation markets.

For Adani, it represents a significant move into civil aircraft manufacturing, adding to the conglomerate’s existing interests in airports, aviation infrastructure, maintenance, repair and overhaul services, aerospace manufacturing and pilot training.

The proposed partnership could give Adani an end-to-end role across parts of the aviation value chain: airport infrastructure, aircraft assembly, component and supplier development, maintenance support, simulator and pilot-training services, and potentially aftermarket sustainment.

Adani’s aviation footprint is particularly relevant because regional aircraft operations depend on more than the availability of aircraft. They require airport access, maintenance capacity, trained crews, spare parts, dependable technical support and viable route economics on lower-density sectors.

The partnership is intended to support demand for better connections to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where smaller regional aircraft can be more appropriate than larger single-aisle jets.

This places the proposed venture in line with the policy objectives of the government’s UDAN regional-connectivity scheme, which seeks to broaden access to air travel and improve links to under-served destinations.

Adani and Embraer have also linked the venture to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat programme, with the stated intention of progressively increasing indigenisation after the establishment of an assembly capability. The industrial logic is to move beyond importing finished aircraft and towards developing local capabilities in assembly, engineering, supplier production, maintenance and long-term support.

A final assembly line can create a more substantial domestic aerospace base than a limited parts-supply arrangement.

However, the eventual depth of localisation will depend on the programme’s scale, the aircraft selected, supplier qualification, certification requirements, commercial demand and the willingness of airlines to place firm orders. The companies have not announced whether the proposed assembly line would build a particular member of Embraer’s E-Jet family.

Embraer’s commercial portfolio is centred on regional jets, including aircraft in the approximate 70- to 150-seat market. The company’s newer E2-family aircraft are designed for the regional-jet segment and compete in parts of the market with Airbus’s A220 family, while sitting below the larger single-aisle market dominated by Airbus A320neo-family and Boeing 737-family aircraft.

Reuters reported that Embraer specialises in regional jets carrying roughly 70 to 140 passengers, while its E2 family competes with the Airbus A220 in the sub-150-seat category.

This market segment is important for India because many routes may not initially justify the capacity of a 180-seat or 220-seat narrow-body aircraft. A smaller regional jet can permit airlines to open or sustain routes with lower passenger volumes, while offering higher speed and passenger comfort than a turboprop on longer sectors.

That does not automatically mean an Embraer aircraft will suit every regional route.

Turboprops remain attractive on shorter sectors and at airports with more restrictive runway or operating conditions, while regional jets can be more compelling on routes requiring speed, range or a higher-density cabin. The eventual commercial case for local Embraer production will therefore depend on airline fleet strategies, operating costs, financing, airport infrastructure, fuel prices and route demand.

India’s airline market has historically been dominated by narrow-body aircraft, especially Airbus A320-family and Boeing 737-family jets. A locally supported regional-jet ecosystem could nevertheless create an alternative option for airlines seeking to serve thinner city pairs, build feeder networks and expand from major hubs into smaller cities.

It could also support an aircraft-leasing, maintenance and training ecosystem tailored to regional aviation. Embraer already has an established operating base in India, which provides a starting point for an expanded industrial relationship.

According to the joint Adani-Embraer statement, nearly 50 Embraer aircraft across 11 types operate in India in commercial, business and defence roles. In civil airline service, Star Air operates Embraer E175 and ERJ145 aircraft on regional routes.

If it advances from an MoU into a funded industrial programme with airline orders and certified local production, it could give India a more meaningful role in commercial aircraft assembly and regional-aircraft support.

For now, Embraer’s position is clear: Adani is its designated Indian partner for the commercial aviation and regional-connectivity opportunity, while the companies explore a long-term ecosystem encompassing manufacturing, supply chains, aftermarket support and pilot training.

ANI

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Defence Secretary Justifies Proposal For 114 Rafales Worth ₹3,25,000 Crore, Emphasises Progress On TEJAS Aircraft

India's ongoing interest in acquiring French-designed Rafale fighter jets will not impede the advancement of the indigenous TEJAS MK-1A and TEJAS MK-2 platforms, Shiv Aroor & Vishnu Som of NDTV reported.

Speaking at the NDTV Defence Conclave 2026, Defence Secretary RK Singh clarified that acquiring additional Rafale platforms is a necessity due to depleting Indian Air Force (IAF) squadron numbers caused by the retirement of older aircraft like the MiG-21.

The Defence Secretary highlighted that the Rafale is a proven platform that performed exceptionally well during Operation Sindoor, and India already possesses it within its military inventory.

India is currently in negotiations with France for 114 additional Rafale fighters under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft initiative, an acquisition estimated at approximately ₹3,25,000 crore to ₹3,72,839 crore ($34 billion to $39 billion).

The French aerospace manufacturer Dassault submitted a formal proposal on 6 August 2026, which is under review by the Defence Ministry. Under the terms of the proposal, 18 fighter jets will be delivered directly from France in fly-away condition, while the remaining 96 will be manufactured domestically in India with high levels of indigenisation.

RK Singh explained that establishing a second fighter aircraft production facility in the nation justifies proceeding with the acquisition alongside the indigenous programme. The government intends to adopt a spiral development model for the TEJAS MK-1A, gradually integrating sophisticated domestic systems into the platform over time.

This incremental development strategy for the TEJAS MK-1A involves adding advanced capabilities, such as the indigenous Uttam air-search radar, which official statements claim matches or surpasses foreign equivalents.

India is simultaneously developing the Uttam radar for the TEJAS fighter and the Virupaksha radar to upgrade the Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft fleet.

Negotiations for the additional 114 Rafales include efforts to integrate Indian-manufactured weapons such as the Astra missile into the platform.

However, reports indicate France has declined to provide source codes for the aircraft's radar, mission computer, and SPECTRA electronic-warfare suit, restricting direct weapon integration. French diplomatic sources noted that the current negotiations are distinct from past agreements and remain active.

In addition to the ongoing talks, India signed an intergovernmental agreement with France on 23 September 2016 for 36 IAF Rafale jets costing ₹59,000 crore ($7.87 billion, equivalent to ₹75,223 crore), with the first five arriving on 29 July 2020.

Furthermore, India signed a contract on 28 April 2025 valued at ₹63,000 crore for 26 Rafale-Marine jets (22 single-seat variants and 4 twin-seat trainers) to operate from INS Vikrant, making India the first foreign operator of the naval variant.

The proposed procurement of 114 Rafale jets aims to fill the operational capability gap faced by the IAF alongside indigenous fighter development and unmanned aerial systems.

The TEJAS development has encountered timeline delays from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, with TEJAS MK-1A deliveries originally scheduled for February 2024 and the TEJAS MK-2 prototype rollout delayed from August 2022.

Agencies

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Rafale Deal To Help Set Up Second Fighter Jet Production Line In India: Defence Secretary

Defence Secretary and DRDO chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Sunday that the planned Rafale procurement will help India establish a second production line of combat aircraft, even as the indigenous TEJAS MK-1A program will continue, Times of India reported.

He also said that Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is likely to deliver one squadron of TEJAS MK-1A by year-end.

Speaking at the NDTV Defence Summit, Singh said Rafale is a proven aircraft and bids from MMRA for 114 Rafale jets have come from the French side. He noted that India has good relations with France and they have agreed to the mandate that the jets be made in India with significant levels of indigenisation.

This would enable India to create a second production line for fighter aircraft in the country, which is why the procurement is going through.

He clarified that the procurement of additional Rafale aircraft will not come at the expense of India's indigenous fighter program. The indigenous TEJAS MK-1A program will continue under a spiral development model where it is increasingly perfected, fitting in indigenous radars that are better than global peers alongside indigenous weapons.

Giving an update on TEJAS MK-1A's development, Singh said HAL has 27 air frames ready, 11 engines from GE have come, and the other 16 air frames have been fitted with canopy engines and flown. GE has promised four engines per month during this year, so India will get 12 engines in the rest of the year.

He said India will be able to induct at least one squadron of TEJAS MK-1A at the end of the year, with only some residual issues left. Weapon integration is almost done, but with the radar there are still performance-related issues being tackled. HAL has promised 24 TEJASs every year thereafter, and India hopes to get 83 TEJASs and 97 jets as part of the second order by 2033.

On problems faced by the IAF when he came to the defence ministry, Singh said the Air Force had three major concerns: depleting size of the fighter fleet and multipliers like AEW&C aircraft and refuelers. All three gaps are on the way to being filled, though it will not happen overnight; once contracts are signed, delivery expectations are locked in.

On the AMCA project, Singh said the first prototype of AMCA will fly in September 2028, hopefully.

The push for a second fighter jet production line reflects a broader strategy to avoid dependence on a single production facility and strengthen domestic defence manufacturing. Defence officials have indicated that India should eventually have at least two, and possibly three, fighter aircraft production lines to prevent the country from being held hostage by only one line.

Recent reporting also highlights that the TEJAS MK-1A program has faced hurdles, including issues with GE F404-IN20 engines failing acceptance parameters and integration challenges with the Israeli AESA radar, contributing to delays. HAL officials have acknowledged that while progress is at 90–95%, the last 5% still needs to be fixed, particularly around radar integration.

India's defence exports have reached ₹38,000 crore and could hit ₹50,000 crore before 2030, underlining the momentum behind the "Make in India" push in defence manufacturing that the Rafale deal is expected to reinforce.

Agencies

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India Warns At UN: Right To Defend Against Terrorism Will Be Exercised: India’s National Statement At UNGA81

India has warned at the United Nations that it will continue to exercise its right to defend itself against terrorism, while asserting that friendship and goodwill cannot coexist with support for terror

 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also called for accountability for state-sponsored, cross-border terrorism, safer global shipping lanes and a two-state solution to achieve lasting peace in West Asia.

India delivered a strong message against terrorism at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar warning that New Delhi would not accept attempts to normalise terror or provide immunity to those responsible.

Although he did not name Pakistan directly, Jaishankar appeared to be responding to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address to the UN General Assembly a day earlier. Sharif had raised the Kashmir issue, criticised India’s decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and credited US President Donald Trump with timely intervention during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.

“Yesterday, a serial practitioner of terrorism misrepresented facts before this assembly,” Jaishankar said. He added that arguments had been used to normalise terrorism and claim immunity from its consequences.

“That will not stand. Our right to defend ourselves against terrorism will be exercised,” he said.

EAM Jaishankar underlined that friendship and goodwill could not coexist with terrorism. He said understandings based on support for terrorism would naturally be called into question, adding that it was for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend its ways.

He described state-sponsored terrorism with a cross-border purpose as a direct affront to the international order. Governments involved in such practices, he said, must be held accountable.

The minister called for no dilution in the global zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism. He also stressed the need to expose and counter the financial networks that support terrorist activities.

Sharif had warned in his UN address that any attempt by India to stop, impede or divert Pakistan’s share of the Indus waters would be treated as an “act of war”. He also described the Indus river system as essential to Pakistan and argued that India’s decision to hold the treaty in abeyance had no legal basis.

India has maintained that the treaty will remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ends its support for cross-border and other forms of terrorism. Sharif also revisited the 2025 military confrontation, portraying Pakistan’s response as self-defence and calling for a “just and fair” settlement of the Kashmir issue.

Jaishankar said the international system had become increasingly strained after eight decades of the United Nations. Instead of creating an enabling environment for peace, he said, the world was witnessing the “weaponisation of everything”.

He pointed to intense competition in finance, restricted market access, disrupted supply chains and the withholding of technology. These developments, he said, had created choke points and encouraged countries to pursue de-risking and diversification.

While such measures could protect national interests to varying degrees, Jaishankar said they had weakened the broader atmosphere of trust and goodwill.

The minister also raised concerns over attacks on commercial vessels and the risks facing international shipping lanes. He noted that Indian seafarers, along with seafarers from other countries, had lost their lives in such attacks.

“This is completely unacceptable,” Jaishankar said, stressing that the safety and security of commercial shipping and seafarers must never be compromised.

On the situation in West Asia, Jaishankar said lasting peace required a two-state solution involving Israel and Palestine. He expressed India’s continued support for humanitarian assistance and relief efforts for the Palestinian people amid the conflict in Gaza.

He said tensions and violence in the region continued to be a matter of concern. India, he added, remained committed to supporting humanitarian efforts, while maintaining that a durable peace could be achieved only through a two-state framework.

The recent BRICS summit in New Delhi had also called for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

MEA

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US Ambassador Sergio Gor Pays Respects At Golden Temple Amid Tight Security In Amritsar

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Monday to pay his respects, amid tight security arrangements around the revered Sikh shrine.

The visit was part of Gor’s ongoing tour of various parts of India. He recently travelled to Srinagar and Leh as part of his diplomatic outreach.

Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) acting president Emaan Singh Mann said he would raise issues concerning Punjab, Sikh rights and India-Pakistan relations with the US Ambassador during his visit.

Mann described Gor’s visit as significant for the Sikh community and said he would draw attention to the situation in Punjab and the security concerns facing the state’s border areas.

He said the border districts, particularly Amritsar, remained vulnerable to tensions between India and Pakistan. Referring to Operation Sindoor and the Indus Waters Treaty, Mann called for dialogue and the restoration of water cooperation between the two countries.

Mann said his party had submitted a seven-point set of demands. These included sustained US diplomatic engagement to prevent a renewal of hostilities between India and Pakistan, restoration of water cooperation, consideration of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Pipeline, and the opening of the India-Pakistan border for lawful trade, travel and pilgrimage.

He said reopening the border could strengthen Punjab’s economy and support trade with Central Asian countries. He also raised concerns over the cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons.

The SAD (Amritsar) leader said he would also raise issues related to Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee elections, religious freedom and the case of Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra.

Mann further raised what he described as the Sikh community’s right to self-determination. He said his party had urged the United States to support an inquiry into alleged violations of Sikh rights and sought recognition of what he described as an independent Sikh state.

Heavy security arrangements were made around the Golden Temple ahead of the Ambassador’s visit. Police personnel were deployed both inside and outside the shrine to maintain security and law and order.

RPS Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Amritsar, said the authorities had made comprehensive arrangements to protect the Ambassador and deal with any situation that might arise.

“We have made proper arrangements for his security and to tackle every situation. We are ready,” Sandhu told ANI.

Responding to reports of wall writings linked to the visit, Sandhu said security had been maintained from all sides and that no “mischievous elements” had carried out any activity.

He said around 150 personnel, including civil and uniformed officers, had been deployed around the shrine.

“We have civil and uniformed personnel; around 150 personnel are deployed. Inside as well, outside as well, in civil as well as in uniform. Our full force is ready,” Sandhu said.

Additional reports said Gor’s Amritsar itinerary was expected to include visits to the Partition Museum and Jallianwala Bagh. Police had also detained two people over alleged separatist graffiti ahead of the visit, although the authorities said security arrangements were in place and no untoward incident had occurred.

ANI

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'Rise Without Rupture': India Is A Civilizational Power, Not A Revisionist Force, Belongs To No Geopolitical Binary, Says Defence Minister

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated on Sunday that India is neither a status quoist power nor a revisionist one, describing the nation instead as a civilizational power.

Speaking at the NDTV Defence Summit in New Delhi, he articulated that the country's ultimate objective is to rise without rupture and to foster positive change without conflict.

Elaborating on India's standing in the emerging global order, he emphasised that the core aim of the nation's rise is not to dismantle the existing order or outpace other countries, but to pursue collective and inclusive growth. He envisioned a scenario where India advances while simultaneously propelling the entire world forward alongside it.

Addressing the evolving dynamics of modern warfare, the defence minister noted that current military conflicts extend well beyond conventional soldier-versus-soldier engagements. Today's warfare spans land, air, sea, space, cyber, electronic, and information domains, whilst heavily integrating artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, precision weaponry, and drones.

Highlighting the critical importance of technological superiority, he asserted that future security landscapes and battlefields will be intrinsically technology-driven, granting a decisive battlefield advantage to nations that lead in technological innovation.

Consequently, India's defence strategy focuses beyond present-day weaponry to remain thoroughly future-ready.

On the topic of hypersonic technology, he pointed out that India has successfully executed a flight trial of a long-range hypersonic missile alongside testing a long-duration scramjet engine.

To bolster these strategic goals, the government has allocated a record ₹7,85,000 crore for the Ministry of Defence in the current budget, reserving 75% of the capital acquisition budget—amounting to approximately ₹1,39,000 crore—specifically for domestic defence industries.

He further underscored that the Indian armed forces are continuously strengthening their capabilities and preparedness across all dimensions, whether in contact or non-contact, or kinetic or non-kinetic warfare.

To foster self-reliance, the defence ministry has championed various Start-Up initiatives and indigenised thousands of defence components, moving from chips to naval ships to attain strategic autonomy.

Major technological hubs, including Bangalore, continue to drive this domestic innovation and production, supporting the military's long-term strategy for 5th-generation warfare and future 6th-generation fighter jet development.

Across the country, thousands of tons of defence hardware are being produced domestically to ensure sustainable operational readiness.

PTI

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General Dhiraj Seth Unveils ‘SAMARTH’ Blueprint To Sharpen Indian Army’s Operational Edge

Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth has unveiled ‘SAMARTH’, a seven-point framework aimed at strengthening the Indian Army’s operational readiness for long-drawn, technology-intensive and rapidly changing conflicts.

Speaking at the NDTV Defence Summit, General Seth said modern technology may shorten individual battles, but it does not necessarily shorten wars. Armed forces must therefore possess the endurance to sustain prolonged operations.

He said an effective army must be able to adapt, modernise and upgrade its capabilities faster than threats evolve, while retaining mission readiness in an era he described as one of ‘transformative wars’.

The Army Chief said ‘SAMARTH’, which means ‘capable’ in Hindi, represents his vision for a force that can endure conflict, adapt quickly and retain an operational advantage over adversaries.

The first letter, ‘S’, stands for sustainability. This refers to the capacity to endure long-drawn conflicts through dependable logistics, ammunition availability, equipment support, industrial capacity and the ability to regenerate combat power.

‘A’ denotes adaptation, underlining the need for the Army to respond faster than the threat environment changes. General Seth stressed that military capability development must keep pace with accelerating technological and operational shifts.

‘M’ represents modernisation, with the objective of ensuring that the force remains mission-ready. The focus is on improving capabilities without allowing the Army’s operational preparedness to be undermined during the transition to newer systems.

The second ‘A’ stands for acceleration. It involves rapidly integrating capabilities that improve the effectiveness of legacy platforms, while infusing new technologies into existing formations and operational processes.

‘R’ signifies resilience, a requirement for maintaining operational effectiveness despite battlefield losses, disruption, information warfare, cyber threats and sustained pressure during extended campaigns.

‘T’ stands for technology, encompassing artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, robotics and drones. General Seth said technology must strengthen the soldier rather than become an end in itself.

“Technology must make our soldiers faster, better informed and more effective. It should allow him to make better judgement,” the Army Chief said.

The final letter, ‘H’, represents human-machine teaming. The concept places soldiers at the centre of capability development while enabling them to work effectively with intelligent, autonomous and networked systems.

General Seth’s framework reflects the view that future warfare will require the Army to combine human judgement with advanced technology, while preserving the ability to sustain combat over time.

He also emphasised that while technology can alter the character and tempo of combat, control of territory remains central to military success. The framework therefore links technological transformation with conventional operational endurance and battlefield effectiveness.

“‘SAMARTH’ means being a capable force, having endurance and an ability to adapt, and staying ahead of others in this era of transformative wars,” General Seth said.

PTI

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Trump Asked Xi If China Wanted To Buy US Arms, Says Ambassador Perdue

President Donald Trump has justified the pending US arms sale to Taiwan to Chinese President Xi Jinping by downplaying it as just one of many sales Washington makes around the world – even asking Xi if he would be in the market for US arms, Trump's ambassador to China said on Sunday.

David Perdue said Trump raised the prospect of arms sales from the US to its ascendant geopolitical rival, an unlikely offer that if consummated would upend generations of US policy toward China and Taiwan and potentially expose US technology to a potential foe.

Perdue, speaking to Shannon Bream on "Fox News Sunday" days after Trump hosted Xi for a state visit in Washington, did not specify when the offer was made.

Bream had cited concerns from Republican and Democratic lawmakers over delayed aid packages and weapons orders to Taiwan, the self-ruled democracy, to defend itself from China's threat to invade the island.

Bream asked if the US is denying Taiwan to appease the Chinese president, who visited Trump last week.

Perdue pushed back on the suggestion, stating that Trump "is as strong on Taiwan as I have ever seen anybody" and has sold it plenty of weapons.

Perdue also said Trump and Xi continue to talk about future US weapons sales to Taiwan.

"But President Trump continues to say, 'Hey, we sell arms to other people around the world,'" Perdue said.

"He actually asked President Xi, would he like to buy some, at one point."

The US is bound by its own laws to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.

While not recognising Taiwan as a country, the US is the island's strongest informal backer and arms provider. But multiple US leaders have left ambiguous whether they would commit military force to defend the US ally should China invade.

China has pressed Washington to halt the arms sales, most prominently during a previous summit in May between Trump and Xi in Beijing.

After that meeting, the United States paused the sale of a record-breaking $14 billion (about ₹1,16,000 crore) package – and Trump described arms sales to Taiwan as a "very good negotiating chip" with China.

In their private talks at the White House last week, Xi pressed Trump to oppose Taiwan independence, according to Chinese state media.

AP

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Pakistani Defence Minister Facing Social Media Backlash After Making Threatening Gesture Towards Female Afghan Journalist At UN Assembly

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif faces widespread condemnation on social media following a threat-like gesture made towards an Afghan woman journalist during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The reporter questioned him on Pakistan's stance regarding Taliban policies towards Afghan women and asked why Islamabad had failed to challenge those measures when the group was treated as an ally.

Rather than addressing her query, Khawaja Asif interrupted the reporter, pointed at her clothing, and stated, 'Don't go back like this over there. They will... otherwise they will..,' whilst making a throat-slit motion with his hand across his neck.

Online critics condemned both the gesture, which implied she could be killed upon returning to Afghanistan, and the accompanying laughter from the minister and his aides during a serious discussion on women's rights.

This controversial exchange occurred amidst escalating military tension, with Pakistan conducting aerial and drone strikes on ten locations across Afghanistan.

Federal Information Minister Atauallah Tarar described the operation as deliberate, precise, calibrated, and proportionate retaliation targeting military sites used to launch previous drone attacks against Pakistan.

The Afghan government firmly denounced the strikes as a flagrant violation and blatant aggression, with spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirming four Afghan fatalities and warning Pakistan of dire consequences. These hostilities represent the latest developments in ongoing cross-border clashes between the two neighbouring nations.

ANI

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