Defence & Armed Forces

On March 27, 2026, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave the green signal to major defence purchases worth Rs 2.38 lakh crore. The biggest item is the approval to buy five additional S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems from Russia for the Indian Air Force. The clearance also covers medium transport aircraft and remotely piloted strike aircraft. This comes after the S-400 systems proved their worth in Operation Sindoor and is part of India’s ongoing effort to strengthen air defence amid rising regional threats.

The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife has recommended approval for 12 key defence projects in Ladakh's protected wildlife sanctuaries, citing the need for high operational preparedness due to increasing assertiveness by China's People's Liberation Army along the Line of Actual Control, following lessons from the 2020 border conflicts.

US President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing after a 33-year pause, the first since 1992, citing alleged tests by rivals like Russia and China. This order, issued during a meeting with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, aims to restore parity but has prompted the Kremlin to vow reciprocal action, heightening fears of a renewed arms race. The move challenges the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) norm and could reshape international non-proliferation efforts, with direct bearings on India's no-first-use policy and regional security dynamics.

The Delhi High Court, in a significant October 17 order, asked the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to clarify if the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) can decide the constitutional validity of laws beyond its own enabling Act, amid a transwoman's ongoing challenge to her 2017 dismissal from the Indian Navy. This development, referred to a three-judge bench, highlights tensions between military discipline, transgender rights, and judicial oversight, especially as the case could set precedents for gender transition policies in the armed forces.

US President Donald Trump has hinted at sending long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine as a way to pressure Russia into ending the war, stating that if the conflict does not settle soon, the US might provide these offensive weapons capable of reaching deep into Russian territory, including Moscow, from Ukrainian positions. This comes amid ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and discussions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with Russia warning that such a move would escalate the conflict significantly.

Recent details from defence sources reveal how Mission Sudarshan Chakra, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on India's 79th Independence Day, will incorporate advanced components like directed energy weapons, satellites, and a vast radar network to create a multilayered air defence shield. This initiative aims to protect strategic and civilian sites from aerial threats, building on successful tests of indigenous systems and lessons from recent conflicts, highlighting India's push towards self-reliant defence technology amid evolving regional security challenges.

During the closing session of the Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC) 2025 in Kolkata on September 17, 2025, India's top military leaders announced the creation of the country's first three joint military stations and the merger of the Army, Navy, and Air Force education branches into a single Tri-Services Education Corps. These steps, directed by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, aim to boost jointness among the services amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for swift reforms to prepare the armed forces for future challenges, including the ongoing drive towards integrated theatre commands.

The Indian Army has kicked off urgent procurement of advanced radars to strengthen its air defence against low-flying drones and swarms, learning key lessons from Operation Sindoor in May 2025. During this short border clash with Pakistan, hundreds of enemy drones slipped through older detection systems, pushing the Army to issue Requests for Information for up to 45 enhanced low-level radars and 48 fire control systems. This move aims to plug gaps along northern and western borders, boosting overall readiness in a time of rising aerial threats from neighbors.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has given approval to the updated Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2025 on September 14, 2025, which replaces the old 2009 version. This step is important now because it helps make the process of buying everyday items like spares and ammunition faster and simpler for the army, navy, and air force. It focuses on making India self-reliant in defence needs, especially when the country is spending about ₹1 lakh crore this year on such purchases, and it supports the government's push for quick decisions and home-grown innovation in a time of modern wars and global supply issues.

The Indian Navy has taken delivery of 'Androth', the second of eight indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWCs) from Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata on September 13, 2025. This step is important right now because it helps boost the Navy's ability to detect and fight submarines in shallow coastal waters, especially with growing threats from China's naval activities in the Indian Ocean and Pakistan's new submarines. It also shows India's progress in making its own defence equipment, cutting down on imports and supporting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat goal.

On August 20, 2025, India conducted a successful test-firing of its nuclear-capable Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. The test was carried out by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and validated all key operational and technical parameters, reinforcing India's long-range strike capabilities.