• Defence Helicopter

  India to upgrade helicopters after fratricide incident

  8th October 2019

  The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) newly appointed Chief of Air Staff R.K.S Bhadauria opened the force’s 87th anniversary on a transparent note when he officially …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  P-8A trials new SAR kit

  10th October 2019

  The US Navy has added the UNIPAC III Search and Rescue (SAR) kit to a P-8A Poseidon RPAS for testing to enhance the aircraft’s ability …

• Naval Warfare

  INS Nilgiri stealth frigate launched

  2nd October 2019

  India has launched the new INS Nilgiri stealth frigate for its navy from the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders facility in Mumbai.  INS Nilgiri is the first …

• Defence Notes

  After long wait, India anticipates new fighters

  26th September 2019

  The Indian Air Force (IAF) will commission its first four Rafael fighters in Dassault’s Bordeaux-Mérignac facility on 8 October, an event to be attended by …

• Defence Notes

  MBDA, BDL to assemble missiles in India

  20th September 2019

  MBDA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the final assembly, integration and test of Mistral and ASRAAM …

• Land Warfare

  Asia second largest market for AAD systems in next decade

  25th September 2019

  In the next 10 years the Asia-Pacific region will be a highly dynamic market for artillery and air defence systems, according to Defence Insight’s soon …

• Naval Warfare

  Raytheon receives MK 54 LWT order

  24th September 2019

  Raytheon has received a contract from the US Navy for MK 54 Lightweight Torpedo (LWT) MOD 0 and MOD 1 common parts kits and spare …

• Land Warfare

  Philippines inaugurates rocket, missile and aviation units

  3rd October 2019

  The Philippine Army activated three new units at Fort Magsaysay on 3 October, symbolising the growing capabilities and aspirations of the service. They included rocket …

• Naval Warfare

  Bangladesh receives final Indonesian-designed patrol boats

  16th September 2019

  North Sea Boats, the trading name for the Indonesian shipbuilder PT Lundin, has completed delivery of the final examples of 18 fast patrol boats for …

• Land Warfare

  India to acquire more BrahMos missiles

  12th August 2019

  Local media outlets are reporting that India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, has approved plans to acquire two new BrahMos supersonic cruise missile coastal batteries for …

• Digital Battlespace

  Asian nations boost spy satellite capacities

  13th August 2019

  Asian countries continue to enhance their satellite constellations, with China, India and South Korea all making recent announcements in the space realm.  China, for instance, …

• Naval Warfare

  India to transfer a submarine to Myanmar

  1st August 2019

  Indian media outlets have reported that Delhi will supply a single Kilo-class submarine to the Myanmar Navy later this year to help the latter establish …

• Digital Battlespace

  Indian Air Force gets desperate for software-defined radios

  5th August 2019

  Amidst a pressing necessity for software-defined radios (SDR) to fill glaring gaps in its legacy systems for secure information sharing and situation awareness, the Indian Air …

• Military Logistics

  India requests C-17 support

  29th July 2019

  The Indian government has requested follow-on support for its C-17 fleet under the US government’s foreign military sales programme. In a package worth $670 million, …

• Defence Helicopter

  India receives its first Apaches

  29th July 2019

  The first batch of four Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters reached Indian shores ahead of schedule on 27 July. They were airlifted into Hindan …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale Follow-On [India]

  Programme background The Indian Air Force has requested the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter aircraft. The ask comes shortly after the plane was used successfully ...

• Main battle tanks

  T-90S Licensed Production

  The HVF is expected to be able to produce 120 T-90S each year, suggesting deliveries under this contract will be completed by 2023. Due to ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Ka-226T- Air Force [India]

  Programme Background India had operated a diverse and antiquated fleet of helicopters to support its high-altitude operations along contested borders with China and Pakistan. Reducing ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9B (Tri-Service) [India]

  Background Inception & The Indian Navy In 2016, reports suggested India was looking to acquire the MQ-9A Reaper. The two parties developed this requirement, and in June 2017, ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawk (India)

  Programme Background On 25 February 2020, a letter of acceptance for 24 MH-60Rs, worth approximately $2.12 billion, was signed by India and the US in Delhi. ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Ka-226T - Army [India]

  Programme Background India had operated a diverse and antiquated fleet of helicopters to support its high-altitude operations along contested borders with China and Pakistan. Reducing ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Eurodrone (Forecast) [India]

  Programme Background India's Application As announced by a joint statement around the 7th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) on 25 October 2024, Germany accepted India's application to join ...

• Transport

  C295 [India]

  Programme Background India's Defence Acquisition Council has approved the Indian Air Force bid for the supply and production of 56 C295 transport aircraft to replace ...

• Military UAS - mini

  SpyLite [Chile]

  Methodology Quantity required According to the Drone Center, India acquired 600 SpyLite aircraft in 2018-2019. Due to the economic differences between India and Chile, Defence Insight ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Indian-Made MALE UAV [India]

  Background Requirements As of late 2023, the Indian tri-service plan reportedly included the acquisition of 155 indigenously produced MALE UAVs alongside 31 MQ-9B drones from General Atomics (GA-ASI), ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Next Generation Destroyers [India]

  India has begun developing its Next Generation Destroyers programme, also known as Project 18. The project for the Indian Navy is expected to replace the ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Data links

  Data links | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  SPOT V3

  The SPOT V3 is a fixed-wing UAV developed by the Indian firm CDSpace Robotics. Designed for ISR tasks, the platform is VTOL capable and meets ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Vikramaditya Class

  INS Vikramaditya is India’s only functional aircraft carriers following the retirement of INS Viraat in 2016. India bought the ex-Russian carrier and upgraded it to ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Netra 5

  Launched at Aero India 2025, the Netra 5 is a rotary-wing UAV manufactured by ideaForge. It can host a 900g EO/IR camera and drop a ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Abhimanyu

  The Abhimanyu is a concept UAV from NewSpace Research and Technologies (NRT). Its development has been partly funded by the Indian MoD's Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Vijayastra

  Unveiled at Advantage Vidarbha 2026, the Vijayastra is a MALE fixed-wing UAV from Solar Group.  Featuring a twin-boom tail configuration, the UAV has a single engine and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Yeti

  Unveiled at Aero India 2025, the Yeti is a concept cargo-carrying UAV take-off from small areas at up to 6.5km altitudes. Its payload can be configured ...

• AEW&C, ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  EMB-145 (R-99)

  The Embraer EMB-145 is a modified version of the ERJ-145 regional jet. The aircraft, available in both AEW&C; and Maritime Patrol configurations is in service ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Super Dvora Mk 1/Mk 2

  The Israeli Navy has operated the Super Dvora-class fast attack craft since 1989. Vessels are also in service with Eritrea (four boats), India (three boats), ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Zolt

  The Zolt is a concept UAV showcased by ideaForge at Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru. The UAV, intended for ISR missions, has anti-jamming communications, AI-enabled ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  CMS (Vikrant-Class)

  The Combat Management System abroad INS Vikrant is developed by TATA Power's Strategic Engineering Division, the Indian MoD's Weapon and Electonic System Engineering Establishment and ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  HF SDR

  Bharat Electronics Limited's High-Frequency Software-Defined Radio (HF SDR) was unveiled at the Aero India 2023 exhibition. The transceiver operates in the HF band and features ...

• Sonobuoys

  AN/SSQ-53G DIFAR

  The AN/SSQ-53G DIFAR is made by Ultra Maritime in the USA, it is marketed at international users of the MH-60 and P-8A.

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Switch V2

  The Switch V2 was commercially launched at Aero India 2025; it is a fixed-wing, VTOL-capable ISR and mapping drone from ideaForge.  Compared to the original ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  Kopyo-21I

  The Kopyo-21I is a multi-mode radar manufactured by Phazotron NIIR in Russia. It is described by the manufacturer as a fourth-plus generation radar, designed to ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  9M311

  The 9M311 (NATO: SA-19) is a supersonic surface-to-air missile developed by Russia. It is a two-stage command-guided missile fitted with a 9kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead with ...