• Defence Helicopter

  IAF inducts first batch of Chinooks

  29th March 2019

  The Indian Air Force (IAF) has formally inducted its first CH-47F(I)-Chinook heavy lift helicopters into its inventory at Air Force Station Chandigarh, the Indian Ministry …

• Land Warfare

  Milipol Asia 2019: SIG Sauer sees boom in business

  4th April 2019

  SIG Sauer has enjoyed recent sales successes in Asia. One of its biggest contracts was for 72,400 SIG 716 7.62mm rifles for the Indian military, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Survey of India orders Trinity+ UAVs

  19th March 2019

  Ansari Precision Instruments (API)-Roter Group, in partnership with Germany’s Quantum Systems, has received a $3 million order from Survey of India to provide Trinity+ survey …

• Land Warfare

  Asia predicted to be largest AFV market in 2019-29 period

  21st March 2019

  In its ‘Complete Market Report and Forecast on Armoured Vehicles 2019-29’ that was published earlier this month, Shephard Plus predicts that countries in the Asia-Pacific …

• Military Logistics

  L&T hits Brahmos TLC stride

  21st March 2019

  Larsen & Toubro Defence (L&T;) has delivered the 100th set of Brahmos transport-storage launch canisters (TLC) to BrahMos Aerospace from its recently-updated manufacturing facility at …

• Defence Notes

  Saab calculates Gripen's manufacturing mathematics

  27th March 2019

  If you are a new user and would like to read this article in full we are currently offering a free 24 hour trial of …

• Digital Battlespace

  LIMA 2019: Malaysia installing local CMS on frigate

  29th March 2019

  The upgrade of the combat management system (CMS) on KD Jebat, one of two Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Lekiu-class frigates, is proceeding, and the project …

• Land Warfare

  Bulletproof jackets create uproar in India

  19th March 2019

  Having won a $166 million bid for the Indian Army’s 186,138 bulletproof jackets, SMPP’s executive director Ashish Kansal told the Economic Times that the Western-sourced …

• Defence Notes

  Asia-Pacific dominates global defence spending

  14th March 2019

  Asia-Pacific nations figure prominently on the recently released list of top defence importers from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Indeed, the region is …

• Land Warfare

  India successfully test fires guided Pinaka

  14th March 2019

  India’s Defence Research and Defence Organisation (DRDO) has successfully test fired the guided Pinaka rocket at the Pokhran test ranges in Rajasthan, the Indian MoD …

• Naval Warfare

  Australia to launch Indian Ocean military exercises from Colombo

  15th March 2019

  Australia will launch a seven-nation Indian Ocean military exercise the week of 18 March 2019, starting in Sri Lanka where China has invested in strategic …

• Defence Notes

  Opinion: Controlling the information space

  11th March 2019

  In the last few weeks India and Pakistan have come close to the brink of outright war over ongoing issues in the Kashmir region. The …

• Naval Warfare

  India to lease second Akula sub from Russia

  8th March 2019

  The Indian government reached a more than $3 billion agreement with Russia on 7 March regarding the lease of a third nuclear-powered attack submarine. However, …

• Land Warfare

  Kalashnikov production to launch in India

  6th March 2019

  The Indian government is opening a new manufacturing facility for production of 200-series Kalashnikov assault rifles in Korwa, Uttar Pradesh, Rostec announced on 4 March. Indian …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  LIMA 2019: Grin, Reaper, for regional opportunities abound

  26th March 2019

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) is sensing many opportunities around the Asia-Pacific region for its MQ-9 UAV family, starting with a Malaysian requirement for …

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 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication 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 ...

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.

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...