• Special Operations

  India moves toward Special Operations Division

  14th November 2018

  The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has moved a step closer towards the establishment of a dedicated joint Special Operations Division (SOD), defense sources have …

• Land Warfare

  S-400’s export drive gains momentum

  8th November 2018

  Russia’s Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler) long-range SAM system is proving a big hit on the international market and currently dominates the country’s defence exports.  …

• Land Warfare

  India to upgrade M-46 howitzers

  1st November 2018

  As India looks to standardise its artillery pieces the MoD has signed a contract for the transformation of 300 M-46 towed howitzers. The state-owned Ordnance Factory …

• Naval Warfare

  India turns to Russia for new frigates

  31st October 2018

  India’s Ministry of Defence concluded a $950 million deal with the United Shipbuilding Corporation of Russia to buy two Project 11356M guided-missile frigates for the …

• Defence Notes

  Japan and India agree new defence and economic projects

  29th October 2018

  Japan and India agreed Monday to upgrade diplomatic and military ties, with Tokyo also offering low-interest loans as the two countries seek closer ties to …

• Naval Warfare

  Indo Defence 2018: HAL to upgrade Indian Coast Guard Dorniers

  31st October 2018

  India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has given the green light for a mid-life upgrade of 17 of the country’s Dornier 228 twin-turboprop utility aircraft, following …

• Defence Helicopter

  German parliament backs heavy-lift package

  9th November 2018

  The German parliament has formally approved its defence ministry's €5.6 billion ($6.36 billion) heavy-lift acquisition budget package - a decision that dispels earlier suggestions that the …

• Defence Notes

  British Army lifts restriction on Commonwealth recruits

  5th November 2018

  Citizens of Commonwealth countries will be able to join the British Armed Forces even if they do not live in Britain, the Government said on …

• Training

  Training ship launched for Indian Coast Guard

  31st October 2018

  Reliance Naval and Engineering has launched a new training vessel for the Indian Coast Guard, ICGS Varuna, at the Port of Pipavav in Gujarat, India. …

• Digital Battlespace

  India initiates search for thermal imagers

  26th October 2018

  The Indian Army is on the hunt for thousands of handheld thermal imagers for utilisation as day/night surveillance devices, with an RfI released to industry …

• Land Warfare

  Israel wins $777 mn Indian missile defence order

  24th October 2018

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) said Wednesday it had won a $777 million (680 million euro) order from India to buy defence systems for its navy. …

• Naval Warfare

  Indo Defence 2018: France eyes Indonesian submarine expansion

  1st November 2018

  Indonesia has its sights set on the acquisition of additional attack submarines beyond the three Nagapasa-class boats that are currently being delivered. One company looking …

• Military Logistics

  India hunts for thousands of general service trucks

  2nd November 2018

  The Indian MoD has begun a search for a bevy of different truck types to boost logistics within the three services of the Indian Armed …

• Naval Warfare

  Indian Navy's DSRV in new testing

  24th October 2018

  JFD has completed sea trials of the Deep Search and Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) being delivered to the Indian Navy. The DSRV carried out underwater mating …

• Land Warfare

  India tests indigenous shoulder-launched ATGM

  15th October 2018

  On 15-16 September, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in India successfully conducted the first live-fire tests of its shoulder-launched Man-Portable Antitank Guided Missile …

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 ...