• Air Warfare

  India’s rotary-wing capability gap grows as IMRH programme delays persist

  16th September 2026

  With IMRH and DBMRH potentially years from service, India faces a widening rotary-wing capability gap that could drive further foreign purchases even as HAL and Safran build the foundations of an indigenous successor.

• Air Warfare

  India’s AMCA fifth-gen fighter roadmap firms up with private sector push

  11th June 2026

  As a major shortfall in Indian fighter jet capability looms, New Delhi is looking to spread risk and accelerate delivery of its fifth-generation combat aircraft.

• Naval Warfare

  Competitive P17B tender marks a shift in Indian Navy frigate procurement

  25th September 2026

  The Indian Navy's P17B programme is expected to combine greater weapons capacity with a competitive domestic construction model, although key systems could remain dependent on international supply chains.

• Air Warfare

  India confronts widening military helicopter gap as border demands intensify

  5th February 2026

  India’s major helicopter programmes are under the spotlight as the country turns to global partners to replace legacy helicopters with growing urgency.

• Air Warfare

  India finally powers up engine production as it prepares to talk platforms with Putin

  3rd December 2025

  Engine technology has been thrust into the spotlight ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India this week, with the Su-57, S-400 and Kamov-226 expected to be high on the agenda.

• Air Warfare

  India fast-tracks helicopter procurement with dual RFIs for 276 platforms

  29th August 2025

  India has issued urgent RFIs for more than 270 reconnaissance, surveillance and utility helicopters across its services, signalling a systemic overhaul of rotary-wing capabilities with a renewed emphasis on indigenous production and technology transfer.

• Air Warfare

  India readies private sector push as AMCA moves towards 2028 prototype

  17th July 2025

  India’s stealth fighter ambitions gain fresh momentum as HAL opens the door to private sector involvement in AMCA Mk1A structural assembly, with strategic support growing for next-gen propulsion and sensor technologies.

• Air Warfare

  Paris Air Show 2025: Aarok to be offered to India

  18th June 2025

  Turgis Gaillard and Bharat Forge have signed an MoU to offer the Aarok, produced in India, to the Indian Ministry of Defence. The UAV could satisfy the country’s desire for an indigenous MALE UAV, offering an alternative to the TAPAS BH-201 that has had a rocky development.

• Air Warfare

  Update: India’s Rafale-M deal postponed

  25th April 2025

  New Delhi had been gearing up to sign a Navy Rafale deal as talks swirled around a potential assembly line in Nagpur.

• Naval Warfare

  Indian Navy contracts Kongsberg to provide equipment for for its Fleet Support Ships

  3rd December 2024

  Kongsberg Maritime will give the Indian Navy’s future FSS fleet new replenishment options to boost the range of the navy’s vessels.

• Air Warfare

  India moves to address fighter jet shortfalls amid rising regional pressures

  4th April 2025

  Delays, dwindling squadrons and global competition spur belated momentum in airpower procurement.

• Air Warfare

  Swarm drones and CCAs take flight in India

  14th March 2025

  India reaches new milestones as it pushes it unmanned combat and surveillance strategy forward.

• Air Warfare

  Indian defence budget boosted by 9% as MoD heralds a “year of reforms”

  7th February 2025

  This new budget announcement, which has an increased focus on domestic procurement, comes as international countries arrive ahead of Aero India 2025.

• Naval Warfare

  GE engine selected for Indian Next Generation Missile Vessel

  18th October 2024

  The GE Aerospace LM2500, already at use in frigates within the Indian Navy, will power the new craft.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: How India’s Tri-Service MQ-9B $4 billion deal was awarded

  22nd October 2024

  After lengthy negotiations, the Indian Ministry of Defence has now signed a US$4 billion contract with the US Government to procure 31 MQ-9B drones from General Atomics, marking India as the largest customer of this UAV model.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Fleet Support Vessels (FSVs) (1-5) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The IN has so far operated without FSVs. The new vessels are intended to provide repair facilities plus deliver essentials like fuel, ammunition ...

• Maritime patrol

  Dornier 228 MPA - India

  Programme Background In October 2014, the Defence Acquisition Council of India approved RS.1850 core ($302 million) for the purchase of 12 Dornier 288 maritime surveillance ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Dhruv ALH Mk III (India)

  Programme Background In August 2017, India agreed to procure 41 Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) from HAL out of which 22 were the ALH MK-III model ...

• Fighter - multirole

  SU-30MKI [India]

  Programme Background The Indian Ministry of Defense signed a contract with the state-owned enterprise Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for twelve new SU-30MKI fighter jets. The SU-30MKI ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  Naval Utility Helicopters [India]

  Programme Background The programme would have involved the formation of a joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and another local or foreign manufacturer. In June ...

• Light attack

  Light Combat Aircraft [India]

  Programme Background The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Modi, cleared the purchase of 97 Tejas Mk1A combat aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) on 19 ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Tejas LCA (India)

  Programme Background The Indian Navy was supposed to procure 50 Tejas LCAs, also known as the LCA-N. However, in 2017 the navy decided to abandon ...

• Corvettes

  Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs) (1-6) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements India's Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR) 2018 contains a requirement for six Missile Boats/Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs). The vessels are ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole fighters [Botswana]

  Programme Background Botswana is seeking to acquire a new multirole fighter to fulfil a gap left by the nations outdated fleet of F-5 aircraft. According to ...

• 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), ...

• Fighter - multirole, Light attack

  Multirole fighters [Argentina]

  Background Argentina’s Mirage fighters were decommissioned in 2015, creating a gap for fighter aircraft.  The Argentinian Air Force (FAA) spokesperson Capt Hernán Bornices confirmed to ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Naval Collaborative Combat Air Vehicle (N-CCAV) [India]

  Programme Background CATS Warrior The Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) is a planned, uncrewed and crewed family of aircraft in development by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale (India)

  Programme Background Following the delivery to India, the Rafale fighters will be modified to receive India Specific Enhancements such as helmet-mounted display, radar capabilities, the ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Combat Helicopter (India - Air Force)

  Programme Background Requirement India's requirement for light attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes became apparent during the 1999 Kargil War. Originally planned to reach ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Guided munitions

  SmartGlider Light

  The SmartGlider Light is a precision-guided air-to-ground munition developed by MBDA, designed to enhance the strike capabilities of modern combat aircraft. MBDA anticipates that the ...

• Trainer

  HLFT-42

  At Aero India 2023, HAL unveiled a full-scale model of the tandem-seat single-engine Hindustan Lead-in Fighter Trainer-42 (HLFT-42) it is developing for the Indian Air ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Dhruv

  The Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) is a twin-engine, light helicopter designed to meet the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces. Having initially entered service ...

• Trainer

  HTT-40

  The Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) is a basic trainer aircraft developed by Hindustan Aeronautics to meet the training requirements of the Indian Air Force. The HTT-40 ...

• Trainer

  HJT-36 Sitara

  Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) designed and developed the subsonic HJT-36 Sitara single-engine aircraft to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Archer

  The Archer is a short-range UAV being developed for India by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).  Based on the Rustom I and inspired by Bayrakar's ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  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. ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  Tarang

  The Tarang is a family of Radar Warning Receivers (RWRs) developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation and manufactured by Bharat Electronics. It is ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  Mayavi

  Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and the Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) have bilaterally developed the Mayavi Integrated Self-Protection System (ISPS) which equips the Indian Air ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Tejas LCA Mk1/2

  The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1 (two-seat)/2 (single-seat) is a light fighter and trainer aircraft developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, under the supervision of ...

• Patrol boats

  Sukanya Class

  Six Sukanya-class patrol boats are in service with the Indian Navy and one with Sri Lanka. The first three were manufactured by Korea Tacoma in ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Chetak

  The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chetak was the last version of the Alouette III (which first flew in February 1959) to remain in production. More ...

• Helicopter engines

  TM 333

  The TM 333 is a turboshaft engine manufactured by Safran Helicopter Engines and designed for helicopters weighing 4-5t. Billed at the time as an all-new, ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  IMRH / DBMRH

  The 13-tonne Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) and its naval version, the Deck Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH), is being developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Armed ...

• Transport

  Il-276

  The Ilyushin Il-276 began life as the Multipurpose Transport Aircraft and a joint international project between United Aircraft Corporation and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, but the Indian company ...