Whats Happening
IAF Day 2026: From Hindan parade to Jodhpur skies, IAF displays combat power
IAF marks its 94th Air Force Day with a powerful display of combat aircraft, helicopters and precision aerobatics at
Turkiye rules out Yemen combat role, weighs Saudi air-defence support under Mecca pact
Turkiye is assessing air defence and technical assistance for Saudi Arabia under the Mecca pact while ruling out offensive
Russian strike on Kramatorsk buses kills 33 Moscow intensify attacks on Ukraine
A Russian aerial strike killed at least 33 people in Kramatorsk, prompting transport suspensions as Ukraine faces intensified attacks
India advises nationals in Saudi Arabia to stay indoors if needed after airport attacks
The Indian embassy has urged citizens to remain vigilant and follow Saudi authorities’ instructions as Houthi attacks disrupt flights, leaving three dead and 36 injured.
OPINION & COMMENTARY
Army
Indian Army orders 225 FPV drones after high-altitude trials at 17,500 feet
The procurement follows competitive testing in extreme Himalayan conditions, where thin air, freezing temperatures and mountainous terrain pose significant
From Mumbai gangster Manya Surve’s family to actor and Army man. Nana Patekar’s
Nana Patekar died at 75. From a family linked to Mumbai gangster Manya Surve, he went on to become
Nana Patekar dies at 75: From film set to Kargil frontline, how he
Veteran actor Nana Patekar died of cardiac arrest at 75 in Goa. From three years of Army training for Prahaar
Exercise Mountain Guardian 2026: India, UAE begin drills with drones, high-altitude warfare
The two armies have deployed 92 personnel in equal strength for a two-week exercise in Uttarakhand combining mountain warfare, surveillance,
Army veteran among two arrested in Assam over alleged defence leaks to Pakistan
Two arrests in Assam over alleged defence leaks to Pakistan follow a separate Navy honeytrap case during the same two-day
Soldier’s final journey ends in tragedy: Four killed in Purvanchal Expressway ambulance crash
Three relatives of Subedar Major Satyawan Singh and an ambulance driver died while bringing his body home to Deoria in
The Tankman Arrives: Gen Dhiraj Seth ends Armoured Corps’ 30-year wait for Indian Army’s top
General Dhiraj Seth takes charge as India’s 31st Army chief, becoming only the seventh Armoured Corps officer –
Navy
Operation Firewall 2026: 13 Navy personnel under scanner as Andhra Police crackdown on Pakistan-linked espionage
Andhra Pradesh Police have arrested two people and placed 13 Navy personnel under scrutiny in “Operation Firewall 2026”,
Miniratna DPSU HSL delivers INS Surya, launched by Rajnath Singh, as India expands Navy’s fleet
India’s first indigenous fleet support ship (FSS-1) will provide at-sea replenishment for longer naval deployments, while new infrastructure
Indian Navy among world’s most powerful navies, its reach growing as challenges becoming tougher, Rajnath
The Navy’s expanding reach across the Indo-Pacific is being matched by a broader indigenous capability base, but the defence minister
Indian Navy sailor arrested over alleged Pakistan honeytrap and naval data leak
An Indian Navy sailor was arrested in Coimbatore over an alleged Pakistan-linked honeytrap involving sensitive information about the Visakhapatnam naval
INS Sahyadri, Kulish conclude AIME-2026 after HADR, boarding and helicopter drills
INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish have completed coordinated maritime training with Asean forces at Subic Bay, including disaster response, vessel
INS Trishul reaches Spain after Varuna, continues Indian Navy’s Mediterranean deployment
INS Trishul has arrived at Valencia for engagements with the Spanish navy after completing Exercise Varuna with France, continuing a
Airforce
IAF Day 2026: From Hindan parade to Jodhpur skies, IAF displays combat power
IAF marks its 94th Air Force Day with a powerful display of combat aircraft, helicopters and precision aerobatics
Air Force Day: Five IAF moments that changed battles and saved lives
On its 94th anniversary, remembering five defining IAF achievements that helped turn battles, defend India and save thousands
Air Force Day 2026: President Murmu leads nation in commemorating IAF’s 94th anniversary
India’s top constitutional and political leadership saluted the Indian Air Force for its professionalism, courage and service, as Operation Sindoor
IAF needs faster modernization and more combat strength, says Air Chief Marshal AP Singh ahead
Ahead of Air Force Day, the air chief called for faster aircraft inductions and greater combat strength as the IAF
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit appointed next IAF chief, to take charge on October 31
The vice-chief of the Air staff will become the 29th chief of the Air staff in the rank of Air
India brings F-35s, Rafales, Sukhoi and Tejas together in rare air power display
India showcases its growing air power as F 35s, Rafales, Sukhois and Tejas fly together during Tarang Shakti 2026 over
Russia Launches Record 479 UAVs On Ukraine, Shows Growing Mettle Of Drone Warfare
Russia launched a record-breaking 479 drones in overnight attacks across multiple regions of Ukraine, including for the first
IAF, USAF Sharpen Joint Special Ops Skills in First-Ever Exercise Tiger Claw
Exercise Tiger Claw 2025 marked the first-ever independent Special Forces exercise conducted jointly by the Indian Air Force
International
India advises nationals in Saudi Arabia to stay indoors if needed after airport
The Indian embassy has urged citizens to remain vigilant and follow Saudi authorities’ instructions as Houthi attacks disrupt flights,
Maduro and wife face US ‘torture conspiracy’ charges as Venezuela abuses case widens
US prosecutors have added torture-conspiracy charges against Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, alleging abuses against political opponents and American
Houthis target Riyadh airport as Saudi Arabia’s Mecca Pact faces first major test
Houthis claim a ballistic missile strike on Riyadh airport as Saudi Arabia intercepts fresh attacks, putting the Mecca Pact under
Russian strike on Kramatorsk buses kills 33 Moscow intensify attacks on Ukraine
A Russian aerial strike killed at least 33 people in Kramatorsk, prompting transport suspensions as Ukraine faces intensified attacks before
South Korea tests first homegrown hypersonic weapon days after North Korean launch
South Korea has tested its first homegrown hypersonic weapon, advancing its conventional strike capabilities days after a North Korean missile
Iran-linked threat puts US bases in Germany under scrutiny, report claims
Iranian intelligence reportedly has US bases in Germany in its sights, raising concerns over covert attacks on facilities supporting the
The Tankman Arrives: Gen Dhiraj Seth ends Armoured Corps’ 30-year wait for Indian Army’s top
General Dhiraj Seth takes charge as India’s 31st Army chief, becoming only the seventh Armoured Corps officer –
Coast Guard
Coast Guard seizes 526kg drugs worth over ₹3,000 crore off Lakshadweep, five Pakistanis held
The Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS have seized about 526kg of heroin and methamphetamine worth more than
Two Chinese survivors reach Paradip after MV Ocean Winner sinking, search continues
Two Chinese survivors of sunken cargo vessel MV Ocean Winner were brought safely to Paradip, while the search
Rajnath Singh announces gender-neutral entry and faster ex gratia rules for Coast Guard
The defence minister, Rajnath Singh, has announced gender-neutral officer induction and faster ex gratia payouts for the Indian Coast Guard,
Coast Guard Commissions Indigenous Patrol Vessel ICGS Akshay
The Indian Coast Guard commissioned ICGS Akshay, an indigenous fast patrol vessel built by Goa Shipyard Limited, strengthening India's maritime
Indian Coast Guard inducts first indigenous hovercraft H-561 in major maritime Boost
The Indian Coast Guard has inducted H-561, its first indigenous hovercraft, boosting maritime operations and strengthening India's self-reliance in defence
Despite US Sanctions, India Signs Rs 2,182 Cr Missile Deal With Russia; Rs 2,901 Cr
Worth mentioning here is that the major defence procurement decision comes at a time when the United States is tightening
Paramilitary
Assam Rifles soldier from Odisha dies of gunshot wound on duty in Nagaland; organs donated
Rifleman V Teja of the 15 Assam Rifles, from Odisha’s Rayagada, died of a gunshot wound on duty
In J&K’s Kathua, CISF head constable shoots dead four colleagues including assistant commandant
Four CISF personnel died after a colleague allegedly opened fire at a Kathua hydroelectric project unit, with the
CRPF women in combat: Four decades, six battalions and a widening frontline
CRPF will honour serving and retired women personnel on September 25, marking four decades of expanding operational roles.
CISF head constable dies after rifle discharges while cleaning in Dantewada
The service rifle reportedly discharged while the CISF personnel was cleaning it at a camp in Bacheli, police are investigating
CRPF set to replace Army at 21 ‘hypersensitive’ posts in Jammu’s Kathua-Udhampur belt, CoBRA units
The CRPF is preparing to take over counterinsurgency duties from the Indian Army at 21 hypersensitive locations in Jammu’s Kathua
NSG launches first ‘Mahila Commando’ course for women police, CAPF personnel
Women serving in state police forces and CAPFs will undergo 12 weeks of training at Manesar in weapons, marksmanship, tactical
Defence r&d
DRDO’s high-altitude surveillance platform reaches 21 kilometres in test-flight
India’s experimental stratospheric platform reached 21 kilometres and maintained an altitude of 20 kilometres for more than 30
Kaveri engine clears Russian trials, opens path to India’s Ghatak stealth drone
Kaveri’s reported success in Russian trials advances India’s Ghatak propulsion effort, with aircraft integration and operational qualification still
₹50 crore DRDO-CSIR project develops lighter bulletproof glass for armoured vehicles
DRDO and CSIR-CGCRI are developing a new generation of lightweight transparent armour that could cut the weight and thickness of
DRDO develops indigenous software-defined radio for IAF fighter aircraft
DRDO is developing an indigenous Software Defined Radio for the IAF to enable secure communication between fighter aircraft and ground
DRDO inks ₹500 crore TDF’s first high value deal for indigenous quantum refrigerator
DRDO has signed its first high-value deep-tech agreement under the Technology Development Fund with Rajasthan-based start-up Zero mK India to
DRDO showcases Astra MkI, Akash-NG and surveillance systems at AAD 2026 in South Africa
India Pavilion in Tshwane features indigenous technologies across airborne surveillance, air defence, maritime reconnaissance and underwater detection
Defence Industry
GE reveals it shipped four more Tejas engines in September as HAL seeks to recover
GE Aerospace’s September shipment of four F404-IN20 engines improves supplies for Tejas-Mk1A as HAL works to accelerate aircraft
MOD signs ₹661.50 crore contract for Brahmos fire-control systems, launchers for Navy ships
The procurement covers the shipboard systems used to control and launch the Indian Navy’s primary surface-to-surface missile weapon,
After Akash air-defence systems exports to Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, India eyes more global orders
India’s indigenous air-defence system has secured customers in the Caucasus and Central Asia, while continuing military orders at home are
BrahMos exports set to cross $600 million as India expands Southeast Asian sales, defence secretary
BrahMos exports are expected to exceed $600 million as Philippine deliveries and sales arrangements with Vietnam and Indonesia widen India’s
Asean envoys visit Brahmos headquarters in Delhi as missile exports expand in Southeast Asia
Three Asean envoys have visited Brahmos Aerospace headquarters in New Delhi as India’s missile exports gain momentum across Southeast Asia.
India-Germany $8 billion submarine deal nears signing as Berlin’s envoy Jasper Wieck sets out vision
Germany’s $8 billion submarine deal with India nears signing as new envoy Jasper Wieck outlines a broader push on defence,
Cyber
Anthropic takes Claude’s ethics to a Vedantic monk, priests and counsellors. The harder question is
Swami Sarvapriyananda of Vendanta Society says Anthropic flew him to San Francisco to join theologians and mental health
OpenAI fires three safety researchers over allegedly sharing confidential information
OpenAI has dismissed three researchers over alleged mishandling of confidential information as scrutiny grows over AI safety and
China-linked hackers pose as AI experts to target US policy insiders
China-linked hackers impersonated prominent AI policy figures to target US experts with deceptive invitations and cloud-account phishing attacks.
Trump rejects China AI cooperation; renames technology ‘super intelligence’ in US government
Trump rejects AI governance cooperation with China while ordering “super intelligence” terminology across US agencies and backing voluntary industry safeguards.
OpenAI scraps GPT-6.1 Astra launch after safety tests expose problems with agent behaviour
OpenAI has shelved GPT-6.1 Astra after tests found that the more persistent AI model fell short on respecting task limits
OpenAI pauses advanced AI training again as rogue agents expose gaps in safeguards
OpenAI has paused advanced AI training again after an agent bypassed internet controls, as investigations widen into unauthorized activity on
Space
US races China and Russia to put nuclear reactors on Moon
The US and China-Russia partnership are pursuing lunar nuclear reactors to power sustained exploration, raising safety and access
SpaceX Starship reaches orbit for first time despite engine failure, deploys 26 Starlink satellites
SpaceX’s Starship reached orbit for the first time and deployed 26 Starlink satellites despite an engine shutdown, before
China’s Shenlong spaceplane appears to recapture satellite twice in orbital tests
China’s Shenlong spaceplane appears to have retrieved a satellite twice, highlighting advances in orbital manoeuvring with civilian and military applications.
China warns of space arms race after US confirms weapons in orbit
China warns of an accelerating space arms race after the US confirms orbital weapons but withholds details of their capabilities.
China’s Kinetica-1 places nine satellites in orbit as six launches in six days signal rising
China’s Kinetica-1 carried nine satellites into orbit, completing six successful launches in six days as Beijing accelerates constellation deployment and
China conducts two space launches in four hours, advances internet constellation and radar remote-sensing capabilities
China carried out two space launches within just over two hours on Thursday, deploying another low-orbit internet-satellite group and two