Whats Happening
Marco Rubio’s Jamnagar visit puts India’s refining power at centre of US energy strategy
Washington is looking to India's refining capacity to process more Venezuelan crude amid global energy disruptions. The visit comes
IAF’s new HTT-40 trainers: Why full-scale pilot training is still two years away
HAL’s first deliveries advance India’s indigenous trainer programme, but the IAF must prepare instructors and build a larger fleet
Why Iraq has closed Sheeb border crossing with Iran and what happens next
Iraq has suspended passenger and commercial traffic at a key crossing with Iran amid concerns over border security. The
Turkiye, Pakistan, Qatar and Indonesia sign Badr accord to expand joint defence production
The four-country agreement aims to strengthen military manufacturing, technology sharing and research cooperation. It builds on existing defence partnerships, although specific joint production projects and implementation timelines remain undisclosed.
OPINION & COMMENTARY
Army
Army commanders’ conference begins in Delhi, Rajnath Singh to release Land Warfare Doctrine
The Indian Army's top leadership is reviewing operational readiness, emerging security challenges and military modernization. A new Land Warfare
India, Australia begin Austrahind 2026 in Kerala, with New Zealand as observer for
About 240 Indian and Australian soldiers are participating in the fifth edition of Exercise Austrahind in Kerala, focusing on
Army major faces termination over alleged affairs, Armed Forces Tribunal refuses to halt
The Armed Forces Tribunal has declined to halt termination proceedings against an Army major accused of extramarital affairs, while directing
India, Mongolia review defence ties, explore deeper military and cybersecurity cooperation
India and Mongolia have reviewed bilateral defence cooperation at the 14th joint working group meeting in Ulaanbaatar, focusing on military
Indian, Russian Army commanders discuss deeper defence ties as Indra 2026 naval exercise
Senior Indian and Russian military commanders have discussed expanding professional exchanges and defence cooperation as the two countries conduct naval
Assam Regiment wins gold at UK’s Cambrian Patrol 2026 by beating 9 other
The Indian Army contingent earned gold at the British Army hosted military patrolling exercise in Wales, which tested soldiers on
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
Swavlamban 2026: Navy turns to quantum positioning and ramjets as iDEX proposals cross 4,000, vice-chief
The Indian Navy’s innovation drive now spans quantum positioning, directed-energy systems and ramjets, with over 4,000 iDEX proposals
India-UK Konkan 2026 naval exercise ends after joint warfare drills
India and the UK have concluded the Konkan-26 naval exercise off Plymouth after joint drills involving INS Trishul
INS Samarthak joins Indian Navy as drone mothership and weapons testbed
INS Samarthak enters Indian naval service with capabilities spanning weapons trials, unmanned-system operations, maritime surveillance and disaster relief.
Indian Navy to commission indigenous multi-purpose vessel Samarthak at Karwar on October 16
Built by Larsen & Toubro with over 75 per cent indigenous content, Samarthak will support maritime surveillance, weapons and sensor
INS Mangrol commissioned into Indian Navy: What is ASW-SWC and why does India need them?
INS Mangrol, the third Mahe-class vessel, has been commissioned in the Indian Navy, boosting the force’s ability to hunt submarines
Exercise Konkan – 2026: INS Trishul arrives in Plymouth for India-UK naval drills
INS Trishul has arrived in Plymouth for Exercise Konkan – 2026, scheduled from October 8 to 15. The annual India-UK
Airforce
Wings Over Ganga airshow starts in Varanasi, 100 IAF aircraft to take to the skies
The IAF’s Wings Over Ganga air show begins in Varanasi on October 22, featuring 100 aircraft, with displays
IAF chief AP Singh flies final sortie with his first instructor, four decades after his
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh completed his final Indian Air Force (IAF) flying sortie in a Kiran Mk-1
From iDEX SPRINT to the Indian Air Force: Swadeshi Empresa’s Firefighting Robots Delivered in 11
India's FF Bot firefighting robot, developed by Swadeshi Empresa, has been deployed with the armed forces to tackle fires at
In pictures: ACM AP Singh’s final Tejas flight echoes the spirit of a fighter pilot
IAF chief ACM Amar Preet Singh flew his final Tejas sortie during Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 in Jodhpur ahead of
New Zealand seeks bigger Tarang Shakti role, puts maritime ties with India first
New Zealand seeks greater involvement in Tarang Shakti as naval cooperation, specialist exchanges and maritime agreements expand its defence partnership
No formal US offer for F-35 jets, says IAF chief; Su-57 decision pending
The IAF chief says India has received no formal US offer for F-35 fighters, while a decision on evaluating Russia’s
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
Abyei drone strike: Sudan’s army accused as death toll from market attack reaches
A drone strike on a market and fuel depot in disputed Abyei has reportedly killed at least 153 people
Why Iraq has closed Sheeb border crossing with Iran and what happens next
Iraq has suspended passenger and commercial traffic at a key crossing with Iran amid concerns over border security. The
Musk reportedly ordered Starshield slowdown that disrupted Ukraine’s drone operations
Elon Musk reportedly ordered restrictions on Ukraine's military satellite communications, disrupting drone missions and air defence operations. Conflicting accounts from
China tracks US warship in South China Sea as Taiwan reports coast guard
China tracked a US warship near disputed Sabina Shoal as Taiwan reported a standoff with a Chinese coast guard vessel
Saudi Arabia executes two Bangladeshis: Father seeks son’s body for one last goodbye
Bangladesh is seeking answers from Saudi Arabia over the execution of two citizens, while their families have raised questions about
India-New Zealand FTA comes into force. How will it benefit Indian exporters, students
The India-New Zealand FTA brings zero-duty access for Indian goods, tariff concessions, expanded services access and new work visa opportunities.
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 tests quantum key distribution on live network to protect weapons trial data. What is
DRDO’s successful Chandipur trial brings quantum key distribution into a live weapons-testing network, advancing protection for sensitive defence
DRDO to showcase homegrown chips at ESTIC 2026 as India pursues semiconductor self-reliance
DRDO will showcase indigenous semiconductor technologies at ESTIC 2026, highlighting their defence applications and India’s efforts to strengthen
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 minutes, advancing
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 ahead.
₹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
Defence Industry
IAF’s new HTT-40 trainers: Why full-scale pilot training is still two years away
HAL’s first deliveries advance India’s indigenous trainer programme, but the IAF must prepare instructors and build a larger
Zorawar light tank delayed to 2028–2029. What the armour rethink means for India’s China border
Zorawar’s revised 2028–2029 induction timeline exposes the challenge of strengthening armour without sacrificing the mobility India needs along
Munitions India executive Anil Kumar suspended as CBI widens ₹500 crore ammunition deal probe
The defence ministry has suspended Munitions India Limited executive Anil Kumar as the CBI widens its investigation into alleged bribery
CBI arrests Munitions India executive, SMPP CEO in ₹500 crore ammunition contract probe
The CBI has arrested three people in a bribery probe linked to a ₹500 crore ammunition contract, with alleged defence
India signs ₹4,106 crore defence contracts for Air Force satellite, Varunastra torpedoes
The defence ministry has signed contracts for a dedicated Air Force communication satellite and indigenous heavyweight torpedoes for the Navy,
India, Czech Republic seek wider defence-manufacturing ties after Rajnath Singh-Havlicek talks
The two countries plan to expand defence industrial cooperation through their joint defence committee, building on existing partnerships without announcing
Cyber
PHP flaws trigger worldwide website shutdowns. What went wrong and who is at risk?
Critical PHP flaws have prompted worldwide website shutdowns, exposing the risks of shared web software and triggering an
SBI data leak: 3,897 customer records identified, what was exposed and are accounts safe?
SBI has identified personal information in 3,897 customer records among approximately 3.75 lakh records found on the dark
Anthropic in talks with India over AI safety testing, seeks binding transparency rules
Anthropic is discussing model access for India’s AI safety institute while seeking mandatory transparency rules for domestic and foreign developers.
Israeli firm Discover-Tech linked to zero-click spyware attacks through online ads
Israeli firm Discover-Tech helped deliver zero-click spyware through online ads, researchers say, linking the system to attacks on Al Jazeera.
Hackers disrupt refrigeration at 700 French supermarkets, trigger substantial food losses
A cyberattack targeting remotely controlled refrigeration equipment affected hundreds of French supermarkets, forcing food disposal and prompting an investigation into
Anthropic report exposes how Yemen-based group used Claude AI to develop missile guidance software
Anthropic’s September 2026 report reveals how a Yemen-based group used Claude AI to develop missile guidance software and test-fire a
Space
Japan’s MMX mission targets Mars moon Phobos in historic sample-return bid
Japan’s MMX mission aims to return the first Phobos samples to Earth, investigating the origins of Mars’s moons
Pakistan announces first astronaut mission to Chinese space station, sets 2035 moon-landing goal
Pakistan plans to send its first astronaut to China’s Tiangong space station on November 25. Ahsan Iqbal also
Nasa’s Perseverance rover breaks Mars driving record, can eventually cover 100 kilometres
Nasa’s Perseverance rover has surpassed Opportunity’s off-world driving record, with engineers optimistic that the Mars rover could eventually travel 100
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 questions.
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 controllers opted
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.