• Defence Notes

  India tests Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon

  29th December 2016

  The Defence and Research Development Organization (DRDO) has conducted a successful flight test of the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) from an Indian Air Force aircraft, …

• Defence Notes

  North Korea offers up challenge for Trump

  11th January 2017

  As North Korea prepares to test its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump will face tough choices on how …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  The year ahead: Military UAVs

  9th January 2017

  Unmanned aerial vehicles are now a firmly established capability in nearly all advanced militaries. In 2017, expect to see western militaries invest more in complex …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  India speeding up Predator buy

  16th December 2016

  India is pursuing plans to buy high-altitude, long endurance UAVs from the US to meet the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance requirements of its navy and …

• Naval Warfare

  Bumper year for P-8 continues

  23rd December 2016

  Norway’s request for the sale of five P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) has been approved by the US State Department, paving the way for …

• Land Warfare

  India funds extra rocket artillery

  12th December 2016

  India invested INR32.3 billion ($475 million) in 36 additional Pinaka Mk I multiple rocket launchers (MRL) and 432 rockets, according to a contract signed on …

• Land Warfare

  Light at end of India’s long M777 tunnel

  28th November 2016

  The governments of India and the US have finally agreed on a Foreign Military Sale of 145 M777 ultra-lightweight howitzers for the Indian Army, the …

• Land Warfare

  India's new rifle opts for 7.62mm

  13th December 2016

  The Indian Army is rerunning a competition for a general assault rifle to replace the problematic Indian Small Arms System (INSAS). The specifications for the new …

• Naval Warfare

  Indian Navy to gain a dozen Dorniers

  28th November 2016

  The Indian Navy (IN) will receive 12 additional Dornier Do 228 aircraft for maritime patrol according to formal approval given by the Cabinet Committee on …

• Naval Warfare

  Analysis: Waters rage in South China Sea (Part 2)

  14th December 2016

  In Part 1 of this analysis, Shephard looked in some detail at Chinese and Taiwanese reactions to the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (PCA) ruling on …

• Defence Notes

  Korean defence companies enjoy explosion

  4th December 2016

  South Korean defence companies exploded amongst the ranks of the top 100 global defence companies, according to data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Rustom II takes maiden flight

  17th November 2016

  Although long delayed, the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out the maiden flight of the Rustom II medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV on 16 …

• Land Warfare

  India to buy T-90MS tanks

  11th November 2016

  The procurement of 464 T-90 main battle tanks by India was approved in early November by the defence minister, Manohar Parrikar. He chaired India’s Defence …

• Defence Notes

  India clears military projects worth billions

  10th November 2016

  The Indian defence ministry has cleared projects worth $12.4 billion (Rs 82,117 crore) to buy fighter aircraft, tanks, rocket systems, helicopters and UAVs, as the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Navy Triton squadron stands up

  7th November 2016

  Returning from the standing up of the US Navy’s first MQ-4C Triton UAS squadron on 28 October, senior officials at manufacturer Northrop Grumman are eyeing …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9B (Tri-Service) [India]

  Programme 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 ...

• 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. ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  MRCA - Multi Role Combat Aircraft (Fighter)

  Launched years ago, the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme is notorious internationally of the serpentine nature of Indian military procurements. Under the MMRCA, the ...

• Fighter - multirole, Trainer

  MRCA - Multi Role Combat Aircraft (Trainer)

  Launched years ago, the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme is notorious internationally of the serpentine nature of Indian military procurements. Under the MMRCA, the ...

• AEW&C

  Airbus A330 AWACS (India)

  Programme Background India is planning to increase its AEW&C; capabilities with indigenous radar systems. IAF has requested to procure six Airbus 330 airliner to host ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Ka-226T-India-Air Force

  An official contract announcement is expected during the Aero India 2021 exhibition in Bangalore, although negotiations have dragged on for more than five years and ...

• 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 ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8I (13-18) [India]

  Programme Background India previously bought eight P-8Is from Boeing in 2009 in a direct commercial sale, adding four more in 2016. India inducted its first ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  ALUAV (India)

  Programme Background  Origins The development programme has its origins in the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative signed between the nations in 2006 and renewed in 2015. ...

• AEW&C

  A-50E - India

  Earlier in 2010, Indian MoD sent RfI to Israel Aerospace Industries to procure three EL/W-2090 radar systems to be installed on the A-50E aircraft, which ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  FWD-200B

  Unveiled in May 2024, the FWD-200B is an Indian fixed-wing, MALE drone developed by Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace. = With a payload capacity of ...

• 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 ...

• Multipurpose missiles

  9M119 Svir

  The 9M119 Svir (NATO reporting name AT-11 'Sniper') is a Soviet laser beam riding, guided anti-tank missile designed to be fired from 125mm antitank guns. ...

• 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 ...

• Ship-launched torpedoes

  Varunastra

  The indigenously built, heavy-weight Varunastra torpedoes have been developed by the Indian DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation), while Indian state-run Bharat Dynamics is their ...

• Frigates

  Talwar Class (Project 11356)

  India’s Talwar-class (Project 11356) frigates for the Indian Navy have been built in Russia based on the old Soviet Navy’s Krivak-class frigates and delivered to ...

• Trainer

  PC-7 Mk II

  More than 470 PC-7 basic trainer aircraft have been built since production of the low-wing tandem-seat aircraft began in 1978, and the type has accumulated ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Aerial Munitions (LAM)

  The Loitering Aerial Munition (LAM) is, as its name suggests, a loitering munition. Developed by Kadet Defence Systems with the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), 90% of its ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  HJT-16 Kiran

  The HJT-16 Kiran is a trainer and light attack aircraft developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to meet the intermediate jet trainer requirements of the Indian ...

• Loitering munitions

  AX-2 Predator

  The AX-2 Predator is a Slovakian loitering munition. The munition features teleoperation BLOS communication, a semi-autonomous autopilot system and a 2.5-4kg high-explosive warhead. Gopalan Aerospace has reportedly ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  SDR AR

  Produced by Bharat Electronics, the SDR-AR is a four-channel, multi-mode, multi-band airborne radio system. It provides ground-to-air and air-to-air communications over V/UHF, HF and L-Bands.