Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit PVSM AVSM VM VSM, as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, on 01 November 2026, commenced his tenure by paying homage at the National War Memorial to the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in service of the Nation. This was followed by a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Air Force Station New Delhi. An Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor, Air Chief Marshal Dixit has over 3,500 hours of flying experience. He has held several key operational…
VAdm Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, inaugurated residential accommodations for the Defence Civilians of Indian Navy, and Station Health Organisation along with trunk utility and access infrastructure as part of Project Seabird Phase IIA at Naval Base, Karwar, on 15 Oct 2026 in the presence of VAdm Vivek Dahiya, Director General Seabird, and other senior officers. The inaugurated residential and hospital facilities include five towers of 300 dwelling units for Naval…
KONKAN-26, the India-UK bilateral maritime exercise, concluded off Plymouth, UK, on 15 Oct 2026. Conducted from 08-15 Oct 2026, the exercise enabled the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy to engage across a wide range of professional and operational domains. The Indian Navy was represented by the stealth frigate INS Trishul, while the Royal Navy deployed HMS Sutherland, a Duke-class anti-submarine warfare frigate. The exercise was conducted by Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST), Royal Navy. The…
The Ministry of Defence has signed contracts worth a total of approximately Rs 4,106 crore for the acquisition of a dedicated communication satellite capability, GSAT-7C for the Indian Air Force, and Varunastra Heavy Weight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy. The contract for GSAT-7C, valued at Rs 2,563 crore, was inked with New Space India Limited, Bengaluru. This indigenously designed, developed & manufactured satellite will enhance the secure, resilient & seamless communication capabilities for the assets of the…
The Indian Navy is set to commission Samarthak at Naval Base, Karwar on 16 Oct 2026. Built by M/s Larsen and Toubro Ltd under the Government of India's Make in India initiative, Samarthak is the first of four Multi-Purpose Vessels being inducted into the Indian Navy. The commissioning will mark another significant milestone in India's drive towards defence self-reliance and she will form an important component of the Navy’s future and ideal “utility” ship for strategically important operations. Designed primarily…
Indian Navy’s guided missile stealth frigate INS Trishul arrived at Plymouth, United Kingdom. The ship is scheduled to participate in Exercise KONKAN-26 with the Royal Navy. India-UK annual bilateral maritime exercise KONKAN-26 is a testament to the enduring maritime partnership between India and the UK. Over the past two decades, the exercise has grown significantly in scale and complexity, fostering enhanced interoperability and mutual understanding in maritime operations between the two Navies. Since its…
Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri arrived at Vladivostok, Russia, on 10 Oct 2026 to participate in Exercise INDRA 2026, a bilateral exercise between the Indian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy (RuFN) scheduled from 13 to 18 Oct 2026. The deployment provides an opportunity for professional engagements and operational interaction between the two navies, furthering maritime cooperation and interoperability. The participation of INS Sahyadri is in consonance with the Government of India’s vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and…
Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth will inaugurate the 12th National Maritime Search & Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2026) on 07 October 26, and witness SAR Demo off Paradip coast on 08 October 26 being organized by the Indian Coast Guard. A key highlight of this exercise is the international participation of 32 observers from 30 countries, underscoring the cooperative protocols, strategic importance, and global interoperability of the drill. SAREX-2026 will be one of the largest and most complex SAR exercises ever…
The Second Edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) commenced at Subic Bay, Philippines, on 28 Sep 2026, with the participation of Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish, along with maritime forces from ASEAN Member States. Conducted under the theme “Anchored in Trust, United at Sea”, the exercise brings together maritime forces from India and ASEAN countries for professional, operational and social engagements aimed at enhancing mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability. The…
Indian Navy’s frontline stealth frigate, INS Sahyadri, and missile corvette, INS Kulish, concluded their participation in the 23rd ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security Joint Cooperation Activity (EWG-MS JCA) at Subic Bay, Philippines, with the Closing Ceremony held on 25 Sep 2026. The activity commenced on 21 Sep 2026 with the Opening Ceremony at Naval Operating Base Subic, hosted by the Philippine Navy and co-chaired by Japan. The Harbour Phase featured Subject Matter Expert Exchanges on Peace…
INS Trishul arrived at Toulon, France, on 22 Sep 2026 to participate in the 24th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise ‘VARUNA’ between the Indian Navy and the French Navy. Exercise VARUNA will witness professional engagements in harbour and at sea, including cross-deck visits, operational interactions and sporting engagements. These engagements will provide opportunities for both Navies to share experiences and Best Practices, enhance interoperability and foster greater mutual understanding. The visit…
Under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed the first high-value deep tech project agreement with the Industry (Start-up) Zero mK India Private Limited towards collaborative effort for indigenous development of a 20 mK Dilution Refrigerator for Quantum Applications. The signing of the agreement took place between Director, TDF and Zero mK India Private Limited, Alwar, Rajasthan in New Delhi. It is the first high value agreement under the Rs…
Ministry of Defence has inked a contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the procurement of 160 Satellite Smart Anti Airfield Weapons (SAT-SAAW) along with associated equipment for Indian Air Force (IAF) with a total cost of Rs 810.79 crore under Buy (Indian - Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category. The contract was signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi on September 23, 2026. SAT-SAAW is an air-to-ground precision guided glide bomb which can be…
The bilateral air exercise ‘Veer Guardian 2026' between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) concluded at Air Force Station Jodhpur on 22 September 2026. The exercise served as a vital platform for enhancing interoperability and strengthening the strategic partnership between the two Air Forces. The IAF deployed a mix of aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, Rafale, and indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. The JASDF participated with the F-2A fighter aircraft. During the joint…