Current Events :
The two Armed Forces Preparatory Institutes (AFPIs) in Mohali have created new records, with the highest-ever number of cadets from these institutes clearing the written entrance examination for the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla.
As many as 17 women cadets of the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MBAFPI) have cracked the NDA exam — the highest-ever tally of female cadets from any government institute in the country, including Sainik Schools and Rashtriya Military Schools.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI) achieved a success rate of 87.7 per cent, with 57 out of 65 cadets qualifying in the exam for NDA’s 158th Course, scheduled to commence in June 2027.
Only 6 per cent seats in NDA are earmarked for female candidates, with the remaining 94 per cent meant for male candidates. Those who cleared the written exam will now have to appear for an interview by Services Selection Board (SSB) and a medical examination before final selection.
The successful MBAFPI cadets are Tanvi, Urvi, Simranpreet Kaur, Komalpreet Kaur, Pahuljeet Kaur, Jasmeet Kaur, Muskanpreet Kaur, Garima, Anisha, Pranya Kargwal, Jashandeep Kaur, Samridhi, Arshkiran Kaur, Sehajpreet Kaur, Japneet Kaur, Khushi and Jasleen Kaur.
Calling it a historic feat, Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Aman Arora said the result has put Punjab on the national map as a leader in empowering girls for the Armed Forces and validates the decision to start the NDA preparatory wing for girls at MBAFPI.
Congratulating the cadets, their families and the faculty, Arora said this is not just the achievement of these young women but a historic moment for Punjab. “To break through a system where 94 per cent of seats are for boys requires extraordinary grit and brilliance, which these cadets have displayed in abundance,” he said.
Wishing the boys of MRSAFPI the very best for their forthcoming SSB interviews and the rigorous training ahead, Arora said their dedication and hard work have brought laurels to the state.
Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Girls was set up by the Punjab Government in 2015 as an exclusive, all-girls institute to prepare girls from Punjab to become commissioned officers in the Armed Forces.
Named after Mai Bhago, the famous Sikh saint-warrior, it is the first initiative of its kind in the country. It started with a three-year graduation programme that prepared girls to join the Armed Forces after obtaining their bachelor’s degrees.
Following the central government’s decision in 2022 to allow women into the NDA, the Punjab Government in April 2023 set up an additional NDA wing that admitted girls who had completed Class 10 for a two-year 10+2 programme.
MRSAFPI became operational in 2011 to train boys from Punjab to join the Armed Forces as officers, in an endeavour to stem the declining trend of youth from the state opting for a career in the forces. It also runs a two-year 10+2 programme.
Both AFPIs are fully residential and have modern facilities, including multi-gyms, swimming pools, shooting ranges, sports fields and a walking plaza. The training includes academics, physical fitness, personality development, communication skills, grooming, extracurricular activities, NCC and preparation for the SSB interview.
n a significant push to bolster the country’s air defence capabilities along critical border sectors and to counter emerging aerial threats, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday signed a contract worth Rs 770 crore with state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the procurement of Improved Low-Level Light Weight Radars (LLLR-I).
The induction of the LLLR-I system marks a crucial upgrade for the Indian Army’s air defence network. Engineered specifically for tactical low-level surveillance, the modern radar system possesses advanced capabilities to detect and track a wide spectrum of aerial objects, ranging from high-speed fighter-size targets to low-radar-cross-section mini and micro drones.
A key highlight of the upgraded system is its automated target prioritisation capability. In an increasingly complex electronic battlefield, this feature allows operators to swiftly categorise, track and prioritise incoming threats, enabling ground units to engage and neutralise UAVs with high precision. The system is expected to significantly mitigate the growing threat posed by unauthorised drone incursions and low-altitude reconnaissance along tactical battle areas.
The radars can track everything from conventional fighter jets to low-visibility mini and micro drones. It can automatically prioritise incoming aerial threats for response. It provides a system to thwart rogue UAVs in forward areas.
Being lightweight, these are transportable for quick deployment across challenging border terrains.
The Ministry of Defence said the project will provide a substantial boost to the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem by engaging several Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and domestic tier-suppliers. The contract reflects India’s broader strategy to reduce dependence on foreign hardware while building a resilient, self-reliant, and globally competitive domestic defence industrial base.
The contract was formalised in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and senior officials from the MoD and BEL.
Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, on Tuesday completed his final flying sortie with a pilot, who had trained him to fly planes more than 42 years ago.
IAF Chief and his first trainer Wing Commander VS Kochar (retd) flew in a Hindustan Jet Trainer Kiran Mark-1 trainer aircraft bring a chapter of his flying career to a close. Earlier on October 12, the IAF Chief had done his final ‘fighter jet sortie’ in a Tejas jet at Jodhpur.
The Kiran Mark 1, is not classified as ‘fighter jet’.
The IAF said “the 55 minute sortie was particularly special as the IAF Chief flew with his first flying instructor, Wing Commander V S Kochar (Retd)”.
The occasion marked a poignant reunion between instructor and student, reconnecting the IAF Chief with the beginnings of his flying journey in the Indian Air Force.
The IAF Chief had undertaken his first-ever flying sortie on January 28, 1984. In the world of military aviation, instructors remain mentors throughout the life of the trainees.
More than four decades later, today’s sortie in the Kiran brought his flying journey in the IAF full circle, symbolising the enduring bond between a pilot, his instructor and the skies that shape professional life.
The IAF said the occasion was a tribute to the rich tradition of flying training in the Indian Air Force and to the invaluable role played by flying instructors in nurturing generations of air warriors.
The return to the Kiran, an iconic trainer aircraft associated with the training of IAF pilots, added special significance to the sortie.
The IAF said the presence of Wg Cdr Kochar (Retd), who had guided the IAF Chief during his earliest flying days, made the occasion meaningful, bringing together memories of the IAF Chief’s first flight and the culmination of his flying journey in IAF aircraft.
The Indian Army will have a new land warfare doctrine that seeks to recalibrate its combat readiness in response to the rapidly changing dynamics of global conflict.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will release the doctrine on Friday, the last day of the Army’s premier decision-making forum, the biannual Army Commanders’ Conference.
The three-day conference, chaired by Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth, opened in the national capital on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday, “The doctrine will provide an overarching framework to prepare the Indian Army to meet the challenges posed by the evolving character of warfare and future conflicts.”
It is designed as a broad operational and strategic framework that will cover the evolution of warfare, especially after Operation Sindoor in May last year, when drones played a major role.
Beyond the release of the doctrine, the conference will feature addresses and panel sessions by key national security leaders, including the Navy Chief and the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), among others.
Discussions at the conference will cover cross-domain security issues, inter-service synergy and digital transformation within defence infrastructure. It will bring together the top echelons of military leadership to deliberate on emerging security challenges, operational readiness, force modernisation and long-term transformation strategies.
The conference aims to chart a clear path towards a technologically advanced, agile and future-ready fighting force capable of navigating complex modern battlefields.
The Defence Minister will also unveil the annual United Nations Journal and present honours to Indian Army personnel who demonstrated exemplary service, professionalism and dedication while serving on international peacekeeping missions under the UN flag.
The Army Chief will also confer special awards for Green Military Stations and Aviation Flight Safety, recognising units that have excelled in eco-friendly resource management and military aviation security.
The Indian Navy on Wednesday announced the commencement of the 33rd edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026), which will feature tactical exercises, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drills and tactical manoeuvres.
The Navy said the exercise, being conducted at Visakhapatnam, would have a sea phase from October 24 to 26 in the Bay of Bengal. “It will feature maritime operations and tactical exercises, including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface and anti-air warfare drills, seamanship evolutions and tactical manoeuvres,” the Navy said.
The exercise is being conducted from October 21 to 26. Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) ship RSS Supreme arrived at Visakhapatnam on Wednesday to participate in the exercise.
The first phase, preceding the sea phase, will include professional interactions, subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs), cross-deck visits, sporting engagements and planning conferences.
The Navy said, “SIMBEX-2026 reaffirms the longstanding maritime partnership between India and Singapore and their shared commitment to enhancing interoperability, addressing common maritime security challenges, and promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.”
The opening ceremony of SIMBEX-2026 was held onboard INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta.
Commencing in 1994 as Exercise Lion King, SIMBEX has evolved into a significant bilateral maritime engagement between the Indian Navy and the RSN. Over the years, the exercise has expanded in scope and complexity, strengthening professional ties, mutual understanding and operational interoperability between the two navies.
Meanwhile, the Navy said its trilateral exercise IBSAMAR, involving India, Brazil and South Africa, had concluded in South Africa.
The closing ceremony marked the culmination of 10 days of joint activities conducted during the harbour and sea phases. Participating personnel engaged in professional exchanges, operational interactions and joint training, gaining valuable insights into each other’s procedures, capabilities and methods of operating at sea. These activities helped build familiarity and confidence among the participating navies, enabling them to work together with greater synergy in the maritime domain.
The trilateral exercise provides an avenue for the navies to address common maritime challenges, exchange best practices and strengthen their ability to operate together, thereby contributing to a peaceful maritime environment.
The exercise also reaffirmed the importance of jointmanship at sea, with interoperability developed through repeated interactions, common training and a shared understanding of maritime operations. Professional bonds forged among the crews of participating assets endure beyond the exercise, strengthening institutional linkages and laying the foundation for future cooperation.
Faced with the possibility that Pakistan could field a greater number of drones in future conflicts, the Indian Army has charted course to have three types of drones in its arsenal.
The Army has factored in the threat that Turkiye and China provided their best drones to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in May last year. A senior official said, “The assistance of high-end drone technology given to Pakistan from these two countries has been factored in for ramping up own drone arsenal for future conflict.”
The Army’s thrust for offensive (or strike) options includes small drones for tactical use needed for immediate surveillance and attack within 10-15 kms; one-way attack drones that can hit targets 150 kms away; and high-altitude drones for surveillance and launching long-range pinpointed attack.
In April this year, the Army released a landmark document titled ‘Indian Army’s Technology Roadmap for Unmanned Aerial Systems and Loitering Munitions’, listing the long-term requirement for UAV’s. The document identified as many as 30 types of UAV’s and loitering munitions across five categories — strike, surveillance, air defence, special roles and logistics. The document lays down technological and operational priorities.
The Army is tasked with surveillance within 35 km of the borders and up to three kilometres in heights along the China and Pakistan frontier. It is also building capacity to operate around 10,000 drones in the western theatre.
The changes have been incorporated after Pakistan launched drone intrusions from Ladakh to Sir Creek on the night of May 8-9 in 2025, targeting 36 locations with over 300-400 drones. Drones emerged as a core battlefield tool, and the Army has since made them a part of its structure and procurement rather than a niche capability.
In August, the Army announced the raising of a dedicated battalion for drone operations along the western front with Pakistan. ‘Baaz’ operates under the command of the Army’s 11 Corps, headquartered in Jalandhar, Punjab.
Additionally, the Army now has 25-man drone-platoons in all the 380 infantry battalions which operate surveillance, combat, logistics and kamikaze drones. Artillery and Armoured units operate their own drones from target locating. In another initiative in March, the Army base workshops started indigenous drone manufacturing. A pact was signed with Nautical Wings Aerospace, a Bengaluru-based startup specialising in advanced electric propulsion systems, vertical lift solutions, brushless direct current (BLDC) motors and composite structures for UAVs. This is to reduce dependence on foreign technology in autonomous platforms.
Small drones are used by units in the immediate battle space. These have capacities of upto 5 kg payload and are handy for precision strikes and surveillance. The one-way attack drones is the fastest-growing category. The Army signed Rs 1,577 crore contracts with Tata Advanced Systems and Nibe Defence for 840 domestically produced one-way attack drones, its first major purchase of such systems under fast-track procurement. For the Himalayan borders, the emphasis is on high-altitude long endurance. The Army has a share in the 31 MQ9B drone which the Ministry of Defence is procuring for the three forces from US-based company General Atomics.
Indian Navy is conducting trials of the marine version of the Rafale jets at a special facility at its base in Goa. The Navy in April this year had placed an order for 26 such jets which will take off and land on the deck of either of the two sea going aircraft carriers.
Trials of the plane and its various aspects are being conducted at the Shore-Based Test Facility (SBTF) in Goa, a source confirmed to the Tribune. The SBTF replicates the take-off ramp of an aircraft carrier. Indian Navy operates two carriers, the INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. Both have a ‘take-off’ ramp. On landing, the jet is restrained using a set of special steel wires installed on the deck of the carrier.
In April, India and France signed an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) for 26 Rafale-Marine naval fighter jets. Under the Rs 64,000-crore deal, deliveries of the jets will commence from 2028 and conclude in 2030.
The deal is beyond the usual buyer-seller deal for military hardware. IGA expanded the relationship. It has a clause on transfer of technology on integrating India-made missiles. Also, the plane maker, Dassault Aviation, will set up a production facility for making parts of the jet’s body in India, along with a maintenance hub of engines, sensors, etc, providing an impetus to India’s aviation aspirations.
Operationally, the jets will expand the arc of offensive operations at sea. The Rafale-M is a significant fighter jet upgrade for the country’s naval forces since the Russian-origin MiG 29-K joined the fleet in 2011. Some 40 of these Russian jets operate from both the Indian Navy carriers — INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.
The Rafale-Marine will have a combat radius of 1,000 km. Since it will take off and land on the deck of an aircraft carrier, its radius would be effective from where the carrier is sailing at sea. It carries specialised sensors and multiple capabilities to carry the long-range air-to-air missile named the ‘Meteor’; the air-to-air missile ‘Mica’ that allows ‘beyond visual range’ (BVR) interception, combat and self-defence missiles.
The jet can also carry precision weapons called the ‘Hammer’, besides the ‘Scalp’ long-range stand-off missile. Like all naval jets, it has reinforced landing gears. A jet landing on an aircraft carrier mid-sea does not have the luxury of a long runaway to stall, hence the landing gear needs to be restrained — using specialised pylons — on the ship deck to stall it.
Like the Navy’s existing fighter jets, MiG 29K, the Rafale-M features foldable wings — this allows for more planes to be stored as 25 per cent of each wing gets folded. On a carrier, jets are stored in a hanger below the deck.
Rafale-Marine has commonality with the Rafale being operated by the Indian Air Force. Its procurement will streamline training and logistics as both planes are identical.
The deal includes weapons, simulator, spares, associated ancillary equipment, crew training and logistics support. The IGA includes transfer of technology for integration of indigenous weapons in India. It also includes setting up of a production facility for the Rafale fuselage as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities for aircraft engine, sensors and weapons in India.
The transfer of technology for integration of Indian weapons will include India’s own Astra missile, that will also enable sourcing from local suppliers and also aid in self-reliance. The Astra has already been integrated with the Sukhoi 30-MKI jets of the IAF.
The Army is constructing multi-tier anti-drone steel mesh screens to protect sensitive buildings in field areas from attacks by drones and unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which are being used increasingly across the battlefield.
A total of 863 drone intrusions along the India-Pakistan border were reported in 2025-26, including 854 incidents in Punjab and Rajasthan, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD). During this period, 237 drones were brought down, including five carrying war-like stores, 72 carrying narcotics and 161 without any payload.
“These activities signify greater attempts by the adversary to employ drones for various nefarious activities like reconnaissance and smuggling of arms, ammunition and narcotics along the International Border, especially in Punjab,” the MoD’s annual report for 2025-26 states.
The screens, measuring about 37 m in length and 20 m in width, will comprise three adequately spaced layers of different types of steel mesh designed for staged interception, energy dissipation and progressive arrest of incoming aerial objects, according to a request for information issued by the Army on September 25. These defences will initially be installed at several locations in the Western Sector.
The outer layer will incorporate camouflage and concealment features to minimise visual and thermal signatures from aerial and ground observation. This will be achieved by blending exposed structures with the natural terrain and using non-reflective coatings and multi-spectral camouflage paint.
The Army is already using steel meshes and synthetic nets to provide overhead protection to frontline equipment, bunkers, observation posts, artillery guns and vehicles, including tanks. Some of these anti-drone measures for vehicles were also displayed during this year’s Republic Day Parade in New Delhi.
The use of metal meshes to counter drones first gained prominence during the Russia-Ukraine war, when advancing Russian tanks were spotted with such protective structures mounted on them.
Drones emerged as a key component of that conflict, which escalated in February 2022. Three years later, the Indian subcontinent witnessed extensive use of drones and counter-drone systems during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, marking a significant shift in the conduct of military operations and underscoring the growing emphasis on non-contact warfare.
The operation saw large-scale tri-service deployment of drones and missiles for precision strikes deep inside Pakistan, rather than manpower-intensive formations being massed along the border and troops engaging each other directly. The armed forces also neutralised hundreds of enemy drones and missiles launched across the western frontier through an integrated air-defence shield.
With automated systems and AI-enabled platforms becoming integral to modern warfare, the armed forces, through in-house projects and collaboration with the industry, have accelerated the development and induction of indigenous drones and counter-drone systems. They are also putting in place a vast training infrastructure to produce technologically enabled soldiers.
A core committee has been constituted to take decisions on the induction, proliferation and deployment of UAS and counter-UAS equipment in the Army and to coordinate all related aspects.
As many as 30 types of UAS and loitering munitions, covering 80 variants across five categories — surveillance, strike, air defence, special roles and logistics — have been identified for deployment in different operational scenarios and terrain conditions. In addition, several existing air-defence weapons have been modified to detect and destroy small drones as part of the broader air-defence network.
