Defence News

International judoka and Punjab Police Inspector Rajwinder Kaur has been appointed coach of the Indian women's judo team for the forthcoming World Judo Championships and Asian Games -- a significant milestone in a remarkable career that saw her return to competitive sport after a career-threatening knee injury and continue competing beyond the age of 40.

Three Indian Air Force Qualified Flying Instructors have joined RAF Valley in Wales to train British pilots, marking a first for India - UK defence ties. The IAF brings experience from demanding operational environments, including recent high-intensity missions. The deployment highlights growing trust, knowledge-sharing and deeper interoperability between the two air forces.

After serving the Himachal Pradesh Police with dedication, five-year-old Labrador Dora is looking for a new role -- that of a beloved family pet. Dora, who joined the police force in 2021 and was part of the explosive detection squad, has been forced to retire on medical grounds after developing a chronic condition that has affected her ability to walk.

A crucial piece of evidence -- the driving licence of the accused -- helped the police nab the cabbie who allegedly raped and murdered a minor girl after abducting her from a footpath in Mehrauli in south Delhi, a 1,500-page chargesheet filed by the police has revealed. The accused spent hours circling the area, cancelled two rides and returned.

September 12, 1897, remains etched in the annals of Punjab's military history as the day 21 Sikh soldiers made one of the most remarkable last stands in the history of warfare. Stationed at the remote Saragarhi outpost in the North-West Frontier region, soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment found themselves surrounded by thousands of Afghan tribesmen.

Indian and US troops have begun their largest annual land exercise in more than two decades, splitting 1,200 soldiers between the high Himalayas of Uttarakhand and firing ranges of Rajasthan. The 'Yudh Abhyas' exercise aims to enhance joint military capability in mountainous terrain. The exercise is aimed at practising mountain warfare, drones, and long-range fires.

During the Yudh Abhyas 2026, India and US' joint military exercise being carried out in Auli, the troops deployed robotic dogs, drones and snipers. A video showed a robotic dog moving with a rifle mounted on its back. The troops also carried out counter-terrorism drills and highlighted coordinated employment of specialised personnel and technology.

HAL delivered last two Tejas Mk1 trainer aircraft to IAF, completing its original Mk1 orders 16 years after it was placed, The Print reported. IAF had reportedly ordered 20 Mk1 jets in 2006 and another 20 in 2010, with deliveries originally due by 2011 and 2016. The delivery comes 1.5 years after IAF Chief publicly scolded HAL officials over delays.

HTT-40, which has been handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF), is an indigenously designed and developed basic trainer aircraft built by HAL to meet the primary training requirements of the defence forces. Named Ankur, the aircraft is powered by a turboprop engine and has a maximum speed of 450 kmph and a maximum service ceiling of 6 km.

IAF inaugurated first Dronathon-2026 at Pokhran showcasing India's growing unmanned warfare capabilities, from ISR and swarm drones to loitering munitions, and counter-unmanned aircraft systems (CUAS). The event also introduced the IAF UAS roadmap, aiming to bridge the gap between defence startups and operational requirements and move Indian drone technology from demonstrations to battle-ready.

India-made KAL, a long-range one-way attack drone developed by Noida-based IG Defence, completed trial at the Pokhran range in Rajasthan. The company claims the drone can travel up to 1,000 km, fly for seven to eight hours and carry a payload of up to 50 kg. It can operate at altitudes of up to 5,000 metres above mean sea level.

The US is expected to deploy two to three F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft in Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 at Rajasthan's Jodhpur, marking its first military exercise in India. Around 40 countries are expected to take part, with France's Rafale and the UAE's F-16s also participating. The exercise will run from September 26 to October 12.

Sarvesh Sharma, a fifth-semester Computer Science student at Government Polytechnic College, Hamirpur, will develop a drone for Indian Army with ₹3.5-crore Defence Ministry grant. The drone is being developed for surveillance in high-altitude border areas. Sharma said it can detect and resist electronic jamming attempts, but these capabilities will be confirmed only after development and testing.

More than five decades after Punjab allegedly encroached on a distinguished Army officer’s ancestral land in Hoshiarpur by narrowing a road, the High Court directed the state to acquire 10.5 marlas under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act. Lt General Savneet Singh (retd) had moved court over the matter.

India has signed an ₹811-crore deal for 160 Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons (SAAWs) for the Indian Air Force. The satellite-guided glide bombs can strike runways, hangars, bunkers and other airfield infrastructure from nearly 100 km away. The order follows their reported use during Operation Sindoor, reflecting India’s focus on indigenous standoff weapons and precision-strike capabilities.

A year after the Indian Air Force (IAF) retired its iconic MiG-21 fighter jets, the aircraft are entering a new phase of their long military history. While some will continue to be preserved for heritage purposes, others could become museum displays, provide usable components or have parts of their material repurposed for educational purposes.

A video showed SkyStriker loitering munition carrying out a precision strike during Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 at Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. The system can travel up to 20 km in around 10 minutes and stay airborne for up to two hours with a 5-kg warhead. The SkyStriker was also used operationally during Operation Sindoor in May, 2025.

Odisha-based BonV Aero has supplied 45 heavy-payload UAVs to the Indian Army's Eastern Command for tactical logistics and mission-specific payload transport. The deployment comes as the Defence Ministry has floated a tender for 2,715 logistics drones, highlighting the Army's growing use of unmanned systems to support supplies across difficult and remote terrain.