Indian defense budget boosted 9.5%, but analysts say pensions hindering weapons spending

Indian defense budget boosted 9.5%, but analysts say pensions hindering weapons spending
Indian defense budget boosted 9.5%, but analysts say pensions hindering weapons spending

“India desperately needs drones, air defense systems, better tanks and fighting vehicles, fighter aircraft, and especially helicopters,” Ian Hall, professor at Australia’s Griffith University, said.

India joins Eurodrone effort as observer nation

India joins Eurodrone effort as observer nation
India joins Eurodrone effort as observer nation

India’s interest in Eurodrone builds off a joint statement signed with Germany in October 2024 to deepen defense cooperation and which includes a “specific focus on technology collaboration, manufacturing/co-production and co-development of defence platforms and equipment.”

Why Israel’s IAI is investing heavily in Indian startups

Why Israel’s IAI is investing heavily in Indian startups
Why Israel’s IAI is investing heavily in Indian startups

“We need to tune ourselves and find the right ways to work together according to the new regulations in India,” IAI CEO Boaz Levy said in an interview conducted last month.

US drone maker Shield AI moves into Indian defense market, joint venture with JSW Group

US drone maker Shield AI moves into Indian defense market, joint venture with JSW Group
US drone maker Shield AI moves into Indian defense market, joint venture with JSW Group

Per a government factsheet, India used to rely on foreign countries for much of its weapons, with “65-70% of defense equipment being imported. However, this landscape has dramatically shifted, with around 65% of defense equipment now manufactured within India.”

India’s hypersonic missile test more stepping stone than game-changer

India’s hypersonic missile test more stepping stone than game-changer
India’s hypersonic missile test more stepping stone than game-changer

“Whether it is a game changer or not is debatable, but it is clearly part of a larger trend towards high speed maneuvering missiles of various types,” Tom Karako, an expert at CSIS, said of the launch.

US greenlights ‘electronic attack’ system for Italy, torpedoes for India and radars for Romania

US greenlights ‘electronic attack’ system for Italy, torpedoes for India and radars for Romania
US greenlights ‘electronic attack’ system for Italy, torpedoes for India and radars for Romania

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the sale of the electronic warfare system to Italy would “improve Italy’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing interoperability with the United States Air Force (USAF) and disrupting enemy command and control communications when Italy is contributing to overseas contingency operations.”

Boeing subsidiary, Indian firm ink new agreement to produce unmanned vehicles: White House

Boeing subsidiary, Indian firm ink new agreement to produce unmanned vehicles: White House
Boeing subsidiary, Indian firm ink new agreement to produce unmanned vehicles: White House

The US and India have advanced several initiatives around defense cooperation in recent years.

US, India stepping up military space cooperation, including exercising

US, India stepping up military space cooperation, including exercising
US, India stepping up military space cooperation, including exercising

The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Union and the Indian Ministry of Defence’s Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) accelerator intend later this year to open two industry challenges on space domain awareness technologies.

Netherlands says first Embraer C-390 delivery from joint buy with Austria is delayed to 2027

Netherlands says first Embraer C-390 delivery from joint buy with Austria is delayed to 2027
Netherlands says first Embraer C-390 delivery from joint buy with Austria is delayed to 2027

Dutch State Secretary of Defence Christophe Van der Maat said that an original 2026 delivery timeline “turned out not to be feasible due to cooperation with Austria and negotiations with the manufacturer.”

Emirati defense giant joins forces with Indian firm with an eye towards a host of defense systems

Emirati defense giant joins forces with Indian firm with an eye towards a host of defense systems
Emirati defense giant joins forces with Indian firm with an eye towards a host of defense systems

The Emirati firm has been eyeing expansion in multiple global markets, including Latin America and East Asia, EDGE Group’s CEO Hamad Al Marar told Breaking Defense in February.

India’s quest to sell Tejas jets to Argentina gets renewed push

India’s quest to sell Tejas jets to Argentina gets renewed push
India’s quest to sell Tejas jets to Argentina gets renewed push

India is very much a geopolitical underdog in the Argentinian competition, as it is up against both the US and China.

US approves $4 billion deal to sell India 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones

US approves $4 billion deal to sell India 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones
US approves $4 billion deal to sell India 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones

The Biden administration reportedly pushed New Delhi to approve the deal on its end ahead of a state visit by Indian leader Narendra Modi in June.

Space Force, AFRL ink first non-US research agreements with Indian AI, sensor firms

Space Force, AFRL ink first non-US research agreements with Indian AI, sensor firms
Space Force, AFRL ink first non-US research agreements with Indian AI, sensor firms

While this may be the first CRADA’s between the two Indian space startups and the Space Force, neither company is a stranger to the US space market ecosystem.

UK lawmakers say ‘limited’, ‘modest’ Indo-Pacific presence not enough to address China threat

UK lawmakers say ‘limited’, ‘modest’ Indo-Pacific presence not enough to address China threat
UK lawmakers say ‘limited’, ‘modest’ Indo-Pacific presence not enough to address China threat

UK’s Defence Committee also called for greater support of Pacific nations and more clarity on the AUKUS submarine program.