The Indian Air Force (IAF) received its first C-295 military aircraft from Airbus in Spain today as part of a deal to procure 56 planes to replace the aging Avro fleet. Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari received the aircraft being built at the Airbus plant in Seville. The plane is expected to land at the Hindon air base in UP next week and will be officially inducted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. While 16 aircraft will be ready-to-fly from Airbus, 40 will be manufactured in India by Tata Advanced Systems Limited under the 'Make in India' initiative. The manufacturing facility in Vadodara, spread over 1.2 million sq meters like Airbus' Spanish facility, will be operational by November 2024 with the first India-made plane expected in 2026.

Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami inaugurated the 'India Pavilion' at DSEI 2023, showcasing the best of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' defence equipment. The largest ever Indian Defence Industry Delegation is participating in the DSEI 2023 at Excel, London. Speaking at the DSEI 2023 Curtain Raiser event on Monday, Doraiswami called for strengthening the India-UK defence relationship into a more "two-way partnership." The event highlights India's indigenous defence capabilities, underscoring the vast potential for deeper defence collaboration between India-UK. The India Pavilion at DSEI 2023 is an opportunity to showcase India's progress towards self-reliance in the fields defence and security.

Kent, a 6-year-old female labrador from the Indian Army's 21 Dog Unit, made the ultimate sacrifice while leading soldiers to fleeing terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. Coming under heavy fire during the encounter in Rajouri, Kent shielded her handler but succumbed at the scene. The brave canine was at the forefront of 'Operation Sujaligala' when she laid down her life in line of duty, upholding the highest traditions of the Indian Army. One terrorist and one army jawan were also killed in the clash, while 3 more jawans were injured. Kent's selfless act underscores the invaluable role of army dogs and their handlers in counterinsurgency operations.

The National Army Museum in London is hosting the exhibition: "British Indian Army: Soldiers of the First World War" which highlights the vital role of Indian soldiers during World War I. Featuring items from the museum's collections, it shows how 1.4 million Indian men served across fronts like the Western Front and Gallipoli, making up the largest volunteer force ever assembled at the time. As museum liaison Julian Farrance stated, though “overlooked” in the UK's memory, Indian troops were "absolutely vital" and their "huge contribution" played a pivotal role in the outcome of the war. The exhibition runs through till November 5, spotlighting this critical part of history.

Speaking at the DSEI 2023 curtain raiser, Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami called for strengthening the India-UK defence partnership. He said defence ties have lagged behind compared to the overall relationship between the two nations. Doraiswami advocated more two-way cooperation in technology and quick business successes in defence. With the largest Indian industry delegation present, he expressed confidence in progressing ties through platforms like DSEI. The high-level engagement shows India and UK's commitment to boosting strategic defence collaboration. Doraiswami outlined a practical vision for realizing the potential, signaling robust engagement as partners eye new initiatives at the premier UK defence event.

The largest-ever Indian defence industry delegation is visiting London for the DSEI 2023 exhibition from September 12-15. At the curtain raiser event on Sunday, UK Minister for Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan called India a trusted and valued security partner, stressing shared prosperity and security interests in the Indo-Pacific strategic region. Underscoring the British government's India-focused approach under PM Sunak, she said the UK welcomes India as a permanent UN Security Council member. Trevelyan highlighted deepening Indo-UK defence ties. The high-level Indian presence at the premier global defence event demonstrates expanding cooperation.

About six weeks ago, India's Defense Chief General Anil Chauhan commissioned a study to examine the impact of any war over Taiwan involving the US and allies, and India's potential response. This followed the US raising the issue in forums, according to senior officers who requested the names not to be disclosed. The study will assess various war scenarios and provide options for India in case a conflict breaks out. Some commanders believe strong statements may suffice initially, but more involvement may be warranted if the war drags on like Ukraine. The options will be available for Indian leaders to decide any action if needed. (Image: Taiwan Army Command HQ)

Indian Navy's Mahendragiri warship, named after an Eastern Ghats peak in Odisha, was launched in Mumbai by Sudesh Dhankhar, wife of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. This seventh ship in the Project 17A frigates series features advanced stealth capabilities, weapons, sensors, and platform management systems. Developed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, it underscores India's commitment to indigenous defense capabilities and strengthening its maritime presence, countering regional challenges, including China. Vice President Dhankhar expressed confidence that Mahendragiri will proudly represent India's maritime strength globally and contribute to safeguarding its interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

Boosting naval capabilities, India's latest stealth frigate 'Mahendragiri' will be launched on September 1 in Mumbai by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's wife Sudesh. It is the seventh frigate under Project 17A with advanced features compared to the previous Shivalik class. Four frigates are being built at Mazagon Dock and three at GRSE Kolkata under the project. The launch, comes amid the government's focus on defence self-reliance with changing Indian Ocean dynamics. President Murmu earlier launched the sixth 17A frigate 'Vindhyagiri' on August 17. All seven frigates are at different build stages and will join the navy during 2024-26 to strengthen its combat readiness.

An Indian Army contingent, comprising 137 personnel, has embarked on "Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23," a multinational joint military exercise taking place at Egypt's Mohammed Naguib Military Base from August 31 to September 14, 2023. Led by US CENTCOM and the Egyptian Army, this exercise was originally conceived during the Camp David Accord of 1977 and has evolved to include 34 countries this year. It marks the first-ever participation of the Indian Armed Forces with 549 personnel, representing the Indian Army's 23 JAT Battalion. Notably, it's the largest-ever joint military drill in the Middle East & North Africa, highlighting India's pivotal role in fostering global peace through collaborative defense efforts.