Indian Air Power

India has started developing the Integrated Indian Combat Aerial System (IICAS), which is a proposed 6th-generation air combat network designed to connect stealth fighters, autonomous drones, and unmanned strike aircraft into a single AI-driven combat network. At the center...

On March 14, 2026, the Indian Army’s Gajraj Corps carried out successful live-fire trials of the LCH Prachand in the harsh high-altitude environment of Ladakh, marking a crucial step in the helicopter’s full operational weaponization. Conducted in one of...

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is preparing to accelerate the operational readiness of the HAL Tejas Mk2 by inducting a small batch of aircraft through Limited Rate Initial Production (LRIP) well before full-scale manufacturing begins. Instead of waiting for mass...

India’s military planners are accelerating the expansion of advanced surveillance drones after operational lessons from Operation Sindoor exposed critical intelligence gaps in mountainous terrain. The May 2025 tri-service operation—launched after the Pahalgam terror attack—highlighted the growing importance of persistent...

India is exploring participation in Europe’s ambitious Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program as part of a long-term strategy to maintain technological parity with emerging sixth-generation combat aircraft. The project—led by Dassault Aviation and Airbus—is designed to field a...

India is quietly advancing a next-generation cruise missile ecosystem that could redefine long-range strike capability across Asia. As of March 2026, the Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LR-LACM) is no longer just a concept. The missile is undergoing...

India’s stealth combat drone program has entered a decisive phase. In March 2026, the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) recommended the procurement of 60 units of the Ghatak UCAV, moving the program to the final stage of approval by the...

While the Iranian Shahed-136 changed the face of modern warfare with its low-cost long-range strike capability, India’s defence ecosystem is now moving toward what analysts call the “Shahed-ization” of Indian defence technology. Several private companies are developing long-range loitering...

India’s evolving plans to acquire the Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter are increasingly being shaped by urgency rather than long-term industrial ambitions. As of March 2026, defence discussions have shifted away from a complex local manufacturing program toward a rapid...

India’s long-term fighter aviation roadmap took a decisive step forward in March 2026 as the country outlined plans to scale its upcoming indigenous 120kN fighter engine for the AMCA into a far more powerful 140kN class propulsion system. Developed...