Defence & Security

Defence news in June ran across four broad tracks: record production numbers and policy reform, missile and platform testing, new inductions and commissionings, and a busy calendar of international engagement — exercises, dialogues and warship diplomacy. This chapter treats each in turn.

8.1 The Big Numbers

India's annual defence production hit an all-time high of ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025–26, a 15.6% jump over FY 2024–25's ₹1.54 lakh crore. Set against a longer horizon, the growth is even more striking: production stood at just ₹84,643 crore in FY 2020–21, meaning the FY26 figure represents a 110% increase in five years. Indigenous defence production specifically has grown almost fourfold since FY 2013–14, when it stood at ₹43,746 crore.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released a revised Delegation of Financial Powers for the Defence Services on 4 June, roughly doubling the financial powers available to field commanders in many cases — a change meant to speed up contract finalisation and project execution at the operational level. Powers specifically tied to indigenisation and R&D were also doubled, explicitly framed as a push toward Aatmanirbharta and reduced dependence on foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers. Later in the month, on 29 June, Singh released a parallel Delegation of Financial Powers to DRDO (DFP-2026), aimed at giving the Defence Research and Development Organisation greater financial autonomy for faster execution of strategic R&D projects and quicker induction of indigenously developed systems into the armed forces.

On the export side, India signed a BrahMos missile export agreement with Vietnam worth roughly USD 629 million (~₹60 billion), announced by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. This makes Vietnam the second overseas BrahMos customer, after the Philippines, which signed a USD 375 million deal in 2022.

8.2 Tests, Trials and New Weapon Systems

The Indian Army completed operational trials of Divyastra Mk-1, an AI-powered tactical loitering munition — effectively a UAV designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and precision strike — at Jodhpur, Rajasthan. It was developed by Hoverit, a Lucknow-based defence-tech startup, with approximately 95% indigenous content.

DRDO and the Indian Air Force successfully flight-tested the indigenous RudraM-II air-to-surface missile, designed for Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD/DEAD) missions, under extreme release conditions and along a critical flight trajectory from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha; all onboard subsystems validated as expected, with the missile striking a predefined target with pinpoint precision.

DRDO also carried out three consecutive flight-tests of India's Integrated Multi-Layered Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) System, on 10–11 June, part of Phase-II of the country's BMD Programme, demonstrating the ability to detect, track, intercept and neutralise both long-range (5,000 km) and medium-range (2,000 km) ballistic missile threats — again from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur. In the same test window, DRDO conducted the maiden flight-test of the indigenous Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Medium Range (NASM-MR), adding to India's anti-ship warfare capability.

DRDO handed the Indian Air Force Final Operational Clearance for the indigenous Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System, developed through close DRDO–IAF–industry collaboration to enhance airborne surveillance, situational awareness and battle management.

At the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Panchkula, Haryana, DRDO conducted a high-calibre conventional bomb trial, validating a bomb designed to serve as a warhead for IAF missiles and other air-dropped munitions.

Separately, India tested "Garudastra," a 120mm indigenous vehicle-mounted mortar system built by Nibe Limited, at the Infantry School, Mhow, Madhya Pradesh — one of India's heaviest indigenous vehicle-mounted mortar systems, operable by a two-member crew and deployable in under 30 seconds.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh performed the Bhoomi Pujan for a 10,000-tonne aluminium extrusion press at Ordnance Factory Ambajhari, Nagpur, in the presence of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis — developed under Yantra India Limited to produce large, complex aluminium alloy profiles and reduce import dependence in critical defence materials. The Ministry of Defence separately granted in-principle approval for a ₹500 crore National Military Drone Technology Hub at IIT Kanpur, offering full-stack capability — design, testing, certification of military payloads, ground stations and counter-drone systems — with the Army Design Bureau serving as coordination point between MoD, IIT Kanpur and the Uttar Pradesh government.

8.3 Inductions, Commissionings and Retirements

The Indian Navy commissioned three indigenously built frontline warships in Kolkata on 21 June, in a ceremony presided over by the Prime Minister: INS Dunagiri, the fifth Project 17A stealth frigate, armed with BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles and Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles; INS Sanshodhak, the fourth large Survey Vessel, equipped with Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and Remotely Operated Vehicles for hydrographic and oceanographic work; and INS Agray, the fourth Arnala-class anti-submarine warfare shallow-water craft, fitted with lightweight torpedoes, indigenous rocket launchers and shallow-water sonar. All three were designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata.

The Indian Coast Guard inducted the first of six indigenous Air Cushion Vehicles (hovercraft), built by Chowgule & Company, in Goa on 18 June, and separately commissioned ICGS Akshay, a new-generation Fast Patrol Vessel, at Goa Shipyard Limited on 27 June. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders laid the keel of the 4th Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel for the Coast Guard (one of six being built under the NGOPV programme) on 25 June in Mumbai.

The Navy retired its Sea King Mk42B helicopter fleet — nicknamed the "Flying Frigates" — after 36 years of anti-submarine-warfare service, procured between 1989 and 1990 and operated by Indian Naval Air Squadron 330 ("the Harpoons"); the decommissioning ceremony ended with a final ceremonial flight from INS Shikra, Colaba, Mumbai.

New equipment contracts signed during the month: a ₹449 crore deal with Accord Software and Systems Private Limited for 20 indigenous Enhanced Capability GNSS Jammers for the Navy (minimum 75% indigenous content, under the Buy Indian-IDDM category); a ₹425 crore deal with Bharat Forge Limited for 12 sets of 1.25 MW Marine Gas Turbine Generators for the Navy (minimum 60% indigenous content, Buy Indian category); the Israeli MEPRO X6 telescopic day sight selected for the Army's NEGEV light machine guns, to be locally manufactured via a Transfer of Technology agreement between Meprolight (Israel) and RRP Defense, with Bharat Electronics Limited as prime contractor; and delivery of the first 41 of 217 JK 250e electric UAS drones to the Army's Southern Command in Nashik, from Drogo Aerospace, under a ₹72 crore contract (the remaining 176 drones due by August 2026).

8.4 People, Honours and Institutional Milestones

Phase-I of the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 saw President Murmu confer 7 Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras and 29 Shaurya Chakras at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 8 June. Among the awardees, Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair — a Gaganyaan astronaut-designate who had earlier served as backup astronaut for the Axiom-4 mission to the ISS — received a Kirti Chakra.

The first batch of NDA-trained women cadets was commissioned as officers, a genuinely historic milestone: 17 women who joined the National Defence Academy in August 2022 as part of the 148th Course completed tri-service pre-commission training following the 2021 Supreme Court judgment that opened NDA examinations to women. Nine were commissioned into the Army at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun (13 June); five into the Air Force at the Air Force Academy; and three into the Navy at the Indian Naval Academy. The IAF's Combined Graduation Parade for the 217th Course, at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, was reviewed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 13 June, and included personnel from the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and Vietnam's armed forces, alongside the presentation of "Wings" and "Brevets."

INS Chilka held the Passing Out Parade for Batch 01/26 on 12 June — 3,011 trainees, including 2,746 Navy Agniveers (116 of them women) and 265 Coast Guard Naviks — completing 16 weeks of ab-initio training, reviewed by Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan as chief guest.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath jointly inaugurated "Nausena Shaurya Vatika," an open-air naval heritage museum in Lucknow, built for ₹19 crore across two-plus acres, displaying artefacts and weapon systems from the decommissioned INS Gomati (retired 2022 after 34 years of service). Rajnath Singh noted during the inauguration that India's defence production has grown from ₹46,000 crore in 2014 to over ₹1.51 lakh crore today — a figure that should be read alongside the FY26 record of ₹1.78 lakh crore mentioned above; both numbers circulate in different releases and are worth knowing separately.

The Ministry of Defence increased the number of National Cadet Corps (NCC) State Directorates from 17 to 19, adding independent directorates for Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand to improve administration, coordination and support for cadet training. The Indian Armed Forces launched "Operation DRISHTI," an Army–Air Force eye-care outreach programme, running a Mega Advanced Surgical Eye Camp at Military Hospital Namkum, Ranchi (15–19 June), aiming to restore vision for more than 200 beneficiaries, led by Brigadier Dr. Sanjay Kumar Mishra of the Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that "Mission Sudarshan Chakra," announced by PM Modi during the Independence Day address of 15 August 2025, is being developed as a modern, multi-tier missile defence shield offering three-layered protection for military and civil infrastructure, with full integration targeted by 2035 through collaboration between the military, research institutions and the private sector.

8.5 Rescue Operations and Incident Response

The Indian Coast Guard's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Mumbai, coordinated with Oman's Maritime Search and Rescue Centre after a missile attack struck the Palau-flagged tanker MT Marivex, anchored off Masirah, Oman, on 8 June, ensuring the safety of the 24 Indian crew members aboard through sustained cross-border coordination.

The Indian Navy carried out a high-risk Explosive Ordnance Disposal operation to recover an unexploded missile warhead from the crude-oil tanker MT Olympic Life, which had reported an explosion in its hull while transiting off Oman on 26 May, en route from Fujairah, UAE, to Kochi; the vessel had no Indian nationals aboard, and the alert reached the Navy via the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region.

The IAF deployed Cheetah and Mi-17 V5 helicopters for a continuous day-and-night aerial firefighting operation against a nearly 10-hectare forest fire in the Kasauli Beat area of Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, threatening residential areas and military installations, in close coordination with the state administration and Forest Department.

8.6 Exercises, Deployments and Defence Diplomacy

India–Australia: The second India–Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue was co-chaired by Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy PM & Defence Minister Richard Marles in New Delhi on 1 June, reaffirming support for a free, open, rules-based Indo-Pacific under UNCLOS (1982). As co-leads of the Indian Ocean Rim Association's Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security, the two countries agreed to jointly host a Search & Rescue exercise and tabletop exercise in Chennai.

India–Zimbabwe: The two countries held their first-ever Joint Defence Committee meeting in New Delhi on 4 June, co-chaired by India's Amitabh Prasad and Zimbabwe's Aaron Daniel Tonde Nhepera (who led a 12-member delegation), agreeing to expand cooperation on training, common-platform maintenance, joint manufacturing, counter-terrorism, border management and peacekeeping.

India–Thailand: The 10th Thailand–India Defence Dialogue took place in Bangkok on 16 June, co-chaired by Thailand's Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence Admiral Nuttapol Diewvanich and India's Joint Secretary (MoD) Satyajit Mohanty.

Multilateral exercises: The 23rd edition of Exercise Khaan Quest, a UN-mandated peace-support-operations exercise, runs in Mongolia from 20 June to 3 July at the Five Hills Training Area, Ulaanbaatar, with a 40-strong Indian Army contingent including troops from the JAT Regiment. The IAF will join Exercise Pitch Black 2026, one of the Indo-Pacific's largest air-combat exercises, hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force in Australia's Northern Territory from 20 July to 7 August.

Warship diplomacy: A steady rhythm of naval port calls ran through the month — INS Sharda at Colombo, Sri Lanka (departed 13 June, after training and cross-deck exchanges with the Sri Lankan Navy); INS Tarkash at Port Louis, Mauritius (arrived 20 June); INS Udaygiri and INS Kavaratti at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (arrived 22 June), later joined by INS Shakti at Sattahip, Thailand — all under the Eastern Fleet's Rear Admiral Alok Ananda; INS Ikshak at Port Victoria, Seychelles (arrived 26 June, coinciding with the country's 50th National Day); and INS Sudarshini — the Navy's sail training ship — at Baltimore, USA (26 June), as part of the "Lokayan 26" trans-oceanic voyage that transited the historic Chesapeake & Delaware Canal.

The IAF airlifted sacred Buddhist relics — of Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Mahamoggallana, chief disciples of Gautama Buddha — from Delhi to Mongolia aboard an IL-76 "Gajraj" strategic airlifter, in support of India's cultural diplomacy.

Finally, the Border Roads Organisation marked two Raising Days this month: Project UDAYAK's 37th Raising Day, in Doomdooma, Assam, celebrating three decades of building over 1,457 km of road network across Anjaw, Lohit, Dibang Valley, Longding, Tirap and Changlang districts near the Line of Actual Control and the Indo-Myanmar border; and Project BRAHMANK's 16th Raising Day, at Ranaghat, Arunachal Pradesh (raised on 29 June 2011, operational from 3 December 2011), responsible for strategic road infrastructure across Siang, East Siang, West Siang, Upper Siang and Shi-Yomi districts plus parts of Assam's Dhemaji district.

Chapter 8 Quiz

1. What is India's record defence production figure for FY26, and how does it compare with FY21? — ₹1.78 lakh crore, up 110% from FY21's ₹84,643 crore
2. Which is India's second BrahMos export customer, after the Philippines, and what is the deal's value? — Vietnam, ~USD 629 million
3. Name the three indigenous warships commissioned in Kolkata on 21 June. — INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak, INS Agray
4. How many women cadets from the NDA's 148th Course were commissioned as officers, and across which three academies? — 17, via IMA Dehradun (Army), AFA (Air Force) and INA (Navy)
5. What missile system did DRDO test that provides Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defences capability? — RudraM-II
6. Which helicopter fleet did the Navy retire after 36 years of service? — The Sea King Mk42B ("Flying Frigates")
7. What target year has been set for full integration of "Mission Sudarshan Chakra"? — 2035
8. Which two Indian states got new independent NCC Directorates, taking the total to 19? — Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand
9. What tanker was the site of a Navy EOD operation to remove an unexploded missile warhead? — MT Olympic Life
10. Which multilateral exercise is India's Army contingent attending in Mongolia this year, and which edition is it? — Exercise Khaan Quest, 23rd edition

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