RudraM-II Air-to-Surface Missile Trials

1 June 2026National

In early June 2026, DRDO and the IAF successfully flight-tested the RudraM-II air-to-surface missile from an airborne platform under extreme release conditions, demonstrating the maturity of India's indigenous precision-strike weapons.

ShareWhatsApp Telegram

More International Current Affairs

DRDO's DLRL Develops Man-Portable ELINT Modules to Detect Enemy Radars and Counter Drones

The Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL), Hyderabad, under DRDO, has begun developing man-portable Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) modules for radar identification, electronic warfare, emitter localisation and counter-drone operations. The system uses antennas and receivers to capture signals across frequency bands, with digital signal processing and machine learning separating overlapping emissions and identifying radar signatures. It continues a run of DRDO 2026 announcements that includes armour panels about 20% lighter than existing systems, which resist 30 mm armour-piercing ammunition and meet STANAG 4569 Level 6 protection for future main battle tanks, light tanks and Future Infantry Combat Vehicles, developed by R&DE(E), Pune.

GK ByteDRDO was established in 1958 and functions under the Department of Defence Research and Development, Ministry of Defence, with headquarters at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi | ELINT stands for Electronic Intelligence and is a branch of signals intelligence (SIGINT) dealing with non-communication electronic emissions such as radar | STANAG is a NATO Standardization Agreement; STANAG 4569 defines protection levels for occupants of armoured vehicles

📅 21 Oct 2026InternationalRead complete →

Embraer to Take 51% in Novavayu Aerospace with Mahindra Defence to Offer the C-390 for the IAF

Brazil's Embraer S.A. signed an agreement with Mahindra Defence Systems Limited (MDSL) to acquire a 51% stake in Novavayu Aerospace Limited (NAL), with completion expected by 1 December 2026. Post-deal ownership will be Embraer 51% and MDSL 49%, making NAL an associate company rather than a wholly owned subsidiary. The joint venture will promote the C-390 Millennium transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force's Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme, which seeks to replace the ageing An-32 fleet. NAL was incorporated on 29 July 2026 in Mumbai. The tie-up follows a run of 2026 aerospace deals including HAL's GE F404-IN20 engine deliveries for the LCA Mk1A.

GK ByteEmbraer is headquartered at Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, and is among the world's largest commercial aircraft makers after Airbus and Boeing | The C-390 Millennium is a twin-engine medium military transport aircraft that also performs aerial refuelling | India's Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 governs capital defence procurement under the Ministry of Defence

📅 21 Oct 2026InternationalRead complete →

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh Flies His Final Sortie in an HJT-16 Kiran at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flew the last sortie of his career on 20 October 2026, a 55-minute flight in an HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 (tail number U 707) from the Air Force Academy at Dundigal, near Hyderabad, with his first flying instructor, retired Wing Commander V.S. Kochar. Singh had begun flying training on the same type on 28 January 1984, and got a water cannon salute on landing. His final fighter sortie was in a Tejas on 12 October 2026 during Exercise Tarang Shakti at Jodhpur. The HAL-built Kiran first flew in 1964 and entered service in 1968.

GK ByteThe Air Force Academy at Dundigal, near Hyderabad, was established in 1969 and trains cadets for the IAF's flying and ground-duty branches | HJT stands for Hindustan Jet Trainer; HAL was founded in 1940 at Bangalore as Hindustan Aircraft Limited | The Indian Air Force was formed on 8 October 1932 and its motto is 'Nabha Sparsham Deeptam'

📅 20 Oct 2026InternationalRead complete →

Fifth Edition of India-Australia Exercise AUSTRAHIND Begins at Thiruvananthapuram with New Zealand as First-Time Observer

The fifth edition of Exercise AUSTRAHIND, the India-Australia joint military exercise, began on 19 October 2026 at the Foreign Training Node, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) and runs until 1 November 2026. About 240 soldiers are taking part, roughly 120 from each army. The theme is 'Joint Sub-Conventional Operations in Island and Coastal Environment under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate', with drills in surveillance and reconnaissance, protection of vital installations, coastal and island operations and HADR. New Zealand sent an observer delegation for the first time. The fourth edition was held at Irwin Barracks, Perth, Australia, from 13 to 26 October 2025.

GK ByteExercise AUSTRAHIND was first held in 2022 at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan | Australia's capital is Canberra and its currency is the Australian Dollar | Other India-Australia military exercises include the naval AUSINDEX and the multilateral Malabar exercise, which Australia rejoined in 2020

📅 19 Oct 2026InternationalRead complete →

See all Defence →All Current Affairs