In a significant step toward enhancing bilateral defense cooperation, Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, met with Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani, Vice Chief of the Army Staff of India, in New Delhi today. The high-level meeting focused on deepening military-to-military engagement and reinforcing a shared commitment to regional security and global peace.

The discussions centered on strengthening defense ties rooted in historical cooperation, notably the 1987 Indo-Sri Lankan Accord, which marked India’s military involvement in the Sri Lankan Civil War through the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF). Despite the IPKF’s heavy toll—with over 1,200 Indian soldiers lost—the experience significantly shaped India’s counterinsurgency strategies and continues to influence its regional military posture.

Lieutenant General Rodrigo’s visit also included a briefing on OPERATION SINDOOR, a recent precision strike by Indian Armed Forces targeting terrorist infrastructure. The operation reflects India’s assertive stance on counter-terrorism and aligns with the broader goals of the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), which promotes maritime intelligence sharing with partner nations, including Sri Lanka, to combat piracy and check China’s expanding naval influence.

The visit featured ceremonial elements as well, including a Guard of Honour at South Block and a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial, symbolizing respect for fallen soldiers and the enduring defense partnership between the two countries.

In parallel, conversations are intensifying in India around preserving military heritage, with calls to restore iconic wartime imagery from the 1971 India-Pakistan War. That historic victory, which led to the creation of Bangladesh, remains central to India’s military legacy and is increasingly seen as a source of inspiration for contemporary strategic thinking.

Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) will showcase its indigenous ALS-50 loitering munition at the upcoming Paris Air Show, following its recent operational success during engagements with Pakistan. The move marks a significant milestone for India’s defense industry, with the ALS-50 drawing international interest for its precision and performance in modern combat scenarios.

Developed by TASL, the ALS-50 represents a new generation of loitering munitions designed for high-efficiency tactical missions. Its successful deployment demonstrated its capabilities in enhancing India’s strike options with minimal collateral damage, aligning with the evolving needs of asymmetric and conventional warfare.

The Paris Air Show, one of the world’s leading aerospace exhibitions, offers a major platform for TASL to display the technological sophistication of the ALS-50. The participation underscores India’s growing focus on defense exports and self-reliance under the Make in India initiative.

TASL’s presence at the show is expected to generate interest from international buyers and defense partners, reinforcing the company’s role as a key player in the global defense manufacturing landscape.

In a significant step toward enhancing regional security, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff of India, met with Lieutenant General BKGML Rodrigo, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, at the Naval Headquarters in New Delhi today. The meeting, held earlier this afternoon, focused on deepening bilateral defence cooperation amid growing maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean region.

The two leaders discussed key areas of collaboration, including joint training exercises, capacity-building initiatives, and strategies to address shared threats such as piracy and illegal fishing. Recent data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) indicates a 50% rise in maritime security incidents in the region since 2020, underscoring the urgency of these discussions. The meeting also highlighted the importance of collective efforts to foster stability and strengthen partnerships between the two maritime nations.

This engagement builds on a history of military cooperation, notably the joint operations against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009, and comes at a time when China’s growing influence in the region—exemplified by its 99-year lease of Hambantota Port since 2017—has raised strategic concerns. The discussions align with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy, which aims to promote peace and economic development through maritime collaboration. A 2024 study by the RAND Corporation suggests that such joint naval exercises can reduce regional tensions by up to 30%, reinforcing the potential impact of today’s talks.

The meeting underscores the enduring friendship between India and Sri Lanka, with both nations committing to further enhance their defence ties. Future collaborations are expected to include increased naval interactions and joint efforts to counter emerging security threats, marking a new chapter in their bilateral relationship.

In a significant development for India’s air combat capabilities, the government is actively considering Russia’s proposal to supply and co-produce the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet. Sources told CNBC-TV18 that there are no current plans to acquire the American F-35, despite earlier speculation, as India focuses on self-reliance and rapid force replenishment.

The move comes amid mounting pressure to upgrade the Indian Air Force’s fighter strength, which currently stands at just 31 operational squadrons against the sanctioned 42. In contrast, China has added over 435 fighter and ground attack aircraft in the past decade while India has lost 151, creating a pressing need to regain regional air dominance.

The Russian proposal includes complete technology transfer, opening the door for India to integrate indigenous systems like AESA radars, advanced avionics, and native weaponry under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) existing Su-30 production line in Nashik offers a ready infrastructure base to support co-production, further tipping the scales in Russia’s favor.

At the India Today Conclave 2025, Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov called the Su-57 “the best combat aircraft currently flying,” highlighting its performance at Aero India 2025 and reiterating Moscow’s willingness to share technology and set up joint manufacturing in India.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence is expected to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program next week. This will be followed by a pre-bid meeting within 15 days and formal bid invitations within 45 days. The government aims to create a level playing field for private and public sector firms under the new AMCA execution model, opening the door for broader industrial participation.

As the AMCA is still in its early development phase, India is also considering medium-term options to bridge the immediate fighter gap. Among these is the co-development of fifth-generation jet engines with global giants Safran (France) and Rolls Royce (UK), both of whom have proposed full technology transfers to India.

Defence Secretary and Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh have both publicly acknowledged the urgent requirement of acquiring 35–40 fighter jets per year to meet the IAF’s operational needs. A three-pronged approach has therefore been adopted, covering short-term imports or co-productions, mid-term capability enhancements, and long-term indigenous development through AMCA and associated engine programs.

The Su-57’s potential induction marks a critical intersection of geopolitical alignment, defense modernization, and industrial strategy—offering India both immediate relief and long-term leverage in the fifth-generation fighter space.

India is preparing to test its most advanced indigenously developed hypersonic weapon, the Extended Trajectory-Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM), developed under the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s classified initiative, Project Vishnu.

The ET-LDHCM is capable of reaching speeds of Mach 8 (approximately 11,000 km/h) and delivering precision strikes up to 1,500 kilometres away. Designed for both conventional and nuclear missions, the missile can carry warheads weighing between 1,000 and 2,000 kg. Its velocity, low-altitude flight path, and advanced manoeuvrability make it highly resistant to current radar detection and air defence systems.

At the heart of the missile is an advanced scramjet engine, allowing it to sustain hypersonic speeds using atmospheric oxygen. DRDO has already completed a successful 1,000-second ground test of this propulsion system. Built with heat- and oxidation-resistant materials, the missile can withstand temperatures up to 2,000°C during flight.

Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, the ET-LDHCM is capable of mid-course corrections, flies at low altitudes, and can be launched from land-based systems, aircraft, or naval platforms. These features significantly enhance India’s tactical and strategic flexibility, allowing it to target enemy command centres, radar installations, and heavily fortified positions.

This marks India’s second major hypersonic development in under a year, following its long-range hypersonic test in November 2024. Defence experts believe the ET-LDHCM could shift the regional power balance, bolstering India’s deterrence posture against China and Pakistan.

Beyond its military implications, the technology behind the ET-LDHCM has potential civilian applications in aerospace and disaster response. The project has also catalysed innovation in India’s private sector, involving multiple MSMEs and defence firms, thereby contributing to economic growth and indigenous capability building.

Once testing is complete, the ET-LDHCM is expected to be deployed across all three military services, solidifying India’s readiness for future high-speed, high-intensity conflicts.