In an unusual move that underscores the extent of recent damage to its military infrastructure, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has issued multiple tenders for urgent repair work at several key airbases targeted during India’s Operation Sindoor. The tenders, published publicly, point to substantial destruction at installations including PAF Airman Academy Korangi, PAF Base Murid in Chakwal, and PAF Base Masroor, among others.

Operation Sindoor was launched in early May 2025 by India in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which killed 26 people, including tourists and civilians. The Indian Air Force (IAF) targeted multiple Pakistani military sites in a swift retaliatory operation, aiming to cripple Pakistan’s offensive air capabilities.

Now, Pakistan’s invitation for bids to restore infrastructure—ranging from runways and hangars to command centers—serves as a de facto confirmation of the success and scale of India’s strikes. Tender notices indicate repair deadlines extending into late June, with PAF Base Masroor accepting bids until June 25, and PAF Base Murid setting a deadline of June 23. The repair estimates include a 100 million PKR bill at Bahawalpur Air Base alone, with the total cost likely to be far higher across the entire network of affected bases.

Independent confirmation of the damage has come from multiple international sources. The Washington Post and Maxar Technologies have published high-resolution satellite images showing cratered runways at Mushaf Air Base in Sargodha and structural damage at Sheikh Zayed International Airport. Reports also confirm casualties among PAF personnel, with at least five airmen killed at Bholari and one at Mushaf. Geospatial analyst William Goodhind stated that Indian precision strikes appeared to have specifically targeted high-value assets and hardened shelters.

Until recently, Pakistani officials downplayed the extent of the damage, dismissing Indian claims as exaggerated. However, the release of public tenders for military infrastructure—typically handled discreetly—has raised questions about Islamabad’s strategy. Analysts speculate the decision may reflect either an effort to expedite urgent reconstruction amid limited resources or a reluctant acknowledgment of the effectiveness of the Indian strikes.

Meanwhile, Indian officials have touted Operation Sindoor as a tactical and strategic victory. Satellite imagery and independent reporting from The New York Times have validated India’s claim of having inflicted significant damage, while dismissing Pakistan’s assertions of retaliatory hits on Indian military sites as baseless. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has accused Pakistan of resorting to civilian targeting in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab during the conflict, further straining diplomatic ties.

The fallout from the strikes continues to reverberate along the Line of Control and International Border, with rising ceasefire violations and drone incursions reported. As both nations harden their military postures, the long-term consequences for regional security in South Asia remain unpredictable.

The issuance of the tenders, coupled with independent assessments, marks one of the clearest signs yet of Pakistan grappling with the operational and symbolic blow dealt by India’s first major cross-border air campaign in years.

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Tuesday approved a proposal granting 20% reservation in police recruitment for former Agniveers who complete their four-year service under the Agneepath scheme.

The reservation will be horizontal, applying across all categories — General, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) — within their respective quotas. For instance, an SC candidate who is a former Agniveer will receive the benefit within the SC quota.

The reservation will be implemented in direct recruitment for the posts of Police Constable, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), Mounted Constable, and Fireman.

“The main objective of this decision is to ensure meaningful post-service employment opportunities for Agniveers, who complete their four-year tenure under the Agneepath scheme,” said Suresh Kumar Khanna, Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister, after the Cabinet meeting at Lok Bhavan.

In addition to the reservation, former Agniveers applying for these posts will be eligible for a three-year relaxation in the upper age limit. The first round of recruitment under this policy is likely to begin in 2026, in line with the return of the first batch of Agniveers.

“This decision not only honours the service of Agniveers but also ensures their continued contribution to national security in a new capacity,” the State government said in an official statement.

The Agneepath scheme, launched by the Union government, allows youth to serve in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force as Agniveers for a period of four years. In July 2024, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had announced the State’s commitment to providing employment opportunities to Agniveers in government services, particularly in the police and PAC.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is set to deliver the first Tejas Mk-1A aircraft from its new production facility in Nashik by the end of June, marking a key breakthrough for India’s indigenous fighter jet programme. The move comes just days after Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh publicly raised concerns over delays in production timelines, emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen the Indian Air Force’s combat readiness.

The delivery is part of a ₹48,000 crore contract signed in February 2021 for 83 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft, which were initially slated for induction by March 2024. HAL’s Nashik line, developed to complement the existing Bengaluru production units, was established to accelerate delivery after bottlenecks threatened to derail the programme’s schedule.

Delays have primarily been caused by late engine supplies from GE Aerospace and hold-ups in certification processes. HAL Chairman Dr. D.K. Sunil confirmed that engine deliveries have now resumed, stating, “We have all Mk-1A structures ready. Once engines arrive, rollouts will begin.” In March 2025, GE Aerospace finally handed over the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines, easing a two-year supply backlog.

The Mk-1A variant is seen as critical for modernizing the IAF’s fighter fleet, especially as legacy platforms like the MiG-21, MiG-27, and Jaguar are phased out. The timely induction of these aircraft is vital for maintaining operational strength and bridging capability gaps. In addition to the original order, the IAF is reportedly preparing to place a follow-on order for 97 more Tejas Mk-1A fighters, estimated at ₹67,000 crore, which would bring the total fleet to 180 aircraft.

To address production hurdles, the Ministry of Defence has activated a defence empowerment committee under Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The committee is exploring expanded outsourcing, including fuselage production by private firms, to improve manufacturing efficiency.

With HAL now projecting an annual output of 16–24 Mk-1A aircraft from 2025–26, the Nashik facility’s contribution is expected to be pivotal in meeting targets. The Ministry remains optimistic that the production line will stabilize over the next year, ensuring a steady supply of advanced fighters to the IAF.

The upcoming delivery from Nashik is not only a technical milestone but also a strategic signal of progress in India’s indigenous defense manufacturing efforts. It underscores the importance of timely execution as India continues to prioritise self-reliance and operational preparedness in a challenging regional security environment.

India’s defense manufacturing sector is set to achieve a major milestone as SAI Ammunition India Limited (MIL), in collaboration with Economic Explosives, a division of Reliance Infrastructure, prepares to conduct final user trials of indigenously developed 155mm artillery shells in November 2025. This initiative is a key step in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in high-end defense technologies.

The upcoming trials will assess a range of advanced 155mm shell variants, including High Explosive (HE), Smoke, and Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) rounds. The DPICM variant is of particular interest to military analysts for its effectiveness on the battlefield. Research suggests that it requires just 1.7 shells on average to neutralize a target, making it significantly more efficient than conventional HE rounds.

The new artillery shells are equipped with cutting-edge features such as fin stabilization, canard control, and a three-mode fuse that allows for delayed detonation, height of burst, and point impact explosions. Range capabilities vary from 8 to 38 kilometers, while guidance is enhanced through India’s NavIC satellite navigation system, backed up by GPS. These precision features are expected to improve strike accuracy and reduce collateral damage in high-intensity conflict scenarios.

This technological leap is underpinned by a broader strategic partnership between Reliance Defence and Germany’s Rheinmetall AG. As part of the collaboration, Reliance is developing the Dhirubhai Ambani Defence City (DADC) in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, a state-of-the-art facility projected to be among the largest of its kind in South Asia. Once operational, it will be capable of producing 200,000 artillery shells, 10,000 tons of explosives, and 2,000 tons of propellants annually.

The initiative also reflects the rising profile of Munitions India Limited, the public sector firm created after the 2021 restructuring of the Ordnance Factory Board. MIL has played a central role in supplying ammunition to India’s armed forces and export clients. In 2024, the company signed a landmark $225 million deal with Saudi Arabia for artillery ammunition, underscoring India’s growing footprint in the global arms market. There have also been unverified reports suggesting Indian-made HE ERFB BT shells may have been deployed in the Ukraine conflict.

These developments are aligned with the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) long-term vision of reducing import dependency and building domestic capability across critical defense sectors. The ongoing synergy between state entities, private industry, and international partners is expected to drive innovation and increase India’s competitiveness in global defense exports. The successful induction of indigenous 155mm shells could mark a defining moment in India’s transformation into a defense manufacturing powerhouse.