1. AVNL inaugurates Design and Development Centre

Sanjay Dwivedi, IOFS, NDC, Chairman and Managing Director, Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, inaugurated the state-of-the-art Design & Development Centre at AVNL Ordnance Factory Medak on March 9, in the presence of Satyabrata Mukherjee, Director (OPS), and Rajiv Kumar Sharma, Director (Finance). The facility is expected to boost next-generation R&D and strengthen India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat defence ecosystem. The Centre will drive advanced research and development in line with AVNL’s vision of becoming a world-class armoured vehicle manufacturer for the Indian Army and paramilitary forces, as well as a trusted global brand for domestic and international customers.

2. SMPP secures additional orders for bulletproof jackets

SMPP Limited is on track for the timely execution of its order for 40,000 Bullet Proof Jackets (BPJs) for India’s paramilitary forces, including the Border Security Force, CISF and Sashastra Seema Bal. This is in addition to the most advanced BPJs offering protection from armour-piercing bullets that are being supplied by SMPP to the CRPF and the Indian Army.

Of the total order quantity, around 28,000 BPJs have already been delivered. The remaining units are scheduled for delivery in the next financial year, in line with contractual timelines.

In recognition of SMPP’s timely deliveries and consistent product quality, the paramilitary forces have placed an additional order for approximately 10,000 Bullet Proof Jackets, taking the cumulative order quantity to 50,000 units.

3. Indonesia enters an agreement with India on BrahMos missiles

Indonesia has agreed with India to procure the BrahMos missile system, according to a report by Reuters. While the deal has not yet been formally signed, discussions are already underway. If finalised, Indonesia will become the second country after the Philippines to acquire the BrahMos missile system.

4. Defence Secretary releases Manual of Security Instructions–2026

Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh released the Manual of Security Instructions–2026 at South Block today. Emphasising the need for heightened vigilance amid evolving threats, he urged strict adherence to security protocols to ensure a safe and secure environment across the Ministry of Defence.

5. Bell completes critical design review

Bell Textron has completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) programme. The milestone clears the way for Bell to begin building the next-generation aircraft demonstrator, recently designated as the X-76.

In July 2025, Bell announced it had been down-selected for Phase 2 of the programme, marking the latest chapter in its 90-year history of X-plane development. The SPRINT programme, jointly funded by DARPA and U.S. Special Operations Command, aims to advance runway-independent technologies that can be scaled across different military aircraft. The aircraft being developed is designed to cruise at speeds of 400 to 450 knots at operational altitudes while retaining the ability to hover in austere environments and operate from unprepared surfaces.

In Phases 1A and 1B, Bell completed the conceptual and preliminary design work for the SPRINT X-plane. Phase 2 will involve detailed design, construction and ground testing, culminating in flight testing during Phase 3.

Chakra Desk

Chakra News is a specialised digital media platform committed to in-depth coverage of India’s defence, national security, geopolitics, and critical technologies.