1. Deputy Chief of Naval Staff meets the Prime Minister of Bahrain

Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy, called on HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces & Prime Minister of Bahrain, at Riffa Palace on 10 February. Discussions were focused on strengthening bilateral ties & naval cooperation in fields including Information Sharing, Joint Training, Capacity Building and Future Warfare.

2. Indian Air Force to conduct Exercise Vayu Shakti-2026

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will demonstrate its prowess through Exercise Vayushakti-26 at the Pokhran Air-to-Ground Range, Jaisalmer, on 27 February 2026. In Vayushakti, IAF will validate its ability to punish the enemy rapidly, dominate the operational environment from the outset and decisively influence the course of operations by transforming tactical actions into strategic outcomes.

The exercise will also showcase glimpses of IAF's role in humanitarian assistance & disaster management by providing rapid airlift and rescue & evacuation from conflict zones within the country as well as abroad. Full spectrum operations by fighter, transport and helicopter platforms, including Tejas, Rafale, Jaguar, Mirage-2000, Sukhoi- 30MKI, MiG-29, Hawk, C-130J, C-295, C-17, Chetak, ALH MK-IV, Mi-17 IV, LCH, Apache, Chinook and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) will be executed. The exercise will also feature advanced weapon systems such as Short-Range Loitering Munitions (SRLM), Akash, Spyder air defence system and Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS), carrying out day, dusk and night missions. 

3. Indian Navy assumes its first-ever command of the Combined Task Force 154

In a landmark development, the Indian Navy has assumed command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 154, a key multinational training task force under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

CTF 154, established in May 2023, is dedicated to enhancing maritime security through multinational training programs across the Middle East and the wider region.

The change of command ceremony was conducted on 11 February at CMF Headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, and was presided over by Vice Admiral Curt A Renshaw, Commander, CMF / US NAVCENT / US Fifth Fleet. Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS), Indian Navy, and senior military leaders from other member nations were in attendance. Commodore Milind M Mokashi, Shaurya Chakra, of the Indian Navy, formally took over as Commander CTF 154 from the outgoing Commander of the Italian Navy.

CTF 154 is specifically oriented towards training and capacity building of member nations of CMF. India's leadership of CTF 154 is indicative of the region's growing trust in India’s professional expertise, operational experience, and a role as a Preferred Security Partner among the 47 nations of the CMF.
 

4. Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces delegation visits Indian Air Force facilities at Lucknow

A 4-member delegation from the Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces (RSADF) visited Indian Air Force facilities at Lucknow as part of the Defence Cooperation training exchange program. The delegation was briefed on operations and training aspects and given a tour of the station and other attractions in the city. The engagement fostered valuable discussions on potential collaborations between the Armed Forces.

5. US Coast Guard completes contract awards for 11 Arctic Cutters

The U.S. Coast Guard announced today it has completed the award of contracts for 11 Arctic Security Cutters, fulfilling President Trump’s directive to rapidly expand America’s icebreaker fleet. The latest award is for the construction of up to five Arctic Security Cutters, bringing the President’s initial order to completion.

The contract awarded today builds on previous awards announced on December 29, 2025, and delivers the 11 Arctic Security Cutters directed by the President. Together, these cutters will form the backbone of a revitalised U.S. icebreaker fleet, protecting U.S. sovereignty and dominance in the Arctic.

6. US Marine Corps selects GA-ASI for MUX TACAIR Collaborative Combat Aircraft

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) was competitively selected by the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) for evaluation in the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The agreement integrates GA-ASI’s expertise in autonomy and uncrewed aircraft systems with a government-provided mission package, using the YFQ-42A platform as a surrogate to evaluate integration with crewed fighters.

The contract initiates integration of a Marine Corps mission kit into the YFQ-42A surrogate platform for assessment within the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). The USMC contract includes the rapid development of autonomy for the government-supplied mission kit i.e., a sensor-rich, software-defined suite capable of delivering kinetic and non-kinetic effects, for use in expeditionary operations. This work will support evaluations of future MUX TACAIR capabilities.

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.