1. Chief of the Air Staff flies MiG-29 UPG formation sortie

Air Chief Marshal Amarpreet Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, flew an operational formation sortie on the MiG-29 UPG from a forward airbase on March 12. The formation was led by Flight Lieutenant Parvinder Singh. The aircraft executed a precise and smart peel-off manoeuvre over the runway. The Chief of the Air Staff also interacted with aircrew, technicians, and veterans, and was briefed on the squadron’s operational role and its 63-year legacy of safeguarding the nation’s skies.

2. US Army Pacific Command Deputy Commanding General meets Chief of the Army Staff

Lieutenant General Joel B Vowell, Deputy Commanding General of the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC), met General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff. The two leaders discussed avenues to further strengthen the India–US defence partnership. The interaction focused on regional security in the Indo-Pacific, enhancing interoperability through joint military exercises, and exploring new avenues of engagement to deepen military-to-military cooperation across multiple domains. The meeting reaffirmed the growing strategic convergence and shared commitment of both armies to addressing emerging security challenges.

3. Indian Army Northern Command and SIDM sign MoU for North Tech Symposium 2026

The Indian Army’s Northern Command and SIDM (Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi on March 12 for the Raksha Triveni Sangam – North Tech Symposium 2026.

The signing of the MoU marks the formal commencement of preparations for the flagship event, North Tech Symposium 2026, which aims to foster strategic collaboration. The curtain-raiser for Raksha Triveni Sangam – North Tech Symposium 2026 will be held on 25 March 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The main event will be jointly hosted under the aegis of Northern Command and Central Command at Prayagraj from 4 to 6 May 2026.

North Tech Symposium 2026 will serve as a focused and unified platform for the defence industry and start-ups to showcase their technical capabilities, equipment, and innovative solutions to enhance the operational efficiency of the Indian Army.

4. Two US military KC-135 Stratotankers involved in incident

Two US military KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft were involved in an incident. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that one of the aircraft landed safely, while the second crashed in western Iraq. CENTCOM denied reports that the aircraft was shot down due to friendly fire.

The KC-135 Stratotanker is based on the Boeing 367-80 prototype, often referred to as the “Dash 80”, which was developed alongside the Boeing 707 airliner. While related to the 707, the KC-135 features a narrower fuselage and a shorter design.

5. China AI startup tracking US military deployments from space

A Chinese artificial intelligence startup is drawing global attention after publishing near-real-time satellite imagery tracking US military deployments across the Middle East and sharing the data online, according to a report by thedefensepost.com.

The company, MizarVision, has released high-resolution images showing American bases, fighter jets, warships, and missile defence systems across the conflict-ridden region. The images appear on social media platforms such as Weibo and X, often annotated and labelled using AI.

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.