1. The 23rd MSC meeting between India and France concludes in New Delhi

The 23rd MSC (Military Sub-Committee) meeting between India and France concluded on May 12 in New Delhi. The cordial discussions focused on new initiatives and mechanisms to further strengthen ongoing bilateral defence engagements, including cooperation in cyber, space and other niche domains. Interestingly, Vice Admiral Hervé Hamelin, representing the French Joint Staff as the General in Charge of International Relations, laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi on May 12.

2. INS Sunayna, under the IOS SAGAR initiative, departs Chittagong

Under the Indian Navy’s Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) - Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative, INS Sunayna departed Chittagong port in Bangladesh. The ship had arrived at the port on May 8. INS Sunayna is an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Saryu Class of the Indian Navy. The ship conducted a bilateral PASSEX with BNS Prottoy, a Chinese Type-056 stealth surface warfare guided missile corvette of the Bangladesh Navy. Aerial assets of the Bangladesh Navy were also involved, reaffirming the shared commitment towards peace, security and interoperability in the IOR (Indian Ocean Region).

3. Borsuk IFV makes debut at IDEB-2026

Poland’s Borsuk IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) made its debut at IDEB 2026, held in Slovakia. IDEB is Slovakia’s premier defence and security exhibition. The Borsuk, or Badger, is designed to replace the BWP-1 IFV, which has been in service with the Polish Armed Forces since 1973 but is now obsolete. Interestingly, the VT-21 Vikram tracked vehicle unveiled by DRDO on April 25 has a similar front-end design to the Borsuk IFV. The IFV was fitted with the Slovak company EVPU’s Turra 30 mm turret.

4. CSG and FNSS unveil CFL-120 Karpat Medium Tank

The Czech Republic’s Czechoslovak Group and Turkish company FNSS unveiled the CFL-120 Karpat Medium Tank on May 13. The tank was unveiled at the IDEB 2026 exhibition in Slovakia. The CFL-120 is based on the FNSS Kaplan Medium Tank, which is in service with the Indonesian Army under the name Harimau tank. Italian company Leonardo’s HITFACT MK-II turret is fitted onto the CFL-120 tank and utilises a 120 mm cannon.

5. Lockheed Martin QuadStar missile completes Seeker Characterisation Flight Test

The Lockheed Martin QuadStar missile completed the Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor (NGSRI) Seeker Characterisation Flight Test (SCFT), a critical risk-reduction milestone for the programme. The test paves the way for continued trials as the U.S. Army moves into the next phase of developing a future replacement for the legacy Stinger missile, which entered service in 1981.

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.