1. India, Australia kick off exercise AUSTRAHIND 2025

The opening ceremony of the fourth edition of the Indian and Australian Army's military exercise, AUSTRAHIND 2025, on October 13 began in Perth.

The exercise focuses on enhancing interoperability and operational readiness, enabling both armies to execute joint company-level operations in urban and semi-urban terrain, according to a post on X by the Indian Army.

The exercise, which comes in the backdrop of the recently concluded visit by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Australia, shows how the exercise further reinforces growing defence cooperation and the enduring camaraderie between the two nations, strengthening mutual trust and partnership. In one of the several interactions in Australia, Singh has hailed the India-Australia ties and said that the countries are standing at a "pivotal juncture" to reposition their defence relations, not merely a but as co-creators of a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific

2.    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warns Af-Pak hostilities could resume anytime

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on October 14 that there are currently "no ties" between Islamabad and Kabul following Afghanistan's unprovoked attack on the Pak-Afghan border over the weekend, Dawn reported.

Speaking on Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada ke Saath, Asif said, "It's a stalemate right now. You can say there are no active hostilities, but the environment is hostile. There are no ties, direct or indirect, as of today."

The defence minister said that hostilities between the two countries could resume "at any time," adding that "we cannot lower our guard."

3.    India and France enhance defence cooperation

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi met with his French counterpart, General Pierre Schill, here on Monday, as they held discussions on a range of subjects, including expanding joint training exercises, counter-terrorism cooperation, and defence technology collaboration, officials said.

The two chiefs also reaffirmed the "robust Indo-French strategic partnership", they said.

The meeting at South Block took place ahead of the United Nations Troop Contributing Countries' (UNTCC) Chiefs Conclave to be hosted by India in Delhi from October 14-16.

4.    Tomahawk cruise missile deliveries to Ukraine may end in disaster for all: Medvedev

Deliveries of US Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine for deep strikes inside Russia could result in disaster for all the sides, former Russian president and current deputy chair of the National Security Council Dmitry Medvedev warned on October 13.

"The delivery of those missiles would not be good for anyone," he warned in a post on Russia's homegrown Max messenger.

"It is impossible to differentiate between the nuclear version of the Tomahawks from the conventional one, and their launch would be controlled by the United States," Medvedev said.

5.    World leaders throw their weight behind Gaza ceasefire deal

World leaders gathered on October 13 in Egypt for a summit aimed at supporting the ceasefire reached in Gaza, ending the Israel-Hamas war, and developing a long-term vision to rebuild the devastated Palestinian territory.

Before the summit co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi and U.S. President Donald Trump began, El-Sissi hailed Trump as the "only one" able to bring peace to the region.

More than 20 world leaders attended the summit, including King Abdullah of Jordan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the French president, and the British prime minister.

6.    Oshkosh Defense unveils drone trucks

US military truck manufacturer Oshkosh unveiled its family of drone trucks at AUSA 2025. The 2025 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition is a major defense sector event taking place in Washington, D.C., from October 13 to October 15, 2025. It is the largest land power exposition and professional development forum in North America, highlighting the capabilities of Army organizations and showcasing industry products and services.  At AUSA, Oshkosh will showcase three production-ready variants from its FMAV portfolio:

• Extreme Multi-Mission Autonomous Vehicle (X-MAV): The Oshkosh X-MAV is a purpose-built, autonomous-capable launcher solution that is engineered to support the future of long-range munitions. With a robust chassis for the heaviest payloads, proven off-road mobility, and integrated onboard vehicle power, it’s the ideal foundation to support the Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher Heavy (CAML-H) program for multi-domain missions and formations. The X-MAV will be displayed for the first time with four Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles.
• Medium Multi-Mission Autonomous Vehicle (M-MAV): Derived from the Oshkosh FMTV A2, the M-MAV delivers an integrated, forward-looking solution to the U.S. Army’s most pressing challenges. Purpose-built for optionally manned or fully autonomous launcher operations, M-MAV delivers advanced navigation, remote operation, and automated resupply capabilities to increase survivability, reduce crew burden, and enable dispersed, resilient fires formations. The M-MAV will be equipped with the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Family of Munitions (MFOM).
• Light Multi-Mission Autonomous Vehicle (L-MAV): Evolved from the U.S. Marine Corps ROGUE-Fires, the L-MAV is a proven, production-ready autonomous carrier. Its modular design allows rapid configuration for missions such as counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), electronic warfare, or resupply, enabling immediate operational readiness across formations. The L-MAV will showcase the AeroVironment Switchblade 600 Loitering Munition and Titan C-UAS.

7.    Sikorsky Converts BLACK HAWK into U-Hawk

US helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky unveiled the S-70UAS U-Hawk, which is a converted UH-60L Black Hawk into an autonomous unmanned aircraft system (UAS). This platform has 25% more cargo space than a typical Black Hawk. The cockpit section was replaced with actuated clamshell doors and a ramp. The conventional flight controls were replaced with a third-generation, low-cost, fly-by-wire system integrated with MATRIX autonomy technology.

The S-70UAS U-Hawk aircraft on display at this week’s Association of the United States Army exposition shows a larger cabin space to:

• Accept longer cargo, such as missiles,
• Drive on/off an uncrewed ground vehicle,
• Roll-on/off supplies,
• Launch swarms of reconnaissance or strike drones, and
• Carry internal fuel tanks for increased range or extended time on station.

8.    Sig Sauer M7 rifle is now lighter after controversy

Sig Sauer says it has been able to trim the weight of the Army’s new 6.8x51mm M7 service rifle by nearly a pound, or just over 10 percent, in response to feedback from servicemembers. The M7’s weight compared to the gun it is set to replace, the 5.56x45mm M4A1, was among the criticisms that an Army captain very publicly levelled against the gun earlier this year. Sig had subsequently issued a vehement rebuttal, but acknowledged that the design was still evolving, according to a report by The War Zone

Jason St. John, senior director of strategic products for the Defense Strategies Group at Sig Sauer, gave an update on the M7 rifle, as well as the companion 6.8x51mm M250 machine gun, to TWZ‘s Howard Altman on the show floor at the Association of the U.S. Army’s (AUSA) main annual symposium on October 13. Sig Sauer has also been working on a shorter and lighter carbine variation of the M7 for the Army.

Sig Sauer did show the lightened product-improved M7, also known as the PIE M7, at the biennial Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London earlier this year, but does not appear to have had the carbine on display at that event.

Arjun Dev Singh

Arjun Dev Singh has a deep interest in defence, security, and strategic affairs. With a strong analytical lens and a passion for military and geopolitical developments, Arjun strives to bring clarity and context to complex national and international issues.