1. HAL inaugurates the LCH Prachand structure assembly line

Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production), Ministry of Defence, on 13 April, inaugurated the Prachand Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) structure assembly line and an Automated Storage & Retrieval System (ASRS) at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s New Helicopter Factory in Tumakuru, Karnataka.

Dr D. K. Sunil, Chairman and Managing Director, HAL, and Manisha Chandra, Joint Secretary (Aero), were present along with HAL Directors and senior officers from HAL and the Ministry of Defence. The New Helicopter Facility is a state-of-the-art greenfield unit established for the production of the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and the Prachand LCH. It will also support future programmes such as the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) and the Deck-based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH).

2. President Trump suggests talks with Iran could resume this week

President Donald Trump has suggested that talks aimed at ending the war in Iran could resume this week, after negotiations collapsed over the weekend, prompting the US to blockade Iranian ports.

"You should stay there [Islamabad], really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we're more inclined to go there," Trump was quoted as saying in an interview with the New York Post.

3. B-21 Raider conducts aerial refuelling

The B-21 Raider programme continues to accelerate the delivery of long-range strike capability, with aerial refuelling via a KC-135 Stratotanker demonstrating the rapid maturation of the weapon system.

This operational flexibility is further enhanced by the aircraft’s design. As the most fuel-efficient bomber ever built, the B-21 consumes a fraction of the fuel used by legacy aircraft. This significantly reduces demand for theatre tanker logistics and provides commanders with greater flexibility in force packaging.

4. Lockheed Martin awarded $1.9 billion for C-130J maintenance

The Pentagon has awarded Lockheed Martin a 10-year, sole-source, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract worth up to $1.9 billion to continue the C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System (MATS) programme.

The C-130J MATS IV IDIQ contract enables the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center to continue providing a comprehensive range of aircrew and maintenance training devices and support services to C-130J aircrews and maintainers, including courseware, operations, interim and contractor logistics support, and engineering services.

5. REGENT Squire Seaglider conducts first flight

The Squire Seaglider has completed a ground-effect flight test, a milestone the company described as the first flight in the United States of a defence-focused wing-in-ground-effect craft, according to a report by Defence Blog.

The April 13 test marks a new stage in the company’s effort to bring the maritime drone into military service, with REGENT increasingly positioning the platform for operations in contested coastal waters and across the Indo-Pacific. The company linked the programme to growing concerns over China’s maritime posture in the region.

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.