1. Exercise Dustlik 2026 begins

The opening ceremony of the 7th edition of the annual bilateral Exercise Dustlik between the Indian Army and the Uzbekistan Army was held at the Gurumsaray Field Training Area in Namangan, Uzbekistan. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 12 April to 25 April, according to a post on X by the Indian Army on 15 April.

Aimed at enhancing operational synergy, the exercise focuses on joint special operations aimed at neutralising unlawful armed groups. It emphasises the integration of niche technologies to improve interoperability and facilitate the sharing of best practices.

2. India to go ahead with the purchase of six Boeing P-8I Poseidon aircraft

India is set to go ahead with the purchase of six Boeing P-8I Poseidon aircraft from the United States via the FMS (Foreign Military Sales) route, according to a report by The Times Now. The two countries have been in negotiations on the deal.

The cost of each aircraft, now estimated at $500–$600 million, is significantly higher than before. When India purchased the first eight P-8Is for the Navy, the total deal was valued at $2.1 billion. However, Boeing has indicated that supply chain challenges have driven up costs. As a result, the six aircraft could now cost over $3.5 billion.

3. US Army designates MV-75 FLRAA as Cheyenne II

The U.S. Army has officially designated the MV-75 Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) as the Cheyenne II. In line with U.S. Army tradition of honouring Native American tribes, the name recognises the heritage of the Cheyenne Tribes, specifically the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in Montana and the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma. The MV-75 is set to replace the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

In 2025, the Army revealed the Mission Design Series (MDS) MV-75. The “MV” denotes a multi-mission vertical take-off aircraft, while “75” commemorates the U.S. Army’s founding year, 1775. While the MDS reflects the Army’s origins, the name Cheyenne II honours the enduring legacy of the Cheyenne Tribes.

4. AeroVironment launches MAYHEM-10 drone

AeroVironment announced the debut of the MAYHEM-10 on 15 April. This is a groundbreaking, multi-role launched effects system designed for deployment from air, ground, and maritime platforms.

The MAYHEM-10 is an autonomous system that offers significant operational versatility through a modular payload. It supports interchangeable lethal and non-lethal effects, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare, communications relay, and precision strike, tailored to specific mission requirements and adaptable to changing operational conditions.

5. Airbus and Lakota Connector partners conduct autonomous test flight of H-145 helicopter

Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, in partnership with Shield AI, L3Harris Technologies, and Parry Labs, has completed its fourth autonomous flight test phase on the Airbus H-145 helicopter. For the first time, all four companies’ technologies were successfully integrated into a single aircraft.

The test flights, conducted at Airbus’s facility in Grand Prairie, Texas, focused on refining the aircraft’s perception system to ensure it provides accurate, real-time data to an autonomous pilot, enabling obstacle avoidance within a landing zone. Shield AI’s Hivemind demonstrated its core capabilities, including autonomous perception of the aircraft.

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.