1. Mazagon Dock lays keel for two Offshore Patrol Vessels for Indian Coast Guard

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited laid the keel for the 2nd and 3rd Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (Project 06 NGOPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard on 17 March at Yeoman Marine Services Pvt. Ltd., Ratnagiri.

The ceremony was attended by Inspector General Sudhir Sahni (Training Management), Deputy Director General (Material and Management), Mr Biju George, Director (Shipbuilding), along with senior officials from MDL, ICG, and representatives from the American Bureau of Shipping and Indian Register of Shipping.

The 117-metre vessels will have a crew of 11 officers and 110 personnel, a range of 5,000 nautical miles, and a top speed of 23 knots.

2.    Indian Navy assumes the chair of IONS 

 
The Indian Navy assumed the chair of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in Feb 2026. Therefore, this Edition includes participation from 16 IONS nations of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The second edition of Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR commenced on 16 Mar 2026.
 
The initiative builds on India’s long-standing maritime cooperation efforts and reflects the Government of India’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), while also advancing the broader framework of MAHASAGAR – Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions.

3. Uzbekistan Armed Forces attend three-day Defence Management Capsule

A three-day Defence Management Capsule for officers of the Uzbekistan Armed Forces was conducted by a delegation from the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, at the University of Military Security and Defence in Tashkent.

Held under the India–Uzbekistan Annual Defence Cooperation Plan 2025–26, the programme covered key contemporary aspects of defence management. The delegation also interacted with Smita Pant, Ambassador of India to Uzbekistan.

4. Colombian delegation visits BEL Ghaziabad

A Colombian delegation led by Vice Ministers of Defence Ms Angelica Verbel Lopez and Ms Angelica Marin Agudelo visited Bharat Electronics Limited’s Ghaziabad unit and Central Research Laboratory.

The delegation toured key facilities, including antenna, radar, SCCS, and IACCS laboratories.

5. Lokesh Machine Tools to supply ASMI carbines to SSB

Lokesh Machine Tools has secured a ₹10 crore contract from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) to supply ASMI carbines along with accessories.

The ASMI, chambered in 9×19 mm, was developed under the leadership of Colonel Prasad Bansod. It has already been inducted by the Indian Army and Assam Rifles.

6. Bell completes upgrades of first AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters for US Marine Corps

Bell has completed upgrades on the first AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters under the US Marine Corps’ SPINE programme as of 17 March.

The programme, previously known as Structural Improvement and Electrical Power Upgrade (SIEPU), has been renamed Structural and Power Improvements for NextGen Effects (SPINE) to reflect its focus on enhancing survivability and lethality.

SPINE will enable the H-1 fleet to integrate advanced weapons systems and future capabilities, forming a key part of the platform’s broader modernisation effort.

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.