1. UAC to showcase Il-114-300 and import-substituted SJ-100 at Wings India 2026

The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) of the Rostec State Corporation will present its latest regional aircraft: the Il-114-300 and the import-substituted Superjet 100, abroad for the first time. Both aircraft will debut at the Wings India 2026 exhibition, scheduled from January 28 to 31 in Hyderabad.

The Superjet 100 will feature in the static display, wearing a special livery incorporating elements of the Indian national flag. Built using serial technologies, the aircraft is equipped entirely with Russian systems and components, including PD-8 engines manufactured by the United Engine Corporation (UEC). As part of the import substitution programme, the aircraft has also been fitted with a Russian-made interior, which will be showcased to the public for the first time.

The Il-114-300 turboprop aircraft will also be displayed with its passenger interior installed. Built using domestic components, it is powered by TV7-117ST-01 engines from UEC and will participate in the exhibition’s flight programme.

2. Defence Procurement Board clears proposal for 114 Rafale jets

The Defence Procurement Board, chaired by Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, on January 17 cleared a proposal to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation, according to a report by The Tribune.

The proposal will now be forwarded to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, followed by final approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). In September 2025, the Indian Air Force submitted a formal proposal to the Ministry of Defence seeking 114 additional Rafale fighters as part of its broader force modernisation plan.

3. Seven soldiers injured in Kishtwar encounter

Seven soldiers were injured in an hours-long gunfight with militants in the dense forests of Kishtwar. This marks the third encounter in the Jammu region since the beginning of 2026.

According to the Army, contact was established with militants in Son Nar, northeast of Chhatru in Kishtwar, during a deliberate search operation conducted as part of ongoing joint counter-terror operations with the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The operation remains underway, with additional forces inducted to strengthen the cordon, supported by close coordination with civil administration and security agencies.

4. INS Sagardhwani flagged off for Sagar Maitri V

INS Sagardhwani, India’s oceanographic research vessel, was flagged off for the Sagar Maitri V mission from Kochi on January 17 by Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence. Also present were Dr Samir V. Kamat, Chairman, DRDO, and Rear Admiral Upal Kundu, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command.

Aligned with India’s MAHASAGAR vision, the mission aims to strengthen scientific cooperation and collaborative oceanographic research among Indian Ocean Rim nations. Sagar Maitri is a flagship collaborative initiative of the Indian Navy and DRDO, supporting the government’s vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR).

5. Syrian government and SDF announce ceasefire

The Syrian government, on January 18, announced a ceasefire with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), taking near-complete control of the country and dismantling Kurdish-led forces that had controlled the north-east for over a decade, according to a report by The Guardian.

The announcement follows weeks of escalating tensions, which culminated in a major push by government forces towards the east. The SDF reportedly retreated from several positions after initial clashes along a tense frontline in eastern Aleppo province.

6. Royal Navy’s autonomous helicopter completes maiden flight

The Royal Navy’s first fully autonomous, full-size helicopter has completed its maiden flight at Predannack airfield in Cornwall. Designed and built by Leonardo, the platform serves as a demonstrator to explore the integration of uncrewed aerial systems alongside crewed aircraft in a future ‘hybrid air wing’.

Just weeks after completing comprehensive ground-running trials at Leonardo’s Yeovil facility, the helicopter, known as Proteus, took to the skies, marking a key milestone. The programme is expected to play a role in future anti-submarine warfare operations under the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Bastion strategy.

7. Denmark retires F-16 fleet as it transitions to F-35

Denmark has formally retired its F-16 fighter aircraft from operational service, bringing to a close 46 years of frontline use. The ceremony, held at Skrydstrup Air Base, marked the completion of the Danish Air Force’s transition to the F-35A Lightning II as its sole combat aircraft.

The farewell took place at Hangar 3 at Fighter Wing Skrydstrup, where personnel with long-standing ties to the aircraft gathered to mark the occasion. The F-16, described as the unit’s “eyes and shield in the air”, was honoured for decades of surveillance, deterrence, and operational service.

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.