1. General N. S. Raja Subramani takes charge as CDS

General N. S. Raja Subramani assumed charge as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on 31 May. He stated that his focus will be on accelerating military transformation and enhancing jointness across the Services. He added that the Armed Forces remain committed to operational excellence, capability development, and the welfare of soldiers, sailors, air warriors, veterans, and veer naris.

2. Admiral Krishna Swaminathan assumes charge as Chief of the Naval Staff

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, assumed charge as the 27th Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy on 31 May. He succeeds Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM, who superannuated after 41 years of distinguished service.

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1987. A Communication and Electronic Warfare specialist, he has held a wide range of operational, staff, and training appointments during a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades. His sea commands include the guided missile vessels INS Vidyut and INS Vinash, the guided missile corvette INS Kulish, the guided missile destroyer INS Mysore, and the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

3. Indian Navy to acquire SOVs for MARCOS

The Indian Navy is moving ahead with plans to acquire at least two, if not more, Special Operations Vessels (SOVs), along with Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs), according to a report by The Print. The Navy has initiated discussions with at least two Indian shipyards and two foreign manufacturers for the procurement of these vessels, often referred to as midget submarines, for covert missions by the Navy's elite Marine Commandos (MARCOS).

Discussions are underway with state-run Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), both of which have developed midget submarine concepts.

4. DRDO tests high-calibre bomb in Haryana

A high-calibre bomb was successfully tested on 31 May at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), a DRDO facility located in Ramgarh, Panchkula district, Haryana, according to a post on X by All India Radio. The type and specifications of the bomb remain undisclosed.

5. Vietnam signs deal to procure BrahMos missiles

Vietnam has signed a deal with India for the procurement of BrahMos missiles valued at up to $629 million. The deal was confirmed by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh while speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue. Vietnam joins the Philippines as the second Southeast Asian customer for the BrahMos missile system.

6. Air Force Chief A P Singh to visit France

As India prepares to send a formal Letter of Request (LoR) to France for the procurement of 114 additional Rafale fighter jets, Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, will begin an official visit to France on 1 June. According to a report by The Tribune, he is scheduled to visit Dassault Aviation and missile manufacturer MBDA.

An LoR is a formal government-to-government communication used to initiate defence procurement under an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) framework. The Indian Air Force's Rafale acquisition is expected to be pursued under the 'Make in India' initiative, with French aircraft manufacturer Dassault partnering with an Indian firm.

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.