1. Denmark to acquire Colt Canada C8 MRR rifles

Denmark is going to acquire 26,000 Colt Canada C8 MRR (Modular Rail Rifle) rifles which will be introduced into the Danish service as  Gevær M/25. 

The MRR combines the battle proven C8 carbine with M-LOK rail attachment system and is going to replace all the  Gevær M/10 which is the C8 IUR (Integrated Upper Receiver).

Since 1994, Colt Canada’s C7 rifle and C8 carbine have formed the foundation of Denmark’s small arms capability.

2. Ukraine switches to NATO Caliber 

According to a report of Forces News on August 19, the National Guard of Ukraine has started replacing the Soviet-era Kalashnikov AK-74 assault rifle with its own AR-15.

The UAR-15, adopted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2023, is designed to meet NATO standards. It features a long Picatinny rail for optical sights and accessories, multiple barrel-length modifications, compatibility with suppressors, and a barrel lifespan of up to 10,000 shots.

Production of the UAR-15 is almost entirely domestic. While barrels are currently imported from the United States, Ukraine’s defense ministry expects local production to begin by 2026.

Earlier, in November 2024, Ukraine began the licensed assembly of NATO-standard BREN-2 rifles of 5.56 calibre  in partnership with Česká zbrojovka. The agreement includes plans for eventual full production within Ukraine.

3. JSW Sarbloh, Tomcar USA to produce ATVs for Indian armed forces

JSW Sarbloh Motors, which is a subsidiary of JSW defence, has formed a joint venture on August 21 to produce the TX range of ATVs in India.

Under the joint venture, JSW Sarbloh Motors will indigenize, manufacture, assemble, and support the Tomcar TX range at its facility in Chandigarh. 

The first Made in India TX ATVs are expected to roll out by early 2026, with field trials and demonstrations planned for multiple defence and paramilitary agencies in the coming months.

4. China has unveiled a high speed helicopter similar to the S-97 Raider

Earlier on August 19 China developed a tilt-rotor helicopter similar to the Bell V-280 Valor and now on August 21 it unveiled a high speed helicopter similar to the Sikorsky S-97 Raider.

The designation of the helicopter is not known and is now undergoing test flights. The images of the helicopter were posted on the microblogging site Weibo.

The Chinese design adopts the same propulsion configuration, with four-blade coaxial main rotors — which looks like a rigid design — and a pusher propeller. 

5. SpaceX launches secretive US military spacecraft

SpaceX on August 22 launched its Falcon-9 rocket carrying the X-37B spacecraft.

The eighth mission of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle was the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, designated USSF-36, with a wide range of test and experimentation objectives. 

These will include demonstrations of high-bandwidth inter-satellite laser communications technologies and enhanced space navigation using the highest performing quantum inertial sensor in space. 

6. Sixth F/A-18 Hornet crash in 10 months

The US Navy has lost its sixth F/A-18 Hornet aircraft in 10 months. The F/A-18E was conducting a training routine flight at around 10 a.m. EDT  (7:30 pm IST) on August 20 morning at the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach.

Search teams found and rescued the pilot at around 11:12 a.m., Navy spokesperson Lt. Jackie Parashar said.

The F/A-18E has not been retrieved from the water and the cause of the crash is still under investigation. 

This follows the events of multiple crashes involving Hampton Roads-based Navy Fighter Jets as this marks the sixth F-18 that the Navy has been lost in the last 10 months.

7. Malaysian Air Force F/A-18D Hornet crashes during take-off 

A Malaysian Air Force F/A-18D Hornet crashed while taking-off from the runway of Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport in Kuantan on August 21.

In a statement on the night of August 21, the RMAF said that immediate action is being taken and further updates on the incident will be announced in due course.

According to the New Straits Times, the two servicemen - later identified on August 22 as Mohamad Azhar Alang Kamarudin, 34, and 28-year-old Mohammad Izzudin Mohamad Salleh - managed to eject themselves from the cockpit before the crash. 

The RMAF operates a fleet of eight two-seat F/A-18D Hornets, acquired from McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) in 1997.. While the RMAF’s Hornet aircraft has previously been involved in several incidents, the August 21 incident is understood to be the first time one of the jets had crashed.

8. SNC Freedom enters race for replacing T-45 Goshawk Trainers

Sierra Nevada Corporation  has launched its Freedom training aircraft to compete in the US Navy’s  Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) competition.  The company announced this at Tailhook 2025.This innovative aircraft is a purpose-built, clean-sheet design for the US Navy and aims to transform the future of naval aviation with uncompromising performance at low lifecycle cost. 

According to TheWarZone the US Navy currently has just under 200 T-45Cs in service, which are used to train future Navy and Marine aviators. The original T-45A variant, a carrier-based derivative of the British Aerospace (subsequently BAE Systems) Hawk jet trainer, began entering Navy service in 1991.

The other contenders to replace the T-45 Goshawk are Textron-Leonardo M-346N, Boeing-Saab T-7A Red Hawk, and the Lockheed Martin/KAI TF-50N. SNC becomes the fourth contender to enter the race for the replacement of T-45 Goshawk.

9. India to collaborate with France for  AMCA jet engine

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a post on X said We have also moved forward in the direction of building a Fifth Generation fighter aircraft. We have also progressed towards making the aircraft's engine in India itself. We are going to start the work of engine making in India with the French company Safran.

The AMCA fighter jet will be powered by the engines co-developed with French company Safran. Safran and Rolls-Royce were in contention to build the jet engine for AMCA and now, Safran has been chosen to build the engines.

Arjun Dev Singh

Arjun Dev Singh has a deep interest in defence, security, and strategic affairs. With a strong analytical lens and a passion for military and geopolitical developments, Arjun strives to bring clarity and context to complex national and international issues.