1. Exercise PRAGATI- 2026 in full swing in Meghalaya

The Exercise PRAGATI-2026 is in full swing at Umroi, Meghalaya, as the Indian Army and contingents from Friendly Foreign Countries train shoulder-to-shoulder to strengthen interoperability, mutual trust and collective capabilities. The exercise will take place from May 18 to May 31.

Focused on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain, the exercise is fostering operational synergy through joint planning, tactical drills and coordinated operations. Exercise PRAGATI 2026 reflects the shared resolve of regional armies towards peace, stability, security and collaborative growth.

2. India to issue RFP for AMCA to three shortlisted companies

The government will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP)  to three private sector companies that have been shortlisted to develop and manufacture next-generation fighter jets under the Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, according to a report by the Economic Times. The three private sector companies shortlisted are Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), Bharat Forge and Larsen and Toubro (L and T). Out of three, one company with the lowest bid will build the AMCA aircraft.

3. India finalises LoR for Rafale fighter jets

India has finalised the Letter of Request (LoR) for the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets for the IAF and is expected to send it to France “very soon”, within the “next few weeks”, according to a report by The Indian Express. Around 90 jets from this set of 114 are to be manufactured in India through a collaboration between the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation and an Indian company, while the rest will arrive in fly-away condition. An LoR is a formal government-to-government document used to initiate such procurement, under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) route, outlining the capabilities, quantities and technical requirements needed.

4. Rajnath Singh inaugurates Defence Manufacturing Complex in Shirdi

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, inaugurated a Defence Manufacturing Complex of a private sector company, NIBE Group, at Shirdi on May 23. The complex intends to manufacture advanced artillery systems, missile & space technologies, rocket systems, energetic materials, and autonomous defence platforms. India’s first 300 km Universal Rocket Launching System ‘Suryastra’ was flagged off as part of the event. The Suryastra is the Precise Universal Launcher System (PULS) by Elbit Systems of Israel.

5. India and Russia conclude IRIGC meeting

The 5th Sub Working Group (Land) meeting under the India–Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) on Military & Military Technical Cooperation concluded successfully on May 23, marking another significant milestone in strengthening defence ties between the Indian Army and the Russian Land Forces. Both sides held productive deliberations aimed at enhancing mutual learning, operational synergy and bilateral military capabilities, further reinforcing the longstanding India–Russia defence partnership. The delegation also visited the Shatrujeet Brigade to explore additional avenues of defence cooperation.

6. STM launches the first ship of LMS Batch-2

STM launched TUNKU LAKSAMANA ABDUL JALIL, the first ship of the project we built for the Royal Malaysian Navy, at a ceremony held in Istanbul on May 25. The contract was signed in June 2024. The second and third vessels are scheduled for launch in June and August this year, respectively. The LMS Batch-2 is an ADA-class corvette, currently in service with the Turkish Navy and Pakistan Navy. 

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.