1. IAF Chief flies Mig-21, to be retired on September 26

The IAF Chief Air Marshal Amarpreet Singh flew a sortie on the Mig-21. The IAF said in a post on X, honouring the enduring legacy of MiG-21, the Chief of the Air Staff visited No. 23 Sqn Panthers, the last squadron operating the legendary fighter. The CAS flew a fighter sortie, and also in a formation led by Sqn Ldr Priya, symbolising both tradition and transformation. On 26 Sep 2025, the MiG-21 retires after six decades of glorious service in the IAF.

This marks an emotional moment for the force and for generations of pilots trained on the Russian-origin fighter jet that served the force for 62 years. Air Chief Marshal Singh told PTI after his sortie, ‘the MiG-21 has been the workhorse of the IAF since its induction in the 1960s and we are still continuing with it. It is one of the most mass-produced supersonic fighter jets in history, with over 11,000 aircraft operated by more than 60 countries.

My first experience with MiG-21 was in 1985, when I flew the Type-77 variant at Tezpur. It was a revelation -- agile, highly maneuverable, and simple in design, though it required some initial training. It's an amazing aircraft to fly. It will be missed by all who flew it.’

2. INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri to be commissioned on August 26

The Indian Navy is going to commission two warships INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri on August 26. The two Project 17A frigates will be commissioned at Visakhapatnam.

The ceremony will be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The defence ministry said the commissioning of 'Udaygiri' and 'Himgiri' will augment the Navy's combat readiness and reaffirm India's resolve to achieve self-reliance in warship design and construction.

Upon commissioning, the two frigates will join the Eastern Fleet, strengthening India's ability to safeguard its maritime interests across the Indian Ocean Region.This will be the first occasion when two frontline surface combatants, constructed at two different shipyards, will be commissioned simultaneously, underscoring the growing maritime importance of India's Eastern Seaboard.

3. Indian Navy to host panel discussion on maritime security

The Indian Navy will be hosting a panel discussion ‘Emerging Leaders Panel Discussion’under the aegis of 'Indian Ocean Naval Symposium' (IONS) from August 27- 28 at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi.

The two-day event will see a focus on engaging young naval leaders from 18 IONS nations.

In a post on X, the Indian Navy said, the event will feature participation of Naval officers from member nations engaging in discussions on maritime security challenges and fostering collaboration in emerging technology and harnessing training capabilities.

4. Trump claims for 41st time, he stopped India-Pakistan war

US President Donald Trump on August 25 has claimed for the 41st time that he stopped the India-Pakistan war while adding that the war was going to be nuclear.

I have stopped all of these wars. A big one would have been India and Pakistan. The war with India and Pakistan was the next level that was going to be a nuclear war... They already shot down seven jets, that was raging, Trump said.

He further added, You want to trade? We are not doing any trade or anything with you if you keep fighting, you've got 24 hours to settle it. They said, Well, there's no more war going on. I used that on numerous occasions. I used trade and whatever I had to use. India on many occasions has refuted this claim made by Trump.

5. India is a peace-loving nation, but cannot be pacifists: CDS Anil Chauhan

CDS Anil Chauhan while giving a speech at inaugural Tri-Services Seminar ‘Ran Samwad-2025’ at the Army War College in Mhow said India has been the land of Gautam Buddha, Mahavir Jain, and Mahatma Gandhi - all champions of non-violence. India has always stood on the side of peace but don't mistake, we cannot be pacifists.

He further added that I think peace without power is utopian. I like to state a Latin quote which translates, if you want peace, prepare for war. CDS recalled Operation Sindoor conducted by the Army after a terror attack in Pahalgam, he said, Operation Sindoor was a model conflict from which we learnt a number of lessons, and most of them are under implementation. Some have been implemented. The operation is still on.

He also spoke on India's changing perspective of war and its preparedness. How we perceive victory is changing. In today’s warfare, the matrix of victory has changed. Effects of long-range precision strikes, display of sophistication in all domains and superior narrative are important.

6. India-Fiji to boost defence ties

India and Fiji on Monday firmed up an action plan to boost defence ties and agreed to jointly work for a peaceful and inclusive Indo-Pacific as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka held talks to expand the overall bilateral cooperation.

India and Fiji may be oceans apart, but our aspirations sail in the same boat, Modi said following the meeting.

Rabuka, the prime minister of the South Pacific nation, arrived in Delhi on Sunday on a three-day trip to shore up Fiji's ties with India in a range of areas such as maritime security, trade, health, digital technology and capacity building.

7. SAAB receives Gripen order from Thailand

Saab has received an order for 4 Gripen E/F fighter aircraft from FMV for the Kingdom of Thailand. The order value is approximately SEK 5.3 billion and deliveries will take place 2025-2030.

The contract between Saab and FMV includes three Gripen E and one Gripen F aircraft as well as associated equipment, support and training.

The Royal Thai Air Force currently operates 11 Gripen C/D fighter jets. This order will bring the total number of Gripen aircraft in their fleet to 15 once the new aircraft are delivered.

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.