1. UAE National Guard delegation visits Indian Coast Guard Headquarters

A four-member delegation from the UAE National Guard Command (NGC), led by Brigadier Staff Khalid Obaid Thani Al Shamsi, Acting Commander, Coast Guard Group, visited the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Headquarters in New Delhi for a bilateral engagement. The head of the delegation called on Director General Paramesh Sivamani, AVSM, PTM, TM, DG ICG, and deliberations were held on strengthening cooperation and further fortifying ties between the two maritime agencies.

The visit will also include reciprocal learning on operations and training methodologies, along with visits to ICG facilities such as the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre and the Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre in Chennai, according to a post on X by the Indian Coast Guard.

2. UAC-HAL sign agreement to produce the SSJ-100

Rostec’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and HAL Corporation have signed a joint venture agreement to regulate cooperation on the production of the Superjet 100 in India. The agreement will serve as the basis for future collaboration to establish licensed Superjet production in the country.

The document was signed by Vadim Badekha, CEO of PJSC UAC, and Dr D.K. Sunil, Chairman of HAL Corporation. The signing ceremony was attended by senior Russian officials, including Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Gennady Abramenkov, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov, Trade Representative Andrey Sobolev, and Dmitry Kopysov of the Federal Air Transport Agency.

The agreement formalises HAL’s role in assisting UAC with the Superjet type certification and validation process in India. HAL will also be granted a licence to manufacture and sell the SJ-100, including components, parts and spares required for repair and maintenance.

3. India-Russia in technical discussions for Su-57E

India and Russia are holding technical discussions to explore the possibility of joint production of the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57E fighter jet in India, a senior Russian aerospace official said on Wednesday.

“Today, we are at an advanced stage of technical negotiations on this contract. Such agreements, based on our experience, determine the trajectory of cooperation for decades,” said Vadim Badekha, CEO of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation, on the sidelines of Wings India 2026 at Begumpet airport in Hyderabad. Russia has put on static display its latest regional transport aircraft, the Ilyushin Il-114-300, and the Sukhoi SJ-100 at the event.

4. Indian Army to procure Shield AI V-BAT drone

The Indian Army has signed a deal with American defence technology company Shield AI for the procurement of the V-BAT unmanned aerial system, which will be manufactured in India, according to a report by The Print.

The V-BAT is a Group 3 unmanned aerial vehicle capable of vertical take-off and landing without runways or launch infrastructure. Powered by a heavy-fuel engine, it can remain airborne for over 12 hours and operate in environments where communications and GPS signals are disrupted. The drones will be equipped with Shield AI’s autonomy software platform, Hivemind, which enables aircraft to sense their surroundings, make decisions and execute missions with limited or no human input.

Under an agreement with JSW (Jindal Steel Works), Shield AI will provide V-BAT drones along with licenses for its proprietary Hivemind software. The system will be integrated into the aircraft and made available to select Indian partners, supporting the local development of autonomous military systems tailored to India’s operational requirements.

5. Lockheed Martin GPS satellite reaches orbit

The GPS III space vehicle SV09 has successfully reached orbit, adding enhanced capability for civilian users and enabling warfighters to operate in harsh and contested environments, while showcasing American technological innovation.

The satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 11:53 p.m. ET aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It achieved signal acquisition shortly after launch and is now under operational control at Lockheed Martin’s Denver Launch and Checkout Operations Centre, pending formal acceptance into the GPS operational control network.

For military users, GPS III SV09 provides advanced security and anti-jamming features, ensuring uninterrupted and precise navigation and timing in denied or contested environments. Overall, GPS III satellites offer three-times improved accuracy, eight-times better anti-jamming capability, and M-code navigation signals for global defence operations.

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.