1. President Droupadi Murmu flies in a Rafale

President Droupadi Murmu created history on October 29 by flying in a Rafale fighter aircraft at the Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana. As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, she became the first President of India to fly in the IAF’s most advanced fighter jet. Earlier, on April 8, 2023, she had flown in a Sukhoi-30 MKI from the Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam.

2. India’s defence exports reach record ₹23,500 crore: RM

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that India’s defence exports have touched a record ₹23,500 crore. Addressing the SIDM Annual Conference in New Delhi on October 28, he noted that the country’s total defence production has surpassed ₹1.5 lakh crore, with over ₹33,000 crore contributed by the private sector.

3. Indian Army signs contract for indigenous Software-Defined Radios

The Indian Army has signed a contract to procure its first indigenously designed and manufactured Software-Defined Radios (SDRs), developed by DRDO and produced by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). Equipped with high data rates and Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) capabilities, these SDRs will enhance secure, real-time communication and boost operational readiness in network-centric battlefields.

4. MDL–Swan Defence sign pact for Indian Navy’s LPDs

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) has signed an exclusive Teaming Agreement with Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Ltd (SDHI) to jointly design and build Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) for the Indian Navy. The agreement was signed during India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai. The Defence Acquisition Council recently approved the ₹33,000-crore acquisition, a major capability boost for power projection, amphibious operations, and humanitarian missions.

5. Altay tank enters service with Turkish Army

Türkiye delivered its first domestically developed Altay main battle tanks to the armed forces on October 28, in a ceremony led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Eight tanks will be produced monthly, with a total of 250 units—85 T1 and 165 T2 variants—planned for delivery. The project aims to strengthen Türkiye’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

6. Saab to supply Giraffe 1X radars to US Army

Saab will supply its compact, lightweight 3D Giraffe 1X radars to the US Army, with deliveries beginning in 2026. The system offers true multi-mission capability, including force protection, ground-based air defence, and sea surface surveillance, and can be deployed on both land and naval platforms.

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.