1. India Kyrgyztan to conduct Exercise KHANJAR 2026

The 13th edition of the joint military Exercise KHANJAR between India and Kyrgyzstan will be conducted at Misamari, Assam, from 4 to 17 February. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability between the Special Forces of both nations, with a focus on joint operations in urban warfare and counter-terrorism scenarios under the United Nations mandate. Exercise KHANJAR-XIII will further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and deepen the enduring military partnership between India and Kyrgyzstan.

2. India aspires to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP over five years: Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh

India is aiming to raise its defence spending to around 2.5% of GDP over the next five years, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said in an exclusive interview to CNBC-TV18, outlining an ambitious roadmap backed by a sharp increase in capital expenditure and modernisation funding in the Union Budget 2026.

Speaking after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a defence outlay of ₹7.85 lakh crore for FY27, Singh said the government intends to steadily enhance India’s military capability while ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability. The Budget marks a 15.2% rise over the previous year’s allocation. It includes a 20.1% increase in defence capital expenditure to ₹2.31 lakh crore, reflecting a renewed emphasis on capability building and self-reliance.

3. Air India flight AI132 flight grounded after left engine switched to CUTOFF

An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating flight AI132 from London Heathrow to Bengaluru was grounded after a pilot reported that the left engine's fuel control switch failed to remain in the "RUN" position during engine start-up, twice moving to "CUTOFF".

An Air India spokesperson confirmed that the aircraft had been withdrawn from service and that the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) was being involved to assess the pilot's concerns on a priority basis. The matter was also reported to the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The fuel control switch moving from "RUN" to "CUTOFF" was also reported in the flight AI171 bound for London Gatwick, killing 260 people -- including 241 passengers -- when the aircraft plunged into a medical college building shortly after leaving Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. 

4. Boeing selects Ferra Engineering for HAAWC air-launched torpedo kit

Boeing has selected Ferra Engineering to produce wing kits for its High-Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability (HAAWC). The contract extends the existing partnership between Boeing and Ferra and establishes a local production line for the advanced system, further strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities.

The HAAWC is designed to be deployed from Boeing’s P-8A multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft. This all-weather, air-launched torpedo kit allows operators to engage submarines from high altitudes, significantly enhancing operational effectiveness and ensuring crew safety.

5. Lockheed Martin delivers Sentinel A4 radar to the US Army

Lockheed Martin has delivered the first Sentinel A4 radar from Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) 2 to the U.S. Army and completed the first phase of Initial Operational Test and Evaluation, accelerating the program closer to full-rate production.

Sentinel A4 is a high-performance replacement for the legacy Sentinel A3 (AN/MPQ-64A3) air and missile defence radar that will provide significant improvements to the existing Sentinel capability against cruise missiles, unmanned aerial systems, rotary-wing, and fixed-wing threats.  The Sentinel A4 will add the ability to detect Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (RAM) threats, providing RAM Point of Origin and Point of Impact locations, while also providing added protection against electronic threats.

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.