1. Russia-India in talks for more S-400

Russia and India are negotiating additional deliveries of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems to India, TASS news agency cited a senior Russian defence export official on September 2.

India already has our S-400 system, TASS quoted Dmitry Shugayev, head of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, as saying. There is potential to expand our cooperation in this area as well. That means new deliveries. For now, we are in the negotiation stage.

India signed a $5.5 billion deal with Russia for five S-400 Triumf long-range surface-to-air missile systems. Moscow is expected to deliver units of the final two S-400 systems to India in 2026 and 2027. The S-400 was used in Operation Sindoor, where it shot down an AWACS aircraft at a range of 300 km.

2. India-Thailand commence exercise Maitree 2025

India and Thailand have commenced exercise Maitree. This is the 14th edition of the exercise. The Joint Bilateral Military Exercise Maitree between the Indian Army & Royal Thai Army was conducted today at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi. 

The exercise is designed to enhance the operational capabilities of both armies in undertaking joint company-level counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain, under the United Nations mandate — reflecting the shared commitment towards global peace and security.

The exercise will also further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and camaraderie between the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army.

3. Twenty Naxalites surrender in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma

20 Naxalites, 11 of them carrying a collective bounty of Rs 33 lakh, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on September 3, police said.

Nine of the surrendered cadre are women, including a hardcore cadre of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion no.1, which was considered the strongest military formation of Maoists, an official said.

They turned themselves in before senior police and CRPF officials here, citing disappointment with hollow Maoist ideology, atrocities committed by cadres on innocent tribals and growing in atrocities committed by cadres on innocent tribals and growing internal differences within the banned outfit, Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said.

4. China displays military hardware at the Victory Day Parade

China's missiles, fighter jets and other military hardware, some on public view for the first time, were displayed in a major parade on September 3.

Troops marched in lockstep under President Xi Jinping, who leads the Communist Party and heads the military as the chairman of the Central Military Commission.

The event marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The audience included about two dozen foreign leaders from countries seeking to improve or maintain relations with the government in Beijing.

5. Training Squadron Ships of Indian Navy in Seychelles

The ships of the First Training Squadron (1TS) of the Indian Navy: INS Tir, INS Shardul, and CGS Sarathi have arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles, as part of a long-range training deployment in the south-west Indian Ocean Region, officials said on September 2.

The deployment of 1TS is the third port call of the Indian Navy ships to Seychelles in 2025, a Navy spokesperson said.

Building bridges of friendship while training young minds, the ships of the 1TS arrived at Port Victoria on September 1. And, 1TS is presently on long-range training deployment in the south-west Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the spokesperson said.

6. J-20S and J-35 debut at Victory Day Parade

The Chengdu J-20S  and Shenyang J-35 have made their debut at the Victory Day Parade on September 3.

The J-20S is the twin-seat version of the J-20 fifth-generation fighter. The J-35 is the second fifth-generation fighter after the J-20, and it is going to be used by the Chinese Navy.

Pakistan is in talks with China to acquire 40 J-35 fighter jets for its air force. It has denied the purchase of 40 J-35 fighter jets in recent reports.

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.