1. Chief of Defence, France, meets Def Secy Rajesh Kumar Singh

The Chief of Defence, France, General (Air) Fabien Mandon, met Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi on July 20, 2026. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the India–France defence partnership, with a renewed focus on defence industrial cooperation through co-design, co-development and co-production, in line with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, while building on the outcomes of the Prime Minister’s recent visit to France.

2. Chinese Coast Guard and Philippine Navy clash in the West Philippine Sea

The Chinese Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy clashed near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on July 20. Videos circulated on social media showed crews aboard small boats striking each other with sticks and oars. One Philippine Navy member was injured during the clash after being hit by a wooden baton. The US has condemned China's actions.

3. Allen Control Systems' Bullfrog selected for the Marines' L-MADIS system

Allen Control Systems' Bullfrog M240 autonomous weapon has been selected for the US Marine Corps' Light Marine Air Defence Integrated System (L-MADIS), according to a report by Breaking Defense. The L-MADIS comprises two Polaris MRZR all-terrain vehicles. One functions as the command unit, while the other is equipped with an electronic warfare suite to counter drone threats. The Bullfrog M240, which turns the 7.62 × 51 mm M240 machine gun into an autonomous weapon, will be integrated onto the L-MADIS platform. The weapon station weighs roughly 300 pounds, is capable of firing 850 rounds per minute, and can detect and neutralise small unmanned aerial systems.

4. Lockheed Martin introduces PAC-3 ACE interceptor

Lockheed Martin has unveiled the PAC-3 Adapted Capability Effector (ACE), a low-cost Patriot interceptor designed to defeat a wide range of air and missile threats at less than half the cost of a PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptor per unit. At the same time, the missile's specifications are similar to those of the PAC-3 MSE.

5. Anduril and Archer Aviation unveil the Thunder unmanned VTOL platform

Anduril and Archer Aviation, on July 20, unveiled their jointly developed autonomous VTOL aircraft platform, built for both defence and commercial applications. Anduril showcased the defence variant, Thunder, an autonomous attack rotorcraft specifically designed to multiply the combat power of current and next-generation crewed attack and assault aircraft. A series hybrid-electric powertrain enables the aircraft to achieve significant range and endurance while maintaining the precision needed to optimise power across the full range of flight conditions. Meanwhile, dual tiltrotors vary rotor RPM to maintain efficiency across flight regimes, reducing power demand and fuel burn during cruise while minimising the acoustic signature to enhance survivability during low-altitude ingress.

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.