1. Indian and US Armies co-chair Staff Talks

The 29th edition of the India–US Army-to-Army Staff Talks was held in Hawaii and co-chaired by Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy), and Lieutenant General Joel Vowell, Deputy Commanding General, US Army Pacific. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, enhancing interoperability, expanding professional exchanges, and deepening military collaboration in support of shared security interests. Both sides welcomed the growing scope of Army-to-Army engagements and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the India–US strategic partnership.

2. Embraer expects progress in India’s MTA tender

India is expected to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for 60–80 aircraft, according to Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto, who spoke to Reuters on the sidelines of a global airline executives’ meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. “The information we have is that the RFP should come in the next few months,” he said. “And what we hear in the Indian market is that they want to make a decision by the end of 2027, which would be a very interesting time frame.”

Embraer views India as a strategic market and is seeking to expand global sales of the C-390. The aircraft is competing against the American Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules and the French Airbus A400M in India's Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme.

3. Indian Army unveils Strategic Guidelines 2047

General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff, unveiled the Indian Army Strategic Guidelines 2047 on June 5. Derived from the framework of Defence Forces Vision 2047, the document translates strategic intent into coherent and actionable Lines of Effort for the Army’s transformation into a future-ready force. The guidelines align capability development and operational priorities with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

4. Hanwha K30 Biho back in contention; 250 Verba MANPADS likely to be procured

The South Korean Hanwha K30 Biho self-propelled air-defence system is back in contention, according to a report by ET Now. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had cleared the Biho in 2021, and following successful trials and negotiations, the contract was close to being signed before the process stalled. The programme is now expected to restart, with a fresh Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) from the DAC likely to be a priority. The Army is expected to place a proposal for the Biho in the coming months.

Meanwhile, a proposal to procure 250 Russian Verba MANPADS (man-portable air-defence systems) is expected to be placed before the DAC shortly after being cleared by the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) last month. The Verba is intended to replace the ageing Igla systems acquired in the 1990s. While the Army already operates the more modern Igla-S, the Verba offers a slightly longer range of 6.5 km and incorporates newer technology, having entered production in 2014.

5. Indian Army to induct Zorawar Light Tank in 2028–29

General Upendra Dwivedi told Hindustan Times that issues identified during the Zorawar light tank’s development and testing are being addressed through the normal design refinement process.

“Issues noticed during development and testing are being addressed through the normal design refinement cycle. Based on present timelines, Zorawar’s induction is likely in the 2028–2029 timeframe, subject to successful completion of trials, user evaluation and production readiness,” he said.

The tank is being jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro under Project Zorawar to meet the Indian Army’s requirement for 354 light tanks. The programme is expected to cost approximately ₹17,500 crore and will significantly enhance the Army’s capabilities in high-altitude terrain.

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.