1. Exercise ‘Udara Shakti’ Underway in Malaysia

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) are conducting bilateral Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 at Subang Air Base, Malaysia, from 10–14 August 2026. This marks the debut of IAF's Dassault Rafale fighters in the exercise.

The IAF said, the five-day drills feature air combat maneuvering, air-to-air refuelling, and strategic airlift transport exercises alongside Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE) to deepen defense cooperation and tactical interoperability.

2. India’s Defence Ministry floats ₹1 lakh crore Tender for 60 Multirole Transport Aircraft

India’s Ministry of Defence issued a tender worth around ₹1 lakh crore for 60 multirole transport aircraft (MTA) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) on 12th August 2026. This marks a major push to replace the IAF’s ageing fleet of cargo and transport aircrafts.

The tender has been issued to multiple Indian companies, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and private sector defence majors, a senior Defence Ministry official said. The fund is floated to induce private sector investment in research & development.

3. Indian Army Trains CISF Personnel in Tactical Security Operations at Agartala Airport

The Indian Army has completed a two-week specialised tactical training programme for CISF personnel at Agartala Airport in Tripura. The programme was aimed at strengthening security preparedness around critical aviation infrastructure.

This is relevant to the broader issue of military support and inter agency coordination for protection of strategic and critical infrastructure.

4. IAF Issues RFI for procurement of 150 Stage-III Jet Trainers

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to procure 150 Next-Generation Trainer Aircraft (NGTA). The IAF aim to replace the ageing Hawk Mk-132 advance jet trainer fleet.

The response to the Request for Information (RFI) is due by October 05, 2026. The Request for Proposal (RFP) is targeted for release around December 2027. Following contract signing, the induction and delivery of the systems are scheduled to be completed within 60 months.

5. Multiple Terrorists Killed in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in Security Operations

According to reports, Pakistan has killed dozens of militants in it’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in intelligence-based operations. Security forces launched the operations in Bannu district yesterday, following intelligence reports and continuous surveillance of militants’ movements and hideouts.

Officials said 52 militants, including 4 key commanders, were killed in operations launched since Tuesday morning in North Waziristan, while 10 militants were killed and 16 injured in multiple operations in Bannu on Wednesday.

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.