1. Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth becomes IAF’s First Female Officer to Qualify as Fighter Combat Leader

Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has scripted history by becoming the first woman officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to qualify as a Fighter Combat Leader at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment, in Gwalior on Thursday, August 13, 2026. It was announced by the IAF in a social media post.

This marks a new milestone in India’s military aviation history. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh met Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth to congratulate her for this accomplishment.

2. Indian Navy issues RFI for 1000-km Range “Kamikaze” Drones

The Indian Navy is looking to acquire medium-range loitering munitions capable of striking targets at sea and on land at ranges of at least 1,000 km. This would be a massive leap in the Navy’s offensive power, ought to acquire advanced, ship-launched "kamikaze" drones.

According to a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Defence Ministry, the government intends to induct Loitering Munition (Medium Range) systems capable of sea-based, ship-mounted operations.

3. The POJK Protests Attract Global Attention

The ongoing protests in Pakistan -occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) is receiving attention across the globe. Large marches and protests were held in Brussels near the EU Parliament and in Italy where large demonstrations were held, calling for international scrutiny of the situation in PoJK. In UK, protests also took place outside Pakistani diplomatic premises, with Britain based Kashmiris highlighting human-rights violations in PoJK.

The protests in POJK have been continuing since the past 2 months and the situation continues to remains tense, with protesters raising questions about recent controversial elections, targeted killings and forced disappearances of innocent people and supply disruptions. 

4. UNSC Report Links Delhi’s Red Fort Blast to Al-Qaida (AQIS)

A terrorism monitoring team of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has declared the deadly Red Fort suicide car bombing in New Delhi on 10th November 2025, that killed 11 people, was linked to the Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). The report by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team on terrorism to the Security Council said, the attack in last November was officially attributed to AQIS. 

The report said that the AQIS continued to evolve from a fragmented group into a regional terrorist entity, establishing logistics and financial networks and working in decentralised small, scattered cells instead of large units.

5. Major General Sunil Kumar Razdan of Indian Army Passes Away

Major General Sunil Kumar Razdan, Kirti Chakra, Vishisht Seva Medal (Retd), a distinguished officer of the Indian Army, breathed his last on 13th August 2026. The Indian Defence Forces have expressed their sorrow through several social media posts.

Serving with the 7th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (7 PARA SF), Major General Razdan became renowned for his extraordinary courage during a counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir in 1994.

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.