India is poised to further strengthen its aerial strike and defence capabilities with the acquisition of an additional batch of Meteor Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missiles for the Indian Air Force’s Rafale fleet. The deal, estimated at around ₹1,500 crore, is expected to boost India’s long-range combat effectiveness and reinforce its deterrence posture in the region. The Defence Ministry is nearing final approval for the procurement from European missile manufacturer MBDA. Once sanctioned, the purchase will further enhance the Rafale’s status as the only IAF platform currently capable of deploying the Meteor — a missile acclaimed for its extended range and exceptional precision.

Developed through a European consortium led by MBDA, the Meteor missile is equipped with an active radar seeker and ramjet propulsion, offering sustained power and a range of up to nearly 200 kilometres. This technology enables Indian Rafales to engage adversaries before being detected, giving them a significant tactical edge over aircraft using conventional BVR systems.

India’s 36 Rafale jets, acquired under the 2016 France-India agreement, are already armed with Meteor, SCALP, and MICA missiles. The upcoming naval variant, the Rafale-M — intended for aircraft carrier operations — is also expected to integrate the Meteor, ensuring interoperability between the Air Force and Navy.

The decision to procure more Meteors was influenced by operational lessons from ‘Operation Sindoor’ earlier this year. During the mission, Rafales and Su-30MKIs carried out successful deep-strike operations against enemy and terrorist targets inside Pakistan. The Pakistan Air Force attempted a counterattack using Chinese-origin PL-15 BVR missiles but failed to achieve meaningful results.

Intelligence inputs have since indicated Pakistan’s growing dependence on Chinese BVR systems such as the PL-15 and PL-21. To maintain its superior air combat reach, India plans to expand its Meteor arsenal as part of a broader strategic deterrence initiative. The Meteor’s advanced networking capabilities also enable Indian Rafales to share target data mid-flight, improving situational awareness and coordination.

India is expediting development of its indigenous Astra missile family, designed by DRDO. The Astra Mk-2, currently in integration trials with the Su-30MKI and soon with the TEJAS Mk-1A, boasts a strike range exceeding 200 kilometres — narrowing the gap with international systems. Approximately 700 Astra Mk-2 missiles are expected to be inducted in upcoming phases.

The Meteor will continue to serve as the Rafale’s primary long-range air dominance weapon, complemented in the future by indigenous technologies such as next-generation anti-radiation missiles. Together, the Meteor and Astra series will enable the Indian Air Force to maintain unmatched aerial reach, precision engagement, and strategic control across multiple theatres. By bolstering the Rafale fleet with additional Meteor missiles and advancing indigenous weapons programs, India aims to sustain a decisive edge in beyond-visual-range warfare — ensuring readiness, deterrence, and dominance in regional airspace for years to come.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from indian defence news.

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the Pakistan-based militant group, has recently taken a significant strategic turn by establishing its first-ever women's wing, known as "Jamaat-ul-Mominaat." This new unit is reportedly under the leadership of Sadiya Azhar, who is the sister of JeM's chief, Masood Azhar. Notably, Sadiya Azhar's husband, Yusuf Azhar, was killed during India's Operation Sindoor in May 2025, when Indian forces struck JeM’s headquarters in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

This development marks a strategic shift for JeM, which has traditionally refrained from involving women in combat or operational roles. The recruitment drive for Jamaat-ul-Mominaat started on October 8, 2025, at the Markaz Usman-o-Ali center in Bahawalpur. The group is focusing its recruitment efforts on the wives of JeM commanders as well as women from economically vulnerable backgrounds enrolled at JeM’s various centers across Pakistan-controlled territories, including cities like Karachi, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Haripur, and Mansehra.

Experts believe this move signifies JeM's intent to expand its operational and ideological reach, including into India, where they plan to use online networks for recruitment and psychological warfare. The new women's wing is reportedly active in regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of southern India. They are utilizing social media, WhatsApp groups, and madrasa networks as conduits to spread their narrative and recruit women. The group's propaganda features religious imagery of Mecca and Medina and emotionally charged content aimed at attracting educated and urban Muslim women.

The decision to incorporate women into JeM’s structure follows a heavy blow to the group during Operation Sindoor, which destroyed their headquarters and killed several members of Masood Azhar’s family. Along with Sadiya Azhar’s husband, other family members were reportedly killed in the operation, making this a deeply personal and symbolic development for JeM’s leadership.

While women have been deployed in combat roles by various terrorist organizations like ISIS, Boko Haram, and Hamas, JeM had largely avoided this tactic until now. The formation of this female brigade indicates a possible shift toward using women in more active roles including potential suicide attacks, psychological operations, and recruitment strategies.

This evolution in JeM’s tactics underscores a broader trend where militant groups enhance their reach and adaptability by utilizing women in operations previously limited to men. It also raises concerns for security agencies in India and the region who must now confront a new dimension of threat that involves female operatives engaged in both physical and psychological warfare.

Jamaat-ul-Mominaat is expected to play a critical role in JeM’s future operations, serving not only as a recruitment and propaganda tool but potentially expanding the group’s capacity for disruptive activities both within Pakistan and across the border into India. This shift reflects the resilience and adaptability of such groups in response to counter-terrorism pressures.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh on Friday rejected Pakistan’s claims that it shot down Indian fighter jets during Operation Sindoor, calling those reports “fanciful stories.” He said there is no evidence to back Pakistan’s assertions, while India has shared images showing damage to Pakistani targets. Singh suggested such claims are aimed at saving face and misinforming their public.

Speaking at a press event for Air Force Day in New Delhi, he added that if Pakistan believes it shot down many of India’s jets, that is their belief to hold — India will not dwell on it publicly. He pointed out that Pakistan has not produced any photos showing damage to Indian airbases, hangars, or infrastructure, whereas India has shown images of strikes on Pakistani sites.

Singh also updated timelines for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), saying a first flight is planned around 2028 and induction by about 2035 is achievable. He noted the AMCA’s technology requirements are well understood and that the schedule could even be accelerated with strong effort.

On future fighter acquisitions, Singh said all options — including the Su-57 and Rafale — will be evaluated through a strict induction process, with preference for aircraft that meet India’s needs and offer technology transfer and local manufacturing. He described the Rafale as one of the most suitable and easy-to-absorb options, but emphasized the final choice will depend on what best meets India’s requirements and offers production and technology freedoms. Responding to reports that terrorist groups are moving deeper into Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Singh said the IAF can accurately strike such hideouts if reliable intelligence is available, and that India’s options and capabilities remain unchanged.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh (AP Singh), Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF), will lead a historic farewell flypast for the legendary MiG-21 fighter jet on September 26, 2025. The event will officially mark the retirement of the MiG-21 after nearly sixty years of service in India’s skies. First inducted in 1963, the MiG-21 became the “backbone” of India’s aerial strength, playing decisive roles in the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and even operations as late as 2019. Renowned for its speed, agility, and quick turnaround, the aircraft helped shape the IAF’s combat philosophy. Despite being infamously called the “flying coffin” due to high accident rates in the 1990s and 2000s, it trained generations of pilots and stood as a symbol of India’s fighter power.

The retirement paves the way for the indigenously built Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A, which will gradually replace the MiG-21 and represent India’s next step in modern air warfare. Fittingly, the first MiG-21 squadron—28 Squadron, “First Supersonics”—was based in Chandigarh, which will also host the farewell ceremony. The aircraft’s combat record includes iconic missions such as the 1971 strike on the governor’s residence in Dhaka, a key moment before Pakistan’s surrender.

Over the decades, the IAF inducted 874 MiG-21s in multiple variants, from T-66 and T-77 to the upgraded Bison model. As of 2025, only two squadrons—the 3 Squadron “Cobras” and the 23 Squadron “Panthers”—still operate the jet, with the MiG-21 Bison (CU-2788) among the oldest aircraft in active use.

The decision to phase out the MiG-21 reflects evolving strategic, operational, and economic priorities. While its initial manufacture in India through technology transfer was a game-changer compared to Western fighters, the need to diversify equipment sources and adopt indigenous technology led to a shift in focus.

To honour the MiG-21’s unmatched legacy, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh will personally pilot the aircraft during the flypast—a rare ceremonial role for the Chief of the Air Staff. The event will also bring together veterans, former chiefs, pilots, and dignitaries including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, underlining the aircraft’s historic contribution. With over 80 Tejas jets contracted and more on order, the IAF aims to gradually restructure its doctrine around this lightweight, agile indigenous fighter, alongside advanced aircraft such as the Rafale and Su-30MKI.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.

On September 3, China held its largest military parade to date in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event featured tens of thousands of soldiers, along with hundreds of aircraft, ground vehicles, and advanced weaponry. More than just a show of military might, the parade was intended as a symbol of deterrence, national solidarity, and a display of Xi Jinping’s authority in a period of global uncertainty. Andrea Heng discussed the significance of the event with Dr. Mustafa Izzuddin, Senior International Affairs Analyst at Solaris.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

On May 18, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that Israel would relax its blockade to allow limited food supplies into Gaza, following the military’s declaration of “extensive ground operations” in both the northern and southern regions of the enclave. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman provide the latest updates from Stephen Zunes, Professor of Politics at the University of San Francisco.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

India's military operations chief is set to meet with his Pakistani counterpart to discuss the next steps following the ceasefire. After some initial violations, there were no reports of explosions or projectiles overnight. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman provide the latest update with insights from Dr. Christopher Snedden, a political scientist and author.
Disclaimer: This Video is taken from CNA.