Junior Digest

KYIV, Oct 14,2026: SpaceX has introduced a limit on some Starlink services in ‌Ukraine, disrupting combat drone missions for which the technology is crucial, officials said on Wednesday.

The satellite internet terminals from Elon Musk’s company are vital for guiding Ukraine’s longer-range drone strikes in occupied southern and ​eastern Ukraine, which have wreaked havoc on Russian logistics.

“Our defence forces did not receive ​a warning about this limitation, and this led to the disruption of ⁠several missions,” presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov wrote on Telegram.

Beskrestnov said SpaceX had stopped the ​operation of its military-grade version above 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).

Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Reaction Corps, ​deployed in the southeast, added that units had been forced to cancel some missions.

“According to our observations, during flights, the connection could drop for 10–20 seconds at speeds of just 110–120 km/h. The drones kept ​moving, but these interruptions made them harder to control,” it said in a statement ​to Reuters.

A source in Ukraine’s defence ministry added that the limitations significantly complicate logistics and some drone ‌operations.

SpaceX did ⁠not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular US business hours.
KYIV UNDER PRESSURE FROM WASHINGTON

Although it was not immediately clear why the Starlink service was throttled, the move comes as Washington pressures Kyiv to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Starlink does not work inside Russia ​and the Ukrainian drones ​hitting Russia’s oil ⁠industry use other means of communication.
Ukraine has already said that it did not receive the usual advance warning from its allies about some recent ​missile strikes on the capital.

Since being turned on over Ukraine in ​the early ⁠days of Russia’s invasion in 2022, Starlink has been the lifeblood of Ukrainian battlefield communications, with units using its satellite internet to talk to each other.

Over time, its resistance to electronic ⁠signal jamming ​also made it a crucial tool for flying long-range ​attack drones as well as large hexacopters which drop supplies to Ukraine’s frontline.

New Delhi, January 13,2026: Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday said that there were no talks between the Director General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan about nuclear warfare.Responding to a query raised during a press conference here, he said that the nuclear rhetoric was given by the political or local public in Pakistan instead of the military.”As far as nuclear rhetoric is concerned, I would like to say that there was no discussion on nuclear in the DGMO talks, and whatever nuclear rhetoric was given by the politicians or given by the local public in Pakistan. I have no indication that anything of that sort came from the military,” General Dwivedi told ANI. He was responding to a query about whether Pakistan issued any nuclear threats during the 2025 conflict with India.The Army Chief said that India expanded the conventional space to carry out ground operations while dismissing the understanding of directly moving from sub-conventional warfare to the nuclear domain.”When we talk about our role in this, and when we discuss what was said earlier, it was stated that the space for conventional operations is shrinking, and that we would go directly from sub-conventional to the nuclear domain. But this time, the action we took, especially the kind of firing that took place in Jammu and Kashmir, and the way we addressed it, and how we eliminated approximately 100 of their (Pakistan) personnel – all that action was taken because we expanded the conventional space,” he said.In those 88 hours, you saw that the army’s mobilisation to expand the conventional space was such that if Pakistan made any mistake, we were fully prepared to launch ground operations,” he added.General Dwivedi further informed that 100 people out of the 150 people associated with Pakistan were killed in the firing along the Line of Control (LoC) or in the International Border of the Jammu and Kashmir sector.”I remember, around August 13 or 14, they (Pakistan) mistakenly released a list of about 150 people, which we analysed, and then they withdrew it. Of those, about 100 people, according to our assessment, had been killed in the firing along the Line of Control or in the IB J&K sector. As far as the force structure is concerned, I would only like to tell you that drones were already playing an important role, but after Operation Sindoor, this aspect received a major acceleration. We were already monitoring this organisation,” he said.The Army Chief said that the drones were already playing an important role, but received major acceleration after Op Sindoor, with the establishment of organisations comprising skilled operators.”We had validated this in desert terrain, high-altitude terrain. But because the operation was ongoing, we had to commission it in a hurry and as quickly as possible. Keeping this in mind, what action did we take? If we start with the infantry battalion, if you want to use drones actively, for surveillance, for force application, for anti-radiation, for jamming, for loitering munitions, we need highly skilled operators, and for that, we need integration,” General Dwivedi said.”The first organisation we established was an infantry battalion, within which we created the Ashni Platoon, comprising specialists who must achieve a certain level of qualification to join. Similarly, we have established the Bhairav Light Commando Battalion, and as of today, we have raised 13 Bhairav battalions,” he stated.The Army Chief added that the Bhairav battalions are meant to bridge the gap between lethal platoons and special forces within infantry battalions.”The role of these Bhairav battalion is to bridge the gap between the lethal platoons and the special forces within the infantry battalions. They are equipped with modern equipment, including UAS equipment and counter-UAS equipment, a large amount of ammunition, and other equipment, to play a crucial role,” he said.”Moving on to artillery, we have created a Divyastra battery. The Divyastra battery will be part of the artillery regiment and will provide support to a division commander. Again, this involves UAS equipment. For counter-UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) ammunition, we have our powerful regiment, which we are currently raising three units of, and will later raise 12 more. We will then expand this further,” he added.

Washington, Sep 26,2026: US President Donald Trump has rejected Tehran’s proposal for a week-long reopening of the Hormuz Strait and is considering new strikes after midterm elections in the United States, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing US officials.

Iran has conveyed to the United States a seven-day plan for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier on Friday. Trump doubts that Iran will accept his conditions and told his aides that new strikes are likely, the WSJ reported. The US also informed Iran and the mediators that the president is not planning to lift the naval blockade, according to the report. Earlier, Trump posted a map of Hormuz Strait in Truth Social, labeling it as “Trump Strait.”

In early September, Trump suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz after himself, claiming that the United States now controls the waterway. The White House has also previously published a map on social media labeling the Strait of Hormuz as the “Trump Strait.” On February 28, the United States and Israel began striking targets in Iran, to which the Iranian side responded with strikes of its own.

In mid-June, Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum aimed at a cessation of hostilities, but shortly afterward, they exchanged strikes again. The conflict remains unresolved, with sporadic resumption of hostilities. Washington has, however, chosen to increase its economic pressure against the Islamic Republic in a push to end the conflict through the creation of additional financial hardships for Tehran.

New Delhi, Aug 30,2025: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that in today’s era of terrorism, pandemics and regional conflicts, self-reliance in Defence is not merely an option but a condition for survival and progress.

“It is not about protectionism, it is about sovereignty and national autonomy,” the Defence Minister said at a Defence Conclave with the theme ‘Warfare in the 21st Century’ here today, a Defence Ministry statement said.

He said many developed nations are resorting to protectionist measures with situations of trade war and tariff war becoming increasingly serious. Self-reliance in Defence should not be confused with isolation, he added.
“This is not protectionism. It is about sovereignty. When a nation of youth, energy, technology and possibilities moves towards self-reliance, the world pauses and takes note. This is the strength that enables India to withstand global pressures and emerge stronger,” he said.

Hailing Operation Sindoor as a shining example of India’s growing indigenous Defence capabilities, Rajnath Singh said the precise strikes carried out by the armed forces on their targets using indigenous equipment demonstrated that no mission can be successful without vision, long preparation and coordination.
“Operation Sindoor may appear to be a story of a war of a few days, India’s victory and Pakistan’s defeat, but years of strategic preparation and Defence preparedness have played a long role behind it,” he said, adding that India’s forces, through years of hard work and reliance on indigenous equipment, executed the operation effectively and decisively.

The Minister described the ‘Sudarshan Chakra Mission’ as a game-changing initiative for India’s future security. The mission envisions providing complete aerial protection to critical locations across the country within the next decade, using both defensive and offensive technologies.
Citing lessons from Operation Sindoor, Rajnath Singh underlined the growing importance of air defence in modern warfare.

He further mentioned that DRDO successfully tested an indigenous integrated air defence weapon system on August 23, which hit three targets simultaneously. He expressed confidence that although full implementation will take time, the Ministry of Defence has already moved decisively forward in this direction.

“All our warships are now being built in India. The recent commissioning of stealth frigates INS Himgiri and INS Udaygiri, equipped with advanced weaponry and electronic warfare systems, reflects our Navy’s resolve not to buy any warship from abroad. These ships are world-class and will enhance India’s strength in the Indian Ocean Region,” he said while highlighting the indigenisation milestones such as complete self-reliance in warship construction.
The Minister announced that the Government has taken up the challenge of developing and manufacturing a powerful indigenous aero-engine, an area where India had faced limited success for a long time. He pointed out that preparations for this critical project are now almost complete and the work will soon be visible at the ground level.

Stressing its importance, he underlined that earlier the question used to be whether India could build such advanced systems, but today the question has changed to how quickly they can be deployed.
He highlighted the Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu as key steps towards indigenisation and innovation. He noted their positive impact and potential for expansion, stating they will drive growth and boost India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence sector.

On the economic role of Defence, the Minister underscored that the sector has become a pillar of growth. “Domestic Defence production has crossed Rs 1.5 lakh crore with 25 percent from the private sector. Defence is not mere expenditure, it is Defence Economics, a driver of jobs, innovation and industrial growth. Like IT or automobiles, Defence today is a growth multiplier,” he added.

On an international stage, Singh reiterated that India seeks no enemies but will not compromise its interests. “We do not consider any country our enemy. But the welfare of our people, farmers, small businesses and common citizens is our top priority. The more pressure the world applies, the stronger India emerges,” he said.
Rajnath reminded the audience that indigenous technological advances from aircraft carriers and fighter jets to drones, radar and missile systems had overcome the restrictions imposed after Pokhran 1998. “Today, the world knows India has the capability to decisively defeat its adversaries within minutes. These achievements are proof of our technological and industrial strength,” he said.

The Minister said, “Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence is not a slogan but a roadmap for India’s security, sovereignty, and progress. In the coming years, India will not only fulfil its own needs, but also become a reliable partner for the world. This vision will establish India as a decisive power in the 21st century.”

SINGAPORE, Jan 28,2025: China appears to be building a large laser-ignited fusion research centre in the southwestern city of Mianyang, experts at two analytical organisations say, a development that could aid nuclear weapons design and work exploring power generation.

Satellite photos show four outlying “arms” that will house laser bays, and a central experiment bay that will hold a target chamber containing hydrogen isotopes the powerful lasers will fuse together, producing energy, said Decker Eveleth, a researcher at U.S.-based independent research organisation CNA Corp.
Satellite photos show a new large-scale laser fusion research center in Mianyang, China, which could impact both nuclear weapons development and clean energy research.

It is a similar layout to the $3.5 billion U.S. National Ignition Facility (NIF) in Northern California, which in 2022 generated more energy from a fusion reaction than the lasers pumped into the target – “scientific breakeven”.

Eveleth, who is working with analysts at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), estimates the experiment bay at the Chinese facility is about 50% bigger than the one at NIF, currently the world’s largest.

The development has not been previously reported.

“Any country with an NIF-type facility can and probably will be increasing their confidence and improving existing weapons designs, and facilitating the design of future bomb designs without testing” the weapons themselves, said William Alberque, a nuclear policy analyst at the Henry L. Stimson Centre.

China’s foreign ministry referred Reuters questions to the “competent authority”. China’s Science and Technology Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment.

Itanagar, Oct 31,2024: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually dedicated to the nation ‘Desh ka Vallabh’, the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Major Ralengnao ‘Bob’ Khathing ‘Museum of Valour’ at Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, on Thursday, describing them as a symbol of unity and strength.

The Defence Minister, who was supposed to visit Tawang but could not due to bad weather, carried out the inauguration from 4 Corps Headquarters in Tezpur, Assam, an official release said.

The unveiling coincided with the festival of lights ‘Deepawali’ and ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ which is celebrated on October 31 every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The Defence Minister began his address by referring to the broad consensus achieved by India and China to restore the ground situation in certain areas along the LAC.

He paid glowing tributes to Sardar Patel, also known as the ‘Iron Man of India’, acknowledging his instrumental role in unifying over 560 princely states post-Independence, a feat that stands as a testament to his indomitable resolve and commitment to a unified India.

“This statue ‘Desh Ka Vallabh’ will inspire people, reminding them of the strength in unity and the unwavering spirit required to build a nation as diverse as ours,” he said in his address.

The Defence Minister also paid homage to Major Bob Khathing, an extraordinary figure who made invaluable contributions to the Northeast region and national security. “Major Khathing not only led the peaceful integration of Tawang into India but also established essential military and security frameworks, including the Sashastra Seema Bal, Nagaland Armed Police, and the Naga Regiment. The ‘Museum of Valour’ now stands as a tribute to his bravery and foresight, inspiring generations to come,” he said.

Singh underscored the significance of unity and harmony and the North-East’s unique role in the nation’s identity. He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ensuring economic and infrastructure development of the entire region.

“Holistic development of the nation is possible only when the North East prospers. We will create such a North East that is strong and prosperous not only naturally and culturally but also economically,” he added.

Highlighting the crucial role of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the progress of the region, the Defence Minister made special mention of the Sela Tunnel linking Assam and Tawang, a project that enhances connectivity across Northeast regions.

“In the times to come, the Arunachal Frontier Highway project will play a major role in connecting the entire North East region, especially the border areas. This 2,000-km long highway will prove to be an important strategic and economic asset for the region as well as the entire nation,” he added.

Singh also commended the armed forces’ engagement in the region, from NCC initiatives and local economic support to crucial disaster relief efforts.

“Armed Forces not only provide security but also become a medium for development in that region by cooperating with the people of the border areas. This further strengthens India’s commitment to ensuring development, peace, and security in the Northeast,” he said.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen (Retd) KT Parnaik, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, and the family of Major Bob Khathing were present at the inauguration site.

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command Lt Gen RC Tewari, GOC 4 Corps Lt Gen Gambhir Singh, and other senior civil and military officials joined the event virtually along with the Defence Minister.

New Delhi, Oct 5,2024: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted three flight-tests of the 4th Generation, technically-advanced miniaturised Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.

The tests were carried out against high speed targets, demonstrating very critical parameters of maximum range and maximum altitude interception, a Defence Ministry statement said on Saturday.

The flight-tests were conducted on October 3rd and 4th.

These development trials showcased repeatability of hit-to-kill capability of the weapon system in various target engagement scenarios covering approaching, receding and crossing modes.

The development of VSHORADS missiles has been completed and two production agencies have been engaged in the Development cum Production Partner (DcPP) mode.

In these trials, the missiles realised through DcPPs have been successfully used, thus paving the way for early user trials and production in a short time span in line with the Government’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

VSHORADS is a Man Portable Air Defence System designed and developed indigenously by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and DcPPs.

The three Services have been associated with the project right from the beginning and participated during the developmental trials.

Meanwhile, Defence Minster Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, Armed Forces and the Industry involved in the successful development trials.

This new missile equipped with modern technologies will give further technological boost to the Armed Forces against aerial threats, he said.

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, Samir V Kamat also congratulated the DRDO team, industry partners and users for the successful flight-tests.

New Delhi, April 30,2024: Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi assumed the command of the Indian Navy as the 26th Chief of Naval Staff here on Tuesday.

He succeeded Admiral R Hari Kumar who retired after a long and illustrious career in the Navy. Earlier Admiral Tripathi served as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.

After taking over the command of the Navy, Admiral Tripathi said that he will work towards equipping the Navy with state-of-the-art technology and will always be ready to deal with all challenges while working on the mantra of ‘Nation First’.

“I feel extremely proud and honoured to become the twenty sixth Admiral of the Indian Navy. My predecessors, through their hard work and dedication, have made our Navy combat ready, reliable, well organised and a force for the future,” the Navy Chief said.

He said, “It will be my endeavor to make the Indian Navy more self-reliant, strong and equipped with new technologies. I will always try my best to ensure that the Indian Navy serves both the maritime interests and maritime defence of our country.”

Admiral Tripathi said that he would strengthen the ongoing efforts of the Indian Navy towards ‘Aatamnirbharta’ towards introducing new technologies and becoming an important pillar of national development towards our collective quest for Viksit Bharat.

Admiral Tripathi was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy on July 01, 1985. A Communication and Electronic Warfare specialist, he has had a long and distinguished service spanning nearly 39 years. Prior to taking over as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, he had served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.

He commanded the Indian Naval Ships Vinash, Kirch and Trishul. He also held various important operational and staff appointments which included Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet; Director of Naval Operations; Principal Director, Network Centric Operations and Principal Director, Naval Plans at New Delhi.

MOSCOW, June 29,2024: President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia should resume production of intermediate and shorter range nuclear-capable missiles and then consider where to deploy them after the United States brought similar missiles to Europe and Asia.

Putin’s move finally kills off all that remains from one of the most significant arms controls treaties of the Cold War amid fears that the world’s two biggest nuclear powers could be entering a new arms race together with China.

The Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, signed by Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan in 1987, marked the first time the superpowers had agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenals and eliminated a whole category of nuclear weapons.

The United States under former President Donald Trump formally withdrew from the INF Treaty in 2019 after saying that Moscow was violating the accord, an accusation the Kremlin repeatedly denied and dismissed as a pretext.

Russia then imposed a moratorium on its own development of missiles previously banned by the INF treaty – ground-based ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 km to 5,500 km.

Putin said Russia had pledged not to deploy such missiles but that the United States had resumed their production, brought them to Denmark for exercises and also taken them to the Philippines.

“We need to respond to this and make decisions about what we will have to do in this direction next,” Putin was shown on state television telling Russia’s Security Council.

“Apparently, we need to start manufacturing these strike systems and then, based on the actual situation, make decisions about where – if necessary to ensure our safety – to place them,” he said.
DISINTEGRATION

Russia and the United States, by far the biggest nuclear powers, have both expressed regret about the disintegration of the tangle of arms control treaties which sought to slow the Cold War arms race and reduce the risk of nuclear war.

Trump in 2018 said he wanted to terminate the INF Treaty because of what he said were years of Russian violations and his concerns about China’s intermediate-range missile arsenal.

Putin has said in the past that the U.S. withdrawal would trigger a new arms race.

The United States publicly blamed Russia’s development of the 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile, known in NATO as the SSC-8, as the reason for it leaving the INF Treaty.

In his moratorium proposal, Putin suggested Russia could agree not to deploy the missiles in its Baltic coast exclave of Kaliningrad. Since leaving the pact, the United States has tested missiles with a similar profile.

Putin said earlier this month he could deploy conventional missiles within striking distance of the United States and its European allies if they allowed Ukraine to strike deeper into Russia with long-range Western weapons.

In his comments on Friday, Putin gave no indication of where the missiles could be deployed.

New Delhi, May 1,2024: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested the Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha early Wednesday morning.

Designed and developed by DRDO, SMART is a next-generation missile-based light-weight torpedo delivery system that will enhance the anti-submarine warfare capability of the Indian Navy far beyond the conventional range of lightweight torpedo, a Defence Ministry statement said.

This canister-based missile system consists of several advanced sub-systems, namely two-stage solid propulsion system, electromechanical actuator system, precision inertial navigation system etc.

The system carries advanced light-weight torpedo as payload along with parachute-based release system.

The missile was launched from the ground mobile launcher. Several state-of-the-art mechanisms such as symmetric separation, ejection and velocity control have been validated in this test.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while complimenting the DRDO and the industry partners on the successful flight-test of SMART said, “The development of the system will further enhance the strength of our Navy”.

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Samir V Kamat also lauded the synergistic efforts of the entire SMART team and urged it to continue on the path of excellence.

New Delhi, April 15,2024: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army successfully conducted trials of the indigenous Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) Weapon System.

The Warhead Flight Trials were successfully conducted at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, Rajasthan, on Saturday, and the missile performance and warhead performance were found to be remarkable, a Defence Ministry statement said on Sunday.

The system consisted of the MPATGM, Launcher, Target Acquisition System, and Fire Control Unit.

An adequate number of missile firing trials have been successfully conducted towards achieving compliance with the complete operational envelope as stipulated in the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (Infantry, Indian Army).

Penetration trials of the Tandem Warhead System of MPATGM have been successfully completed, and it is found capable of defeating modern armour-protected Main Battle Tanks.

The ATGM system is well-equipped with day/night and top-attack capability. Dual-mode seeker functionality is a great addition to the missile capability for tank warfare.

With this, technology development and successful demonstration have been concluded, and the system is now ready for Final User Evaluation Trials leading towards its induction into the Indian Army.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented the DRDO and the Indian Army for the successful trials of the system, terming it an important step towards achieving self-reliance in advanced technology-based defence system development.

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, and Chairman, Dr. Samir V. Kamat, also congratulated the teams associated with the trials.

New Delhi, June 12,2024: The government announced on Tuesday the appointment of Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi as the next Chief of the Army Staff.

Dwivedi will succeed the present Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj C Pande who demits office on June 30, 2024.

Born on July 1, 1964, Lieutenant General Dwivedi was commissioned into the Infantry (Jammu & Kashmir Rifles) of the Indian Army on December 15, 1984. During his long and distinguished service spanning nearly 40 years, he has served in a variety of Command, Staff, Instructional and Foreign appointments.

The Command appointments of Lt Gen Dwivedi include Command of Regiment (18 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles), Brigade (26 Sector Assam Rifles), Inspector General, Assam Rifles (East) and 9 Corps.

An alumnus of the Sainik School Rewa, National Defence College and US Army War College, Dwivedi has also undergone courses at the DSSC Wellington and Army War College, Mhow. He was conferred ‘Distinguished Fellow’ in the coveted NDC equivalent course at USAWC, Carlisle, USA. Dwivedi has an M Phil in Defence & Management Studies and two Master’s Degrees in Strategic Studies and Military Science.

New Delhi April 24,2024 DRDO’s Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur has developed the lightest bulletproof jacket in the country.

The jacket is capable of giving protection against 7.62 x 54 R API (Level 6 of BIS 17051) ammunition.

Recently, this bulletproof jacket was successfully tested at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh as per BIS 17051-2018, an official statement said.

This jacket is based upon a new design approach, where novel materials along with new processes have been used.

The front Hard Armour Panel (HAP) of the jacket defeats multiple hits (06 shots) of 7.62 x 54 R API (Sniper rounds) in both ICW (In-conjunction with) and Standalone design.

The ergonomically designed front HAP is made up of a monolithic ceramic plate with polymer backing which enhances the wearability and comfort during the operation. The areal density of ICW Hard Armour Panel (HAP) and standalone HAP is less than 40 kg/m2 and 43 kg/m2 respectively.

Washington, DC [US], January 29,2025: On January 27, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at enhancing the United States’ missile defence capabilities in light of the growing threats from sophisticated ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles.
The order, which lays out a comprehensive plan for the next-generation missile defence shield, underscores the US government’s recognition of the increasingly complex and urgent risks posed by adversaries’ evolving missile technologies.
The order highlights the necessity of bolstering US defence systems against advanced aerial attacks, a challenge that has only intensified over the past several decades.
Despite efforts in the 1980s, particularly the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) under President Ronald Reagan, previous attempts at a comprehensive missile defence program were ultimately halted. While SDI led to technological advancements, its goal of building an effective defence against nuclear missile threats was never fully realised. In the years since the United States withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002, the country’s missile defence strategy focused largely on addressing threats from rogue states and mitigating the risks of accidental missile launches. However, with the rise of new missile technologies by both peer and near-peer adversaries, the threat landscape has become more sophisticated, prompting the need for an updated and more robust defensive posture.
The executive order directs the development of a next-generation missile defence shield that will provide multi-layered defence against a wide array of missile types. This system is designed to defend against threats such as ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, and advanced cruise missiles. A key component of the plan is to ensure that the US retains its secure second-strike capability, meaning it can retaliate effectively in the event of a missile attack.

To achieve these objectives, the order sets in motion the acceleration of several critical technological advancements, including the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor layer. This layer will allow for faster detection and tracking of incoming missiles.
Additionally, the order calls for the development and deployment of space-based interceptors capable of intercepting missiles during their boost phase, as well as the establishment of terminal-phase intercept systems to neutralise threats before they reach critical infrastructure. The plan also envisions the creation of a secure and resilient supply chain to support the defence technologies, with a focus on next-generation security features.
The Secretary of Defence is tasked with submitting a detailed implementation plan within 60 days. This plan will outline the architecture and requirements for the new missile defence system, and it will include a roadmap for accelerating the deployment of these advanced systems. Additionally, the Department of Defence will be asked to review its organisational structure to ensure it can rapidly respond to evolving threats.
The administration will also work closely with the Office of Management and Budget to secure the necessary funding for the initiative, ensuring that it is integrated into the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. As part of the broader implementation strategy, US Strategic Command and Northern Command will provide an updated assessment of the missile threat to the US homeland, with an emphasis on defending against counter value nuclear strikes. A prioritised list of locations will be developed to determine where the defence systems should be deployed first.
In addition to strengthening its own missile defence systems, the United States will continue to collaborate with its allies and partners around the world to enhance missile defence capabilities. This will include bolstering theatre missile defences to protect US and allied troops deployed in various regions.
The order emphasises the importance of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in developing advanced missile defence technologies and operational strategies. It also calls for the acceleration of US missile defence provisions to allies, further enhancing global defence against missile threats.