The Defence Times India Successfully Tests Air-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Crystal Maze 2’ India’s defense capabilities take a significant leap forward with successfully testing a new version of the air-launched medium-range ballistic missile, Crystal Maze 2. This significant enhancement to the nation’s defense arsenal is a testament to the ongoing efforts to bolster national security and project power in the region. The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully tested the new version of the air-launched medium-range ballistic missile in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The missile can hit tar ..read more

The Defence Times India 4th Largest Military Spender In 2023 According To SIPRI Report According to the global Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India’s military expenditure in 2023 was a whopping $83.6 billion. This marked a 4.2% increase from the preceding year, positioning India as the fourth largest military spender in the world, after the United States, China, and Russia. The increase in investment was in line with India’s focus on modernizing its military capabilities and strengthening its infrastructure, particularly along the China border. In 2023, the world sa ..read more

The Defence Times India Begins BrahMos Missile Delivery to Philippines In a strategic move that amplifies India’s role as a defence exporter and strengthens India-Philippines relations, the nation is poised to kickstart the initial deliveries of the advanced BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines, marking a significant milestone in defence exports and military technology transfer. Amidst escalating tensions in the maritime disputes between the Philippines and China, India has proactively stepped forward to deliver the first batch of BrahMos missiles to Manila. This move, underp ..read more

The Defence Times Taiwan Plans to Increase Missile Drills Amid China Threats In response to China’s intensified military pressure and escalating threats, Taiwan’s armed forces have announced plans to increase the number of missile drills they conduct this year. The decision was made public by Taiwanese Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng, who emphasized the need to bolster training efforts in the face of the changing “enemy threat”. The move comes as China continues to assert its claim over Taiwan, despite the island’s firm objections. Defense Minister’s Announcement During a parliament session ..read more

The Defence Times Russia Will Not Use ‘Expensive’ Armata Tanks In Ukraine Russian tank, the T-14 Armata, is considered too expensive to be deployed in Ukraine, according to the head of a Russian state-owned weapons manufacturer. Sergey Chemezov, the director general of the defence conglomerate Rostec, stated that the cost of the T-14 Armata, estimated to be between $5 million and $9 million, makes it prohibitive for fielding in Ukraine. Russia’s arsenal of existing tanks, such as the T-90, T-80, and T-72, which have all been deployed in Ukraine, are significantly cheaper. These tanks have als ..read more

The Defence Times Maldives President: No Indian Troops To Remain In Maldives, Not Even In Civilian Clothing Maldives President’s Declaration President Mohamed Muizzu of Maldives has made a resolute statement, declaring that no Indian military personnel will remain in the country after May 10, even in civilian clothing. Various media outlets reported this announcement and has garnered significant attention. President Muizzu addressed the residential community of Baa Atoll Eydhafushi, emphasizing the importance of dispelling false rumors and ensuring the complete withdrawal of Indian military p ..read more

The Defence Times China Ramps Up Defence Budget by 7.2% Amid Myriad Hostile Conflicts Across the Globe Implications of China’s Defence Budget Increase China has recently announced a 7.2% increase in its defence budget, marking the third consecutive year that the budget has crossed the seven per cent mark. This substantial increase has raised concerns among its principal adversaries, including India, due to its potential political and military ramifications on the global geopolitical landscape. While China’s defence budget is significantly lower than that of the United States, it is three time ..read more

The Defence Times India to Commission New Naval Base INS Jatayu on Lakshadweep Archipelago India has announced its intention to build a new naval base on the Lakshadweep archipelago, located off the country’s southwest coast. This decision comes as part of India’s efforts to bolster regional security, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Defence on Saturday. The Indian Navy will commission the INS Jatayu on Minicoy Island, the southernmost island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, on March 6.  The archipelago is positioned strategically along primary maritime trade rout ..read more

The Defence Times India Signs ₹39,125 Crore Deals for BrahMos Missiles, MiG-29 Engines, and Radar Systems India’s Defence Contracts The Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently signed five major capital acquisition contracts worth ₹39,125.39 crore to bolster the country’s defence capabilities. These contracts aim to strengthen indigenous capabilities, save foreign exchange, and reduce dependency on foreign origin equipment manufacturers in the future. The contracts were exchanged in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at South Block. Procurement of MiG-29 Engines One of the contracts was ..read more

The Defence Times L&T Secures Major Order for High Power Radars from Ministry of Defence L&T’s Contract for High Power Radars Larsen & Toubro (L&T), a multinational company engaged in EPC projects, hi-tech manufacturing, and services, has secured a major contract from the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The contract is for the supply of High Power Radars (HPR) to the Indian Air Force (IAF). HPR is a static sensor that provides long-range aerial surveillance with higher uptime. Equipped with multiple NextGen features and capable of remote operations, these radars will ..read more