Rafale Deal Without BrahMos Is a Strategic Compromise

By BPN News Desk April 10, 2026

Op-Eds Opinion

The ₹3.25 lakh crore Rafale deal is not just another defence purchase. It is being positioned as the backbone of the Indian Air Force’s future combat capability at a time when squadron strength is under pressure and regional threats continue to evolve. But buried within the negotiations is a

Op-Eds Opinion

Tejas Set To Fly Again, IAF Gets Back Critical Numbers It Cannot Spare

By BPN News Desk April 2, 2026

The clearance of the HAL Tejas Mk1 fleet to resume flying by April 8 may look like a routine operational update. It is anything but. For the Indian Air Force, which is already operating below its sanctioned fighter strength, this is the return of capacity it simply cannot afford to lose, even temporarily. Tejas Clearance […]

Op-Eds Opinion

₹39,000 Crore Ghatak Program Could Finally Make Kaveri Relevant

By BPN News Desk April 2, 2026

The Indian government’s decision to clear a ₹39,000 crore program for the Ghatak UCAV comes at a moment when the Indian Air Force is dealing with a shrinking fighter squadron strength and increasingly complex threats from advanced air defence systems like the HQ-9. On the surface, this looks like a push into stealth drone warfare. […]

Op-Eds Opinion

The Real Risk Is Not Tejas Crashing – It’s HAL Moving Too Slowly

By BPN News Desk February 23, 2026

The recent dip in HAL’s share price after a Tejas training accident is a textbook case of misplaced panic. Predictable anxiety over a runway overshoot and a temporarily grounded fleet has dominated the headlines, but these are just the surface-level optics. In the high-stakes world of fighter jet development, hardware failures are a part of […]

Defence National

IAF Air Superiority Key to Operation Sindoor Ceasefire – Swiss Study

By BPN News Desk January 26, 2026

The Indian Air Force played a decisive role in establishing air superiority during Operation Sindoor, a military operation launched amid heightened tensions with Pakistan earlier this year. Senior defence officials said the IAF’s control of the airspace significantly shaped the course of the conflict and limited Pakistan’s operational options. Impact on Conflict Outcome

Defence National

Air Chief Urges Timely Delivery by Aircraft Makers

By BPN News Desk January 6, 2026

Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has stressed that aircraft manufacturers must adhere strictly to delivery timelines, warning that delays directly impact the operational readiness of the force. Speaking at an interaction with defence industry stakeholders, the Air Chief said timely induction of platforms is critical at a time when the […]

Defence National

HAL Provided 24×7 Support in Operation Sindoor

By BPN News Desk October 18, 2025

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) extended round-the-clock support to the Indian Air Force (IAF) during Operation Sindoor. The aerospace major kept fighter jets and helicopters mission-ready at various operational sites. Continuous Maintenance for IAF According to Singh, HAL staff worked tirelessly to ensure that IAF

Op-Eds Opinion

A Squadron Boost or a Logistics Burden? The Case for Buying Qatar’s Typhoons

By BPN News Desk October 12, 2025

Unverified reports that India may be eyeing Qatar’s Eurofighter Typhoon jets have triggered a wave of speculation. With the Indian Air Force facing a squadron strength far below the sanctioned 42, the idea of acquiring nearly new fighters from Doha sounds tempting. But the question remains—would these jets be a quick fix or a long-term […]

Defence National

IAF To Retire MiG-21 On September 26

By BPN News Desk September 25, 2025

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will formally retire its MiG-21 fighter jets on September 26, 2025, in a decommissioning ceremony at Chandigarh Air Force Station. The jets will be flown out of squadron service, marking the close of over six decades of service in India’s skies. Last Squadron And Ceremony The final MiG-21s belong to […]

Op-Eds Opinion

Why 114 Rafales Are India’s Biggest Defence Signal Since Pokhran II

By BPN News Desk September 13, 2025

India has had a few inflection points that quietly, firmly reset how the world reads New Delhi’s intent. Pokhran II in 1998 was one such moment. A three-decade later echo could arrive if the proposal to build 114 Rafales in India moves from paper to production. This is not only a purchase plan. It is […]