The first indigenous Expendable Turbo Jet Engine of 350 kg thrust class, designed by DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), has been successfully developed. GTRE had identified Azad Engineering, Hyderabad as Industry partner for the manufacturing and assembly of the engine. On July 22, 2026, the engine was successfully realised and delivered to GTRE by Azad Engineering, a landmark achievement for India’s aerospace and defence ecosystem. The delivery marks the culmination of years of precision engineering, advanced manufacturing, and close partnership between India’s scientific & industrial communities. Mastered by only a handful of nations, jet engine technology is widely regarded…
Author: Digital Desk
The massive rescue operation at the under-construction tunnel of the NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydroelectric Project in Sikkim’s Namchi district concluded on a tragic note after all 25 workers trapped inside the tunnel were recovered dead. The recovery of the final bodies marked the end of a four-day-long search and rescue effort involving multiple central and state agencies. The accident occurred inside the under-construction tunnel at Samardung, where a large section reportedly collapsed, trapping workers deep underground. The incident triggered an extensive emergency response, with rescue teams working continuously under challenging conditions to locate and retrieve those trapped. Rescue operations…
In a significant milestone for India’s indigenous defence capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Thursday successfully carried out the maiden flight-test of the ‘Kusha’ Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. The maiden trial, conducted on July 23, 2026, validated the missile system’s ability to engage and destroy advanced aerial threats. During the test, the missile intercepted an electronic target simulating a high-speed, high-altitude aerial threat, successfully meeting all mission objectives. According to DRDO, the successful interception demonstrates the operational capability of the indigenous long-range air defence system and…
The Indian Navy on Thursday successfully concluded Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, a four-day multinational maritime security training engagement, at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. The exercise, held from July 20 to 23, brought together maritime professionals from across the globe to enhance interoperability, strengthen regional cooperation and improve collective responses to evolving maritime security challenges. Conducted in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under the aegis of the Southern Naval Command and the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 154, the exercise witnessed the participation of 276 personnel representing 27 countries. The programme was further supported by 76…
Director General of the Assam Rifles, Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, visited the Headquarters Inspector General Assam Rifles (East) on Thursday to commemorate the formation’s 15th Raising Day and lauded its contributions to national security and internal stability. Headquarters IGAR (East) was raised on July 23, 2012, at Laitumkhrah, Shillong. Over the past 14 years, the formation has established itself as a key operational arm of the Assam Rifles, earning recognition for its professionalism in addressing internal security challenges, conducting disaster relief operations, spearheading anti-narcotics missions, and safeguarding India’s international borders. During the visit, the Director General was briefed…
Group Captain Pankaj Upadhyay on Thursday assumed charge as the Commandant of Embarkation Headquarters, Kolkata, succeeding Group Captain A.L. Kishore, who completed his tenure after serving the organisation with distinction. The change of command ceremony marked the formal transfer of leadership at the strategically important Embarkation Headquarters, which is responsible for coordinating the movement of personnel, equipment and military stores for the Army, Navy and Air Force across the eastern region through rail, air and sea routes. The establishment plays a crucial role in ensuring seamless logistical support for tri-services operations and deployments. An officer of the Logistics Branch of…
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today signed two major contracts with industry partners to advance the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Mk-II programme, marking a significant step towards strengthening India’s indigenous airborne surveillance capabilities. The Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), the DRDO laboratory leading the programme, signed a contract with AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) for the conversion of six Airbus A321 aircraft from commercial to green configuration. The modified aircraft will serve as the platform for the development and production of the AEW&C Mk-II system. In a separate agreement, CABS signed a contract with Adani…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today flagged in ‘Samudra Pradakshina’, the country’s first-ever Tri-Service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition, marking the successful completion of a 314-day global voyage by nine women officers of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. The officers, sailing aboard the Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni, returned to Mumbai after covering nearly 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans. The expedition had been virtually flagged off by the Defence Minister from Mumbai on September 11, 2025. Addressing the crew through video conferencing, Singh described the successful completion of the mission as a testament to India’s Nari Shakti, a…
A major accident at the under-construction Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project in Sikkim’s Namchi district has claimed multiple lives after a suspected methane gas explosion and tunnel collapse trapped workers undergroundAt least 20 casualties have been reported so far after a section of the under-construction Head Race Tunnel (HRT) of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project collapsed yesterday at Samardung in Namchi district in Sikkim. According to officials, the incident occurred on Monday at the tunnel construction site in Samardung village. Initial reports indicate that a buildup of methane gas triggered an explosion, leading to the collapse…
High in the rugged mountains of East Sikkim, where winding roads, unpredictable weather, and difficult terrain often place quality healthcare beyond easy reach, a different kind of mission recently unfolded. It was not a military exercise or a security operation, but a humanitarian effort that brought doctors, dentists, and preventive healthcare specialists directly to people living in some of the region’s most inaccessible villages. The initiative, organised by Trishakti Corps under the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, reflected a broader philosophy that national security extends beyond defending borders—it also includes strengthening the health and resilience of the communities that…