Ministry of Defence

India’s Ministry of Defence released its sixth Positive Indigenisation List (PIL), banning imports of 405 defence items valued at ₹3,070 crore ($320.8 million). The list includes components for Su-30MKI, T-72/T-90 tanks, helicopters, and missile systems. Sixteen items are for the Coast Guard, 389 for defence PSUs. Part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the move aims to reduce import dependence. Over 15,700 items have been indigenised since 2020, with import substitution worth ₹9,000 crore and defence manufacturing output reaching ₹1.78 trillion in FY2025-26.

10 reports · 4 sources · Updated Aug 19, 03:29 PM UTC

The UK government awarded a £5.9 billion contract to BAE Systems for the Dreadnought-class nuclear submarine program, covering construction of four submarines to replace the Vanguard fleet and maintain the Continuous at Sea Deterrent. Part of an £8.4 billion parliamentary-approved package, the program supports approximately 30,000 jobs and involves over 1,500 UK suppliers. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and BAE Systems CEO Charles Woodburn emphasized its strategic importance for national security and British industry.

7 reports · 4 sources · Updated Jul 31, 02:30 PM UTC

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated India's first dedicated Department of Military Medicine at Command Hospital (Central Command) in Lucknow on July 29, 2026. Established under the Directorate General of Medical Services (Army), the department aims to enhance operational medical preparedness, combat medical readiness, and develop indigenous doctrines for battlefield and humanitarian contingencies. The facility will be developed in phases, starting with academic programs and expanding into Centres of Excellence for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives (CBRNE) defence. The department will focus on specialized disciplines including military trauma, combat psychiatry, environmental medicine, CBRNE medical response, and AI-enabled medical decision support. It complements the proposed Global Military Medicine Centre under the Raksha Strategy Vision 2026-30.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 29, 12:48 PM UTC

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced two major human resource policy reforms for the Indian Coast Guard on July 28, 2026, in New Delhi. The first reform introduces a gender-neutral framework for officer induction and career progression, allowing women to join through both Short Service Appointment (SSA) and Permanent Appointment (PA) streams on par with men, and opening SSA entry for male candidates. Existing women officers can convert from SSA to PA and are eligible for promotion to higher ranks. The second reform simplifies the process of granting ex-gratia compensation to families of personnel reported missing at sea while on duty, empowering competent authorities to declare such personnel 'presumed dead' for compensation purposes, reducing administrative delays. The reforms aim to strengthen morale and operational effectiveness as the Coast Guard prepares for its Golden Jubilee in 2027.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 28, 08:33 PM UTC

Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) personnel, who provide logistical support to the Royal Navy globally, have accepted a new pay deal offering above-inflation raises and improved conditions. The agreement includes a 4.5% pay rise backdated to April 2025 and a further 3.6% rise from April 2026, along with enhanced leave arrangements, a one-off leave buy-back, and a £250 payment. Both the RMT and Nautilus unions confirmed acceptance. Minister for Veterans and People Calvin Bailey MBE MP announced the deal during a visit to Portland Port on July 28, 2026, meeting crews aboard RFA Tidespring and RFA Mounts Bay. The Ministry of Defence stated the deal aims to improve recruitment and retention, particularly for crewing future Fleet Solid Support Ships. The RFA is a civilian-crewed fleet owned by the MoD, critical for sustaining Royal Navy operations worldwide.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 28, 07:57 PM UTC

Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) personnel, who provide logistical support to the Royal Navy globally, have accepted a new pay deal offering above-inflation raises and improved conditions. The agreement includes a 4.5% pay rise backdated to April 2025 and a further 3.6% from April 2026, along with enhanced leave arrangements, a one-off leave buy-back, and a £250 payment. Both the RMT and Nautilus unions confirmed acceptance. Minister for Veterans and People Calvin Bailey MBE MP announced the deal during a visit to Portland Port on July 28, 2026, meeting crews aboard RFA Tidespring and RFA Mounts Bay. The Ministry of Defence stated the deal aims to improve recruitment and retention, particularly as the RFA prepares to crew new Fleet Solid Support Ships for the Carrier Strike Group.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 28, 07:57 PM UTC

The Telangana government has approved ₹2,278.14 crore for the development of a Joint User Airfield (JUA) in Adilabad, to be jointly developed by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The project involves acquiring 2,009.23 acres of land, superseding an earlier 700-acre proposal. Of this, 1,609.23 acres will go to the IAF and 400 acres for civil aviation infrastructure, including a civil enclave, cargo terminal, MRO facilities, and hangars. The decision follows a Ministry of Defence recommendation for a 9,000-foot runway. The state will bear the cost of land acquisition and utility shifting, including ₹1,555.11 crore for land, ₹310 crore for transmission tower relocation, and other infrastructure adjustments. The District Collector of Adilabad has been directed to complete land acquisition by December 31, 2026. Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy highlighted the project's strategic importance for industrial development, cargo connectivity, tourism, logistics, and national defense, promising thousands of jobs.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 26, 03:03 PM UTC

The UK Government has offered to deploy Chinook helicopters and standby battalion troops to assist in tackling the ongoing Cairngorms wildfire, responding to a formal request from the Scottish Government. The offer, coordinated by the Scotland Office and Ministry of Defence, includes heavy-lift capacity for logistical support and additional personnel on the ground. The fire, which began on 15 July, forced evacuations in Nethy Bridge as shifting winds threatened properties. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander confirmed the readiness of military assets under the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities framework. The support supplements existing mutual aid from English fire services and national resilience functions. The Chinook helicopters, based at RAF Odiham, can carry water buckets for aerial firefighting in difficult terrain.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 26, 02:48 PM UTC

Navantia UK is constructing a new Rubb building at its Methil yard in Fife, funded by £26.7 million from a broader £157 million UK-wide investment programme. The facility will provide covered space for blasting, coating, and finishing work, enabling year-round operations. The Methil workforce has grown from 180 to over 260, including more than 50 apprentices. After delivering the Navantia UK Seahorse transport barge earlier this year—the yard's first major project since Navantia began operations in January 2025—the yard is now working on a major export order. The investment also includes roof repairs, refurbished cranes, a new cutting machine, a steel plate storage facility, a training centre, and a self-propelled modular transporter. Navantia UK, the British arm of the Spanish state-owned shipbuilder, acquired four former Harland & Wolff yards in early 2025. The Methil yard is positioned for Scotland's offshore wind programme and has been proposed for Royal Navy's Programme Euston for floating dry docks.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 25, 10:00 AM UTC

Lieutenant General Tom Bateman, a senior British officer, has assumed command of the Multinational Force Ukraine (MNF-U) from his French counterpart during a handover ceremony in Paris. The transfer is part of a planned rotation between the UK and France, who jointly lead the force under the Coalition of the Willing. The force, declared 'Ready to Operate,' aims to deploy to Ukraine once hostilities end, focusing on regenerating Ukrainian armed forces through training and equipment replenishment, and providing reassurance via air and sea patrols to enable economic recovery. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the UK's steadfast commitment to Ukraine's security. Bateman, a 30-year veteran, will work with a French deputy commander. The force will conduct exercises in the coming months to test its operational readiness, though deployment remains contingent on a ceasefire.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 08:11 AM UTC

Wes Streeting, newly appointed as Britain's Defence Secretary under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, will not receive a salary for his first three months in the role. This decision comes after he resigned as Health Secretary two months ago in protest of Keir Starmer's leadership, which entitled him to a £16,876 severance payment equivalent to three months of a cabinet minister's salary. Rather than returning the lump sum, Streeting will forgo his ministerial salary for the same period, following House of Commons guidance that is not mandatory. The article contrasts this with former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who was reappointed as Housing Secretary by Burnham 10 months after resigning amid a tax dispute later cleared by HMRC. Rayner rejected Tory calls to return her severance pay, stating she earned it through prior government service.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 06:51 AM UTC

HuffPost UK reveals that Wes Streeting, newly appointed Defence Secretary under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, will not receive a salary for his first three months in the role. This decision follows his resignation as Health Secretary two months ago in protest of Keir Starmer's leadership, which entitled him to a £16,876 severance payment equivalent to three months' cabinet minister salary. The article notes that while ministers reappointed within three months are expected to forgo salary, it is not mandatory. It contrasts Streeting's decision with former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who rejected calls to return her severance pay after being reappointed Housing Secretary 10 months after resigning over tax issues, from which she was cleared by HMRC.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 06:51 AM UTC

Newly appointed UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting will not receive a salary for his first three months in the role, HuffPost UK has exclusively learned. Streeting, who resigned as Health Secretary two months ago in protest of Keir Starmer's leadership, received a severance payment of £16,876 (equivalent to three months' cabinet minister salary) upon leaving his previous post. His rapid return to government under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham raised questions about whether he would return the lump sum. Instead, he will forgo his ministerial salary for the three-month period, in line with House of Commons guidance that is not mandatory. The article contrasts Streeting's decision with that of former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who was reappointed as Housing Secretary by Burnham after a 10-month absence and has refused calls to return her severance pay, stating she is under no obligation to do so.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 06:51 AM UTC

Commander Daniel Herridge has handed over command of the Royal Navy's Mine and Threat Exploitation Group (MTXG) to Commander Tim Castrinoyannakis on 16 July at HM Naval Base Clyde. The group, comprising around 250 personnel, is headquartered at Clyde and organized into four squadrons based at Portsmouth and Clyde. It leads the integration of autonomous technologies including AI, machine learning, and uncrewed systems for minehunting. During his tenure, Herridge oversaw a shift from crewed minehunters to modular, deployable equipment that can be moved by road or sea, working with industry on the Maritime Mine Countermeasures system. The handover comes as the Ministry of Defence confirmed the last Hunt-class vessel will leave service in 2031, marking the Royal Navy's transition toward uncrewed mine countermeasures systems. Both officers have extensive backgrounds in mine warfare, clearance diving, and maritime operations.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 23, 10:13 AM UTC

Royal Mail has unveiled a set of eight Special Stamps showcasing iconic UK military jet-powered aircraft, alongside four stamps commemorating the 30th anniversary of the death of jet engine pioneer Sir Frank Whittle. The stamps, developed with the Ministry of Defence, feature aircraft including the Avro Vulcan B2, Gloster Javelin FAW9, Hawker Siddeley Hawk T1, Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II, and others, marking anniversaries such as 50 years of the Hawk and 70 years of the Javelin and Vulcan. A miniature sheet honors Whittle, whose turbojet engine powered early British jets like the Gloster Meteor and de Havilland Vampire. The issue traces British jet development from the 1944 Meteor to the modern F-35B. Pre-orders begin 23 July, with general sale on 30 July. A Presentation Pack costs £22.50.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 11:01 PM UTC

Team Tempest partners announced that approximately half of the main structure of the UK's first crewed combat aircraft demonstrator in 40 years is now in final assembly at BAE Systems' Lancashire site. Over 11,500 parts have been designed, accounting for 90% of the aircraft's weight. The first robotically assembled component, built in BAE's Factory of the Future, has been completed—a first for UK industry—and will undergo structural testing later this year alongside one of the wings. The demonstrator is being built by the Ministry of Defence, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and MBDA to prove advanced manufacturing and digital design techniques for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). Richard Berthon, Director of Future Combat Air at the MoD, highlighted the pace and scale of progress. The Tempest programme is expected to contribute £37 billion to the UK economy between 2025 and 2070 and support an average of 16,000 jobs annually over the next decade. GCAP, a trilateral effort with Italy and Japan, aims to field a sixth-generation crewed fighter around 2035.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 01:35 PM UTC

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, has written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh proposing the establishment of Ayush outpatient departments (OPDs) and treatment facilities in all Military and Field Hospitals. In his communication, Jadhav emphasized the role of the Armed Forces Medical Services in providing healthcare to soldiers in challenging environments and argued that integrating India's traditional medicine systems could strengthen preventive, promotive, and holistic care for defence personnel. He noted that while some defence institutions already have Ayush facilities, most military hospitals lack dedicated services. The proposal aims to expand access to evidence-based traditional healthcare, particularly for preventive care, lifestyle management, rehabilitation, and overall well-being. Jadhav offered the Ministry of Ayush's full technical support, professional guidance, and institutional cooperation, including the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding, to facilitate implementation.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 01:32 PM UTC

The UK government has announced a £708 million (€830.2 million) investment to accelerate the development of next-generation combat air technologies and strengthen Britain’s contribution to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). The Ministry of Defence awarded the contract extension to BAE Systems to continue work on the UK’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which includes the sixth-generation Tempest combat aircraft and wider capabilities such as uncrewed air systems, advanced networks and next-generation weapons technologies. The investment, announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, will support critical sovereign combat air technologies and forms part of a wider £8.6 billion commitment over four years. BAE Systems will lead development of AI, digital engineering, and advanced manufacturing techniques alongside Team Tempest partners Leonardo UK, MBDA UK and Rolls-Royce. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the investment strengthens defence and creates UK jobs. The announcement follows Canada joining GCAP as the first Observer Nation.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 09:15 AM UTC

The UK government has announced a £708 million (€830.2 million) investment to accelerate the development of next-generation combat air technologies and strengthen Britain’s contribution to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). The Ministry of Defence awarded the contract extension to BAE Systems to continue work on the UK’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which includes the sixth-generation Tempest combat aircraft and wider capabilities such as uncrewed air systems, advanced networks and next-generation weapons technologies. The investment, announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, will support critical sovereign combat air technologies and forms part of a wider £8.6 billion commitment to GCAP over four years. BAE Systems will lead development of AI, digital engineering, advanced software, and manufacturing techniques alongside Team Tempest partners Leonardo UK, MBDA UK and Rolls-Royce. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the investment strengthens defence and creates UK jobs. The announcement follows Canada joining GCAP as an Observer Nation.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 09:15 AM UTC

This article from LabourList provides a comprehensive list of ministerial appointments made by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Key appointments include Rt Hon James Murray MP as Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General, and Rt Hon Lucy Rigby KC MP as Economic Secretary to the Treasury. Other notable appointments span departments such as Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (Kate Dearden MP and Chris McDonald MP), the Cabinet Office (Rt Hon Dan Jarvis MBE MP as Security Minister jointly with the Home Office), Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Rt Hon Ian Murray MP), Energy Security and Net Zero (Michael Shanks MP and Katie White OBE MP), and Defence (Luke Pollard MP and Lord Coaker). Several ministers remain in their posts, including Stephen Doughty MP at the Foreign Office and Karin Smyth MP at Health. The article also lists whips and other government officials, reflecting a broad reshuffle or initial cabinet formation under Burnham's premiership.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 10:15 PM UTC

UK Defence Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard declared a 'golden age' for the UK defence industry during a keynote at the Farnborough International Airshow. Speaking at the Aerospace Global Forum's Defence Summit, Pollard outlined the Defence Investment Plan's role in rebuilding British air power, with £31 billion committed to air and space over four years. He teased upcoming good news on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and announced that Defence Secretary Wes Streeting would reveal a timeline for the Storm Fighter uncrewed combat aircraft programme the following day. Pollard highlighted £5 billion for drones and uncrewed systems, a £20 million hypersonic contract to Lockheed Martin UK, and the newly published Defence SME Action Plan. He framed defence as an engine for economic growth and reindustrialisation, while emphasizing NATO commitments and deterrence against Russia. The speech came amid a government reshuffle that brought Wes Streeting to the Ministry of Defence.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 04:56 PM UTC

The UK is rebuilding its sovereign hypersonic target capability after a gap of more than a decade, with a £20 million contract awarded to Lockheed Martin UK and its small business partners. Defence Minister Luke Pollard announced the contract at the AGF Defence Summit at the Farnborough International Airshow, stating it fills a capability gap and supports around 60 skilled jobs in Bedfordshire, injecting £2 million into the supply chain. Hypersonic targets are used to test air defence radars, interceptors, and crews against the speed and manoeuvre profiles of proliferating threat weapons. The contract is part of a wider innovation push, including a new ring-fenced annual defence innovation budget of £400 million and a target to spend at least 10% of the annual equipment budget on novel technologies. Pollard also confirmed £5 billion is being invested in drones and advanced uncrewed systems, and trailed further announcements on the GCAP programme and the Storm Fighter uncrewed combat aircraft programme.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 11:45 AM UTC

Wes Streeting has been appointed UK Defence Secretary in Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s cabinet, replacing Dan Jarvis after a record-short 40-day tenure. This marks the sixth Defence Secretary in seven years, reflecting ongoing instability. Streeting, a former Health Secretary with no defence background, inherits a controversial Defence Investment Plan that cuts conventional platforms like Type 83 destroyers in favor of unproven uncrewed systems. UK defence spending is around 2.6% of GDP, but conventional spending is only 1.6% due to nuclear costs, straining military capabilities.

9 reports · 4 sources · Updated Jul 21, 09:50 AM UTC

QinetiQ, a British defence firm, announced a £20 million company-funded investment to accelerate the development and production of high-energy laser directed energy weapon technology. The investment will expand capabilities at its Farnborough and Malvern sites, increasing production capacity for both UK and international markets. At the Farnborough International Airshow, QinetiQ unveiled HELENA, the new brand for its coherent beam combination High Energy Laser Source products, a critical component for laser weapon systems designed to defend against drones and advanced threats. QinetiQ is a key member of the UK's DragonFire consortium alongside MBDA and Leonardo, which is delivering 50-kilowatt-class laser systems to Royal Navy ships from 2027, accelerated by the Ministry of Defence. CEO Steve Wadey emphasized the company's two-decade leadership in directed energy weapons and commitment to meeting growing sovereign and allied demand.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 09:11 AM UTC

Defence stocks including Rolls-Royce, Babcock, and BAE Systems rallied on Tuesday after former defence secretary John Healey was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer under Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Investors bet that Healey, who resigned last month over insufficient defence funding, will increase military spending and prioritize British firms in procurement. Babcock shares surged over 6.5%, BAE Systems rose 2.8%, and Rolls-Royce edged up 0.7% to 1,369p. Healey has advocated for defence spending to reach 3% of GDP by 2030 and 3.5% by 2035, exceeding the current plan of 2.7% by 2030. Industry sources expressed optimism about improved contract pipelines. However, analyst Chris Beauchamp warned that as Chancellor, Healey will face competing demands and may not deliver all expected gains.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 07:59 AM UTC

The UK Government has declined to confirm the 2027 timeline for installing DragonFire laser-directed energy weapons (LDEW) on Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers, despite the timeline being stated in the Defence Investment Plan. In a parliamentary response on 20 July, Defence Minister Luke Pollard confirmed £490m investment in directed energy weapons but avoided directly answering a question about the 2027 installation date, citing exploration of operational environments and lessons from Middle East conflicts. The DragonFire program, initiated in 2017, has survived multiple governments and is planned for four Type 45 destroyers, though integration details remain unclear. The article notes the government's pattern of opaque parliamentary responses and contrasts the minister's evasion with industry statements and the official Defence Investment Plan that still lists the 2027 delivery date.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 09:00 PM UTC

The UK Government has declined to confirm the 2027 timeline for installing DragonFire laser-directed energy weapons (LDEW) on Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers, despite the timeline being stated in the Defence Investment Plan. In a parliamentary response on 20 July, Defence Minister Luke Pollard confirmed £490m investment in directed energy weapons but avoided directly answering a question about the Type 45 installation schedule, citing exploration of operational environments and lessons from the Middle East conflict. The DragonFire program began in 2017 and plans to equip four of six Type 45 destroyers, though integration details remain unclear. The article notes the government's pattern of opaque parliamentary responses and contrasts the official's evasion with industry statements and the published Defence Investment Plan that still lists the 2027 delivery date.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 09:00 PM UTC

The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the contract for the next tranche of Chinook helicopters will be committed through the Strategic Defence Review 2030 (SDR30). Defence Minister Lord Coaker stated in a written answer that deliveries of new Chinook aircraft are expected to begin in the mid-2030s, with Initial Operating Capability in the latter part of the decade and fleet sustainment through at least 2060. This Tranche 2 of the Chinook Capability Sustainment Programme will replace legacy Mk6A airframes and maintain heavy lift capability beyond 2040. The final quantity and delivery profile will be determined by future approvals based on threat assessments and technological changes. Meanwhile, the retirement of older Chinook Mk6A airframes will create a temporary reduction in heavy lift capacity before Tranche 2 deliveries arrive, a gap the department acknowledges as planned for. This decision follows the previously approved Tranche 1 procurement of 14 H-47 Extended Range aircraft due from 2027.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 19, 01:19 PM UTC

The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the contract for the next tranche of Chinook helicopters will be committed through the Strategic Defence Review 2030. Defence Minister Lord Coaker stated in a written answer that deliveries of new Chinook aircraft are expected to begin in the mid-2030s, with Initial Operating Capability in the latter part of the decade. The procurement, known as Chinook Capability Sustainment Programme Tranche 2, will replace legacy Chinook aircraft and sustain heavy lift capability beyond 2040. This is separate from the previously approved Tranche 1 purchase of 14 H-47 Extended Range aircraft arriving from 2027. The final number of aircraft will be determined by future threat assessments and technological changes. Meanwhile, the retirement of older Mk6A airframes will create a temporary reduction in heavy lift capacity, which the department says is understood and planned for.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 19, 01:19 PM UTC

The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the planned 30% expansion of the Cadet Forces, originally recommended by the Strategic Defence Review for 2030, has been pushed back to 2035. Defence Minister Calvin Bailey stated in a written answer to MP Andrew Rosindell that the timeline was reset in the Defence Investment Plan as part of measures to accelerate Armed Forces transformation. The expansion equates to an additional 40,000 cadets. Work on delivery remains at an early stage, with a detailed assessment of enablers underway. A new Cadets Action Plan focused on modernisation and volunteer recruitment is in development. The first National Cadets Week is scheduled for October 2026 to raise the profile of the programme, which is cited for its benefits in social mobility, skills, and school performance.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 18, 11:08 AM UTC