TheNationBrief

Skyroot Vikram-1 rocket on the launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre ahead of India's first private orbital launch

Skyroot’s Vikram-1 Just Reached Orbit and Changed What India’s Space Industry Means

On its first attempt, Skyroot's Vikram-1 reached orbit and made India the third nation with private launch capability. Inside the rocket, the company behind it and the harder road ahead.

TNB Editorial July 20, 2026

PM Modi and Australian PM Anthony Albanese at the third India Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne

Strategic Affairs

India and Australia Just Signed a Rare Earth Deal That Targets China’s Chokehold

India and Australia have launched a Critical Minerals Corridor to break China's grip on rare earth processing. Inside the Melbourne deal, the gaps it still has to close, and how it fits India's wider push for resource security.

TNB Editorial July 15, 2026

Nagastra-1 and Nagastra-2 loitering munitions on display, examples of India's existing drone strike capability

Defence

Indian Army Seeks Indigenous One-Way Attack Drones with 1,000 km Strike Range

The Indian Army has begun a process to acquire indigenous long-range loitering munitions with a 1,000 km strike envelope, GPS-denied navigation and AI-enabled targeting, The Economic Times reports. The Indian…

TNB Editorial July 13, 2026

INS Mahendragiri, the sixth Project 17A stealth frigate, during sea trials ahead of commissioning

Defence

INS Mahendragiri Joins the Fleet: Where India’s Project 17A Frigate Programme Stands in 2026

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Mahendragiri, the sixth Project 17A stealth frigate, at Visakhapatnam on 11 July 2026, leaving just one ship of the seven-strong Nilgiri class still to come.…

TNB Editorial July 13, 2026

PM Modi and Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi at the 16th India Japan Annual Summit in New Delhi

Strategic Affairs

Modi-Takaichi Summit: Why India and Japan Are Now Building Weapons Together

At the 16th India Japan summit, Modi and Takaichi crossed a new threshold: a first-ever joint defence project, plus deals on economic security, semiconductors and AI. Here's why it matters.

TNB Editorial July 3, 2026

Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jet, the type India plans to build locally with higher indigenous content

Defence

IAF Wants 40% Indigenous Content in 96 Made-in-India Rafale, Rising to 60%: Report

India wants its next 96 Rafale fighters built at home with a far heavier Indian stamp. According to ThePrint, the IAF is seeking 40 to 60 per cent indigenous content, a move that would deepen local manufacturing well beyond the existing fleet.

TNB Editorial June 29, 2026

GE F414 engine running in afterburner during a test, the powerplant chosen for India's AMCA Mk1

Defence

AMCA Engine Cost Could Top $5 Billion as Safran and Rolls-Royce Submit Bids: Report

India's plan to power the AMCA Mk2 just got a price tag. Defence outlets report that Safran and Rolls-Royce have submitted cost estimates of four to five billion dollars for the 120 kN engine, with India set to keep full IP.

TNB Editorial June 28, 2026

Digital illustration of a 120 kN class engine concept for India's AMCA Mk2 stealth fighter

Defence

AMCA Mk2 Engine: Inside India’s Rolls-Royce vs Safran Race to Build a 120 kN Fighter Engine (2026 Update)

India can build a stealth fighter. Powering one with an engine of its own is the harder test. In 2026 the AMCA Mk2 engine has become a straight fight between Rolls-Royce and Safran to co-develop a 120 kN powerplant on India's terms.

TNB Editorial June 27, 2026

Pax Silica: the new world order built on chips, with the US, allies and China competing over semiconductors

Global Affairs

What Is Pax Silica? The New World Order Built on Chips

From Pax Britannica to Pax Silica: how semiconductors became the foundation of a new world order, the US-led pact behind it, and India's place in the game.

TNB Editorial June 26, 2026

India Semiconductor Mission projects map: Dholera, Sanand, Assam, UP and Odisha chip plants in 2026

Indian Infra & Tech

Can India Build Its Own Chips? Inside the India Semiconductor Mission

Can India build its own chips? Inside the India Semiconductor Mission, from the Dholera fab and Micron's Sanand plant to the ISM 2.0 pivot and the hard gaps that still remain.

TNB Editorial June 26, 2026