Defence Security Asia

In a dramatic shift that has reverberated through strategic circles in South Asia, a leading American aerospace analyst has highlighted Pakistan’s successful integration of its Chinese-supplied weapon systems and radar networks as a critical factor in its recent air superiority over India.

In a decisive move to counter Pakistan’s expanding submarine fleet in the Indian Ocean, the Indian Navy has formally commissioned INS Arnala, its first indigenously developed Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), with a clear mission to dominate and deny adversary access to India’s littoral waters.

Israel’s vital stockpile of Arrow anti-ballistic missile interceptors is nearing critical depletion, heightening alarm within defence circles in both Tel Aviv and Washington as the country struggles to maintain operational readiness under the strain of unprecedented Iranian missile attacks.

China’s J-10CE multirole fighter jet, long viewed as a capable fourth-plus-generation combat platform, has surged into the international spotlight following its high-profile showcase at the 55th Paris Air Show—buoyed by its claimed operational success in recent Pakistan-India aerial clashes.

As Pakistan moves decisively toward the acquisition of China’s HQ-19 long-range anti-ballistic missile system, South Asia’s strategic equilibrium enters a high-stakes new phase shaped by advanced missile defence technologies and great-power alignments.

In a development that could redefine the parameters of the Israel-Iran shadow war, Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has publicly claimed responsibility for a precision-guided missile strike on what it asserts were two of Israel’s most sensitive intelligence command centers: the Aman military intelligence directorate and the Mossad headquarters.

Iran has claimed to have successfully shot down a fourth Israeli F-35 stealth fighter jet, allegedly intercepted by its air defence systems over Tabriz, northwestern Iran, marking what it describes as a pivotal moment in the evolving air war with Israel.

India has overtaken Pakistan in the number of operational nuclear warheads, according to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), marking a significant shift in South Asia’s strategic balance.

In a major breakthrough for Malaysia’s air combat capabilities, the United States has formally approved the transfer of used F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets from the Kuwait Air Force to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), significantly advancing a long-anticipated defence deal between Kuala Lumpur and Kuwait.

In an explosive and deeply consequential claim, a senior member of Iran’s National Security Council has stated that Pakistan would retaliate with nuclear weapons against Israel if the latter were to launch a nuclear strike on Iran.

China has declared a significant advancement in its military radar technology, claiming that its J-20 "Mighty Dragon" stealth fighter can now detect enemy aircraft at three times its previous range, following the integration of domestically developed silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor components.

Dassault Aviation CEO Éric Trappier has forcefully denied Pakistan’s assertion that its air force shot down three Indian Rafale fighter jets during the recent Operation Sindoor conflict, branding the widely-circulated claim as “inaccurate.”

Malaysia’s beleaguered Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme, long regarded as the nation’s most controversial defence acquisition, has reached a key turning point with 72.43 per cent overall progress recorded across all five warships, marking a pivotal milestone in a project once feared beyond recovery.