India's Defense and Aerospace Development Trends

Key Chapter Title List

1. DRDO's combat parachute pushes limits; freefall jump carried out from 27,000 feet
2. INS Ranvir Participates In Exercise Bongosagar 25 And Indian Navy - Bangladesh Navy Corpat
3. 14th meeting of ADMM-Plus Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism to be held in New Delhi
4. India's defence sector poised for significant growth amid global shifts: Report
5. India vs China aerial warfare: How IAF plans to challenge the 5,000 km Chinese radar with Rs 2,906 crore mobile radar
6. China delivers second of eight modern submarines to Pakistan navy
7. Pravaig's all-terrain stealth vehicle undergoes military trials, gets iDEX recognition
8. India to step on the gas for indigenous 5th gen fighter
9. From importer to key player: 2024 saw India take centerstage in defence sector
10. Indian Army Deploys Sherp ATVs for UN Peacekeeping in South Sudan Ensuring High-Mobility Operations
11. ISRO undocks SpaDeX satellites 2 months after docking them in space
12. ISRO, SCL develops 32-bit Microprocessors for space applications

Document Introduction

This report compiles and analyzes key developments and official statements in India's defense, aerospace, and strategic security sectors during March 2025. Based on authoritative information released by Indian news media, the official Press Information Bureau (PIB), and defense research institutions, the content covers defense R&D breakthroughs, military diplomacy activities, strategic assessments, equipment modernization processes, and space technology advancements. It aims to provide professional researchers with a timely and information-dense situational assessment document.

The first part of the report focuses on the concrete achievements of India's defense self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta). Among these, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a military combat parachute freefall jump test from 27,000 feet, marking an enhancement in its high-altitude delivery capabilities. Simultaneously, the role of the private sector in defense innovation is highlighted. The startup Pravaig's electric all-terrain stealth vehicle "Veer" has completed military trials and received an award from the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) organization, reflecting the advancement of civil-military integration and strategic technological autonomy. The report also details the milestones of India's transformation in 2024 from an importer to a key player in the defense sector, including record domestic defense production and exports, the establishment of the first private military aircraft manufacturing plant, and the signing of a Rs 280 billion agreement with the United States for MQ-9B "Predator" drones.

At the regional security and military strategy level, the report reveals India's measures to address complex geopolitical challenges. Facing aerial surveillance pressure from China's deployment of a large phased array radar in Yunnan with a detection range exceeding 5,000 km, the Indian Air Force signed a contract worth Rs 290.6 billion to procure 18 indigenous "Ashwini" low-level transportable radars to enhance air surveillance and threat tracking capabilities. Concurrently, India is accelerating the development of its indigenous fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project to counter the potential threats posed by China's deployment of J-20 fifth-generation fighters in border areas and Pakistan's potential acquisition of J-35A fighters from China. The report also notes China's delivery of the second "Hangor"-class submarine to Pakistan, continuously strengthening the Pakistan Navy's presence in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean region, which has a direct impact on India's maritime security environment.

Military diplomacy and multilateral cooperation are important tools for India to shape the regional security architecture. The report includes events such as the "Bongosagar 25" joint exercise and coordinated patrol between the Indian and Bangladesh navies, the visit of the Indian warship INS Imphal to Mauritius to participate in national day celebrations and conduct joint training, and India co-chairing the 14th meeting of the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia for the first time. These activities aim to enhance bilateral and multilateral interoperability, strengthen India's role as a "preferred security partner" and "first responder," and advance its "Security and Growth for All in the Region" (SAGAR) initiative.

Finally, the report tracks major technological advancements by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). ISRO successfully completed the in-orbit separation (undocking) operation of the Spacel Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) satellites, demonstrating key capabilities in rendezvous, docking, and separation, laying the groundwork for future lunar sample return missions and the construction of the "Indian Space Station." Additionally, ISRO, in collaboration with the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), jointly developed the indigenous 32-bit microprocessors "Vikram 3201" and "Kalpana 3201" for space applications and successfully completed a long-duration hot test of the cryogenic engine for the LVM3-M6 mission. These achievements mark solid steps forward for India in the autonomy and reliability of critical space subsystems and are an integral part of its overall technological sovereignty strategy.

This report integrates original information from sources such as *The Economic Times*, *The Times of India*, *The Week*, and the *Press Information Bureau*. After professional screening and compilation, it provides a solid foundation of primary source material for analyzing recent trends in India's defense and technology policies and assessing the balance of power in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region.