The Philippines is looking to acquire more BrahMos missile systems from India and is seeking greater cooperation with New Delhi in the military use of outer space.
Philippines National Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro disclosed the plans while addressing the ‘Delhi Defence Dialogue’, hosted by the think tank Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) in New Delhi. Teodoro addressed the audience via video conference on Wednesday.
“We hope to increase the number of BrahMos units we have, and have shared a wish list on the BrahMos to the Indian authorities in order to make it more tailor-made for the Philippine environment,” Teodoro said.
He described the BrahMos as a “very capable weapon”.
Sources in India confirmed the development and indicated that the deal with the Philippines could be larger than the $375 million BrahMos deal India signed with the Southeast Asian country in 2022.
The BrahMos is a 300-km anti-ship missile produced under a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya. The Philippines procured the missile from India under a USD 375 million deal in 2022, with deliveries scheduled to be completed this year.
BrahMos has found eager customers among a group of countries around the South China Sea, including Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. All three have opted for the coastal-launched anti-ship variant of the missile.
The BrahMos also has a variant that can be fired from a ship at a land target, but it has not been exported so far.
The Philippines and Vietnam are involved in an ongoing maritime territorial dispute with China in the hydrocarbon-rich South China Sea. Indonesia also has a small coastline along the same sea but is not part of the dispute.
Philippines seeks greater cooperation with India in space technology
The Philippines is also seeking greater cooperation with India in space technology. Teodoro cited a “special request”, saying Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr was committed to cooperation in the field.
“The President has instructed us to enter into an Armed Forces of the Philippines Satellite Acquisition Programme, for which, of course, India would be a very, very important potential partner,” Teodoro added.
Quad countries begin joint naval exercise in Japan
The navies of India, the US, Japan and Australia today commenced another edition of the Malabar naval exercise at Yokosuka, Japan, bringing together the four Quad partners for joint drills across maritime operational domains.
The Indian Navy is participating with INS Sahyadri, an indigenously built guided-missile stealth frigate of the Eastern Fleet. The exercise will be conducted in two phases – harbour and sea – and will involve operations across surface, underwater, air and information domains.
The US Navy said the exercise reflects the participating nations’ shared commitment to the rule of law and freedom of navigation, while reinforcing their resolve to maintain a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region and deter aggression.
“This growth builds our interoperability to collaboratively reinforce a free and open Indo-Pacific that benefits all nations,” said Vice Admiral Pat Hannifin, commander of the US 7th Fleet.
In strategic discourse, the expression ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’ is widely seen as an implicit reference to concerns over China’s growing maritime assertiveness, its efforts to expand its regional influence and actions that could impede freedom of navigation. The multinational exercise focuses on enhancing interoperability in a multi-domain operational environment. The drills will include training in detecting, locating, tracking and engaging targets at sea, in the air and in cyberspace.
The Indian Navy said INS Sahyadri arrived at Yokosuka Naval Base on November 4. The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) accorded the warship a warm welcome, reflecting the strategic partnership and growing maritime cooperation between India and Japan.
The welcome ceremony was attended by Vice Admiral Yagi Koji, Commandant of the Yokosuka District, and R Madhu Sudan, Deputy Chief of the Indian Mission.
The harbour phase will feature professional exchanges and coordinated planning, followed by the sea phase involving INS Sahyadri and naval units from the US, Australia and Japan, the Indian Navy said.
The Navy said the ship’s participation underscores India’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with like-minded navies, in keeping with the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
Malabar began as a bilateral naval exercise between India and the US and has since expanded in scope and complexity with the participation of Japan and Australia. This year’s edition marks the sixth time all four countries are participating together.
Bail can be granted while confirmation of court martial sentence is still pending, says Armed Forces Tribunal
The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has held that a soldier convicted by a court martial can be granted bail even if the trial proceedings are awaiting confirmation by the competent military authority.
In accordance with the law, all findings and sentences passed by a court martial have to be confirmed by the designated higher authority depending on the type of court martial and the rank of the individual tried, before these can be promulgated.
A District Court Martial (DCM) had tried an Air Force Sergeant for professional misdemeanour and sentenced him to detention for a period of two months and reduction in rank.
The Air Force had opposed the suspension of sentence and grant of bail, contending that until the findings and sentence of the DCM are confirmed by the competent authority, the trial proceedings cannot be said to have attained finality and, therefore, grant of bail at this stage would not be appropriate.
“The pendency of confirmation proceedings cannot be permitted to result in continued detention without due consideration of the applicant’s right to personal liberty, as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” the Tribunal’s Bench, comprising Justice Rajendra Menon and Lt Gen CP Mohanty, ruled.
“Merely because the process of confirmation of the findings and sentence awarded by a court martial is pending, the same cannot operate as an impediment to the exercise of jurisdiction by this Tribunal to consider suspension of the sentence and grant of bail,” the Bench said.
Observing that the applicant had already undergone detention for a period of 35 days, which is more than half of the total sentence of two months’ detention, the Bench said that the period of detention already undergone shall necessarily be taken into account while computing the total period of sentence.
“Taking note of the aforesaid circumstances, we are satisfied that this is a fit case in which the sentence of detention deserves to be suspended and the applicant granted bail, pending confirmation of the findings and sentence by the competent authority, the Bench ruled while directing that the execution of the sentence of detention shall remain suspended pending confirmation, and the applicant be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond.
The Bench, however, made it clear that the suspension of sentence is confined to the punishment of detention only. Insofar as the punishment of reduction in rank is concerned, the same shall be given effect immediately upon confirmation of the findings and sentence by the competent authority, in accordance with law. There shall be no stay on the implementation of the said punishment, the Bench said.
Closed since Operation Sindoor, Attari to open for Pak jatha’s return
More than six months after the Attari-Wagah border was closed following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has made a rare exception by permitting a 49-member Pakistani Sikh jatha to return home through the land route ahead of Diwali. The jatha, comprising 21 men, 26 women and two children, had arrived in India by air and were scheduled to fly back. The devotees will instead cross the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post (JCP) on foot on Thursday under a special arrangement approved by the ministry.
For the pilgrims, many of whom had waited years for an opportunity to visit Sikh shrines in India and reunite with loved ones, the decision came as another unexpected blessing during a journey filled with emotional moments. The pilgrims arrived at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on October 8 via the Lahore-Tashkent-New Delhi route, carrying visas valid until November 6 and confirmed return air tickets.
However, under a special arrangement approved by the MHA, they will now cross the Attari-Wagah border on foot on November 5, saving them considerable travel expenses. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Harmeet Singh Kalka and its chief adviser (international affairs), Paramjit Singh Chandok, had approached the MHA seeking permission to change the return route and provide logistical support to the devotees.
“This trip has become a lifetime memory for all of us,” said jatha leader Papinder Singh, who received the official permission letter from the Indian authorities. “We are deeply grateful to the Indian and Pakistani governments, especially the DSGMC, for facilitating our return by land as a special case. We have already surrendered our return air tickets and will receive refunds. Besides making the journey easier, this has helped us save money,” he said. Chandok said the process of securing refunds for the air tickets had also been initiated by the DSGMC.
This was the second special gesture extended by the MHA to the jatha during its visit. Earlier, around 40 members of the delegation were granted a rare opportunity to undertake a pilgrimage to Hemkunt Sahib in Uttarakhand just two days before the annual closure of the revered shrine.
Recalling the twists and turns of the journey, Papinder said, “Initially, we bought expensive air tickets but were denied boarding at Faisalabad airport. A few days later, special arrangements were made with the support of the DSGMC, and we finally reached India. Then came the unforgettable experience of visiting Hemkunt Sahib.”
New IAF Chief takes over amid upgrade push post Op Sindoor
Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on Saturday assumed charge as the 29th chief of the Indian Air Force succeeding Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, who superannuated after 42 years of service.
The new IAF Chief takes over as the force is at the cusp of a major modernisation drive. Following Operation Sindoor, the Defence Ministry approved upgrades in communications, surveillance, air defence, drones and fighter jets, with inductions expected over the coming years.
The IAF fighter strength has fallen to 29 squadrons against a sanctioned 42, and 36-40 jets are needed annually. Three routes are under way: The first Tejas Mark1A squadron is expected within months; a deal for procuring 114 Rafale jets is expected this fiscal; and a 5th-generation jet is being considered as a stop-gap option since the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft is a decade away.
The IAF has issued a roadmap seeking indigenous drone propulsion and GPS-denied navigation. The last S-400 air defence squadron is expected to arrive next year, and five more systems have in-principle approval of the Ministry. A dedicated IAF satellite has been cleared, the networking system called the IACCS is being upgraded to cut down sensor-to-shooter time, and Airbus A321-based surveillance aircraft are being developed.
Among his first challenges are the proposed theatre commands, where the IAF opposes dividing its fighter assets, and the exit of the first 2,850 Agniveers, of whom 25% will be retained. Their successful placement matters for the morale of later batches.
Air Chief Marshal Dixit is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in December 1986.
Over a career spanning four decades, ACM Dixit has a rich experience across diverse domains such as operations, flight testing, capability development and joint services assignments.
The IAF Chief is an accomplished fighter pilot, qualified flying instructor and experimental test pilot, with over 3,300 hours of flying experience on a wide range of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, various MiG variants, the Jaguar and several transport aircraft
He is recognised for his contribution to the modernisation of the Indian Air Force and was instrumental in finalising the Jaguar and MiG-27 upgrade projects and in the completion of the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) activities of the Tejas fighter jets.
His operational command assignments include command of a Mirage-2000 squadron, a Forward Base Support Unit in the Western Sector and Air Force Station Bidar, a premier fighter training base of the IAF.
He commanded the Central Air Command and later served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee during Operation Sindoor.
Prior to assuming charge as Chief of the Air Staff, he served as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit is a graduate of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Bangladesh, and the National Defence College, New Delhi.
Earlier in the day Air Chief Marshal AP Singh handed over command and inspected a Guard of Honour at the Air Force Station New Delhi (AFND) – the same station which has been in the news as the Urban Affairs Ministry surveyed the Air Force Sports complex and it led to its closure for members. The sports complex is co-located with the AFND. The outgoing Chief also laid a wreath at the National War Memorial.
On October 31, 2026, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, the outgoing hugely popular Chief of the Air Staff, inspected the ceremonial guard of honour and paid homage at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
He later handed over command of the Indian Air Force to Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, marking a significant transition in leadership.
IMAGE: Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh inspects the ceremonial guard of honour at the National War Memorial in New Delhi on Saturday. Photograph: @IAF_MCC X/ANI Photo
IMAGE: Air Chief Marshal A P Singh pays homage to the bravehearts at the National War Memorial. Photograph: @IAF_MCC X/ANI Photo
IMAGE: Air Chief Marshal A P Singh takes a salute as he inspects the ceremonial guard of honour at the National War Memorial. Photograph: @IAF_MCC X/ANI Photo
IMAGE: Air Chief Marshal A P Singh hands over command of the Indian Air Force to Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit in New Delhi on Saturday. Photograph: @IAF_MCC X/ANI Photo
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh Retires After 42 Years of Service .
He is succeeded by Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, previously Vice Chief of the Air Staff, who assumed charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff from the afternoon of 31 October 2026
New IAF chief lays outs operational vision centred around tech backed by domestic equipment
Acknowledging his predecessor, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, the new chief, lauded the IAF’s decisive performance during Operations Sindoor and thanked him for handing over a force in a high state of combat-readiness
In his first address after taking over as the 29th Chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on Sunday laid out an ambitious operational vision centered on tech-driven warfare, indigenous defence production, and jointness across services.
He summed up his command priorities using an acronym VAYU.
Acknowledging his predecessor, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, the new chief, lauded the IAF’s decisive performance during Operations Sindoor and thanked him for handing over a force in a high state of combat-readiness.
Highlighting the complex security landscape, the Air Chief Marshal Dixit emphasised that the character of modern warfare is rapidly evolving through drones, long-range precision strikes, space, cyber, artificial intelligence, and the electromagnetic spectrum. “The Air Force, while transforming into the force that India will need in the next decade, must always be ready to fight and win,” he stressed.
Outline of the VAYU roadmap for the Indian Air Force is:
V – Vigilance and Readiness: Maintaining round-the-clock operational readiness across every squadron, radar unit, and air warrior, while prioritizing the restoration of combat strength to sanctioned levels.
A – Aatmanirbharta (Self-Reliance): Accelerating indigenous defense projects including Tejas Mk1A, Mk II, and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), alongside Indian sensors and weaponry to sustain operational demands.
Y – Yukti (Ingenuity & Innovation): Harnessing AI-enabled command networks, layered counter-drone systems, responsive maintenance, force protection, and near-space operations to deter conflicts through credible air power.
U – Unity of Effort: Deepening integration with the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and national agencies under the jointness vision (JAI) to ensure seamless unified operations from the planning phase.
Concluding his address, the Air Chief pledged personal attention to the training, welfare, and dignity of air warriors, Agniveer personnel, veterans while assuring the nation of the force’s unyielding commitment to the IAF motto:
Earlier in the day, the Air Chief paid homage at the National War Memorial to honor fallen bravehearts before formally assuming command. He expressed gratitude to the Supreme Commander, President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for their trust.
