1. Defence Acquisition Council clears major proposals

The Defence Acquisition Council, under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for various proposals of the Services, with an estimated value of about ₹3.60 lakh crore, on February 12.

For the Indian Air Force (IAF), AoN was approved for the procurement of Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) (Dassault Rafale), combat missiles, and Air/Ship-Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (AS-HAPS).

The MRFA procurement will enhance the IAF’s ability to undertake air dominance roles across the full spectrum of conflict, significantly boosting deterrence through long-range offensive capability. A majority of these aircraft will be manufactured in India.

The combat missiles will strengthen stand-off ground attack capability, enabling deep strikes with high accuracy. The AS-HAPS platforms will support persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), electronic intelligence, telecommunications, and remote sensing for military purposes.

2. MoD signs ₹2,312 crore contract with HAL for Dornier aircraft

The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹2,312 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Transport Aircraft Division, Kanpur, for the acquisition of eight Dornier 228 aircraft, along with operational role equipment for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), under the Buy (Indian) category.

The contract was signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi on February 12.

The programme is expected to generate significant direct and indirect employment by strengthening HAL’s production ecosystem and supporting a wide network of MSMEs and ancillary industries. It will also create sustained opportunities in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and lifecycle technical support.

3. Indian Navy participates in WEST 2026 conference

An Indian Navy delegation, led by Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, participated in WEST 2026, an annual conference in San Diego, reinforcing the India–US maritime partnership in the Indo-Pacific.

The VCNS joined a high-level panel on “Allies & Partners in the Indo-Pacific: Readiness, Integration & Future Fight” and engaged extensively with defence industry leaders. He also interacted with senior US Navy leadership, including the Chief of Naval Operations and Fleet Commanders, and toured naval facilities across San Diego—further advancing shared maritime security objectives.

4. Maldives patrol vessel CGS Huravee arrives in Visakhapatnam

CGS Huravee, a patrol vessel of the Maldives National Defence Force, arrived in Visakhapatnam to participate in the International Fleet Review 2026, scheduled for 18 February, and Exercise MILAN 2026.

5. IAF–RAF Executive Steering Group Meeting held

The 19th IAF–RAF Executive Steering Group Meeting, co-chaired by Air Vice Marshal SK Taliyan and Air Vice Marshal Ian Townsend, was held in New Delhi from 10 to 12 February.

The discussions strengthened multi-domain cooperation, professional military education, and operational training. An agreement was also signed for the deployment of three IAF flying instructors to RAF Valley.

Chakra Desk

Chakra News is a specialised digital media platform committed to in-depth coverage of India’s defence, national security, geopolitics, and critical technologies.