1. INS Samarthak Commissioned as Indian Navy’s New Multi-Purpose Vessel

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Samarthak at Naval Base Karwar on Friday. It was built by Larsen & Toubro. The vessel is the lead ship of the Samarthak class of multi-purpose vessels. It is designed for maritime surveillance, patrolling, weapons testing and trials, and operations involving unmanned systems. The vessel can also support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. The second vessel in the class, INS Utkarsh, is currently undergoing sea trials.

2. Navy Gets ₹1,543 Crore Varunastra Torpedo Contract

The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹1,543 crore contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad, for Varunastra heavy weight ship-launched anti-submarine torpedoes for the Indian Navy. 'Varunastra' is an indigenous heavyweight torpedo designed to engage enemy submarines and can be launched from Indian Navy surface warships. The contract will add to the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

3. Indian Army Receives 450 Nagastra-1R Loitering Munitions

The Indian Army has received 450 Nagastra-1R loitering munitions from Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited. The delivery is the largest single-batch supply of the system to the Army. The 'Nagastra-1R' is designed for precision strikes against targets and can be used as a loitering munition, allowing it to search for and engage targets after being launched. The system is part of the Army’s growing induction of indigenous drone and precision-strike capabilities.

4. IAF Gets ₹2,563 Crore Contract for Dedicated GSAT-7C Satellite

The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹2,563 crore contract with New Space India Limited, Bengaluru, for a dedicated GSAT-7C communication satellite for the Indian Air Force. The indigenously designed, developed and manufactured satellite will provide secure and resilient communication for IAF assets. The satellite is expected to strengthen the Air Force's communication capabilities and support its operational requirements.

5. Rajnath Singh Warns of Stronger Response to Pakistan-Origin Terror

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has warned that any future terrorist act originating from Pakistan would invite an “even stronger response” from India. Speaking at a Defence Conclave in New Delhi on October 15, he said Operation Sindoor, the Balakot airstrike and the 2016 surgical strikes marked a shift from diplomatic condemnation towards proactive action against terrorism at its source. He also warned about emerging threats from lone-wolf attackers and called for greater use of advanced weapons, artificial intelligence and cost-effective defence technologies.

6. India-Russia Naval Exercise INDRA 2026 Underway

India and Russia have begun the 2026 edition of their bilateral naval exercise INDRA in Russian waters. Indian Navy warship INS Sahyadri arrived at Vladivostok to participate in the exercise. It is being held from October 13 to 18. The exercise is aimed at strengthening interoperability and operational coordination between the two navies through joint maritime operations and training activities.

7. Drone Attacks on Black Sea Shipping Raise NATO Security Concerns

A series of suspected drone attacks on commercial vessels near Romania and Bulgaria has increased security concerns along NATO’s southeastern flank. NATO said four commercial vessels were targeted overnight Wednesday and Thursday, including two in Romanian territorial waters. The incidents have also been accompanied by drone incursions into Romanian airspace, prompting Romanian F-16s and NATO aircraft to scramble. Romania has called for stronger allied measures to protect Black Sea shipping, while Bulgaria is planning to join a NATO counter-drone initiative by the end of October.

8. Ukraine’s Starshield Restrictions Disrupt Military Drone Operations

Ukraine has reported disruptions to military drone operations after restrictions were imposed on the speed of terminals using SpaceX’s Starshield satellite communications network. Ukrainian officials said a speed limit of around 160 kmph affected some jet-powered drone interception and strike missions. Starshield is SpaceX’s military-oriented satellite communications system used for government and defence applications. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said decisions on Starshield use ultimately involve the US military and President Donald Trump, while Ukrainian officials said connectivity was later restored to some terminals.

Savio Rodrigues

Savio Rodrigues is a Research Analyst at Escape Velocity MediaWorks Pvt Ltd and writes for Chakra News on Defence, Geopolitics, National Security. He holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Mumbai.