Global military spending reached $2.89 trillion in 2025, according to SIPRI, marking the 11th consecutive annual increase. Growth was driven by higher expenditure in Europe and Asia, while US spending declined due to reduced military aid approvals.
The U.S. State Department says China carried out a nuclear test in June 2020, days after deadly clashes with Indian troops at Galwan. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisation did not detect any test, which the U.S. said was conducted by a decoupling method that could minimise seismic sensitivity.
The appointment of Sergio Gor to the newly-created position of Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs does not need Senate approval, unlike nomination as ambassador, so he can begin dealing with India immediately, at a time when ties between the two countries have plunged over tariffs and Trump’s insistence on taking credit for the India-Pakistan ceasefire in May.
The U.S. Air Force has already flown multiple prototypes of the new F-47 fighter, which is part of the Next Generation Air Dominance program that includes uncrewed loyal wingman drones and new adaptive engines. It is planned to be cheaper than the F-22, with a larger fleet and an export version.
Russian officials did not, however, specify the country that has ordered the aircraft, the export variant of which is called the Sukhoi-57E. Potential customers for the Sukhoi-57 in the past have included India, China, Vietnam and Algeria.
Chinese drone manufacturer DJI is facing trouble doing business in the U.S with all kinds of legal hurdles and has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Pentagon, while Raytheon has been fined almost $1 billion and Sweden’s Saab has been subpoenaed for its sale of Gripen fighters to Brazil.
Australia announced a $4.7 billion purchase of Raytheon SM-2 and SM-6 missiles and Taiwan is likely to buy three Raytheon NASAMS medium-range air defence systems in a $2 billion sale.
The U.S., Republic of Korea and Japan held their first-ever trilateral summit in a move towards a closer alliance against the security challenges posed by China and North Korea in the Indo-Pacific.
India and China to hold their fourth corps commanders meet tomorrow, Indian Army officer challenges Facebook ban in court, Indian Army to buy a second batch of 72,000 Sig Sauer assault rifles, a fire rages for over 24 hours onboard a US light aircraft carrier at San Diego naval base and Japanese authorities at Okinawa are horrified after more than 60 U.S. marines are infected with the novel coronavirus.
India bans the TikTok smartphone app
Indian and Chinese corps commanders to meet on Tuesday
Japan cancels Aegis Ashore
US-Russian intercepts
New AESA radar for German Eurofighter Typhoons
As China menaces India’s access to the Karakoram Pass, Sujan Dutta explains that Delhi needs to defend its ground or end up papering over the changed reality.
Shashanka Nanda explains why it’s tricky for Kim Jong-un to visit Mongolia or Singapore by train for the U.S.-North Korea Summit. Short version: Very long, very complicated and perhaps not possible.
The presence of the Indian defense minister at the Shangri La Dialogue made an impression, at a time when the South China Sea was on everyone’s minds.
Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar: ‘A replacement (for the MiG-21) could be the LCA Tejas or another – I’ll not call it low end – but a single engine lighter aircraft. Tejas is a good aircraft but it has its limitations.’
Air Marshal M Matheshwaran analyzes exactly why the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft will never fully meet the ASR and cannot become the IAF ‘s frontline fighter in the Lo segment.
