India has initiated the process to locally develop a fifth-generation combat aircraft, with three firms shortlisted to submit proposals, according to defense officials cited by ANI. These bidders include Tata Advanced Systems, along with joint ventures between Larsen and Toubro, Bharat Electronics, and Bharat Forge—all Indian companies.
The project was launched last year following India’s approval, shortly after a serious military conflict with Pakistan, to build stealth fighter jets. It plays a key role in strengthening the Indian Air Force, which has seen its fleet of mostly Russian aircraft decline to fewer than 30 squadrons, down from the sanctioned strength of 42.
This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader goal of boosting domestic manufacturing capabilities. The U.S. has offered its advanced F-35 fighter jets, while Russia has countered with its fifth-generation Su-57; however, India has remained non-committal toward both options.
Traditionally dependent on importing military hardware, India has been increasingly promoting homegrown defense production under Modi’s leadership. Defense manufacturing revenue hit a record INR 1.54 trillion (around $16.09 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 2025.
The Dubai Airshow 2025 kicked off at Al Maktoum International Airport on Monday, gathering global aviation leaders, defense officials, and industry experts for one of the region’s biggest aerospace events.
Aircraft from Pakistan and the UAE were parked side by side in the static display area, catching visitors’ attention with the close proximity of the two fleets. This setup was seen as a symbolic sign of the strong defense and aviation cooperation between the UAE and Pakistan.
Throughout the opening day, the skies were filled with vibrant aerobatic shows, as military and commercial jets showcased precise maneuvers. Crowds lined the runway and viewing stands, marveling at high-speed turns, formation flying, and signature stunts.
Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter remained a highlight. Its agility thrilled aviation fans during the aerobatic display and attracted large groups at the static exhibit. Many attendees paused to take photos with the aircraft and posed questions to Pakistan Air Force officials.
Pakistani pilots also drew praise, with visitors lining up for selfies after their performances. Their professionalism and display routine were hailed as some of the most crowd-pleasing parts of the day.
The five-day event continues with numerous defense announcements, aircraft showcases, and daily demonstrations from international manufacturers and air forces worldwide.
SpaceX has successfully launched a newly designed Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the CRS-23 mission.
The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Sunday evening. The Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL spacecraft, loaded with supplies for the ISS, lifted off smoothly.
You can see the Falcon 9 rocket’s liftoff below:
[Video or picture of Falcon 9 launch]
A short time after launch, the Cygnus XL spacecraft was on its way toward the station:
[Update tweet about separation]
Approximately eight minutes after takeoff, the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket landed back at Landing Zone 2 (LZ-2) at Cape Canaveral.
This marks the fourth flight for this particular booster, which previously supported missions for Ax-4, Crew-11, and a Starlink deployment. Thanks to SpaceX’s reusable rocket technology, the booster is now ready for future launches after refurbishment.
The Cygnus XL is scheduled to berth with the ISS around 6:35 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, September 17. Unlike earlier versions, this model is larger and more capable, able to carry up to 11,000 pounds (about 5,000 kg) of cargo—33% more than the previous version, which could hold approximately 8,500 pounds (around 3,855 kg).
This new spacecraft replaces the older Enhanced variant that first launched in 2015. Its increased size and capacity will enable it to deliver more supplies and research equipment to the station, supporting a variety of scientific and operational needs.
Ryan Tinter, vice president of Civil Space Systems at Northrop Grumman, explained the importance of this mission, stating, “It’s really critical because we can deliver significantly more science, as well as more cargo before launch, which helps reduce costs per kilogram for NASA.” He emphasized that establishing these reliable commercial transportation options is key to the future of low-Earth orbit activities and space logistics.
Like earlier Cygnus models, this version does not dock automatically. Instead, it is captured manually by the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm and then attached to the Unity module.
The Cygnus XL can remain attached to the station for up to 200 days, after which it will depart and disintegrate upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
[Insert image of the Cygnus XL spacecraft]
Northrop Grumman’s goal with this improved design is to enhance cargo capacity and streamline resupply missions, playing a vital role in the ongoing development of commercial space activities.
India is collaborating with a French firm to produce fighter jet engines domestically, according to the country’s defense minister. In May, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh approved the prototype of a fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), describing it as a “major step toward boosting India’s indigenous military capabilities.”
During a speech at a conference in New Delhi on Friday, Singh provided additional details about developing aircraft engines within India. “We are progressing toward manufacturing aircraft engines locally,” he stated. “We are working with a French company to initiate engine production in India.” Although he did not specify the company’s name, Indian media widely reported that Safran, a French aerospace and defense supplier, has been operating in India for many years.
India, one of the largest weapon importers globally, is prioritizing military modernization and increasing domestic arms production. The nation has strengthened defense ties with Western countries recently, including the Quad alliance with the United States, Japan, and Australia.
In April, India signed a multi-billion dollar contract to buy 26 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation, adding to the 36 Rafale jets previously acquired to replace Russian-made MiG-29Ks. Singh also pledged over $100 billion in new domestic military equipment contracts by 2033 to promote local manufacturing.
Over the past decade, India has launched a large new helicopter factory, introduced its first domestically built aircraft carrier, warships, submarines, and successfully tested a long-range hypersonic missile. The Indian government remains concerned about threats from neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan, with which it engaged in a four-day conflict in May—the worst standoff since 1999.
SpaceX and NASA are finalizing preparations for the upcoming crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
On July 31, NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov will launch toward the space station aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, which will be deployed by a Falcon 9 rocket.
This mission marks Cardman’s and Platonov’s first spaceflights, Yui’s second, and Fincke’s fourth journey into space.
This will be the 11th crew rotation mission operated by SpaceX’s human space transportation system, and its 12th crewed flight—including the Demo-2 test—to the ISS, part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
The crew is expected to stay on the station for at least six months, engaging in various scientific experiments and potentially conducting spacewalks outside the orbital facility.
A launch from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida is scheduled for approximately 12:09 p.m. ET on July 31. Preparatory activities and the launch itself will be broadcast live starting several hours before liftoff.
Viewers can follow the launch on the video feed available at the top of this page, as well as on SpaceX’s official X account and NASA’s live stream platform.
Weather conditions or technical issues could lead to a postponement, and updates will be provided through SpaceX and NASA’s social media channels.
If you tune in early, you’ll witness the astronauts arriving at the launchpad and boarding the Crew Dragon spacecraft atop the Falcon 9 rocket.
Multiple cameras positioned around the launch site will track the rocket’s ascent, while inside the capsule, onboard cameras will capture the astronauts preparing for launch. Live commentary will explain each step, accompanied by real-time audio communication between Mission Control and the crew inside the spacecraft.
SpaceX has once again showcased the capabilities of its Starship rocket during its sixth test flight, successfully making a hard landing in the Indian Ocean. The Starship launched from the Starbase facility in Texas at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT) and reached splashdown approximately an hour later after completing a suborbital flight.
The original goal was to capture the booster, or first stage, of the rocket, as was attempted during Starship’s fifth flight. This complex maneuver requires the booster to separate from the upper stage, rotate in the air, and then land back at the Starbase site.
The plan involved a tower fitted with two “chopstick” arms that would close around the booster as it approached, securing it in place. Successfully catching the booster would allow for its reuse on future missions, thereby reducing the cost of launching multiple Starship missions.
However, SpaceX opted not to attempt this catch for this flight. Instead, the booster was directed to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico. While the exact reason for this decision has not been disclosed, the company prioritizes caution when testing new technologies.
In a statement prior to the mission, SpaceX emphasized the importance of meeting specific vehicle and pad criteria before attempting a booster recovery, which necessitates functional systems on both the booster and the tower, along with a final manual command from the Flight Director. They noted that if any conditions were deemed unsafe during the launch, the booster would default to a trajectory for a soft splashdown.
SpaceX
The booster did achieve a gentle splashdown but unfortunately exploded shortly after contacting the water’s surface, likely due to tipping over upon impact and becoming unstable.
SpaceX
During the flight, the Starship also accomplished a significant first by reigniting one of its Raptor engines while in space. This milestone occurred about 35 minutes after launch and is crucial for future spacecraft’s ability to maneuver in and out of sustainable orbits.
As the Starship prepared for reentry, viewers observed the rocket glowing and the materials wrinkling due to heat, yet it successfully navigated through the maximum heating phase before splashing down in the ocean. Although the vehicle appeared damaged upon landing, it remained intact.
Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting sixth flight test of Starship! pic.twitter.com/bf98Va9qmL
Despite the missed booster catch, this test flight represents another significant step forward for the Starship program, which is slated to support missions such as transporting NASA cargo and astronauts to the moon under the Artemis initiative.
