Science and Technology › Defence technology
हिन्दी — Read in HindiMilitary platforms, drones and new weapons
The platforms that carry military power: aircraft and their engines, ships and submarines, tanks and artillery, drones and counter drone systems, and directed energy and electronic warfare. Prelims has asked about fifth generation fighters, stealth and drone swarms.
Foundation note: Stealth: radar cross section and how to shrink it
UPSC has asked
- Prelims 2025: unmanned aerial vehicles, their landing, hovering and power
Showing 3 of 6 articles, those that changed from 1 to 31 August 2026.Show all
Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft engine
Copy link to Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft enginePrelims and Mains
The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft is India's planned fifth generation stealth fighter.
- The engine is the part it cannot yet be given at home: the Kaveri engine of the 1990s never reached the thrust a fighter needs.
- The first squadrons will fly on an imported engine while an Indian one is developed.
- A fighter engine must survive temperatures that only single crystal turbine blades can take, which is the technology India lacks.
What changed
15 Aug 2026BriefReliance Industries and Rolls Royce announced plans to design, develop and manufacture an indigenous engine for the aircraft. They will also explore an aerospace gas turbine complex in India as a propulsion centre. The Hindu, 15 Aug 2026: Reliance and Rolls-Royce to co-develop AMCA fighter engine (opens in a new tab)
UPSC has asked
- Prelims 2024: which of the listed aircraft are fifth generation fighters
Micro gas turbine engines
Copy link to Micro gas turbine enginesPrelims and Mains
A micro gas turbine is an engine of 5 to 100 kg thrust that powers tactical drones and interceptors.
- An expendable engine is built for one flight, as on a cruise missile or target drone.
- Both are engines India could not buy freely, which is why their development at the National Aerospace Laboratories and the Gas Turbine Research Establishment matters more than their size suggests.
What changed
25 Aug 2026BriefThree indigenous micro gas turbine engines were unveiled, NJ 05, NJ 50 and NJ 100, of 5, 50 and 100 kg thrust, for tactical drones, drone interceptors and compact missiles. PIB, 25 Aug 2026: CSIR-NAL unveils indigenous micro gas turbine engines (opens in a new tab)
Show history (1 other update)
23 Jul 2026BriefIndia's first indigenous expendable turbojet of the 350 kg thrust class, designed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment and built by a private firm, was delivered. PIB, 23 Jul 2026: Successful development of first indigenous Expendable Turbo Jet Engine of 350 kg thrust class (opens in a new tab)
MQ-9B Sea Guardian
Copy link to MQ-9B Sea GuardianPrelims and Mains
The MQ 9B Sea Guardian is a high altitude long endurance remotely piloted aircraft, flown by a crew on the ground.
- It is built to loiter at height for sorties of a day or more with radar, electro optical and signals sensors, which is what maritime domain awareness across the Indian Ocean needs.
- India has ordered 31 MQ 9Bs under a 2024 contract, 15 of them Sea Guardians for the Navy.
What changed
18 Aug 2026BriefThe Ministry of Defence signed a contract with General Atomics to lease two MQ 9B Sea Guardians for the Navy for 30 months, to strengthen surveillance across the Indian Ocean Region. The Hindu, 18 Aug 2026: India to lease two Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy (opens in a new tab) · PIB, 17 Aug 2026: MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones leased for the Navy (opens in a new tab)