We are immensely grateful to Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh for his message on India’s Independence Day. The Chief of the Air Staff underscores that IAF’s path forward will be defined by technological transformation, multi-domain integration, and emerging capabilities, driven by self-reliance, adaptability, and strategic foresight to meet future challenges.

Our lead story in this issue is an exclusive interaction with Dr Samir V. Kamat, Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO. Speaking to Manish Kumar Jha, Dr Kamat outlines DRDO’s advances in next-generation aerial platforms and systems. Kamat reveals DRDO’s advances in hypersonic glide and cruise missiles powered by indigenous scramjets, promising unmatched speed and interception evasion. He explains quantum sensing for submarine detection from aircraft or UAVs, progress on the Kaveri dry engine for unmanned platforms, and AMCA stealth technologies. Kamat stresses indigenous IP ownership framing a vision of Atmanirbharta in next-gen aerial warfare systems.

In another success story, Manish Kumar Jha charts ISRO’s rapid rise—from lunar and Martian missions to futuristic inorbit docking and human spaceflight. He details landmark achievements like SpaDeX docking, NISAR launch, and the upcoming Bharatiya Antariksh Station, alongside Next Generation Launch Vehicles, Venus and lunar sample missions. The piece also analyses private sector breakthroughs in propulsion, reusable rockets, and hyperspectral imaging.

In an analytical report on IAF’s urgent need to stem declining squadron numbers, Manish Kumar Jha examines the prospects of interim imports like the US F-35 or Russian Su-57 while accelerating indigenous AMCA development under a new PPP model. Delays in Tejas Mk-1A deliveries and Mk-2 rollout exacerbate the gap, especially against China’s J-20 deployments and Pakistan’s planned J-35 acquisition. The report underscores the strategic imperative to close these gaps while modernising through indigenous platforms.

Also, to plug the gap in India’s fighter squadrons, Air Marshal Anil Khosla (Retd) explores the evolution of combat drones globally and in India, tracing a shift from imports to indigenous systems like DRDO’s Archer and HAL’s CATS Warrior, alongside MQ-9B Sea/Sky Guardian acquisitions. He outlines advantages like persistence, precision, and reduced risk to pilots, as well as future trends in AI autonomy, swarm tactics, and stealth.

Swaati Ketkar provides a comprehensive look at the transformation of India’s defence MRO sector, which is rapidly moving towards full self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. She highlights major initiatives that have been undertaken demonstrating India’s growing maintenance independence. She emphasises that these projects not only reduce dependence on foreign OEMs but also embed global OEMs into India’s industrial base, creating export opportunities.

On the Civil Aviation front, as India’s skies grow busier, the need for experienced professionals across all aviation roles becomes critical to ensure safety and efficiency. In his analysis, Sanjay Julka warns that rapid fleet growth without seasoned expertise risks safety. Drawing lessons from US, Chinese, and Indian aviation booms, he stresses bolstering pilot, technician, ATC, and regulatory capacity as India’s aviation growth demands a robust pipeline of skilled professionals to match its ambitious trajectory.

All this and more in this issue of SP’s Aviation. Welcome aboard and we wish you safe landings!