IIndian ship in Sri Lanka
According to a statement by the Indian Navy, Indian Navy amphibious assault ship INS Airavat paid a working visit to Sri Lanka’s Colombo port in June to conduct joint maritime and community events.
Commissioned in 2009, the Shardul-class ship displaces around 5,650 tons and can carry up to 500 troops, 11 main battle tanks, armored vehicles and helicopters for amphibious operations and humanitarian missions. The ship can stay at sea for up to 45 days and is equipped with self-defense equipment and a flight deck.
Equipped with two indigenous WM 18A missile launchers, the ship delivered critical spare parts to the Sri Lanka Coast Guard.
Bangladesh eyeing Chinese fighter jets
According to the South China Morning Post, Bangladesh plans to purchase 24 Chinese J-10CE multi-role fighters. The 4.5 generation aircraft is equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar, a modern electronic warfare system, beyond visual range air-to-air missiles and precision strike weapons.
Powered by a single turbofan engine, the fighter is designed for air superiority, ground attack and naval strike.
Bell helicopters worth $100 million
In a bid to boost the army’s air mobility and disaster response capabilities, Nepal in June agreed to receive six Bell helicopters worth $100 million from the US under a foreign military financing program, The Kathmandu Post reported. The helicopters are designed to perform service, military transportation, evacuation of the wounded, search and rescue and logistics missions in mountainous areas. They can also be configured for military purposes with door-mounted machine guns and rocket launchers. Deliveries are planned to begin in 2028.
Patrol ship as a gift
The first Guardian-class patrol ship, CGS Imaaduddin, entered operational service in July, according to an MNDF media statement. The vessel was delivered as part of Australia’s maritime security program in the Pacific.
The patrol ship will help in surveying economic zones, performing search and rescue operations, and combating illegal operations of the Navy. Each vessel has a crew of 23 and is powered by two Caterpillar 3516C diesel engines.
AI update for military drones
Pakistan is accelerating its military drone program by combining indigenous unmanned aerial vehicles with autonomous software, according to the Financial Times. This was showcased at the inaugural Indus Robotics and Autonomous Systems Expo 2026 in July. The program aims to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and strengthen precision strike and surveillance capabilities. The focus is on developing AI-enabled autonomy stacks.
Russian weapons in Afghanistan
In May, Russia and Afghanistan signed a military-technical agreement on the restoration of Soviet and Russian weapons in the territory of the Taliban-led country, The Moscow Times reports. More than 100 Mi-17 transport helicopters and Mi-24 attack aircraft will be repaired with the help of Russian equipment. The deal also includes maintenance of older combat aircraft such as the MiG-21, MiG-23 and Su-25.