India conducted a successful flight trial of an advanced Agni ballistic missile equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha on May 8, 2026, the Defence Ministry said. The long‑range Agni-5 variant carried multiple payloads that were released to strike targets spatially distributed across the Indian Ocean region; integrated ground- and ship-based telemetry and tracking stations monitored the full trajectory and confirmed mission objectives were met. The trial, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with industry partners and witnessed by senior scientists and Indian Army personnel, is a follow-on to an initial MIRV demonstration under “Mission Divyastra” in March 2024. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and service partners, saying the capability will strengthen India’s preparedness and second‑strike deterrence. India joins a small group of states that have demonstrated operational MIRV technology, a step that expands the targeting flexibility and survivability of its strategic forces.

India on May 7, 2026, successfully conducted the maiden flight-trial of TARA (Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation), its first indigenously developed modular glide weapon, off the coast of Odisha. The test was carried out jointly by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) — led by Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad — and the Indian Air Force. TARA is a range-extension kit that converts conventional unguided air-dropped warheads into precision-guided glide munitions using fibre‑optic gyro inertial navigation, multi‑GNSS guidance and electro‑optical/imaging‑infrared terminal seekers. Reported performance figures include glide speeds above 650 km/h, launch integration across altitudes of about 10,000–45,000 ft and stand-off reach in excess of 80 km (Adani/DRDO briefings suggest up to 80–100 km in some release profiles). The system is being produced with development‑cum‑production partners (including industry partners shown at Aero India), offered in multiple mass and accuracy variants, and designed for use from existing platforms such as Su- and indigenous fighters. Defence minister Rajnath Singh and DRDO leadership congratulated teams after the trial, and early production activity has commenced.

India on May 9 appointed Lieutenant General N S Raja Subramani (retd) as the country’s next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan as the new Chief of the Naval Staff, the Ministry of Defence and media reports said. General Anil Chauhan will complete his CDS tenure on May 30, after which Subramani — currently Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat and a former Vice Chief of Army Staff and GOC-in-C Central Command — will assume charge and also serve as Secretary, Department of Military Affairs. Vice Admiral Swaminathan, presently Western Naval Commander, will take over as navy chief on May 31 when Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi retires; his tenure is reported to run until Dec. 31, 2028. Both officers have decades-long service records and senior command, staff and academic credentials. The government said the appointments aim to ensure continuity at the top as India advances higher‑defence reforms, including plans for integrated theatre commands.

U.S. defence officials this week declined to confirm or deny media reports that naval forces might be using — or facing — so‑called “kamikaze dolphins” amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. At a May 5 Pentagon briefing, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he could not confirm whether the U.S. had such animals while asserting Iran did not. The exchange followed a Wall Street Journal report saying Tehran had considered arming dolphins or other marine mammals to attack ships, and subsequent online trolling including an AI‑generated “dolphin bomber” image from an Iranian diplomatic account. Experts and fact‑checkers note militaries, including the U.S., Soviet Union, Russia and others, have long trained dolphins and sea lions for mine detection, object recovery and port protection through programs such as the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific’s Marine Mammal Program. Historical claims that Iran bought Soviet dolphins in 2000 remain unproven and any animals from that era would likely be past service age. There is no verified evidence that dolphins are being used as weaponised ‘suicide’ platforms in current Iran‑U.S. confrontations, and the U.S. Navy has repeatedly said its marine mammals are used for surveillance, detection and recovery tasks, not to kill.

U.S. Central Command said on May 6, 2026, that American forces disabled the Iranian-flagged oil tanker M/T Hasna after it ignored repeated warnings while transiting international waters toward an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman. A U.S. F/A-18 Super Hornet, launched from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, fired several rounds from a 20mm cannon and damaged the ship’s rudder, CENTCOM said, stopping the unladen vessel. The action is part of a U.S. naval blockade in effect since mid-April aimed at preventing ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports; CENTCOM says more than 50 commercial vessels have been directed to turn back. The incident follows previous interdictions, including strikes on the M/V Touska, and comes as Washington has briefly paused an escort operation called “Project Freedom” amid reported, tentative talks with Tehran. U.S. officials stress forces acted after non-compliance; Iranian authorities have disputed U.S. claims in past incidents.

STOCKHOLM, May 7, 2026 — Ukraine and Sweden are in advanced talks that could result in a deal to supply Saab-made Gripen fighter jets to Kyiv within months, Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and his Swedish counterpart said. The countries signed a letter of intent last year that envisages up to 100-150 Gripen E aircraft. First deliveries would likely be around three years after any contract is finalised, though Sweden is also exploring loan, sale or gift of older Gripen models for faster delivery. Financing remains a key issue: Sweden has set aside about 80 billion crowns for aid to Ukraine that could partly fund the purchase, and officials are discussing contributions from other countries for training and weapon systems. Saab’s CEO has expressed optimism a contract could be finalised this year and the company is exploring production-rate increases — targeting roughly 20-30 aircraft annually — to meet potential demand. The proposed deal would be one of Sweden’s largest-ever arms exports and follows Hungary’s reversal of its veto on an EU loan package for Ukraine.

Deputy Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti said on May 7, 2026, that during Operation Sindoor Indian forces “destroyed 13 Pakistani aircraft” and struck “11 airfields,” remarks made at a briefing marking the operation’s first anniversary. Bharti said India also hit nine terrorist camps on May 7, 2025, and claimed a high‑value airborne asset was engaged at a record range of more than 300 kilometres. He described the campaign as focused on terrorist infrastructure, completed after objectives were met, and asserted Pakistan had not inflicted significant damage on Indian military or civilian sites. Bharti said India paused offensive actions after Pakistan requested a cessation and that the broader confrontation ended when New Delhi accepted a ceasefire on May 10, 2025. He highlighted lessons on air power, precision targeting and net‑centric systems such as the IACCCS. These are official Indian claims and have not been independently verified; previous Indian officials acknowledged unspecified aircraft losses during the episode.

Malaysia announced on May 6–7, 2026 that it will seek clarification from Norway after reports that Oslo’s change in export approvals has disrupted a contract to supply Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme. Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin confirmed a procurement contract with Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, signed in 2018, but said implementation has been affected by a shift in Norway’s export position. The NSM was designated as the principal anti-ship armament for the Maharaja Lela-class frigates. Malaysia’s long-delayed LCS project — relaunched in 2023 with five ships replacing an earlier six-ship plan — has already suffered cost overruns and delivery delays; the lead ship began sea trials in April and had its first delivery timeline pushed from August to December. Kongsberg and Norwegian export authorities had not responded to requests for comment. Kuala Lumpur said it will pursue diplomatic channels to clarify the situation and protect national interests while considering next steps to avoid compromising defence readiness.

France said on May 6-7 it has repositioned its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and escort vessels south of the Suez Canal into the Red Sea to pre-position for a possible Franco‑British mission to restore safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Paris and London have led planning with more than 40–50 partner states for a defensive, multinational operation that would only begin once threats to shipping fall and the maritime industry regains confidence. French authorities say the move is separate from the U.S. “Project Freedom” initiative, which was paused by President Donald Trump, and that any operation would require agreement from neighbouring states, including Iran. The deployment aims to reassure shipowners and insurers after the effective closure of the strait has stranded hundreds — by some counts around 2,000 — vessels and driven war‑risk premiums four to five times higher, contributing to major disruption in global oil flows. Paris also links reopening Hormuz to progress in wider U.S.-Iran negotiations; President Emmanuel Macron has discussed the plan with Iranian and U.S. counterparts. French Rafale jets based at Al Dhafra continue regional air operations.

On May 4, 2026, Brazil’s Embraer signed a deal with the United Arab Emirates’ Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement for 10 C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft, with options for 10 more — the first confirmed C-390 sale in the Middle East. The contract includes plans to develop maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and after-sales support in partnership with an Emirati firm, Generation 5 Holding, and was announced during the “Make It In The Emirates” exposition. Embraer said the deal positions the C-390 for further government-to-government procurements across the region as countries seek replacements for aging fleets. Analysts cited by Reuters estimated the firm order’s value at about $1 billion; Embraer shares rose 2.5% after the announcement. Embraer projects global demand for 400–480 military cargo aircraft over the next 20 years as many airlifters near or exceed 45 years of service. The UAE statement highlighted the platform’s multi-mission capabilities — transport, airdrop, medical evacuation and humanitarian roles — and emphasized long-term industrial cooperation and fleet readiness for regional operators.

BERLIN, May 4 (Reuters) - Germany’s defence ministry said on Monday there had been no “definitive cancellation” by the United States of a plan, drawn up under the Biden administration, to station a battalion equipped with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles and other long-range fires in Germany. The clarification followed Washington’s announcement last week that it would reduce its force presence in Germany by about 5,000 troops, a move widely interpreted as signalling the planned weapons deployment had been scrapped. Berlin stressed the weapons “may well still be” stationed in Germany and that European partners are already moving to procure their own long-range strike capabilities to fill any gap. The troop drawdown, announced amid tensions over the Iran war and trade disputes, has provoked criticism from U.S. congressional defence hawks and raised questions about NATO deterrence posture against Russia. Reports have outlined possible systems involved beyond Tomahawk, including ground-launched SM-6s, precision strike missiles and developmental hypersonic systems, underscoring the strategic significance of whether the U.S. will proceed with long-range fires in Europe.

Multiple news outlets report the Trump administration has effectively halted approvals for roughly 165 onshore wind projects in the United States by routing applications through the Department of Defense and citing national security concerns. The affected developments — including about 35 that had secured verbal sign-offs and many in mid-negotiation — together amount to roughly 30 gigawatts of potential generating capacity. Developers say the Pentagon has canceled meetings, stopped processing applications and opened a review of its evaluation process, creating delays that date back to August 2025. Routine Defense Department checks are normally used to assess radar and flight-safety impacts; industry groups say the current backlog and lack of communication mark a major escalation. The move follows other administration actions targeting onshore and offshore renewables and has prompted legal challenges in previous cases where projects were paused on classified security grounds. Reports cite the American Clean Power Association and unnamed industry sources; the Pentagon and administration officials have not publicly detailed the scope of the new review.