Agni 5, BrahMos deals, 'Desi' Iron Dome & Op Sindoor: Inside India's high-impact defence year

• India's Operation Sindoor hits terror sites in Pakistan and PoK, May 2025.
• PM Modi announced Mission Sudarshan Chakra, India's AI-enabled defense shield
• India signed defense deals, inducted warships, and tested missiles for readiness.

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The year 2025 will be best remembered for India flexing its military muscle with unprecedented assertiveness. New Delhi set the tone for a new normal in the defence sector, marked by heightened combat readiness and strategic clarity.

At a time when the world was witnessing multiple conflicts-from Ukraine to Gaza - India resolved a major geopolitical tension in its own neighbourhood and did so with an iron hand.

Operation Sindoor demonstrated how India can-and will-walk the talk when it comes to protecting its citizens and waging its long-standing war against terrorism.

Despite near-zero diplomatic or military support from other countries, the Indian armed forces stood their ground, ensuring that Pakistan's military leadership learned its lesson and refrained from future misadventures.

On the big-ticket procurement front, India signed a multi-million-dollar combat jet deal with France. The attempted drone attacks by Rawalpindi at the peak of Operation Sindoor tensions prompted New Delhi to rethink urban air defence and build a new security ecosystem to protect its cities. This culminated in a major announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address, when he unveiled India's own version of the Iron Dome - Mission Sudarshan Chakra.

Meanwhile, a series of Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meetings and approvals underscored the government's urgency in upgrading troop capabilities and overhauling the country's armoury. So, what were the key defence developments that shaped India's military policy in 2025? While Operation Sindoor was undoubtedly the cornerstone, several other landmark deals and decisions also defined the year. Here's a look:

Operation Sindoor

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, conducting precision missile strikes on nine terrorist infrastructure sites linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation used indigenous systems like BrahMos missiles and Akashteer air defense, avoiding Pakistani military or civilian targets. It followed a dastardly terror attack in Kashmir's Baisaran Valley on April 22, where 26 Hindu tourists were gunned down after asking about their religious identity.

Border Infrastructure

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 125 border projects on December 7, 2025, worth Rs 5,000 crore, including 28 roads, 93 bridges, and others across Ladakh, Arunachal, and other regions. Key additions like the Shyok tunnel on the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie Road enhanced connectivity to forward areas amid landslides and avalanches. These initiatives bolster security, economy, and disaster response near China borders.

Apache Chopper Delivery

The Indian Army received the final three AH-64E Apache helicopters in December 2025, completing a six-unit order signed in 2020 via US Direct Commercial Sales. The first three arrived in July 2025, with these desert-camouflaged units based in Jodhpur for western border operations. Equipped with Hellfire missiles and cannons, they enhance anti-armour capabilities.

BrahMos Export Orders

Negotiations advanced in 2025 for BrahMos deals with Vietnam (potentially $700 million) and Indonesia (part of $450 million pacts), awaiting final agreements and Russian NOC. Vietnam's army and navy showed interest, building on Philippines deliveries. These would mark additional ASEAN buyers after Philippines' 2023 order.

Indian Navy Inductions

The Navy inducted 9-10 warships in 2025, starting with ASW-SWC Arnala on June 18 at Visakhapatnam, plus INS Tamal from Russia. Most were indigenously built by MDL, HSL, and GRSE, emphasizing self-reliance amid Indo-Pacific challenges. Over 10 ships and one submarine joined by year-end.

Sudarshan Chakra

Prime Minister Modi announced Mission Sudarshan Chakra on August 15, 2025, as an AI-enabled multi-layer defense shield for strategic sites by 2035. Groundwork began November 28 under DRDO, integrating IACCS and Akashteer in phases to 2030-2035. It unifies surveillance, missiles, cyber, and space defences

DAC Approvals

The Defence Acquisition Council approved major procurements in 2025, including Rs 1.05 lakh crore on July 3 (Buy Indian-IDDM focus), Rs 67,000 crore on August 5, and Rs 79,000 crore by December. Items covered T-90 engines, Mi-17 upgrades, MRSAM missiles, and tugs. These accelerated self-reliance across services.

Missile Tests

India conducted key tests in 2025: Agni-5 (August 20, >5,000 km range) from Odisha; Prithvi-II, Agni-I, and Akash Prime in July; validating nuclear deterrence and parameters. These boosted strategic capabilities against China and Pakistan.