Rajnath Singh | DD News

September 26, 2025 4:47 PM

From 1971 war to Balakot, MiG-21 always stood strong: Rajnath Singh hails India’s iconic jet

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday retired its legendary MiG-21 fighter jet, bringing to an end more than six decades of service. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the aircraft, describing it as a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and national pride. The final sortie of the MiG-21 was led by Air Chief Marshal A P Singh at the Chandigarh Air Force Station. The aircraft flew in the Badal formation of three, while BAe Hawk Mk132 aircraft of the IAF’s Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team performed manoe...

September 26, 2025 1:31 PM

End of an era: IAF bids final goodbye to MiG-21

After nearly six decades of service, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday retired its legendary MiG-21 fighter jet, taking its final sortie in a decommissioning ceremony at Chandigarh Air Force Station in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Inducted in 1963, the MiG-21 became the backbone of India’s air power, training generations of pilots and proving its mettle in multiple conflicts, including the 1965 and 1971 wars, the 1999 Kargil War. The aircraft played a pivotal role in the...

September 26, 2025 11:26 AM

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to attend MiG-21 decommissioning ceremony in Chandigarh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be in Chandigarh on Friday to attend the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) MiG-21 decommissioning ceremony, marking the retirement of the iconic fighter jet after nearly six decades of service. In a post on X, Singh wrote: “Today, 26th September, I shall be in Chandigarh. Shall attend the Decommissioning ceremony of IAF’s MiG-21. Looking forward to it.” Inducted in 1963, the MiG-21 has been a cornerstone of India’s air power. The first squadron, 28 Squadron...

September 25, 2025 11:04 AM

India successfully tests Agni-Prime missile from rail-based launcher

India on Thursday successfully conducted a test launch of the intermediate-range Agni-Prime missile from a rail-based mobile launcher system. The launch was carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Strategic Forces Command (SFC). Congratulating DRDO and SFC, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on X: "India has carried out the successful launch of the Intermediate Range Agni-Prime Missile from a Rail-Based Mobile Launcher system. This next...

September 23, 2025 6:33 PM

Rajnath Singh inaugurates TASL’s defence manufacturing facility in Morocco

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Moroccan counterpart Abdelatif Loudyi on Tuesday jointly inaugurated Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL)’s state-of-the-art defence manufacturing facility in Berrechid, marking a historic milestone in India-Morocco strategic ties. Spread across 20,000 square metres, the facility will produce the indigenously developed Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8, jointly designed by TASL and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). ...

September 23, 2025 2:50 PM

Rajnath Singh discusses defence sector ties with Morocco Minister

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday met Morocco’s Minister of Trade, Ryad Mezzour, in Rabat to discuss ways to deepen cooperation in key sectors including defence, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals, the Ministry of Defence said. In a post on X, a ministry official said, “Mr Mezzour warmly welcomed the Raksha Mantri and highlighted the importance of enhancing industrial cooperation between the two nations, which share a long-standing friendship. The discussions focused on expanding partne...

September 22, 2025 8:45 PM

India, Morocco sign MoU to boost defence cooperation

In a step towards deepening strategic ties, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Moroccan counterpart Abdeltif Loudiyi on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation during a bilateral meeting in Rabat. The MoU establishes a robust institutional framework for collaboration between the two nations and opens avenues for joint exercises, military training, capacity building, and defence industry partnerships. Both ministers agreed on a comprehensive roadmap for defe...

September 20, 2025 10:21 AM

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to visit Morocco on Sept 22-23

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will pay a two-day official visit to Morocco from September 22-23 at the invitation of the country’s Minister Delegate of National Defence Abdeltif Loudiyi, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday. This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Defence Minister to the North African nation, signalling growing strategic convergence between the two countries. A key highlight of the visit will be the inauguration of Tata Advanced Systems Maroc’s new manufacturing f...

September 17, 2025 5:46 PM

PM Modi calls for jointness, self-reliance at Armed Forces’ Combined Commanders’ Meet

The Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC) 2025 was held in Kolkata, West Bengal, from September 15 to 17. The apex-level forum of the Armed Forces brought together senior leadership from the Ministry of Defence and the three Services to shape the future roadmap of India’s defence preparedness. This year’s theme, “Year of Reforms – Transforming for the Future,” focused on strengthening jointness, advancing capability development, and ensuring alignment with national security prioriti...

September 17, 2025 10:42 AM

Combined Commanders’ Conference: Rajnath Singh urges Armed Forces to prepare for unconventional threats

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called on the Armed Forces to look beyond traditional concepts of warfare and remain ready to counter emerging, unconventional threats such as information warfare, ideological attacks, ecological challenges, and biological risks. Addressing the Combined Commanders’ Conference 2025 in Kolkata, Singh stressed that the rapidly changing global security environment demands constant assessment and adaptation. “Wars of today are so sudden and unpredictable...