Morning Brief: IAF's Air Defence Grid 'Detected' British F-35 Stealth Fighter; India Plans 113 Km Long Canal To Divert Chenab Flow; Apple Vendors Hit 20 Per Cent Value Addition In India

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IAF's Air Defence Network 'Detected, Identified' British F-35 Fighter 

A British F-35B stealth fighter was successfully "detected and identified" by India’s air defence network and "cleared for landing" after its pilot declared an emergency off the coast of Thiruvananthapuram on the night of 14 June, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has said. Despite the aircraft’s low-observable design, the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) identified the jet in real-time and facilitated its recovery at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

The aircraft had been operating from the UK carrier HMS Prince of Wales outside Indian airspace, with Thiruvananthapuram pre-designated as an emergency diversion airfield. The IAF is now assisting with the aircraft’s repair and return efforts.

India Plans 113 Km Canal To Divert Chenab Water

India has initiated a feasibility study for a 113-km-long canal that would divert surplus water from the Chenab river in Jammu & Kashmir to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, marking a major step in inter-basin water transfer under the Indus river system. The canal is designed to connect with existing canal structures at 13 locations and aims to optimise the use of both eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) and India’s share of western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) under the Indus Waters Treaty.

According to officials, the canal could be constructed segment-wise, using multiple tunnels across J&K and Punjab to reach downstream networks, including the Indira Gandhi Canal system. Home minister Amit Shah has said that Indus waters will reach Rajasthan within three years, benefiting large parts of the region even as Pakistan receives reduced flows.

Apple Vendors Hit 20 Per Cent Value Addition In India

Apple’s Indian iPhone factories have reached a major milestone, with contract manufacturers such as Tata Electronics, Wistron Infocomm, Pegatron Technology India, and Foxconn Hon Hai India surpassing the 20 per cent domestic value addition threshold across Apple’s iPhone variants, Business Standard has reported.

This boost in domestic value coincides with a record export performance. Apple shipped iPhones worth approximately Rs 1.5 lakh crore (US $17.4 billion) from India in FY 2024–25, marking a staggering 76 percent annual growth. Amid global trade tensions, Apple has rapidly pivoted production to India—Foxconn alone exported around $3.2 billion worth of iPhones between March and May 2025, with 97 per cent of that headed to the United States, a sharp rise from 50 per cent the previous year.

Other Developments

India Begins Work on Overhaul of Civil Aviation Safety Framework

India has launched work on a new, comprehensive national civil aviation safety plan that will go beyond existing ICAO guidelines and revise current SOPs across airports, aircraft, and agencies. Triggered in part by the recent Air India crash on the Ahmedabad-Gatwick route, the plan aims to overhaul safety protocols from airport design to maintenance procedures, with expert inputs from IITs, the aviation industry, and regulatory bodies.

The safety push comes amid rapid sector growth and will address manpower gaps in inspections and investigations, emergency coordination, and training systems. A high-level committee led by the Union Home Secretary will anchor the process, starting with its first meeting on Monday.

Israel-Iran Conflict Intensifies

Israel and Iran continued exchanging strikes for a third consecutive day, with the reported death toll in Iran reaching 400 and 13 killed in Israel. Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran’s defence ministry, military bases, and oil infrastructure, triggering explosions in Tehran and other cities, while Iran launched over 270 missiles at Israeli cities, overwhelming defences and forcing the closure of Israel’s airspace.

Iran’s foreign minister said retaliatory strikes would stop if Israel ceased its attacks, while President Masoud Pezeshkian warned of more severe responses if Israeli actions continued. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump cautioned Iran against targeting American interests, threatening unprecedented retaliation while also claiming a peace deal could still be quickly achieved.

Trump Blocked Israeli Bid To Kill Iran's Supreme Leader

US President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to two senior US officials cited by Reuters. The officials said Israeli counterparts claimed they had a clear opportunity to strike but were told to stand down, with Trump insisting no political leadership would be targeted unless Americans were killed.

The reported veto comes amid ongoing Israeli strikes on Iran and heightened US-Israeli coordination over Iran’s nuclear program. Trump has also expressed interest in resuming nuclear negotiations with Tehran, though upcoming talks in Oman were canceled due to the conflict.

From The States

Sidda Faces Backlash as New Caste Survey Triggers OBC Disquiet

The Karnataka government's plan to conduct a fresh caste survey has sparked unrest among backward class organisations, putting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a politically sensitive spot. While dominant communities like Lingayats and Vokkaligas have backed the move, a section of OBCs, especially those favoured in the Kantharaj Commission report, are opposing it and threatening a statewide agitation.

Marginalised OBC communities and minorities have questioned the need for a new survey, calling for the implementation of the previous one. The original report proposed a 12 per cent quota for Kurubas and a hike in Muslim reservation.

BJP Sets Up Bihar Election War Room

With assembly elections likely within six months, the BJP has set up a dedicated election war room in Bihar to coordinate its campaign efforts. Around 135 to 150 volunteers have been deployed at a call centre to collect data from booth-level workers, identify new voters, and mobilise support ahead of key rallies.

Senior BJP leaders, including state general secretary (organisation) Bhikhubhai Dalsaniya, are also conducting on-ground assessments across constituencies. Seat-sharing adjustments within the NDA are under discussion, with the BJP eyeing constituencies where allies have had better success.

Kashmiri Parents Seek Urgent Evacuation Of Students From Iran

Scores of Kashmiri parents have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to urgently evacuate their children studying in Iran, as tensions escalate following Israeli airstrikes on Tehran. Over 1,500 Indian students, many from Jammu and Kashmir, are pursuing MBBS and other courses in Iran, with many reporting sleepless nights and frequent distress calls.

While the Indian Embassy in Tehran has issued advisories, there is no official word yet on evacuation, even as Pakistan has begun moving out its nationals. The J&K government has set up a control room in Srinagar, while student bodies report a surge in panic calls from Indian students stranded in Iran.

You’re all caught up—until next time.