Yearbook 2025 Edition [Link].

in

Defense News.................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Military Exercises .......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Indian Army ................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Indian Air Force ........................................................................................................................................................................ 12
Indian Navy .............................................................................................................................................................................. 14
Indian Coast Guard ................................................................................................................................................................... 20
Combined Exercise .................................................................................................................................................................... 21
DRDO ........................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Other Countries Missile, Test & Exercise..................................................................................................................... 32
Defense Prcourement & MoU ..................................................................................................................................... 49
Defence Conferences .................................................................................................................................................. 79
Operation / Mission .................................................................................................................................................... 85
Miscellaneous ............................................................................................................................................................. 94

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MILITARY EXERCISES
Indian Army
1. Ekuverin India-Maldives Joint Military Exercise ‘Ekuverin’
2. Cyclone 2025 Begins
3. Dhrama Guradian
4. Khanjar XII
5. Dustlik VI
6. Nomadic Elephant
7. Shakti 2025
8. Bold Kurukshetra 2025
9. Divya Drishti
10. Maitree

▪ The 13th edition of joint military exercise 'Ekuverin' between the Indian Army and the Maldives National
Defence Force has commenced in Maldives on 2nd Feburary
▪ Ekuverin meaning ‘Friends' in Dhivehi language is a bilateral annual exercise conducted alternatively in India
and Maldives.
▪ In 2023, it was conducted at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand from June 11 to 24.
▪ The 14-day exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability in counter insurgency and counter terrorism
operations, and carry out joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

3rd Joint military exercise ‘Cyclone 2025’ ▪ The first edition of Exercise Cyclone was held
in India in 2023.
between India and Egypt to begin in
▪ ‘Desert Warrior’ is another bilateral exercise
Rajasthan conducted between air forces of both
countries.

6th edition of the joint military exercise

'Dharma Guardian’
▪ The 6th edition of
the India-Japan
joint military
exercise, Dharma
▪ at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Guardian, will be
Rajasthan. held at Mount
▪ The 14 days exercise from 10th February 2025 Fuji from
▪ aims to enhance interoperability of special February 25 to
forces in desert environments. March 9, 2025.
▪ The Indian Army contingent is represented by ▪ The 5th edition of Joint Military Exercise
personnel from The Parachute Regiment ‘DHARMA GUARDIAN’ conducted at Mahajan
(Special Forces). Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.
▪ The Egyptian contingent includes the Egyptian Other Exercises between India and Japan
Commando Squadron and the Egyptian ▪ JIMEX (naval)
Airborne Platoon. ▪ SHINYUU Maitri (Air Force)

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About Mount Fuji:
Location: Situated on Honshu Island, Japan, about 100 India- Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise
km southwest of Tokyo.
Dustlik-VI Commences At Foreign Training
Geographical Features:
▪ Highest Mountain in Japan: 3,776.24 meters Node, Aundh
(12,389 feet), making it Japan’s tallest peak. ▪ The 6th edition
▪ Active Stratovolcano: Last erupted in 1707- of India-
1708. Uzbekistan
▪ Snow-Capped Cone: Covered in snow for five Joint Military
months of the year, making it a symbol of Exercise
Japan. DUSTLIK-VI
▪ UNESCO World Heritage Site (2013): commenced,
Recognized for its cultural and artistic at Foreign
influence. Training Node, Aundh (Pune).
▪ Sacred Site: One of Japan’s “Three Holy ▪ The Exercise is scheduled to be conducted
Mountains” (Sanreizan) alongside Mount Tate from 16 to 28 Apr 2025.
and Mount Haku. ▪ Indian contingent comprising of 60 personnel
is being represented by a Battalion of JAT
Military Exercise ‘Jal-Thal-Raksha 2025’ Regiment and IAF.
▪ The Uzbekistan contingent is being
Held in Gujarat represented by personnel from Uzbekistan
▪ Jal-Thal-Raksha Army.
2025’, a military ▪ Joint Exercise DUSTLIK is an annual training
exercise, was event conducted alternatively in India and
conducted at Bet Uzbekistan.
Dwarka, Gujarat by ▪ Last edition was conducted in Termez District,
the Indian Army. Uzbekistan in April 2024.
▪ It involved the 11 ▪ The theme of the exercise will be based on the
Infantry Division theme of Joint Multi Domain Sub Conventional
(Ahmedabad), 31 Infantry Brigade (Jamnagar), operations in Semi-Urban Scenario
Coast Guard, and Marine Police
Exercise nomadic
Indian Army Contingent Departs For India-
elephant
Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise ▪ 17th edition of
Khanjar-XII joint military
exercise,
Nomadic
Elephant 2025
between the
Indian Army and
the Mongolian
Armed Forces
▪ From May 31 to June 13 at Ulaanbaatar,
Mongolia.
▪ The 12th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint
▪ Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT is an annual
Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR-XII
event conducted alternatively in India and
▪ is set to take place in Kyrgyzstan
Mongolia.
▪ from 10 March to 23 March 2025.
▪ Last edition was conducted at Umroi,
▪ Its inception in 2011
Meghalaya in July 2024.
▪ The Indian contingent is represented by troops
▪ The Indian contingent comprising 45
from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces)
personnel will be represented mainly by
and the Kyrgyzstan contingent is represented
troops from a battalion of the ARUNACHAL
by Kyrgyz Scorpion Brigade.
SCOUTS. The Mongolian Armed Forces
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contingent, also comprising similar strength, Defence Exercises between India and France:
will be represented by 150 Special Forces unit. ▪ Varuna – Naval exercise
▪ The scope of this exercise involves Platoon ▪ Desert Knight and Garuda (Air exercise)
level Field Training Exercise. In addition, to ▪ Shakti – Army exercise
enhance complexity of exercise, aspects
pertaining to Cyber Warfare are also being Indian Army Conducts Teesta Prahar
incorporated in this edition of the exercise.
Exercise in West Bengal
▪ The first edition was held in 2004. It was
hosted in Mongolia

Indian Army Contingent Reaches Mongolia

For Multinational Military Exercise Khaan
Quest

▪ The Indian Army conducted Teesta Prahar — a

large-scale integrated field exercise — at the
Teesta field firing range in West Bengal
• Conducted by the Indian Army’s Trishakti
Corps under the Eastern Command.
• The exercise holds significance in the backdrop
of Operation Sindoor.
▪ The Indian Army contingent reached • Aimed to simulate and validate combat
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for the 22nd edition of operations in challenging riverine and all-
Multinational Military Exercise KHAAN QUEST, terrain environments.
which is scheduled to be conducted from 14th • The exercise featured the implementation and
to 28th June 2025. assessment of recently acquired advanced
▪ Last edition of Exercise KHAAN QUEST was weaponry, military equipment, and cutting-
conducted in Mongolia from 27th July to 9th edge battlefield technology, aligning with the
August 2024. Indian Army's modernisation initiatives.
▪ The exercise first started as a bilateral event
between USA and Mongolian Armed Forces in Army & NDRF conducts Exercise Raahat in
the year 2003. Assam
▪ For strengthening India’s disaster response
India-France joint military drill exercise capabilities, the Indian Army and the National
shakti-2025 to be held in France from June Disaster Response Force (NDRF) conducted
Exercise Raahat—a large-scale joint
18 to July 1
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
▪ 8th edition of Exercise
(HADR) simulation.
Shakti 2025 will be
▪ The drill, held in Assam, was aimed at
held at La Cavalerie in
improving coordination between civil and
France.
military agencies during natural disasters such
▪ from June 18 to July 1
as floods and earthquakes, especially in
▪ A biennial, bilateral
vulnerable northeastern regions.
joint military exercise
▪ The first Exercise Raahat was carried out in
between the Indian
Rajasthan in 2016, primarily for earthquake
Army and the French
response.
Army, conducted
alternatively in India
and France since 2011
▪ The 7th edition (2024) was held in Umroi,
Meghalaya.

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India–Singapore Joint Military Exercise ▪ It is a high-altitude technology demonstration

exercise conducted by the Indian Army in East
‘Bold Kurukshetra 2025’
Sikkim.
▪ It was designed to test new technologies that
are designed to improve battlefield awareness,
real-time surveillance, and quick decision-
making.
▪ Troops from the Trishakti Corps, which is
headquartered in Sukna on the outskirts of
▪ 14th edition Siliguri, used a mix of ground-based systems
▪ From 27th July till 04 August 2025. and aerial platforms, including UAVs and
▪ at Jodhpur drones, to create realistic battle scenes.
▪ The exercise will witness the participation of
the 42 Singapore Armoured Regiment of the 4 Joint military training exercise – Harimau
Singapore Armoured Brigade and the Indian Shakti
Army’s Mechanised Infantry Regiment.
▪ India and Malaysia are holding a 5th edition
▪ ‘Bold Kurukshetra’ is a bilateral military
joint military training exercise – Harimau
exercise between the Indian Army and the
Shakti in the deserts of Rajasthan.
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)
▪ The fifth edition of this exercise will continue
till 18th December.
Exercise Drone Prahar ▪ The Ministry of Defence said that the aim of
this exercise is to jointly rehearse conduct of
Sub Conventional Operations under Chapter VII
of United Nations Mandate.
▪ The Ministry further said that both sides will
rehearse drills to secure helipads and
undertake casualty evacuation during counter-
terrorist operations.
▪ The Indian Army recently held Exercise Drone ▪ The 4th edition of India- Malaysia Joint
Prahar in Arunachal Pradesh. Military Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI held at
▪ It is a high-tech military drill conducted by the Bentong camp, Pahang district, Malaysia.
Indian Army to validate the integration of
drone technology into tactical battlefield Exercise Achook Prahar 2025
operations.
▪ It was conducted at the military station at
Rayang in Arunachal Pradesh‘s East Siang
District.

Exercise Divya Drishti

▪ conducted from August 25 to 28

▪ Troops of the Indian Army’s Spear Corps and
the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
undertook four days of firepower drills under
▪ The Indian Army recently conducted ‘Exercise
simulated battlefield conditions in
Divya Drishti’ in the high-altitude regions of
central Arunachal Pradesh.
East Sikkim to test advanced military
▪ Mortars, machine guns, rockets, and grenades
technologies.
were employed to validate synergised

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response, accuracy, and battlefield
effectiveness Exercise Siyom Prahar in Arunachal
▪ The exercise served as a joint validation of
Pradesh
operational preparedness under simulated
▪ The Indian Army
battlefield conditions.
successfully
conducted
14th Joint Bilateral Military Exercise Siyom
Exercise MAITREE Prahar from
September 8 to
10, 2025, a major
field training
exercise aimed at
validating the
employment of
drone technology in modern tactical
operations.
▪ 14th edition of MAITREE - Joint Bilateral
▪ The exercise was held under realistic battlefield
Military Exercise between India and Thailand
conditions and marked “a significant step in
▪ will be conducted from 01–14 September 2025
operational preparedness” by integrating
at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi,
unmanned aerial systems across tactical and
Meghalaya
operational depths.
▪ The 13th edition of India- Thailand
joint military Exercise MAITREE conducted
from 1st to 15th July 2024 at Fort Army contingent departs for India-U.S.
Vachiraprakan in Tak Province of Thailand. joint military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas 2025’
in Alaska
Joint Military Exercises of India with Other
Countries (static)
Name of Exercise Country
Garuda Shakti Indonesia
Ekuverin Maldives
Hand-in-Hand China
Kurukshetra Singapore
Mitra Shakti Sri Lanka
Nomadic Elephant Mongolia
Shakti France
Surya Kiran Nepal
Yudh Abhyas USA
▪ 21st edition of bilateral annual military
exercise between the Indian Army and the US
Indian Army has conducted Exercise Yudh
Army
Kaushal 3.0 in Eastern Himalayas ▪ from 1st to 14th September 2025.
▪ Indian Army has conducted Exercise Yudh ▪ Host (2025 edition): United States, at Fort
Kaushal 3.0 in the high-altitude Kameng region Wainwright, Alaska in subarctic climate
of Arunachal Pradesh, showcasing its conditions.
preparedness for next-generation warfare in ▪ Focuses on joint training in counter-terrorism,
extreme Himalayan conditions. peacekeeping, and high-altitude warfare.
▪ Observed by the General Officer Commanding ▪ India – this year represented by Madras
of Gajraj Corps Regiment soldiers.
▪ The exercise featured large-scale manoeuvres ▪ United States – represented by the 5th
with drone surveillance, precision strikes, real- Infantry Regiment “Bobcats” of the Arctic
time target acquisition, air–littoral operations Wolves Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne
and synchronized battlefield tactics. Division.

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▪ Initiated in 2004 under the framework of Indian Army conducted a military drill
India–US defence cooperation.
‘Prachand Shakti’ in Meerut
▪ Held alternately in India and the US, with
▪ Titled ‘Prachand Shakti’,
scope and scale increasing over time.
it was conducted by the
Army’s Charging RAM
Indian Army’s ‘Amogh Fury’ Integrated Division at the Kharga
Firepower Exercise Corps Field Training
Area
▪ It highlighted the evolving face of modern
warfare where UAVs, AI-driven systems,
loitering munitions, and autonomous platforms
are redefining battlefield dynamics
▪ The demo was part of the Army’s broader
transformation initiative under the ‘Year of
Tech Absorption’

Joint Military Exercise Austrahind At

Australia

▪ Indian Army recently conducted a major

integrated firepower exercise, codenamed
‘AMOGH FURY’
▪ It is an Integrated Fire Power Exercise
conducted by the Sapta Shakti Command of
the Indian Army.
▪ Location: Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Bikaner
district, Rajasthan, within the Thar Desert.
▪ The drill tested combat power, coordination,
and readiness for multi-domain operations.

Surya Kiran-19: India–Nepal Armies Hold ▪ An Indian Army contingent comprising 120
Joint Counter-Terror Exercise personnel departed for Irwin Barracks, Perth,
Australia, to participate in the fourth edition
of the India- Australia joint military Exercise
AUSTRAHIND 2025
▪ from 13th to 26th October 2025.
▪ The Indian Army contingent is being led by a
Battalion of Gorkha Rifles.
▪ Exercise AUSTRAHIND : Annual event
conducted alternatively in India and Australia ;
▪ Indian Army and Nepal Army jointly conducted began in 2022
two-day battalion-level validation exercise as
part of 19th edition of Exercise SURYAKIRAN
Military Exercise ‘INDRA 2025’
in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.
▪ Nations Involved: India and Russia
▪ 25 November 2025 to 8 December 2025.
▪ Host Place: Mahajan Field Firing Range,
▪ The Indian contingent is being represented
Bikaner, Rajasthan
mainly by troops from the ASSAM Regiment.
▪ From October 7- 15, 2025.
▪ The aim of the exercise is to jointly rehearse
▪ The "INDRA 2025" military exercise was a joint
conduct of Sub Conventional operations under
Indo-Russian training that took place in two
Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate.’
parts: a naval exercise off the coast of Chennai

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in March-April and a larger army exercise in ▪ This exercise was designed to enhance the
Rajasthan in October. Army's preparedness for modern drone
▪ The naval exercise focused on maritime warfare and validate the integration of
cooperation, while the army exercise centered advanced drone technologies and counter-
on counter-terrorism and joint tactical drills in drone systems.
a desert environment
▪ Indra exercises began in 2003, alternating Exercise Akhand Prahar
between India and Russia.

Indian Army Conducts Exercise ‘Drone

Kavach’ in Arunachal Pradesh

▪ The Southern Command of the Indian Army

successfully conducted Exercise Akhand
Prahaar in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, as part of Tri-
Services Exercise Trishul.
▪ Tested seamless multi-domain operations with
the Indian Air Force.
▪ The exercise validated full-spectrum combat
readiness of Konark Corps and the new
▪ The Indian Army's Spear Corps, operating RUDRA Brigade.
under the Eastern Command, conducted
Exercise Drone Kavach Indian Army Conducts Successful Drone
▪ from September 25 to 28, 2025, in the forward
Exercise ‘Vayu Samanvay-II’
areas of eastern Arunachal Pradesh.

▪ Indian Army successfully conducted a large-

scale Drone and Counter-Drone Exercise,
'VAYU SAMANVAY-II’
▪ from 28 to 29 Oct 2025
▪ in forward areas of Desert Sector under the
aegis of Pune-headquartered Southern
Command.

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India-Sri Lanka joint military exercise ▪ bilateral army exercise between India and
Vietnam.
MITRA SHAKTI-2025
▪ began in 2018
▪ Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-2025 held at the
▪ Both countries share a Comprehensive
Foreign Training Node, Belagavi (Karnataka).
Strategic Partnership and defence cooperation
▪ Conducted from 10–23 November 2025.
▪ 11th edition
▪ The Indian contingent, of 170 personnel, is India–UK Joint Military Exercise ‘AJEYA
being represented mainly by troops from the WARRIOR-25’ Begins
RAJPUT Regiment.
▪ The Sri Lankan side is being represented by
135 personnel represented mainly by troops
from the GAJABA Regiment, with Indian and
Sri Lankan Air Force personnel also
participating.

Russia Ex INDRA
Seychelles Ex LAMITIYE
Sri Lanka Ex MITRA SHAKTI
Thailand Ex MAITREE
UK Ex AJEYA WARRIOR ▪ Bilateral military exercise between India and
USA Ex YUDHABHAYAS the UK, held biennially since 2011
USA Ex VAJRA PRAHAR ▪ eighth edition of the Exercise held at the
Foreign Training Node, Mahajan Field Firing
Country Exercise Ranges, Bikaner, Rajasthan.
Bangladesh Ex SAMPRITI ▪ From November 17th -30th , 2025
China Ex HAND IN HAND ▪ Participants: 240 personnel from the Indian
France Ex SHAKTI Army's Sikh Regiment and the UK Army's 2nd
Indonesia Ex GARUDA SHAKTI Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles.
Kazakhstan Ex PRABAL DOSTYKK ▪ Focus: Enhancing synergy and proficiency
Kyrgyzstan Ex KHANJAR in counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban
Maldives Ex EKUVERIN settings under a UN mandate.
Mongolia Ex NOMADIC ELEPHANT
Nepal Ex SURYA KIRAN “Exercise SURYAKIRAN XIX - 2025”

6th India-Vietnam Army Exercise VINBAX

▪ 19th edition of the Annual exercise between

India & Nepal
▪ from 25 Nov – 08 Dec 2025 at Pithoragarh,
Uttarakhand.
▪ The exercise involves contingents of 334
personnel from both the Indian Army (mainly
Assam Regiment) and the Nepal Army
▪ held in Hanoi, Vietnam.
(primarily Devi Datta Regiment).
▪ from November 11 to 29, 2025
▪ 5th Edition: Haryana
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▪ The exercise covers jungle warfare, counter- ▪ The UAE Land Forces contingent, will be
terrorism operations in mountainous terrain, represented by the 53 Mechanised Infantry
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Battalion.
(HADR), medical response, environmental ▪ The inaugural edition of joint military exercise
conservation, and integrated ground-aviation “Desert Cyclone held in 2024
operations. ▪ Exercise ‘Zayed Talwar’: It is a bilateral naval
▪ Incorporated emerging technologies maritime partnership exercise with the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) Navy. It aims to enhance
14th edition of India-Maldives bilateral the interoperability and synergy between the
Indian Navy and UAE Navy.
exercise EKUVERIN took place in Kerala
Exercise Samanvay Shakti 2025

▪ from 2nd - 15th December

▪ in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
▪ Ekuverin meaning ‘Friends’ in Dhivehi
language started in the year 2009
▪ conducted alternatively in India and Maldives.
▪ Ekuverin is one of the three major joint ▪ Inaugurated at Laipuli, in Tinsukia district of
exercises between India and the Maldives. Assam.
▪ The two bilateral exercises are “Ekuverin” and ▪ 10 days exercise is initiated by Indian Army
“Ekatha” and trilateral- “Dosti”, which collaboration with state officials of Assam &
includes Sri Lanka. Manipur to foster efficient cooperation,
cohesion and mutual understanding.
▪ It is a military-civil Integration exercise aimed
Indian Army Contingent Departs For
at fostering synergy between security forces,
INDIA-UAE Joint Military Exercise DESERT government departments and civil
CYCLONE 2025 institutions to address the region’s complex
▪ An Indian Army challenges through a unified and coordinated
contingent has approach.
departed for the ▪ The inaugural session witnessed participation
United Arab from the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, District
Emirates (UAE) to Administration, Police, Intelligence Agencies,
participate in the second edition of the India- NDRF, SDRF, Medical Officials, BRO & GREF,
UAE Joint Military Exercise DESERT CYCLONE- Railways, educational institutions and security
II, scheduled to be conducted at Abu Dhabi, officials from OIL India, IOCL and Coal India .
UAE, from 18 to 30 December 2025.
▪ The Indian contingent comprises 45
personnel, primarily from a battalion
of The Mechanised Infantry Regiment.

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Indian Air Force

1. Iniochos 2025 Indian Air Force To Participate In Multi-nation Air
2. Desert FLAG Exercise Iniochos-25
3. Aakraman ▪ INIOCHOS is a biennial multinational air exercise
4. Tiger Claw ▪ The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in Exercise
INIOCHOS-25, a prestigious multi-national air exercise
hosted by the Hellenic Air Force (Greece).
▪ The exercise will take place at Andravida Air Base, Greece,
from 31 March 2025 to 11 April 2025.
▪ The IAF contingent will include Su-30 MKI fighters along
with combat enabler IL-78 & C-17 aircraft.

Indian Air Force Participates In their capabilities in ground attack and

electronic warfare.
Multinational Exercise Desert Flag-10 In
▪ The Indian Air Force operates two squadrons
UAE of the Rafale aircraft which are based out of
▪ A contingent of the Ambala and Hashimara in West Bengal.
Indian Air Force ▪ Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Security
reached Al Dhafra Air (CCS), chaired by the Prime Minister, approved
Base in the United a ₹63,000-crore deal for procuring 26 Rafale-
Arab Emirates to M fighter jets from France for the Indian Navy.
participate in Exercise
Desert Flag-10, a India–US Air Force Special Forces
premier multinational
air combat exercise. Conclude First Joint Exercise ‘Tiger Claw’
▪ The IAF is fielding MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft in
the exercise.
▪ Exercise Desert Flag is a multinational exercise
being hosted by the UAE Air Force, with
participating contingents from the Air Forces of
Australia, Bahrain, France, Germany, Qatar
Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea, Turkey, UAE,
United Kingdom, and the United States in
addition to the Indian Air Force. ▪ The first-ever joint military exercise, “Tiger
▪ The exercise is scheduled to take place Claw”, between the Special Forces of the
between 21 April to 08 May 2025. Indian Air Force (known as Garuda) and the
United States Air Force successfully concluded
Exercise ‘Aakraman’ - Indian Air Force at the Garud Regimental Training Centre.
Drills with Rafales and Su-30s ▪ The Tiger Claw exercise was held across North
India from 26 May to 10 June 2025.
▪ The Indian Air
▪ The Indian Armed Forces' three wings—Army,
Force carried
Navy, and Air Force—have their separate
out Exercise
Special Forces, which are popularly known as
Aakraman
commando forces.
(Attack) over a
▪ Exercise Vajra Prahar is conducted between
large area in the
the Indian Army’s Special Forces and the
central sector
United States' Special Forces.
▪ The exercise
▪ Exercise Sangam- It is conducted between the
showcased
Special Forces of the Indian Navy- Marine
India’s advanced
Commando Forces (MARCOs) and the U.S.
fighter jets,
Navy’s Special Forces - SEALs..
including the Rafale and Su-30MKI, and tested

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▪ The Tiger Claw exercise involved the Special ▪ Joint Army–Air Force war exercise near the
Forces of the Indian Air Forces, called Garud, Pakistan border (Jaisalmer) under Operation
and the United States Air Force Special Forces. Trishul.
▪ This is the first such exercise involving the ▪ Featured AI-driven logistics, drones, counter-
Special Forces of the two countries' Air Forces. drone systems, and T-90 tanks.
▪ The Indian Army conducted ‘Brahmashira
Exercise Garuda 25 Exercise’ in the Rann and Creek sectors of
▪ Participants: Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Gujarat under Operation Trishul.
Air and Space Force (FASF).
▪ The exercise was hosted at the Mont-de- India Becomes First Non-NATO Nation to
Marsan Air Base 118 in France. Participate in Spain’s Ocean Sky 2025
▪ from November 16 to 27, 2025.
▪ The IAF contingent included six Su-30MKI
fighter jets
▪ The first edition were conducted in India in
2003
▪ France operated its Rafale and Mirage 2000
multirole fighters
Other Exercise Conducted with France
▪ Exercise Varuna: Naval
▪ Exercise Desert Knight-21: Air exercise
▪ Exercise Shakti: Army exercise. ▪ Ocean Sky 2025 - Multinational Air Combat
Exercise
Army and Air Force Showcase Combat ▪ Hosted by: Spanish Air Force at Gando Air
Base, Canary Islands
Readiness in ‘Maru Jwala’
▪ Dates: 20–31 October 2025
▪ Milestone: Indian Air Force (IAF) becomes the
first non-NATO country to join this high-
intensity exercise
About North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
▪ It is a military alliance established on April 4,
1949, with the signing of the North Atlantic
Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty).
▪ The organization’s headquarters is located in
Brussels, Belgium.
▪ As of 2025, the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) has expanded to 32
member countries

Exercise Maru Jwala

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Indian Navy
1. Varuna French Aircraft Carrier Charles De Gaulle Arrives in
2. TROPEX 2025 Goa for Naval Exercise Varuna
3. INDRA 2025 • The 2025 Varuna naval exercise will take place in January,
4. Sea Dragon 2025 • with the French Carrier Strike Group (CSG) visiting Goa and
5. Passex Kochi starting on January 4.
• The exercise will be conducted in the Arabian Sea off India's
western coast.
• Participants:
• French Navy: Carrier Strike Group (CSG) led by the
nuclear-powered aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle,
with frigates, supply ships, and an air fleet.
• Indian Navy: Frontline warships, submarines, maritime
patrol aircraft, and helicopters.
About Exercise Varuna (Static)
• It is the bilateral Naval Exercise between India and France.
• This annual naval exercise between the two navies began in 1993. It was named as ‘Varuna’ in 2001.
• 2024 edition - in the Mediterranean Sea.
• Other Indo-French Joint Exercises:
• Garuda (Air exercise)
• Shakti (Army exercise)

INS Mumbai Participates in Multinational ▪ The first phase, from January 16 to January 20,
focuses on the Malacca and Sunda Straits,
Exercise La Perouse
which are crucial sea lanes connecting the
Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
▪ The second phase, from January 21 to January
24, involves securing the Lombok Strait.
▪ The exercise will witness complex and
advanced multi-domain activities, including
surface warfare, anti-air warfare, air-defence,
cross-deck landings, tactical manoeuvres, and
constabulary missions such as visit, board,
search, and seizure (VBSS) operations.

Theatre Level Operational Readiness

Exercise (TROPEX) 2025
▪ INS Mumbai, the indigenously designed and
built guided missile destroyer, is participating
in the fifth edition of the multinational exercise
“La Perouse”.
▪ The exercise started on January 16 and will end
on January 24.
▪ This iteration of the exercise involves the
participation of personnel, surface, and sub-
surface assets from nine Indo-Pacific nations,
including the Royal Australian Navy, the French
Navy, the Royal Navy, the United States Navy,
the Indonesian Navy, the Royal Malaysian Navy,
the Republic of Singapore Navy, and the Royal ▪ TROPEX-25, or Theatre Level Operational
Canadian Navy. Readiness Exercise 2025 is significant Indian
▪ The exercise is divided into two phases.
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military exercises, with Indian Navy at the • The naval exercise was initiated in 1993.
core • In 2001, the exercise was officially named
▪ off the West coast from 30 to 31 Jan 25 "Varuna".
▪ TROPEX is the Indian Navy’s largest biennial
maritime exercise, involving the Indian Army, India and Russia Conduct 14th Edition of
Air Force, and Coast Guard which is conducted
Maritime Bilateral Exercise – INDRA 2025
in the Indian Ocean.

Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo

▪ Indian Navy platforms
INS Shardul and Long
Range Maritime
Surveillance P8I
aircraft are in Bali,
Indonesia, to
participate in the
International Fleet
Review (IFR) 2025, a
multilateral naval exercise
▪ 14th edition of the Indian-Russia bilateral naval
▪ scheduled from 15 Feb to 22 Feb 25.
exercise INDRA
▪ This follows the participation of INS Mumbai &
▪ from 28 March to 2 April 2025 off the coast of
the P8I aircraft in the LA PEROUSE exercises in
Chennai.
Indonesia in Jan 2025 and
▪ The Harbour Phase occurs from 28 to 30
▪ visit of Adm Muhammad Ali, Chief of Staff of
March 2025 in Chennai.
the Indonesian Navy, to India, accompanying
▪ The Sea Phase takes place from 31 March to 2
His Excellency President Prabowo Subianto, the
April 2025 in the Bay of Bengal.
Chief Guest for the Republic Day Parade 2025.
▪ The exercise will involve Russian Federation
Naval Ships Pechanga, Rezkiy, and Aldar
23rd edition of bilateral naval exercise - Tsydenzhapov,
VARUNA 2025 ▪ Indian Naval Ships Rana, Kuthar, and maritime
patrol aircraft P8I.
▪ Exercise INDRA began in 2003

Indian Navy to Participate in 32nd SIMBEX

in Singapore
▪ The Singapore India Maritime Bilateral
Exercise (SIMBEX) is conducted annually by
the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore
Navy (RSN).
▪ It will be held in Singapore later this month.
▪ 23rd VARUNA between India and France from ▪ Indian Naval Assets: Indigenous warships like
19 to 22 Mar 25 in the Arabian Sea INS Delhi, INS Satpura, INS Kiltan, and INS
▪ Advanced air defense drills and fighter Shakti are participating, commanded by Rear
exercises, including mock air-to-air combat Admiral Sushil Menon.
between the French Rafale-M and Indian MiG- ▪ It is one of the longest uninterrupted
29K. maritime exercises for India.
▪ Anti-submarine warfare exercises; Surface ▪ Established in 1994 as "Exercise Lion King"
warfare operations. ▪ Exercise AGNI WARRIOR - between the Indian
▪ The joint participation of the aircraft carriers Army and Singapore Armed Forces
Vikrant and Charles de Gaulle, alongside their ▪ Exercise Bold Kurukshetra - a bilateral military
fighter aircraft, destroyers, frigates, and an exercise between India and the Singapore
Indian Scorpene-class submarine army.
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India-Bangladesh Conduct CORPAT and ▪ The exercise started as a joint United States
Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force
BONGOSAGAR In Bay of Bengal
exercise in 2019.
▪ In the 2025 edition the United States Navy is
hosting the Indian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-
Defence Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and
the Republic of Korea Navy.

Multilateral Naval Exercise AIKEYME 2025

Begins in Tanzania

▪ 6th edition of Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT-25)

and the 4th edition of the bilateral naval
exercise ‘BONGOSAGAR-25’ between the
Indian Navy and the Bangladesh Navy.
▪ Conducted under the supervision of
Commander Flotilla West (the officer in
command of the Western Fleet), which is
headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
▪ The exercise saw participation of INS Ranvir
from Indian Navy and BNS Abu Ubaidah from
Bangladesh Navy.
▪ Conducted since 2018

Indian Navy Participates in the Exercise

Sea Dragon 2025 in Guam

▪ The inaugural edition of the multilateral

exercise — Africa India Key Maritime
Engagement (AIKEYME) inaugurated in Dar-es-
Salaam, Tanzania
▪ from April 13 to 18 with an aim to promote
the vision of mutual and holistic advancement
for security and growth across regions
(MAHASAGAR).
▪ The ceremony was graced by the presence
of Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Tanzania’s
Defence Minister, Shri Sanjay Seth, India's
▪ The five-nation Naval exercise Sea Raksha Rajya Mantri (RRM) and Chief of the
Dragon 2025, which includes the Indian Navy, Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi.
commenced off the Guam coast in the
western Pacific Ocean. Participants:
▪ The Sea Dragon exercise 2025 is being hosted • India and Tanzania (Co-hosts)
by the United States Navy’s 7th fleet and will • 8 other participants - Comoros, Djibouti,
be held from 4-19 March 2025. Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique,
▪ It is a multilateral naval exercise where the Seychelles, South Africa
allies and partner countries of the United ▪ The exercise AIKEYME, which meaning ‘unity’
States are invited. in Sanskrit, aims to develop “collaborative
solutions” to common regional maritime
challenges.

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▪ The Indian Naval Ships INS Chennai, INS Kesari United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group in the
(a Landing Ship Tank), and INS Sunayna will North Arabian Sea on June 9 and 10.
take part in the exercise
• The sea phase, scheduled from April 16-18 Exercise Ekatha 2025
▪ Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS), Indian
Operation Atalanta Navy, is on an official visit to Maldives to
attend the closing ceremony of Ex Ekatha 2025.
About Exercise Ekatha 2025
▪ Established in 2017, Exercise Ekatha is an
annual bilateral maritime exercise between the
Indian Navy and the Maldives National Defence
Force (MNDF).
▪ It aims to enhance bilateral maritime
cooperation, and 2025 marks its eighth edition.
Context: Commander of EUNAVFOR ATALANTA
▪ The exercise involved a series of professional
(Operation Atalanta), proposed a joint naval exercise
interactions designed to boost interoperability
with the Indian Navy to strengthen maritime security
and operational collaboration between the two
cooperation in the Western Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
navies.
What is Operation Atalanta?
• Operation Atalanta is the European Union’s
maritime security operation, launched ‘Jal Prahar 2025’ concludes with Indian
in 2008, aimed at protecting international Navy’s two-phase joint amphibious
shipping routes off the coast of Somalia and exercise with Army
the Western Indian Ocean. ▪ Exercise Name: Jal Prahar 2025
• It operates under the Common Security and ▪ Duration: 16–23 September 2025
Defence Policy (CSDP) ▪ Location: Eastern Seaboard of India
Nations Involved: (Visakhapatnam & Kakinada)
• Core participants: EU member states including ▪ Participants: Indian Navy & Indian Army
Spain, Italy, Germany, France, and others. Harbour Phase (16–20 Sept)
• Supported by associated partners like Norway ▪ Conducted at Visakhapatnam
and Serbia at different points. ▪ Army personnel inducted aboard INS Gharial
Objectives: (amphibious warfare vessel)
• Protect World Food Programme (WFP) vessels Sea Phase (21–23 Sept)
delivering aid to Somalia. ▪ Conducted off Kakinada coast
• Deter, prevent, and repress piracy and armed
robbery at sea.
• Monitor fishing activities and support other EU
Maiden Bilateral Maritime Exercise
missions in the region. Between Indian Navy And Hellenic Navy
(Greece) Concludes In The Mediterranean
The Indian and United Kingdom navies ▪ The inaugural
conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in bilateral
maritime
the North Arabian Sea exercise
between the
Indian Navy and
the Hellenic
Navy concluded
on September
18, 2025, in the
▪ The Indian Navy’s stealth frigate INS Tabar, a Mediterranean
submarine, and P-8I maritime patrol aircraft Sea
participated in a passage exercise with the ▪ The Indian Navy was represented by the INS
Trikand, a guided missile stealth frigate. The

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Hellenic Navy participated with the HS ▪ The diplomatic relations between India and
Themistokles, an Elli-class frigate. the Philippines were established in November
▪ The exercise was conducted in two phases: 1949.
▪ Harbour Phase: Held from 13 to 17 ▪ President Marcos Jr’s state visit coincides with
September 2025 at Salamis Naval the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic
Base, Greece. relations
▪ Sea Phase: Conducted on 17 and 18 The South China Sea
September 2025 in the Mediterranean ▪ It is situated
Sea. just south of
the Chinese
Indian and Greek Navies Conduct PASSEX mainland and is
bordered by the
to Boost Maritime Ties
countries of
Brunei, China,
Indonesia,
Malaysia,
Philippines,
Taiwan and
Vietnam.
▪ It is an arm of
the western Pacific Ocean that borders the
Southeast Asian mainland.
▪ The Indian Navy and the Hellenic ▪ It is connected by the Taiwan Strait with the
(Greek) Navy held a joint PASSEX(passing East China Sea and by the Luzon Strait with the
exercise) near the Mumbai coast in the Philippine Sea (both marginal seas of the
Arabian Sea Pacific Ocean).
▪ The Western Naval Command deployed INS
Tarkash to conduct a PASSEX exercise with the Indian Naval Ship INS Sahyadri
passing Hellenic Navy Ship HS Psara.
participated in the Exercise AUSINDEX
▪ INS Tarkash is a Russian-built Talwar-class
▪ Exercise AUSINDEX 2025 was held in the
stealth frigate that was inducted into the
Northern Pacific.
Indian Navy in November 2012.
▪ It is a bilateral exercise held between India
▪ The ship is equipped with BrahMos supersonic
and Australia.
missiles, anti-submarine rockets, and an
▪ biennial maritime exercise - conducted since
onboard helicopter.
2015.
▪ The Indian Navy, represented by the
India, Philippines stage joint sail and naval indigenously-built stealth frigate INS Sahyadri,
drill in the disputed South China Sea and the Royal Australian Navy, with
HMAS Ballarat participating.
Other Exercises Conducted between Australia and
India
▪ Ex AUSTRA HIND (Bilateral Exercise with Army)
▪ EX PITCH BLACK (Australia’s multilateral air
combat training exercise)
▪ Malabar Naval Exercise ; Quad (Multilateral
▪ The two-day joint naval sail and exercises
Naval Exercise)
began on August 3, 2025
▪ President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr of
the Philippines arrived in New Delhi on August INS Sahyadri Joins India-Japan Maritime
4 in his first trip to India since assuming office Exercise JAIMEX 25
in 2022 ▪ INS Sahyadri, a frigate of the Indian Navy,
arrived at Yokosuka, Japan to participate in the
Japan-India Maritime Exercise “JAIMEX 25”.

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▪ which took place from October 16-18, 2025, ▪ Participants - INS Sahyadri (commissioned in
off the west of Kyushu, with a harbor phase in 2012) and ROKS Gyeongnam will undertake
Yokosuka, Japan. joint exercises.
▪ The exercise featured advanced drills such as
anti-submarine warfare and missile defense, Exercise MILAN 2026
enhancing coordination between the Indian
Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense
Force (JMSDF)

India-UK Navies Conduct First Combined

Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Exercise
▪ India–UK conducted first joint Carrier Strike
Group (CSG) ops under Exercise Konkan-25 ▪ India will host three major international
(Biennial naval drill since 2004) maritime events from 15 to 25 Feb 2026 at
▪ Exercise Konkan 2025, held off India’s western Visakhapatnam, the International Fleet Review
coast from Oct 5–12, 2025, in the Arabian Sea. (IFR), Exercise MILAN 2026, and the Indian
▪ Involved India's INS Vikrant and the UK's HMS Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of
Prince of Wales, Chiefs, under the MAHASAGAR vision - India's
▪ Allied ships from countries including Norway maiden conduct of these major maritime
and Japan also participated. events simultaneously.
▪ Aimed to improve the two navies' ▪ India's IFR tradition began with the 2001
interoperability and cooperation through Mumbai edition hosting 20 foreign navies
complex drills and to strengthen Indo-Pacific ▪ Exercise MILAN, Biennial multilateral naval
security cooperation. exercise - was launched in 1995 with four
navies at Port Blair, now 40+ friendly navies
from Indo-Pacific, Africa, Europe, and ASEAN.
Indian Navy hosts 5th edition of bilateral
Exercise 'Samudra Shakti' – 2025 with INS Sahyadri in Guam for Exercise Malabar
Indonesian Navy at Visakhapatnam 2025
▪ Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ was conceived in
▪ Participants: India, the United States, Japan,
2018 as a bilateral IN-IDN exercise.
and Australia (QUAD countries).
▪ from 14 - 17 Oct 2025
▪ Location: Guam, in the Northern Pacific.
▪ Indian Ship: INS Kavaratti – Anti-Submarine
▪ Objective: To strengthen maritime
Warfare Corvette (Eastern Fleet, ENC).
coordination, interoperability, and operational
▪ Indonesian Ship: KRI John Lie – Corvette with
readiness among the Quad navies.
onboard helicopter.
▪ Structure:
▪ Aim: Strengthen maritime cooperation,
▪ Harbour Phase: Involved operational
interoperability, and friendship between
planning, discussions, and
navies.
familiarization visits.
▪ Other India–Indonesia Exercises:
▪ Sea Phase: Included joint fleet
▪ Garuda Shakti – Army Exercise.
operations, anti-submarine warfare,
▪ IND-INDO CORPAT – Coordinated
and flying operations.
Patrol.
▪ About INS Sahyadri - A Guided Missile Stealth
▪ IND-INDO BILAT – Bilateral Naval
Frigate from India's Shivalik-class.
Exercise.
Exercise Malabar – Key Facts
▪ It started as an annual bilateral naval drill
India–Republic of Korea Navy Bilateral between India and the US in 1992.
Exercise ▪ Japan joined in 2015, and Australia
▪ inaugural edition of their bilateral naval participated in Malabar 2020, making it a four-
exercise between India and South Korea nation exercise under the Quad framework.
▪ began on 13th October
▪ Host Place: Busan Naval Harbour, South Korea

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Indian Coast Guard

Japanese Coast Guard ship arrives at Indian Coast Guard conducts two-day
Chennai for joint exercises Regional Search and Rescue Exercise at sea
off Panambur coast
▪ Organised by: Indian
Coast Guard (ICG),
Karnataka Unit at
Arabian Sea, off
Panambur coast,
Mangaluru
▪ Japan Coast Guard (JCG) ship ‘Itsukushima’ ▪ Aim: To test and
arrives at Chennai port for a six-day visit as a improve
part of the JCG’s Global Ocean Voyage Training, preparedness and
in Chennai coordination among maritime agencies for mass
▪ The visit highlights “the deep and enduring rescue operations at sea.
bond” between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ▪ Participants: ICG, port authorities, marine
and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) police, and disaster management teams.
▪ Following the Chennai visit, the JCGS ▪ ICG Motto: “Vayam Rakshamah” — We Protect.
Itsukushima will participate in a joint sea
exercise named ‘Jaa Mata’ (‘see you later’ in ICGS Shoor participates in NAVDEX 2025,
the Japanese) with the ICG on July 12, 2025. strengthening India-UAE maritime
cooperation
Indian Coast Guard conducts Sagar Kavach ▪ Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Shoor has
exercise for two days in Karnataka, Kerala docked in Abu Dhabi for a week-long
▪ Two-day coastal security exercise by Indian participation in two major defence exhibitions.
Coast Guard with multiple maritime & security ▪ Naval Defence Exhibition & Conference
agencies. (NAVDEX 2025) and International Defence
▪ Objective: Validate Standard Operating Exhibition (IDEX 2025), running through
Procedures (SOPs) for coastal security in February 21.
Karnataka & Kerala, & inter-agency ▪ Also, Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL), one of India’s
coordination. premier defense shipbuilding yards, is
▪ Coverage: 320 km Karnataka coast + 580 km showcasing its indigenously designed Fast
Kerala coast, including ports & installations. Patrol Vessels (FPVs) and Offshore Patrol Vessels
▪ Agencies involved: Coast Guard, Coastal (OPVs) at NAVDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
Security Police, CISF, State Police, ITBP, Navy,
Fisheries & Customs.
Regional Level Pollution Response Exercise
(RPREX-2025)
Indian Coast Guard to Conduct 10th
▪ The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted RPREX-
National Level Pollution Response Exercise 2025, a Regional Level Pollution Response
Off Chennai Coast Exercise off the Mumbai coast, to test
▪ The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted the preparedness against major oil spill incidents.
10th edition of the National Level Pollution ▪ RPREX-2025 is a large-scale maritime pollution
Response Exercise (NATPOLREX-X) in response exercise conducted to simulate and
conjunction with the 27th National Oil Spill manage oil spill emergencies at sea, in
Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) & accordance with India’s National Oil Spill
Preparedness Meeting Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP).
▪ on October 5-6, 2025 ▪ Host: Conducted off the Mumbai coast.
▪ The biennial flagship exercise aims to evaluate ▪ Organisations involved: Indian Coast Guard
and enhance India’s national preparedness to and ONGC.
respond to marine oil spill incidents.

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Combined Exercise
1. Winged Raider Exercise Winged Raider
2. Devil Strike ▪ The Indian Army and the Indian Air Force jointly conducted
3. Prachand Prahar a comprehensive training exercise named EX Winged
Raiders in the Eastern Theater.
4. Desert Hunt
▪ Interoperability - Indian Army personnel will gain expertise
in operating the Indian Air Force weapons systems and vice
versa.
▪ The exercise focused on special airborne operations and was
conducted in the Eastern Theater of the Indian Army
(headquartered in Vijay Durg (formerly known as Fort
William) in Kolkata, West Bengal)

Indian Armed Forces conduct Exercise Indian Armed Forces conduct tri-services
Devil Strike from January 16-19 Exercise Prachand Prahar
▪ The Indian Armed
Forces conducted a tri-
service integrated
multi-domain exercise,
Prachand Prahar, in
the high-altitude
terrain of the
Himalayas along the
Northern Borders in
▪ The Indian Armed Forces are set to
Arunachal Pradesh.
conduct Exercise Devil Strike from January 16
▪ The three-day exercise, held from March 25 to
to 19 , a joint exercise involving the
27, focused on coordinated operations
elite airborne soldiers from the Indian
involving the Army, Air Force, and Navy.
Army and the Indian Air Force
▪ Prachand Prahar follows Exercise Poorvi
▪ Focus on combat readiness and high-altitude
Prahar, conducted in November 2024
warfare.
(Arunachal Pradesh.), which focused on the
▪ Objective: Enhance synchronization,
integrated application of aviation assets.
operational capabilities, and response tactics

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EXERCISE DESERT HUNT 2025 ▪ The first edition of the exercise took place
from November 13 to 21, 2019, off the coasts
of Visakhapatnam and Kakinada in Andhra
Pradesh.
▪ Other Exercises Between India and US are-
▪ Yudh Abhyas (Army)
▪ Vajra Prahar (Special Forces)
▪ at Air Force Station Jodhpur from 24 to 28 ▪ Cope India (Air Force)
February 2025.
▪ It is an integrated Tri-Service Special Forces Culmination Of Indian Navy’s Theatre
exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force. Level Operational Exercise (TROPEX) -
▪ The exercise involved elite Para (Special
Forces) from the Indian Army, the Marine
Commandos from the Indian Navy along with
the Garud (Special Forces) from the Indian Air
Force, participating together in a simulated
combat environment.
▪ Aim: This high-intensity drill was aimed at
enhancing interoperability, coordination and
synergy among the three Special Forces units

EXERCISE TIGER TRIUMPH – 25

2025
▪ The 2025 Edition of the Indian Navy’s
capstone Theatre Level Operational Exercise
(TROPEX) was conducted over a period of
three months from Jan to Mar 25.
▪ The exercise construct included an
Amphibious Exercise - AMPHEX, a Joint Work
Up Phase focused on precise delivery of
ordnance on target, Cyber and Electronic
Warfare, and a Tactical Phase.
▪ Set in the Indian Ocean, including the Arabian
▪ 4th edition of Exercise Tiger Triumph, the Sea and Bay of Bengal, from the Strait of
bilateral Tri-Service India-US Humanitarian Hormuz in the West to the Sunda and Lombok
Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise Straits in the East.
▪ scheduled on the Eastern Seaboard from 01 to ▪ TROPEX 25 witnessed participation of 65-70
13 Apr 25. Indian Naval ships, 9-10 submarines and over
▪ The Indian side would be represented by 80 aircraft of different types
Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa, Gharial, Mumbai ▪ It witnessed extensive participation by the
and Shakti units of Indian Army, Indian Air Force and
▪ The US side would be represented by US Navy Indian Coast Guard comprising Sukhoi-30,
Ships Comstock and Ralph Johnson Jaguar, C-130, Flight Refueller and AWACS
▪ The Harbour Phase is scheduled at aircraft, over 600 Infantry troops, and more
Visakhapatnam from 01 to 07 Apr 25 during than 10 ICG ships.
which an Opening Ceremony will be held
onboard INS Jalashwa on 01 Apr 25. Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)
▪ Sea Phase and Maritime, Amphibious and ▪ India issued a NOTAM for the "Exercise
HADR operations off Kakinada. Trishul," a large-scale tri-services military
▪ Closing ceremony on board US Navy Ship drill, restricting civilian flights over parts of
Comstock on 13 Apr 25 at Visakhapatnam.

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Rajasthan and Gujarat from October 30 to India Excludes China,
November 10, 2025.
Pakistan and Turkiye
▪ This exercise is designed to enhance the
coordination and interoperability of the from 2026 International
Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force across land, Fleet Review
sea, and air domains along the border with ▪ Scheduled in
Pakistan Visakhapatnam in
About NOTAM: February 2026.
▪ Full Form: Notice to Airmen / Air Missions ▪ The IFR 2026 theme is
▪ Purpose: Alerts airspace users to temporary “United Through Oceans”
hazards or restrictions affecting flight ▪ The major maritime event will be reviewed by
operations. President Droupadi Murmu and held alongside
▪ Issued by: National aviation authorities. the Milan multilateral naval exercise and
the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).
Tri-Services Exercise TRISHUL ▪ So far, 55 nations have confirmed participation,
▪ Conducted by Indian Navy as the lead service including both the United States and Russia.
jointly with the Indian Army and Indian Air
Force India’s Cold Start Exercise Tests Advanced
▪ Objective: Strengthen integrated readiness Drone Defence
across multiple domains (land, sea, air).
▪ The exercise covered the desert and creek
sectors of Rajasthan and Gujarat, extending
into the northern Arabian Sea
▪ The exercise will also validate joint Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR),
Electronic Warfare (EW) and Cyber Warfare
plans.
▪ India is set to conduct its largest joint military
India to hold tri-Service exercise ‘Poorvi exercise focused on drones and counter-drone
systems in early October 2025.
Prachand Prahar’ in Arunachal's Mechuka ▪ The exercise, named Cold Start, will involve
▪ A tri-service military exercise - the Army, the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Navy, and Air Force. ▪ It aims to test operational readiness against
▪ from November 11-15, 2025 new aerial threats. Madhya Pradesh is the
▪ the exercise focuses on multi-domain likely venue.
integration — across land, air and maritime ▪ The drill will assess strengths and weaknesses
domains — to enhance operational synergy, in India’s air defence capabilities.
technological adaptation, and readiness for
future conflicts.
▪ ‘Poorvi Prachand Prahar’ follows previous tri-
service drills — ‘Bhala Prahar’ (2023) and
‘Poorvi Prahar’ (2024) .

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DRDO
1. Gaurav Glide Bomb DRDO & Navy carried out successful trial of Naval
2. Pralay Missile Anti-Ship missile
3. Akash Air Defense System ▪Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and
4. Pinaka Missile System Indian Navy carried out successful flight-trials of first-of-its-
5. Agni 5 Missile System kind Naval Anti-Ship missile (NASM-SR) from Integrated
Test Range (ITR), Chandipur
▪ The missile, launched from an Indian Navy Sea King helicopter
▪ The missile is equipped with an indigenous Imaging Infra-Red Seeker for terminal guidance, ensuring high-
accuracy strikes.
▪ The missile is developed by different labs of DRDO

Govt inks Rs 2.5K crore pacts with AVNL • The LRGB, also known as "Gaurav", is a 1,000
kg class glide bomb designed for use by the
for Nag Missile System, light vehicles
Indian Air Force - precision-guided, long-range
▪ The Defence has signed a contract with
glide bomb developed to strike land targets
Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited (AVNL) for
Developer & Design
the procurement of Nag Missile System
• The "Gaurav" Long-Range Glide Bomb
(NAMIS) tracked version of anti-tank weapon
(LRGB) was developed by the Defence
platform
Research and Development Organisation
▪ NAMIS (Tr) weapon system, developed by
(DRDO) in collaboration with the Armament
DRDO
Research and Development Establishment
▪ NAMIS (Tr) is one of the most sophisticated
(ARDE), Research Centre Imarat (RCI), and
anti-tank weapon system against enemy
Integrated Test Range (ITR).
armour with fire-and-forget anti-tank missile
Features & Capabilities
▪ The Ministry also signed contract with Force
• Range: 30 km to 150 km (demonstrated close
Motors Ltd & Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd for
to 100 km).
around 5,000 light vehicles for the armed
• Weight: Winged version (Gaurav) weighs 1,000
forces at a total cost of around Rs 2,500 crore.
kg; non-winged variant (Gautham) weighs 550
kg.
Gaurav Glide Bomb
India becomes 4th nation having
capabilities to shoot down fixed wing
drone by laser beam

▪ India has successfully conducted its first trial of

a high-powered laser weapon, MK-II(A) Laser-
Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system
NEWS: DRDO successfully conducted release trials of
▪ Developed by the Defence Research and
the long-range glide bomb ‘Gaurav’ from a Sukhoi-
Development Organisation (DRDO)
30MKI fighter jet.

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▪ The advanced system tracked a drone mid- ▪ The missile reaches terminal speeds of Mach
flight, locked on to the target, and deployed a 6.1 and can engage targets such as radar
high-energy laser beam to destroy it. installations, command centers, and airstrips.
▪ The trial was conducted at the National Open ▪ It has the ability to change its path after
Air Range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. covering a certain range midair.
▪ Ideal Against Drone Swarms: Especially
effective against low-cost, massed drone DRDO successfully tests
attacks, which are becoming increasingly
UAV-launched Precision
common in modern warfare.
▪ With the successful test of Mk-II(A), India joins Guided Missile
an elite group of nations — including the ▪ India successfully
United States, Russia, and China — that have conducted flight trials
demonstrated high-powered laser DEW of the UAV-Launched
capabilities. Precision Guided
Missile (ULPGM)-V3 at
DRDO conducts two consecutive the NOAR test range, Kurnool.
▪ The missile marks a significant milestone in
successful flight tests of Pralay missile at India’s indigenous drone warfare capabilities.
Odisha coast ▪ Objective: To enhance India’s autonomous
▪ The Defence Research strike capability, allowing drones to deliver
and Development pinpoint attacks without risking
Organisation (DRDO) pilots or manned aircraft.
has conducted two ▪ Collaborators: Several DRDO
consecutive successful laboratories collaborated on the missile system
flight tests of the development, including Research Centre
Pralay Missile from Dr Imarat and Defence Research and
APJ Abdul Kalam Development Laboratory.
Island off the coast of ▪ The 12.5-kg fire-and-forget air-to-surface
Odisha. missile is powered by a compact dual-thrust
▪ Defence Research & Development Organisation solid propulsion unit, enabling it to reach a
(DRDO) conducted two consecutive successful maximum range of 4 km during daytime
flight tests of the Pralay missile from Dr APJ operations and 2.5 km at night.
Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on ▪ It also incorporates a two-way datalink for
July 28 and 29, 2025. communication and offers multiple warhead
▪ It is an indigenously developed short-range, options to engage a variety of static and
quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile. moving targets.
▪ It has been developed by the Defence Research
and Development Organisation (DRDO) based Akash Air Defence System
on the Prithvi Defence Vehicle from the Indian
ballistic missile programme.
▪ It has been developed for deployment along
the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of
Control (LoC).
▪ It is powered by a solid-propellant rocket
[Link] missile has a range of 150-500 km
and can be launched from a mobile [Link]
has a payload capacity of 500-1,000 kg.
▪ The missile is capable of carrying conventional
warheads.
▪ It is equipped with guidance systems that
provide a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less
than 10 meters.
▪ Ahead of the 17th BRICS Summit, Brazil has
expressed interest in purchasing India’s Akash
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Air Defence System, following its successful Indian Army Successfully Tests Akash
deployment in Operation Sindoor.
Prime Air Defence System at 15,000 ft in
▪ Akash is a medium-range, mobile surface-to-
air missile (SAM) system developed to Ladakh
neutralize aerial threats in both defensive and
offensive operations.
▪ Developed By: Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO), in
collaboration with Bharat Dynamics Limited
(BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
under the Make in India initiative.
Key Features:
▪ Range: 4.5 km to 25 km
▪ Altitude Coverage: 100 m to 20 km
▪ Speed: Supersonic (Mach 1.8 to 2.5)

Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air ▪ India successfully conducted a high-altitude

trial of the Akash Prime missile system in
Missile (BVRAAM)
Ladakh, marking a major milestone in
indigenous air defence capabilities.
▪ Akash Prime is an upgraded version of the
Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) developed
by DRDO.
▪ It is specially designed to perform in high-
altitude, low-oxygen environments, enhancing
India’s air defence in mountainous terrains.
Developed by:
▪ The DRDO and Indian Air Force successfully ▪ Defence Research and Development
test-fired the indigenous Astra Beyond Visual Organisation (DRDO)
Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) with an ▪ In partnership with Bharat Dynamics Limited
indigenously developed Radio Frequency (RF) (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited.
seeker, validating its precision ▪ Altitude Capability: Proven performance at
and technological reliability. 15,000 ft during trials in Ladakh.
▪ Astra is India’s first indigenous Beyond Visual ▪ Mobility: Mounted on mobile platforms for
Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) designed quick, terrain-flexible deployment.
for engaging enemy aircraft beyond line-of- ▪ Speed & Range: Travels at Mach 2.5 with a
sight. maximum strike range of 30 km.
▪ It is a key strategic missile system integrated ▪ All-Weather Performance: Functions reliably in
on fighter aircraft like the Su-30 MKI. extreme cold and low-density air.
▪ Developed by: Developed by the Defence
Research and Development Organisation Intermediate Range Agni-Prime Missile
(DRDO) in partnership with the Indian Air
Force (IAF) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
successfully tested from rail-based mobile
(HAL). launcher system
▪ Strike Range: Capable of hitting aerial targets ▪ The first-of-its-
over 100 km away, making it a long-range kind launch,
engagement weapon. carried out from a
▪ Versatility: Compatible with multiple fighter specially designed
platforms, including Tejas, Mirage-2000, and Rail-Based Mobile
MiG-29 (planned upgrades). Launcher, has the
capability to move
on the rail
network without any pre-conditions, allowing

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the user cross-country mobility and the ability India's Integrated Guided Missile
to launch within a short reaction time with
Development Programme (IGMDP)
reduced visibility.
▪ Was a visionary initiative launched in 1983
▪ Agni-Prime (Agni-P): A next-generation,
▪ under the leadership of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic
▪ to achieve self-sufficiency in missile technology
missile.
for defense purposes.
▪ Developed by: Designed and developed by
▪ Managed by DRDO
Defence Research and Development
▪ The program aimed to develop five key missile
Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with
systems:
Strategic Forces Command (SFC).
▪ Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash and Nag
▪ Range: Up to 2,000 km (intermediate range).

India’s Successful Test of Prithvi-II and India to Induct 300-km Range Pinaka
Agni-I Ballistic Missiles Missile System
▪ The Defence
▪ India successfully
Research and
test-fired nuclear-
Development
capable short-
Organisation (DRDO)
range ballistic
will soon begin
missiles (SRBM)
manufacturing new
Agni-I and Prithvi-II
variants of the Pinaka rocket system with
from the
extended ranges of 120 km and 300 km.
Integrated Test
▪ the Indian Army has
Range, Chandipur
already inducted the
(Odisha), a day
Pinaka and the
after Akash Prime
enhanced-range
was tested in Ladakh.
variant of the Pinaka
▪ Tested under the supervision of the Strategic
rocket system.
Forces Command to validate technical and
▪ Work is also in progress on Pinaka-3 and
operational parameters.
Pinaka-4 , more powerful variants of the Pinaka
▪ Developed By: DRDO (Defence Research and
system, with ranges of 120 km and 300 km,
Development Organisation).
which are slated for future induction into the
▪ Under India’s Integrated Guided Missile
Army.
Development Programme (IGMDP).
Features of Prithvi-II Missile:
What is Pinaka?
Range: ~350 km
▪ The Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket launcher
Payload Capacity: Up to 500 kg.
developed by DRDO laboratories in Pune.
Warhead Types: Conventional and nuclear.
▪ It features advanced navigation and control
Guidance: Advanced inertial navigation with high
systems.
accuracy.
▪ The MK-I version has a range of approximately
Platform: Road-mobile launcher for flexible
40 km, while the Pinaka II and MK-II ER have a
deployment.
range of 60 km and 90 km respectively.
Speed: Mach 1+

Features of Agni-I Missile:

▪ Range: 700–900 km.
▪ Payload Capacity: Up to 1,000 kg.
▪ Warhead Types: Conventional and nuclear.
▪ Accuracy: High accuracy with sophisticated
guidance systems.
▪ Induction: Deployed in the Indian Army since
early 2000s.

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▪ The Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher the Navy's capabilities against modern stealth
(MBRL), an all-weather, rocket artillery weapon ships and submarines.
system, continues to serve as a critical
component of India’s battlefield capabilities.
▪ quipped with high pointing accuracy and a
quick response mechanism, enabling effective
engagement of sensitive areas.
▪ The system offers multiple operational modes.
▪ It can be operated through a Fire Control
Computer (FCC), a Launcher Computer (LC), or
▪ The system is an advanced underwater naval
manually.
mine developed by the Naval Science and
▪ Initialization is handled via an Automatic Gun
Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam in
Alignment and Pointing System (AGAPS) or a
collaboration with other DRDO laboratories.
Dial Sight, ensuring flexibility in deployment.
▪ Bharat Dynamics Limited, Visakhapatnam and
Apollo Microsystems Limited, Hyderabad are
Features of Pinaka
the production partners for the system.
Key technical features of the Pinaka system include :
▪ shoot-and-scoot capability with automatic
leveling and stabilization, India successfully test-fires Agni V
▪ a maximum rocket programming time of 20 ▪ India
seconds for all 12 rockets, and onboard inertial successfully
navigation for accurate and rapid target laying. test-fired Agni-5
▪ The launcher achieves a position accuracy of from the
one milliradian in both azimuth (AZ) and Integrated Test
elevation (EL). Range at Chandipur, Odisha
▪ Agni V is an intermediate-range, nuclear-
capable, surface to surface Intercontinental
India conducts maiden flight-trials of
Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with Multiple
stratospheric airship platform in Madhya Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle
Pradesh (MIRV) capability.
▪ Defence Research and Development ▪ It is developed by the Defence Research and
Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out Development Organisation (DRDO).
maiden flight-trials of Stratospheric Airship
Platform from Sheopur Trial site in Madhya Features of Agni-5 Missile
Pradesh on May 03, 2025. ▪ Range: It is one of India’s most advanced long-
▪ Developed by Aerial Delivery Research and range missiles, capable of striking targets well
Development Establishment, Agra, the airship beyond 5,000 kilometers
was launched carrying an instrumental payload ▪ It is designed with modern navigation,
to an altitude of around 17 kms. guidance, warhead, and engine technologies
▪ It is being developed to boost the military's and strengthens India’s strategic deterrence
surveillance capabilities. capability.
▪ The prototype flight is a "milestone" towards ▪ Warhead Capacity: It is capable of carrying and
realisation of lighter-than-air high-altitude firing up to three nuclear warheads
platform systems that can remain airborne for simultaneously.
very long endurance at stratospheric heights.
What is a Ballistic Missile?
Navy & DRDO conduct combat firing of ▪ It is a rocket-propelled, self-guided strategic-
weapons system that follows a ballistic
indigenously developed Multi-Influence trajectory to deliver a payload from its launch
Ground Mine (MIGM) site to a predetermined target.
▪ India has successfully test-fired an advanced ▪ They can be launched from aircraft, ships, and
underwater naval mine designed to enhance submarines, in addition to land-based silos and
mobile platforms

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Four general classifications of ballistic missiles: system, entirely developed indigenously, and
▪ Short-range: less than 1,000 kilometers, also comprises Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air
known as “tactical” ballistic missiles. Missiles (QRSAMs), Advanced Very Short
▪ Medium-range: between 1,000 and 3,000 Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS)
kilometers, also known as “theater” ballistic missiles, and a high-power laser-based
missiles. Directed Energy Weapon (DEW).
▪ Intermediate range: between 3,000 and 5,500
kilometers Supersonic TARget (STAR) missile
▪ Long-range: more than 5,500 kilometers, also ▪ STAR ends India’s
known as intercontinental or strategic ballistic dependence on
missiles. expensive imported
target systems for
Agni Missile Series missile training
Missi Type Range Propulsio Warhe Stag
▪ Supersonic TARget Missile is a Target missile /
le n ad e
Capaci Test missile
ty ▪ Designed to simulate incoming enemy aircraft
Agni- SRBM – Short 700 – Solid fuel 1,000 Singl or missiles for training and testing air defense
I Range 1,200 kg e- systems.
Ballistic km stage
▪ Helps in evaluating surface-to-air missile
Missile / solid
MRBM – (SAM) systems and radar performance.
Medium ▪ Speed: Supersonic, typically Mach 2+,
Range mimicking real high-speed threats.
Ballistic
▪ It was developed by DRDO.
Missile
Agni- MRBM – 2,000 Solid fuel 1,000 2-
II Medium – kg stage Feature Details
Range 3,500 solid Role Aerial target missile for defense
Ballistic km exercises
Missile
Agni- IRBM – 3,000 Solid fuel 1,500 2-
Speed Supersonic (> Mach 2)
III Intermediate – – stage Length ~ 5–6 meters (varies with version)
Range 3,500 2,500 solid Launch Ground-based or air-launched
Ballistic km kg platform
Missile
Use Training air defense units, testing SAM
Agni- IRBM – 3,500 Solid fuel 1,000 2-
IV Intermediate – – stage systems (like Akash, S-125, Barak, etc.)
Range 4,000 1,200 solid
Ballistic km kg
Missile
DRDO-developed Military Combat
Agni- ICBM – 5,000 Solid fuel 1,500 3- Parachute System (MCPS) successfully
V Intercontinen – kg stage
tal Ballistic 5,500 solid
tested by Indian Air Force at 32,000 ft
Missile + km ▪ Development: The
MCPS was jointly
India successfully conducts maiden flight developed by DRDO’s
▪ Aerial Delivery Research
tests of IADWS to establish multi-layered and Development
air-defence capability Establishment (ADRDE)
▪ DRDO successfully in Agra and
conducted the ▪ Defence Bioengineering
maiden flight test of and Electromedical
the Integrated Air Laboratory (DEBEL) in
Defence Weapon Bengaluru
System (IADWS) off ▪ Fully indigenous
the coast of Odisha. system:
▪ The IADWS is a multi- ▪ Unique
layered air defence Capability: Only system used by Indian
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Yearbook 2025 Edition [Link]
Armed Forces that can deploy above ▪ Targets: Both land and maritime (sea-
25,000 feet based) targets.
▪ Tech Integration: Compatible with ▪ Significance: Marks India’s entry into the elite
NavIC navigation system for precision group of nations developing advanced
guidance hypersonic weapon systems.

DRDO Unveils New Man-Portable Underwater DRDO conducts successful high speed test
Vehicles
of indigenous fighter escape system

▪ Recently, new generations of man-portable

autonomous underwater vehicles (MP-AUVs) ▪ Defence Research and Development
have been successfully developed by the Organisation (DRDO) has conducted a
Defence Research and Development successful high-speed rocket-sled test of fighter
Organisation. aircraft escape system at controlled velocity.
▪ It is developed by the Naval Science & ▪ The test at Rail Track Rocket Sled facility of the
Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory,
Visakhapatnam of DRDO Chandigarh
▪ The MP-AUVs are designed to enhance ▪ The test was conducted in collaboration with
underwater surveillance and mine detection Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and
capabilities, with a specific focus on mine Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
countermeasure missions.
DRDO Completes User Trials of Next-
Dhvani Missile Generation Akash Missile
▪ Developer:
Defence Research
and Development
Organisation
(DRDO)
▪ Type: Hypersonic
Glide Vehicle
(HGV) missile
▪ Speed: Over Mach
5–6 (~7,400 km/h)
▪ Range: 6,000–10,000 km
▪ Payload: Can be equipped with payloads of
300 to 500 kg, which can include conventional
or nuclear warheads.
▪ Launch Mechanism: Rises to extreme
altitudes, then glides at hypersonic speed
toward the target.
▪ Advantages:
▪ Unpredictable flight path – hard to
detect or intercept.
▪ Can bypass most missile defence ▪ The Defence Research and Development
systems. Organisation (DRDO) has successfully

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completed the User Evaluation Trials of the Key Features
Next Generation Akash missile (Akash-NG) ▪ Next-generation, lighter variant: ~350 kg (vs
system recently. 720 kg earlier).
About Akash-NG Missile System ▪ Equipped with indigenous Radio Frequency
▪ Akash Next Generation (Akash-NG) is a state- seeker, dual-pulse solid rocket motor, and fully
of-the-art surface-to-air missile (SAM) homegrown radars .
defence system. ▪ Can detect and engage high-speed, low-
▪ It was developed by the Defence Research and altitude, and long-range high-altitude targets
Development Organisation (DRDO) and with high precision.
produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). ▪ Range: up to 30 km | Altitude: up to 18 km.
▪ Designed to protect vulnerable areas and ▪ Simultaneous engagement: up to 10 targets;
critical points from air attacks. fire rate: one missile every 10 seconds.
▪ Successor to the Akash missile system, ▪ Deployment: mobile and fixed configurations.
operational with the Indian Air Force since
2014 and the Indian Army since 2015.

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OTHER COUNTRIES MISSILE, TEST & EXERCISE

1. Ghadr 380 Iran recently unveiled two missiles, named Etemad
2. Security Belt 2025 and Ghadr-380
3. Exercise Balikatan
4. Taurus Missiles
5. Pacific Reach 2025
6. Freedom Edge
7. Aras 2025 exercise
8. Fattah 1 Missile
9. Minuteman III missile About Etemad Missile
• It is a new ballistic missile built by the Iranian defence
10. Tomahawk Missile
ministry.
11. Flamingo Missile
• Dubbed Etemad, or "trust" in Persian, it has a maximum
range of 1,700 kilometres (1,056 miles).
About Ghadr-380:
▪ It is an anti-warship cruise missile developed by Iran.
▪ It has a range of over 1,000 kilometers : It has anti-jamming capability.

“Security Belt-2025” extensive areas of the Indian Ocean and deep

into Indian territory.
• It possesses the capability to detect and track
ballistic missile launches in real time.
• Unlike traditional radars, which rely on
mechanical rotation, LPARs use electronically
controlled antennas to scan vast
areas almost instantly.
▪ Iran, Russia and China have begun joint naval • This allows them to track multiple targets
drills in the Gulf of Oman, marking the fifth • Such radars play a critical role in early warning
year the three countries have conducted systems and air defence networks.
military drills together. • Besides China, only the US and Russia have
▪ The exercises, called “Security Belt-2025”, will the LPAR system.
take place near the Iranian port of Chabahar. • Concerns for India
▪ The exercises aim to strengthen military • The Yunnan-based LPAR can monitor deep into
cooperation and trust among the participating Indian territory and track missile tests
countries conducted from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off
India's eastern coast.
China deployed a powerful Large Phased • This site is crucial for testing strategic weapons
Array Radar (LPAR) in Yunnan province like the Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile
and the K-4 submarine-launched missile.
near the China-Myanmar border
China launched new military drills named
“Strait Thunder-2025A” in the middle and
southern parts of the Taiwan Strait & East
China Sea.
About Taiwan Strait (Or Black Ditch)

• Large Phased Array Radar boasts

a surveillance range exceeding 5,000
kilometers, allowing China to monitor

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▪ For the first time, Japan sends personnel and
equipment to Balikatan.

Taurus Missiles
▪ Context: Russia warned Germany that any
Ukrainian strikes using Taurus missiles would
be considered direct participation in the
ongoing conflict.
What it is?
▪ The Taurus KEPD-350 is a long-range, air-
launched cruise missile capable of precision
strikes on fortified and high-value targets.
▪ Named Formosa (“Beautiful”) by Portuguese Developed by:
navigators in the late 16th century. ▪ Jointly developed by the European missile
▪ Location: Lying between China's Fukien manufacturer MBDA and Saab Bofors
province and Taiwan. Dynamics (Germany and Sweden partnership).
▪ Connecting seas: Strait extends from Key Features:
southwest to northeast between South and • Speed: Nearly 1,170 km/h, close to the speed
East China seas. of sound.
▪ Significance: Major global shipping corridor, • Range: Can hit targets up to 500 kilometres
with 44% of world’s container fleet moving • Navigation Systems: Equipped
through it. with four independent navigation systems,
including satellite-supported GPS, resistant to
jamming.
Military Exercise Balikatan 2025
• Low Detectability: Flies at an altitude of 35
meters, making radar detection extremely
difficult.
• Bunker Penetration: Engineered to
penetrate multiple reinforced concrete
layers before warhead detonation, maximizing
internal destruction.
• Stealth and Precision: High survivability due to
low radar cross-section and extreme targeting
accuracy.

Russia Launches Nuclear Submarine

Armed With ‘Unstoppable’ Zircon
▪ The Philippines is set to host the Balikatan joint
military exercise involving the United States, Hypersonic Missile
Australia and Japan. ▪ Russian President
▪ It will start April 21 and end May 9, 2025. Vladimir Putin launched
▪ Japan is set to formally participate for the first ‘Perm’, a nuclear-
time in this exercise. powered submarine
▪ The drills will mainly focus on defending the with hypersonic ‘Zircon’
islands of Palawan and Luzon, which are close missiles.
to tense areas in the South China Sea and the ▪ Perm is the first of its
Luzon Strait. kind to be equipped
▪ Balikatan, meaning “shoulder-to-shoulder” in with Zircon (also spelled Tsirkon) missiles as a
Tagalog, began in 2002. standard feature.
▪ The United States has deployed its Navy- ▪ Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds of Mach 5
Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System or higher (five times the speed of sound in the
(NMESIS) to the Philippines for Balikatan 2025. upper atmosphere).

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▪ Their key feature is maneuverability, enabling operations with participating assets in the
them to change trajectory during flight to hit South China Sea.
specific or moving targets. ▪ INS Nistar was commissioned on 18 Jul 2025.
▪ Despite their high speed, they are generally ▪ It was developed by Hindustan Shipyard
slower than intercontinental ballistic missiles Limited, Visakhapatnam, under the Ministry of
(ICBMs). Defence’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
▪ The Zircon can reach eight times the speed of
sound, has a range of 625 miles and can carry a Freedom Edge Exercise
660-pound warhead.

ABOUT THE PERM SUBMARINE

▪ The Perm as a fourth-generation multipurpose
nuclear-powered submarine, and the sixth in a
series of Yasen-class submarines.
▪ The Perm will become the first nuclear-
powered submarine in this class to carry ▪ “Freedom Edge”, began off South Korea’s Jeju
Zircon missiles. Island, on 15 September 2025.
▪ Freedom Edge is a trilateral, multi-domain
Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 military exercise involving South Korea, Japan,
and the United States.
▪ Joint air and naval drills, include operations in
air, sea, missile defence, as well as medical
evacuation, maritime interdiction, and related
joint tasks.

Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield

▪ Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 (XPR25) is a

multinational submarine rescue exercise
hosted by Singapore,
▪ taking place from September 15 to 29, 2025, in
the South China Sea.
▪ This biennial event aims to enhance global
interoperability and readiness in submarine
rescue operations.
▪ Indian Navy’s latest indigenously designed and
constructed Diving Support Vessel (DSV) INS
Nistar is participating
▪ South Korea and the United States began their
▪ The exercise will witness participation of more
annual large-scale joint military exercise
than 40 nations.
▪ From August 18th – 28th
▪ Mainly conducted in two phases, including the
▪ The 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield, the second
harbour and sea phases.
of two large-scale exercises held annually
▪ Focus of the Exercise:
in South Korea, after another set in March
▪ The harbour phase will involve in-depth
▪ will involve 21,000 soldiers, including 18,000
discussions on submarine rescue systems,
South Koreans, in computer-simulated
Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE), a
command post operations and field training.
medical symposium and cross-deck visits
between the participating nations.
▪ The Sea phase of the exercise would witness
INS Nistar and Submarine Rescue Unit (E)
engaging in multiple intervention and rescue

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Iran Conducts “Sustainable Power 1404” Observer Mission’ to deepen maritime

cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Missile Drills in Gulf of Oman
▪ The observer-at-sea engagement marks a first-
of-its-kind initiative among the Indian Coast
Guard, Japan Coast Guard, United States Coast
Guard, and Australian Border Force
▪ Based on the Wilmington Declaration adopted
at the QUAD Leaders’ Summit in September
2024, the mission reflects the collective resolve
of the QUAD to strengthen a free, open,
inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

Talisman Sabre 2025

▪ Iran launched a
two-day missile
drill in the
northern Indian ▪ India, along with 18 other nations, is
Ocean and Sea participating in 11th edition of Talisman Sabre
of Oman. 2025, a major bilateral military drill led by
▪ The exercise is Australia that commenced on July 13, 2025.
for improved ▪ It is the largest bilateral military exercise
combat between Australia and the United States, with
readiness, an improved command system, and multinational participation.
reinforcement of deterrence ▪ It has been conducted between Australia and
▪ Iran maintains two separate naval forces: the the United States biennially since 2005.
conventional Islamic Republic of Iran Navy ▪ It is conducted across a number of locations
(IRIN), which is a part of the traditional army, across Australia and offshore, using both
and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Defence and non-Defence training areas.
Navy (IRGCN). ▪ In addition to the United States, forces from
▪ The IRIN patrols the Gulf of Oman, the Indian Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia,
Ocean, and the Caspian Sea, while the IRGCN Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway,
controls the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the
Hormuz. Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga,
and the United Kingdom are participating.
QUAD nations launch coast guard ▪ Malaysia and Vietnam will also attend as
cooperation initiative observers.

Global Nuclear Emergency Preparedness

Exercise ConvEx-3 (2025)
▪ ConvEx-3 (2025) is a full-scale international
exercise aimed at testing global preparedness
for a nuclear or radiological emergency with
cross-border impacts.
▪ The coast guards of QUAD nations — India,
Japan, the United States, and Australia —
have launched the ‘QUAD at Sea Ship

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▪ Participation: Over 75 ▪ The drill was being held in areas of Karabakh
countries and 10 previously disputed with Armenia before
international Azerbaijan regained control in September
organizations are 2023.
expected to take part ▪ The drill is a crucial step in boosting border
in the exercise. security and confronting potential threats
▪ Host Country: The
exercise will be Golden Dragon Military Exercise 2025
hosted by Romania,
in collaboration with
the International
Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA).
▪ Such exercises are held every three to five
years and are based on simulated events
hosted by IAEA Member States.

About Convention Exercises

▪ Convention Exercises, or ConvEx, are held to
test the operational arrangements of the Early
Notification Convention and the Assistance
Convention. The goal is to evaluate and
further improve the international framework
for emergency preparedness and response.
▪ ConvEx-1 is designed to test emergency
communication links with contact points in
Member States that need to be available 24
hours a day, seven days a week, and to test the
response times of these contact points.
▪ ConvEx-2 is designed to test specific parts of • Cambodia and China have officially launched
the international framework for emergency their biggest joint military exercise so far,
preparedness and response, for example to named Golden Dragon 2025.
rehearse the appropriate use of • From May 14 to May 28, covering land, sea,
communication procedures; and air operations.
• At the Ream Naval Base, located
The "Aras-2025" exercise in Sihanoukville, on Cambodia’s southern
coast.
• Over 900 Chinese soldiers and more than 1,300
Cambodian troops are participating
• The official theme of Golden Dragon 2025
is joint counter-terrorism
operations and humanitarian relief
• First initiated in late 2016, bilateral annual
drill between China and Cambodia.
• The base was officially inaugurated in April
2025 with the docking of Chinese warships,
highlighting China’s expanding naval
presence in the Gulf of Thailand.
• The Golden Dragon drills coincide with
▪ Iran and Azerbaijan have launched a joint
the U.S. -Philippines-led ‘Balikatan’
special forces exercise
exercise involving troops from the U.S,
▪ involves Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Philippines, Australia, and Japan.
Corps and Azerbaijani troops
▪ Duration: May 18 to 21, 2025.
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• China’s access to dual-use ports in countries ▪ Kavkaz = Caucasus (Southern Military
like Cambodia echoes similar concerns in District)
places such as Sri Lanka ▪ An Indian Armed Forces contingent
(Hambantota) and Pakistan (Gwadar). comprising 65 personnel departed for the
Mulino Training Ground, Nizhniy, Russia, to
IDF launches surprise "Dawn" exercise participate in the multilateral joint military
exercise ZAPAD 2025, scheduled to be
amid ongoing operations on multiple
conducted from 10 to 16 September 2025.
fronts ▪ The contingent comprises 57 Indian Army
personnel (led by Kumaon Regiment) along
with 07 personnel from the Indian Air Force
and 01 from the Indian Navy.
▪ They were launched in 2003, initially involving
only the Navy, but later expanding to include
the Army and Air Force.
▪ Since 2010, the exercise has been held
regularly.

Sagarmatha Friendship-2025
▪ Sagarmatha Friendship-2025, a 10 days drill
runs until 16 September 2025 in Kathmandu,
▪ The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a ▪ Sagarmatha Friendship is a bilateral military
surprise drill called “Dawn” in mid-August 2025 exercise between Nepal and China, initiated in
to test the readiness of its general 2017.
headquarters and key command centers. ▪ It aims to enhance cooperation in counter-
▪ The drill was conducted amid ongoing terrorism, disaster management, and United
operations in Gaza and tensions in southern Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions.
Lebanon and other fronts.
▪ Led by Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the
Iran’s Fattah-1 Missile
exercise is designed to assess how quickly and
effectively the IDF can respond to large-scale
attacks.

Indian Armed Forces Contingent Departs For

Multilateral Exercise Zapad 2025 In Russia

▪ Fattah, which means conqueror in Farsi, is a

hypersonic ballistic missile.
▪ It was developed by Iran.
▪ It is a new version of its first domestically made
hypersonic ballistic missile named ‘Fattah’.
▪ Type: Multinational Military Exercise
▪ Features: It is equipped with a hypersonic glide
▪ Hosted by: Russia
vehicle (HGV) warhead that can manoeuvre
▪ Frequency: Every 4 years (part of Russia’s
and glide at hypersonic speed.
strategic exercise cycle – Vostok, Tsentr, Kavkaz,
▪ It uses a liquid-fuel rocket propellant.
Zapad)
▪ The liquid fuel engine has the ability to adjust
▪ Zapad = West (with Belarus, focus on
the thrust force.
NATO front)
▪ The precision-guided two-stage missile can hit
▪ Vostok = East (Far East & Asia-Pacific
targets within a range of 1500 kilometres with
focus)
a velocity of Mach 15 (fifteen times the speed
▪ Tsentr = Center (Central Military
of sound, i.e 18522 km/hr).
District)
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▪ Measuring 12 meters in length, it can carry 200 How is the bomb deployed?
kilograms of explosives.
▪ It is capable of significant trajectory changes
during flight to evade defence systems.

What are US ‘bunker buster’ bombs &

stealth bombers

▪ The only aircraft capable of deploying the GBU-

57 is the US B-2 Spirit stealth bomber,
produced by Northrop Grumman.
▪ With a range of 7,000 miles (11,000 km)
without refueling — and over 11,500 miles
(18,500 km) with aerial refueling — the B-2 can
reach targets worldwide.
▪ The B-2 can carry two GBU-57 bombs,
▪ As Israel's confrontation with Iran escalates,
the American-made GBU-57 'bunker buster'
bomb has drawn renewed attention as the only
Minuteman III Missile
weapon capable of striking Iran's deeply buried
nuclear sites.
What is the ‘bunker buster’?
▪ The “bunker buster” broadly refers to bombs
designed to penetrate deep underground
before detonating.
▪ In this case, it specifically refers to the GBU-
57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 30,000-
pound (13,600 kg) precision-guided bomb ▪ The United States Air Force (USAF) recently
designed to destroy deeply buried bunkers and conducted a successful test launch of the
tunnels nuclear-capable Minuteman III
▪ Measuring 6.6 metres in length and equipped intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) which
with a hardened steel casing and specialised can deliver a nuclear warhead to anywhere on
delayed-fuse system, Earth.
▪ the GBU-57 is capable of penetrating up to 200 ▪ The LGM-30G Minuteman III is an American-
feet (61 meters) through rock or concrete made intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
before exploding — much deeper than ▪ "L" in LGM is the US Department of Defense
standard munitions. designation for silo-launched; "G" means
▪ These weapons need to be designed with surface attack; and "M" stands for guided
thick, hardened casings to punch through missile.
layers of rock.
Feature Description
Type Land-based Intercontinental Ballistic
Missile (ICBM)
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Introduced First deployed in 1970, still in service

Range Over 13,000 kilometers (~8,100
miles)
Warhead Can carry multiple nuclear warheads
(MIRVs) or a single warhead
Guidance Inertial guidance system with high
accuracy
Fuel Type Solid-fuel (quicker launch readiness
than liquid-fueled missiles) About Tomahawk Missile
Deployment About 400 missiles deployed in ▪ It is a long-range, subsonic cruise missile
underground silos across U.S. states developed by the United States Navy.
like Montana, Wyoming, and North ▪ It is launched from ships or submarines
Dakota through a Vertical Launch System and used for
Speed Can reach targets within 30 minutes precision strikes on land-based targets.
globally ▪ Tomahawks were first deployed in combat
▪ Though over 50 years old, Minuteman III has during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
been continually upgraded (guidance, ▪ Since then, they have been used in several
command systems, and warheads) major conflicts, including strikes in Syria in
▪ The U.S. plans to replace it with the LGM-35A 2017.
Sentinel ICBM in the 2030s Tomahawk Missile Features
▪ Tomahawks can fly at low altitudes, avoiding
THAAD Missile System radar detection, and are guided by advanced
NEWS: The United States GPS, inertial navigation, and terrain contour
used up a total of 15 to 20 mapping.
percent of the country’s ▪ This makes them highly accurate-with a margin
THAAD missile system to of error of just 10 meters.
bolster the defence against ▪ They are built to follow a non-linear path,
Iran’s aerial strikes during the reducing the chance of interception.
12-day conflict in which Israel ▪ These missiles have a range between 1,000 and
and the US struck nuclear 1,500 miles (1,550 to 2,500 km).
facilities. ▪ Tomahawks measure 18.3 feet in length and
THAAD Missile System weight about 3,200 pounds (4,400 with
▪ The THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area booster).
Defense) is an advanced missile defence ▪ They carry a 1,000-pound conventional
system developed by the United States warhead or cluster munitions. It is powered by
▪ to intercept and destroy short-, medium-, and a solid propellant during its launch phase.
intermediate-range ballistic missiles during ▪ Each Tomahawk missile reportedly costs
their terminal phase (the last phase of their around $2 million.
flight).
Features: Tayfun Block-4 Turkey’s first hypersonic
▪ There is no warhead on the missile, which ballistic missile
destroys its targets by the force of its impact.
▪ The THAAD missile can destroy aerial targets at
ranges from 150 to 200 km

Tomahawk Missile
▪ The US has entered Israel’s war with Iran,
launching precision strikes on Tehran’s key
nuclear facilities using Tomahawk cruise ▪ Turkey recently unveiled its first hypersonic
missiles and GBU-57 bunker busters. ballistic missile, the Tayfun Block-4, in Istanbul.
▪ Tayfun Block-4 was developed by Turkish
defense company Roketsan

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▪ It has an operational range of up to 800 vehicles (MIRVs), allowing a single missile to
kilometers, with plans to extend it to 1000 strike several distinct targets simultaneously
kilometers in the future. with either conventional or nuclear warheads.
▪ It is the hypersonic version of the Tayfun ▪ Unlike conventional missiles, the Oreshnik’s
missile, Turkey’s longest-range nationally maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) allows it
produced ballistic missile. to shift direction mid-flight, making it nearly
▪ The term “Hypersonic” refers to a speed at impossible for U.S. or NATO missile defense
least five times the speed of sound (also called systems to intercept.
Mach-5). ▪ Belarus is located at the doorstep of the
European Union and shares borders with
Oreshnik Missile Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania, all NATO member
states.
▪ Key specifications of Russia’s Oreshnik
hypersonic missile

Feature Details
Type Hypersonic Intermediate-Range
Ballistic Missile (IRBM)
Speed Up to Mach 10 (~12,000 km/h)
Range 3,400–5,500 km
Warhead Conventional or nuclear (with MIRV
capability)
Launch Road-mobile or silo-based
Platform
First Use Tested in Ukraine (November 2024,
non-nuclear warhead)
Deployment Scheduled in Belarus by end of 2025

Golden Dome Missile Defense System

▪ Russia has begun production of its latest

hypersonic missile, the Oreshnik, and
reaffirmed plans to deploy it in Belarus before
the end of 2025.
▪ It is a Russian intermediate-range hypersonic ▪ U.S. President has unveiled the Golden Dome
ballistic missile. Missile Defense System design and appointed a
▪ This high-velocity missile, named after the leader for the $175 billion project, aiming to
Russian word for “hazel tree,” was first shield the U.S. from foreign missile threats.
launched operationally on November 21, 2024, ▪ A next-generation U.S. missile defense
in a precision strike targeting the Pivdenmash program using space-based and land-based
defence-industrial facility in Dnipro, Ukraine intercept layers to neutralise missile threats.
▪ It is a mobile, solid-fueled missile – can reach ▪ It's designed to safeguard the United States
speeds of Mach 10—ten times the speed of against advanced threats like ballistic,
sound. hypersonic, and cruise missiles—potentially
▪ It has a reported range of approximately 5,000 even from space
kilometers (3,100 miles).
▪ The system is reportedly capable of carrying Key Features:
multiple independently targetable re-entry

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▪ Aim: To create a multi-layered defense shield ▪ It first entered service with the U.S. military in
to knock out intercontinental ballistic missiles 1996.
during the “boost phase” just after lift-off. It Javelin Missile Features
would consisting of: ▪ It has an effective range of 2.5 km, with newer
▪ A satellite-based layer for early detection and models reportedly capable of reaching up to 4
potential interception in space. kilometers.
▪ Three ground-based layers, incorporating ▪ Weight: 5.11 kg
systems like THAAD, Patriot, and Next ▪ It uses “fire-and-forget” technology to guide
Generation Interceptors—all integrated under itself to the target without external commands
a unified command-and-control system or target designation.
▪ Collaboration with private sector firms
like SpaceX, Palantir, Anduril, L3Harris, RS-28 Sarmat
Lockheed Martin, RTX.
▪ Targeted to be operational within three years
(by around 2028), with an initial large-scale
test planned for the fourth quarter of 2028
▪ Leadership: General Michael A. Guetlein of
the U.S. Space Force was appointed to lead the
effort

▪ As tensions escalate between the United States

and Russia, the spotlight is back on one of the
deadliest weapons in Russia’s nuclear arsenal,
the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic
missile (ICBM), dubbed ‘Satan 2’ by NATO.
▪ The RS-28 Sarmat is Russia’s new generation
intercontinental ballistic missile.
▪ It is a three-stage, liquid-fueled missile with a
range of 18,000 km and a launch weight of
more than 208 tonnes.
▪ It is the world’s heaviest ICBM.
Javelin Missile
▪ The missile is 35.3 meters long and 3 meters in
diameter.
▪ Maximum speed of 25,500 kph (about Mach
20).
▪ It can carry a 10-ton payload and can load a
wide variety of warhead options.
▪ It can carry up to 16 independently targetable
NEWS: India recently submitted a letter of request to nuclear warheads as well as Avangard
the United States for co-production of Javelin anti- hypersonic glide vehicles.
tank guided missiles (ATGMs) in the country.
Nimbrix Missile
About Javelin Missile ▪ Swedish defense company Saab recently
▪ It is an American-made, man-portable, anti- announced the development of a new missile
tank guided missile. named Nimbrix
▪ It is developed and produced jointly by ▪ It is a counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-
American defence majors Raytheon and UAS) missile - small unmanned aerial vehicles
Lockheed Martin. (UAVs).
▪ It was designed to defeat heavily armored
vehicles such as main battle tanks and lighter-
skinned military vehicles.

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temporarily deployed to Japan during the
Resolute Dragon joint exercise.
▪ This marks the first time Typhon will be
deployed to Japanese territory
▪ Typhon is a truck-mounted, containerized
launcher capable of firing SM-6 surface-to-
▪ It is its first dedicated C-UAS missile. air/anti-ship missiles (range > 200-320 km)
▪ Nimbrix is intended for ground-based use,
and Tomahawk cruise missiles (range up to
operating either independently or as part of
1,500 km)
wider air defence systems. ▪ Its design supports integrated strike
▪ range of up to 5 km and use an active seeker to
operations across land and sea, enhancing
track targets. battlefield flexibility and interoperability with
U.S. and Japanese systems
Flamingo Missile
Israel Launches Ofek-19 Military Satellite

▪ Israel launched its latest spy satellite into space

from an undisclosed site. The Ofek 19 satellite
▪ Ukraine recently unveiled a new cruise missile was built by state-run Israel Aerospace
named Flamingo. Industries.
▪ The FP-5 “Flamingo” missile is a long-range ▪ “Ofek 19 is a highly advanced SAR (synthetic
cruise [Link] was developed by Ukraine’s aperture radar) observation satellite with
Fire Point defense company. enhanced capabilities.
▪ With a claimed range of 3,000 kilometres, a ▪ Israel has launched Ofek observation satellites
1,150-kilogram warhead, and a maximum since 1988 for monitoring and intelligence
takeoff weight of 6,000 kg, the Flamingo is gathering for the military.
among the world’s largest and longest-range
ground-launched cruise-missile systems. MQ-28A Ghost Bat Military Drones
▪ It has a wingspan of about six [Link] ▪ Australia has
makes the Flamingo the first indigenously recently made
produced “heavy” missile system in Ukraine’s strides in developing
arsenal. the MQ-28A Ghost
▪ It has a speed of up to 900 km/h and Bat, a next-
navigation based on an inertial system and generation military drone.
GPS. ▪ The MQ-28A Ghost Bat project represents the
first major Australian-designed and
Typhon Missile System manufactured combat aircraft in more than 50
years.
▪ It is named after a local bat species known for
its agility and strength.
▪ Boeing, in partnership with the Australian
government, is leading the production of the
Ghost Bat.
▪ The Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC)
missile system, also known as the Strategic
Mid-range Fires System (SMRF), will be

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Yuan Wang 5 North Korea has unveiled its most powerful

▪ China’s spy ship Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) — the
Yuan Wang 5 has Hwasong-20 — at a military parade presided over by
returned to the Kim Jong Un.
maritime Type: Land-based, nuclear-capable ICBM
neighbourhood of Range: Over 15,000 km, capable of reaching most
India, three years parts of the world
after it had docked
at Hambantota Port AMRAAM Missile AIM-120 Advanced
of Sri Lanka. Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles
▪ Launched in 2007, it is operated by China’s
People’s Liberation Army Strategic Support
Force.
▪ It can provide near-real-time situational
awareness to the PLA Rocket Force and Navy.
▪ Its suite of high-power phased-array radar ▪ The U.S. has included Pakistan in a modified
systems is capable of detecting ballistic missile arms deal with Raytheon for AIM-120
launches at distances exceeding 3,000 AMRAAM missiles.
kilometers. ▪ Missile Type: Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR),
radar-guided, fire-and-forget missile.
Recently, Pakistan conducted a successful ▪ Developer: U.S. Air Force & Raytheon
training launch of the Abdali Weapon Technologies (1980s).
System.
▪ The Abdali (Hatf-II) What is MQ-28, Australia’s ‘Ghost Bat’
is a short-range, drone
road-mobile, solid-
fuel ballistic missile
developed by
Pakistan’s Space and
Upper Atmosphere
Research
Commission (SUPARCO).
▪ It is designed for tactical battlefield use and
can deliver both conventional and nuclear
warheads.
▪ The latest test claims a maximum range of 450 ▪ Developer: Boeing Australia for Royal
kilometers (about 280 miles), doubling the Australian Air Force (RAAF)
previously reported operational range of 180– ▪ Australia’s first domestically designed and
200 km. built Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV)
▪ The Abdali can carry a single payload (high Key Facts
explosive, submunitions, or conventional ▪ Original Name: Boeing Airpower Teaming
warhead) weighing between 250–500 kg. System (ATS)
▪ Renamed: MQ-28 Ghost Bat – symbolizing
teamwork and stealth.
North Korea Unveiled Intercontinental
▪ Length: ~38 feet and Range: Over 2,000
ballistic missile Hwasong-20 nautical miles

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Ukraine recently launched a strike on a ▪ “virtually unlimited range” and the ability to
evade current and future missile defense
Russian chemical plant in Bryansk using
systems.
UK-made Storm Shadow long-range ▪ It is also nuclear-capable, ie. designed to carry
missiles a nuclear warhead.
▪ It is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile. ▪ Its low-flying cruise profile and nuclear engine.
▪ It was jointly developed by the United
Kingdom and France. South Korea to Deploy ‘Monster Missile’
▪ The French call it SCALP. Hyunmoo 5
▪ Designed for stealth and precision, the SCALP is
capable of operating in any weather
conditions.
▪ It is also in service with the air forces of Egypt,
India, Italy, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and
UAE.
▪ India integrates SCALP with the Rafale fighter
jets, which are currently operated by the
Indian Air Force.

China Unveils ‘Ghost’ Jellyfish Drone for ▪ The Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile weighs about
Stealth Underwater Surveillance 36 tonnes, can carry an eight-tonne warhead.
▪ About 16 metres long and is designed as a
surface-to-surface missile
▪ Capable of being launched from a mobile
platform.
▪ Its range is set to vary from 600km to more
than 5,000km
Feature Ballistic Cruise Missile
Missile
Flight Path High-arched, Within atmosphere,
partially in low-altitude
space
▪ Chinese scientists have developed a Propulsion Rocket engine Air-breathing engine
biomimetic underwater drone, dubbed the (boost phase (continuously
“ghost jellyfish” or “underwater phantom”, only) powered)
which closely imitates a real jellyfish in shape, Speed Hypersonic Subsonic/Supersonic
transparency and movement (Mach 5+) /Hypersonic
▪ Materials & Construction: Made from Accuracy Moderate Very high
transparent hydrogel-electrode material; Detection Easier (boost Harder (low altitude
umbrella-like bell with tentacles plume visible) flight)
Examples Agni, Prithvi Nirbhay, BrahMos,
Zircon
Putin Announces Successful Test of
Nuclear-Powered ‘Burevestnik’ Missile

▪ The test missile flew about 14,000 km (8,700

miles) and remained in flight for roughly 15
hours before completing its mission.

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US Test-Fires “Minuteman III” Type 076 Sichuan: China’s First

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Amphibious Ship with Electromagnetic
Catapults

▪ Launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base,

California. ▪ China completed the sea trials of the Type 076
▪ Target: The unarmed re-entry vehicle travelled amphibious assault ship “Sichuan”.
approximately 7,500 kilometers (4,200 miles) ▪ It is a next-generation amphibious assault
across the Pacific Ocean to the Ronald Reagan ship, with a displacement of over 40,000
Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site in the tonnes.
Marshall Islands. ▪ It features electromagnetic catapults, allowing
▪ Purpose: The test, code-named GT 254, was it to launch fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters,
conducted by the 576th Flight Test Squadron and drones
to verify the reliability and accuracy of the
ICBM system. Russia launches new nuclear submarine
▪ Minuteman III has a maximum range of ‘Khabarovsk’
~13,000 km

China Launches Third Aircraft Carrier

‘Fujian’ with Cutting-Edge Tec

▪ The nuclear submarine ‘Khabarovsk’ is

designed to carry the Poseidon nuclear drone
(also called “doomsday missile”).
About Poseidon Nuclear Drone
▪ Unmanned Underwater
▪ Fujian is the first Chinese carrier to use Vehicle (UUV)
electromagnetic catapults (EMALS). ▪ Can travel thousands of
▪ Only the 2nd carrier in the world after USS km underwater at high
Gerald R. Ford to use EMALS. speed. Nuclear-powered
▪ Older carriers (e.g., Nimitz, Charles de Gaulle) ▪ Designed to create massive radioactive
use steam catapults. tsunamis capable of devastating coastal
nations

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Poland Launches Largest Defence Training About Javelin Missile

▪ American-made, man-portable, anti-tank
Programme In Its History, named “At
guided missile.
Readiness” ▪ Developed by Raytheon & Lockheed Martin.
▪ Aim: Train 4,00,000 citizens by 2026 for ▪ Designed to destroy heavily armoured
national preparedness. vehicles (main battle tanks) & light military
▪ Covers: Survival skills, medical readiness, vehicles.
cyber-hygiene. ▪ Range: 2.5 km; newer versions up to 4 km
▪ Nature: Voluntary, open to students, ▪ Fire-and-forget: Guides itself; no external
professionals, retirees. commands needed
▪ Poland’s Military strength: 2,16,000 personnel Excalibur Projectile:
— 3rd largest in NATO (after US and Turkey). ▪ It is a GPS-guided
artillery shell fired
US approves sale of NASAMS (National from large guns like
Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) howitzers.
▪ Can hit targets beyond conventional artillery
to Taiwan range even in tough terrain.

United States has launched Operation

Southern Spear
▪ Operation Southern Spear - a major new
military and surveillance campaign targeting
▪ NASAMS - Medium-range, ground-based air- Latin American drug-trafficking cartels.
defence system. ▪ Latin America is generally understood to
▪ Other countries in the Indo-Pacific region that consist of the entire continent of South
operate the system include Australia and America in addition to Mexico, Central
Indonesia. America, and the islands of the Caribbean.
▪ A large-scale U.S. military and intelligence
operation deploying unmanned air and sea
Air-Sol Moyenne Portée-
systems to detect, monitor, and disrupt drug-
Renove (ASMPA-R) trafficking networks across the Caribbean and
▪ For the first time, France eastern Pacific.
recently published images
of its latest-generation nuclear-capable Italy Unveils the Advanced ‘Michelangelo
supersonic air-to-surface cruise missile, the
Air-Sol Moyenne Portée-Renove (ASMPA-R). Dome’ Defence System
▪ Range: ~600 km; Speed: ~Mach 3 (powered by
ramjet engine).

U.S. State Department approved a

possible sale of Javelin missiles &
Excalibur Projectile to India

▪ Italy's defence and aerospace group

Leonardo presented plans for a new multi-
layered air defence system.
▪ The "Michelangelo Dome" is designed to
protect critical infrastructure and key areas of
national or international interest from threats

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by connecting different platforms and TAIWAN
equipment in space, air, on land or at sea. ▪ Island nation located off the southeast coast of
▪ The system is able to detect, track, intercept China, separated by the Taiwan Strait.
and neutralise incoming air threats like rockets, ▪ Capital: Taipei
missiles, and drones before they can cause ▪ Official Name: Republic of China (ROC)
harm and will work similarly to Israel's Iron ▪ Taiwan and China have been governed
Dome. separately, but Beijing claims Taiwan as part of
▪ Michelangelo will start to be fully operational its territory under its “One China Policy.”
from 2028.
U.S. President Donald Trump's 'Golden
Taiwan president unveils 'T-Dome' air Dome' missile plan inspired by Israel's
defence system to counter China threat multilayered defences
▪ U.S. President Donald
Trump's plan for a
“Golden Dome” to
protect the United
States from long-range
missiles
▪ Inspired by Israel’s
multilayered defences,
also known as ‘Iron Dome.
• Designed to intercept multiple aerial threats
such as missiles, drones, and rockets.
About Iron Dome
• Key Feature: Integrates advanced radar,
command, and missile systems for
comprehensive airspace protection.
• New Missile System – “Chiang-Kong”
• Taiwan unveiled a new air defence missile
“Chiang-Kong”.
• It can intercept mid-level ballistic missiles and
operate at altitudes higher than U.S.-made
Patriot systems.

• It is a short-range mobile air defense

system developed for Israel by Rafael
Advanced Defense Systems and Israel
Aerospace Industries, with additional support
from Raytheon.
• First deployed in 2011, Iron Dome constitutes
the innermost layer of the tiered Israeli air
defense network.
• It has all-weather capabilities and is able to
function night or day and in all conditions,

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including fog, rain, dust storms, and low ▪ Claimed to be the
clouds. fastest, biggest,
• It is designed to shoot down missiles with and 100× more
a range of about 40 miles or less. powerful than any
• It also has the ability to be moved, either onto past battleship.
ships or across land, to better suit defense ▪ Proposed to be
needs. larger than the
• The Iron Dome operates through three main Iowa-class
components: battleships.
• a radar that detects incoming rockets, ▪ Expected
• a command-and-control system that armament: hypersonic missiles, rail guns, and
determines the threat level, high-powered lasers.
• an interceptor that seeks to destroy ▪ Traditionally, battleships were heavily
the incoming rocket before it strikes. armoured, big-gun warships, most significant
during World War II.
China's military to conduct ‘Justice
Mission 2025’ live fire exercises around Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile System
Taiwan on December 30 ▪ United
States Army
and United
States Navy
completed
integrated
testing of
the Dark Eagle Long-Range Hypersonic
Weapon.
▪ Dark Eagle (LRHW) is a non-nuclear, ground-
launched hypersonic missile system of the US
Army.
▪ Missile development involves Lockheed
Martin and Northrop Grumman.
▪ Role: Strategic strikes, penetration of A2/AD
defenses, suppression of long-range enemy
fires, rapid precision attacks.
▪ Features: Flies in the upper atmosphere, then
maneuvers to target; uses a solid-fuel, two-
▪ The Chinese military dispatching air, navy and stage rocket booster.
rocket troops to conduct joint military drills
around Taiwan. Pakistan Navy gets second MILGEM class
▪ It is a move called a "stern warning" against
ship made by Turkiye
separatist and "external interference" forces.
▪ The Pakistan Navy received the second
▪ Taiwan, an island off the southeastern coast of
MILGEM class ship
China, separated from the mainland in 1949
constructed by Turkiye
amid Civil War. It has operated since then with
under a transfer of
its own government.
technology agreement
between the two
What is Trump’s ‘Golden Fleet’? countries.
▪ Donald Trump announced a plan for the United ▪ The contract for the
States Navy to build a new large warship, construction of four
calling it a “battleship” as part of future MILGEM-class ships for
“Golden Fleet.” Pakistan was signed in 2018.

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DEFENSE PRCOUREMENT & MOU

1. Bhargavastra India has successfully tested the Bhargavastra, its
2. Sanjay System first indigenous micro-missile system designed to
3. Utkash Multiple Purpose Vessel counter swarm drones
4. Trajan 155m Towed Artillery Gun
5. INS Tamal
6. Varunastra
7. 26 Marine Rafale Jets
8. Project Varsha
9. S400 system
10. AK 203 rifles •
It was developed by the Economic Explosives Ltd.
11. HAROP – Kamikaze Drone •
It can quickly deploy on a mobile platform and hit targets
over 2.5 km.
12. INS Arnala
• It is capable of detecting even small incoming flying
13. INS NILGIRI
machines at over 6 km and can take them down using
micro munitions that can be guided towards the threat.
• The system can simultaneously fire more than 64 micro missiles.
• designed to operate in all terrains
• Designed to meet the requirements of the Army Air Defence
What are Swarm Drones?
• SWARM stands for “Smart War-Fighting Array of Reconfigured Modules.”
• Drone swarm technologies coordinate at least three and up to thousands of drones to perform missions
cooperatively with limited need for human attention and control.

Defence Minister flags off Battlefield them to produce a Common Surveillance

Picture of the battlefield over secured Army
Surveillance System SANJAY
Data Network & Satellite Communication
Network.
▪ This system has been developed under the Buy
(Indian) category at a cost of Rs 2,402 crore.
▪ These systems will be inducted to all
operational Brigades, Divisions & Corps of the
Indian Army in three phases w.e.f. March to
October of 2025, which has been declared as
‘Year of Reforms’ in the Ministry of Defence
(MoD).

Goa Shipyard Launches New Fast Patrol

▪ Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh flagged-off Vessels
‘SANJAY - The Battlefield Surveillance System
▪ Two Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) - Amulya and
(BSS)’ from South Block, New Delhi
Akshay - indigenously designed and
▪ SANJAY has been indigenously & jointly
constructed by the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL)
developed by the Indian Army and Bharat
for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) were
Electronics Limited (BEL)
launched
▪ Follow up to the Indian Army’s ‘Year of
▪ The two FPVs are the third and fourth vessels
Technology Absorption’ (2024).
of the fleet of eight FPVs being constructed by
▪ n automated system which integrates the
GSL for ICG
inputs from all ground and aerial battlefield
▪ The first two FPVs of the same series
sensors, processing them to confirm their
- Adamya and Akshar – were launched in
veracity, preventing duplication and fusing

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October 2024. The contract was concluded in
March 2022 for Rs 473 crore. With over 60%
indigenous content

India Unveils ‘Utkash’ as Second Multi-

Purpose Vessel

Project P-75 to the Indian Navy, subsequently

to be commissioned as INS Vaghsheer.
▪ Sanjeev Singhal, Chairman & Managing
Director at Mazagon Dock
▪ The delivery of six submarines namely, Kalvari,
Khanderi, Karanj, Vela, Vagir and now
Vaghsheer, reaffirmed India's membership in
the exclusive group of submarine building
▪ Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has launched the
nations.
second multi-purpose vessel for the Indian
▪ Vaghsheer can undertake multifarious types
Navy from its Kattupalli Shipyard near
of missions i.e. Anti-Surface warfare, Anti-
Chennai.
Submarine Warfare, Intelligence Gathering,
▪ The launch of the vessel, christened INS
Area Surveillance etc.
Utkarsh, comes within three months of the
launch of the first MPV INS Samarthak.
▪ The multi-purpose vessels (MPVs) are highly Trajan 155 mm Towed Artillery Gun
specialised and play multiple roles, including System
serving as trial platforms, for the development
of next generation weapons and sensors.
▪ L&T is also constructing three Cadet Training
Ships and six other defence vessels for the
Indian Navy on public-private-partnership ▪ The Trajan 155 mm towed artillery gun system,
model. developed jointly by India and France, has
bagged an export order from Armenia.
Indigenous Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘Nag ▪ It is a 155 mm towed artillery gun system.
▪ It is jointly developed by India and France.
Mk 2’ ready for induction: DRDO ▪ The gun is jointly developed by Larsen &
▪ The Defence Research and Development Toubro (L&T) and KNDS France and has
Organisation (DRDO) announced that the undergone rigorous testing by the Indian Army,
indigenously-developed third-generation fire- meeting all qualitative requirements.
and-forget Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) ▪ The 52-calibre towed gun system is
‘Nag Mk 2’ and the entire system was ready for manufactured in India
induction into the Army What is artillery gun?
▪ Nag Missiles have minimum range of 500 ▪ Artillery refers to large-caliber guns — guns
metres and maximum range of 7-10 km. with big barrels — which can be moved from
▪ Field evaluation trials of Nag-Mk 2 were one place to another for land battles. The
successfully conducted recently at Pokhran artillery is also the name for the army unit that
Field Range uses these big guns.
▪ Nag Missile Carrier version-2 was also field
evaluated.
T-55 tank used in 1971 Indo-Pak war
Indian Navy takes delivery of 6th & final installed at Red Fields in Coimbatore as a
state-of-the-art Scorpene-class submarine war trophy
▪ Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd delivered the
sixth Scorpene submarine 'VAGHSHEER' of

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▪ USSR, T-55 is a medium tank that was used as 8. Operation Parakram (2001-2002)
a combat track vehicle. In response to the December 2001 terrorist attack on
▪ The tank was part of the weaponry of the 73 the Indian Parliament, India launched Operation
Armoured Regiment that was raised on Parakram, a massive military mobilization along the
December 3, 1971, during the Indo-Pak war. India-Pakistan border.
▪ The tank had its footprints in Operation 9. Operation Rahat (2013)
Trident (1971), Operation Rakshak (1990-91), one of the largest and most complex humanitarian
Operation Vijay (1999), and Operation rescue operations conducted by the Indian Armed
Parakram (2001-02) Forces. It was launched in June 2013 in response to the
▪ The last round from the tank was fired on 24 devastating floods in Uttarakhand. The Indian Air Force
February 2009 played a crucial
10. Surgical Strikes (2016)
Top 10 Most Iconic Indian Military Operations (Static) In September 2016, the Indian Army conducted
1. Operation Vijay (1961) surgical strikes against terrorist launch pads across the
conducted in December 1961, marked the liberation of Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The
Goa, Daman, and Diu from Portuguese control. The strikes were in retaliation for a terrorist attack on an
operation involved Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Indian Army base in Uri.
2. Operation Trident (1971)
a naval operation launched on the night of December DRDO's multi-layer clothing system
4, 1971, during the Indo-Pakistani War. The Indian
'HIMKAVACH' clears user trials
Navy's Western Fleet executed a surprise attack on the
Pakistani port city of Karachi, resulting in the sinking of
several Pakistani vessels and the destruction of
Karachi's harbor installations.
3. Operation Meghdoot (1984)
launched by the Indian Army to capture the Siachen
Glacier in April 1984. The operation was aimed at pre-
empting Pakistan’s attempts to occupy the glacier.
4. Operation Blue Star (1984)
a significant and controversial military operation
carried out in June 1984 to remove militants from the ▪ The Defence Research and Development
Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab. The operation, Organisation (DRDO) has introduced the
ordered by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, aimed to HIMKAVACH multi- layer clothing system,
eliminate Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers, specially designed to provide optimal
who were using the temple as a base for their protection in extreme cold weather
separatist activities. conditions for temperature range of +20°C to -
5. Operation Pawan (1987-1990) 60°C.
Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) mission in Sri Lanka ▪ The innovative clothing system has passed all
from 1987 to 1990 - launched to disarm the Liberation user trials under actual operational conditions,
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as part of the Indo-Sri proving its effectiveness for military
Lankan Accord. operations in cold weather, particularly in the
6. Operation Cactus (1988) Himalayan region.
a swift military intervention by the Indian Armed
Forces to thwart a coup attempt in the Maldives in
November 1988. When the Maldives government
Ancient ‘stitched’ ship
sought India’s assistance, the Indian Air Force airlifted launched in Goa, to
paratroopers to the capital, Malé, within hours. retrace ancient trading
7. Operation Vijay (1999)
routes by year end
The second Operation Vijay refers to the Kargil War of
▪ The project is a part of
1999, one of the most significant conflicts between
an initiative to revive
India and Pakistan. The Indian Army, supported by the
India’s rich maritime
Air Force, launched a massive offensive to reclaim the
heritage,
captured territories.

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▪ It is being executed through a tripartite cruise missiles and vertically launched Shtil
agreement between the Indian Navy, the surface-to-air missiles, providing it with
Ministry of Culture and Goa-based formidable offensive and defensive
shipbuilding company Hodi Innovations (OPC) capabilities.
Private Ltd.
▪ A 5th century wooden ‘stitched ship’ – Indian Army signs ₹80 crore deal with L&T
recreated using ancient stitching techniques
for 223 Automatic Chemical Agent
and constructed using coconut fiber stitching,
traditional wooden joinery, coir rope and Detection and Alarm (ACADA) systems
natural resins and powered by cotton sails – ▪ This will give a significant
was ‘launched’ at Goa’s Divar island. boost to the
▪ The ‘ancient’ ship, modelled on a painting of a GoI’s Atamnirbharta drive
stitched ship in the Ajanta caves in since more than 80% of
Maharashtra the components and sub-
▪ The vessel, with a 15-member crew of the systems of the equipment
Indian Navy aboard, is expected to set sail on a will be sourced locally.
historic voyage to Oman – retracing ancient ▪ ACADA has been
trading routes – by the end of 2025. designed and developed by DRDO’s Defence
▪ The revival of this ‘magnificent ship-building Research and Development Establishment,
heritage’ was an idea of historian Sanjeev Gwalior
Sanyal. He has written about the existence of ▪ The ACADA system is used to detect chemical
stitched ships in his book ‘The Ocean of warfare agents (CWA) and programmed toxic
Churn’. industrial chemicals (TICs) by sampling the air
from the environment.
INS Tamal
Indian Navy hands over Guldar ship to
MTDC for underwater museum
▪ The Indian Navy has
handed over
decommissioned
Landing Ship Tank
INS Guldar to the
Maharashtra Tourism Development
NEWS: The Indian Navy crew that will operate Tamal,
Corporation (MTDC) for conversion into India’s
the stealth frigate under construction in Russia,
first underwater museum and artificial reef.
reached St. Petersburg recently in preparation for its
commissioning.
▪ INS Tamal is a state-of-the-art stealth guided Defence Ministry inks contract with BEL
missile frigate. for procurement of 28 EON-51 systems for
▪ It is an upgraded Krivak-III class frigate, and is Indian Navy
part of a significant $2.5 billion deal between
▪ The government signed a ₹624-crore contract
India and Russia for 4 stealth frigates, two to
with Bharat Electronics Limited for
be built in Russia and the other two to be
procurement of 28 EON-51 systems (key
manufactured at Goa Shipyard Limited.
systems) for 11 new-generation offshore
▪ INS Tushil, the first of this, was commissioned
patrol vessels and three cadet training ships
into the Indian Navy in December 2024.
for the Indian Navy.
▪ It measures 125 meters in length and has a
▪ EON-51 is an Electro-Optical Fire Control
displacement of 3,900 tonnes, blending
System which provides search, detection and
Russian design with Indian technology.
classification of targets using electro-optical
▪ Approximately 26% of its components are
and thermal imagers devices
sourced from Indian manufacturers.
▪ Missile Systems: INS Tamal carries an array of
missile systems, including BrahMos supersonic

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with M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL),
Kolkata on 12 Nov 21.
▪ These Tugs have been indigenously designed
and built
▪ 4 tugs - "Bhishm" (Yard 335), "Bahubali",
"Ashva" (Yard 337), and "Yuvan" (Yard 338)
▪ Tugs which are being utilised by Indian Navy to
provide assistance to Naval ships and
submarines during berthing, un-berthing and
manoeuvring in confined waters.

Navy chief inaugurates new North Jetty at

Naval Base
▪ Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi
inaugurated the new North Jetty at the Naval
What is Varunastra Base in Kerala's Kochi.
• News: Under the chairmanship of Raksha ▪ Extending 300 metres in length and 18 metres
Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, the Defence in width, the jetty is designed to berth various
Acquisition Council (DAC) clears procurement classes of naval ships
worth Rs 54,000 cr to enhance defence ▪ The project was executed by the Cochin Port
system, including Varunastra Authority and awarded to Afcons
• Varunastra is an indigenously designed and Infrastructure Limited.
developed, ship-launched, heavy-weight, anti-
submarine torpedo by the Indian Navy, Goa Shipyard launches second P1135.6
capable of targeting submarines in both frigate ‘Tavasya’, a monumental leap in
shallow and deep waters, and named after the India’s indigenous warship building
legendary weapon of the Hindu god of the
oceans, Varuna
• Designed and developed by the Naval Science
and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) under
DRDO and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics
Limited (BDL).
• 2025 as ‘Year of Reforms’ in the Ministry of
Defence.

Induction of Fourth 25T Bollard Pull Tug ▪ Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), one of India’s
premier defence shipyards, achieved yet
Yuvan (Yard 338) another historic milestone with the successful
launch of ‘Tavasya’, the second frigate of
Project 1135.6 (Yard 1259)
▪ With a displacement exceeding 3,800 tonnes,
‘Tavasya’ is engineered to execute a diverse
range of offensive and defensive operations,
ensuring strategic dominance in the Indian
Ocean Region (IOR).
▪ The first indigenous P1135.6 frigate built by
▪ Induction ceremony for fourth 25T Bollard Pull Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for the Indian Navy
(BP) Tug Yuvan was held at Naval Dockyard is named "Triput”, which was lauched in July,
(Visakhapatnam) 2024
▪ These Tugs are a part of the contract for ▪ It is a maiden attempt by an Indian Shipyard to
construction of six (06) 25T BP Tugs concluded construct these complex platforms, which

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were previously imported in a fully built (heavy vehicle factory) based at Avadi in
condition. Chennai.
▪ T-72 tanks are the mainstay of the tank fleet of
India Successfully Tests Astra BVRAAM the Indian Army which is at present fitted with
780 HP engines.
from LCA Tejas AF MK1 Prototype
Astra MK-III Air-to-Air Missile renamed
‘Gandiva’

▪ India’s latest and most advanced air-to-air

missile, the Astra MK-III, has now been
▪ India has successfully test fired beyond visual officially renamed Gandiva, after the
range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) Astra from legendary bow of Arjuna from the
LCA Tejas AF MK1 off Odisha coast, paving the Mahabharata.
way for its integration in the indigenously ▪ Still under development by the Defence
developed fighter jet. Research and Development Organisation
▪ Designed and developed by DRDO, Astra (DRDO)
missile is capable of engaging the targets up to ▪ The Gandiva missile has been designed with a
a range of over 100 km. remarkable ability to strike enemy aerial
▪ The 3.8 metre long state-of-the-art missile has targets from a range of 340 kilometers when
a launch weight of about 154 kg. the target is at an altitude of 20 kilometers,
▪ It uses solid-fuel propellant and a 15 kg high- and 190 kilometers when the target is at a
explosive warhead, activated by a proximity lower altitude of 8 kilometers.
fuse. ▪ The missile will be deployed on the IAF's
Sukhoi Su-30MKI jets and the Light Combat
India Signs Deal for T-72 Tank Engines Aircraft Tejas.
Upgrade ▪ With the eventual induction of Gandiva, India
will possess one of the longest-range BVR air-
to-air missiles in the world.
▪ This will allow India to surpass China’s PL-15
missile, which has a reported range of 300
kilometers, and the U.S. AIM-174 BVRAAM,
which has a confirmed range of 240
kilometers.

Defence ministry inks Rs 2,906 crore

contract with BEL for procurement of
transportable radar (Ashwini) for the
▪ The Defence Ministry has inked a USD 248 Indian Air Force
million deal with Russia's Rosoboronexport ▪ The radar has been
for the procurement of 1,000 HP engines for T- indigenously
72 tanks designed and
▪ The deal also includes the transfer of developed by DRDO.
technology from the Russian defence major to ▪ Low-level Transportable Radar, LLTR (Ashwini)
the state-run Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd is capable of tracking aerial targets from high-

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speed fighter aircraft to slow moving targets
such as unmanned aerial vehicles and
helicopters.

India clears mega deal to buy 26 Rafale

Marine fighter jets from France for Navy
▪ Delivery of these aircraft will begin in 2028,
three years from the date of contract, and be
completed by 2030, with the crew undergoing
training in India as well as France.
▪ This means that by 2030, India will be
operating 62 Rafale fighters including the 36
procured for the Indian Air Force in 2016.

9K33 Osa-AK Missile System

▪ The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) gave
final approval to the deal for 26 Rafale Marine
fighter jets from France for the Indian Navy
worth over $7bn.
▪ This includes 22 single seater carrier compliant
jets and four twin seater trainers.
▪ The deal, worth over ₹63,000 crore, will be
executed under a government-to-government
▪ The Indian Army’s Air Defence Corps
agreement with France
showcased its operational readiness during a
▪ The ministry had also cleared procurement of 3
live missile-firing exercise at Gopalpur
Scorpene submarines from France
Seawards Firing Ranges (Odisha).
▪ Under the Indian Navy’s Project 75, six
▪ The exercise involved the 9K33 Osa-AK missile
Scorpene submarines have already been
system
constructed in India by the Mazagon Dock
▪ Osa-AK is a Russian-built highly mobile, low-
Limited (MDL) in cooperation with the Naval
altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air
Group of France.
defence missile system.
About Rafale-M:
▪ Originally developed in the 1960s and fielded
• Manufactured By: Designed and built by
by the Soviet Union in 1972, the Osa-AK has
Dassault Aviation, a French aerospace
remained a crucial asset for many armies
company.
around the world, including the Indian Army.
Features:
▪ In the West, the Osa is known by the NATO
• Multi-role, single-seat 4+ generation fighter
reporting name "SA-8 Gecko".
aircraft with advanced avionics and AESA radar.
▪ It can engage targets up to a maximum range
• Capable of deep strikes, air defense,
of 12km.
reconnaissance, and maritime operations.
• Equipped with advanced armaments like
Missile System Features
Meteor, Multi-mission air-to-air missile system
▪ It has a length of about 9.1 m, a width of 2.78
(MICA), SCALP missiles, and EXOCET anti-ship
m, and a weight of up to 18 tonnes.
weapons.
▪ The Osa-AK’s all-in-one vehicle setup,
combining the transporter-erector-launcher
India signs deal with France to procure 26 and radar (TELAR), enables it to detect, track,
Rafale Marine fighter aircrafts and engage aerial threats independently.
▪ India and France signed a €7 billion deal for 26 ▪ The vehicle can carry up to five crew members
Rafale marine fighters under an Inter and is fitted with a nuclear, biological, and
Government Agreement (IGA) which also chemical (NBC) protection system.
includes setting up of a production facility for ▪ It is armed with 6 missiles ready to fire,
Rafale fuselage. mounted on the roof of the vehicle.
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Launching of fifth 25t bollard pull tug Key Features:

• Underground submarine pens and tunnels for
“Ojas” (yard 339)
stealth deployment.
• Capacity to dock up to 12 nuclear submarines.
• Provides protection from aerial surveillance
and satellite detection.
• Built near BARC Atchutapuram, enabling
access to advanced nuclear infrastructure.
• Ensures rapid submarine access to key
chokepoints like the Strait of Malacca.
▪ Launching of fifth 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug What is INS Aridhaman?
‘Ojas’ (yard 339) was held at M/s Titagarh Rail • A 7,000-tonne nuclear-powered SSBN
Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata (Submersible Ship Ballistic Nuclear under
▪ These Tugs are a part of the contract for the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV)
construction of six (06) 25T BP Tugs concluded project.
with M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), • Built by the Shipbuilding Centre,
Kolkata on 12 Nov 21. The Tugs have Visakhapatnam, with BARC and DRDO support.
been indigenously designed and built • Expected commissioning in 2025,
▪ To provide assistance to Naval ships and strengthening India’s nuclear triad.
submarines during berthing, un-berthing and • More advanced than INS Arihant and INS
manoeuvring in confined waters. Arighaat, India’s first two SSBNs.
▪ 6 tugs - "Bhishm" (Yard 335), "Bahubali”(Yard • Equipped to carry more K-4 SLBMs (3,500 km
336), "Ashva" (Yard 337), and "Yuvan" (Yard range) than its predecessors. [K-4 is a nuclear-
338), “Ojas” (Yard 339) and “Sabal” (Yard 340) capable, submarine-launched ballistic missile
(SLBM)]
Project Varsha
INS Surat test-fires surface-to-air missile in
Arabian Sea
▪ Indian Navy's first
AI-enabled
warship - guided
missile destroyer
▪ India is set to commission its first dedicated INS Surat
nuclear submarine base, INS Varsha, in successfully test-
Andhra Pradesh in 2026, as part of Project fired a medium-
Varsha, and plans to operationalise its third range surface-to-
nuclear-powered submarine, INS Aridhaman. air missile in the Arabian Sea.
• What is Project Varsha? ▪ The missile has a range of around 70 km
• A classified naval infrastructure INS Surat: Overview of Project 15B Destroyers
project launched by the Indian Navy to ▪ INS Surat is the fourth and final stealth guided
build INS Varsha, a state-of-the- missile destroyer under Project 15B,
art nuclear submarine base. following INS Visakhapatnam, INS Mormugao,
• Located near Rambilli, about 50 km and INS Imphal, commissioned over the last
south of Visakhapatnam in Andhra three years.
Pradesh. ▪ It represents an advanced iteration of
Aim: the Kolkata-class destroyers built under
• To enhance India’s maritime strike Project 15A.
capabilities in the Bay of Bengal and Indian ▪ Key Features of INS Surat
Ocean Region ▪ India's First AI-Enabled Warship:
• Acts as a counterbalance to China’s strategic Utilizes indigenously developed
expansion in the region. artificial intelligence solutions for
enhanced operational efficiency.
▪ Specifications:
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▪ Displacement: 7,400 tonnes. ▪ Entered Russian service in 2007, with India
▪ Length: 164 metres. procuring it under a 2018 bilateral agreement.
▪ Speed: Achieved speeds exceeding 30 Key Features of S-400 Sudarshan Chakra:
knots (56 km/h) during sea trials. Range & Tracking:
▪ Detects threats up to 600 km.
Saras Mk2 ▪ Engages targets at four different missile
ranges, up to 400 km.
Multi-Target Capability:
▪ Simultaneously tracks and engages 80 aerial
targets.
▪ Counteracts stealth aircraft, drones, hypersonic
weapons.
Deployment & Role:
▪ Already deployed in Pathankot, Siliguri
▪ The Saras Mk2, an updated version of an Corridor, and Western Front.
India-designed civilian aircraft, is set to test-fly ▪ Played a crucial role during Operation
in December 2027, Director, CSIR-National Sindoor by intercepting over 15 aerial threats.
Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) told
recently.
AH-64E Apache Helicopters
About Saras Mk2
• It is a 19-seater, multi-purpose civilian aircraft.
• It is the first Indian multi-purpose civilian
aircraft in the light transport aircraft category.
• It is being developed by National Aerospace
Laboratories (NAL),
Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

S-400 ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ Air Defence ▪ India is set to receive the first batch of AH-64E
Apache attack helicopters from the US after a
System 15-month delay.
▪ The helicopters will be deployed
at Jodhpur for border security operations
Developed By:
▪ Manufacturer: Boeing, USA
▪ Inducted by US Army: Since 1984 (Apache AH-
64A)
▪ The AH-64E Apache is a multi-role combat
▪ The Ministry of Defence has identified an helicopter developed by Boeing, built for high-
Indian firm to set up a Maintenance, Repair, intensity warfare, especially in network-
and Overhaul (MRO) facility for the S-400 centric and multi-domain environments. It is
‘Sudarshan Chakra’ air defence system. one of the most advanced and lethal attack
▪ The S-400 Triumf, codenamed SA-21 helicopters in the world.
Growler by NATO, is a long-range, multi-
layered surface-to-air missile system developed Amethi-Made AK-203 Rifles
by Russia’s Almaz-Antey.
▪ In Indian service, it is named ‘Sudarshan
Chakra’, reflecting its swift and precise
defensive power.
Developed By:
▪ Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defence
Corporation, Russia.
▪ The Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited
(IRRPL) is set to complete the delivery of 6.01
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Yearbook 2025 Edition [Link]
lakh AK-203 rifles nearly 22 months ahead of S-125 Legacy SAM Short- Supplemented
the planned schedule. Pechora system range older sectoral
▪ The contract, valued at Rs 5,200 crore, was (Russian (35 defences
initially set to end by October 2032. origin) km)
▪ However, IRRPL aims to finish by December Integrated Multi-layered Varies Intercepted
2030. Counter- defence using UAVs and
About the AK-203 Rifle UAS Grid jamming, kamikaze
▪ The AK-203 is a modernised version of spoofing, and drones across
the Kalashnikov assault rifle series. guns northern
▪ It is designed to be the primary weapon for airspace
Indian soldiers deployed along the northern
and western borders. SAMBHAV Secures Military
Replacing the INSAS Rifle
Communications
▪ The AK-203 is intended to replace
the INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) rifles
currently in service.
▪ Initially, 70,000 rifles were imported to meet
urgent operational needs before the full-scale
production began in India.
▪ The indigenous manufacturing of AK-203 rifles
will enhance self-reliance in defence
production and reduce dependency on
imports.

Air Defence Systems

▪ India successfully intercepted the attack using
its air defence shield, including S-
▪ India has made leap in defence technology
400 Triumf, Akash, and Barak-8 MRSAM, in
with the deployment of SAMBHAV, its first
what was part of its integrated response
fully indigenous secure mobile
under Operation Sindoor.
communication system.
▪ An Air Defence System refers to a networked
▪ This development was prominently showcased
combination of sensors, weapons, and
during Operation Sindoor in 2025.
command systems designed to detect, track,
▪ The Indian Army used SAMBHAV-enabled
and neutralize aerial threats such as:
smartphones instead of foreign apps, ensuring
▪ Missiles (ballistic/cruise)
secure and encrypted communication free
▪ Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
from external surveillance.
(UAVs/drones)
▪ Launched in 2023, SAMBHAV is India’s first
▪ Manned aircraft and helicopters
secure mobile communication platform
designed specifically for defence use.
System Type & Range Role in
▪ It operates independently of commercial
Origin Operation
networks and supports real-time connectivity
S-400 Long-range Up to Intercepted through 5G-enabled devices.
Triumf Surface-to-Air 400 long-range ▪ The system uses multi-layer encryption to
(Russia) km missiles and prevent hostile surveillance or cyber-attacks.
aircraft ▪ Its core application, M-Sigma, offers encrypted
Barak-8 Medium- ~70- Neutralized messaging, file sharing, and multimedia
MRSAM range SAM 100 fast-moving exchange.
(India-Israel) km drones and ▪ SAMBHAV is network-agnostic, meaning it
cruise missiles works securely across different communication
Akash Indigenous Up to Countered infrastructures without compromising data
SAM (India) 25-30 low-altitude integrity.
km aerial threats
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Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) ▪ The drone deploys airburst munitions from
high altitudes, capable of destroying targets
Drones
over a wide radius.
▪ Drones showcased the capability to take down
targets over a range of 50 km.

Dassault Aviation partners with Tata

Advanced Systems for Rafale fighter
fuselage production in India

▪ India has fast-tracked the ₹20,000 crore

procurement of 87 Medium Altitude Long
Endurance (MALE) drones from domestic firms
to strengthen border surveillance.
▪ MALE drones are unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs) that operate at medium altitudes (up
to ~35,000 feet) and are capable of sustained
flights for over 30 hours. ▪ Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems
▪ They are used for Intelligence, Surveillance, Limited have signed four Production Transfer
Reconnaissance (ISR) and limited combat Agreements to manufacture the Rafale fighter
missions. aircraft fuselage for India and other global
▪ Develpoed Under the Make in India initiative – markets.
indigenous 60% ▪ Under the agreement, Tata Advanced Systems
▪ Previously, such drones were sourced will set up a production facility in Hyderabad
from Israeli firms for the manufacture of key structural sections
of Rafale
Indian Army Successfully Tests Rudrastra ▪ The first fuselage sections are likely to roll off
VTOL Drone for Precision Strikes the assembly line in 2028
▪ For the first time, Rafale fuselages will be
produced outside France.

IAF set to get Rs. 10,000 Cr I-STAR Spy

Aircrafts
▪ The Indian Air Force is
on the brink of
acquiring advanced I-
STAR (Intelligence,
Surveillance, Target
Acquisition and
Reconnaissance)
▪ Rudrastra, India’s latest homegrown battlefield aircraft through a Rs
tech marvel, successfully tested by the Indian 10,000 crore project soon to be cleared by the
Army. government.
▪ The trials were held at the Pokhran firing ▪ These high-altitude platforms are engineered
range. to detect, track, and target enemy positions —
▪ Solar Aerospace and Defence Limited (SDAL) radar stations, mobile air defense units, and
successfully tested its UAV, Rudrastra. command hubs — without breaching hostile
▪ Rudrastra has a total range of 170 km, airspace.
including loitering over target areas, with an ▪ The I-STAR project aims to procure three
endurance of nearly 1.5 hours. aircraft from global aviation majors —
candidates include Boeing and Bombardier —

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which will then be equipped with indigenous • Endurance of up to 9 hours, enabling wide-
sensor and electronic systems developed by area scanning and deep-target strikes.
DRDO’s Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS). • Can be launched from truck-mounted
canisters, naval vessels, or fixed ground
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approves platforms.
• Capable of operating in GNSS-denied
Execution Model for India’s Advanced
environments (immune to GPS jamming).
Medium Combat Aircraft Programme • It has autonomous and manual attack
(AMCA) capabilities with a fire-and-forget profile.

India successfully tests indigenous anti-

submarine rocket system

▪ This marks a significant step in India's pursuit

of developing its own fifth-generation stealth
fighter jet
▪ AMCA is an ambitious project aimed at
developing a 25-tonne twin-engine, stealth,
multirole fighter jet for the Indian Air Force
(IAF) and Navy. ▪ The user trials of Extended Range Anti-
▪ Designed by the Aeronautical Development Submarine Rocket (ERASR) successfully
Agency (ADA) under DRDO carried out from INS Kavaratti.
▪ ADA is set to execute the programme through What is ERASR?
industry partnership. ▪ ERASR is a totally indigenous anti-submarine
rocket used to combat submarines and fired
HAROP – India’s Kamikaze Drone from onboard indigenous rocket launchers of
Indian Naval Ships
▪ ERASR has been designed by DRDO’s
Armament Research & Development
Establishment (ARDE), Pune
▪ Production partners for ERASR rockets -
Hyderabad's Bharat Dynamics Limited and
• HAROP is an advanced loitering munition (or Nagpur's Solar Defence & Aerospace Limited.
suicide/kamikaze drone) developed by Israel
Aerospace Industries (IAI).
• Combines the functions of both a missile and
Third ship of Nilgiri delivered to Indian
a UAV — it loiters over an area, selects a Navy in Kolkata
target, and crashes into it with an explosive ▪
payload.
• It is designed to destroy high-value
targets like radars, command posts, tanks,
SAMs, and even moving assets.
• Unlike conventional precision-guided missiles
that require exact target coordinates, HAROPs
can search, track, and engage dynamically.
Key Technical Features:
• Electro-optical (EO) sensor allows real-time
visual identification and target acquisition.
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▪ Himgiri (Yard 3022), the third • Joint project under India-Russia defence
ship of Nilgiri Class (Project 17A) and the first collaboration
of the class built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders • Part of a four-frigate contract — 2 built in
& Engineers (GRSE), was delivered to the Russia, 2 under construction at Goa
Indian Navy on 31 Jul 2025 at GRSE, Kolkata. Shipyard with technology transfer
▪ P17A ships are fitted with an advanced
weapon and sensor suite compared to the P17
(Shivalik) class.
▪ These ships are configured with Combined
Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plants.

Defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders

and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has announced
the delivery of 'INS Arnala

Key Features:
• Stealth Technology: Radio, infrared, and
acoustic signature suppression for survivability
• Weapon Systems:
▪ Defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and • BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missiles
Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has announced the (range: 450 km)
delivery of 'INS Arnala', the first of eight Anti- • Shtil Surface-to-Air Missiles
Submarine Warfare (ASW) Shallow Water • Anti-submarine torpedoes and rockets
Craft, to the Indian Navy. • Speed: Over 30 knots
▪ The ship was indigenously designed and built • Helicopter Capability: Can carry Kamov-
by GRSE in collaboration with L&T Shipyard, 28 and Kamov-31 for anti-submarine warfare
showcasing a public-private partnership in and airborne early warning
defense manufacturing. • Predecessor: INS Tushil, first of the four
▪ Arnala is named after the historic fort ‘Arnala’ frigates, arrived at Karwar Naval Base on
located off Vasai, Maharashtra, a reflection of February 2025.
India’s rich maritime heritage.
▪ The 77 m long warship, is the largest Indian INS Arnala
Naval warship propelled by a Diesel Engine- ▪ The Indian Navy will commission INS Arnala at
Waterjet combination. Visakhapatnam.
▪ The ship has been designed for underwater What is INS Arnala?
surveillance, search & rescue ▪ INS Arnala is the first indigenously-built Anti-
operations and Low Intensity Maritime Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-
Operations (LIMO) SWC) ship.
▪ It will enhance India’s capabilities in coastal
India is set to receive INS Tamal, its second surveillance, mine-laying, and sub-surface
operations.
advanced stealth frigate built by Russia
Built By: Designed and constructed by Garden Reach
under the Krivak-III class deal Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata in
What is INS Tamal? partnership with L&T Shipbuilders.
• INS Tamal is a 3,900-tonne advanced stealth Operational Region:
frigate built in Russia as part of India’s Krivak- ▪ Designed for coastal waters and the Indian
III class deal signed in 2016. It is the sister ship Ocean Region (IOR).
of INS Tushil, commissioned in December ▪ It supports Low-Intensity Maritime Operations
2024. (LIMO), Search and Rescue (SAR), and
Developed by: Subsurface Surveillance.
• Built at Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad, Russia

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visiting Port Louis, Mauritius from 19-22 Jun
2025.

▪ INS Teg, a stealth frigate of the Western Fleet

of the Indian Navy, was commissioned on 27
Apr 2012.
Key Features of INS Arnala:
▪ The first of three guided missile frigates of the
▪ Length: 77.6 meters,
modified INS Talwar-class that India
▪ Displacement: 1490+ tonnes,
commissioned Russian shipyard Yantar to build
▪ Speed: Up to 25 knots,
under Project-17 A (the other two are INS
▪ Endurance: 1800 nautical miles (~3300 km).
Tarkash and INS Trikand).
▪ First Indian naval warship powered by Diesel
▪ It is a 3,970-tonne frigate and is armed with
Engine–Waterjet combination.
eight 290-km BrahMos supersonic cruise
missiles.
Fifth FPV ‘Achal’ built by Goa Shipyard Ltd ▪ It is 125-metre-long and can operate an anti-
Launched for ICG submarine or early-warning helicopter from its
deck.
▪ It can reach a top speed of 30 knots (56 km/h;
35 mph).
▪ It has an operating range of 4,500 nautical
miles (8334 km)

Traditionally built ‘Ancient Stitched Ship’

inducted into the Indian Navy as INSV
Kaundinya
▪ ‘Achal’, the fifth Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) in a
series of eight being constructed by Goa
Shipyard Ltd (GSL) for the Indian Coast Guard
(ICG), was ceremoniously launched on June 16,
2025, in Goa.
▪ Designed and constructed under stringent
dual-class certification from the American ▪ The Indian Navy formally inducted and named
Bureau of Shipping and Indian Register of the Ancient Stitched ship as INSV Kaundinya at
Shipping, the FPV features over 60% a ceremonial event held at Naval Base,
indigenous content. Karwar.
▪ The vessel measures 52 meters in length and 8 ▪ The Hon’ble Minister of Culture Shri Gajendra
meters in breadth, with a displacement of 320 Singh Shekhawat presided over the event as
tons. the Chief Guest.
▪ Powered by a CPP-based propulsion system, ▪ INSV Kaundinya is a stitched sail ship, based
the vessel can reach a top speed of 27 knots. on a 5th century CE ship depicted in the
paintings of Ajanta Caves.
INS Teg arrives in Mauritius for joint ▪ Agreement Signed: July 2023, tripartite
surveillance of Economic Zone agreement between Ministry of Culture,
▪ INS Teg, on her Operational Deployment to Indian Navy, and M/s Hodi Innovations.
the South West Indian Ocean Region, is ▪ Funding: Provided by the Ministry of Culture.

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335), Bahubali (Yard 336), Ashva (Yard 337),
Yuvan (Yard 338), and Ojas (Yard 339).
▪ Bhishm and Bahubali were inducted on
November 28, 2024, Ashva on February 12,
2025, Yuvan on March 26, 2025, and Ojas on
March 31, 2025.

Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) handed over

▪ Keel Laying: September 2023.
ICGS Akshar
▪ Construction Method: Traditional stitching ▪ Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) has officially
technique. handed over ICGS Akshar, the second Fast
▪ Construction Team: Skilled artisans from Patrol Vessel (FPV) in the Adamya-class series,
Kerala, led by master shipwright Shri Babu to the Indian Coast Guard.
Sankaran. ▪ The Adamya-class consists of eight FPVs
▪ Materials Used: Coir rope, coconut fibre, and ordered from GSL. Akshar is the second in this
natural resin for stitching wooden planks. series
▪ Launch Date and Location: February 2025, at ▪ The vessel spans 52 meters in length and 8
Goa. meters in breadth, with a displacement of 320
▪ Ship Name: Kaundinya, named after a tonnes.
legendary Indian mariner who sailed to ▪ It is designed to achieve speeds exceeding 27
Southeast Asia. knots.
▪ Symbolism: Represents India’s traditions of ▪ Over 60% indigenous content used in the
maritime exploration, trade, and cultural vessels as per the contract
exchange. ▪ Role - Fisheries protection, coastal patrol, anti-
▪ Upcoming Voyage: Preparing for a smuggling, anti-piracy, search & rescue etc.
transoceanic journey from Gujarat to Oman Operates in Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and
along ancient trade routes, later in 2025. for maritime surveillance.
Artistic Elements: ▪ The first vessel of Adamya-class, named ICGS
▪ Sails: Feature motifs of Gandabherunda and Adamya, was commissioned on 26 June 2025.
the Sun.
▪ Bow: Sculpted Simha Yali. Launch Of Yard 3034 (Ajay), Last Ship Of
▪ Deck: Decorated with symbolic Harappan-style Asw Swc (Grse) Project
stone anchor.

Launching Of Sixth 25t Bollard Pull Tug

Sabal (Yard 340)
▪ Launching of sixth
25T Bollard Pull ▪ Yard 3034 (Ajay), the eighth and last ship of
(BP) Tug Sabal was Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft
held at M/s (ASW SWC)
Titagarh Rail ▪ Indigenously designed and built by Garden
Systems Limited Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE)
(TRSL), Kolkata ▪ Launched on 21 Jul 2025 at GRSE, Kolkata in
▪ These Tugs are a the presence of VAdm Kiran Deshmukh, Chief
part of the contract for construction of six 25T of Materiel (COM).
BP Tugs concluded with M/s TRSL, Kolkata on ▪ 80% of the INS Ajay’s content is indigenous, in
12 Nov 21. line with India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’
▪ The Tugs have been indigenously designed initiatives.
and built ▪ The first Ship of the class Arnala was
▪ The first five 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tugs commissioned on 18 Jun 2025
inducted into the Indian Navy are Bhishm (Yard

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Indigenous Pollution Control Vessel ▪ INS Tamal joins the illustrious list of Talwar,
Teg, and Tushil-class ships, renowned for their
‘Samudra Prachet’ for ICG launched by
dependability and combat prowess
GSL ▪ Tamal incorporates 26% indigenous
▪ ‘Samudra Prachet’, the last of the two components, including the BrahMos long-
indigenous Pollution Control Vessels (PCVs) range supersonic cruise missile and the
constructed by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) was HUMSA-NG sonar system.
launched for Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in Goa ▪ Tamal is capable of engaging threats across all
on July 23, 2025. four dimensions of naval warfare — air,
▪ These ships have been fitted with state-of-art surface, sub-surface, and electronic.
Response Equipment and these vessels will ▪ Project 1135.6, also known as the Talwar-class
help ICG in quick and effective response to frigates, includes a total of eight ships in the
any oil spill in our Exclusive Economic Zone. Indian Navy, built in Russia:
▪ First vessel: Samudra Pratap — launched in ▪ Talwar class: INS Talwar, INS Trishul, and INS
2024 Tabar.
▪ Teg class: INS Teg, INS Tarkash, and INS Trikand.
Indian Coast Guard’s Fast Patrol Vessel ▪ Tushil class: INS Tushil
‘Atal’ Launched in Goa
▪ The Indian Coast Guard’s sixth indigenously Delivery Of First Indigenous Diving
built Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV), ‘Atal’, was Support Vessel - ‘NISTAR’
launched at Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL), Goa. ▪ ‘Nistar’, the first indigenously designed and
▪ It is the sixth vessel in a fleet of eight FPVs constructed Diving Support Vessel, was
being built by GSL for the Indian Coast delivered by Hindustan Shipyard Limited to
Guard under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. the Indian Navy on at Visakhapatnam - with
▪ The FPVs measure 52 meters in length, displace nearly 75% indigenous content.
320 tonnes, ▪ The warship has been designed and built as
▪ Operating under the motto ‘Vayam per classification rules of the Indian Register of
Rakshamah’ (We Protect) Shipping (IRS).
▪ The ship is highly specialised and can
Ins Tamal, Latest Stealth Frigate, undertake Deep Sea Diving and Rescue
Commissioned Into Indian Navy Operations – a capability with select Navies
across the globe.
▪ The ship’s name, ‘Nistar’, originates from
Sanskrit and means liberation, rescue or
salvation.
▪ The ship, measuring 118 m with a tonnage of
nearly 10,000 tons, is installed with state-of-
the-art Diving Equipment and has the
capability to undertake Deep Sea Saturation
▪ The Indian Navy commissioned INS Tamal Diving up to 300 m depth.
(F71), a multi-role stealth guided missile ▪ The ship also has a Side Diving Stage for
frigate, at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, undertaking Diving Operations up to 75 m
Russia. depth.
▪ Tamal is the last foreign-built major warship to ▪ The ship will also serve as the ‘Mother
be inducted into the Indian Navy, Ship’ for the Deep Submergence Rescue
▪ The ship is the eighth in the series of Project Vessel (DSRV), to rescue and evacuate
1135.6 (also known as the Talwar class) and personnel, in case of an emergency in a
the second of the follow-on Tushil-class submarine underwater.
frigates.
▪ All seven previous ships of the class are part of
the Navy’s Western Fleet under the Western
Naval Command.

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Project 17A Indigenous Stealth Frigate ▪ She joins the Eastern Naval Command and
would be an integral part of the Eastern Sword-
Udaygiri Delivered To Indian Navy
Sunrise Fleet.
▪ Yard 12652 (Udaygiri), built at Mazagon Dock
▪ This state-of-the-art warship is driven by her
Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL), was delivered to
motto — “Adrish Yabalam, Ajeya Shauryam”.
the Indian Navy on 01 July 2025.
▪ Udaygiri is the second among the seven
Project 17A (P-17A) frigates under
construction at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
Limited (MDSL) in Mumbai and Garden Reach
Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata

INS Tamal, India’s last imported warship,

to be commissioned on July 1
INS Nilgiri
▪ The Nilgiri-class stealth frigate, built under the
codename Project 17A, is a follow-on vessel of
the Shivalik class or Project 17 frigates that are
currently in service.
▪ INS Nilgiri is the first of seven frigates in Project
17A being built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
Limited (MDL), Mumbai, and Garden Reach
Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
▪ The Indian Navy is all set to commission its ▪ This class of ships has an “integrated
latest stealth multi-role frigate INS Tamal on construction” philosophy, which involves
July 1 at Kaliningrad in Russia. extensive pre-outfitting at the block stages to
▪ This will be the last warship of Indian Navy to reduce overall building periods.
have been built outside India and the eighth in ▪ The ships are fitted with a supersonic surface-
the series of Krivak class frigates inducted from to-surface missile system, a Medium Range
Russia over the past two decades. Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM) system, a 76
▪ The ceremony will be presided over by millimetre upgraded gun, and a combination of
Western Naval Commander Vice Admiral rapid-fire close-in weapon systems.
Sanjay J. Singh ▪ The other six ships of this class — Himgiri,
▪ INS Tamal has been built at Yantar Shipyard in Taragiri, Udaygiri, Dunagiri, and Vindhyagiri —
Kaliningrad, Russia, and is the last warship to are at various stages of construction at MDL,
be inducted from a foreign source. Mumbai, and GRSE, Kolkata.
▪ India, as part of the broader contract for Tushil
class, is also building two similar frigates called Adamya Fast Patrol Vessel
the Triput class at Goa Shipyard Limited
▪ Upon commissioning, INS Tamal will join the
‘Sword Arm’ of the Indian Navy, the Western
Fleet, under the Western Naval Command.
▪ The ship’s name, Tamal, symbolises the
mythical sword used for combat by Indra – the
King of the gods.

INS Nilgiri joins Eastern Naval Command in

Visakhapatnam ▪ The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has inducted
▪ INS Nilgiri, the first of the indigenously built ‘Adamya’, the first Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) of an
Project 17A stealth frigates, arrived at eight-vessel series built by Goa Shipyard
Visakhapatnam. Limited (GSL).
▪ Adamya’ is a high-speed Fast Patrol
Vessel (FPV) designed for rapid deployment in

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coastal waters, EEZ patrol, and maritime law collaboration with an Indian Ship Design firm
enforcement missions. and Indian Register of Shipping
▪ Developed By: Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) (IRS) respectively.
▪ First of the eight FPVs under GSL’s ICG contract ▪ The Shipyard has successfully delivered ten of
Key Features: eleven Barges till date .
▪ First in class with Controllable Pitch Propellers
(CPPs) and fully indigenous gearboxes Indian Navy Commissioned INS Aravali at
▪ Equipped with 30mm CRN-91 naval
Gurugram
gun and two 12.7mm remote-control
▪ Indian Navy will
guns with fire control system
commission INS Aravali at
Features:
Gurugram on September
▪ Integrated Bridge System (IBS)
12, 2025 in the presence of
▪ Integrated Platform Management System
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi,
(IPMS)
Chief of the Naval Staff
▪ Automated Power Management System
on 12 Sep 2025 .
(APMS)
▪ INS Aravali, deriving its name from
▪ Superior manoeuvrability, operational
the unwavering Aravali range,
efficiency, and high-sea performance
▪ Guided by the
motto ‘सामुद्रिकसुरक्षायााः सहयोगं’ or ‘Maritim
INS Trikand e Security through Collaboration’
▪ In September 2025, India and Greece are ▪ INS Aravali in Gurugram acts as a command,
holding their maiden bilateral maritime control, and communication hub
exercise in Salamis Bay, Greece.
▪ Indian Naval Ship (INS) Trikand, a stealth
frigate, is representing the Indian Navy in the
Delivery Of Androth, (Second Anti
exercise. Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft)
▪ Type: Talwar-class stealth frigate To The Indian Navy
▪ It was built by the Yantar shipyard in ▪ ‘Androth’, second of
Kaliningrad, Russia. the eight ASW SWCs
▪ Commissioned in to Indian Navy: 2013. (Anti-Submarine
▪ It is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet Warfare Shallow
and operates under the Western Naval Water Craft), being
Command headquartered at Mumbai. built by Garden
Additional Facts: Reach Shipbuilders
▪ Earlier in 2025, INS Tarkash and the Greek and Engineers
warship HS Psara conducted a "Passing (GRSE), Kolkata, was
Exercise" (PASSEX) off the coast of Mumbai in delivered to the
the Arabian Sea. Indian Navy on 13 Sep 2025 at GRSE, Kolkata .
▪ In 2024, Greek Air Force jets participated in ▪ The ASW SWC ships have been indigenously
India's multinational "Tarang Shakti" exercise. designed and constructed as per the
▪ Also in 2024, the Indian Air Force took part in Classification Rules of Indian Register of
the multinational air "Exercise INIOCHOS" in Shipping (IRS) at GRSE, Kolkata .
Greece. ▪ The name ‘Androth’ holds strategic and
symbolic significance, derived from the
Launch Of Eleventh Ammunition Cum Androth Island in the Lakshadweep
Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, archipelago, underscoring India’s commitment
to safeguarding its vast maritime territories.
LSAM 25 (Yard 135) ▪ These ships at approx 77 m length, are
▪ Launch ceremony of 11th ACTCM Barge, LSAM the largest Indian Naval warships propelled by
25 (Yard 135) was held on 08 Sep 25 at M/s a Diesel Engine-Waterjet combination
Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane. ▪ and are equipped with state of the
▪ These Barges have been indigenously art lightweight torpedoes, Indigenous ASW
designed and built by the Shipyard in rockets, advanced shallow water SONAR,
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enabling effective submarine detection and
engagement in littoral zones.

Indian Navy commissions its 1st

indigenous diving support vessel ‘INS
Nistar’ at Visakhapatnam

▪ Length: 51 meters; Displacement:

Approximately 320 tons
▪ Speed: Maximum of 27 knots
▪ Indian Navy commissioned its first indigenously ▪ ICGS Adamya: First in the series, commissioned
designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), at Paradip, Odisha on September 19, 2025.
INS Nistar, at Visakhapatnam on 18 July.
▪ It was delivered by Hindustan Shipyard Indian Navy Commissions INS Androth
Limited
▪ The ship’s name, ‘Nistar’, originates from
Sanskrit and means liberation, rescue or
salvation.
▪ The ship, measuring 118 m in length with a
tonnage of nearly 10,000 tons - over 80%
indigenous content
▪ Her motto ‘Surakshita Yatharthta Shauryam’
translating to ‘Deliverance with Precision and
Bravery’ ▪ INS Androth - the second Anti-Submarine
▪ INS Nistar is installed with state-of-the-art Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC).
Diving Equipment such as Remotely Operated ▪ Date & Place: 6 Oct 2025, Naval Dockyard,
Vehicles, Self-Propelled Hyperbaric Life Boat, Visakhapatnam.
Diving Compression Chambers. ▪ Presided by: Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar,
▪ It can undertake diving and salvage Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern
operations upto 300m depth. Naval Command.
▪ The ship will also serve as the ‘Mother Ship’ ▪ Builder: Garden Reach Shipbuilders &
for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
(DSRV), to rescue and evacuate personnel, in ▪ Indigenous Content: Over 80%, showcasing
case of an emergency in a submarine Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.
underwater. ▪ Class: Second vessel in ASW-SWC series — first
▪ In her earlier avatar, INS Nistar was a was INS Arnala, commissioned on 18 June
submarine rescue vessel which was acquired 2025.
by the Indian Navy from the erstwhile USSR in ▪ Purpose: Designed for anti-submarine warfare
1969 and was commissioned in 1971. in coastal and shallow waters.

Indian Coast Guard Commissions Ship ICG Fast Patrol Vessels: ICGS Ajit & ICGS
Akshar Aparajit
▪ Indian Coast Guard commissioned Ship Akshar, ▪ Launch of two new Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs)
the second of eight Adamya-class Fast Patrol — ICGS Ajit and ICGS Aparajit — at Goa
Vessels (FPVs), at Karaikal, Puducherry. Shipyard Limited (GSL).
▪ Built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited About ICG Fast Patrol Vessels: ICGS Ajit & ICGS
Aparajit

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▪ Class: Adamya-class BY 528 (Magdala) – Sixth Anti-Submarine
▪ Type: Fast Patrol
Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC)
Vessels (FPVs)
▪ Number in series: 7th launched at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL),
and 8th of eight built Kochi.
by GSL for the Indian ▪ This ship is indigenously designed and built by
Coast Guard Cochin Shipyard Limited.
Dimensions and Design: ▪ Sixth vessel in a
▪ Length: 52 metres ; series of eight ASW
Displacement: 320 tonnes Shallow Water
Crafts (ASW SWCs).
Indian Navy to Commission Indigenous ▪ Detect and
Survey Vessel Large (SVL) Ship Ikshak in neutralize
underwater threats
Kochi (like submarines and mines).
▪ It will study
underwater
hydrography.
Dredge Godavari, India’s largest dredger,
▪ The ship’s name, launched at Cochin Shipyard Limited
Ikshak, meaning “The ▪ DCI Dredge Godavari, India’s largest dredger,
Guide”, symbolises its owned by
purpose: to chart Visakhapatnam-based
unexplored waters, Dredging Corporation of
ensure safe navigation India Limited (DCIL), was
for mariners. launched at the Cochin
▪ Constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Shipyard Limited (CSL)
Engineers Ltd, Kolkata. ▪ Dredge Godavari is the
Features of INS IKSHAK first-ever 12,000 meters
▪ It boasts over 80% indigenous content. cube Beagle Series
▪ SVL are 110 m long, 16 m wide with deep dredger constructed
displacement of 3400 tons. anywhere in the world.
▪ First vessel in the SVL class to feature ▪ The vessel was constructed in collaboration
dedicated accommodation for women officers with Dutch specialist IHC Holland B.V.
and sailors.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flags
India’s First Indigenous Anti-Submarine off VLGC vessel ‘Shivalik’ at
Vessel “Mahe” delivered to Navy by Visakhapatnam Port
Cochin Shipyard
▪ The first of the eight
ASW SWCs (Anti-
Submarine
Warfare Shallow Water
Craft) to the Indian Navy.
▪ Mahe, the 78m-long
warship, is the largest
Indian Naval warship
propelled by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet
combination.
▪ It has been designed for underwater
surveillance, search and rescue operations,
and Low Intensity Maritime Operations .

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▪ Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & ▪ 4 ships under this class: INS Sandhayak, INS
Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, will flag off Nirdeshak, INS Ikshak, INS Sanshodhak
the Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) vessel (currently under construction).
“Shivalik” during its maiden call to India at ▪ All four vessels - by Garden Reach Shipbuilders
Visakhapatnam Port and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata
▪ This event marked the vessel's maiden call to
India and the unloading of its first consignment Indian Navy commissions INS Mahe at
of LPG cargo. The vessel completed its first-
Naval Dockyard in
ever voyage carrying a consignment of LPG
from the UAE to the Visakhapatnam Port. Mumbai
▪ Shivalik has been recently acquired and ▪ INS Mahe - Navy’s first
inducted under the Indian flag by the Shipping anti-submarine warfare
Corporation of India (SCI) on 10th September shallow water craft
2025 (ASW-SWC) with over
▪ Cargo capacity of 82,000 cubic meters. 80 per cent indigenous
parts
▪ The earlier Soviet-built
Udupi Cochin Shipyard Ltd. launches 70
INS Mahe was decommissioned in 2006
tonne Bollard Pull Tug for Ocean Sparkle ▪ This vessel is the lead ship of its class and was
Ltd, an Adani company built at the Cochin Shipyard.
▪ Purpose: To hunt submarines, conduct coastal
patrols, and secure India's maritime
approaches - operate as a “silent hunter” on
the western seaboard.
▪ The ship’s crest features the ‘Urumi’, a flexible
Kalaripayattu sword symbolising agility,
precision, and lethal grace.
▪ Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited (UCSL), a
wholly owned subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard Indigenous stealth frigate ‘Taragiri’
Limited (CSL), launched the first tug in a series delivered to the Indian
of three 70-tonne bollard pull tugs. Navy
▪ The tugs are being built for M/s. Ocean ▪ The fourth indigenous
Sparkle Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Ports & advanced stealth frigate
SEZ. of the Nilgiri-class
(Project 17A),
Indian Navy commissioned INS Ikshak into named 'Taragiri', was
the service at Naval Base in Kochi delivered to the Indian
Navy on November 28,
2025, by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd
(MDL) in Mumbai
▪ Reincarnation of old INS Taragiri – a Leander-
class frigate in service 1980 –2013.
▪ Taragiri designed by: Warship Design Bureau
(WDB).
▪ Project 17A features:
▪ Ceremony presided over by Chief of the Naval ▪ More advanced weapon and sensor
Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi. suite than P17 (Shivalik) Class.
▪ The ship is the third vessel of the Survey ▪ Uses CODOG – Combined Diesel or Gas
Vessel Large (SVL) class and is designed to propulsion.
conduct high-precision hydrographic surveys The construction of the seven frigates under Project
of deep and coastal waters 17A is split between two shipyards:

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▪ Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) is ▪ Range: Up to 70 km.
building four ships: Nilgiri, Udaygiri, Taragiri, ▪ Jamming-resistant; can be launched from low
and Mahendragiri. altitudes over rough terrain.
▪ Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers ▪ Hard to intercept; can penetrate fortified
(GRSE) in Kolkata is building the remaining structures.
three: Himgiri, Dunagiri, and Vindhyagiri. ▪ Precision-guided, high accuracy; compatible
with Rafale and LCA Tejas.
INS Savitri
▪ INS Savitri arrived at Port Louis, Mauritius on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Unveils
long-range operational deployment to the First Tejas LCA Mk1A from HAL’s New
South-West Indian Ocean.
Nashik Production Line
▪ INS Savitri: Indigenously-built Offshore Patrol
Vessel (OPV)
▪ Builder: Mazagon Dock Ltd., Mumbai
▪ Commissioned: 7 June 1990
▪ Command: Eastern Naval Command,
Visakhapatnam
▪ Roles & Capability : Aerial surveillance; Search
& Rescue (SAR); Maritime security operations

Indian Army inducts indigenous ‘Saksham’

Counter-UAS grid to secure Tactical
Battlefield Space
▪ The Indian Army has initiated procurement of
the indigenously developed ‘Saksham’ ▪ The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A
Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) Grid took its maiden flight from Hindustan
System. Aeronautics Ltd’s (HAL) Nashik facility, in the
▪ SAKSHAM - The Situational Awareness for presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Kinetic Soft and Hard Kill Assets Management ▪ This third production line for the Tejas Mk1A,
▪ It is developed by Bharat Electronics Limited along with the existing two in Bengaluru,
(BEL). increases HAL's total production capacity to 24
▪ It ensures comprehensive airspace security aircraft per year.
includes the Air Littoral (airspace up to 3,000 ▪ Enhanced Capabilities: The Mk1A is a 4.5-
metres, or 10,000 feet, above ground level). generation multi-role fighter jet with
advanced features, including improved combat
avionics, an advanced electronically scanned
BEL and Safran enters JV to Manufacture array (AESA) radar, and air-to-air refuelling
HAMMER Precision-Guided Weapon in capabilities, designed to replace the Indian Air
India Force's aging MiG-21 fleet.
▪ Recently, Bharat
Electronics Limited (BEL) Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA)
and Safran Electronics standard 1.0
and Defence (SED),
▪ IRSA 1.0 is India’s first national software
French aerospace and architecture specification for SDRs (Software
defence company, signed Defined Radios).
a joint venture
▪ Developed to create a unified, interoperable,
cooperation agreement for the production of
and secure communication system for the
the HAMMER Weapon System in India. Indian military.
▪ The HAMMER (Highly Agile and Manoeuvrable ▪ It provides a common software architecture
Munition Extended Range) - is an air-to-ground
for all military SDRs, ensuring they can
precision-guided weapon system
▪ It is also known as a glide bomb.
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communicate with each other regardless of ▪ Manufacturer: Larsen & Toubro (L&T)
the manufacturer. ▪ Facility: L&T's Armoured Systems Complex in
▪ Launched by: Defence Research and Hazira
Development Organisation (DRDO) in ▪ Collaborator: BAE Systems, providing technical
collaboration with Integrated Defence Staff and design support
(IDS) and the Tri-Services.
Integrated Drone
Pravaig Launches ‘VEER’, India’s First Detection and Interdiction
Electric Vehicle Designed for Defence System (Mark-2)
Operations ▪ India will procure 16
indigenous Mark-2
counter-drone systems for
the Army and IAF.
▪ Mark-2 counter-drone systems- advanced
platform to detect, track, and neutralise
hostile drones using sensors, jammers, and
▪ VEER is an all-terrain electric tactical vehicle
high-energy lasers.
(E-TATV) developed by Pravaig (India).
▪ These systems are capable of using a 10 kW
▪ Touted as the world’s first operational EV for
laser to engage drones up to 2 km away, and
tactical defence use.
they integrate multiple sensors with AI-
▪ Designed for military mobility in challenging
enabled algorithms.
terrains.
▪ Developed by: DRDO (CHESS- Centre for High
▪ Successfully completed military trials.
Energy Systems & Sciences lab),Hyderabad - in
▪ Recognised under iDEX (Innovations for
collaboration with the Armed Forces.
Defence Excellence) by Defence Innovation
Organisation (MoD).
India-US Deal for MH-60R Seahawk
Ministry of Defence & BDL sign Rs Helicopter
▪ India signed a ₹7,995-crore follow-on support
2,095.70 crore contract for INVAR Anti- deal with the U.S. for 24 MH-60R Seahawks
tank missiles Helicopters for five years.
▪ Ministry of Defence signed a contract with ▪ Also called: “Romeo”; a state-of-the-art naval
Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) to procure helicopter.
INVAR Anti-tank Missiles for ₹2,095.70 crore ▪ Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin (USA).
under ‘Buy (Indian)’. ▪ All-weather capability with advanced avionics
▪ The missiles will boost the firepower and and sensors.
lethality of T-90 tanks, the Indian Army’s key ▪ Multi mission: It is designed for anti-
armoured platform. submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare
▪ INVAR is a laser-guided anti-tank missile with (ASuW), maritime surveillance, search and
very high hit probability - capable of destroying rescue, medical evacuation, and ship-borne
armored vehicles up to 5 km away. operations.
▪ Weapons: Equipped with Mk-54 torpedoes for
L&T to produce armoured vehicle BvS10 detection, tracking & engagement of
Sindhu for Indian Army at Hazira facility submarines.
▪ Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T)
Hazira (Gujarat) and BAE India to Recreate Ancient Sea Route as
Systems recently bagged a INSV Kaundinya Prepares for Historic
contract from the Indian Muscat Voyage
Army
▪ Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Kaundinya is India’s
▪ for supply of BvS10
‘stitched ship’, sailed from Naval Base Karwar
Sindhu – a specialised all-
terrain armoured vehicle
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▪ A local Naga clan — led by warrior queen
Soma — then surrounded the crew.
Outnumbered and facing certain defeat,
Kaundinya organised a defence.
▪ Their fortunes turned when Soma fell in love
with Kaundinya and proposed marriage. The
couple went on to establish the kingdom of
Funan.

Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command decided to add

two warships in 2026
to Porbandar. It is crewed by 16 Indian Navy ▪ Eastern Naval Command (ENC) Flag Officer
personnel. Commanding-in-Chief Vice Admiral Sanjay
▪ From Porbandar, it will sail to Oman on Bhalla announced that the ENC will welcome
December 29. two new warships to its fleet in January 2026.
▪ Voyage retraces ancient maritime trade routes The two vessels are:
to revive India’s maritime heritage. ▪ Taragiri, a Nilgiri-class stealth guided-missile
▪ Ship design based on a 5th-century vessel frigate
shown in Ajanta cave paintings. Recreated ▪ Anjadip, an anti-submarine warfare shallow
using traditional stitching techniques. water craft.
▪ Built by Kerala artisans and traditional
shipwrights. Indian Navy to Commission First
▪ Materials used: coconut fibre stitching, Indigenous Diving Support Craft ‘DSC A20’
wooden joinery, coir rope, natural resins.
▪ Propulsion: cotton sails (no modern engines).
▪ Inducted into Indian Navy in May; trials
conducted at Karwar.
▪ Project executed via tripartite agreement:
Indian Navy ; Ministry of Culture ; Hodi
Innovations (OPC) Pvt Ltd, Goa
▪ Sails carry motifs of Gandabherunda (two-
headed eagle, Kadamba dynasty insignia) and
the Sun.
▪ Simha Yali ▪ The Indian Navy will commission Diving
carved on Support Craft (DSC) A20, at Kochi under the
the bow. aegis of Southern Naval Command.
▪ Harappan- About Diving Support Craft A20
style stone ▪ It is the first vessel of the indigenously
anchor designed and constructed Diving Support
placed Craft.
symbolically ▪ DSC A20 is the lead ship in a series of five
on deck. Diving Support Craft being built by M/s
▪ Named Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata.
after ▪ Purpose: It is built for a wide spectrum of
Kaundinya, diving and underwater missions in coastal
a legendary waters.
Indian mariner. Features of Diving Support Craft A20
▪ Around 2,000 years ago, Kaundinya sailed ▪ It is equipped with advanced, state-of-the-art
near the Mekong Delta (southern Vietnam). diving systems that meet the highest
▪ The ship came under attack from pirates. While standards of safety and operational efficiency.
Kaundinya and the crew fought them off, the ▪ Capacity: It has a displacement capacity of
ship was damaged and had to be beached for approximately 390 tons.
repairs.

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▪ It is designed and built in accordance with the ▪ ICGS Vigraha - indigenously built, 98-
Naval Rules and Regulations of the Indian meter Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV)
Register of Shipping (IRS), commissioned in August 2021, based in
▪ DSC A20 will be based at Kochi and operate Visakhapatnam, serving the Eastern Seaboard
under Southern Naval Command. for EEZ surveillance, maritime law
enforcement, and SAR;
INS Gharial Deployed as Part of Operation ▪ it's the 7th in the Vikram-class
▪ Indigenously built by L&T Ship Building
Sagar Bandhu
Limited
▪ The Indian Navy recently deployed INS Gharial
and three other vessels as part of the ongoing
Operation Sagar Bandhu for offering India Set to Induct INS Aridhaman Nuclear
humanitarian assistance and relief to the Submarine
cyclone-affected regions of Sri Lanka. ▪ India is set to
About INS Gharial commission INS
▪ INS Gharial (L23) is a Magar-class amphibious Aridaman, its third
warfare vessel of the Indian Navy. indigenous nuclear-
▪ It is the second indigenously built Landing powered ballistic
Ship Tank (Large). missile
▪ It was built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited and submarine (SSBN), with
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers. Navy Chief Admiral
▪ It is one of the largest ships of the Indian Dinesh K.
Navy. ▪ It is part of the Arihant-class nuclear
▪ It was commissioned on 14 Feb 1997 and is submarines under the Strategic Forces
part of the Eastern Fleet under the Eastern Command,
Naval Command. ▪ Constructed under the Advanced Technology
▪ It is capable of carrying two helicopters, one in Vessel (ATV) Project, led by: Ship Building
the hangar and one on deck, 10 Vijayanta tanks Centre, Visakhapatnam
in her underbelly, and four Landing ▪ It integrates over 90% indigenous
Craft Assault (LCA) slung aloft. components, including its nuclear reactor.
▪ It is also armed with guns and rocket History of India’s Nuclear Submarine Programme:
launchers, which are used to “soften up” a ▪ Initiated under the Advanced Technology
hostile beach before the tanks go in and the Vessel programme in the late 1980s to achieve
LCAs charge in with assault troops a credible underwater nuclear deterrent.
▪ INS Arihant (launched 2009, commissioned
Indian Coast Guard Ship Vigraha on 2016) made India the 6th nation with
operational SSBN capability.
operational visit to Jakarta, Indonesia
▪ INS Arighat followed in 2024.
▪ Indian Coast Guard
▪ INS Aridaman will be the third operational
Ship (ICGS)
SSBN, marking the first time India will have a
Vigraha is
minimum rotation fleet for continuous at-sea
undertaking an
deterrence.
operational three
day visit to
Jakarta, Indonesia, ICG ship Sarthak makes first port call at
as part of its Iran’s Chabahar
Overseas ▪ The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship Sarthak, an
Deployment to Offshore Patrol Vessel(OPV), recently made a
ASEAN countries. port call at Chabahar, Iran.
▪ Upon completion of the Jakarta leg, ICGS About ICGS Sarthak
Vigraha will sail to Port Klang, Malaysia, ▪ Fourth of five OPVs built by Goa Shipyard
continuing its operational deployment to Limited for the Indian Coast Guard.
ASEAN countries. ▪ Commissioned: 28 October 2021.

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▪ It is a four-engine
turboprop military
transport aircraft.
▪ It was developed
by Lockheed
Martin, a US
security and
aerospace
company.
▪ It is the US Air
Force’s principal
tactical cargo and personnel transport aircraft.
▪ It is the current variant of the C-130 Hercules
and is the airlifter of choice for 26 operators in
▪ Propulsion: Two 9100-kW diesel engines | Max 22 nations.
speed: 26 knots. ▪ The Indian Air Force (IAF) currently operates
▪ Role: Multi-mission OPV for maritime security, 12 C-130J Super Hercules
and marine environment protection.
▪ Base: Porbandar, Gujarat | Area: Western HAMMER precision-guided weapon
seaboard.
(AASM)
▪ India has signed a pact with France’s Safran to
Launch of Production Version of Hansa-3 jointly manufacture, customise, supply and
(NG) Trainer Aircraft maintain the HAMMER (AASM) precision-
▪ Recently, the guided air-to-ground weapon in India through
CSIR-National a 50–50 JV with BEL.
Aerospace
▪ HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition
Laboratories
Extended Range), also known as AASM(
(NAL),
Armement Air-Sol Modulaire), is a stand-
Bengaluru,
off, precision-guided air-to-ground
launched a “production version” of the
weapon that converts conventional bombs into
indigenous Hansa-3(NG) trainer aircraft.
high-accuracy strike systems through modular
About Hansa-3 (NG) Trainer Aircraft
guidance and propulsion kits.
▪ It is India’s first indigenous flying trainer
Developed by:
aircraft.
▪ Developed by Safran Electronics & Defense
▪ Designed and Developed by CSIR-National
(France).
Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bangalore,
▪ In India, it will be jointly manufactured
under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and
by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran
Industrial Research (CSIR).
through a 50:50 joint venture.
Features of Hansa-3 (NG) Trainer Aircraft
▪ Two-seater, low-wing aircraft.
▪ Performance: 620 nautical miles range, 7 hours
endurance
▪ Suitable for Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
training due to low cost and low fuel
consumption.

The C-130J Super Hercules aircraft

A new defence Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul
(MRO) facility to support the C-130J Super Hercules
aircraft will be established in Bengaluru.
About C-130J Super Hercules

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Key features: fleet at the 451 Army Aviation Squadron based
▪ Modular design: Consists of a nose-mounted in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
guidance kit and a tail-mounted range- About AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopter/Apache
extension kit, fitted onto standard bomb Guardian
bodies (125 kg to 1,000 kg, including Mk-80 ▪ It is the world’s most advanced multi-role
series). combat helicopter.
▪ Multiple guidance options: INS-GPS (all- ▪ It is widely used for advanced reconnaissance,
weather), INS-GPS-IR (high-precision fixed precision strikes, and close air support missions
targets), and laser guidance (moving targets). globally.
▪ High precision: Circular Error Probability ranges ▪ Country of Origin: United States ;
from ~10 m (INS-GPS) to ~1 m (IR-guided). Manufacturer: Boeing
▪ Platform flexibility: Integrated on Rafale and ▪ Other purchasers: India, Egypt, Greece,
planned for Tejas, enabling a common Indonesia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait,
precision-strike capability across imported and Netherlands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,
indigenous aircraft. UAE, and UK.

Indian Navy commissions second MH-60R Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE)
helicopter squadron INAS 335 at INS Drones
Hansa, Goa ▪ India has fast-tracked
the ₹20,000 crore
procurement of 87
Medium Altitude Long
Endurance (MALE)
drones from domestic
firms to strengthen border surveillance.
▪ MALE drones are unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs) that operate at medium altitudes (up
to ~35,000 feet) and are capable of sustained
▪ The Indian Navy commissions its second MH flights for over 30 hours.
60R helicopter squadron, INAS 335 ▪ They are used for Intelligence, Surveillance,
(Ospreys) ,It is the world’s most advanced Reconnaissance (ISR) and limited combat
maritime helicopter and the U.S. Navy’s missions.
primary anti-submarine and surface warfare ▪ Develpoed Under the Make in India initiative –
helicopter, specially designed for all aspects of indigenous 60%
land or maritime operations. ▪ Previously, such drones were sourced
▪ Manufactured by US defence major Lockheed from Israeli firms
Martin and it is an all-weather helicopter.
▪ Indian Navy induction: 24 MH-60R helicopters
Indian Army Successfully Tests Rudrastra
ordered in 2020 for ₹14,000+ crore; deliveries
started 2022, completion by 2025. VTOL Drone for Precision Strikes
▪ Crew & capacity: 3–4 flight crew + 5 ▪ Rudrastra, India’s latest homegrown battlefield
passengers. tech marvel, successfully tested by the Indian
▪ Performance: Max speed – 267 km/h; Range – Army.
454 km. ▪ The trials were held at the Pokhran firing
▪ Weapons: Torpedoes, air-to-ground missiles, range.
rockets, crew-served guns. ▪ Solar Aerospace and Defence Limited (SDAL)
successfully tested its UAV, Rudrastra.
AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters ▪ Rudrastra has a total range of 170 km,
including loitering over target areas, with an
Received By India endurance of nearly 1.5 hours.
▪ The Indian Army recently received the final ▪ The drone deploys airburst munitions from
batch of three AH-64E Apache attack high altitudes, capable of destroying targets
helicopters from USA, completing its six-unit over a wide radius.

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command hubs — without breaching hostile
airspace.
▪ The I-STAR
project aims to
procure three
aircraft from
global aviation
majors —
candidates
include Boeing
and Bombardier
— which will
▪ Drones showcased the capability to take down then be
targets over a range of 50 km. equipped with
indigenous sensor and electronic systems
developed by DRDO’s Centre for Airborne
Dassault Aviation partners with Tata
Systems (CABS).
Advanced Systems for Rafale fighter
fuselage production in India HAROP – India’s Kamikaze Drone

• HAROP is an advanced loitering munition (or

▪ Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems suicide/kamikaze drone) developed by Israel
Limited have signed four Production Transfer Aerospace Industries (IAI).
Agreements to manufacture the Rafale fighter • Combines the functions of both a missile and
aircraft fuselage for India and other global a UAV — it loiters over an area, selects a
markets. target, and crashes into it with an explosive
▪ Under the agreement, Tata Advanced Systems payload.
will set up a production facility in Hyderabad • It is designed to destroy high-value
for the manufacture of key structural sections targets like radars, command posts, tanks,
of Rafale SAMs, and even moving assets.
▪ The first fuselage sections are likely to roll off • Unlike conventional precision-guided missiles
the assembly line in 2028 that require exact target coordinates, HAROPs
▪ For the first time, Rafale fuselages will be can search, track, and engage dynamically.
produced outside France. Key Technical Features:
• Electro-optical (EO) sensor allows real-
IAF set to get Rs. 10,000 Cr I-STAR Spy time visual identification and target
Aircrafts acquisition.
▪ The Indian Air Force is on the brink of acquiring • Endurance of up to 9 hours, enabling wide-
advanced I-STAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, area scanning and deep-target strikes.
Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) • Can be launched from truck-mounted
aircraft through a Rs 10,000 crore project soon canisters, naval vessels, or fixed ground
to be cleared by the government. platforms.
▪ These high-altitude platforms are engineered • Capable of operating in GNSS-denied
to detect, track, and target enemy positions — environments (immune to GPS jamming).
radar stations, mobile air defense units, and • It has autonomous and manual attack
capabilities with a fire-and-forget profile.

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ICG Ship Amulya commissioned at Goa ▪ The vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art
technology, including a 30 millimetre CRN-91
gun, two 12.7 millimetre stabilised remote-
controlled guns with integrated fire control
systems,
▪ Samudra Pratap is the first Pollution Control
Vessel in the ICG fleet to feature a retractable
stern thruster, Dynamic Positioning System,
and flush-type side sweeping arms.

Indian Navy Receives New ASW Shallow

Water Craft ‘Anjadip’

▪ The Indian Coast Guard commissioned ICGS

Amulya, a new-generation Fast Patrol Vessel,
at Goa.
▪ ICGS Amulya is the third vessel in the Adamya-
class Fast Patrol Vessels for the Indian Coast
Guard, designed for rapid response and
extended maritime operations.
▪ Designer & Builder: Goa Shipyard Limited
(GSL)
▪ Indigenisation: >60% indigenous components,
reflecting Make-in-India and defence self-
reliance.
▪ Dimensions: 51-metre Fast Patrol Vessel
▪ Propulsion: Two advanced 3000 KW diesel
engines
▪ ‘Anjadip’, the third of eight ASW SWC (Anti-
▪ Speed: Up to 27 knots ; Endurance: 1,500
Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft), was
nautical miles
delivered to the Indian Navy at Chennai.
▪ Indigenously designed & built by Garden
Indian Coast Guard Inducts First Pollution Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Kolkata
Control Vessel Samudra Pratap at Goa under PPP with L&T Shipyard Kattupalli (TN),
Shipyard Limited as per Indian Register of Shipping rules.
▪ Named after Anjadip Island (off Karwar);
reincarnation of the earlier Petya-class INS
Anjadip (decommissioned 2003).
▪ ~77 m long; largest Indian warships with
waterjet propulsion.

INS Sindhughosh is decommissioned after

40 years of service
▪ INS Sindhughosh, the lead submarine of her
class with the Indian Navy, has been
decommissioned after 40 years of glorious
▪ Samudra Pratap is the first indigenously service to the nation, the Western Naval
designed and built Pollution Control Vessel of Command
the Indian Coast Guard.

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▪ Precision guidance: Guided rocket with
advanced navigation and control
ensuring textbook accuracy on targets.

Indian naval sailing vessel Kaundinya sails

on maiden overseas voyage to Oman

▪ The decommissioning ceremony was held at

the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai
▪ Commissioned in 1985

DRDO successfully tests 120-km strike

range Pinaka rockets

▪ Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Kaundinya is India’s

‘stitched ship’, sailed from Naval Base Karwar
to Porbandar. It is crewed by 16 Indian Navy
personnel.
▪ From Porbandar, it was sailed to Oman on
December 29.
▪ Voyage retraces ancient maritime trade routes
▪ DRDO has successfully conducted the maiden
to revive India’s maritime h eritage.
flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided
▪ Ship design based on a 5th-century vessel
Rocket (LRGR-120) at ITR Chandipur.
shown in Ajanta cave paintings. Recreated
▪ The Pinaka LRGR-120 is an indigenously
using traditional stitching techniques.
developed, precision-guided rocket variant of
▪ Built by Kerala artisans and traditional
the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket system,
shipwrights.
designed for long-range, high-accuracy strikes.
▪ Project executed via tripartite agreement:
▪ Developed by: Armament Research and
Indian Navy ; Ministry of Culture ; Hodi
Development Establishment (ARDE), DRDO in
Innovations (OPC) Pvt Ltd, Goa
association with High Energy Materials
▪ Sails carry motifs of Gandabherunda (two-
Research Laboratory (HEMRL).
headed eagle, Kadamba dynasty insignia) and
Aim:
the Sun.
▪ To extend the strike range of the Pinaka system
▪ Simha Yali carved on the bow.
▪ To provide precision-guided firepower with
▪ Harappan-style stone anchor placed
minimal collateral damage
symbolically on deck.
▪ To enhance operational flexibility using existing
▪ Named after Kaundinya, a legendary Indian
Pinaka launchers
mariner.
Key features:
▪ Extended range: Capable of striking targets up
to 120 km, significantly increasing battlefield
reach.

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DEFENCE CONFERENCES
1. Eurodrone Indian Navy Chiefs’ Conclave 2025
2. Aero India 2025 ▪ The Indian Navy Chiefs' Conclave was held at the Naval
3. 7th India Japan Maritime Affairs Headquarters, New Delhi from 08 - 09 Feb 25.
4. 5th Coast Guard Global Summit ▪ The aim of the Conclave was to gain from the collective
5. 22nd Shangri La Dialogue experience and knowledge of the former Chiefs, and also
update them on the latest developments and policy
initiatives of the Navy.
▪ A Book titled “Legacy of Leadership: Naval Chiefs through
Time” was released , chronicling the inspiring journeys of
former Chiefs of Naval Staff.

India Joins Eurodrone Programme as ▪ Conceived as a “European Programme for

European Sovereignty,” the initiative was
Observer
founded in 2022 and passed its preliminary
design review (PDR) in 2024.
▪ The drones are expected to enter service by
2030.
▪ OCCAR-executive administration director
Joachim Sucker has handed over the letter of
approval (LoA) to Ajit Gupte, India’s
ambassador to Germany.
▪ India has, as an ▪ India follows Japan, which became the first
observer state, official OCCAR observer state in the
officially joined the programme in November 2023.
Medium Altitude ▪ As a Eurodrone observer state, India will gain
Long Endurance access to technical information about the
Remotely Piloted advanced drone system, while also fostering
Aircraft System closer defense ties with European nations,
(MALE RPAS) or and potentially paving the way for future
Eurodrone technology transfers and joint ventures in the
programme aerospace sector
▪ Eurodrone is a 4-nation development ▪ However, as an observer, India won't be
programme of Germany, France, Italy and involved in the design or development
Spain, led by the Organisation for Joint decisions of the Eurodrone program itself
Armament Cooperation (OCCAR).
▪ Germany takes the role of Lead Nation for the PM Modi addressed annual NCC PM Rally
programme.
at Cariappa Parade Ground
▪ Airbus Defence and Space (GER) is the
▪ on 27th January
Industrial Prime
2025
▪ The Eurodrone is a remotely piloted aircraft
▪ Theme for NCC PM
system (RPAS) designed for long-endurance
Rally: ‘Yuva Shakti,
missions such as intelligence, surveillance,
Viksit Bharat’
target acquisition, and reconnaissance
▪ A total of 2361 NCC
(ISTAR), maritime surveillance, anti-submarine
cadets participated
warfare, and airborne early warning.
in the Republic Day
▪ maximum mission payload of 2.3 tonnes and
Camp this year
an endurance period of up to 40 hours
which included 917

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girl cadets, which was the highest ever ▪ This development was prominently showcased
participation by girls cadets. during Operation Sindoor in 2025.
▪ Participation by 144 young cadets from 18 ▪ The Indian Army used SAMBHAV-enabled
friendly foreign countries smartphones instead of foreign apps, ensuring
secure and encrypted communication free
Indian Army to host ‘Know Your Army’ from external surveillance.
▪ Launched in 2023, SAMBHAV is India’s first
mela from January 3 to 5
secure mobile communication platform
▪ The Indian Army is set to host the ‘Know Your
designed specifically for defence use.
Army’ Mela 2025 at Golconda Fort from
▪ It operates independently of commercial
January 3 to 5.
networks and supports real-time connectivity
▪ This initiative aims to bridge the gap between
through 5G-enabled devices.
civilians and the armed forces by providing an
▪ The system uses multi-layer encryption to
experience into the Indian Army’s
prevent hostile surveillance or cyber-attacks.
technological capabilities and operational
▪ Its core application, M-Sigma, offers encrypted
readiness.
messaging, file sharing, and multimedia
exchange.
Aero India 2025 Air Show In Bengaluru ▪ SAMBHAV is network-agnostic, meaning it
▪ Raksha Mantri works securely across different communication
inaugurates infrastructures without compromising data
15th edition of integrity.
Aero India -
Asia’s biggest 7th India-Japan Maritime Affairs Dialogue
aerospace & defence exhibition
▪ Aero India is a biennial air show and aviation held in Tokyo, Japan
exhibition held in Bengaluru, India, at the ▪ India-Japan discuss ways to sustain secure
Yelahanka Air Force Station. maritime environment conducive for inclusive
▪ 15th edition From 10th-14th February, 2025 growth
▪ Organised by the Defence Exhibition ▪ The Indian delegation was led by Joint
Organisation, Department of Defence Secretary (Disarmament & International
Production, Ministry of Defence. Security Affairs) Muanpuii Saiawi and the
▪ the 5-day event will witness the participation Japan delegation was led by Deputy Director-
of Government Representatives, Industry General Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau
Leaders, Air Force Officers, Scientists, Defence Kashiwabara Yutaka.
Sector Experts, Start-ups, Academia & other
stakeholders from all across the globe India will host 5th Coast Guard Global
▪ Budget 2025-26 - record allocation of Rs 6.81 Summit 2027
lakh crore to Ministry of Defence
▪ 2025 - ‘Year of Reforms’ in the Ministry of
Defence

SAMBHAV Secures Military

Communications
▪ India has made leap
in defence
technology with the
deployment of
SAMBHAV, its first
fully indigenous
secure mobile
communication
system. ▪ India will host the 5th Coast Guard Global
Summit (CGGS) in Chennai in 2027, aligning

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with the Golden Jubilee of the Indian Coast MoD to Host First Tri-Services Seminar
Guard (50th anniversary).
“Ran Samwad” at Army War College,
▪ Decision was taken unanimously at the 4th
CGGS held in Rome, Italy on 11-12 September Mhow on Technology and Future Warfare
2025 ▪ The Ministry of Defence is organising a first-of-
▪ Aim of Coast Guard Global Summit: its-kind Tri-Services Seminar, “Ran Samwad-
▪ Strengthen global maritime Conversations on War, Warfare, and
cooperation and interoperability. Warfighting,” at the Army War College in
▪ Promote trust-building, information Mhow (Dr. Ambedkar Nagar).
exchange, and collective response to ▪ Scheduled from the 26th to the 27th of this
maritime threats. month
About Indian Coast Guard (ICG) - static ▪ the seminar will focus on the Impact of
▪ India’s maritime law enforcement, search & Technology on Warfare with two sub-themes:
rescue, and coastal security agency. Emerging Technologies and Impact on Future
▪ It works under the Ministry of Defence. Warfare and Reforms in Institutionalised
▪ Recognised as the fourth armed force of India Training to Catalyse Technological Enablement.
▪ Motto: “Vayam Rakshamah” (We Protect).
▪ Concept evolved after the Nag Committee Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi
Report (1970). Inaugurates ‘Agnishodh’ Research Cell at
▪ Reinforced by the K.F. Rustamji Committee
(1974)- recommended a dedicated maritime
IIT Madras
force to check smuggling, illegal fishing, and ▪ The Indian Army has
pollution control in India’s waters. joined hands with the
▪ 1977 – Established on 1 February 1977 Indian Institute of
▪ Inaugurated on 19 August 1978 by PM Morarji Technology (IIT)
Desai at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. Madras to
▪ First Director General: Vice Admiral V.A. establish ‘Agnishodh’,
Kamath. the Indian Army
Research Cell (IARC) on
the IIT Madras campus.
India to Form Tri-Services Education ▪ The research facility was formally inaugurated
Corps, Establish Joint Military Stations by General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the
▪ Decision taken at Army Staff (COAS), during his two-day visit to
the Combined Chennai.
Commanders’
Conference (CCC) CENJOWS to Inaugurate First Annual
2025 in Kolkata,
held 15-17
Trident Lecture Series in New Delhi
September ▪ The
▪ The education
wings of the
Indian Army, Navy,
and Air Force will be merged into a single
unified body, called the Tri-Services Education
Corps.
▪ Purpose: Purpose: Increase jointness, reduce
duplication, optimize infrastructure & Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS)
administration, and improve resource will inaugurate the first Annual Trident Lecture
utilisation across all three services Series (ATLS) at the Manekshaw Centre, Delhi
▪ Three “Joint Military Stations” will be Cantt on August 05, 2025.
established around the country. ▪ Anchored on the theme ‘Dominating the
Future Battlespace’,

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22nd Shangri-La Dialogue India Participates in 4th Coast Guard

Global Summit in Rome; Bids to Host Next
Edition in 2027
▪ In the 4th Coast
Guard Global
Summit (CGGS)
held in Rome,
Italy, from
▪ 22nd edition of the Shangri-La Dialogue will September 11-
take place in Singapore between 30 May and 1 12, 2025
June 2025 ▪ A two-member
▪ It is held in June every year in Singapore's Indian ICG
Shangri-La Hotel. delegation, led
• It is organized by the International Institute by Director
for Strategic Studies (IISS) London, UK, and co- General ICG Paramesh Sivamani delivered a
organized by Singapore's Ministry of Defence. lecture
▪ French President Emmanuel Macron delivered ▪ ICG also announced its intent to bid for the
the Keynote Address Presidency of the 5th CGGS, planned to be
▪ Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan hosted in India in 2027.
will visit Singapore to attend it ▪ First convened in 2017 by the Japan Coast
▪ It is Asia’s premier defence and security Guard and the Nippon Foundation, the CGGS
summit that brings together defence ministers, has evolved into a vital mechanism for
military chiefs, policymakers and strategic dialogue and confidence-building.
experts across the globe.
▪ Started in 2002 16th India-Singapore Defence Working
Group meeting held in Singapore
PM Modi Inaugurated 16th Combined ▪ Held on September 04, 2025 - was co-chaired
Commanders’ Conference by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation),
Ministry of Defence, India Amitabh Prasad and
Director, Policy Office, Ministry of Defence,
Singapore Col Daxson Yap.
▪ The meeting reviewed the progress on the
implementation of decisions taken during the
last Defence Ministers’ Dialogue and various
bilateral defence cooperation initiatives.
▪ Three-day Combined Commanders’ Conference
▪ Over the years, Singapore has become a
(CCC) at the Eastern Command headquarters
leading source of Foreign Direct Investment
of the Indian Army at Vijay Durg, the erstwhile
(FDI) into India, contributing a cumulative USD
Fort William, in Kolkata
160 billion since 2000.
▪ The 16th Combined Commanders’ Conference
(CCC) is scheduled from 15 September to 17
September 2025. INS Rajali
▪ The 16th edition, theme is ‘Year of Reforms – NEWS: The Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command
Transforming for the Future.’ recently hosted a two-day seminar on long-range
▪ The CCC, a biennial event, is the apex maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) at INS Rajali,
brainstorming forum of the armed forces. Arakkonam.
▪ The last CCC was held in Bhopal in 2023. ▪ It is an Indian Naval Air Station located near
Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu.
▪ It was commissioned on March 11, 1992.
▪ It was named as ‘Rajali’, named after an
aggressive bird of the Hawk family,
predominant in the Tamil Nadu coastal belt.

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▪ INS Rajali is the most modern and largest Naval Indian Army hosted the United Nations
Air Station, with a garrison strength of 4,700
Troop Contributing Countries (UNTCC)
personnel.
▪ It contributes towards two very distinct tasks – Chiefs’ Conclave from 14 to 16 October
Operations and Training. 2025 in New Delhi.
▪ It operates under the Eastern Naval Command
of the Indian Navy and has the longest military
runway in Asia.
▪ It is home to the navy’s INAS 312 squadron.
Apart from hosting the P8I fleet, it also
operates MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones.
▪ INS Rajali is also home to the navy’s Helicopter
Training School. ▪ The event brought together senior military
leaders from 32 nations involved in UN
India To Host 60th DGP–IGP Conference peacekeeping operations to discuss challenges,
enhance cooperation, and strengthen future
peacekeeping efforts

Swavlamban 2025
▪ Launched in 2022, Swavlamban is a key
defence innovation platform.
▪ India will convene its 60th Director General of ▪ Swavlamban 2025 refers to the 4th edition of
Police and Inspector General of Police the Indian Navy's Naval Innovation and
Conference from 28 to 30 November at the Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar,
Indian Institute of Management, Raipur, which took place on November 25-26, 2025, in
Chhattisgarh. New Delhi.
▪ Theme of the Conference: ‘Viksit Bharat: ▪ The event served as a platform for innovators,
Security Dimensions’ startups, and industry leaders to collaborate
▪ The conference will prioritise the government’s and develop indigenous solutions to address
target of completely eradicating Naxalism by the challenges faced by the Navy.
31 March 2026. ▪ Its theme was "Strength and Power through
▪ Top national leaders including the PM, Home Innovation and Indigenisation," and it
Minister and NSA attended the meet. included exhibitions, technology dialogues, and
▪ Focus areas include LWE eradication, tech- funding forums to drive self-reliance in defense
driven policing and enhanced intelligence
sharing. USI Hosts 3rd Annual Indian Military
Heritage Festival (IMHF) in New Delhi
7th Colombo Security Conclave NSAs ▪ United Service
Meeting in New Delhi Institution of
▪ 7th Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) National India (USI)
Security Advisers (NSA) Meeting was held hosted the 3rd
on November 20, 2025, in New Delhi, India, IMHF at New
hosted by India's NSA, Ajit Doval Delhi, 14–15 Nov
Colombo Security Conclave 2025.
▪ Background : Origin in 2011 Trilateral Maritime ▪ Focus: military
Security Dialogue heritage,
▪ Founding members: India, Sri Lanka, Maldives. strategic & security issues, and emerging
▪ Mauritius: Joined 2022 ; Bangladesh: Joined defence ideas.
2024 ;Seychelles: Observer ; Malaysia: Guest ▪ The festival was inaugurated by Raksha Rajya
▪ Permanent Secretariat: Colombo Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth and saw the
participation of Chief of Defence Staff General
Anil Chauhan

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Third edition of the Indian Army’s seminar ▪ China holds the SCO chair for 2025 under the
theme “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on
‘Chanakya Defence Dialogue-2025’ , in
the Move.”
New Delhi
India Refuses To Sign SCO Joint Statement
For Not Explicitly Addressing Concerns
Over Pakistan-Sponsored Terrorism
▪ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has reportedly
refused to sign the joint statement of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
▪ The President of India, graced the inaugural
▪ The defence minister refused to dot India's
session
name on the document due to its failure to
▪ Theme “Reform to Transform: Sashakt,
address India's concern regarding cross-border
Surakshit aur Viksit Bharat.”
terrorism.
▪ It will serve as a regular forum, bringing
▪ Mr. Singh refused to sign document as it did
together top minds from the global defense
not mention anything about Pahalgam terror
and strategic sectors to facilitate the exchange
attack but mentioned about militant activities
of insights and ideas.
in Balochistan.
▪ It is an intergovernmental political, economic,
Raksha Mantri to participate in SCO and security alliance founded in 2001 by
Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
China Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
▪ The first summit was held in Shanghai, China,
in 2001.
▪ The official working language of the SCO
Secretariat is Russian and Chinese.
▪ India was given observer status in 2005 and in
2017, India joined the SCO with full
membership status.
▪ Also, India, under its first-ever presidency of
SCO, hosted the meeting on virtual format in
2023.

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted its

two-day inaugural Flight Safety Seminar
along with the First
Annual Flight Safety
Meeting in New Delhi
▪ The Indian Coast
▪ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to lead a Guard (ICG)
high-level Indian delegation to the Shanghai conducted its two-
Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence day inaugural Flight
Ministers’ Meeting, which will be held in Safety Seminar
Qingdao, China, from June 25 to 26. along with the First
▪ Established in 2001, the SCO has grown into a Annual Flight Safety Meeting in New Delhi.
significant regional bloc. ▪ The seminar featured expert lectures by
▪ India became a full member in 2017 and held eminent military and civil aviation specialists,
the rotating chairmanship in 2023. covering diverse aspects of aviation safety,
▪ The organisation currently includes India, operations, airworthiness, and human factors.
China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus.

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OPERATION / MISSION
1. SINDOOR Precision-Guided Missiles in Operation Sindoor
2. KELLER ▪ NEWS:India conducted ‘Operation Sindoor’, targeting 21
3. Mission Sankalp terror camps a cross 9 locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-
occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
4. Shivshakti
▪ The strikes used precision-guided missiles like SCALP,
5. Kagar
HAMMER, BrahMos, and loitering munitions, ensuring
6. True Promise 3
minimal collateral damage.

1. SCALP Cruise Missile (Storm Shadow) • Compatible with various bomb weights (125–
1000 kg).
• It provides accurate targeting of ground assets.
• Effective for close air support and deep-strike
missions.
• The HAMMER is also mounted on the Rafale of
the Indian Air Force (IAF).

• Also known by its British name, ‘Storm 3. BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile
Shadow’, is a long-range (~450 km), air-
launched cruise missile.
• jointly developed by the United Kingdom and
France.
• developed since 1994 by Matra and British
Aerospace
• Ideal for fixed hardened targets like command
centres or bunkers.
• Operates in all weather and at low altitude,
reducing radar detection.
• Designed for stealth and precision, the SCALP is
▪ It is a long-range, nuclear-capable missile
capable of operating in any weather conditions.
system designed to be launched from land, sea,
• Launch platform: India integrates SCALP with
and air platforms. BrahMos is known for its
the Rafale fighter jets - currently operated by
speed, reaching up to Mach 3 (around 2,300
the Indian Air Force.
mph).
▪ Manufacturer: BrahMos Aerospace (India-
2. HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition
Russia JV)
Extended Range)
▪ Speed: ~Mach 2.8–3
▪ Range: Up to 450–500 km (recently extended)
✓ Operates on “fire-and-forget” principle.
✓ Used by all three services: Army, Navy, and Air
Force.

4. Loitering Munitions (Kamikaze Drones)

• Designed by the French Company Safran

Electronics & Defense
• Range: ~70 km
• All-weather guided glide bomb usable from
Rafale aircraft. ▪ Use: Surveillance + precise attack after
target identification.
▪ Features:
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✓ Can hover over a battlefield S-400
and strike opportunistically. ▪ The S-400 Triumf,
✓ Effective against mobile or time- known in IAF service
sensitive targets. as Sudarshan
✓ Enhances tactical advantage with Chakra, is among the
minimal risk to personnel. most advanced
advanced long-
5. METEOR: range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system in
• It is an advanced radar- the world
guided, beyond-visual- ▪ developed by Russia’s Almaz Central Design
range air-to-air missile Bureau in the late 1980s.
(BVRAAM). ▪ India signed a deal with Russia in October 2018
• developed by a group to procure the S-400 air defense missile system.
of European partners led by MBDA to meet the ▪ The first deliveries began in late 2021, and India
needs of six European nations: the UK, has received three squadrons of the system,
Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and Sweden. with the remaining two expected by 2026.
• Unlike most similar solid-fuel missiles, the ▪ it is capable of detecting and engaging a wide
Meteor is equipped with a ramjet spectrum of airborne threats—including stealth
engine, which allows for controlled flight aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and tactical
speed, complex maneuvers, and a range of ballistic missiles
more than 100 kilometers.
• Designed for a speed greater than Mach 4, the Advanced Radar Network:
missile has a large no-escape zone. • Uses multi-band phased array radars.
• Guided by an advanced active radar • Offers 360° surveillance.
seeker, Meteor provides all-weather capability ▪ The system covers altitudes up to 30 km,
to engage a wide variety of targets from agile offering robust protection even against high-
fast jets to small UAVs and cruise missiles. flying ballistic threats.
▪ In combat conditions, the S-400 can engage up
The Indian Air Force activated its S-400 to 36 targets at once, launching missiles that
'Sudarshan Chakra' air defence missile are suited to intercept threats at various ranges.
Missile Types and Ranges:
systems
▪ 40N6: Up to 400 km – for distant targets.
▪ 48N6DM: Up to 250 km.
▪ 9M96E/E2: Up to 120 km – for fast, agile
threats like fighter jets.

Akash: The indigenous shield

• Short Range Surface to Air Missile System to
protect vulnerable areas and points from air
▪ The Indian Air Force’s S-400 ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ attacks.
air defence missile systems and the indigenous • designed
Akash were successfully deployed against and developed
Pakistani drones and missiles during the night by India’s Defence
of May 7–8, intercepting multiple aerial threats Research and
targeting Indian military installations. Development
▪ India's defensive operations to neutralise Organisation (DRDO) and is produced by
incoming threats aimed at 15 military targets Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL)
across northern and western India, including With 96% indigenous content
key bases in Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, • The missile was inducted into the Indian Air
Ludhiana, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Phalodi, and Force in 2014 and in the Indian Army in 2015.
Bhuj. • In 2022, Armenia became the first foreign
country to buy this missile system.

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• Range of Operation : 4.5 km to 25 km
• Altitude of Operation : 100 m up to 20 km
The Kirana Hills
• capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2.5 to 3.5

HQ-9 air defence units of the Pakistan

army

▪ The HQ-9 missile defence system units,

developed by China, were hit, effectively
rendering the Pakistani army defenceless in
NEWS: Rumors circulated on social media about a strike
Lahore, Sialkot and one more city.
on Kirana Hills, believed to house a nuclear facility.
However, IAF's DG Air Operations, Air Marshal AK
What is Akashteer: India’s AI-driven war- Bharti, dismissed the claim
cloud neutralized all Pakistani drones, Where is it located?
missiles ▪ Located in Pakistan’s Sargodha district, Kirana
Hills is a vast rocky mountain range and a
designated area under Pakistan’s Ministry of
Defence.
▪ Often referred to as the “Black Mountains” due
to its brownish terrain
▪ It forms a part of the Mushaf Air Force Base -
the Command Headquarters of Pakistan air
force
▪ Kirana Hills houses over 10 underground
▪ Akashteer is India's pioneering AI-driven air
tunnels, with widespread speculation
defence system,
suggesting these tunnels are used for the
▪ Developed indigenously by Bharat Electronics
storage of Pakistan’s nuclear warheads.
Limited (BEL) in collaboration with the Defence
Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Operation Keller in Kashmir
Organisation (ISRO).
▪ Designed to enhance India's air defence
capabilities, Akashteer integrates advanced
technologies to provide real-time situational
awareness and automated threat response
▪ System Type: These are advanced Air Defence ▪ The Indian Army
Control and Reporting Systems (ADCRS). launched a counter-
terrorism operation
in Shoekal Keller, Shopian, Jammu & Kashmir.
▪ The operation, named Operation Keller, was
based on specific intelligence inputs from a
Rashtriya Rifles unit.
▪ Huge cache of arms and ammunition recovered
under Operation Keller.

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Operation Black Forest • Precision Strikes: Use of air surveillance and

In one of India’s largest anti-Naxal operations, 31 intelligence-led operations in tough terrains.
Maoists were killed in Operation Black Forest, • Recoveries: Over 1,000 kg of explosives, ration
conducted in Kurraguttalu Hills on the Chhattisgarh– stockpiles, detonators, medical kits, and
Telangana border. electronic equipment from hideouts.
• A 21-day high-intensity counterinsurgency
mission targeting Maoist strongholds in Operation Bihali
forested hilly terrain.
• Location: Kurraguttalu Hills (KGH), spanning
approx. 1,200 sq km along the Chhattisgarh–
Telangana border.
Objective:
• Dismantle Naxal headquarters and operational
infrastructure.
• Neutralise top Maoist leadership and regain
▪ A Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist was neutralized
control over insurgent zones.
and three others cornered during Operation
• India’s target of eliminating Left Wing
Bihali in Udhampur district, J&K.
Extremism by March 31, 2026.
▪ A counter-terror operation launched to
▪ Forces Involved: CRPF, including elite CoBRA
neutralize Pakistan-based JeM militants
units, Chhattisgarh Police, Special Task Force
operating in Udhampur’s Basantgarh area.
(STF), and District Reserve Guard (DRG).
▪ Launched by: Jointly conducted by the Indian
Army’s Para Commandos and Jammu &
Mission Sankalp Kashmir Police, under the operational
command of the White Knight Corps.
▪ Objective: To intercept and eliminate four JeM
terrorists identified through 12 months of
surveillance, thereby averting possible cross-
border terror attacks.

Operation Akhal
Context: Mission Sankalp, a massive anti-Naxal
operation along the Chhattisgarh–Telangana border,
entered its third week, with confirmed Maoist casualties
and strategic gains.
• Launched by: Security forces under the joint
command of Chhattisgarh Police, Telangana
Police, CRPF, and CoBRA.
▪ Operation Akhal, a joint anti-terror operation
• Area of Operation: Karregutta hills, Bijapur
inAkhal Khulsan forest area in Kulgam district of
district (Chhattisgarh) – Mulugu district
Jammu and Kashmir, entered its third day, with
(Telangana) border.
at least one terrorist killed amid continued
• Objective:
firefight by Indian security forces.
• Flush out top Maoist leaders, especially
▪ Launched by: Jointly conducted by the Indian
Battalion 1 of the People’s Liberation
Army’s Chinar Corps, Jammu & Kashmir Police,
Guerrilla Army (armed wing of CPI-
and the Special Operations Group (SOG).
Maoist).
▪ Aim: To neutralize 3–5 terrorists based on
• Dismantle fortified Maoist hideouts
intelligence inputs, tighten internal security, and
and destroy logistics bases and
dismantle local terror modules.
bunkers.
Key Features:
• Troop Mobilisation: 24,000+ personnel from
DRG, STF, Bastar Fighters, CRPF, CoBRA, and
Indian Air Force.
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Operation Alert Launched Along Rajasthan ▪ Launched by: Conducted by the Indian Army’s
White Knight Corps in synergy with Jammu &
Border Ahead of Independence Day
Kashmir Police (JKP), based on precise multi-
agency intelligence inputs.
▪ Area of Operation: Executed in the Degwar
sector of Poonch, particularly near Maldivalan,
a sensitive zone along the LoC known for
infiltration attempts.

▪ The Border Security Force (BSF) has launched a

Operation Guddar
week-long security operation called 'Operation
Alert' along the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan.
▪ The operation will run between 11th August
2025 to 17th August 2025 and is aimed at
strengthening security and preventing any
infiltration attempts ahead of India's
Independence Day.
▪ An encounter broke out in the Guddar forest of
Operation ShivShakti Kulgam, J&K, under Operation Guddar, after
terrorists opened fire on security forces during a
search operation.
▪ A counter-terrorism operation launched by J&K
Police, Army, and CRPF in Kulgam district.
▪ Named after the Guddar forest area where
militants were suspected to be hiding
▪ To neutralize active terrorists operating in
South Kashmir.
▪ To secure forested terrain and villages used as
militant hideouts.
▪ To enhance intelligence-driven, coordinated
operations between police and armed forces.
Features:
▪ Joint operation: Army (Chinar Corps), CRPF, and
SOG of J&K Police.
▪ Based on specific intelligence inputs of terrorist
presence.

Operation Kagar
▪ The Indian Army
NEWS: In the backdrop of
eliminated two
rising violence and
terrorists attempting
contentious security
infiltration across
operations, Telangana's
the Line of Control in
former Chief Minister
Poonch district
has raised concerns over the
under Operation
Central Government's
ShivShakti, just days
Operation Kagar.
after neutralising
▪ This
three Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives in Operation
operation, aimed
Mahadev.
at eliminating Maoist insurgents in
▪ It is a counter-infiltration mission launched by
Chhattisgarh, has sparked criticism for its heavy-
the Indian Army to foil attempts by terrorists to
cross the LoC into Jammu & Kashmir territory.
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handed approach, especially with allegations of ▪ The mission aims to dismantle Hamas and
the killing of tribals and youths. retrieve hostages. Israel declared that the
▪ Operation Kagar, launched by the Ministry of operation will begin with great force and will
Home Affairs, is aimed at eradicating continue until all objectives are met.
Naxals and dismantling the political ideology of ▪ Critics argue the plan outlines a blueprint for
Maoism. permanent occupation, mass displacement, and
▪ However, this operation proved bloody for increased violence against Palestinian civilians.
those Naxals daring not surrendering to the ▪ The Israel–Palestine conflict is a long-running
government. struggle between Jewish Israelis and Arab
▪ The Union Home Minister announced that the Palestinians over land in the Middle East,
central government is working towards a Naxal- mainly in areas called Israel, the West Bank,
free India, setting a target to eliminate and Gaza Strip.
Naxalism by 31st March 2026, ensuring that no ▪ Both groups believe the land is their rightful
citizen has to lose their life because of it. home. The conflict began in 1948, when the
▪ The rise in violence is shocking compared to country of Israel was created, leading to wars
2023, when only 23 alleged Maoists were killed and many Palestinians losing their homes.
in the state. Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip and West
▪ This sharp increase is closely linked to the Bank.
bounty system, where rewards of up to ₹25 ▪ Gaza Strip is controlled by Hamas, a group that
lakh are offered for each dead Naxalite. often fights with Israel.
▪ Operation Kagar roughly translates to "Final
Mission". Operation True Promise 3
▪ Context: Iran launched
Israeli PM Netanyahu announced the Operation True
operation, named “Gideon’s Chariots” Promise 3, escalating
military strikes on
Israel for the third
consecutive day.
▪ Operation True
Promise 3 is Iran’s
latest retaliatory military campaign targeting
Israeli cities and infrastructure in response to
Israeli airstrikes on its nuclear and command
facilities.
▪ Launched by: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps (IRGC) under the directive of Iran’s
supreme military leadership.

Operation Chhatru: Kishtwar

▪ "Operation Chhatru" was an anti-terror

operation launched by security forces in
▪ Israel’s security cabinet has unanimously the Chhatru area of Kishtwar district, Jammu
approved a new military plan. The operation is and Kashmir, on November 5, 2025
titled ‘Gideon’s Chariots’. ▪ Launched by: Indian Army’s White Knight Corps
& J&K Police (joint operation)

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▪ Objective: Neutralise terrorist presence in the Delhi Police busted Mega Trans-National
strategically sensitive Chenab Valley Methamphetamine Cartel under Operation
“Crystal Fortress”.
Operation Eagle Force by Telangana Busted ▪ It is a powerful, highly
addictive stimulant
Nigerian Drug Cartel
affecting the central
nervous system. Also
called meth, chalk, ice,
crystal.
▪ Developed from amphetamine. Neurotoxin and
Psychotrophic.
▪ Originally used in nasal decongestants and
bronchial inhalers.
▪ "Operation Eagle Force," a major anti-narcotics
▪ White, odorless, bitter crystalline powder;
operation led by Telangana's Elite Action Group
dissolves in water/alcohol.
for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE), in
▪ Effects : Causes increased activity/talkativeness,
coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau
decreased appetite. High doses does brain
(NCB), the Delhi Police Crime Branch, and the
bleeding, muscle breakdown.
Noida Police, has successfully dismantled a
nationwide Nigerian drug cartel.
▪ The raids, conducted simultaneously across 20 Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web
locations in Delhi, Noida, Gwalior, and
Visakhapatnam.

Army To Officially Honour ‘Operation

Pawan’ Martyrs After 38 Years for the first
time
▪ Wreath-laying
ceremony held on
25 Nov 2025 at
National War ▪ Under Operation Spider Web, a swarm of
Memorial, led by Ukrainian drones struck at least five military
Army Chief Gen. airbases deep inside Russia’s borders on June 1,
Upendra Dwivedi. and left some 41 bomber aircraft in flames.
What was Operation Pawan?
▪ a major military operation launched by the Israel launched Operation ‘Rising Lion’
Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka
against Iran
from 1987 to 1990 to enforce the Indo-Sri Lanka
Accord by disarming Tamil militant groups
(especially LTTE) and taking control of the
Jaffna Peninsula. Intended as peacekeeping, but
escalated into heavy combat
▪ Maj. Ramaswamy Parameswaran (martyred 25
Nov 1987) awarded Param Vir Chakra; IPKF also
received 98 Vir Chakras.

Operation Crystal Fortress

Uncovers Major Meth
Trafficking Network
▪ Joint team of Narcotics
Control Bureau (NCB) and ▪ Iran was dealt a major blow on 13 June as Israeli
forces launched a new round of targeted strikes,
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marking the beginning of Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu's Operation Rising Lion.
▪ Iran's chief of staff of armed forces, General
Mohammad Bagheri, was killed

Operation Secure

▪ A classified US military airstrike targeting Iran’s

key nuclear facilities with precision weapons.
▪ Launched by: US Department of defence.
▪ Objective: To severely degrade Iran’s nuclear
weapons infrastructure and demonstrate US
strategic air power.
Weapons used:
▪ B-2 Spirit stealth bombers with GBU-57A/B
Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP).
▪ Operation Secure ran from January to April
▪ Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise
2025. It focused on identifying and taking down
Missiles launched from a US submarine.
over 20,000 malicious IP addresses and
▪ Decoy aircraft and support fighter jets for air
domains associated with cybercriminal
defence suppression.
activities.
About US B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers:
▪ Interpol coordinated these efforts,
▪ An advanced strategic stealth bomber of the US
collaborating with private sector partners such
Air Force, capable of delivering both nuclear
as Group-IB, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro.
and conventional weapons with minimal radar
▪ Global operation was launched to combat
detection.
cybercrime. Codenamed ‘Operation Secure’, this
▪ Developed by: Northrop Grumman during the
initiative involved law enforcement agencies
late 1980s.
from 26 countries.
Key Features:
▪ The operation aimed to dismantle malicious
▪ Cost: $2.1 billion per unit (most expensive
infrastructure linked to information-stealing
aircraft built)
malware.
▪ Range: Over 6,000 nautical miles without
▪ The operation successfully eliminated 79% of
refueling (global reach)
the identified suspicious IPs.
▪ Payload: Over 40,000 lbs — can carry two GBU-
Role of Infostealer Malware
57A/B “bunker-busters” or 16 B83 nuclear
▪ Infostealer malware was identified as a primary
bombs
tool for cybercriminals.
▪ Crew: Two pilots with advanced automation
▪ This software extracts sensitive data from
▪ Stealth: Radar cross-section as small as a bird —
infected devices. Commonly stolen data
evades advanced air defences
includes browser credentials, passwords, and
credit card details.

Operation Midnight Hammer: Inside the

U.S. Strike on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities
▪ The US launched Operation Midnight Hammer,
deploying B-2 bombers and bunker-buster
bombs in a precision strike on Iran’s nuclear
sites (Fordow, Natanz, Isfahan), claiming
significant damage to Iran’s nuclear
infrastructure. Weapons:
▪ Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP): 30,000
lbs, penetrates 200+ ft of reinforced concrete
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▪ JDAM, JSOW, JASSM-ER for varied conventional ▪ Israel claims its strikes aim to protect the Druze
strikes minority and prevent hostile forces near its
▪ Nuclear capabilities for deterrence role in US borders, especially in the Golan Heights region.
nuclear triad ▪ The Druze are an Arabic-speaking ethno-
religious group with roots in Shia Islam, though
Iran’s Operation Bashayer Al-Fath their beliefs are unique and secretive.
▪ As the Israel-Iran conflict continues to keep the
Middle East on the edge, Tehran launched
Operation Bashayer Al-Fath against the United
States in response to Operation Midnight
Hammer.
▪ Iranian Armed Forces issued a statement
confirming that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps (IRGC) had targeted the Al-Udeid base in
Qatar

Druze Population:
▪ ~1 million globally.
▪ Largest populations in Syria
(~50%), Lebanon, Israel, and Golan Heights.
▪ In Israel, Druze serve in the military and are
considered loyal citizens.
▪ In Syria, they historically maintained autonomy
through local militias and resisted integration
into state forces.
Reason for recent clash:
▪ Druze-Bedouin Clashes: Began with
kidnappings and escalated into a full-fledged
battle involving Syrian forces.
▪ Syrian Army Action: Troops intervened and
reportedly targeted Druze civilians, prompting
Israeli response.

Operation Hawkeye Strike Targets ISIS in

Syria
▪ “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” : The US
administration carried out military strikes in
Syria targeting Islamic State fighters and
weapons sites, days after an ambush killed two
US troops and an American civilian interpreter.
▪ Syria has been cooperating with a US-led
coalition against Islamic State.
Israel Bombing Syria
▪ Israel launched multiple airstrikes on Damascus
and Suwayda in Syria

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MISCELLANEOUS
1. Bordermen Marathon 2025 CBI books ex-Director General of Indian Coast Guard
2. 2 new reserve Battalions of CISF for ‘altering’ confidential reports of officers
3. Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan ▪ The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case
4. Project NAMAN against the former Indian Coast Guard
5. INS Taraksh Director-General K. Natarajan and
6. Cobra battalion unknown others for alleged
tampering/alteration of the Annual
7. Territorial Army
Confidential Reports (ACRs)/dossiers of
8. Samudra Pradakshina
senior officers.
9. 199th Gunners Day
▪ He served as the 23rd DG of Coast Guard.
10. Project Vijayak ▪ The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is India's premier
investigative agency, operating under the Ministry of
Personnel, Pension, and Public Grievances.
▪ The CBI's origins date back to 1941, when the Government of India established the Special Police
Establishment to investigate bribery and corruption within the War and Supply Department during World War
II.
▪ In 1963, the CBI was officially formed following a resolution from the Ministry of Home Affairs, based on the
recommendations of the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption.

BSF Organises ‘Bordermen Marathon Inaugural edition of Indian Navy Half

2025’ in Amritsar to Strengthen Civil- Marathon held on Feb 2
Military Bond

▪ at New Delhi.
▪ organised in partnership with IDFC FIRST Bank.
▪ Indian Oil Corporation Limited also joins as an
▪ The Border Security Force (BSF) launched the Associate Partner
‘Bordermen Marathon 2025’ in Punjab's ▪ Introduced - The Indian Navy Slam - a
Amritsar, aimed at promoting the ‘Fit India prestigious honour awarded to those who
Movement’ and ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’. complete all four races organized by the
▪ The marathon, with the theme "Hand In Hand Indian Navy in Kochi, Visakhapatnam,
With Border Population", is not just a sports Mumbai, and New Delhi.
event, but an important initiative to empower
the youth in border areas and contribute to CISF Training Centre Renamed in Honor of
building a healthier India. Rajaditya Chola
▪ Director General of BSF, Daljeet Singh
▪ The Recruits Training Centre (RTC) of the
Choudhary - Chief Guest.
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in
Arakkonam, Chennai has been renamed
Rajaditya Cholan (RTC), Thakkolam, in
memory of the Chola prince.

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▪ Rajwinder Singh Bhatti, Director General of Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, and
the CISF, issued the order for the change of Kenya.
name Centre approves creation of 2 new CISF
▪ The battle at Thakkolam took place in 949 CE
reserve Battalions
between the Cholas and Rashtrakutas.
▪ The Chola Prince Rajaditya, the son of
Parantaka I, was killed by an arrow of the
Ganga prince Butuga, an ally of the
Rashtrakutas.
▪ Rajaditya earned the title ‘Yanaimel Thunjiya
Devar’ (The king who died on the back of an
elephant) in the Chola inscriptions at
Kumbakonam and Thirunageswaram.

Indian Navy completes hydrographic

survey of 25,000 sq. nautical miles of
Mauritius ▪ Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) provides
security to critical infrastructure such as
airports, metro networks, and power plants.
▪ Each battalion will consist of 1,025 personnel.
▪ With this addition, the total number of CISF
battalions will increase from 13 to 15.
▪ In November last year, the government had
sanctioned the first-ever all-women CISF
▪ The Indian Navy’s INS Sarvekshak completed reserve battalion comprising more than 1,000
the final phase of the hydrographic survey of personnel.
Mauritius covering an extensive area of over About Central Industrial Security Force (CISF):
25,000 square nautical miles. • It is a Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) in
About INS Sarvekshak: India.
• It was set up under an Act of the Parliament of
India on 10 March 1969 with a strength of
2,800.
• CISF was subsequently made an armed force of
the
• It is directly under the Union Ministry of Home
Affairs, and its headquarters are at New Delhi.
▪ It is an Indian Navy hydrographic survey ship. • Rajwinder Singh Bhatti is the Director General
▪ It is based at Southern Naval Command at of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
Kochi. until September 30, 2025.
▪ It is fitted with state-of-the-art survey
equipment like Deep Sea Multi-Beam Echo CRPF VIP Security Group Established
Sounder, Side Scan Sonars and a fully ▪ A special unit of the CRPF that was withdrawn
automated digital surveying and processing from the security of Parliament last year has
system. been finally disbanded and merged with the
▪ In addition, the ship carries an integral Chetak VIP security wing of the force that has been
helicopter, which would be extensively recently provided a new battalion comprising
deployed during the survey. over 1,000 personnel,
▪ The ship is the second ship of the Darshak class ▪ The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an
of ships and has a complement of 15 officers order "changing the nomenclature" of about
and 175 sailors. 1,400 personnel strength Parliament Duty
▪ In the past, INS Sarvekshak has also Group (PDG) to VIP Security Group (VSG) under
undertaken foreign cooperation surveys in Sri the CRPF.
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• The move is aimed at promoting connectivity,
tourism, and socio-economic development in
border regions.

Indian Army Inaugurates Bailey Bridges

Over Shyok River

▪ This came after the ministry early this month

ordered transferring of the forces' battalion ▪ The Indian Army inaugurated two newly
number 190, located in Jharkhand's Chatra constructed ba iley bridges over the Shyok
district, to the VIP security unit of the force. River, enhancing connectivity between the
▪ The Central Reserve Police Group (CRPF) VIP Shyok and Nubra valleys in the Union Territory
security wing is presently providing protection of Ladakh.
to more than 200 people, including Union ▪ The bridges, located near Shatse Taknak in the
Home Minister Amit Shah and the Gandhi Diskit sub-division of Leh.
family of the Congress comprising Sonia ▪ Constructed by the Fire and Fury Corps
Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Engineers, the two bridges — 50 feet wide and
Vadra among others. 100 feet in length — reduce travel distance by
▪ The PDG was withdrawn from the Parliament approximately 40 km and cut travel time by
House in May last year after the job was around two hours for the farthest villages in
handed over to the CISF. Nubra and Shyok valleys
▪ It was informally linked with the VIP security
wing since its removal from Parliament, but its President Droupadi Murmu witnesses the
manpower will be utilised for the protection of
Change of Guard Ceremony in new format
high-risk dignitaries after the formal order
▪ at the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on
received on
February 16, 2025.
▪ The new format includes military drills by
Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan troops and horses of the President's
▪ Recently, the “Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan” app Bodyguard, along with personnel from the
was launched by Defence Minister coinciding Ceremonial Guard Battalion and the
with Army Day celebrations. Ceremonial Military Brass Band
▪ The change of guard is a long-standing military
tradition conducted weekly to allow a fresh
group of the President's Bodyguards to take
charge.
▪ Raised in 1773, the President's Bodyguard
(PBG) is the senior-most regiment of the
▪ It is developed by the Ministry of Defence in Indian Army, tasked with ceremonial duties for
collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism. the president.
▪ This app opens the doors to India’s most iconic
battlefields, offering citizens a chance to India, Bangladesh agree to launch new
explore the country’s wartime history like ‘hotline’ between border forces
never before. ▪ India and Bangladesh have decided to
establish a new communication link between
the deputy commanders of their respective
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border-guarding forces and identified about 99 AFMS launches India’s first AI-driven
fresh patches for erecting a fence along their
community screening programme for
shared border.
▪ The decisions were finalised during the Diabetic Retinopathy
biannual director general-level talks between ▪ The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS)
the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Border launched India’s first AI-driven community
Guard Bangladesh (BGB). screening programme for Diabetic
Retinopathy (DR).
▪ The initiative uses MadhuNetrAI, an AI
Bangladesh Border
platform, to enable early detection and
▪ Bangladesh shares border with India and
referral of diabetic eye disease at the
Myanmar
community level.
▪ The aim is to ensure early detection and
timely referral of diabetic retinopathy,
generate real-time national data on its
prevalence and geographic distribution, and
reduce preventable diabetes-related
blindness through scalable screening.

Envoys of five nations present Credentials

to the President of India

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu accepted

credentials from the Ambassadors/High
Commissioners of Panama, Guyana, Sudan, Denmark
and Palestine at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati
Bhavan. Those who presented their credentials were:
1. Mr Alonso Correa Miguel, Ambassador of the
Republic of Panama
2. Mr Dharamkumar Seeraj, High Commissioner of
India – Bangladesh Border
the Cooperative Republic of Guyana
▪ Bordering States : West Bengal, Assam
3. Dr Mohammed Abdalla Ali Eltom, Ambassador of
Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram (ATMM)
the Republic of Sudan
▪ Border length : 4,096.7 km
4. Mr Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, Ambassador of
▪ Border Name : Radcliff Line
Denmark
▪ Capital- Dhaka
5. Mr Abdullah Mohammad A. Abushawesh,
▪ Currency –Taka
Ambassador of the State of Palestine
▪ President – Mohammed
Shahabuddin Chuppu
▪ Head of Interim Government – Muhammad Pulwama terror attack anniversary
Yunus ▪ Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union
Home Minister Amit Shah paid homage to the
40 CRPF personnel who lost their lives in a
terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's
Pulwama on February 14, 2019 and praised
their unwavering dedication to the nation.

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▪ India had launched a retaliatory attack, which ▪ Project NAMAN is designed to provide support
came to be known as the Balakot airstrike. and services to Army veterans, their families,
and their next of kin.
▪ The CSC centers, operated by Army veterans or
their families, are dedicated to offering
pension-related services, Government-to-
Citizen (G2C) services, and Business-to-
Consumer (B2C) services directly at the
doorstep of defense establishments.

CDS Gen Anil Chauhan inaugurates

‘Techkriti 2025’, Asia’s largest
Bihar: Shaurya Vednam Utsav begins
intercollegiate technical and
showcasing Army’s capabilities
entrepreneurial festival at IIT Kanpur

▪ This year’s theme, “Panta Rhei” (Everything

Flows)

▪ In Bihar, the three Armed Forces are holding

Shaurya Vednam Utsav at Motihari in East
Rajnath Singh Becomes First Raksha
Champaran district from 7 – 8 march . Mantri to Visit IAF’s Institute of Aerospace
▪ The two-day function was organised under the Medicine in Bengaluru
campaign “Know Your Army”
▪ The event has been organised in a bordering
area which is near to Indo-Nepal frontier, to
instill a patriotic feeling in people, especially
among youths.

▪ Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) of the

HDFC Bank, Indian Army, and CSC
Indian Air Force (IAF) is in Bengaluru, Karnataka
Academy Expand Project NAMAN
▪ HDFC Bank, India's
SHORT NEWS
leading private sector
Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi Honours WWI
bank, has renewed its
Indian Soldiers at Neuve-Chapelle Memorial in France
Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU)
with the Indian Army Indian Navy’s INS Tarkash Seizes over
and CSC e- 2,500 kg of narcotics in Western Indian
Governance to Ocean
expand Project ▪ Deployed in the Western Indian Ocean since
NAMAN. January 2025 for Maritime Security Operations
▪ This initiative, which honors veterans, will About INS Tarkash:
now be implemented at 26 Directorates of • Tarkash belongs to the Talwar class of guided
Indian Army Veterans (DIAV) locations. missile frigates. These are modified Krivak III
class frigates built by Russia.
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• It was built by the Yantar shipyard in counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and
Kaliningrad, Russia. Kashmir.
• It was commissioned into Indian Navy service
on 9 November 2012 at Kaliningrad and joined CRPF to raise 11th CoBRA battalion for
counter-terror operations in J&K

the Western Naval Command on 27 December

▪ The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has
2012.
decided to raise a special CoBRA battalion
Features:
specifically for counter-terrorist operations in
• It has a length of 124.8 m
Jammu and Kashmir.
• Top Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph).
▪ This move comes 17 years after the CoBRA
• It can board one Ka-28 Helix-A antisubmarine
(Commando Battalion for Resolute Action)
helicopter or one Ka-31 Helix-B airborne early
was initially formed to conduct jungle warfare
warning helicopter
and anti-Naxal operations.
• It is also equipped with BrahMos missiles
▪ The announcement was made by CRPF
Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh
Amit Shah attends CRPF 86th raising day during the 86th Raising Day celebrations of the
Parade CRPF.
▪ This new CoBRA unit will focus on operations
in forested areas of Jammu and Kashmir,
including the Jammu region, where several
recent terrorist incidents have occurred.

Currently, counter-terrorist operations in J&K are

carried out by:
▪ Regular CRPF units, and
▪ The special commando
unit named ‘Kashmir
▪ The CRPF’s Raising Day is celebrated on March
Valley Quick Action
19 every year. However, as part of the
Team (QAT)’.
extended celebrations this year, the parade
▪ CoBRA was raised in
was held in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh on
2008-09, a time when
April 17
Left Wing Extremism
▪ Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) functions
(LWE) was at its peak in
under the authority of the Ministry of Home
multiple Indian states and insurgency in certain
Affairs (MHA)
states of the Northeast was continuing. By
▪ Originally constituted as the Crown
2011, 10 CoBRA battalions were raised and
Representative Police in 1939, it is one of the
the numbers continue till now.
oldest Central para military forces (now termed
▪ The J-K unit will be the 11th CoBRA battalion.
as Central Armed Police Force).
▪ CRPF’s first battalion was raised in Neemuch
▪ It became the Central Reserve Police Force on
on July 27, 1939 as the Crown Representative’s
enactment of the CRPF Act on 28th December
Police (CRP) under the British rule.
1949.
▪ Post Independence, in 1949, it was re-
▪ CRPF Director-General Gyanendra Pratap
christened as the Central Reserve Police Force
Singh announced that a special CoBRA
(CRPF) under the Indian Union by first home
(Commando Battalion for Resolute Action)
minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
battalion would be raised to undertake
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▪ On March 19, 1950 that the presidential MacGregor Memorial Medal Awards
colour was presented to the force by the ▪ Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan
then Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel felicitated five individuals from the Armed
Forces for their outstanding contributions in
All-Women Tri-Services Sailing Expedition the fields of military reconnaissance,
‘Samudra Pradakshina’ Flagged Off from exploration and adventure activities during the
MacGregor Memorial Medal Award Ceremony
Mumbai
held at the United Service Institution of India in
New Delhi on April 16, 2025.
▪ The awardees for 2023 included Wing
Commander D Panda, Indian Air Force and
Rahul Kumar Pandey, Indian Navy.
▪ For 2024, Ram Ratan Jat, Indian Navy and
Sergeant Jhumar Ram Poonia, Indian Air Force
were honoured with the MacGregor Memorial
Medal.
▪ Col Ranvir Singh Jamwal, Director NIMAS has
▪ The first tri-service all-women global been conferred with the Mac Gregor award for
circumnavigation expedition “Samudra 2024.
Pradakshina” on board the IASV (Indian Army ▪ The event also featured the launch of the book
Sailing Vessel) Triveni was flagged off from Bravest of the Brave, a truly inspirational
Mumbai. chronicle on the life and heroic journey of Naib
▪ The expedition was flagged off by Lieutenant Subedar Chunni Lal by the Chief of Defence
General AK Ramesh, Commandant, College of Staff.
Military Engineering, from the Indian Naval ▪ Lt Gen Satish Dua (Retd - the author)
Watermanship Training Centre, Colaba, ▪ Instituted on July 03, 1888, the MacGregor
Mumbai. Memorial Medal commemorates Maj Gen Sir
▪ The expedition will sail to Seychelles and Charles Metcalfe MacGregor.
come back to Mumbai, covering the 4,000 ▪ Originally intended to recognise the acts of
nautical mile journey in 55 days. military reconnaissance and exploratory
▪ The 12 crew members of IASV Triveni have journeys, the medal’s scope was expanded in
been drawn from the Indian Armed 1986, post-independence, to include military
Forces- Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian expeditions and adventure activities.
Air Force. ▪ To date, 127 medals have been awarded,
▪ Last year ,the Indian Navy succesfully including 103 prior to independence.
launched its all women second Navika Sagar
Parikrama expedition to circumnavigate the IAF Surya Kiran team to begin aerobatic
globe on board the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel
Tarini or INSV Tarini.
airshow in Patna on Shaurya Diwas
▪ It was manned by two women officers of the ▪ The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) of the
India Navy - led by Lieutenant Commanders Indian Air Force will perform aerobatics on the
Dilna K and Roopa A. banks of river Ganga in Patna to mark the
Shaurya Diwas
▪ The Shaurya Diwas is observed to celebrate
the victory of freedom fighter Babu Veer
Kunwar Singh over British troops on April 23.

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▪ Kunwar Singh, also known as Babu Veer Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers of
Kunwar Singh was a chief organiser of the Kolkata under Project 28.
Indian Rebellion of 1857 from the Bhojpur ▪ It was commissioned into the Indian Navy in
region of Bihar. January 2016.
Indian Navy Completes Refit of Maldivian
Ship Huravee Under ‘MAHASAGAR’ Vision
▪ The Indian Navy
successfully completed a
major refit of the
Maldivian Coast Guard
Ship MNDF Huravee at
the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.
▪ The refit was done as part of India’s
commitment to regional maritime security
under the vision of ‘Mutual and Holistic ▪ Named after the Kadmat Island of India’s
Advancement for Security and Growth for All Lakshadweep Islands.
in the Region (MAHASAGAR)’ and its ▪ Role: The primary role of the INS Kadmatt is in
‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. anti-submarine warfare—to protect ships in
▪ The Make in India ship was handed over to convoys and ports from enemy submarine
the MNDF (Maldives National Defence Force) attacks.
in May 2023 as a replacement for an older The Four Ships under Project 28:
platform. 1. INS Kamorta – commissioned 2014
▪ The ship has played a crucial role in (Visakhapatnam).
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief 2. INS Kadmatt – commissioned 2016
(HADR) and Medical Evacuation operations (Visakhapatnam).
across the Maldivian archipelago. 3. INS Kiltan – commissioned 2017
(Visakhapatnam).
4. INS Kavaratti – commissioned 2020
INS Sandhayak, The First Indigenous (Visakhapatnam).
Survey Vessel Large (Svl), Visits Port Klang,
Malaysia Indian Air Force Bids Farewell to MiG-21 in
▪ INS Sandhayak, the first of the indigenously Chandigarh with Defence Minister Rajnath
designed and built Sandhayak-class
hydrographic survey ship, was commissioned
Singh as Cheif Guest
in Feb 2024
▪ It was constructed at Garden Reach
Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
▪ Made her maiden port call at Port Klang,
Malaysia, for hydrographic cooperation, from
16 - 19 Jul 2025.

Indian Warship Kadmatt to participate in

▪ The Indian Air Force (IAF) formally retired its
ID Golden Jubilee celebrations of Papua
last two MiG-21 squadrons — No. 23 Panthers
New Guinea and No. 3 Cobras — marking the end of a six-
▪ INS Kadmatt arrived at Port Moresby to decade era.
participate in Papua New Guinea's 50th ▪ A supersonic jet fighter and interceptor with
Independence Day celebrations to be held on delta-wing design.
September 16, 2025 ▪ NATO codename: “Fishbed”; nicknames
▪ It is an indigenous stealth anti-submarine include Balalaika (shape) and Silver Swallow.
warfare corvette. Developed by:
▪ It is the second of four anti-submarine warfare ▪ Designed in the 1950s by the Mikoyan-
corvettes built for the Indian Navy by the Gurevich Design Bureau (Soviet Union).
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▪ First prototype (Ye-4) flew in 1955 and became • The Annual Performance Appraisal
the world’s most-produced supersonic jet. Report (APAR) for the last 5 years should be
History in India: rated at least ‘Good’.
▪ Inducted in 1963 as IAF’s • Integrity certification must be beyond doubt.
first supersonic jet. • Clearance from departmental inquiries and
▪ India procured 700+ MiG- vigilance is mandatory.
21s across variants, the last • Recommendation by the commanding officer is
being MiG-21 Bison (2006 required.
upgrade).
▪ Saw action in 1965 Territorial Army
War, 1971 Bangladesh ▪ Rule 33 of the Territorial Army Rule 1948
Liberation War, and 1999 allows Central Government to empower Chief
Kargil conflict. of Army Staff to take support of TA.
▪ Also carried controversies due to high crash • It is a part of Regular Army.
record (500+ accidents, 170+ pilot deaths). • Unlike full-time soldiers, TA
Contribution so far: members are civilians who take time
▪ Served as IAF’s backbone for six decades; out of their regular jobs to train and serve the
trained multiple generations of fighter pilots. country in times of need.
▪ Symbolised Soviet-Indian defence cooperation • It acts as a second line of defence after the
during Cold War. regular army.
Features: • Primary Responsibilities: To relieve the Regular
▪ Single-engine, single-seat interceptor and top Army from static duties and assist Civil
speed Mach 2. Administration in dealing with natural
▪ Delta wing for rapid climb but limited turning calamities and maintenance of essential
combat. services in critical situations.
▪ Bison upgrade added modern avionics, radar, ▪ Also provides units for Regular Army
and BVR missiles (Derby, ASTRA). as and when required.
▪ Emergency thrust mode gave thrust-to-weight ▪ Eligibility: It includes Indian
ratio near 1:1 for short bursts. citizenship, graduation from a recognised
university, gainfully employed, etc.
Honorary Rank Promotion Scheme ▪ Significant Role Played in Earlier wars: TA has
▪ The Honorary Rank Promotion Scheme is a actively participated in operations during 1962,
recognition initiative by the Ministry of Home 1965, and 1971 wars, plus OP PAWAN in Sri
Affairs under the leadership of Union Home Lanka, OP RAKSHAK in Punjab and J&K, etc.
Minister Amit Shah.
▪ It awards a one-rank higher honorary title to Evolution of Territorial Army
retiring personnel of Central Armed Police ▪ In 1917, Indian Defence Force Act was enacted.
Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles, (Leaders like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
from Constable to Sub-Inspector rank (below joined the University Corps)
officer rank). ▪ In 1920, Indian Territorial Force Bill was
Objective: passed.
• To uplift morale, pride, and self-respect of ▪ After Independence, the TA Act was passed in
retiring security personnel. 1948 and TA was formally inaugurated on
• To honour long and commendable service October 9, 1949, by C. Rajagopalachari
without altering financial entitlements. (celebrated as TA Day)
• To recognize dedication and integrity through
symbolic promotion.

Eligibility Criteria:
• Personnel must fulfil all promotion
prerequisites at the time of retirement.
• Must have a clean record with no major
disciplinary actions in the last five years.

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Inter-Services Organisations (Command, • They ensure operational synergy across tri-

service commands without altering individual
Control and Discipline) Act, 2023
service laws.

India’s first overseas defence

manufacturing facility

▪ The Ministry of Defence notified subordinate ▪ India’s first overseas defence manufacturing
rules under the Inter-Services Organisations facility was inaugurated at Berrechid, Morocco
(Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023, by Defence Minister of India and
making the Act fully operational. his Moroccan counterpart Abdelatif Loudyi.
▪ Inter-services organisations such as Andaman ▪ The facility, set up by Tata Advanced Systems
and Nicobar Command, Strategic Forces Limited (TASL), will produce the indigenously
Command, Defence Space Agency etc. And developed Wheeled Armoured Platform
joint training establishments like National (WhAP) for the Royal Moroccan Army.
Defence Academy and National Defence ▪ A 20,000 sq. metre state-of-the-art defence
College, where personnel of the armed forces plant established by TASL in partnership
and other forces serve together. with DRDO.
Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and ▪ Singh was on a two-day official visit to
Discipline) Act, 2023: Morocco at the invitation of Abdeltif Loudiyi,
• Came into Force: May 10, 2024 Morocco’s Minister Delegate for National
• Objective: To unify command and Defence. The visit marks the first-ever trip by
promote functional efficiency across inter- an Indian Defence Minister to the North
services establishments African nation
Summary of Newly Notified Rules: ▪ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Morocco’s
• These rules, framed under Section 11 of the Minister of Trade, Ryad Mezzour, in Rabat to
Act, provide a structured operational discuss ways to deepen cooperation in key
framework for ISOs. sectors including defence, pharmaceuticals,
• They empower ISO heads to exercise full and chemicals,.
administrative and disciplinary authority over About Morocco
service members from any branch. ▪ Location: north-western Africa
• Rules establish command succession in case of ▪ Capital City: Rabat
the absence of the designated officer and ▪ It is bordered by Western Sahara to the south
prevent overlapping disciplinary proceedings. and Algeria to the east.

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▪ It has coastlines on the Atlantic Ocean to the ▪ Around 1,047 km of these borders remain
west and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. unfenced, primarily due to riverine areas and
▪ It is the only African country with coastlines difficult jungle terrain.
on both the Atlantic Ocean and the ▪ The BSF maintains 1,760 border outposts
Mediterranean Sea. along these two frontiers.

BSF to get 16 new battalions, 2 field HQs Bhairav Commando Battalions

for Pakistan, Bangladesh borders ▪ The Indian Army is raising the first five
▪ The Border Security ‘Bhairav’ commando battalions to strengthen
Force (BSF) is set to swift strike capabilities along the borders with
receive the China and Pakistan.
▪ Newly raised light commando battalions (250
soldiers each) under the “Save and Raise”
approach.
▪ Drawn from existing infantry battalions without
fresh troop accretion.
▪ Complements the Army’s 10 Para-SF and 5 Para
(Airborne) battalions.
Features:
▪ Each unit: ~250 soldiers, 7–8 officers.
▪ Training: 2–3 months in regimental centres + 1
government’s final approval to raise 16 new month with Special Forces for advanced
battalions. training.
▪ These 16 battalions will be raised gradually ▪ Equipped with latest weapons,
over the next few years. drones, surveillance systems, and tactical
▪ Each BSF battalion comprises over 1,000 gadgets.
troopers. ▪ Locations: Initial 5 units—3 in Northern
▪ The new battalions will add approximately Command (Leh, Srinagar, Nagrota), 1 in
17,000 personnel to the BSF's strength. western desert sector, 1 in eastern hilly terrain.
▪ Currently, the BSF has 193 battalions tasked
with guarding India’s western and eastern
First batch of 17 female cadets graduated
borders.
▪ The Union Home Ministry has approved the from National Defence Academy
establishment of two new field command ▪ In a first for India’s armed forces, the batch of
bases for the Border Security Force (BSF). 17 women cadets graduated from the
▪ One sector headquarters will be established in National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune
Jammu to enhance security along the India- ▪ Governor of Mizoram and former Chief of
Pakistan International Border in Jammu and Army Staff, General V.K. Singh (Retd.) and NDA
Punjab. Commandant Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar were
▪ The second sector headquarters will be present on the occasion.
located in Mizoram to improve surveillance
along the India-Bangladesh border. CISF launches its first 𝐚𝐥𝐥-𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧
▪ The BSF guards a 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭 to boost gender parity.
total of 6,726 km ▪ Central Industrial
of the two Security Force
borders: (CISF)
▪ 2,290 km along ▪ The training of the
the India-Pakistan first batch of 30
International women began on
Border (IB). August 11 at the
▪ 339 km along the Regional Training
Line of Control (LoC). Centre in Barwaha,
▪ 4,097 km along the India-Bangladesh border.

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Madhya Pradesh, and will conclude on ▪ Over the next nine months, 10 women officers
October 4. will sail onboard the indigenously-built Indian
▪ This all-women commando team is being Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni on an
envisioned as a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) and easterly route covering approximately 26,000
Special Task Force (STF) component for nautical miles.
deployment at high-security establishments. ▪ They will cross the Equator twice, round the
three great Capes - Leeuwin, Horn & Good
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Hope - covering all major oceans and some of
▪ It is a central armed police force in India under the most dangerous waters, including the
the Ministry of Home Affairs. CISF's primary Southern Ocean & the Drake Passage.
mission is to provide security policing services ▪ The recent extraordinary feat achieved by two
to large institutions, whether state-owned or Indian Women Navy officers - Lieutenant
privately owned Commander Dilna K & Lieutenant Commander
▪ Motto: “Protection and Security” Rupa A - who successfully circumnavigated the
▪ The CISF came into existence in 1969 through globe onboard another indigenous vessel INS
the CISF Act 1968 with a sanctioned strength Tarini
of only three battalions. ▪ IASV Triveni, a 50-foot yacht indigenously-built
▪ The original charter of CISF was to provide in Puducherry,
integrated security cover to certain sensitive ▪ Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (UK) was the first to
public sector undertakings. complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation in
▪ The Act was amended in 1983 declaring the 1969.
CISF as an Armed Force of the Union ▪ In India, Captain Dilip Donde (Retd) completed
the first solo circumnavigation (2009–10) and
Commander Abhilash Tomy (Retd) was the first
Establishment of 10th
Indian to circumnavigate non-stop in 2012–13.
Assam Police battalion
approved by cabinet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
▪ The Assam state cabinet Inaugurates BrahMos Unit in Lucknow
approved setting up the
▪ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar
10th Assam Police
Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
Battalion (Phase I)
▪ The land for the battalion is in Kachutoli,
Sonapur area, near Guwahati.

Raksha Mantri virtually flags-off ‘Samudra

Pradakshina’

inaugurated the BrahMos Aerospace plant in

Lucknow.
▪ The ₹300 crore facility, part of the Uttar
Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC),
was launched on National Technology Day,
marking the anniversary of India’s 1998 nuclear
▪ Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, on tests at Pokhran.
September 11, 2025, virtually flagged-off a ▪ The unit aims to produce 80 to 100 supersonic
historic Tri-service all-women circumnavigation cruise missiles each year.
sailing expedition Samudra Pradakshina, the ▪ BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture between
first ever in the world, from the Gateway of India’s Defence Research and Development
India in Mumbai. Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPOM,
aimed at developing next-generation

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supersonic missiles for domestic and export ▪ HAL will own the SSLV and can modify its
markets. design.
▪ The UPDIC, spread across six nodes -- Lucknow, ▪ Full production capability — 6 to 10 rockets per
Kanpur, Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Aligarh, and Agra, year.
aims to attract investments to the tune of ▪ Initial ToT period: 2 years with ISRO
₹50,000 crore. handholding.
▪ HAL will independently handle future launches
SSLV Technology Transfer post-ToT.
▪ For the first time, ISRO’s Small Satellite Launch About Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL):
Vehicle (SSLV) technology will be fully ▪ India’s largest aerospace and defence PSU — a
transferred to an Indian firm — HAL, which will pioneer in aircraft and aerospace systems.
own, build, market, and operate the rocket. ▪ Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
▪ Full Transfer of Technology (ToT) for ISRO’s ▪ Established: 23 December 1940, originally as
SSLV, enabling an Indian firm to independently Hindustan Aircraft Limited.
build and commercialize the rocket. ▪ Ministry: Under Ministry of Defence, Govt of
▪ Parties Involved: ISRO, IN-SPACe (space sector India.
regulator), NSIL (commercial arm), HAL
(recipient). United States Navy will construct two
▪ Awarded By: IN-SPACe, after a two-stage military boat repair facilities in
national bidding process and HAL won with a
Palawan, Philippines
₹511 crore bid.
▪ The United States Navy will construct two
▪ Objective: Strengthen private participation in
military boat repair facilities in
space, enable commercial launch services,
Palawan, Philippines, facing the South China
reduce dependency on ISRO for small satellite
Sea, to strengthen maritime security amid
launches.
rising tensions with China in the contested
region.
Bitra Island is set to host a new Indian ▪ The South China Sea is the largest marginal
naval defence base sea of the western Pacific Ocean, known for its
▪ Bitra Island is Lakshadweep’s smallest strategic and economic importance due to rich
inhabited island, known for its serene shrine marine biodiversity, oil reserves, and critical
and is set to host a new Indian naval defence shipping lanes.
base ▪ Location:
▪ Located between Southeast Asia and
China,
▪ it connects to the Pacific via the Luzon
Strait and to the Indian Ocean through
the Strait of Malacca.
▪ Neighbouring Nations:

▪ Location: It is located in the northern region of

Lakshadweep.
▪ Bitra would become the third island in the
archipelago with a defence establishment –
two Indian naval bases in the archipelago are
INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti, and INS Jatayu
in Minicoy

Features:

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▪ Direct claimants or stakeholders had won the gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo
include: China, Vietnam, Philippines, Olympics.
Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. ▪ He bagged a silver medal in 2024 Paris
Olympics.
▪ Mr. Chopra won gold in the 2023 World
Athletics Championships in Budapest,
Hungary.

ITBP Scales Mt. Makalu: Historic Feat in

Twin Peak Expedition
▪ The Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has
successfully scaled Mt. Makalu — the world’s
fifth highest peak, making it a first among the
central armed police forces in the India.
▪ Led by Deputy Commandant Anoop Kumar
Negi
Disputes & Strategic Importance:
▪ China claims nearly 90% of the sea under its Top 10 peaks in the world (Static)
“Nine-Dash Line,” overlapping with EEZs of
ASEAN countries.
▪ The sea is a major global trade route and is
central to U.S.–China strategic rivalry.

Lieutenant Parul Dhadwal commissioned

into Indian Army Ordnance Corps
▪ The commissioning of Lieutenant Parul
Dhadwal into the Indian Army stood out as a
benchmark as she became the fifth generation
of her family to continue a proud legacy of
valour and service to the nation.
▪ She was awarded the President’s Gold Medal
for standing First in the Order of Merit in her
course, during training at Officers Training
Academy (OTA), Chennai.
▪ She also happens to be the first woman officer Rank Peak Country Height
of the family – hailing from Village Janauri, (meters)
Hoshiarpur Dist, Punjab 1 Mount Everest Nepal, China 8,848.86
Neeraj Chopra Honoured with Honorary 2 K2 Pakistan, China 8,611
Lt. Colonel Rank in Territorial Army 3 Kangchenjunga Nepal, India 8,586
4 Lhotse Nepal, China 8,516
5 Makalu Nepal, China 8,485
6 Cho Oyu Nepal, China 8,188
7 Dhaulagiri I Nepal 8,167
8 Manaslu Nepal 8,163
9 Nanga Parbat Pakistan 8,126
▪ Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has 10 Annapurna I Nepal 8,091
been conferred the honorary rank of
Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army.
▪ The 27-year-old ace javelin thrower, hailing
from Khandra village near Panipat in Haryana,

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Eastern Command of Brahmastra Corps

has successfully summited Mount
Gorichen West
▪ MEMBERS : 18-member mountaineering team
Mount Gorichen West Overview
▪ Elevation: 6,383 meters (20,942 feet)
▪ Location: Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh,
India
▪ Range: Eastern Himalayas
▪ Proximity: Near the India-China border, close

to the Line of Actual Control (LAC)

▪ Naming: Named "Tsangyang Gyatso Peak" in
Geeta Samota: First CISF Officer to Summit honor of the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang
Gyatso, who was born in the Tawang district
Mount Everest
▪ Sub Inspector Geeta Samota has become the
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
first Central Industrial Security Force
(CISF) personnel to conquer the world's tallest (NPT).
peak Mount Everest in the 56-year-long ▪ Amid escalating conflict with Israel, Iran’s
history of the force Parliament is preparing a Bill that may trigger
▪ Everest is also known its withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-
as Sagarmatha in Nepal and Mount Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Qomolangma in China. ▪ NPT is a global treaty that aims to prevent the
▪ The mountain lies on the border spread of nuclear weapons and technology,
between Nepal and Tibet and the summit can while promoting peaceful uses of nuclear
be accessed from both sides. energy and global nuclear disarmament.
▪ It gets its English name from Sir George ▪ Established in: Signed in 1968, entered into
Everest, a colonial-era geographer who served force in 1970.
as the Surveyor General of India in the mid- ▪ Members:
19th century. ▪ 191 countries are parties to the treaty.
▪ It was first scaled in 1953 by the Indian- ▪ Notable non-signatories: India,
Nepalese Tenzing Norgay and New Pakistan, Israel (North Korea withdrew
Zealander Edmund Hillary. in 2003).
▪ First Survey of Everest: The first effort was
carried out in 1847 by a team led by Andrew
Waugh, Surveyor General of India. Objectives:
▪ Prevent nuclear weapons proliferation: Limits
the spread of nuclear weapons beyond the five
recognised states, ensuring global security.

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▪ Promote peaceful nuclear energy: Supports New Delhi on the 100th Raising Day of the
international cooperation in civilian nuclear Military Nursing Service (MNS).
technology under strict IAEA ▪ The museum (VR Centenary Museum)
▪ Work toward global disarmament: Encourages showcases the history, contributions, and
progressive steps for complete nuclear evolution of MNS.
disarmament through diplomatic and legal ▪ The Military Nursing Service was established
means. in 1926.
▪ The Military Nursing Service (MNS) is the
th women-only nursing corps of the Indian
Indian Army celebrates 199 Gunners Day
▪ Gunners Day marks the raising of the first Armed Forces
Indian Artillery unit, 5 (Bombay) Mountain (under Armed
Battery, on 28 September 1827 Forces Medical
▪ Because this unit has been in continuous Services)
service since then, every year 28 September is
observed as Gunners Day (or the “Raising Day” Indian Defence
of the Regiment of Artillery). Service of Engineers
celebrates 76th
Indian Army’s Western Command
Raising Day
Celebrates 79th Raising Day, Recalls 1965 ▪ The Indian Defence Service of Engineers (IDSE),
Indo-Pak War Victory an organised Group ‘A’ cadre under the
▪ On September 15, 2025, the Indian Army's Ministry of Defence (MoD), celebrated its 76th
Western Command celebrated its 79th Raising Raising Day on September 17, 2025 at
Day at Chandimandir Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt
▪ Western Command was raised on 15th ▪ The IDSE was formally established on
September, 1947 amidst the upheaval of September 17, 1949.
Partition. ▪ Role:
▪ Initially, established as Delhi and East Punjab ▪ Construction and maintenance of
Command, it was responsible for the defence military infrastructure, including roads,
of Delhi and Punjab regions. bridges, airfields, and cantonments.
▪ On 20 January 1948, it was renamed Western ▪ Ensuring combat engineering support
Command and took charge of operations in to the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Jammu & Kashmir. ▪ Disaster relief and humanitarian
▪ Western Command’s warriors have displayed assistance through engineering
unmatched valour, earning 11 Param Vir expertise.
Chakras, 01 Ashok
Chakra and 143 Project Vijayak (BRO) Celebrates 15th
Maha Vir Chakras,
Raising Day in Kargil with Rs 1,200 Crore
among numerous
other gallantry Infrastructure Push
awards. ▪ On September 21, 2025, Project Vijayak of the
▪ The General Officer Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its
Commanding-in- 15th Raising Day in Kargil, Ladakh.
Chief (GOC-in-C) of ▪ To mark this milestone, BRO announced a
India's Western Command is Lieutenant significant infrastructure development plan
General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, PVSM, UYSM, worth over ₹1,200 crore as it embarks on its
AVSM 16th year of operations
▪ Since its inception in 2010, Project Vijayak has
100th Raising Day of the Military Nursing been instrumental in constructing and
maintaining over 1,400 km of roads and 80
Service (MNS) major bridges across Ladakh.
▪ Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan
inaugurated the VR Centenary Museum in

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20 September Railway Protection Force ▪ The present-day NCC under the Ministry of
Defence came into existence on 16 Apr 1948
(RPF) Raising Day
through the NCC Act.
▪ The NCC was formally inaugurated on 15 July
1948.
▪ the Girls Division of the NCC was started in
July 1949

New combat formations In Army : Rudra

Brigades, Bhairav Battalions, Shaktibaan
and Divyastra
▪ The Indian Army has embarked on an
ambitious restructuring and modernisation
programme titled the ‘Decade of
▪ The Railway Protection Force was constituted Transformation (2023–2032)’
by an Act of Parliament in 1957 for providing ▪ Aimed at reshaping the force into a more agile,
security to Railway property. technology-driven, and integrated fighting
▪ Subsequently, the force was empowered to machine.
enquire, arrest and prosecute the offenders ▪ Rudra Brigades: All-arms formations (infantry,
involved in unlawful possession of railway armour, artillery); self-sufficient combat units
property in 1966. named after Rudra (Lord Shiva).
▪ Given the status of "An Armed Force of the ▪ Bhairav Battalions: Multi-domain special ops
Union" on 20th September 1985 by amending units, rapid-response light commando units
the RPF Act by the Parliament. for swift cross-border strikes, surveillance,
▪ Therefore, 20th September is celebrated every and special missions (~250 personnel); 5 under
year as the Raising Day of RPF by members of training, 25 by 2026; named after Bhairav (“the
the force and their families. terrifying one”).
▪ The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is a central ▪ Shaktibaan & Divyastra Units: New artillery
paramilitary force under the Ministry of formations symbolising “power” and “divine
Railways weapon”; part of India’s artillery
▪ Establishment: The RPF's origins trace back to modernisation.
1854 when East Indian Railways appointed
staff designated as 'Police' for its own force.

BRO Celebrates its Foundation on May 7th

▪ On May 7, 2025, the Border Roads
Organisation (BRO), completed 66 years of
service since its formation in 1960
▪ Motto: “Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam”
(Everything is achievable through hard work).

The 77th year since the NCC of

Independent India was
inaugurated - 15 July BRO Breaks Its Own
▪ National Cadet Corps
(NCC) was inaugurated
Record, Builds World’s
to develop character, Highest Motorable Road
comradeship, ideals of at 19,400 ft in Ladakh
service and capacity for ▪ Surpassed its own
leadership in the youth Guinness World Record
of the country set at Umling La (19,024 ft).

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Border Roads Organization: service synergy and coordination, especially in
▪ It is a road construction executive force in India new domains like cyber and space.
that provides support to the Indian Armed
Forces. 24th October ITBP Personnel Raising Day
▪ It works under the Ministry of Defence.
▪ Establishment: It was formed on 7 May 1960.

Inspector Bhawna
Chaudhary becomes BSF
air wing’s first woman
flight engineer
Received flying badge from BSF
DG Daljit Singh Chawdhary.
The BSF air wing, established
in 1969
BSF raised: December 1965 ▪ Raised: 24 Oct 1962, during India–China War
Primary role: Guard India’s borders with Pakistan and ▪ Force under: Ministry of Home Affairs
Bangladesh ▪ Motto: “Shaurya – Dridhata – Karma
Nishtha”
Seventh NSG hub to ▪ Border: Guards the entire 3,488 km India–
come up in Ayodhya China border (Karakoram Pass to Jachep La) .
▪ The Centre plans to ▪ Areas : J&K, Himachal Pradesh,
establish the National Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal
Security Guard's Pradesh
seventh hub in ▪ Specialization: High-altitude operations,
Ayodhya, Uttar border security, and disaster relief in the
Pradesh. Himalayas
▪ to bolster the country's counter-terrorism and
counter-hijack capabilities. Rapid Action Force 33rd
▪ Announced on 41st Raising Day of the NSG in Raising Day
October 2025 ▪ The Raising Day or
▪ Six hubs have already been established – in anniversary of the Rapid
Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Action Force is observed
Ahmedabad, and Jammu on 7 October each year.
▪ On that date in 1992, RAF
Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff was officially established.
Marks 25th Raising Day ▪ The Rapid Action Force is a specialized wing of
the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), that
responds to riots, civil unrest, and public
disturbances.
▪ Motto: “Serving Humanity with Sensitive
Policing”

18th Raising Day of BRO’s Project Arunank

▪ BRO’s Project Arunank marked its 18th Raising
▪ Commemorating 25 years since its
Day at Naharlagun, celebrating 17 years of
establishment on 1 October 2001.
infrastructure growth in Arunachal Pradesh.
▪ It was conceived as a permanent institution to
Key Points:
promote jointness and integration among the
▪ Started: 2008 | Under: Ministry of Defence
Armed Forces, and has become central to tri-
▪ Work: 696 km of roads, 1.18 km of bridges

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▪ Major Project: 278 km Hapoli–Sarli–Huri Road ▪ The ship also conducted joint EEZ (Exclusive
(first blacktopped since Independence) Economic Zone) surveillance and anti-piracy
▪ Green Drive: 23,850 trees planted under “Ek patrols with the Mauritius National Coast
Ped Maa Ke Naam” Guard.
▪ Welfare: Housing, health camps, and safety About INS Sutlej
gear for labourers ▪ A specialised hydrographic survey vessel of the
Indian Navy.
Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra ▪ Built by: Goa Shipyard Limited
▪ Commissioned: 1993
Dwivedi flags off the Shaurya Veer - Run
▪ Base: Kochi, under the Southern Naval
for India 2025 in New Delhi Command
Shaurya Diwas (Infantry
Day), observed on 27 President Droupadi Murmu Becomes First
October, marks the day in
1947 when Indian infantry Indian President to Take Sortie in Rafale
troops first landed at Srinagar Fighter Jet
airfield to repel the Pakistan- ▪ At Ambala Air Force Station,
aided tribal invasion following Haryana.
Jammu & Kashmir’s ▪ Murmu earlier flew Sukhoi-
Instrument of Accession. 30 MKI on 8 April 2023
Held at Delhi Cantonment, New Delhi, to celebrate the (Tezpur, Assam).
valor of the Indian Army’s infantry. 79th Diwas. Former Presidents who took Sukhoi
sorties:
INS Vikrant ▪ A.P.J. Abdul Kalam – 2006 (Lohegaon)
▪ PM celebrated Diwali 2025 with Indian Navy ▪ Pratibha Patil – 2009 (Lohegaon).
personnel aboard INS Vikrant; praised their Rafale : Fighter Jet
bravery in Operation Sindoor. ▪ Made by Dassault Aviation (France).
▪ Arrived from France – 27 July 2020; Formally
inducted – Sept 2020 at Ambala.
▪ Speed: 2,222.6 km/h (Mach 1.8); Ceiling:
50,000 ft.
▪ Length: 15.27 m; Payload: 9,500 kg
(bombs/ammunition).
▪ Used in Operation Sindoor by Indian Air Force.
▪ Rafale features: Twin-engine, multirole,
About INS Vikrant (IAC-1) nuclear-capable, mid-air refueling, precision
▪ India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier. strike.
▪ Commissioned: 2 Sept 2022, at Kochi.
▪ Built by: Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) under
Indian Army’s Southern Command begins
Navy’s Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC)
Programme. implementing PM’s JAI Strategy
▪ Displacement: ~45,000 tonnes. ▪ JAI = Jointness, Atmanirbharta, Innovation
▪ Named after: Historic INS Vikrant (1971 Indo- ▪ Linked to upcoming Tri-Services Exercise ‘Ex
Pak War). Trishul’
▪ Marks India’s naval self-reliance under ▪ Importance : Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat in
Aatmanirbhar Bharat. defence (use of Indian weapons & systems) ;
Focus on AI, cyber, ISR tech for next-gen
warfare; Prepares India for modern &
INS Sutlej – 18th Joint Hydrographic Survey
emerging security threats
at Mauritius Aim
▪ INS Sutlej arrived at Port Louis, Mauritius to ▪ Seamless tri-services integration
conduct the 18th Joint Hydrographic Survey ▪ Boost indigenous defence production
between India and Mauritius. ▪ Drive innovation & advanced tech adoption in
military operations
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Konkan Vijay 2026: NCC Directorate Framework for the U.S.–India Major
Maharashtra flags off `Open Sea Sailing Defence Partnership
Expedition’ ▪ India and the U.S. unveiled a 10-year Defence
▪ NCC Directorate Maharashtra flagged off the Partnership Framework to strengthen peace,
‘Konkan Vijay 2026’ Open Sea Sailing security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Expedition, undertaken by its Most ▪ Signed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and
Enterprising Naval Unit (MENU). U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
▪ A 10-day expedition promoting “Swaccha, ▪ Framework deepens cooperation across land,
Sundar, Samriddha Konkan” (Clean, Beautiful, maritime, air, space, and cyberspace domains.
Prosperous Konkan). ▪ Signed in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the
▪ 60 Naval NCC cadets will sail 127 nautical 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus
miles along the Konkan coastline. (ADMM-Plus).
▪ Supported by the Indian Navy’s Western Naval
Command and the Indian Coast Guard. Army secures IPR for
▪ Aims to build seamanship, teamwork, new digital-print combat
adventure spirit, and coastal environmental
coat, developed by NIFT
awareness among cadets.
▪ Indian Army has secured
intellectual property
INS Gomati to Become Centrepiece of rights (IPR) for its new
Naval Shaurya Museum in Lucknow digital-print combat coat
▪ The decommissioned ▪ Developed with
Indian Navy warship the National Institute of Fashion Technology
INS Gomati will (NIFT)
become the ▪ the three-layered garment features a digitally
centrepiece of the printed camouflage outer layer, an insulated
new Naval Shaurya inner jacket, and a thermal base layer to
Museum (Nausena enhance soldier comfort and performance.
Shaurya Sangrahalaya)
in Lucknow, Uttar Goa Shipyard to set up warship-building
Pradesh.
unit in Machilipatnam
▪ After 34 years of service, the guided-missile
▪ Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) has selected
frigate will be preserved for visitors to explore
Machilipatnam for its next phase of warship-
its decks and control systems
building and defence manufacturing expansion
▪ INS Gomati (F21) — Godavari-class frigate
on the East Coast—one of the most significant
▪ Commissioned: 16 April 1988
developments yet for the Andhra Pradesh
▪ Decommissioned: 28 May 2022
Maritime Board (APMB).
▪ Operation Cactus (Madives, 1988),
▪ The collaboration also aims to strengthen
Operation Parakram (Against Pak,
Machilipatnam Port as a defence
2001–02)
manufacturing and logistics hub.

IIT Bombay researchers develop GPS-free

Rezang La Memorial Stamp Unveiled by
control scheme for autonomous drone
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
swarms ▪ A stamp honours the 13th
▪ IIT Bombay researchers created a UAV-swarm Battalion, Kumaon
control system that works without GPS, inter- Regiment for its role in the
drone communication, or a central controller. 1962 Rezang La battle.
▪ Uses bearing-only vision — each drone tracks ▪ Rezang La War Memorial is
neighbours’ direction via onboard cameras to in Chushul, Ladakh.
maintain formation. ▪ The battle was fought on
18 November 1962 during
the Indo-China War 1962.
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Occurred when Chinese forces launched The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is
coordinated attacks across the LAC.
set to establish all-woman forward posts
▪ Major Shaitan Singh was posthumously
▪ ITBP is set to establish all-woman forward
awarded the Param Vir Chakra for leadership
posts at 10 locations along the 3,488 km India-
this battle in 1962.
China border between Ladakh’s Karakoram
▪ Film “120 Bahadur” (released Nov 21) is based
Pass and Diphu La in Arunachal Pradesh.
on this battle.
▪ All-woman border posts would first be
established in Ladakh’s Lukung and Himachal
India commemorated multiple landmark Pradesh’s Thangi.
events to honour the courage and sacrifice ▪ Motto: Shaurya – Dridhata – Karma Nishtha
of soldiers and civilians who fought 1962 ITBP – Key Facts
▪ Established: 24 Oct 1962 after the Indo-China
Indo-China War
War, initially with 4 battalions.
▪ Three commemorations recall India’s
▪ Guards the India–China border across J&K,
resistance during the Indo-China War of 1962,
Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim,
when multiple sectors like Walong, Rezang La,
Arunachal Pradesh.
and Kepang La witnessed fierce defensive
▪ Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: Provides security,
battles.
communication & medical cover since 1981
▪ Kepang La Day – 17 November
(Gunji–Lipulekh; since 2015 also via Nathula).
▪ Kepang La lies on the Indo-Tibetan border
along the LAC, strategically located near the
Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra/Siang river Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually
system. inaugurated the Galwan War Memorial
▪ 63rd Walong Day – 15–16 November 2025
▪ Celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh
▪ Pays tribute to the Battle of Walong
(1962), where Indian troops heroically
held out for 27 days despite facing
larger Chinese forces.
▪ Rezang La Tribute – 18 November
▪ The Rezang La War Memorial stands in
Chushul, Ladakh.
▪ The 1962 war arose from border disputes over
Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh, claimed by
both nations.

Centre Designates Central Industrial ▪ Ceremony held at the Army base in Leh,
Security Force (CISF) as New Safety Ladakh.
▪ It is tribute to the 20 Indian soldiers who
Regulator for Indian Seaports sacrificed their lives in the brutal clash at the
▪ The Government has officially recognised Galwan Valley on 15 June 2020. (Includes 20
CISF as the Recognised Security Organisation bronze statues For these soldiers)
(RSO) for over 250 major and minor seaports, ▪ Memorial located near KM-120 post on the
empowering it to regulate, oversee, and Durbuk–Shyok–Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO)
enforce security standards across India’s Road in a remote high-altitude area.
maritime facilities.
▪ Built under the Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan
▪ Port-security responsibility was earlier
initiative.
managed in a fragmented manner under
▪ Made of red and black granite, symbolising
the Directorate General of Shipping (DG
sacrifice and valour.
Shipping), without a dedicated professional
▪ Central feature: a triangular installation
security regulator for maritime zones.
inspired by a trishul and damru, reflecting
divine energy and the Himalayas.

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Yearbook 2025 Edition [Link]

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh enhancing cutting-edge technology capability

in the defence sector.
inaugurates 125 border infrastructure
▪ Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Defence.
projects including Shyok Tunnel ▪ Funding : Project cost eligible: Up to ₹50 crore
; Funding share: Up to 90% of project cost ;
Project duration: Max 4 years
Eligibility – Entities
▪ Public Ltd / Private Ltd / Partnership / LLP /
OPC / Sole proprietorship.
▪ Must be Indian-owned & controlled (Resident
Indian citizen).
▪ Foreign investment >49% not allowed.
Eligibility – Startups
▪ Must be Department for Promotion of Industry
and Internal Trade -recognized.
▪ Should be < 3 years old (to be treated as
nascent).
▪ Must be incubated in a Central/State Govt-
assisted incubator.
▪ Should not have received any Govt grant for
▪ 125 BRO projects worth ~₹5,000 crore.
similar technology.
▪ Projects spread
▪ Must be Indian-owned: ≥51% shareholding by
across 2 UTs (Ladakh,
a Resident Indian citizen.
J&K) and 7 states
(Arunachal Pradesh,
Sikkim, Himachal The Army Service Corps (ASC) Celebrates
Pradesh, 265th Corps Day in Bengaluru
Uttarakhand, ▪ The Army Service Corps (ASC), the oldest
Rajasthan, West logistics arm of the Indian Army, marked its
Bengal, Mizoram). 265th Corps Day at the ASC Centre and College
▪ Includes the strategic 920-m Shyok Tunnel on in Bengaluru.
the Darbuk–Shyok–Daulat Beg Oldi (DSDBO) ▪ Established in 1760, the Corps has supported
Road in Ladakh. every major campaign involving Indian forces.
▪ The Shyok Tunnel provides all-weather, reliable ▪ Its role has expanded from traditional supply
connectivity, enabling rapid troop deployment responsibilities to managing complex logistics
even during harsh winters. across varied terrains, including high-altitude
areas, deserts, dense forests, and active
Technology Development Fund (TDF) conflict zones.
Scheme
▪ Recently, the Defence Research and Ekam AI and SAMBHAV Showcased By
Development Organisation has handed over Indian Army
seven technologies developed under the ▪ Indian Army showcased a wide range of
Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme homegrown technologies Ekam AI and
to armed forces. SAMBHAV project during Vijay Diwas
About Technology Development Fund (TDF) Scheme celebration.
▪ It has been established to promote self- About Ekam AI
reliance in Defence Technology as a part of the ▪ It is a fully indigenous and secure artificial
‘Make in India’ initiative. intelligence platform designed for sensitive
▪ It encourages the participation of environments.
public/private industries, especially MSMEs Features of Ekam AI
and startups, so as to create an ecosystem for ▪ It enables users to analyse information,
manage documents, and support decision-

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Yearbook 2025 Edition [Link]
making without dependence on foreign ▪ Of the 8 comrades, 2
software or external cloud systems. received Sena Medals and
▪ It allows personnel at different levels to the rest Gallantry Medals
leverage AI-enabled support without requiring posthumously.
specialised technical expertise.. ▪ R.K. Wadhwa was
About SAMBHAV awarded the Maha Vir
▪ It is a portable communication system that Chakra (posthumously)
provides mobile connectivity using satellite and is the first and only
support. BSF officer to receive this honour, India’s
▪ Features: The system can be deployed quickly second-highest gallantry award after the Param
in remote or disaster-affected areas, improving Vir Chakra.
communication for both soldiers and civilians.
▪ Significance: The project highlights how Ex-Agniveer quota for BSF constable post
defence innovation can also strengthen
now 50%
national communication infrastructure.
▪ The Union
Home Ministry
President 0f India Inaugurates Param Vir has notified an
Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan increase in
reservation
for ex-
Agniveers in
Group-C posts
of Central
Armed Police
Forces (CAPFs)
from 10% to
• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Param 50%, starting with the Border Security Force.
Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Vijay Earlier policy:
Diwas. ▪ Ex-Agniveers were required to compete
• Purpose: To honour India’s highest military through regular recruitment processes.
heroes. ▪ In 2022, the government announced 10%
• Gallery Features: Portraits of all 21 Param Vir reservation for ex-Agniveers in CAPFs.
Chakra recipients. ▪ Additional relaxations included 5 years age
• Param Vir Chakra: India’s highest military relaxation for the first batch and 3 years for
decoration, awarded for exceptional valour, subsequent batches.
courage, and self-sacrifice in war. New proposal / changes:
• Notable Heroes Represented: Company ▪ 50% reservation for ex-Agniveers in every
Havildar Major Abdul Hamid, Naib Subedar recruitment year for constable posts.
Bana Singh, Captain Vikram Batra. ▪ Ex-Agniveers are exempted from PST/PET, but
must clear the written examination like other
BSF observes Raja Mohatam Day, candidates.
Recruitment Process
honouring 1971 war heroes who
▪ Phase 1: Nodal CAPF recruits ex-Agniveers for
recaptured Ferozepur post 50 percent vacancies
▪ BSF observes December 11 as Raja Mohatam ▪ Phase 2: SSC recruits remaining candidates
Day. including 10 percent ex-servicemen
▪ The nation honours Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) ▪ Age Relaxation Update : Age limit for BSF
awardee Assistant Commandant Ram Krishan Combatised Constable (Tradesmen) increased
Wadhwa (BSF) and his 8 comrades for from 30 to 35 years
capturing Raja Mohatam Post, Mamdot ▪ Other CAPFs: Recruitment rules of CRPF, CISF,
sector, Ferozepur (Punjab) during the 1971 ITBP, SSB and Assam Rifles to be amended
war. gradually

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Yearbook 2025 Edition [Link]

Feature Agnipath Scheme Details ▪ Formation: It was established as the Special

Launch June 2022 by Government of India Service Bureau in May 1963, in the aftermath
Forces Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air of the Chinese aggression in 1962.
Covered Force ▪ It comes under the aegis of the Ministry of
Recruit Name Agniveer Home Affairs.
Age Limit 17.5 – 21 years (first cycle: 23 years ▪ Recognition: SSB is the first central
due to COVID) paramilitary force that included women in its
Service 4 years (incl. 6 months training + 3.5 ranks
Tenure years service)
Retention Up to 25% retained as permanent Centre Launches First-Ever National
cadre, rest (75%) exit Weapon Database
Exit Benefit ~₹11.7 lakh lump sum (tax-free,
(Seva Nidhi) includes govt. contribution +
interest)
Salary 1st Yr: ₹30,000 → 2nd Yr: ₹33,000
(approx.) → 3rd Yr: ₹36,500 → 4th Yr:
₹40,000
In-hand 70% of monthly pay (30% goes to
Salary Seva Nidhi)
Insurance ₹48 lakh during service
Cover
Post-Service Preference in CAPFs, State Police,
Opportunities Defence PSUs, private jobs; Skill
certificates provided
Objectives Younger armed forces, reduced
pension burden, skill development,
nation-building ▪ The Government of India has launched the
country’s first national weapon database
62nd Raising Day the Sashastra Seema Bal designed to strengthen internal security and
improve counter-terrorism and organised
▪ The Raising Day
crime investigations.
of SSB is
▪ The database, titled the Lost, Looted and
observed on 20
Recovered Firearm database, serves as a
December each
centralized digital repository for tracking
year.
government-owned weapons that have been
▪ The Raising Day
lost, stolen, looted, or recovered. It is
(also referred to
intended to enhance the tracing, monitoring,
as the
and management of such firearms across the
Foundation Day
country.
or
▪ It was formally launched by Union Home
Establishment
Minister Amit Shah at the Anti-Terror
Day) of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) marks
Conference-2025 .
the anniversary of the formation of the force.
▪ SSB is a part of the Central Armed Police
Forces (CAPF) and guards India’s border Pralhad Joshi, Hon’ble Minister for
with Nepal (1,751 km) and Bhutan (699 km). Consumer Affairs releases Indian Standard
▪ It is one of the seven paramilitary forces in on Bomb Disposal Systems on National
India (Others 6:
▪ Assam Rifles, Border Security
Consumer Day 2025
Force, Central Industrial Security ▪ IS 19445:2025 – Bomb Disposal Systems —
Force, Central Reserve Police Performance Evaluation and Requirements, an
Force, Indo Tibetan Border Indian Standard aimed at strengthening safety
Police and National Security Guard.
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Yearbook 2025 Edition [Link]
and standardisation in bomb disposal January 27-30, 2026, at Rashtriya Raksha
operations. University, Gandhinagar.
▪ Formulated on request of Ministry of Home ▪ The Bharat Centre of Olympic Research and
Affairs and Terminal Ballistic Research Education (BCORE), established in June 2024,
Laboratory (DRDO). stands as India's and South Asia's first
▪ Why needed?: Rising use of bomb disposal Olympic Studies Centre recognized by the
systems; no Indian performance standard; International Olympic Committee (IOC).
limited/misaligned international standards. ▪ The conference will be held in Gandhinagar
▪ What it sets?: Uniform framework to test blast from January 27 to 30, 2026.
& splinter effects—test conditions, procedures, ▪ The theme of IORC 2026 is “Building a
methodologies, and acceptance criteria. Sustainable Olympic Ecosystem through
▪ Use: Common reference for manufacturers, Education, Governance and Research.”
test agencies, certification, and procurement.

RRU to Host World Police & Fire Games

2029 Disciplines

▪ Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), an

institution of national importance under the
Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of
India.
▪ It is a biennial Games.
▪ Rashtriya Raksha University will host eight
disciplines of the World Police and Fire Games
2029, marking India's debut as host of this
prestigious Olympic-style event.
▪ RRU will host Wrist Wrestling, Bench Press,
Bodybuilding, Cross Country 10km, Push-Pull
Lifting, Muster, Indoor Rowing, and Darts on its
advanced campus infrastructure.

Hosting of International Olympic Research

Conference 2026
▪ BCORE announces the 2nd International
Olympic Research Conference, scheduled for

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