Current Affairs - Defence

India and Indonesia are conducting the 5th edition of the ‘Samudra Shakti – 2025’ naval exercise at Visakhapatnam, aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation between the two nations. First initiated in 2018, the exercise focuses on enhancing interoperability, mutual understanding, and the exchange of best practices in naval operations. Such joint drills improve operational readiness, foster strategic partnerships, and enable both navies to collaborate effectively during maritime security operations. This continued engagement reflects the growing significance of India-Indonesia defence relations in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a significant milestone by successfully testing the Military Combat Parachute System (MCPS) from an altitude of 32,000 feet — the highest deployment ever for an indigenous system. Developed jointly by ADRDE (Agra) and DEBEL (Bengaluru), this advanced parachute system ensures safe and controlled deployment above 25,000 feet. The success of this test highlights DRDO’s progress in developing high-altitude military technology, strengthening India’s self-reliance and operational capabilities in defence research and innovation.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for the Special Operations Training Centre of the National Security Guard (NSG) in Manesar, Haryana. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to provide advanced training to NSG personnel in counter-terrorism operations, tactical response, and crisis management. The centre will significantly strengthen India’s elite commando force, ensuring better preparedness for high-risk missions. Alongside this initiative, a new NSG hub will also be established in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, expanding the national network of specialised security hubs across key cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

The fourth edition of the India-Australia joint military exercise, AUSTRAHIND 2025, will be held in Perth, Australia. This exercise involves a 120-member Indian Army contingent led by a Battalion of Gorkha Rifles. AUSTRAHIND aims to deepen defence cooperation between the two countries by enhancing interoperability, tactical coordination, and the sharing of best practices in sub-conventional warfare. Conducting the exercise in Perth underscores Australia’s commitment to joint defence training and strategic collaboration with India, fostering stronger military partnerships that contribute to peace, security, and stability across the Indo-Pacific region.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with the Integrated Defence Staff and Tri-Services, launched IRSA 1.0, India’s first standardized software framework for Software Defined Radios (SDRs). IRSA 1.0 enables interoperability across military communication systems, allowing radios from different vendors to work together efficiently. It adopts the NATO SCA 4.1 standard, tailored for Indian needs, and supports multiple hardware environments like GPPs, DSPs, and FPGAs. This initiative strengthens indigenous defence technology, aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat, and positions India for potential export of IRSA-compliant systems, enhancing secure, network-centric military operations.