Current Affairs - Defence

Kazakhstan is hosting the KAZIND-2026 India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise from September 28 to October 11, 2026. The ninth edition of the exercise is being conducted in Oskemen, Kazakhstan, with 60 Indian Armed Forces personnel participating. The exercise focuses on enhancing interoperability and joint counter-terrorism capabilities between the two countries. Training activities include counter-terrorism responses, search and destroy missions, cordon and search operations, UAV and anti-UAV operations, air mobility, and special heliborne operations. A Joint Command Post and Intelligence Surveillance Centre will also be established to support coordinated planning and operations.

DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) signed its first high-value deep tech agreement with Zero mK India Private Limited for the indigenous development of a 20 mK Dilution Refrigerator for quantum applications. The project is being executed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme of the Ministry of Defence and is supported by a ₹500 crore corpus for deep-tech and cutting-edge defence projects. The ultra-low-temperature system is essential for operating and testing quantum computing platforms. The initiative also supports the National Quantum Mission and aims to reduce India’s dependence on imported cryogenic infrastructure.

INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish arrived at Subic Bay, Philippines, on September 20, 2026, to participate in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Joint Cooperation Activity. INS Sahyadri is a multi-role stealth frigate, while INS Kulish is a guided missile corvette. Their deployment aims to enhance interoperability and strengthen maritime cooperation with ASEAN Member States and the eight ADMM-Plus partner countries. The engagement is aligned with India’s Act East Policy and supports the MAHASAGAR vision. The ADMM-Plus provides a platform for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners to promote security and defence cooperation through practical activities and professional engagements.

INS Trishul is the Talwar-class guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy that made a strategic port call at Alexandria, Egypt, from September 14 to 17, 2026. During the visit, the crew paid homage to Indian soldiers at the Chatby War Memorial and participated in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the Egyptian Navy ship ENS Bernees. The exercise included coordinated manoeuvring drills, specialised communication exercises, and operational approaches for replenishment at sea. Commissioned in 2003, INS Trishul is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet based in Mumbai.

Uttarakhand is hosting the 18th edition of the Nomadic Elephant 2026 military exercise between India and Mongolia. The exercise began at the Foreign Training Node in Pithoragarh and will continue until October 3, 2026. It involves 45 troops each from the Indian Army and the Mongolian Armed Forces. The platoon-level exercise focuses on enhancing joint operational capabilities in counter-insurgency operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrains under the United Nations mandate. Training activities include cordon and search operations, room intervention drills, heliborne operations, cyber security, drone operations and counter-drone systems, strengthening tactical coordination and interoperability between the two forces.