Current Affairs - Defence

Samudra Pratap is the first Pollution Control Vessel inducted by the Indian Coast Guard, marking a major milestone in India’s maritime environmental protection capabilities. Built at Goa Shipyard Limited, the vessel showcases India’s growing self-reliance in defence shipbuilding under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It is equipped with advanced pollution response systems, firefighting equipment, and modern maritime security weapons. With over 60% indigenous components, Samudra Pratap enhances the Coast Guard’s ability to respond to oil spills, chemical leaks, maritime emergencies, and protect India’s Exclusive Economic Zone while supporting sustainable maritime governance.

INS Sindhughosh was a landmark asset of the Indian Navy and served as the lead submarine of the Sindhughosh-class. Commissioned in 1985, it played a crucial role in strengthening India’s underwater warfare, maritime surveillance, and strategic deterrence capabilities. Over its 40-year service life, the submarine undertook numerous patrols, exercises, and operational missions, becoming a backbone of India’s submarine fleet. Its decommissioning in December 2025 marked the conclusion of an important chapter in naval history and symbolised the Navy’s transition towards more modern and indigenously developed submarine platforms, while honouring the legacy of the crews who served aboard her.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed the user evaluation trials of the Next Generation Akash missile system, also known as Akash-NG. These trials demonstrated the missile’s ability to intercept aerial targets at varying ranges and altitudes, highlighting its effectiveness in modern air defence scenarios. Designed to counter multiple aerial threats, the Akash-NG system incorporates advanced technologies such as an indigenous Radio Frequency seeker for improved target accuracy. Powered by a solid rocket motor, the missile reflects India’s growing capabilities in developing advanced, self-reliant defence systems.

The Indian Navy commissioned Anjadip as part of its efforts to strengthen coastal defence and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. It is the third vessel in a series of eight ASW Shallow Water Craft and was commissioned at Chennai. Built indigenously by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in collaboration with L&T Shipyard, the 77-metre-long warship is the Navy’s largest waterjet-powered vessel. Equipped with advanced systems such as lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, and shallow-water sonar, Anjadip enhances India’s ability to conduct anti-submarine operations, coastal surveillance, and mine-laying missions in littoral waters.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by DRDO to strengthen collaboration in defence and internal security through research, education, training, and technological support. The agreement focuses on joint research and development projects, PhD and fellowship programmes, capacity building initiatives, and technology lifecycle support for security forces. Signed in New Delhi in the presence of the Defence Minister, the MoU highlights DRDO’s role in integrating advanced defence technologies with academic and training institutions. This partnership aims to enhance innovation, skill development, and indigenous technological capabilities for India’s defence and homeland security ecosystem.