Current Affairs - Defence

Jodhpur is the venue for Exercise Veer Guardian 2026, the second edition of the bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). The exercise is being conducted at Air Force Station Jodhpur from September 9 to September 22, 2026. It focuses on strengthening interoperability, operational synergy, and mutual understanding between the two air forces. The Japanese contingent arrived in India aboard two C-2 transport aircraft of the JASDF, which landed at Jodhpur. The exercise provides personnel from both countries an opportunity to train together and exchange professional knowledge.

Drogo Aerospace is responsible for designing and manufacturing UAV platforms and associated hardware under the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Munitions India Limited (MIL) on September 4, 2026. The partnership aims to develop indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and loitering munition systems, strengthening India’s domestic defence manufacturing capabilities. MIL will contribute expertise in warhead technologies, munitions design, explosive filling, and fuzing systems. The collaboration also includes the development of the Delta Wing Kamikaze loitering munition, designed for one-way attack missions with a range of up to 1,000 km and a 20–30 kg warhead capacity.

498 kmph was the top speed achieved by the Ahuti Mk II electric multirotor interceptor on September 3, 2026, earning it a place in the India Book of Records as India’s fastest multirotor UAV. The speed surpassed the previous Indian record of 325 kmph by 170 kmph. Developed and manufactured by Apollyon Dynamics, a defence technology startup incubated at BITS Pilani Hyderabad, the interceptor is designed specifically to counter incoming aerial threats. It uses a burst current of 400 amperes and underwent 10 redesign iterations involving its frame, propulsion, and motor configuration.

Air Marshal KAA Sanjeeb assumed charge as the Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance (AOM) of the Indian Air Force on September 1, 2026. He succeeded Air Marshal Sanjiv Ghuratia, who retired after 39 years of service. Commissioned into the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical Branch) in 1988, Sanjeeb has extensive technical experience in the IAF. He played a key role in the induction of the IL-78 Flight Refueller Aircraft and pioneered the induction and operationalisation of the AWACS fleet. He has also served in several senior positions at Air Headquarters and received the AVSM and VSM for distinguished service.

RAKSHA is the strategy document launched by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to guide India’s defence diplomacy over the coming decade. It provides a long-term roadmap for strengthening bilateral and multilateral security partnerships and aligning defence interests with India’s international cooperation goals. The document focuses on four major pillars: strategic partnerships, capacity building, indigenous defence exports, and maritime security. It also seeks to enhance India’s role as a dependable defence partner and a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region. The framework represents a broader approach to strengthening India’s global defence engagement and regional security cooperation.