Current Affairs - Defence

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.

The University of Hyderabad collaborated with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in the research and development of BAM-H24, a high-energy compound intended for potential use in next-generation solid rocket propulsion systems. Researchers from the University of Hyderabad, including Drs. Muddamarri Hanumantha Rao and Muralidharan Krishnamurthi, contributed to the development. BAM-H24 combines high energetic performance with safety features such as chemical and thermal stability and resistance to impact and friction. Its low moisture absorption and expected superior specific impulse and low ignition delay could make it useful for improving the efficiency, safety, and performance of solid rocket propulsion systems.

Shakti Sharma created history by becoming the first woman officer from the non-medical cadre in the Indian Defence Forces to be promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, a two-star rank. Commissioned into the Indian Air Force Education Branch on June 18, 1994, she has served for more than three decades across training institutions, field units, command headquarters and Air Headquarters. From September 1, 2026, she took charge as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters. Her career also includes serving as Principal of Sainik School, Kapurthala, and establishing academic-defence partnerships with institutions such as IIT Kanpur and Pune University.

The United States signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance with India on August 29, 2026, for the procurement of Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems for the Indian Army. The agreement establishes a direct government-to-government procurement route and marks India’s formal entry as a customer for the shoulder-fired Javelin system. India and the US are also working toward eventual joint production of the missile system in India. The Javelin is a man-portable, fire-and-forget anti-tank missile featuring a top-attack flight profile designed to target the weaker roof armor of tanks and armored vehicles.