Current Affairs - Defence

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.

India and the United Kingdom conducted their first Combined Carrier Strike Group exercise during Exercise Konkan 2025, held from October 5–9 off India’s western coast. The exercise marked a major milestone in bilateral defence cooperation and maritime partnership between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy. Featuring India’s INS Vikrant and the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales, along with other naval assets, the drills included air-sea warfare, anti-submarine operations, and joint tactical manoeuvres. This historic event strengthened Indo-UK strategic ties and showcased their shared commitment to maintaining stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

India signed crucial defence agreements with Australia in October 2025 during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Canberra. The pacts aim to deepen strategic and military collaboration, focusing on defence manufacturing, cybersecurity, maritime domain awareness, and joint military exercises. Both sides emphasised their shared commitment to maintaining peace, stability, and a free Indo-Pacific region. The agreements also seek to boost interoperability between the armed forces, facilitate technology transfer, and encourage defence industry partnerships under India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, marking a significant advancement in the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The Indian Army has launched SAKSHAM, an indigenous Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid, marking a major step in strengthening India’s air defence and counter-drone capabilities. Developed in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad, SAKSHAM—short for Situational Awareness for Kinetic Soft and Hard Kill Assets Management—integrates radar, AI, and electro-optical sensors to detect, track, and neutralise aerial threats. Operating through the Army Data Network, it provides a unified airspace picture up to 10,000 feet. The system supports the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and enhances battlefield readiness against modern drone warfare threats.