Current Affairs - Defence

The Indian Navy is set to commission INAS 335, known as the Ospreys, as its second squadron of MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopters at INS Hansa in Goa. This induction represents a significant step in strengthening India’s naval aviation capabilities. The MH-60R helicopters are equipped with advanced sensors, weapons, and avionics, enabling them to perform critical roles such as anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, maritime surveillance, and search and rescue. The squadron’s commissioning enhances maritime domain awareness and supports India’s broader naval modernisation and operational readiness efforts.

The world’s highest war memorial was inaugurated at Galwan, located along the Durbuk–Shyok–DBO Road in Ladakh. This memorial honours the twenty Indian soldiers who lost their lives during the 2020 clash with Chinese troops. Designed with a granite trishul-damru structure, it includes an eternal flame, the national flag and twenty bronze statues representing the fallen soldiers. The site further features a museum and digital gallery developed under the Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan initiative. To make the remote and high-altitude destination more accessible, additional visitor facilities have been created, enhancing both tourism and public remembrance.

The world’s highest war memorial was inaugurated at Galwan, located along the Durbuk–Shyok–DBO Road in Ladakh. This memorial honours the twenty Indian soldiers who lost their lives during the 2020 clash with Chinese troops. Designed with a granite trishul-damru structure, it includes an eternal flame, the national flag and twenty bronze statues representing the fallen soldiers. The site further features a museum and digital gallery developed under the Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan initiative. To make the remote and high-altitude destination more accessible, additional visitor facilities have been created, enhancing both tourism and public remembrance.

Malaysia is participating with India in the Harimau Shakti 2025 military exercise, marking the fifth edition of this bilateral defence engagement. Conducted at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan, the exercise involves the Dogra Regiment of the Indian Army and the 25th Royal Malaysian Army. Their joint training focuses on counter-terrorism operations such as cordon-and-search drills, heliborne missions, and casualty evacuation techniques. The exercise aims to strengthen interoperability, enhance the exchange of tactical knowledge, and deepen defence cooperation between the two nations. This collaboration contributes to regional stability and reinforces long-term strategic ties.

DRDO successfully carried out a high-speed rocket-sled trial of an indigenous fighter jet escape system at the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility in Chandigarh. This system is crucial for safeguarding pilots during emergencies, and the test validated essential components such as canopy separation, ejection sequencing, and safe recovery. The trial involved collaboration with HAL and ADA, reinforcing the coordinated effort behind India’s aviation safety advancements. Dynamic tests like these replicate real-world flight conditions more accurately than static trials, enabling engineers to ensure the system’s reliability. The achievement strengthens India’s defence self-reliance and places the country among a select group capable of testing such advanced escape technologies.