Current Affairs - Defence

Cochin Shipyard Limited delivered Mangrol, the third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), to the Indian Navy on August 21, 2026. The vessel has more than 80% indigenous content and is designed for underwater surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, coastal operations, low-intensity maritime operations, and mine warfare. Equipped with torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, radar, and sonar systems, Mangrol enhances the Navy’s capabilities in shallow and coastal waters. Its delivery also supports the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative by strengthening India’s indigenous defence shipbuilding and reducing dependence on foreign technology and manufacturing.

Lucknow was the city where Kawa UAV Pvt. Ltd. (HoverIt) successfully conducted the maiden flight of Divyastra Mk3 on August 11, 2026. Developed as India’s first indigenous jet-powered loitering munition, Divyastra Mk3 uses a jet engine developed by DG Propulsion and contains no imported foreign engines or critical subsystems. Kawa UAV, an indigenous defence technology firm based in Lucknow, specialises in high-speed precision strike systems and UAVs The successful flight demonstrates India’s growing capabilities in developing advanced, self-reliant defence technologies under the broader objective of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Thailand participates with India in Exercise MAITREE-XV 2026, which is the 15th joint military exercise between the two countries. The exercise is being conducted from August 18 to 31, 2026, at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani, Thailand. The Indian Army and Royal Thai Army are taking part with 85 personnel each. The exercise focuses on joint counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations in difficult jungle and semi-urban environments, while also enhancing interoperability, operational coordination, and defence cooperation between the two armies.

HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) signed agreements with BEML and Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Limited on August 14, 2026, for manufacturing fuselage structures of the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand. BEML will manufacture 48 fuselage structures under an order worth ₹184 crore, while Adani Defence will produce 42 structures. The initiative marks the first integration of private industry into helicopter fuselage production and aims to increase industrial participation in India’s aerospace sector. The production supports the manufacturing of 156 Prachand helicopters ordered for the Indian Armed Forces and is being carried out at HAL’s new facility in Tumakuru, Karnataka.

Reliance is set to partner with UK-based Rolls-Royce to explore the establishment of a dedicated aerospace gas turbine complex in India. The proposed collaboration aims to support the joint development and manufacturing of aero-engines for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. The partnership combines Rolls-Royce’s expertise in advanced propulsion technology with Reliance’s manufacturing and execution capabilities. The initiative is expected to strengthen India’s indigenous aerospace ecosystem, reduce dependence on foreign-made defence equipment, and enhance domestic capabilities in fighter-engine production. The AMCA is a twin-engine stealth fighter being developed for India’s future air-combat requirements.