Current Affairs - Defence

BEL is the company that signed a major contract with the Ministry of Defence for supplying Mountain Radars to the Indian Air Force. Bharat Electronics Limited, a leading public sector enterprise in defence electronics, will manufacture these radars, which have been indigenously designed by DRDO’s LRDE. The project falls under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, supporting the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. These advanced systems are specifically designed for high-altitude operations, significantly enhancing air defence and surveillance capabilities in mountainous regions, thereby strengthening national security.

Dunagiri is the indigenous stealth frigate delivered to the Indian Navy as part of Project 17A, which represents the Nilgiri class of advanced warships. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata, it is a modern multi-mission platform equipped with advanced stealth features, sensors, and weapon systems such as BrahMos missiles and MRSAM. The ship is named after the earlier INS Dunagiri, continuing its legacy. With around 75% indigenous content, the project significantly boosts self-reliance, supports MSMEs, and contributes to employment generation in the defence sector.

The Survey Vessel ‘Sanshodhak’ was delivered to the Indian Navy at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), located in Kolkata. This milestone marks the completion of the Survey Vessel (Large) project, showcasing India’s growing strength in indigenous shipbuilding with over 80% local content. Kolkata, a major shipbuilding hub, played a crucial role in this achievement. The vessel is designed for hydrographic surveys and oceanographic data collection, and can also serve in humanitarian missions. Its delivery highlights advancements in India’s naval capabilities and self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

The IONS Maritime Exercise (IMEX) TTX 2026 was conducted at the Maritime Warfare Centre under the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. This exercise marked an important occasion as India assumed the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) for the 2026–2028 cycle. It brought together delegates from multiple countries to address non-traditional maritime threats such as piracy, terrorism, and illegal trafficking. The event focused on enhancing coordination, operational synergy, and communication among participating navies, thereby strengthening regional maritime security and fostering collaborative approaches to complex challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.

IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation partnered with the Indian Army’s Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers to boost defence indigenisation efforts. The collaboration focuses on developing indigenous engineering solutions to reduce reliance on foreign technologies. A Nodal Indigenisation Centre has been set up in Avadi, Chennai, to support this initiative. The partnership emphasises bridging the gap between field requirements and academic research, fostering innovation in areas such as sensing systems, cyber-physical systems, autonomous technologies, and upgrading legacy military equipment, ultimately enhancing India’s self-reliance in defence production.