Current Affairs - Defence

INS Udaygiri was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 2025, as the second stealth frigate under the Project 17A initiative. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL) in Mumbai and designed by the Warship Design Bureau, the frigate was delivered in a record time of 37 months. It features advanced stealth capabilities, an indigenous weapons suite including supersonic and surface-to-air missiles, and cutting-edge radar-evading technology. The ship’s construction involved over 200 Indian MSMEs, underscoring India’s commitment to self-reliant defence manufacturing. Named after a decommissioned warship, INS Udaygiri represents a fusion of naval tradition and modern maritime strength.

Reliance Defence, in collaboration with U.S.-based Coastal Mechanics Inc., has launched a major Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Maharashtra, specifically at MIHAN, Nagpur. This strategic move aims to modernize and extend the lifecycle of key defence platforms like Jaguar aircraft, MiG-29 fighter jets, and Apache helicopters. The initiative supports India’s broader Atmanirbhar Bharat mission, focusing on self-reliance in defence production and services. With a projected ₹20,000 crore MRO market, Maharashtra is positioned as a vital defence hub, leveraging its infrastructure and strategic location to support both domestic forces and international defence exports.

Parag Jain, a senior IPS officer from the 1989 Punjab cadre, has been appointed as the new Chief of RAW, India’s external intelligence agency. His appointment follows the retirement of Ravi Sinha on June 30, 2025. Jain earned high-level recognition for his instrumental role in Operation Sindoor, a strategic counterterrorism operation launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. With over two decades of experience within RAW and a solid background in counterterrorism, cross-border intelligence, and international espionage networks, his leadership is seen as a move to further strengthen India’s external security and intelligence operations amid evolving regional threats.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting took place in Qingdao, China. During this meeting, India declined to sign the joint declaration due to dissatisfaction with the document's language, particularly its failure to address cross-border terrorism, including the recent Pahalgam terror attack. This disagreement led to the meeting concluding without a unified communique. The event underscored tensions in multilateral diplomacy and India's firm stance on issues of national security and terrorism. China's role as the host nation highlights its central position in regional groupings like the SCO.

India and South Africa entered into two significant agreements focused on submarine cooperation during the 9th Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting held in Johannesburg. These agreements aim to enhance bilateral capabilities in areas such as submarine rescue operations, training, surveillance, and joint research and development. This collaboration is particularly important in strengthening maritime security and countering non-traditional threats like piracy and trafficking in strategic sea routes. The defence ties between India and South Africa reflect a growing alignment in their maritime interests and shared commitment to maintaining regional stability in the Indian Ocean and surrounding waters.