Current Affairs - Defence

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.

Vayu Baan is India’s first helicopter-dropped unmanned aerial system project initiated by the Indian Air Force to enhance combat capabilities. Designed as an air-launched drone, it can be deployed from helicopters to perform both reconnaissance and precision strike missions. The system is capable of autonomous navigation, real-time video transmission, and operating in GPS-denied environments. With a stand-off range of over 50 km and an endurance of around 30 minutes, it significantly improves operational safety by allowing aircrew to stay out of high-threat zones while maintaining offensive reach.