Current Affairs - Defence

Exercise 'Devil Strike' will be conducted by the Indian Armed Forces from January 16 to 19, 2025. This major exercise, involving the Army, Air Force, and Special Forces, aims to enhance combat readiness and test high-intensity combat operations, particularly in high-altitude warfare. It will focus on joint force coordination and strategic response tactics in complex warfare situations. The exercise also serves as a test of military synchronization to ensure effective defence against potential threats, building on past military exercises conducted by India.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) launched the multi-purpose vessel INS Utkarsh for the Indian Navy from its Kattupalli Shipyard. This vessel, along with INS Samarthak launched earlier, is designed for roles such as maritime surveillance, weapon trials, and combating sea pollution. L&T’s Chennai design centre and Kattupalli yard also manage naval repairs, cadetships, and the construction of six other defence vessels, showcasing L&T’s critical role in strengthening India’s naval capabilities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned three major naval assets—INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer—at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. This event marked a significant milestone in India's naval capabilities, particularly with INS Vaghsheer, the sixth submarine under the P75 Scorpene Project, showcasing India's advancing expertise in submarine construction. The dedication of these combatants in Mumbai underlines the city’s strategic importance as a hub for naval operations and shipbuilding.

The field trials of the indigenously developed NAG MK 2 Anti-Tank Guided Missile were conducted at the Pokhran Field Range in Rajasthan. During the trials, the missile demonstrated remarkable precision by successfully destroying all targets. These evaluations also validated the performance of the Nag Missile Carrier version 2, marking a significant milestone in India's defence capabilities and indigenous weapon development. The choice of Rajasthan for these trials underscores its strategic importance for defence testing.

The India-U.S. collaboration on the co-production of sonobuoys is aimed at strengthening the Indian Navy’s submarine detection capabilities. The final assembly of U.S.-specification sonobuoys will take place in India, and the operational production line is expected to be ready by 2027. This initiative involves the partnership between U.S.-based Ultra Maritime and India’s Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), marking a significant development in undersea warfare technology. The sonobuoys will provide advanced capabilities for detecting submarines, enhancing India’s defence and undersea domain awareness.