Current Affairs - Defence

The Maitree Exercise 2024 is a joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army, taking place in Thailand at Fort Vachiraprakan in Tak Province. This exercise, running from July 1 to July 15, 2024, focuses on enhancing military cooperation, improving skills in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, and conducting joint planning and tactical drills. It symbolizes the strong defence partnership and mutual cooperation between India and Thailand.

The military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ is a joint initiative between India and Mongolia, aimed at bolstering interoperability between their armed forces. This exercise, held alternately in Mongolia and India, focuses on conducting semi-conventional operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrains. It serves as a crucial platform for both countries to enhance their defence cooperation and strategic ties, reflecting their commitment to mutual defence preparedness and regional stability.

The Bangladesh Navy signed a contract with India’s Garden Reach Shipbuilding and Engineers (GRSE) for an 800-ton Ocean Going Tug. This agreement was finalized during the visit of India’s Chief of Naval Staff to Bangladesh, highlighting the collaborative efforts in naval technology and maritime capabilities between the two countries.

SEBEX 2 is India's latest revolutionary explosive developed by Economic Explosives Ltd (EEL), a subsidiary of Solar Industries, based in Nagpur. It offers twice the lethality of standard TNT and is designed to enhance the destructive capabilities of artillery shells and warheads without increasing their weight. Certified by the Indian Navy, SEBEX 2 is set to bolster India's defence capabilities significantly, showcasing advancements in Indigenous defence technology.

India and Saudi Arabia have strengthened their naval training collaboration through the integration of 76 trainees from the King Fahad Naval Academy of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) into the First Training Squadron (1TS) of the Indian Navy at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. This initiative aims to bolster bilateral naval cooperation and foster mutual understanding between the two nations. The training program encompasses various activities such as seamanship, simulator exercises, and sail training onboard, enhancing operational skills and inter-naval camaraderie between India and Saudi Arabia.