Current Affairs - Defence

India and Malaysia launched the joint army exercise 'Harimau Shakti' on October 23, 2023, in Umroi Cantonment, India. The exercise will continue till November 5, 2023, and will engage approximately 120 personnel from both sides. The Malaysian Army contingent comprises troops from the 5th Royal Battalion of Malaysian Army and the Indian contingent is being represented by a Battalion of the Rajput Regiment.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched Project 'Udbhav', an initiative by the Indian Army to blend ancient wisdom with modern military methods for tackling current security challenges. Project 'Udbhav' aims to rediscover the profound Indian heritage of statecraft and strategic thoughts derived from ancient Indian texts such as Chanakya's Arthashastra, Kamandaka's Nitisara, and the Thirukkural by the Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar.

The Indian Navy received the third guided missile destroyer Imphal on October 20, 2023. This is a significant development for the Indian Navy, as it marks a major milestone in India's indigenous shipbuilding capabilities and enhances its maritime strength in the Indian Ocean region.

Japan became the first country to launch an electromagnetic railgun from an offshore vessel on October 17, 2023. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in collaboration with the Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), a division of the Japanese Ministry of Defense, successfully test-fired a medium-calibre maritime electromagnetic railgun from an offshore platform.

The Indian Army's 3/5 Gorkha Rifles secured the gold medal at the 2023 Cambrian Patrol Competition, held in Wales, UK. The Cambrian Patrol Competition is a gruelling 54-hour military exercise that tests the physical and mental endurance of soldiers.