Current Affairs - Defence

Union Minister Ajay Bhatt flagged off the Astra air-to-air missiles, developed by DRDO and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited. With a remarkable beyond visual range (BVR) capability exceeding 100 kilometres, the Astra Missile showcases India's technological prowess. This significant step not only advances the Indian Air Force's capabilities but also underscores India's strides toward self-reliance in cutting-edge defence technology.

The Army's adoption of Topa Pir village as a model village under the Sadbhavana scheme comes in response to the December 2023 incident where a video of alleged civilian torture went viral. This initiative is part of efforts to engage with the local population in the Pir Panjal Valley, aiming to rebuild trust and foster positive relations after the unfortunate incident that sparked significant public outrage and criticism.

The Indian Navy's P-8I aircraft arrived in Guam, United States of America, for Exercise Sea Dragon 24, signalling its participation in the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercise led by the US Navy.

The Indian and Japanese Coast Guards successfully conducted the joint exercise 'Sahyog Kaijin' off the coast of Chennai. This collaborative effort, initiated on January 8, aimed at enhancing interoperability and sharing best practices in maritime law enforcement, search and rescue operations, and pollution response at sea.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a significant milestone with the successful flight test of the New Generation AKASH (AKASH-NG) missile at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. The test demonstrated the system’s capability to intercept high-speed unmanned aerial targets at very low altitudes.