Current Affairs - Defence

The 'Ex-Ayutthaya' naval exercise marks a historic collaboration between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy, symbolizing a strong connection between the ancient cities of Ayodhya in India and Ayutthaya in Thailand. This initiative highlights shared historical narratives and deep cultural ties, reinforcing the enduring relationship between the two nations.

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.