The Hindu-Review-January-March-2024-english Defence Current Affairs
- The Indian Navy is set to inaugurate a new naval base, INS Jatayu, on Minicoy Island, marking a significant step in bolstering security infrastructure in the strategically vital Lakshadweep Islands. Scheduled for March 6, the commissioning ceremony will be graced by Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, underscoring the importance of this development.
- The Indian Navy is poised to achieve a significant milestone on March 6, 2024, with the commissioning of the MH 60R Seahawk helicopter at INS Garuda, Kochi. This induction marks a crucial juncture in India’s defense modernization efforts, further bolstering its maritime capabilities. The Seahawks squadron will be designated as INAS 334, symbolizing a new era in naval aviation for the country. These helicopters are part of a 24-aircraft Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract inked with the US government in February 2020.
- Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the new Administrative & Training building at the Naval War College (NWC), Goa on March 5, 2024. The modern edifice, named the ‘Chola’, pays homage to the mighty maritime empire of the Chola dynasty of ancient India. The event marked a significant milestone in the history of the NWC, reinforcing its commitment to excellence in military education and nurturing maritime thought.
- The Indian Navy took a significant stride in fortifying its operational prowess with the commissioning of its new base, INS Jatayu, at Minicoy island of Lakshadweep. This strategic move aims to enhance the Navy’s capabilities and reach in the vital Indian Ocean region, reinforcing its efforts in anti-piracy and anti-narcotics operations in the Western Arabian Sea.
- The three forces of India - Army, Navy, and Air Force - are going to conduct the biggest exercise called ‘Bharat-Shakti’ at Asia’s largest field firing range located in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. PM Modi’s Likely Visit Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit Pokhran on March 12, 2024, to witness this show of strength by the Indian Armed Forces.
- The arrival of the US Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf at Port Blair signals the commencement of ‘Sea Defenders-2024,’ a joint exercise between the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). Scheduled for March 9-10, 2024, this drill reflects the deepening strategic ties between the two nations and aims to enhance maritime safety and uphold a rules-based order in the IndoPacific region.
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the locally developed Agni-5 missile with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) technology. This new capability allows the weapon system to deliver multiple nuclear warheads against different targets spread across hundreds of kilometers, further enhancing India’s strategic deterrence capability. The test, codenamed “Mission Divyastra” (divine weapon), propels India into an exclusive league of countries that possess the capability to deploy MIRV missile systems, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China.
- Coinciding with International Women’s Day and the 40th anniversary of INAS 318, the Andaman & Nicobar Command achieved a significant milestone by conducting its first-ever all-women maritime surveillance mission. This landmark event underscores the commitment to gender equality and recognizes the indispensable role of women in national defense.
- The Indian Navy recently took part in a major maritime exercise called Exercise Cutlass Express - 24 (CE-24). This exercise was held in Port Victoria, Seychelles from 26 February to 08 March 2024.
- On 13th March 2024, a significant milestone was achieved in the Indian Navy’s shipbuilding program with the launch of ‘Agray’ and ‘Akshay’, the 5th and 6th ships of the $08 \mathrm{x}$ ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) Shallow Water Craft (SWC) Project. These ships are being built by M/S Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata for the Indian Navy.
- In a significant stride towards gender equality and inclusivity, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has emerged as a frontrunner among central paramilitary forces in terms of female representation. This achievement marks a notable departure from the traditional male-dominated landscape within such organizations. With women now constituting a remarkable 10 percent of its personnel, the RPF has set a new benchmark in gender diversity within central paramilitary forces.
- The Indian Navy has finally got its own dedicated headquarters building. The newly constructed Nausena Bhawan located at Delhi Cantonment was formally inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on March 15th, 2024.
- An Indian Army contingent has departed for Seychelles today to participate in the Tenth edition of the Joint Military Exercise “LAMITIYE-2024” between the Indian Army and Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF). The exercise will be conducted in Seychelles from 18-27 March 2024.
- A joint military exercise called Tiger Triumph-24 between India and the United States started on March 18 and will continue until March 31. This exercise is taking place on the Eastern Seaboard (East Coast) of India. The main purpose of this exercise is to improve cooperation between the two countries’ armed forces for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
- The Indian Army has set up a specialized technology unit called Signals Technology Evaluation and Adaptation Group (STEAG) to research and evaluate next-generation communication technologies.
- The Indian defence industry is expanding its reach to the Caribbean region. The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) plans to purchase two aircraft from India with a loan of $\$ $23.27 million from the Export-Import Bank of India.
- The Indian Army has raised its first squadron, the 451 Aviation Squadron, to operate the newly acquired AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. The squadron was formally established on March 15 at Jodhpur.
- The Indian Navy is all set to participate in the second edition of the India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise (IMT TRILAT-2024), a joint maritime exercise scheduled from 21-29 March 2024. The Indian Naval Ships INS Tir and INS Sujata will represent India in this trilateral exercise.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a significant milestone with the successful landing of Pushpak, India’s first Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), during the RLV-LEX-02 landing experiment at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga on March 22, 2024. This accomplishment marks a continuation of ISRO’s success in space exploration and technology advancement.
- In response to escalating tensions along the northern borders with China, the Indian Army has initiated significant enhancements to its air defence capabilities. Central to this strategic maneuver is the deployment of cutting-edge Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction Systems (IDD&IS), developed domestically in collaboration between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics.
- The second edition of the India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise, IMT TRILAT 24, concluded successfully in Nacala, Mozambique on March 28th, 2024. This weeklong exercise aimed to strengthen maritime cooperation and interoperability among the navies of India, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
