Monthly Defence Current Affairs And Updates September 2022 [DOWNLOAD PDF]

In today’s Monthly Defence Current Affairs for September 2022, we are going to see the latest national and international defence current affairs. These defence current affairs will be very helpful for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article.

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Monthly Defence Current Affairs August 2022 

Exercise Vostok- 2022  

• A multilateral strategic and command Exercise Vostok – 2022 has commenced today at the training grounds of the Eastern Military District of Russia from 01 to 07 September 2022. The exercise is aimed at interaction and coordination amongst other participating military contingents and observers.
• The Indian Army contingent comprising of troops from 7/8 Gorkha Rifles had arrived at the exercise location and over the next seven days will undertake joint manoeuvres to include joint field training exercises, combat discussions, and firepower exercises.
• The Indian Army contingent will look forward to sharing practical aspects and putting into practice the validated drills, procedures, and practice amalgamation of new technology through discussions and tactical exercises.

CCS Clears Indigenous LCA Mark 2 Fighter Aircraft Project

• In a major boost to indigenous fighter aircraft development initiatives, the Cabinet Committee on Security on Wednesday cleared the development of LCA Mark 2 fighter aircraft which would be a replacement for the Mirage 2000, Jaguar and MiG-29 combat aircraft in the IAF.
• Development of new aircraft is to be completed by 2027,” Aeronautical Development Agency chief Girish Deodhare told on the project.
• The DRDO would be developing the aircraft with a GE-414 engine which is the advanced version of the GE-404s that power the existing LCAs in service and the 83 LCA Mark 1As which would start getting inducted into IAF in the next couple of years.
• The AMCA aircraft development proposal is also with the government and is expected to be approved in near future but with a lot of Indigenisation inputs from the government.

Lt Gen Virendra Vats Assumed The Appointment Of Commandant Of DSSC

• Lt Gen Virendra Vats assumed the appointment of Commandant, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington on September 01, 2022. On taking over reins of the historic tri-services institution, he complimented the faculty & staff for excellent standards of training & administration.
• The DSSC is a defence service training institution of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
• It trains officers of all three services of the Indian Armed Forces – (Indian Military Service, Indian Naval Service, IAF Service), selected officers from the Paramilitary forces and the Civil Services and officers from friendly foreign countries for command and staff appointments.
• Motto- To War with Wisdom

INS Vikramaditya Successfully Launches Barak 1 Missile

• On August 31, 2022, the Indian navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya successfully launched Barak 1 surface-to-air missile (SAM).
• INS Vikramaditya is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier and the flagship of the Indian Navy which entered into service in 2013. Originally built as Baku and commissioned in 1987, the carrier served with the Soviet Navy and later with the Russian Navy before being decommissioned in 1996.
• The carrier was invested by India on 20 January 2004 after years of negotiations at a final arms sales price of $2.35 billion. The transformed ship successfully completed her sea trials in July 2013 and first STOBAR aviation trials in September 2013.
• Vikramaditya’s crest consists of the sun in the centre, a bow with 4 arrows representing the ship and her air squadrons, winged arrows denoting the ability to deliver firepower in all directions.

ISRO Demonstrates New Technology 

• ISRO successfully demonstrated a new technology with Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator that it said is a game-changer with multiple applications for future missions including to Mars and Venus.
• An IAD, designed and developed by ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, was successfully test flown, on Saturday, in a ‘Rohini’ sounding rocket from Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station.
• At around 84 km altitude, the IAD was inflated, and it descended through atmosphere with the payload part of a sounding rocket. The pneumatic system for inflation was developed by ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).
• Rohini sounding rockets are routinely used for flight demonstration of new technologies being developed by ISRO as well as by scientists from India and abroad.
• In Saturday’s flight, along with IAD new elements like micro video imaging system which captured the bloom and flight of IAD, a miniature software defined radio telemetry transmitter, MEMS (Micro-electromechanical systems)-based acoustic sensor and a host of new methodologies were flight tested successfully, ISRO said.

Indian Army Chief Gen Pande Hands Over Non-Lethal Military Items To Nepal 

• Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande met his Nepali counterpart Gen Prabhu Ram Sharma and handed over various non-lethal military items to him at the Army headquarters.
• Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande handed over mine protected vehicle among other non-lethal military equipment to Nepal during his maiden visit to the neighbouring country to strengthen bilateral relations.
• The vehicle was handed over to Nepal Army’s General Prabhu Ram Sharma at a function in Kathmandu.
• The visiting army chief was conferred the honorary rank of general of the Nepali Army by President Bidya Devi Bhandari. The army chiefs of India and Nepal are the honorary generals of each other’s armies, an arrangement that reflects the strong connection between the two countries.
• There has been a long tradition of exchange of visits by the army chiefs of Nepal and India and conferring the title of honorary General to both the army chiefs.
• The tradition started in 1950. India also confers the honorary rank of “General of Indian Army” to the Nepal Army Chief.
• Nepal is important for India in the context of its overall strategic interests in the region. The country shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states – Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Land-locked Nepal relies heavily on India for the transportation of goods and services.

UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee To Hold Special Meeting In India

• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Counter-Terrorism Committee will hold a special meeting in India focused on new and emerging technologies.
• Mindful of the increasing threat posed by the misuse of new and emerging technologies, the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee has decided to hold a special meeting on this theme, with the support of its Executive Directorate, in India on October 29, 2022.
• The special meeting will specifically focus on three significant areas. These three significant areas are the Internet and social media, terrorism financing, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

HAL-L&T Wins Rs 860 Crore Deal From NSIL To Build 5 PSLV Rockets

• The HAL &T consortium has won an Rs 860 crore deal from New Space India Limited to build five rockets, marking the industry’s maiden foray into end-to-end production of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLVs).
• The contract is for manufacturing five PSLV rockets, the versatile workhorse launch vehicle of India, sources told PTI. After the techno-commercial evaluation of three bids, the HAL-L&T consortium had emerged as the technically qualified and the L1 bidder to undertake end-to-end production of PSLV.
• In June this year, the Union Cabinet approved the transfer of 10 in-orbit communication satellites from the Government of India to NSIL.
• The government had also approved increasing the authorised share capital of NSIL from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 7,500 crore.

DRDO Gets Clearance To Develop Uttam FCR For Su-30MKI

• DRDO formally completed ToT for the production of the Uttam active electronically scanned array radar to HAL in the presence of the senior leadership of the IAF.
• The indigenous Uttam AESA has been fully flight-tested for all air to air, air to ground, weather & terrain avoidance/following modes.
• The Uttam, developed by DRDO’s Electronics and Radar Development Establishment Bengaluru, will equip the IAF’s Tejas Mk1A fighters that will begin to enter service from 2024.
• Uttam is a solid-state gallium arsenide (GaAs) based active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar under development by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), a laboratory of the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is a low probability of intercept radar intended to be installed on the HAL Tejas Mark 1A, HAL Tejas Mark 2 and HAL TEDBF aircraft with plans to implement a larger and more powerful variant on-board India’s 5th Generation fighter aircraft, the HAL AMCA.

5^th Edition of Exercise Ekatha  

• Indian Navy Divers & Marine Commandos are in the Maldives for 5th Ed of Exercise Ekatha with Marine Corps 05 Sep – 03 Oct 22. Starting in 2017, Ex Ekatha is conducted annually with the aim of joint trg in Diving & Asymmetric Warfare & enhance interoperability.
• India was among the first to recognize the Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country.
• India established its mission in 1972 and resident High Commissioner in 1980. The Maldives opened a fully-fledged High Commission in New Delhi in November 2004, at that time one of its only four diplomatic missions worldwide. India emerged as Maldives’ 3rd largest trade partner in 2021.
• Since 1988, defence and security have been a major area of cooperation between India and the Maldives.
• India provides the largest number of training opportunities for the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), meeting around 70% of their defence training requirements.
• A comprehensive Action Plan for Defence was also signed in April 2016 to consolidate defence partnerships.

Ex GAGAN STRIKE

• Kharga Corps conducts Ex GAGAN STRIKE, joint training exercise of Indian Army Aviation & Attack Helicopters at Patiala. Combined team operations comprising ALH WSI & AH 64E are being validated in the role of aerial manoeuvre arm in support of ground ops & force multipliers
• II Corps is a corps of the Indian Army, based in Ambala and known as Kharga Corps.
• The Corps was raised on October 7, 1971, by Lt Gen T N Raina at Krishna Nagar in West Bengal and saw action two months later in December. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, it captured the important towns of Khulna, Jessore, Jhenida, Magura and Faridpur and also the area between the rivers Ganges and Padma. Subsequently, the Corps was shifted to the Western Theatre where it was initially located at Chandimandir Cantonment till 1984 and then moved to Ambala in January 1985.  
• Active: First World War 1971-Present
• Country: India
• Branch: Indian Army
• Role: Strike Corps
• Size: Corps
• Part of: Western Command
• Garrison/HQ: Ambala
• Nickname(s): Kharga Corps

DRDO & Indian Army Successfully Conduct Six Flight-tests of QRSM

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Army have successfully completed six flight-tests of Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) system from Integrated Test Range (ITR) Chandipur off the Odisha coast. The flight tests were conducted as part of evaluation trials by the Indian Army.
• The flight-tests were carried out against high-speed aerial targets mimicking various types of threats to evaluate the capability of the weapon systems under different scenarios, including long range medium altitude, short range, high altitude manoeuvring target, low radar signature with receding & crossing target and salvo launch with two missiles fired in quick succession. The system performance was also evaluated under day and night operation scenarios.
• QRSAM is a canister-based system, which means that it is stored and operated from specially designed compartments.
• In the canister, the inside environment is controlled, thus along with making its transport and storage easier, the shelf life of weapons also improves significantly.
• The system is capable of detecting and tracking targets on the move and engaging targets with short halts.
• It has been designed for induction into the Army and has a range of 25 to 30 km.

Award Of Meritorious Service Medal (Military) To Admiral Sunil Lanba (Retd)

• HE Madam Halimah Yacob, the President of Republic of Singapore, conferred the prestigious Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) [Meritorious Service Medal (Military)] on Admiral Sunil Lanba (Retd), the former Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy.
• The award is a recognition of strong bilateral defence ties between India and Singapore as well as stellar contribution of Adm Sunil Lanba to strengthen the engagements between the two Navies
• During his tenure as the Chief of Naval Staff, the Indian Navy hosted the 25^th edition of SIMBEX at Visakhapatnam in Oct 2018.
• Under the leadership of Adm Sunil Lanba, several milestone defence agreements were also signed between the two Navies, including the Bilateral Agreement on Navy Cooperation and Mutual Logistics Support Agreement. Adm Lanba also hosted the inaugural Goa Maritime Conclave in 2017, in which Singapore is one of the participants.
• During his term as the Chief of Naval Staff, Adm Lanba had attended the International Maritime Review (IMR) commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), the International Maritime and Defence Expo (IMDEX) and the International Maritime Security Conference, co-hosted by the RSN alongside IMDEX-Asia in May 2017.
• During his visit to Singapore to receive the Award, Adm Sunil Lanba (Retd) also held interactions with Lt Gen Melvyn Ong, Chief of Defence Force, Singapore Armed Forces and Rear Adm Aaron Beng, Chief of Navy, Republic of Singapore Navy. During these interactions, Adm Lanba complimented the leadership of Singapore for sustaining the momentum of bilateral engagements and shared views on new avenues of cooperation.

India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue In Tokyo

• The Defence and Foreign ministers of India and Japan held the second 2+2 ministerial on Thursday where they had a discussion on the regional and global issues of mutual interests and concerns, particularly those in the Indo-Pacific as well as Ukraine.
• The Ministers highlighted their commitment to a common strategic goal of achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific, that is inclusive and resilient, based on the rule of law and free from coercion.
• They also reiterated their strong support for ASEAN’s unity and centrality and their full support for the “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)” which upholds the principles such as the rule of law, openness, freedom, transparency and inclusiveness.
• The Ministers welcomed the participation of Japan for the first time in the multilateral exercise MILAN. The Ministers expressed their commitment to continuing bilateral and multilateral exercises including “Dharma Guardian”, JIMEX and “Malabar.”

Sculptors Spent 26,000 Hours To Carve Netaji’s India Gate Statue : Centre

• A team of sculptors spent 26,000 man-hours of “intense artistic endeavour” to carve a grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, to be unveiled at the India Gate, from a monolithic block of granite weighing 280 MT, the Culture Ministry said.
• A 100-ft-long truck with 140 wheels was specially designed for this giant granite stone to travel 1,665 km from Khammam in Telangana to New Delhi, it said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly-christened Kartavya Path – a stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate- and will also unveil the 28-ft statue of Bose at India Gate.
• Subhas Chandra Bose was born on 23rd January 1897, in Cuttack, Orissa Division, Bengal Province, to Prabhavati Dutt Bose and Janakinath Bose.
• His Jayanti is celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas‘ on 23rd January.
• In 1919, he cleared the Indian Civil Services (ICS) examination. Bose, however, resigned later.
• Bose won the congress presidential elections at Haripura in 1938.
• Again in 1939 at Tripuri, he won the presidential elections against Gandhi’s candidate Pattabhi Sitarammayya.
• He founded a new party, ‘the Forward Bloc‘. The purpose was to consolidate the political left and major support base in his home state Bengal.
• He reached Japanese-controlled Singapore from Germany in July 1943, issued from there his famous call, ‘Delhi Chalo’, and announced the formation of the Azad Hind Government and the Indian National Army on 21st October 1943.

Indian Navy Launches Stealth Frigate ‘Taragiri’ 

• ‘Taragiri’, the third stealth frigate of the Indian Navy’s Project 17A, was launched in Mumbai on Sunday, the MDL said. This ship has been built using an integrated construction methodology which involves hull block construction in different geographical locations and integration and erection on the slipway at the MDL.
• The vessel is being launched with an approximate launch weight of 3,510 tons. The frigate is designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house design organization, the Bureau of Naval Design. The total value of Project 17A is around Rs 25,700 crores.
• The first ship of Project 17A, ‘Nilgiri, the second ship of the ‘Udaygiri‘ class under the project was launched on May 17 this year. It is expected to start sea trials during the second half of 2024.
• ‘Taragiri’ will have state-of-the-art weapons, sensors, an advanced action information system, an integrated platform management system, world-class modular living spaces, a sophisticated power distribution system, and a host of other advanced features. “It will be fitted with a supersonic surface-to-surface missile system and the ship’s air defence capability is designed to counter the threat of enemy aircraft and anti-ship cruise missiles will revolve around the vertical launch and long-range surface air missile system”.
• Two 30 mm rapid-fire guns will provide the ship with close-in-defence capability while an SRGM Gun will enable her to provide effective naval gunfire support. And indigenously developed triple tube lightweight torpedo launchers and rocket launchers will add punch to the ship’s anti-submarine capability.

Exercise Parvat Prahar

• Amid the ongoing disengagement with China in the Gogra Heights-Hot Springs area on the LAC, Army chief Gen Manoj Pande on Saturday witnessed wargames in eastern Ladakh on the first day of his two-day visit to the region.
• The visit by the Army chief to the Ladakh sector is taking place on the third day of the disengagement process between India and China at the Gogra Heights-Hot Springs area, which was the last of friction points created after the May 2020 aggression by the Chinese troops that was yet to resolved by the two sides.
• The exercise, which was held in the Ladakh plateau at an altitude of 14,000 feet, used newly inducted all-terrain vehicles transported by Chinook heavy lift helicopters and K9-Vajra howitzers, among others.
• The exercise comes as India and China are undertaking disengagement from Patrolling Point-15 in eastern Ladakh, as announced on September 8. Gen. Pande is scheduled to visit Siachen on Sunday.
• Simultaneously on the western front, Exercise Gagan Strike culminated with a fire power display of attack helicopters supporting deep operations by Strike Corps. Western Army Commander Lt. Gen. Nav K. Khanduri, who witnessed the culmination, lauded the professional readiness of combat forces for contingencies on the western front

Army Chief Flies Sortie In IAF’s Apache Attack Chopper In Ladakh 

• Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande, who is on a two-day visit to the Ladakh sector, on Sunday flew in an Indian Air Force Apache attack helicopter. The request for a sortie from the Ladakh air base was received yesterday and today the Army chief flew in the chopper over the area.
• The Apache has been deployed in the Ladakh sector since the beginning of the military standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. The IAF has 22 of these American-origin attack helicopters while the Indian Army is soon going to get six of its own.
• The Boeing AH-64 Apache is an American twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two. It features a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems.
• It is armed with a 30 mm (1.18 in) M230 chain gun carried between the main landing gear, under the aircraft’s forward fuselage, and four hardpoints mounted on stub-wing pylons for carrying armament and stores, typically a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rocket pods. The AH-64 has significant systems redundancy to improve combat survivability.
• Role   : Attack helicopter
• National origin: United States
• Top speed: 365 km/h
• Range: 476 km

Hindustan Aeronautics Accumulated 105 Pc Returns For Investors In 2022

• Investments of those who betted in Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd stocks have more than doubled so far in 2022.
• The shares of the company rose from Rs 1,233 per share in early January to Rs 2,534 to this day, which is a rise of about 105 percent.
• In the same period, benchmark indices – Sensex and Nifty – rose just around 2 per cent on a cumulative basis.
• Established in 1940, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is a state-owned aerospace and defence company headquartered in Bengaluru.
• In early July, Hindustan Aeronautics and France-based Safran Helicopter Engines signed an agreement to create a new joint venture intended to develop helicopter engines.
• The partnership would be dedicated to the development, production, sales, and support of helicopter engines and one of its main objectives will be to meet the requirements of HAL and the Ministry of Defence’s future helicopters, including the 13-ton IMRH (Indian Multi-Role Helicopter).
• Later during the month, Hindustan Aeronautics signed a contract worth over USD 100 million with Honeywell for the supply and manufacture of 88 TPE331-12B engines/kits along with the maintenance and support services to power the Hindustan Trainer Aircraft (HTT-40).
• Earlier in April, Hindustan Aeronautics entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to convert civil (passenger) aircraft to multi-mission tanker transport (MMTT) aircraft in India.
• Coming to the company’s earnings, it reported a 6 per cent rise in revenue to the tune of Rs 24,000 crore in the financial year 2021-22 as compared to Rs 22,755 crore recorded the previous fiscal.
• Last financial year, it bagged a contract for the production of 15 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH), 10 for IAF and five for the Indian Army.

Indian And Chinese Troops Disengage From Patrolling Point 15 In Eastern Ladakh

• Indian and Chinese militaries on Monday moved back their frontline troops to the rear locations from the face-off site of Patrolling Point 15 in the Gogra-Hot springs area in eastern Ladakh and dismantled temporary infrastructure there as part of a five-day disengagement process.
• The Indian and Chinese armies on September 8 announced that they have kicked off the disengagement process from the PP-15, in a significant forward movement in the stalled process to pull-out troops from the remaining friction points in the region. When asked about the disengagement at PP-15 on the sidelines of an event, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande said: “I will have to go and take stock. But, it (disengagement process) is going as per schedule, and what was decided”.

About Patrolling Points

• PPs are patrolling points identified and marked on the LAC, which are patrolled with a stipulated frequency by the security forces.
• They serve as a guide to the location of the LAC for the soldiers, acting as indicators of the extent of ‘actual control’ exercised on the territory by India.
• By regularly patrolling up to these PPs, the Indian side is able to establish and assert its physical claim about the LAC.

Exercise Kakadu-22

• INS Satpura and a P8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the Indian Navy reached Darwin in Australia for participation in multinational Exercise Kakadu-22, hosted by the Royal Australian Navy.
• KA22 is a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) led exercise supported by the Royal Australian Air Force. The exercise is the RAN’s flagship biennial regional international engagement activity and has grown in size and complexity since its inception in 1993.
• “The theme for this year’s exercise is ‘Partnership, Leadership, Friendship’ and we aim to demonstrate that in spades over 15 days of intense activity at sea and ashore.”
• The two-week-long Exercise, both in harbour and sea, involves ships and maritime aircraft from 14 navies. During the harbour phase of the exercise, the ship’s crew will engage in operational planning interactions and sports activities with participating Navies.

INS Baratang, An Indigenously Built Fast Attack Craft Celebrated 16^th Anniversary  

• INS Baratang is the fourth and last Bangaram-class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy. It is designed for interdiction against fast moving surface vessels and for search-and-rescue operations in coastal areas and in the exclusive economic zone.
• Name: INS Baratang
• Builders: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers
• Operators: Indian Navy
• Class and type: Bangaram-class patrol vessel
• Displacement: 260 tons (full load)
• Length: 46 m (151 ft)
• Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h)
• Armament   : 1 × CRN-91 (2A42 Medak) 30mm gun

Iran Signs Formal MoU To Join SCO

• Iran has signed a memorandum of commitment to join the SCO, giving a boost to India’s focus on an inclusive connectivity agenda in the Eurasian region that would function parallel to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Iran will attend the SCO as a full member from the Summit to be hosted by India in 2023.
• Iran’s entry into the SCO will boost India’s Eurasian outreach ensuring seamless coordination between India and Iran and Eurasian states besides Russia. India also maintains that entry of Iranian oil into the market will address global energy security to some extent.
• Ahead of the SCO Summit, there has been a flurry of engagements between New Delhi and Tehran with a focus on strengthening connectivity mechanisms, especially the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Chabahar Port.
• SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization.
• It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military organization aiming to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.
• It was created in 2001.
• The SCO Charter was signed in 2002 and entered into force in 2003.

First Indigenous Attack Helicopters LCH To Be Inducted In IAF At Jodhpur Air Base On 3^rd Oct

• The IAF is set to formally induct the indigenous LCH at the Jodhpur air force station on October 3, with the new platform capable of targeting enemy air defences, slow-moving aircraft, high-altitude bunkers as well as carrying out counter-insurgency operations.
• India’s Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in March cleared the purchase of 15 such helicopters for the air force and the army from HAL at a cost of ₹3,887 crores.
• Of the initial 15 limited series production helicopters approved, 10 are for the IAF and five for the army. The chopper can land and take off from an altitude of 5,000 metres with weapons and fuel.
• LCH has an indigenous content of 45% by value and it will progressively increase to more than 55% for the series production version, according to the defence ministry. HAL expects follow-on orders as IAF and the army have a combined projected requirement of 160 LCHs.

JIMEX 2022 CONCLUDES

• The sixth edition of the Japan India Maritime Exercise 2022, JIMEX 22 hosted by the Indian Navy concluded in the Bay of Bengal with the two sides bidding farewell to each other with a customary steam past on 17 Sep 22.
• Indian Naval ships led by Rear Adm Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet and Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) Ships Izumo and Takanami led by Rear Adm Hirata Toshiyuki, Commander Escort Flotilla Four, participated in the week-long exercise.
• JIMEX 22 witnessed some of the most complex exercises undertaken jointly by the two navies. Both sides engaged in advanced level anti-submarine warfare, weapon firings and Air Defence exercises. Shipborne helicopters, fighter aircraft and submarines also participated in the exercise. IN and JMSDF ships replenished each other at sea under the agreement on Reciprocal Provision for Supply and Services (RPSS).
• The exercise, which marked the tenth anniversary of JIMEX since its inception in 2012, consolidated the mutual understanding and interoperability between the two navies.

IAF’s ‘Project Cheetah’ For Weaponising Israeli Drones To Be Awarded To Indian Firms 

• With all major import deals being either put on hold or scrapped by the Narendra Modi government, the Indian Air Force is now planning to go ahead with its Project Cheetah under the Make in India route where Indian defence manufacturers would arm the Israeli Heron drones with strike capabilities.
• Under the ambitious Project Cheetah, the Indian Air Force wants to upgrade its existing fleet of Israeli-origin Heron unmanned aerial vehicles with better communication facilities and missiles which can target enemy positions from long range.
• Made in Israel, Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is a medium-altitude UAV and can carry up to 250 kg of weight, including a thermographic camera, airborne ground surveillance, visible light, radar systems, etc. The Heron UAV is capable of returning to base autonomously in case of lost communication.
• Heron drones of the three services, the Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian Army, and the Indian Navy will be upgraded to be armed with laser-guided bombs, air-to-ground, and air-launched anti-tank guided missiles. This project is in the last stage of decision-making.

Shri Vijoy Kumar Singh Assumes Charge As Secretary, Ex-Servicemen Welfare

• Shri Vijoy Kumar Singh assumed charge as Secretary, Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence on September 19, 2022. Shri Singh is a 1990-batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre, who has an experience of more than 32 years in administration.
• Shri Vijoy Kumar Singh recently served as Special Secretary in Ministry of Textiles. Prior to this appointment there, he had served as Joint Secretary in Department of Personnel & Training. He had extensive interactions with serving as well as retired Armed Forces personnel during his career in Punjab.
• Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare is a department in the Ministry of Defence, India. It was set up in 2004. The head of Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare since its inception has been a bureaucrat from the IAS.

First Women Chinook Pilots Of The Indian Air Force

• Two female combat pilots are taking the controls of Chinook helicopters for the first time in IAF history. The Boeing multi-mission helicopter has been essential in assisting army deployments close to the LAC.
• At a time when India and China are embroiled in a protracted border dispute, Squadron Leaders Parul Bhardwaj and Swati Rathore would command Chinook helicopter units in the northern and eastern sectors close to LAC.
• Before being transferred to CH-47F Chinook units headquartered in Chandigarh and Mohanbari in Assam, respectively, Squadron Leaders Rathore and Bhardwaj formerly piloted Russian-made Mi-17V5 helicopters.
• Top speed: 302 km/h
• Introduced: 1962
• Cruise speed: 291 km/h
• Manufacturers: Boeing Rotorcraft Systems,
• Boeing Defense, Space & Security

Siachen Glacier, The World’s Highest Battlefield Gets Satellite Broadband For Troops

• The Indian Army has achieved great success in the world’s highest battlefield i.e. Siachen. Due to the unprecedented move of the Indian Army’s Fire and Fury Corps Siachen Signalers, now the world’s highest battlefield i.e., Siachen Glacier will also have an internet facility.
• Siachen Signalers have activated satellite-based internet service on the Siachen Glacier (19,061 ft), the world’s highest battlefield.
• It is worth noting that the Indian Army’s Fire and Fury Corps Siachen Signalers is responsible for security in the world’s highest battlefield Siachen.
• Under the project, a total of 7,000 sites will be covered by four satellite gateways having two high-throughput (HTS) satellites. So far, roughly 4,000 Gram Panchayats have been commissioned as part of the project.

IAF Set To Retire Abhinandan Varthaman’s Mig-21 Squadron This Month

• The IAF is set to retire its Srinagar-based MiG-21 squadron ‘Sword Arms‘ that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was a part of when he downed an F-16 combat aircraft of Pakistan a day after the Balakot strike in February 2019. ‘Sword Arms’ is one of its four remaining squadrons of ageing MiG-21 fighter jets.
• The No. 51 Squadron is to be retired by the end of September, “as per the plan”.
• The remaining three squadrons of MiG-21 will be phased out by 2025.
• The No. 51 Squadron or ‘Sword Arms’ is one of the decorated squadrons of the IAF, and it participated during Op Safed Sagar (Kargil conflict) in 1999.
• It was raised at Chandigarh in 1985. The crest of the squadron portrays a pair of muscular arms firmly clasping a sword, depicting the motto “Vijaya Prakrama” which means ‘Valour for Victory’.

INS Ajay Decommissioned After 32 Years of Glorious Service 

• INS Ajay was decommissioned on Monday after rendering 32 years of glorious service to the nation. The ceremony was conducted at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai in the traditional manner, wherein the national flag, naval ensign and the decommissioning pennant of the ship were lowered for the last time at sunset.
• The decommissioning ceremony’s chief guest was Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. The guest of honour was Vice Admiral AG Thapliyal, AVSM Bar (Retd), who served as the ship’s first commanding officer.
• INS Ajay was commissioned on January 24, 1990, at Poti, Georgia in the erstwhile USSR and was part of the 23^rd Patrol Vessel Squadron under the operational control of Flag Officer Commanding, Maharashtra Naval Area.
• The ship, during its service period, was part of the 23rd Patrol Vessel Squadron under the Flag Officer Commanding, Maharashtra Naval Area. In the 32 years of the glorious service, the ship was posted on various critical deployments including Operation Talwar during the Kargil War in 1999 and Operation Parakram in 2001.

Joint Exercise “Abhyas 2022”

• Indian Coast Guard – US Coast Guard Joint Exercise “Abhyas-01/22”.
• The four-day visit of USCG Cutter Midgett to Chennai on a goodwill visit has culminated. During the visit, USCG ship had professional exchanges on VBSS, Cross Deck visits, etc with Indian Coast Guard counterparts.
• The focus of the exercise was to familiarise the personnel of Coast Guards of both the nations with each other’s capabilities
• The objectives included strengthening working relationship between the forces of the two nations, enhancing inter-operability in the area of maritime search and rescue (SAR), boarding operations and other maritime law enforcement duties.
• The highlights are fleet manoeuvers, creating a scenario of hijacking of a vessel and subsequent rescue of its crew in a coordinated anti-piracy joint operation.
• Interdiction of pirated vessels coordinated joint boarding operation, SAR demonstration and external firefighting to salvage burning ships were the other highlights of the exercise.

Indian Navy Will Be Completely ‘Atmanirbhar’ By 2047: Admiral R Hari Kumar 

• From production of ships and submarines to spare parts and weapons, the Indian Navy will be “completely” self-reliant by 2047, CONS asserted on Tuesday. At a defence conclave, he said there was much to learn from the Russia-Ukraine conflict which witnessed the use of new technologies, cyberspace and all sorts of precision ammunition.
• “By 2047, we will have a complete indigenous Navy, whether it be ships, or submarines, aircraft, unmanned systems, weapons, the entire complex. Indian Navy had embarked on its “Indianization drive’ in 1961 when INS Ajay, the first small patrol boat, was indigenously made in India, he said.
• “We will be complete ‘Atmanirbhar’ Navy. That is what we are targeting,” Admiral Kumar said replying to questions at the India Defence Conclave 2022.
• Asked if the supply chain of the Indian Navy was affected due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he said, “As of now, we are not hard pressed. We have adequate stock of spares. There has been no let-up in our deployment of ships or aircraft today. We have taken steps to get help from our own industry.

Indian Coast Guard Inducts ‘Samarth’ 

• ICG on Tuesday inducted ‘Samarth’ in its fleet here, to strengthen the coastal security mechanism. ICGS Samarth is a 105-meter-long ship and can attain a maximum speed of 23 knots (approx 43 Kmph).
• “The ship is equipped with an integrated bridge management system (IBMS), integrated platform management system (IPMS), power management system (PMS) and a high-power external firefighting (EFF) system “.
• The ship is designed to carry a twin engine helicopter and four high speed boats, including two inflatable boats for boarding operations, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol. The ship has a modern surveillance system and has the power to contain oil spills in the sea.
• The impetus on coastal security has gone up many fold and regular meetings are held among the stakeholders to bridge any gap in coastal security, the release said. Coast Guard had been augmenting her resources in Kerala coast for making a full proof security blanket. In the recent past, a new capital ship Saksham joined the Coast Guard fleet in Kerala.

Launching Of (Yard 11190 – Nistar) & (Yard 11191 – Nipun), Diving Support 

• Two Diving Support Vessels (Nistar & Nipun) being built by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd; Visakhapatnam were launched on 22 Sep 22 by Mrs. Kala Hari Kumar, in presence of Adm R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff who presided the ceremony as Chief Guest.
• “Nistar” and “Nipun” were launched by achieving approx 80% indigenous content, a major step towards ‘Self Reliance’. DSV project has generated local employment opportunities and promoted indigenisation which will boost India’s economy.
• Mrs. Kala Hari Kumar, President Navy Wellness and Welfare Association performed the traditional honour and named these ships. These ships received a thunderous cheer from jubilant gathering as they embraced the welcoming waters of the Bay of Bengal.
• This project is being executed with support from Indian industry primarily MSME firms who have supplied Yard material, equipment and services. Shipyard is extensively using the GeM portal for procuring material and services for the project. More than 120 MSME vendors across India have actively participated in the Project.

Combined Maritime Forces Naval Ex

• INS Sunayna entered Port Victoria for OTR and participation in Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) led training activities from 24-27 Sep 22.
• Cdr Siddharth Raut, Captain of INS Sunayna presented the crest to Cd’A Vikram Grewal on board the Indian Naval Ship visiting Port Victoria as part of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
• Combined Maritime Forces launched a two-week mission in the Indian Ocean island nation of Seychelles with other international organizations Sept. 18 to strengthen regional collaboration and enhance operational readiness.
• The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is a multinational maritime partnership, which exists to uphold the Rules-Based International Order (RBIO) by countering illicit non-state actors on the high seas and promoting security, stability, and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, which encompass some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

Defence Manufacturer Saab To Produce Carl-Gustaf M4 Weapons System In India

• Swedish defence products company Saab will manufacture its Carl-Gustaf M4 weapons system in India. According to Gorgen Johannson, Senior Vice President at Saab, production in its new facility in India is expected to start in 2024. However, he declined to provide detail on the investment that the company is likely to make in the facility.
• The new facility will support its production as well as components for users of the system around the world, the company said.
• The Carl-Gustaf M4 is a recoilless rifle that has been ordered by the Indian armed forces. There’s been an increased interest in the weapon system, which can be used against tanks, since the conflict in Ukraine.
• “The Carl-Gustaf M4 can be fitted with a wide range of sights to ensure maximum effect in any tactical situation and flexibility for the user. The system is attached with standard clip-on telescopic sight, with additional options, including open sight, red dot sight and advanced fire control devices, available.

IAF’s First Woman Su-30 Weapon System Operator

• Amid the ongoing military deployment along the China front, IAF’s only female Weapon System Operator in the deadly Sukhoi-30 fighter fleet on Tuesday said pilots in the eastern sector were ready to respond to any eventuality in the area and prove their mettle in real operations.
• “Every fighter pilot in the IAF trains for being a part of any genuine mission since that is where we would get to demonstrate our mettle. Our pilots are available to respond to any situation from a number of bases in the eastern sector. Flight Lieutenant Tejaswi said, “We are always prepared for any kind of jobs and problems that may come upon us.
• The WSOs, also known as wizzos, are specialised officers who fly in the multirole Su-30 fighter aircraft’s rear cockpit and control the sensors and armaments that the aircraft will use to fire at hostile targets.
• The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a twinjet multirole air superiority fighter developed by Russia’s Sukhoi and built under licence by India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force. A variant of the Sukhoi Su-30, it is a heavy, all-weather, long-range fighter.
• Top speed: 2,120 km/h
• Range: 3,000 km
• Length: 22 m
• Wingspan: 15 m
• Engine type: Saturn AL-31
• Manufacturers: Sukhoi, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

DRDO Conducted Two Successful Test Flights Of VSHORADS 

• DRDO conducted two successful test flight of Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile on 27 Sep 2022 from a ground based portable launcher at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. VSHORADS is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.
• VSHORADS missile incorporates many novel technologies including miniaturized Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which have been successfully proven during the tests. The missile, meant for neutralizing low altitude aerial threats at short ranges is propelled by a dual thrust solid motor. The design of the missile including launcher has been highly optimized to ensure easy portability. Both the flight tests have completely met the mission objectives.
• Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh complimented and appreciated the efforts of DRDO and industry partners and said that this new missile equipped with modern technologies will give further technological boost to the Armed Forces. Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO congratulated the entire VSHORADS team for this tremendous success.

Government Appoints Lt General Anil Chauhan (Retired) as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

• The Government has decided to appoint Lt General Anil Chauhan (Retired) PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) who shall also function as Secretary to Government of India, Department of Military Affairs with effect from the date of his assumption of charge and until further orders. In a career spanning over nearly 40 years, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan had held several command, staff and instrumental appointments and had extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir and North-East India.
• Born on 18th May 1961, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. In the rank of Maj General, the officer had commanded an Infantry Division in the critical Baramula sector in the Northern Command.
•  Later as Lt General, he commanded a corps in the North East and subsequently went to become the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command from September 2019 and held the charge until his retirement from the service in May 2021.
• In addition to these command appointments, the officer also tenanted important staff appointments including the charge of Director General of Military Operations. Earlier, the officer had also served as a United Nations mission to Angola. The officer superannuated from the Indian Army on 31 May 2021. Even after his retirement from the Army, he continued to contribute to national security and strategic matters.
• For his distinguished and illustrious service in the Army, Lt General Anil Chauhan (Retired) was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.

Indian Navy’s P8I Aircraft Participates In Exercise Kakadu In Australia’s Darwin

• The Indian Navy’s Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft P8I participated in the Multinational Maritime Exercise Kakadu 2022, which is hosted by Royal Australian Navy in Darwin, where 34 aircraft from over 20 nations were also there.
• It is pertinent to mention that the event was held from September 12 to 25, according to the statement released by MOD. The maiden participation of the P8I provided an enhanced exposure to the aircrew, augmenting the understanding of the varied nuances of collaborative Anti-Submarine and Anti-Surface Warfare operations in a complex multi-threat scenario.
•   The maiden participation of the P8I provided an enhanced exposure to the aircrew, augmenting the understanding of the varied nuances of collaborative Anti-Submarine and Anti-Surface Warfare operations in a complex multi-threat scenario.      
• The seamless operations conducted by P8I in consonance with the exercise theme ‘Partnership, Leadership, Friendship’ along with USN and RAAF P8s enabled refining joint SOPs and enhance interoperability and reaffirm Indian Navy’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific.

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REVIEW QUESTIONS

• Ex ‘Vostok’ Is A  
• Domestic Ex
• Bi lateral Ex
• Multinational Ex
• None

ANSWER: C

• Ex ‘Vostok 22’ Conducted At      
• China
• Bharat
• Russia
• Maldives

ANSWER: C

• INS Vikramaditya Is A Modified ___Aircraft Carrier.  
• Kiev-Class
• Surya- Class
• Kalashnikov-Class
• None

ANSWER: A

• Recently Which Missile Is Fired From INS Vikramaditya?  
• Astra
• Barak
• Agni
• Nag

     ANSWER: B

• Operational Range of Barak 8 Missile Is 
• 70Km
• 80Km
• 90Km
• 100Km

ANSWER: A

• Defence Services Staff College Is Located At 
• Wellington
• Chennai
• New Delhi
• None of the above

ANSWER: A

• Motto of DSSC Is 
• To War with Wisdom
• Valour and Courage
• Fight With Determination
• None of the above

ANSWER: A

• Who Assumed The Appointment Of Commandant, Defence Services Staff College?          
• Lt Gen Virendra Vats
• Lt Gen Vikram Singh
• Rear Admiral Anil Sen
• None

ANSWER: A

• Who Took Over The Command Of Air Force Station Jalahalli? 
• Air Commodore Naveen Shinde
• Air Commodore Nand Kumar Nair
• Air Commodore Sarabjit Singh
• None

ANSWER: C

• JF-17 Thunder Is A       
• UAV
• Fighter Aircraft
• Helicopter
• Tank

ANSWER: B

•  India’s First Indigenous Aircraft Is  
• INS Virat
• INS Vikrant
• INS Vikramaditya
• INS Samudragupta

ANSWER: B

• INS Vikrant Is Manufactured By 
• GRSE
• CSL
• BHEL
• DRDO

ANSWER: B

• Hq Of Cochin Shipyard Ltd Is At     
• Kochi
• Chennai
• Mumbai
• None of the above

     ANSWER: A

• Armaments Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) Is Located In 
• Pune, Maharashtra
• Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• None of the above

ANSWER: A

• Saab AB Is An Aerospace Company of      
• USA
• Sweden
• France
• China

ANSWER: B

• Cabinet Committee on Security Is Headed By    
• PM
• NSA
• The President
• COAS Indian Army

ANSWER: A

• Garud Regimental Training Centre (GRTC) Is In 
• Air Force Station Chandinagar
• Air Force Station Chandigarh
• Air Force Station Chennai
• Air Force Station Belgavi

ANSWER: A

• Sea Phase Of 38^th IND-INDO CORPAT Conducted At     
• A&NC
• Bay of Bengal
• Arabian Sea
• IOR

ANSWER: A

• UNSC Counter-terrorism Committee Will Hold A Special Meeting In     
• France
• USA
• Bharat
• China

ANSWER: C

• K9 Vision System And The Canine Remote Deployment System Is Wear By     
• Horse
• Dogs
• Snakes
• Tiger

ANSWER: B

• INS Satpura Is A  
• Destroyer
• OPV
• Submarine
• Frigate

ANSWER: D

• INS Hansa, Indian Navy’s Premier Air Station, Celebrated Its 61^st Anniversary On  
• 5 September
• 6 September
• 7 September
• 8 September

ANSWER: A

• AESA Stands For     
• Activated Electronically Scanned Array
• Active Electronically Scanned Array
• Active Electronics Scanned Array
• None

ANSWER: B

• The Uttam AESA, Developed By   
• DRDO
• HAL
• BEL
• NASA

ANSWER: A

• Army Medical Corps Centre and College Is In  
• Pune
• Lucknow
• Mumbai
• Noida

ANSWER: B

• INS Taragiri Is Manufactured By   
• CSL
• MDL
• GRSE
• None

ANSWER: B

• INS Taragiri Is Made Under__ Project.   
• P75 I
• P17A
• P15B
• None

ANSWER: B

• Ex GAGAN STRIKE Is Conducted By    
• Kharga Corps
• White Knight Corps
• The Gunners
• The Corps Of Signals

ANSWER: A

•  Flight-Tests Of Quick Reaction Surface To Air Missile (QRSAM) System From  
• Pune
•  Puri
• Chennai
• ITR Chandipur

ANSWER: D

• NISTAR & NIPUN Is A  
• Diving Support Vessels
• OPV
• Tank
• Frigate

ANSWER: A

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