In Defence current affairs for 21 February 2023, we are going to see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important 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.

Defence Current Affairs 21 February 2023 

EXERCISE ‘DUSTLIK’ 2023                     

• The 4th edition of joint military exercise ‘DUSTLIK’ between the Indian Army and Uzbekistan Army commenced today in Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand). 45 Soldiers each from Uzbekistan and Indian Army are participating in this exercise which is aimed at promoting positive relations between both the armies. The Indian Army contingent comprises of troops from an Infantry Battalion from the Garhwal Rifles Regiment. The first edition of the exercise was held at Uzbekistan in November 2019.
• The 14 days long joint exercise would focus on joint counter-terrorist operations in mountainous and semi-urban scenario under UN mandate and will include field training exercises, combat discussions, lectures, demonstrations and culminate with a validation exercise. Both sides will jointly train, plan and execute a series of tactical drills for neutralisation of likely threats, while learning to exploit new generation equipment and technology for conducting joint operations. Due emphasis is being laid on increasing interoperability between forces.
• The bonhomie, espirit-de-corps and goodwill generated during the exercise will go a long way in further strengthening the bonds between both armies by enabling understanding of each other’s organisation and methodology of conducting various operations.

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BDL Receives Export Order Worth USD 255 Million                          

• Bharat Dynamics (BDL) said it received an export order worth USD 255 million. It also said the order will be executed subject to government clearances.
• The shares of the company were trading at Rs 905 apiece, which is a surge of 3.67 percent over the previous close, on Monday morning. In five days, shares of the firms had surged 10.35 percent. In a span of six months, the shares of the firm surged 14.14 percent.
• Last year in October, Bharat Dynamics and Dassault Aviation entered into a MoU for Integration of the Bharat Dynamics’ Weapon Systems like Astra and Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon on Rafale Aircraft for the Indian Armed Forces and future export market.
• Further, Bharat Dynamics and IIT Ropar signed agreement to work together on research projects and technology development for missiles and underwater weapons.

INS Nireekshak Awarded Chief Of The Naval Staff Unit Citation                        

• Adm R Hari Kumar visited INS Nireekshak at Kochi on 20 Feb 23. He interacted with the diving team of the ship involved in the salvage operations at a depth of 219 m in the Arabian Sea and commended the ship on the safe and successful conduct of the operations under most challenging circumstances.
• The CNS awarded the ship’s ‘on the spot’ Unit Citation, a first in Indian Navy. He also awarded commendations to the crew involved in the salvage ops.
• Nireekshak had also recently completed a solemn dive off Gujarat coast to pay homage by laying wreath at 80 m depth, the resting site of erstwhile Khukri which sank during 1971 war.
• INS Nireekshak has been part of various diving operations and holds the record for the deepest dive carried out in the country to a depth of 257 m.

INS Sumedha Visits Abu Dhabi To Participate In IDEX And NAVDEX 23                  

• Indian Naval Ship Sumedha arrived at Abu Dhabi, UAE on 20 Feb 2023 to participate in NAVDEX 23 (Naval Defence Exhibition) and IDEX 23 (International Defence Exhibition), scheduled from 20 to 24 Feb 2023.
• INS Sumedha is the third ship of the indigenously built Saryu class Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (NOPV) and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 07 Mar 2014. Built indigenously at Goa Shipyard Limited.
• To enhance interoperability between the two navies, the inaugural edition of Indian Navy-UAE Navy bilateral exercise, Zayed Talwar, was conducted in March 2018, with the last edition being in August 2021.

Godrej Aerospace To Manufacture 8 Modules Of DRDO Turbojet Engine       

• In a first for an Indian private company, Godrej Aerospace has bagged the order to manufacture eight modules of the DRDO’s turbojet engine.
• Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of the Godrej Group, announced that its business Godrej Aerospace is the first Indian private company to win the order for manufacturing eight modules of the DRDO Engine for aerial applications.
• This experience will pave the way for future projects to develop modules for civil aviation engines as well, the release noted.
• The company has made an investment of around 500 crores for aerospace and defence projects and has incorporated new processes into its manufacturing processes.

US Reaffirms Pledge To Deliver Jets To Turkey 

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to delivering F-16 jets to Turkey despite Turkish insistence that their approval should not depend on Ankara lifting objections to Sweden joining NATO.
• Turkey wants modernised versions of F-16 fighter jets for its ageing air force, but US Congress must approve any sale.
• But Blinken added he could not provide a “formal timeline” for approval and delivery.
• The United States, whose relations with Turkey have been strained in recent years, has been looking for ways to persuade Erdogan to ratify NATO membership applications by Finland and Sweden.

Review Questions

• Ex ‘Dustlik’ Conducted b/w India &                          
• Qatar
• Oman
• UAE
• Uzbekistan

ANSWER: D

• EXERCISE ‘DUSTLIK ‘ Commences At                                          
• Auli
• Pithoragarh
• Noida
• Manali

ANSWER: B

• Regimental Centre of GARHWAL RIFLES Is In                 
• Happy Valley, Shillong, Meghalaya
• Ranikhet, Uttarakhand
• Lansdowne, Uttarakhand
• None of the above

ANSWER: C

• Which Of The Following Ship AWARDED ON-THE-SPOT CONS UNIT CITATION FOR DEEP SEA DIVING?                                                  
• INS Nireekshak
• INS Nishant
• INS Trishakti
• None

ANSWER: A

• __Visits Abu Dhabi To Participate In IDEX & NAVDEX 23.      
• INS NIREEKSHAK
• INS Nishant
• INS Trishakti
• INS Sumedha

ANSWER: D

• Which Indian Private Company Has Bagged The Order To Manufacture 8 Modules Of The DRDO’s Turbojet Engine?   
• Godrej Aerospace
• HAL
• TATA
• Bharat Forge

ANSWER: A

• INS Tarangini Is A                                                                              
• Helicopter
• Sailing Ship
• UAV
• None of the above

ANSWER: B

• Where Is The Training Command of The Indian Navy?          
• Kochi
• Vishakhapatnam
• Pune
• Mumbai

ANSWER: A

• “Balidanam Vir Lakshanam” Is The Motto Of                          
• JKLI
• THE MAHAR REGIMENT
• THE BIHAR REGIMENT
• None of the above

ANSWER: A

• What Is The Ranking Of The IAF In The World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA)?   
• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd
• 4^th

ANSWER: C

• National Crime Records Bureau Was Formed In                                                                 
• 11 March 1986
• 12 March 1987
• 13 March 1988
• None of the above

ANSWER: A

• HAL HPT-32 Deepak Is A               
• Trainer Aircraft
• Fighter Aircraft
• Helicopter
• None

ANSWER: A

• Operation Safed Sagar Was Launched In                                                     
• 1997
• 1998
• 1999
• 2000

ANSWER: C

• ‘Riga’ Is The Capital Of                                                         
• Latvia
• Laos
• Lebanon
• Lesotho

ANSWER: A

• “Making of New India” Book Written By                   
• Adi Shankaracharya
• Anupam Kher
• Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
• Dr. Bibek Debroy

ANSWER: D

• Lt Commander Of Indian Navy Is Equivalent To The Which Rank Of Indian Army?   
• Brigadier
• Captain
• Lt. Colonel
• Major

ANSWER: D

• With reference to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which of the following statements is/are correct?
  1. India and Russia are the members of Shanghai Five.
  2. The SCO’s official languages are Chinese and English.
  3. Recently, Iran became a member of the Shanghai
  Cooperation Organization.
  Select the correct answer using the code given below:                   
• 1 and 2 only
• 2 only
• 2 and 3 only
• 3 only

ANSWER: D

• India’s One and Only Tri-Services Command Is                                                              
• New Delhi
• Northern Army Command
• Andaman & Nicobar Command
• None of the above

ANSWER: C

• KONKAN Ex Conducted B/W India And                                                                   
• Oman
• Qatar
• Sri Lanka
• UK

ANSWER: D

•  Shishumar Is a                                                       
• Air to Air missile
• Sniper Rifle
• Anti-tank Guided missile
• Submarine

ANSWER: D

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