In today’s Monthly Defence Current Affairs for July 2022, we are going to see the latest national and international defence current affairs. These defence current affairs questions and major events will be really helpful for your upcoming NDA, CDS, AFCAT, TA, INET, MNS, ACC exams and other SSB Interviews like SSC Tech, TGC, TES, NDA, CDS, AFCAT and more. Download the Defence current affairs PDF file at the end of this article.

Monthly Defence Current Affairs July 2022 

ABHYAS, High-speed Expendable Aerial Target, Successfully Flight-tested

• High speed Expendable Aerial Target – was successfully flight-tested from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on Wednesday.
  • ABHYAS is designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment of DRDO. The air vehicle was launched using twin under-slung boosters which provide the initial acceleration to the vehicle. It is powered by a small gas turbine engine to sustain a long endurance flight at high subsonic speed.
  • It is powered by a small gas turbine engine to sustain a long endurance flight at high subsonic speed. The target aircraft is equipped with Micro-Electromechanical Systems-based Inertial Navigation System for navigation along with the Flight Control Computer for guidance and control along with Indigenous Radio Altimeter for very low altitude flight and Data Link for encrypted communication between the Ground Control Station and Target Aircraft. The vehicle is programmed for fully autonomous flight.

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DRDO Conducts Successful Maiden Flight Of Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator

• Maiden flight of the Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator was carried out successfully by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga, Karnataka on July 01, 2022. Operating in a fully autonomous mode, the aircraft exhibited a perfect flight, including take-off, waypoint navigation and a smooth touchdown. This flight marks a major milestone in terms of proving critical technologies for the development of future unmanned aircraft and is a significant step towards self-reliance in such strategic defence technologies.
  • The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is designed & developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru, a premier research laboratory of DRDO. It is powered by a small turbofan engine. The airframe, undercarriage and entire flight control and avionics systems used for the aircraft were developed indigenously.
  • Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO and said it is a major achievement towards autonomous aircraft and will pave the way for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in terms of critical military systems.
  • Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy appreciated the efforts of the teams associated with the design, development and testing of the system.

Tejas Aircraft Emerges As Top Choice For Malaysia’s Fighter Jet Programme

• India’s Tejas light combat aircraft has emerged as the top choice for Malaysia as the Southeast Asian nation looks at replacing its ageing fleet of fighter jets and the two sides are holding negotiations to firm up the procurement.
  • Malaysia has narrowed down on the Indian aircraft notwithstanding the stiff competition from China’s JF-17 jet, South Korea’s FA-50 and Russia’s Mig-35 as well as Yak-130, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, R Madhavan, told.
  • As part of the package, India has offered to set up an MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) facility in Malaysia for its Russian-origin Su-30 fighter fleet as it is facing difficulties in procuring spares for the aircraft from Russia in view of western sanctions against Moscow.

ALH Squadron INAS 324 Commissioned At Visakhapatnam

• Indian Naval Air Squadron 324 was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, AVSM, YSM, VSM Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command at an impressive Commissioning Ceremony held at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam on 04 Jul 22. The unit is the first Naval Squadron on the Eastern Seaboard operating the indigenously designed and built Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK III (MR) helicopters.
• INAS 324 has been named “KESTRELS” which are birds of prey and have good sensory capabilities symbolising the envisaged role of the Aircraft and the Air Squadron. The Insignia of the Squadron depicts a ‘KESTREL’ searching over vast blue and white sea waves, which signifies the integral Maritime Reconnaissance (MR) and Search and Rescue (SAR) role of the Squadron.
• ALH MK III helicopters are fitted with state-of-the-art equipment which includes modern surveillance radar and electro-optical sensors. Induction of these flying machines is, in pursuance of the GOI initiative of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, as they have been developed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). In addition to their primary roles of MR and SAR, these helicopters can also be deployed for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief(HADR) Operations as well as Special Operations with Marine Commandos. The helicopter also has an airborne Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) for use in the Air Ambulance role to facilitate the medical evacuation of critically ill patients.
• Addressing the gathering. Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta stated that the commissioning of the first ALH MK III Squadron in the Eastern Naval Command will enhance the surveillance capability on the Eastern Seaboard.
• INAS 324 is commanded by Cdr SS Dash, an accomplished and highly experienced ALH Qualified Flying Instructor with extensive operational experience.

Ms. Kaamya Karthikeyan Become The Youngest Indian To Climb On Mt. Denali

• Kaamya Karthikeyan become the youngest in the world to summit the highest peak Mount Denali in North America at 20,310 feet, said a defence ministry release on Monday.
• Karthikeyan, a Class 10 student at Navy Children School (NCS) in Mumbai and daughter of Navy Commander S Karthikeyan, carried the Tricolor and the Naval Ensign to the summit of Mount Denali on June 27, consequently becoming the youngest Indian to achieve this feat, it said.
• The Alaskan peak is the highest in North America and maybe the hardest of the seven summit challenges, the release said, adding that, with this ascension, she has achieved the fifth milestone while heading to climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents and ski to both the poles.

Father-Daughter Duo Creates History In IAF, Flies Same Formation

• A father-daughter duo has created history in the Indian Air Force (IAF), when they flew in the same formation here recently, IAF said on Tuesday. There has not been any previous instance in the IAF where a father and his daughter were part of the same formation for a mission.
• Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma and his daughter Ananya flew in the same formation recently.
• “The father-daughter duo created history on 30 May 2022, when they flew in the same formation of Hawk-132 aircraft at Air Force Station Bidar, where Flying Officer Ananya Sharma is undergoing her training before she graduates onto faster and more superior fighter aircraft of the IAF“.

Top Indian Army Officer Appointed UN Mission’s Force Commander In Sudan

• Lieutenant General Mohan Subramanian of the Indian Army has been appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as his new Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
• Lt Gen Tinaikar was appointed by Guterres as the UNMISS Force Commander in May 2019. He has a “distinguished military career with the Indian Army spanning over 36 years” and most recently, he served as the General Officer Commanding, Military Region in central India, contributing to the Army’s operational and logistic preparedness.
• India is the second-highest military troop-contributing country to UNMISS with 2,385 Indian peacekeepers serving with the mission, second only to Rwanda. In addition, India currently contributes 30 police personnel to UNMISS.

LAUNCH OF Y – 3023 (DUNAGIRI)

• Dunagiri, a Project 17A frigate, launched into the Hooghly River at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Kolkata on 15 Jul 22. Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri will be the Chief Guest for the event.
• Christened after a mountain range in the state of Uttarakhand, ‘Dunagiri’ is the fourth ship of P17A Frigates. These are follow-on of the P17 Frigates (Shivalik Class) with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems.
• ‘Dunagiri’ is the reincarnation of the erstwhile ‘Dunagiri’, the Leander Class ASW Frigate, which in her 33 years of service from 05 May 1977 to 20 Oct 2010, had witnessed various challenging operations and multinational exercises.
• The soul of a ship lives eternally and finds a suitable ship. The first two ships of the P17A Project were launched in 2019 and 2020 at MDL and GRSE respectively. The third ship (Udaygiri) was launched at MDL on May 17 earlier this year.

I2U2 Countries To Increase Joint Investment In Six Areas Including Energy, Food Security

• I2U2 group countries have agreed to increase joint investment in six important areas of water, energy, transport, space, health and food security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said and noted that the agenda of the group is progressive and practical.
  • The summit of India, Israel, UAE, and the USA – I2U2- is being seen as a Quad for West Asia. It intends to mobilize private sector capital and expertise to help modernize infrastructure, and low carbon development pathways for industries, improve public health and promote the development of critical emerging and green technologies.
  • A USD 2 billion project for agricultural parks in India is likely to be announced at the first I2U2 Leaders’ Summit, with a focus on food security challenges. The project will be funded partly by the UAE with technical expertise provided by Israel and with support from the US private sector.

US House Approves CAATSA Sanctions Waiver To India For Purchase Of S-400

• The US House of Representatives passed a legislative amendment that approves an India-specific waiver for punitive CAATSA sanctions for its purchase of the S-400 missile defence system from Russia.
• Authored and introduced by Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna, the amendment urges the Biden administration to use their authority to provide India with a Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAASTA) waiver to help deter aggressors like China.
• The legislative amendment was passed by voice vote as part of an en bloc (all together as a single unit) amendment during floor consideration of the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA).
• CAATSA is a tough US law that authorises the US administration to impose sanctions on countries that purchase major defence hardware from Russia in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections.

INS Sindhudhvaj Decommissioned

• INS Sindhudhvaj bid adieu to the Indian Navy on Saturday, 16 Jul 2022, serving for a glorious period of 35 years. Vice Adm Biswajit Dasgupta Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command was the Chief Guest for the ceremony. The Decommissioning event was attended by 15 of the former Commanding Officers including Cmde SP Singh (Retd), the Commissioning CO and 26 Commissioning crew veterans.
• The submarine crest depicts a grey colour nurse shark and the name means flag bearer at sea. Sindhudhvaj, as the name suggests, was the flag bearer of indigenisation and the Indian Navy’s efforts towards achieving Atmanirbharta in Russian-built it Sindhughosh class submarines throughout her journey in the navy. She had many a firsts to her credit including operationalisation of the indigenised sonar USHUS, Indigenised Satellite Communication systems Rukmani and MSS, Inertial Navigation System and Indigenised Torpedo Fire Control System.
• She also successfully undertook mating and personnel transfer with Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel and only submarine to be awarded CNS Rolling trophy for Innovation by the Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi.
• The traditional ceremony was conducted at sunset, with an overcast sky adding to the solemnity of the occasion when the Decommissioning Pennant was lowered and the submarine was paid off after a glorious patrol of 35 Years.

Philippines In Talks With India To Procure Advanced Light Helicopters

• The Philippines is looking at procuring a batch of advanced light helicopters from India to crank up its combat capability, months after sealing a USD 375 million deal to acquire three batteries of the BrahMos cruise missile.
• The indigenously developed ALH helicopter is a twin-engine, multi-role, multi-mission new generation helicopter in the 5.5-ton weight class and is considered to be an effective platform for various military operations.
• The Philippines is a key strategic partner of India in the Southeast Asian region and the bilateral defence and security ties have been on an upswing in the last few years, especially in the maritime domain.
• The Philippines is also a key member of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an influential bloc with whom India’s ties have witnessed a major expansion in the last decade.

PNB signs MoU with IAF for ‘PNB Rakshak Plus Scheme’

• PNB, the nation’s leading Public Sector Bank, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to provide specially designed products to the defence personnel under the bank’s flagship scheme of ‘PNB Rakshak Plus’.
• This scheme includes, inter alia, personal accidental insurance, and air accidental insurance to serving, retired and trainees of the defence forces, central armed police forces, state police force, metro police and retired defence pensioners.
• The salient features of “PNB Rakshak Plus” include:
• – Personal Accidental (Death) cover of Rs 50 lakh.
• – Air Accidental (Death) Insurance cover of Rs 100 lakh.
• – Personal Accidental (Permanent Total Disability) cover of Rs 50 lakh.
• – Sweep Facility – Initial threshold amount – Rs 10000/-
• – Minimum Sweep In/Out – Rs 1000/-

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveils ‘SPRINT Challenges’

• PM Narendra Modi unveiled ‘SPRINT Challenges’, aimed at giving a boost to the usage of indigenous technology in the Indian Navy, during the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar ‘Swavlamban’ in New Delhi on July 18, 2022.
  • This collaborative project is named SPRINT {Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), NIIO and Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC)}. Organizing the first ‘Swavlamban’ seminar for a self-reliant Navy is an important step in this direction.
  • PM Modi said, “If you do not give love and respect to your own child and expect the same from your neighbours, can it be done? If we do not value our products, how can we expect the world to invest in us? When we showed confidence in our indigenously developed BRAHMOS, the world came forward too.”

Border Police Create 1st Mountain Warfare Training School In Northeast

• The ITBP has created its first mountain-warfare training centre in northeast India, its second overall, to skill its troops in high-altitude combat and survival tactics as part of their mandate to guard the Line of Actual Control with China.
• The facility has come almost five decades after the establishment of its first such school called mountaineering and skiing institute (M&SI) during 1973-74 at Auli near Joshimath. The M&SI is located at a height of more than 9,000 ft in the Himalayan ranges of Uttarakhand.
• The new centre has been established in remote Dombang, abutting the LAC, and is located at a height of 10,040 ft in Sikkim that shares a 220 km front of the India-China LAC.
• The LAC on India’s eastern flank runs from Jammu and Kashmir (1,597 kms), Himachal Pradesh (200 kms), Uttarakhand (345 kms), Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh (1,126 kms). The 16th round of high-level military talks between India and China got underway on Sunday with a focus on resolving outstanding issues in the remaining friction points along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.  

Indian Army, Navy & Air Force have shortage of 1.36 lakh personnel: Government

• Amid row over Agnipath scheme for recruitment in armed forces, government today informed that three armed forces have a shortage of 1,35,784 personnel, including officers and soldiers. According to the details provided by the government, the maximum vacancies of 1,16,464 are in Indian Army followed by 13,597 in Indian Navy and 5,723 in the IAF.
• “The average annual recruitment in Army, Navy and Air Force is 60,000, 5,332 and 5,723 respectively,” Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.
• The shortage in the Army was 64,482 personnel on January 1, 2020.
• He said the shortage in the Navy as against the authorized strength was 13,597 as of May 31, while that in the Indian Air Force was 5,723 as of July 1.

After War With Azerbaijan, Armenia Taps India For Military Hardware

• Recently in June, a defence delegation from the Republic of Armenia visited India, meeting with their counterparts here. The delegation came armed with a shopping list. While little is known about its contents, drones have been confirmed to have figured prominently on the list.
• However, in 2020 Armenia lost all the territory to Azerbaijan, including the corridor that connected Armenia to the enclave. Though a member of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaties Organisation (CSTO), Russia refused to intervene in the war since it considered Nagorno-Karabakh to technically not be ‘Armenian territory’. Russian defence equipment also proved not to be a match for the Turkish equipment that was deployed, especially Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones. Turkish military counsellors and arms won the war for Azerbaijan. “Russia intervened only when it felt Turkey would become a permanent presence in the region,” said the official bitterly. The result – a Russian peace keeping force in Nagorno-Karabakh. But the war also showed the limits of Western support and help for Armenia, as well as the limits of Armenian soft power -primarily its diaspora abroad, which is a source of pride for many Armenians. Armenia, even as located in a hostile neighbourhood, remains dependent on Russia. And Russia now remains focused on Ukraine.
• In 2020, it concluded a deal with India worth 40 million for the supply of four indigenously built weapon-locating radars. The SWATHI radars have been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• 2017. Three more have been commissioned in the Indian Navy since then

India’s Missile Woman Tessy Thomas Is Now A Recipient Of APJ Award

• Popularly known as India’s missile woman, Dr. Tessy Thomas is a scientist and Director General (Aero Systems) at the DRDO. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam nominated her as the first woman scientist to lead an Indian missile project, the Agni Project.
• Her knowledge of solid propellant systems was crucial to the construction of the missile’s re-entry mechanism, which allowed it to sustain high velocity and temperatures of 3,000 degrees Celsius when re-entering the atmosphere.
• Dr. Tessy has received a number of prestigious awards for her work, including the DRDO Scientist of the Year award in 2008, the DRDO Performance Excellence Award in 2011 and 2012, the India Today Women of the Year award in 2009…
• The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2012, the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year in 2012, the Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya Award in 2016, and the Outstanding Woman Achiever Award by Women in Science and (WISE).

Army Buys 20 Swedish Advanced Avalanche Rescue Systems to Detect Trapped Soldiers with Precision

• The Army has got deliveries of 20 avalanche rescue systems from a Swedish firm this month, nearly two years after it placed an order for the equipment as an emergency procurement. The rescue systems will be sent to different sector stores of the northern command.
• Gulmarg-based High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS)—which runs specialised training programmes for mountain and winter warfare—had a limited number of rescue systems that were procured last year after successful trials.
• The detector of the rescue system emits a radar signal that on hitting the reflector is echoed back to the detector, thus pointing the rescuer in the direction of the victim.
• About 35,000 troops are deployed in high-altitude areas across the Army’s eastern and northern commands and there are over 2,000 troops posted in Siachen and nearby areas.

Indian Army, Navy & Air Force Have Shortage Of 1.36 Lakh Personnel: Government

• Amid row over Agnipath scheme for recruitment in armed forces, government today informed that three armed forces have a shortage of 1,35,784 personnel, including officers and soldiers. According to the details provided by the government, the maximum vacancies of 1,16,464 are in Indian Army followed by 13,597 in Indian Navy and 5,723 in the IAF.
• “The average annual recruitment in Army, Navy and Air Force is 60,000, 5,332 and 5,723 respectively,” Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.
• The shortage in the Army was 64,482 personnel on January 1, 2020.
• He said the shortage in the Navy as against the authorized strength was 13,597 as of May 31, while that in the Indian Air Force was 5,723 as of July 1.

Maritime Partnership Exercise Between Indian Navy And Japan

• A Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) was conducted between Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and the Indian Navy on 23 Jul 22the  in the Andaman Sea. INS Sukanya, an offshore patrol vessel and JS Samidare, a Murasame class destroyer, undertook various exercises including seamanship activities, aircraft operations and tactical manoeuvres as part of the operational interaction. The two countries have been carrying out regular exercises in IOR towards reinforcing maritime association. The exercise was aimed at enhancing interoperability and streamlining seamanship and communication procedures. This exercise is part of the ongoing efforts between the two navies toward ensuring safe and secure international shipping and trade in the Indian Ocean Region.

Subedar Neeraj Chopra Becomes 2^nd Indian To Win A World Athletics Championships

• India’s Neeraj Chopra won the silver medal in the men’s javelin throw final at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon with the best throw of 88.13m, which he registered with his fourth attempt. 
  • Grenada’s Anderson Peters won the gold medal with a best throw of 90.54m. Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch won bronze with a best throw of 88.09m.
  • Chopra became only the second Indian — and first Indian man — to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships, after long jumper Anju Bobby George, who won bronze in 2003.
  • The other Indian in the fray, Rohit Yadav finished at 10th with a best throw of 78.72m. Rohit had finished 11^th overall in the qualification round with a best throw of 80.42m.

Two More Women Officers Enter IAF Stream

• Two women officers have made it to an elite air force stream dominated by men for decades and have begun discharging their duties as flight test engineers – professionals who are responsible for evaluating aircraft and airborne systems before their induction into the armed forces, officials familiar with the development said on Saturday.
• Squadron Leaders Bhoomika Paliwal and Renuka Dey are among the only three women officers to have graduated as flight test engineers from the Air Force Test Pilot School in Bengaluru in its 50-year history, the officials said. Last year, Squadron Leader Aashritha V Olety became the air force’s first woman flight test engineer.
• Excluding the medical wing in which women have been serving for decades, the army accounts for around 7,000 women officers, while IAF and navy have more than 1,600 and 700 women officers each. In percentage terms, women still form a small part of the military – 0.56% of the army, 1.08% of the air force and 6.5% of the navy.

Rs 494 crore FDI Received In Defence Sector Since Revising Policy: Govt

• India has received around Rs 494 crore of foreign direct investment in the defence sector since revising the policy relating to it in September 2020, the government said in Lok Sabha on Monday.
• In 2020, the government announced increasing the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit from 49 per cent to 74 per cent under the automatic route and up to 100 per cent through the government route in the defence sector.
• According to estimates, the Indian armed forces are projected to spend around USD 130 billion in capital procurement in the next five years.
• Bhatt said the government has issued 584 defence licenses to 358 private companies for setting up manufacturing units.
• In addition, there are 16 defence public sector companies manufacturing various platforms and equipment for the armed forces.

Former Indian Army COAS Naravane, Ex US Defence Secretary honoured for strengthening Indo-US ties

• Former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane has been honoured by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) for his role in strengthening ties between India and US.
  • The USISPF presented global leadership and public service awards to those persons who have been instrumental in strengthening ties between the US and India.
  • Along with Naravane, former US Defence Secretary General Jim Mattis has also been awarded the public service award.
  • Gen Naravane retired on April 30 and has shifted to his newly-allotted accommodation in Delhi Cantonment since that day.
  • In a distinguished military career spanning over four decades, Naravane had the distinction of tenanting key command and staff appointments in peace and field, both in the North-East and Jammu and Kashmir. He was also part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka.
  • Former Indian Army Chief commanded a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, raised an Infantry Brigade, was Inspector General Assam Rifles (North), and commanded a Strike Corps in the Western Theatre. His staff assignments included tenures as a Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade, Defence Attache at Yangon, Myanmar, an instructional appointment in the Army War College as Directing Staff in the Higher Command Wing, besides two tenures at the Integrated Headquarters of MoD (Army), New Delhi.

Tata Advanced Systems Successfully Delivered To Indian Army

• Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) successfully delivered the indigenously developed Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicle-Medium (QRFV) to the Indian Army on Monday.
• Initiatives taken by the Centre to encourage the production of indigenous defence equipment have resulted in cutting the expenditure on defence procurement from foreign sources from 46 percent of the overall expenditure to 36 percent in the last four years — 2018-19 to 2021-22.
• In April, Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane inducted the first set of QRFV. As per a defence release, the Army Chief had inducted the QRFV, Infantry Protected Mobility Vehicle (IPMV), Ultra Long-Range Observation System developed by TASL and Monocoque Hull Multi-Role Mine-Protected Armoured Vehicle developed by Bharat Forge.

Defence Ministry Approves Arms Procurement Proposals Worth Rs 28,732 Cr

• The defence ministry on Tuesday approved the procurement of military equipment and weapons worth Rs 28,000 crore that including swarm drones, carbines and bulletproof jackets. The procurement proposals were cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
• “This is set to provide a major impetus to the small arms manufacturing industry in India and enhance Atma Nirbharta (self-reliance) in small arms,” the ministry said.
• Among the proposals approved by DAC in the meeting are three proposals of the Indian Army, viz. Guided Extended Range Rocket Ammunition, Area Denial Munition Type I and Infantry Combat Vehicle – Command have been designed and developed by DRDO. The total value of these three proposals is Rs 8,599 crore.
• Considering the demand for enhanced protection against the threat of enemy snipers to our troops deployed along the Line of Control and in close combat operations in counter-terrorism scenarios, DAC accorded for Bullet Proof Jackets with Indian Standard BIS VI level of protection.
• The DAC also approved the Navy’s proposal to procure an upgraded 1250KW capacity Marine Gas Turbine Generator for power generation application onboard the Kolkata class of ships through Indian Industry.
• To enhance the security in the coastal region of the country, the DAC also approved the proposal of procurement of 14 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) with 60% IC.

Annual Awards Function of The Western Fleet Evening  

• The annual awards function of the Western Fleet (WF), Fleet Evening 2022, or ‘FLING’ as the event is popularly called, commemorating the accomplishments of the ‘Sword Arm’ of the Indian Navy, over the past year, was held at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on 24 July 2022.
• Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command was the chief guest at the event, hosted by Rear Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet. During the function, the Fleet Operations Officer presented the Annual Report of the activities/ achievements of the Fleet over the past year.
• The FLING 22 showcased a stunning entertainment programme created completely by the in-house talent of the Western Fleet and their families. In the Fleet award ceremony, a total of 21 trophies, representing varied dimensions of maritime operations were awarded to meritorious ships. These include INS Chennai – Best Ship, INS Talwar – Most Spirited Ship and INS Aditya – Best Ship in Tankers & OPVs category. All awards recognised the overall excellence and valuable contribution of individual ships and the gallant crew, who have maintained a constant vigil in service to the Nation.
• The Fleet expanded its footprint into the Red Sea, western edges of the Persian Gulf, Deep Water Channel in Gujarat, to Andamans & Nicobar Islands. These deployments included Mission Based Deployments, Anti-Narcotics missions, Presence cum Surveillance missions, as also EEZ surveillance. The fleet undertook a record-setting number of firings in all domains. The WF ships extensively participated in Maritime Partnership Exercises and numerous bilateral exercises across IOR and beyond, including Konkan with Royal Navy, Varuna with French Navy and PASSEX with Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Carrier strike group.

APJ Abdul Kalam 7^th Death Anniversary

• India remembers former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on his seventh death anniversary. On this day in 2015, the ‘Missile Man of India’ breathed his last after he suffered cardiac arrest while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong.
• “When I am dead, do not declare a holiday; instead work a day extra”, he said.

Father of India’s own Satellite Launch Vehicle

• ISRO selected Dr Kalam as its project director to help build India’s first indigenous satellite launch vehicle (SLV). The ten years of hard work paid off as SLV-III successfully launched the satellite Rohini into orbit in July 1980.

The Missile Man of India

• After two decade-long stints in ISRO, he was appointed the chief executive officer of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). The programme under the MoD developed many missiles under the famed Agni and Prithvi projects.
• Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam took charge as the Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister of India between 1992 and 1999. He was the brain behind the Pokhran II nuclear test.

Delivery of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier ‘VIKRANT’

• Indian Navy has created maritime history today by taking delivery of the prestigious Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant from her builder Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi. Designed by Indian Navy’s inhouse Directorate of Naval Design (DND) and built by CSL, a Public Sector Shipyard under Ministry of Shipping (MoS), the carrier is christened after her illustrious predecessor, India’s first Aircraft Carrier which played a vital role in the 1971 war. Coinciding with the celebrations to commemorate 75th anniversary of India’s independence ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the reincarnation of Vikrant is a true testimony to the country’s zeal and fervor in pursuing capability build up towards enhanced maritime security.  
• The 262 mtr long carrier has a full displacement of close to 45,000 tonnes which is much larger and advanced than her predecessor. The ship is powered by four Gas Turbines totaling 88 MW power and has a maximum speed of 28 Knots. Built at an overall cost of close to Rs. 20,000 Crs, the project has been progressed in three Phases of contract between MoD and CSL, concluded in May 2007, Dec 2014 and Oct 2019 respectively. The ship’s keel was laid in Feb 2009, followed by launching in Aug 2013. With an overall indigenous content of 76%, IAC is a perfect example of the nation’s quest for “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat” and provides thrust to Government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.  
• The ship would be capable of operating air wing consisting of 30 aircraft comprising of MIG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31, MH-60R multi-role helicopters, in addition to indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) (Navy).

Indian Navy Receives Two MH-60 R Multirole Helicopters From US

• The Indian Navy on Thursday received two MH-60 R multirole helicopters from the United States at Cochin International Airport. The third helicopter is scheduled to be delivered in August this year, while the delivery of all 24 MH 60R helicopters will be completed by 2025.
• Back in 2019, the United States had approved the sale of 24 MH-60R multi-mission helicopters to India under its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The approval was made in order to improve the security of a major defensive partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
• The value of the potential is USD 2.6 billion. The MH-60R is the most advanced marine multi-mission helicopter currently in use. The induction of state-of-the-art mission-capable platforms will significantly boost the integral Anti-submarine warfare capability.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

• “DAD” Stands For 
• Defence Accounts Department
• Defence Accountant Department
• Defence Accounts Depo
• None

         ANSWER: A

• Ex ‘Pitch Black’ conducted b/w India &  
• Australia
• Oman
• UAE
• Maldives

ANSWER: A

• __Took Over As Commandant Of School Of Artillery, Deolali.
• Lt Gen S Harimohan Iyer
• Lt Gen M Harimohan Iyer
• Lt Gen N Harimohan Iyer
• None of the above

ANSWER: A

• The First Indian Kilo-class Submarine Is
• INS Utkrosh
• INS Sindhughosh
• INS Arihant
• INS Delhi

     ANSWER: B

• __conducts successful maiden flight of Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator.
• DRDO
• NASA
• HAL
• MDL

ANSWER: A

• Which Force Organises “Suraksha Manthan” On Border And Coastal Security?
• ICG
• IAF
• Indian Army
• None of the above

ANSWER: C

• College of Air Warfare Is In
• Shillong
• Gandhinagar
• Prayagraj
• Secunderabad

ANSWER: D

• MH-60 Romeo helicopters are procured by the Indian Navy from which country?      
• Russia
• Israel
• USA
• Iran

ANSWER: C

• Which of the following statements is/are correct?
  1. Project 17A Frigates involves the construction of seven stealth frigates that will be hard to detect by radar or sonar technology.
  2. Y-3023 Dunagiri is part of Project 17A frigates.
  3. Y-3023 Dunagiri is not capable of carrying Brahmos Supersonic Missile due to the supersonic speed of the missile.
  Select the correct answer using the code given below:
• 1 and 2 only
• 2 and 3 only
• 1 and 3 only
• 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER: A

• “The Struggle Within A Memoir of the Emergency” Book Is Written By   
• Jairam Ramesh
• Late Baljit Kaur Tulsi
• Hew Strachan
• Ashok Chakravarti

ANSWER: D

• Air Vice-Marshal Rank of the IAF Is Equivalent to Which Rank Of Indian Navy?
• Rear Admiral
• Vice Admiral
• Captain
• Colonel

ANSWER: A

• Regimental Centre of THE BRIGADE OF THE GUARDS
• Kamptee, Maharashtra
• Ahmednagar, Maharashtra
• Delhi Cantonment
• Fatehgarh, Uttar Pradesh

ANSWER: A

• ’Bolo Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ Is The War Cry Of___  
• RAJPUT REGIMENT
• RAJPUTANA RIFLES
• THE BRIGADE OF THE GUARDS
• MECHANISED INFANTRY REGIMENT

     ANSWER: D

• Indian Naval Air Squadron 324 was commissioned In  
• Eastern Naval Command
• Western Naval Command
• Southern Naval Command
• Northern Naval Command

ANSWER: A

• RIMPAC Harbour Phase Is Conducting In  
• Denmark
• Hwaiin Island
• Kochi
• Pearl Harbour

ANSWER: B

• Which Of The Indian Army Has Been Appointed As New Force Commander Of The UMNISS?   
• Lt Gen Mohan Subramanian
• Lt Gen Shailesh Tinaikar
• Lt Gen Sulabh Mani
• None of the above

ANSWER: A

• Southwestern Air Command Of IAF Is In 
• Prayagraj
• Gandhinagar
• Shillong
• New Delhi

ANSWER: B

• The Sixth Deputy National Security Adviser-level meeting of CSC Held At
• Kochi
• Colombo
• New Delhi
• Noida

ANSWER: A

• As Per Global Fire Power Index 22 The Strongest Military Nation Is 
• China
• India
• USA
• Russia

ANSWER: C

• Exercises B/w India And Singapore Is Called:
• SIMBEX
• SLINEX
• Indra
• Yudha Abhyas

ANSWER: A

• The Number of Non-permanent Members Of UN Security Council Is
• 8
• 10
• 12
• 14

ANSWER: B

• “Walking with Lions: Tales from a Diplomatic Past” Book Is Written By 
• K Natwar Singh
• Ratan Tata
• Harper Lee
• Fatima Bhutto

ANSWER: A

• Mitra Shakti Ex Conducts B/W 
• India & Indonesia
• India & UK
• India & Sri Lanka
• India & Thailand

ANSWER: C

• National Emblem of Bharat Is 
• Lion Capital of Ashoka
• Lily
• Palm Tree
• Sword

ANSWER: A

• Fourth Ship Of P17A Frigates Is___.
• Udayagiri
• Dunagiri
• Surat
• Sundari

ANSWER: B

• CAATSA Stands For  
• Cosmetics America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act
• Contour America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act
• Countering America’s Adversaries Tough Sanctions Act
• Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act

ANSWER: D

• Consider the following statements with reference to ‘Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)’:
  
  1. It was established in the wake of a nuclear test conducted by India in 1974.
  2. This group is an organization of nuclear states that aims to proliferate the spread of nuclear weapons.
  Which of the statements given above is/are correct?  
• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWER: A

• What are ‘Surat’ and ‘Udaygiri’?
• Fighter Jets
• Space Launch Vehicles
• Warships
• Missiles

ANSWER: C

• What was the name given to the operation conducted by National Security Guard in 2008 against terrorist attack in Taj hotel, Mumbai?
• Operation Vijay
• Operation Black Thunder
• Operation Black Tornado
• Operation Safed Sagar

ANSWER: C

• India and Maldives, both are members of which of the following groupings?
  
  1. SAARC, 2. SCO, 3. Colombo Security Conclave, 4. SASEC
  Select the correct answer by using the codes given below?
• 1 and 2 only
• 2 and 3 only
• 1, 3 and 4 only
• 3 and 4 only

ANSWER: C

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