In Daily Defence Current Affairs for Monthly September 2023, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial 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. Let us now see the Daily Defence Current Affairs.

Army To Buy 130 Tethered Drones

• In continuation with its steps to strengthen intelligence and surveillance systems along the LAC, the Indian Army on Monday signed a contract with local manufacturers for the supply of tethered drone systems and tank driving simulators.
• The Indian Army in a message confirmed the signing of a contract for the procurement of 130 tethered drones and 19 tank-driving simulators. “The induction of the new equipment will enhance the overall operational preparedness of the Army,” said the force.
• Contract for the drone system for long-distance surveillance and intelligence gathering along the borders was signed with indigenous company New space Research Technologies Pvt Ltd. The contract for the other equipment was signed with Zen Technologies Limited, which will also involve skill development.
• The Request for Technical and Commercial Proposals for the drones was issued by the armoured branch of the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence in January this year, under the fast-track procedure.
• As per the RFI, these systems are sought to fly not less than six hours in tethered mode and around 45 minutes in un-tethered mode.
• These drones are connected to a ground-based tethered system with a flexible wire or cable for power and communications and can provide surveillance of beyond-line-of-sight targets for a prolonged period.
• Tethered drone systems are ideal for extended surveillance and security overwatch missions such as border control. Traditional drones have a greater range allowing them to perform missions the sensor cannot capture from a distance.

LAUNCH OF ‘DSC A 20 (YARD 325)’ First Ship Of 05 X Diving Support Craft (DSC)

• ‘DSC A 20’ (Yard 325), the first ship of Five (05) Diving Support Craft (DSC) project being built by M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL), Kolkata (formerly known as M/s Titagarh Wagons Ltd (TWL)) for Indian Navy, was launched on 31 Aug 23 at Titagarh, Kolkata (WB) onto Hooghly River.
• These ships are designed to undertake operational/ training diving operations in harbours and coastal waters. They are 30 m long catamaran hull ships, with a displacement of approx 300 tons. All five (05) DSC are anticipated to be delivered to Indian Navy in FY 2024-25.
• DSC are being fitted with state-of-the-art diving equipment and tools for performing diving operations. These ships are indigenously designed and built under relevant Naval Rules and Regulation of Indian Register of Shipping .
• The hydrodynamic analysis/ model testing of the ships during design stage were undertaken at Naval Science and Technological Laborator, Visakhapatnam.

Curtain Raiser: Launch Of Y – 12654 (Mahendragiri)

• Mahendragiri, the last Project 17A Frigate, launched by Dr (Smt.) Sudesh Dhankhar, wife of Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, at M/s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai on 01 Sep 23.
• Mahendragiri, named after a mountain peak in Eastern Ghats located in the state of Orissa, is the seventh ship of the Project 17A Frigates. These warships are follow-ons of the Project 17 Class Frigates (Shivalik Class), with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors.
• Under the Project 17A program, a total of four ships by M/s MDL and three ships by M/s GRSE are under construction. The first six ships of the project have been launched so far by MDL & GRSE, between 2019-2023.
• Project 17A ships have been designed in-house by Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, the pioneer organization for all warship design activities. Aligning with the country’s resolute commitment to ‘AatmaNirbharata’, a substantial 75% of the orders for equipment and systems of Project 17A ships have been ordered on indigenous firms, including MSMEs.

Indian Army Exchanges Techniques, Expertise With Participating Troops At Exercise Bright Star-23     

• Indian Army troops in Egypt exchanged techniques and shared expertise with the other participating troops during Exercise Bright Star-23.
• Indian Army and IAF contingent with Integrated Combat troops arrived at Alexandria for Exercise Bright Star-23 on August 29. The opening ceremony was held on August 31.
• The Indian contingent of 550 personnel is among the largest Indian deployments for an overseas exercise, the Indian Embassy in Egypt said.
• Initially, this exercise was conceptualized as a bilateral biennial training exercise between the US and Egypt during the Camp David Accord of 1977.

INS Sumedha At Alexandria For Ex- Bright Star- 23

• INS Sumedha arrived at Port Alexandria, Egypt on 06 September 2023 to participate in ‘Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23’. This edition of the multinational Tri-Services military exercise will see participation from 34 countries. It is the largest ever joint military exercise in Middle East & North Africa region.
• Ex Bright Star 23 is scheduled to be conducted in two phases. The Harbour Phase involves wide-ranging activities such as cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, sports fixtures and interactions for planning and conduct of the Sea Phase.
• The Sea Phase will include complex and high intensity exercises encompassing cross deck flying, anti-surface and anti-air exercises including live weapon firing drills.

• INS Sumedha arrived at Port Alexandria, Egypt on 06 September 2023 to participate in ‘Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23’. This edition of the multinational Tri-Services military exercise will see participation from 34 countries. It is the largest ever joint military exercise in Middle East & North Africa region.
• Ex Bright Star 23 is scheduled to be conducted in two phases. The Harbour Phase involves wide-ranging activities such as cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, sports fixtures and interactions for planning and conduct of the Sea Phase.
• The Sea Phase will include complex and high intensity exercises encompassing cross deck flying, anti-surface and anti-air exercises including live weapon firing drills.

NAVAL EXERCISE ‘VARUNA’ – 2023    

• Phase Il of the 21^st edition of Varuna (Varuna-23) bilateral exercise between Indian and French Navy was conducted in the Arabian Sea. The exercise witnessed participation of guided missile frigates, tanker, Maritime Patrol Aircraft and integral helicopters from the two sides.
• The exercise was conducted over three days and witnessed joint operations. Units of both navies endeavoured to enhance and hone their war fighting skills, improve interoperability and demonstrate their ability to promote, peace, security and stability in the region.
• The first phase of ‘Varuna-2023’ was conducted off India’s Western Seaboard from 16 to 20 Jan 23
• Indian & French Navy bilateral naval exercise was initiated in 1993. The exercise was later christened as ‘Varuna’ in 2001 and has since become a hallmark of robust India-France strategic bilateral relationship.

DELIVERY OF SECOND ACTCM BARGE, LSAM 16 (YARD 126) 

• Contract for construction and delivery of Eleven Ammunition Barges was concluded with M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane, a MSME, in consonance with “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives of the GoI.
• Second Barge of the series LSAM 16 (Yard 126) has been delivered to Indian Navy on 06 Sep 23in presence of Cmde MV Raj Krishna, CoY (Mbi).
• The Barge has been built under the classification rules of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) with a service life of 30 years. With all major and auxiliary equipment/ systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers, the Barge is proud flag bearer of “Make in India” initiatives of Ministry of Defence.

‘Nabh Shakti’: Indian Army, Air Force participate in joint training exercise         

• ‘Nabh Shakti’, a joint training exercise, was conducted in the Indian Army’s elite Brahmastra Corps in the Northeast states. Both Indian Army and Indian Air Force participated in the joint exercise.
• ‘Nabh Shakti’, a joint training exercise, was conducted in the Indian Army’s elite Brahmastra Corps in the Northeast states.
• “Joint Training Exercise ‘Nabh Shakti’ was conducted in the Indian Army’s Brahmastra Corps (Mountain Strike Corps) with the participation of the Indian Army and IAF to validate rapid response to dynamic operational scenarios and enhance joint acumen in multimodal operations“.
• 17 Mountain Strike Corps has been raised by the Indian Army to carry out strike operations in enemy territory during conflicts with the adversary in eastern parts of the country.

BRO To Construct World’s Highest Fighter Airfield In Ladakh’s Nyoma      

• The BRO will construct the world’s highest fighter airfield in the Nyoma region of Ladakh, an official statement said.
• BRO said that the foundation stone of the project will be laid by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from Devak Bridge on September 12.
• Earlier, BRO chief Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhry said that India will beat China in the next two to three years as the Narendra Modi-led NDA government is proactively working towards developing infrastructure along the 3,488 Km stretch of the Line of Actual Control.

MOU Between Indian Navy And Uber 

• The Indian Navy signed a MoU with M/s Uber in the presence of Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, Mrs Kala Hari Kumar, President NWWA and Mr. Abhinav Mittoo, Senior Country Manager, Uber for Business, Under India South Asia and Egypt.
• The MoU with Uber aims to provide reliable, convenient, safe and economical mobility solutions for personal travel and commute of Naval personnel and families across the country.
• M/s Uber will extend following benefits to Indian Naval personnel and their families will include: –
• (a)       A personalised profile on the Uber App.
• (b)       Premier Executive Cab Category providing surge price protection during peak office hours.
• (c)        Availability of Top-rated drivers.
• (d)       Zero cancellation fee on all Uber rides.
• (e)       24×7 Premium business support

Ajit Doval is the man behind India’s Answer to China’s BRI           

• The most consequential announcement at the recently concluded G20 Summit in Delhi was the commitment to build a rail-and-port network that will connect India to the Middle-East and the Middle-East to Europe and the US.
• It has been named the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Though no leader from the participating countries mentioned China, it is an obvious alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that aims to connect the whole world to China through shipping, rail and road networks.
• IMEC was not something that was hurriedly cobbled up at the G20 Summit. Its genesis lies in a forum created nearly two years ago in October 2021 called I2U2, comprising India, Israel, the UAE and the US. The Saudi Arabia was later made part of the grouping.

India, Japan hold first edition of Joint Services Staff Talks     

• The first edition of Joint Services Staff Talks between India and Japan commenced in Tokyo.
• The talks were held between India’s Integrated Defence Staff and Japan’s Joint Staff. Several important discussions were held to improve the interoperability and understanding of each other’s Armed Forces.
• The first edition of Joint Services Staff Talks between India and Japan commenced in Tokyo.
• The talks were held between India’s Integrated Defence Staff and Japan’s Joint Staff. Several important discussions were held to improve the interoperability and understanding of each other’s Armed Forces.
• Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi and the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

Rajnath Singh Dedicated 90 Infra Projects Of BRO To Country In Jammu                

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated and dedicate 90 Infrastructure Projects to the country constructed by BRO with a cost of Rs 2941 cr. at a ceremony to be organised at Devak Bridge in Jammu.
• The infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) include four airstrips and helipads that have been built along the northern and western borders, a defence spokesperson said.
• The bridge is a part of the 90 infrastructure projects built by BRO at a cost of ₹2,941 crores, which includes 21 roads, 64 bridges, one tunnel, two airstrips, and two helipads.

JK: Army Colonel And Major, Dy SP Killed In Gunfight With Terrorists 

• Three security force officers including an Army Colonel were killed in a gunfight with terrorists in Kokernag area of Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said here on Wednesday. Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish, deputy superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police Humayun Bhat were critically injured in the gunfight and died later, they said.
• The operation against the terrorists began on Tuesday evening in Gadole area but was called off during the night. This morning, the hunt for the terrorists resumed after information started trickling that they were spotted at a hideout, the officials said.
• Colonel Singh, leading his team from the front, attacked the terrorists. However, the terrorists fired upon him and he was critically injured.

Airbus Hands Over C295 Transport Aircraft to IAF      

• In a significant development, Airbus Defence and Space handed over the initial C295 transport aircraft to the IAF, marking the commencement of a crucial project valued at Rs 21,935 crore. This project was sealed two years ago as part of India’s broader efforts to modernize its air assets.
• Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, the Chief of Air Staff, personally received the aircraft at Airbus’s production facility in the southern Spanish city of Seville.
• Under the terms of this agreement, Airbus is set to deliver the first 16 aircraft in a ‘fly-away’ condition directly from its final assembly line in Seville by the year 2025. Subsequently, the remaining 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India.

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un vows full support for Moscow             

• North Korea’s Kim Jong Un vowed “full and unconditional support” for Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Wednesday as the two leaders isolated by the West held a summit that the U.S. warned could lead to a deal to supply ammunition for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
• The meeting, which lasted over four hours at Russia’s spaceport in the Far East, underscores how the two countries’ interests are aligning: Putin is believed to be seeking one of the few things impoverished North Korea has in abundance — stockpiles of aging ammunition and rockets for Soviet-era weapons.
• Such a request would mark a role reversal from the 1950-53 Korean War, when Moscow gave weapons to support Pyongyang’s invasion of South Korea – and in the decades that followed, when the Soviet Union sponsored North Korea.
• Russia and North Korea have “lots of interesting projects” in spheres like transportation and agriculture, Putin said. Moscow is providing its neighbor with humanitarian aid, but there also are opportunities for “working as equals,” he added.

Finally, Someone Has Got China’s Map As It Really Is: Ex-Army Chief               

• Amid the furore over China releasing a new map, former Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Naravane (retd) shared a map of China and took a dig saying “finally someone has got the map of China as it really is.”
• The apparent dig was in response to China releasing a map on August 28, what it called the “2023 edition of the standard map of China” showing Aksai Chin and whole of Arunachal Pradesh within its territory, according to reports quoting local Chinese media.
• The map was released by China’s ministry of natural resources, they said.

DAC Gives Nod To Nine Proposals Worth Rs 45,000 cr

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has given its nod to proposals worth Rs 45,000 crore for the procurement of various weapons systems and platforms including Dhruvastra short range air-to-surface missile and 12 Su-30 MKI fighter jets, the Defence Ministry said.
• A total of nine procurement proposals were approved by the DAC and all procurements will be made from indigenous vendors only under Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured category which will give substantial boost to the Indian defence Industry towards achieving the goal of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the release said.
• The DAC also approved the procurement of next generation survey vessels for the Indian Navy, which will greatly enhance its capabilities in performing hydrographic operations.

BEL Receives Orders Worth Rs 3,000 Crore From Cochin Shipyard Ltd                 

• Bharat Electronics Limited announced that it has received an order of Rs 2,118.57 crore from Cochin Shipyard Limited for supply of various equipment for Indian Navy.
• The order consists of Sensors, Weapon equipment, Fire Control systems and Communication equipment for six numbers of Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV), class of anti-surface warfare corvettes.
• The Bengaluru-headquartered defence major recently also received additional orders worth Rs 886 crore and the said orders pertained to upgrade of AFNET SATCOM N/W, upgrade of Akash Missiles with RF Seeker, Inertial Navigation System and other equipments with accessories and spares etc.
• With this BEL has in all received orders worth Rs 14,384 Crore till now in the financial year 2023-24.

Defence Ministry Clears Proposal To Buy ‘Pralay’ Ballistic Missiles For Indian Army                    

• In a major boost to its firepower, the Defence Ministry has approved the procurement of a regiment of ‘Pralay’ ballistic missiles for the Indian Army for deployment along the LAC and LoC, that is, borders with China and Pakistan respectively.
• “This is a major decision for the Indian Army as the proposal to acquire a regiment of the Pralay ballistic missiles which can hit targets between 150-500 Km, was cleared by the recent Defence Acquisition Council meeting,” defence officials told.
• ‘Pralay’ is a quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile. The advanced missile has been developed in a way to be able to defeat interceptor missiles. It has the ability to change its path after covering a certain range in midair.

2^ND Edition Of Indian Navy’s Seminar (Swavlamban-2023)           

• The 2^nd Edition of the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Seminar – ‘Swavlamban 2023’ is scheduled to be conducted on 04 – 05 Oct 2023. In the maiden edition of the seminar, held in July 2022, PM launched the 75 challenges for the start-ups/ MSMEs as a part of the ‘SPRINT’ initiative.
• SPRINT is a collaborative initiative being undertaken in conjunction with the Defence Innovation Organisation and stands for Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through iDEX, NIIO and Technology Development Acceleration Cell. This initiative has received an overwhelming response with 1106 proposals.
• After a detailed examination, 113 winners under the DISC 7 SPRINT category (with grants up to 1.5 cr) and 5 winners in the DISC 7 SPRINT-PRIME category (grants up to 10 cr) were declared, and the development of prototypes is being progressed by all the winners.

Coastal Security Drill ‘Operation Sajag’                      

• ‘Operation Sajag’, a drill involving all stakeholders of the coastal security construct, was conducted by the Indian Coast Guard along the west coast on September 18, 2023. The drill facilitates revalidation of the coastal security mechanism and bring awareness among the fishermen at sea.
• During the drill, extensive checking and verification of documents and crew passes of all fishing boats, barges and craft at sea was undertaken. A total of 118 ships including those from Customs, Marine Police, Ports & Indian Navy participated in the drill.
• The day-long drill is conducted every month and the outcomes are further progressed for improvement in the coastal security construct. The drill enables to verify implementation of various coastal security measures besides bringing out important lessons and highlight trends in coastal security.

Azerbaijan Launches Military Action In Karabakh To Disarm Armenians              

• Azerbaijan launched “anti-terrorist activities” in the Nagorno-Karabakh region to restore constitutional order and drive out what it called Armenian military formations there, a move that could foreshadow a new war in the region.
• Azerbaijan’s defence ministry spoke in a statement of its intention to “disarm and secure the withdrawal of formations of Armenia’s armed forces from our territories, (and) neutralise their military infrastructure.”
• Internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, Karabakh has an overwhelmingly ethnic Armenian population and broke from Baku’s control in the early 1990s after a war.
• Azerbaijan recaptured swathes of land in and around it in a 2020 war, but ethnic Armenian authorities who see the area as their ancestral homeland, remained in control of part of Karabakh, including its capital.

Exercise SIMBEX 23                       

• INS Ranvijay and Kavaratti and submarine INS Sindhukesari arrived in Singapore to participate in the 30^th edition of the Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX), an annual bilateral Naval exercise b/w the Indian Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy, which is being conducted since 1994.
• SIMBEX-2023 is being conducted in two phases – Harbour Phase at Singapore from 21 to 24 September 2023, followed by a Sea Phase. Besides Ranvijay, Kavaratti and Sindhukesari, Long-Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I is also participating in the exercise.
• The Harbour Phase will witness a wide range of professional interactions, cross-deck visits, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges and sports fixtures, aimed at enhancing interoperability and mutual understanding between the two navies.

Indian Navy Moves Mega Deal To Buy Second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier

• In a major push to the indigenisation in the military, the Indian Navy has moved a mega proposal to the government for building the second aircraft carrier to be constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited.
• A proposal has been received by the Defence Ministry for building and acquiring the second indigenous aircraft carrier which would be known as the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier-2, defence officials told.
• The programme will create several thousand direct and manifold indirect jobs through the Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kerala when the work on the IAC-2 is approved by the government.
• The first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was commissioned by Prime Minister Modi in Kochi in September last year where the expertise developed by CSL in building such large size ships was applauded.
• The Indian Navy has been pressing for three aircraft carriers to maintain at least one carrier on each coast with one in refit. With three aircraft carriers, the Indian Navy would also be keeping pace with all the navies deployed in the Indo-Pacific region, officials said.
• The Indian Navy is also going to get 26 new Rafale fighter aircraft for the INS Vikrant and also looking to buy the indigenous Twin engine Deck L-based Fighter aircraft which are now expected to be produced in large numbers to be deployed on the three carriers.

IAF Plans For Six More ‘Netra’ Early Warning Aircraft 

• The Air Force is planning to induct more of the ‘Netra’ early warning and control aircraft to its fleet, in a show of confidence in the indigenous system that demonstrated its capabilities to track enemy aircraft and direct quick responses during the Balakot operations in 2019.
• Sources said six additional aircraft are being planned to be acquired by the Air Force as part of a $1 billion plan to add force multipliers in the Air Force. The Netra system has been developed by the DRDO which is also working on a next generation Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS India) programme.
• The Air Force currently has two Netra systems that are mounted on the Embraer 145 jet. The additional six systems will be on the same jet and efforts are on to scout for aircraft in the secondary market as they are no longer in production.

ICG Pollution-Control Vessel ‘Samudra Prahari’                     

• ICG Pollution-Control Vessel ‘Samudra Prahari’ carried out a comprehensive Pollution Response Table-Top exercise and demonstration at Khlong Toei Port in Bangkok, Thailand on September 20, 2023, the final of its four-day visit.
• The exercise involved personnel from Thailand’s Maritime Enforcement Coordination Centre, Customs Department, Marine Department, Royal Navy, Fisheries Department and other government officials.
• It fostered knowledge sharing and an interactive environment among the services, ensuring seamless cooperation during real-life oil pollution scenarios. The exercise demonstrated ICG’s pollution response capabilities and India’s shared commitment towards the region.

Yudh Abhyas 2023  

• The Indian Army will be participating in the 19^th edition of a joint military exercise with the United States for Yudh Abhyas 2023 in Alaska.
• “Indian Army contingent will be participating in 19^th Edition of joint military Exercise Yudh Abhyas at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, USA. The Exercise will entail exchanging best practices and enhancing interoperability to mutually learn from each other & strengthen the bond between the two Armies”.
• The joint exercise will take place from September 25 to October 8 at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, US.
• A total of 350 Indian soldiers will participate in the exercise under the leadership of a Brigadier.

MAIDEN INDIA-INDONESIA-AUSTRALIA TRILATERAL MARITIME EXERCISE                              

• Indian Navy’s indigenously built warship INS Sahyadri, mission deployed in Indo-Pacific, participated in the maiden trilateral Maritime Partnership Exercise with the ships and aircraft from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Indonesian Navy from 20 – 21 Sep 2023.
• The trilateral exercise provided an opportunity for the three maritime nations to strengthen their partnership and improve their collective capability to support a stable, peaceful and secure Indo-Pacific region. The exercise also provided the opportunity for the participating navies to benefit from each other’s experience and expertise. Complex tactical and manoeuvring exercises, cross-deck visits and cross-deck landings of integral helicopters were conducted for training of crew and enhancement of interoperability.
• INS Sahyadri, the third ship of the indigenously designed and built Project-17 class multirole stealth frigates was built at Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai and is commanded by Capt Rajan Kapoor.

ADMM PLUS EWG On Counter Terrorism Field Training Exercise                                  

• Indian Army Contingent consisting of 32 personnel from a Battalion affiliated to the RAJPUTANA RIFLES departed for ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus Expert Working Group on Counter Terrorism Field Training Exercise 2023 scheduled to be conducted from 25^th to 30^th September 2023 in Russia.
• It is a multinational joint military exercise being hosted by Russia as a co-chair of the EWG along with Myanmar. It was preceded by Tabletop Exercise of the ADMM Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from 2nd to 4th August 2023.
• Since 2017, the ADMM Plus meets annually to allow dialogue and cooperation among ASEAN and Plus countries. The inaugural ADMM Plus was convened in Ha Noi, Vietnam on 12^th October 2010. This year ASEAN member states along with Plus Group will be participating in the exercise.

Joint Doctrine Review Conference – 2023       

• The maiden ‘Joint Doctrine Review Conference – 2023’ (JDRC-2023) was conducted at the Manekshaw Centre on 22 September 2023. The conference was chaired by Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine Organisation and Training).
• This historic, first such, conference was aimed to synergise and bridge gaps in understanding between HQ IDS and the three Services in formulation of Doctrines, as also review the progress of Joint Doctrines being formulated. It also helped in sharing best practices and ongoing initiatives on doctrinal issues.
• The Conference spanned over two sessions, brainstorming the Joint Doctrine Formulation Process and reviewing the ongoing as well as future Joint and Service Doctrines on diverse subjects such as Cyberspace, Amphibious, and Space. The conference was successful and achieved its stated aim.

Bharat Drone Shakti 2023 

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday inaugurated the Bharat Drone Shakti-2023 exhibition at the Hindan Air Base in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad here.
• The mega drone show is being hosted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Drone Federation of India (DFI).
• After inaugurating the Bharat Drone Shakti-2023 exhibition, Defence Minister and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari witnessed the prowess of the Indian drone industry.
• Bharat Drone Shakti 2023 hosted live aerial demonstrations of a variety of drone operations and applications by various drone companies.
• Addressing the gathering, Wing Commander Sonam Bakshi gave an opening to the live aerial demonstrations saying, “Wakif kaha zamana hamari udaan se, Wakif kaha zamana hamari udaan se vo aur the, Jo haar gaye aasaman se.”
• The first demonstration displayed a compact system of drones that can be carried on a motorbike. Special motorbikes are customised to carry unassembled drones.
• Kisan drones can be transported using motorbikes across rural terrain to introduce modern agricultural practices.
• Following this, the Defence Minister and Air Chief Marshal witnessed drones with the capability to carry 50kg-100 kg payload.

Indian Army Acquiring Suitcase-based SATCOMS 

• Indian Army is acquiring advanced hand-held and lightweight suitcase-based Satellite Communication (Satcom) sets to provide secure satellite-based communications to troops stationed in remote and challenging terrains along the LAC with China, as well as to Special Forces engaged in precision operations.
• These contracts encompass various types of Satcom terminals, including man-portable Ku-band satellite terminals, S-band hand-held terminals, S-band manpack terminals, and light vehicle-based Ku-band satellite communication terminals, among others.
• The GSAT-7B satellite project is expected to be operational by 2025-26, further bolstering the Indian armed forces’ communication capabilities in the evolving landscape of modern warfare.

IAF Enhances Fleet With New Dornier Do-228 Aircraft from HAL   

• The IAF has welcomed the arrival of the first of six brand-new Dornier Do-228 aircraft, exclusively manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This upgraded version of the aircraft boasts new engines, composite propellers, advanced avionics, and a modern glass cockpit.
• The Ministry of Defence inked the deal back in March, securing the procurement of six Dornier-228 aircraft from HAL for the IAF, with a budget of Rs 667 crore. Originally employed by the IAF for Route Transport Role and communication tasks, these aircraft have also played a vital role in training transport pilots.
• The Indian Navy has demonstrated its strong regional partnership by presenting its Dornier Do-228 maritime patrol aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).

Germany And Israel Announce Signing Of ‘Historic’ Missile Shield Deal   

• Germany signed a deal to acquire the Israeli-made Arrow 3 hypersonic missile system that will become a key part of Europe’s defence against air attack. The signing of the deal was a “historic day” for both countries, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said.
• Worth around $3.5 billion (3.3 billion euros), the sale is the biggest ever deal for Israel’s military industry. The Arrow 3 system would make “German air defence ready for the future”, Pistorius said.
• The long-range Arrow 3 system, designed to shoot down missiles above the Earth’s atmosphere, is powerful enough to offer protective cover for neighboring European Union states.

Indian Army Moves To Buy ₹6.5k Cr Artillery Guns

• In a mega push to promote indigenously designed and developed weapon systems, the Indian Army has moved a proposal to the Defence Ministry to buy 400 howitzers from Indian firms.
• Indian Army’s Regiment of Artillery is looking to use the expertise of Indian Industry to produce 155 mm/52 calibre Towed Gun System, which will be lighter, versatile and cater for future technological advancements.
• The Indian Army has already issued a tender for buying 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) along with one for finding a mounted gun system for its requirements along borders with China and Pakistan.
• These gun systems include Dhanush, Sharang, Ultra Light Howitzer (ULH) and K-9 Vajra Self Propelled Guns.
• Dhanush Guns are an electronic upgrade of Bofors Guns, while the Sharang Guns have been up-gunned from 130mm to 155mm calibre.

Defence Current Affairs Questions Monthly Sept 2023

1. ‘DSC A 20’ (Yard 325), The First Ship Of Five (05) Diving Support Craft (DSC)
   Project Being Built By
   A. CSL
   B. GSL
   C. Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd
   D. None
   ANSWER: C
2. Patriot Is A
   A. Tank
   B. Air Defence System
   C. UAV
   D. Helicopter
   ANSWER: B
3. Dornier Do-228 Aircraft Manufactured By
   A. DRDO
   B. HAL
   C. Boeing
   D. None
   ANSWER: B
4. C295 Aircraft Manufactured By
   A. Boeing
   B. Airbus
   C. HAL
   D. None
   ANSWER: B
5. IMEC Stands For
   A. India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor
   B. India-Middle East- Economic Corridor
   C. India-Middle Europe Economic Corridor
   D. None
   ANSWER: A
6. _ Takes Centre Stage As The Regional Maritime Security Community Gathers
   For The Maritime Information Sharing Workshop 2023.
   A. Gurugram
   B. Mumbai
   C. Chennai
   D. Goa
   ANSWER: A
7. BAE Systems, __ Join Hands To Bring All-terrain Vehicle To India Under ‘Make
   in India’.
   A. L&T
   B. HAL
   C. BEL
   D. BHEL
   ANSWER: A
8. ADMM Plus Stands For
   A. ASEAN-Defence Ministers Meeting
   B. ASEAN-Defence Ministers Mega Meeting
   C. ASEAN-Defence Ministers Meeta
   D. None
   ANSWER: A
9. Operation Sajag Conducted By
   A. BSF
   B. NSG
   C. ICG
   D. SSB
   ANSWER: C
10. Which Edition Of The SIMBEX Is Conducted In 2023?
    A. 20th
    B. 25th
    C. 30th
    D. 35th
    ANSWER: C
11. ‘Netra’ Is A
    A. Early Warning And Control Aircraft System
    B. Early Warning And Control Atmosphere
    C. Early Warning And Centre Aircraft
    D. None
    ANSWER: A
12. ‘Samudra Prahari’ Is A
    A. Submarine
    B. ICG Pollution-Control Vessel
    C. Destroyer
    D. Frigate
    ANSWER: B
13. Which Edition of Durand Cup Is Conducting In 2023?
    A. 130
    B. 131
    C. 132
    D. 133
    ANSWER: C
14. Who Become The New Chairman of Tata Advanced Systems?
    A. Gautam Adani
    B. Mukesh Ambani
    C. Ratan TATA
    D. Banmali Agrawala
    ANSWER: D
15. Which of Edition of Ex Yudh Abhyas Will Be Conducted?
    A. 18th
    B. 19th
    C. 20th
    D. 21st
    ANSWER: B
16. Long Range Training Deployment Of First Training Squadron To __.
    A. Pacific Ocean
    B. Indonesia
    C. Southeast Asia
    D. None
    ANSWER: C
17. Bharat Drone Shakti 2023 Organised In
    A. Hindon Air Base, Gaziabad
    B. Central Air Command
    C. Pune
    D. Nagpur
    ANSWER: A
18. 13th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs’ Conference Held In
    A. New Delhi
    B. Noida
    C. Surat
    D. Lucknow
    ANSWER: A
19. Dornier Do-228 Aircraft Manufactured By
    A. DRDO
    B. HAL
    C. Boeing
    D. None
    ANSWER: B
20. INS 312 Squadron, Also Known As
    A. Lion
    B. Fire
    C. Albatross
    D. None
    ANSWER: C
21. Which Nation Signed A Deal To Acquire The Arrow 3 Hypersonic Missile
    System From Israel?
    A. USA
    B. Germany
    C. USA
    D. Peru
    ANSWER: B
22. Who Become The New Chairman of Tata Advanced Systems?
    A. Gautam Adani
    B. Mukesh Ambani
    C. Ratan TATA
    D. Banmali Agrawala
    ANSWER: D
23. Which of Edition of Ex Yudh Abhyas Will Be Conducted?
    A. 18th
    B. 19th
    C. 20th
    D. 21st
    ANSWER: B
24. _ Takes Centre Stage As The Regional Maritime Security Community
    Gathers For The Maritime Information Sharing Workshop 2023.
    A. Gurugram
    B. Mumbai
    C. Chennai
    D. Goa
    ANSWER: A
25. Operation Sajag Conducted By
    A. BSF
    B. NSG
    C. ICG
    D. SSB
    ANSWER: C
26. 2nd Naval Commanders’ Conference of 2023 Inaugurated In
    A. Mumbai
    B. Pune
    C. New Delhi
    D. Noida
    ANSWER: B
27. Assumed The Charge of ADG of MNS
    A. Maj Gen Ignatius Delos Flora
    B. Maj Gen Amita Singh
    C. Maj Gen Anjali Verma
    D. None
    ANSWER: A
28. Ex ‘Varuna’ Conducted b/w India &
    A. Qatar
    B. Oman
    C. UAE
    D. France
    ANSWER: D
29. Which Edition of Varuna Naval Exercise Is Conducted?
    A. 20th
    B. 21st
    C. 22nd
    D. 23rd
    ANSWER: B
30. IMEC Stands For
    A. India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor
    B. India-Middle East- Economic Corridor
    C. India-Middle Europe Economic Corridor
    D. None
    ANSWER: A

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