Recently, an Emerging Leaders Panel Discussion was held under the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) at Kochi. 

About IONS 

• It is a voluntary initiative launched by the Indian Navy in 2008.
• Aim: To increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region 
• Its inaugural session was held in 2008 in New Delhi 
• Membership: 25 members and 9 observers
  • Eligibility -A nation state with permanent territory or border with Indian Ocean and which maintains a Navy or maritime agency 
  • Chair of IONS will be rotated every 2 years. India to chair during 2025-27.

Recently, the Defence Minister inaugurated India’s first overseas defence manufacturing plant in Morocco.

• The facility will produce the indigenously developed Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8, jointly designed by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and DRDO.

 About Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP)

• India’s First Amphibious Infantry Combat Vehicle (Wheeled): Designed for optimised survivability, all-terrain performance and increased lethality.
• Critical Technologies Used: Integrated power pack with automatic transmission, floatation and propulsion.

The Indian Navy has received an indigenously built anti-submarine warfare ship Androth.

About Androth

• Second of the eight ASW SWCs (Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft), being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
  • “Arnala” was the first of eight ASW SWCs.
• The name derived from the Androth Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago.
• These ships are propelled by a diesel engine-waterjet combination and are equipped with state-of-the-art lightweight torpedoes and indigenous anti-submarine warfare rockets.

The US has approved the delivery of Extended Range Attack Munitions (ERAMs) to Ukraine.

About ERAMs

• It is a next-generation air-launched, precision-guided missile.
• Range:  240 to 450 kilometers.
• Warhead: Carries a 500-pound high-explosive warhead, able to destroy hardened bunkers, fuel depots, or ammunition storage.
• Guidance: A combination of GPS, inertial navigation, and a terminal seeker provides accuracy within about ten meters.

Recently, a tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) Agreement was renewed between the Centre, the Manipur government, and insurgent groups comprising Kuki-Zo, Zomi and Hmars.

About the Agreement

• Came into force: from August 22, 2008 
• Objective: to end hostilities by initiating political dialogue and finding a political settlement within the Constitution of India.

Other Peace Pacts in North East India

• NLFT(SD) Agreement (2019): signed with National Liberation Front of Tripura. 
• Bodo Accord (2020): with Bodo groups (Assam); disbanded by March 2020. 
• Karbi Accord (2021): with Karbi groups (Assam); over 1,000 cadres joined mainstream. 

• Exercise Bright Star: India will participate in 2025 edition.
  • Origin: Conceived as a bilateral US–Egypt exercise after the Camp David Accord (1977).
  • First edition: 1980, Egypt.
  • Expanded: Since 1995, multiple nations included.
  • Among the largest Tri-Service multilateral exercises in the region.
• Exercise Maitree: The 14th edition of Exercise MAITREE-XIV commenced at Meghalaya, India.
  • Instituted in 2006, it  is one of the important joint training exercises between India and Thailand.
  • The joint exercise will focus on company level counter-terrorist operations in semi-urban terrain under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
• Exercise Zapad: India participated in the Russia and Belarus launched joint military exercise Zapad-2025, held in Russia.
  • Launched in 1999, it is a large-scale, multilateral military event conducted every four years since 2009. 
  • Objective: Aims to test defense against external threats.
  • Weapons: Incorporates training with nuclear-capable systems, including Russia’s hypersonic Zircon missile.
• Yudh Abhyas: Indian Army contingent is participating in the 21^st edition of military exercise India-US Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025.
  • Since 2004, this joint Military Exercise has been held annually between India and USA militaries.
  • It will focus on UN peacekeeping operations and enhancing readiness for multi-domain challenges.
• Pacific Reach 2025: Indian Navy’s latest indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel (DSV) INS Nistar is participating in Pacific Reach 2025 exercise in Singapore.
  • It is a biennial, multilateral exercise.
  • The exercise is split into two main phases:
    • Harbour Phase: Includes subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE), medical symposium, cross-deck visits, and detailed discussions on submarine rescue systems. 
    • Sea Phase: Involves intervention and rescue operations at sea with participating assets.
• Exercise Siyom Prahar: The Indian Army conducted Exercise Siyom Prahar in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Aim: To validate drone integration in tactical operations under battlefield-like conditions.
  • Drone types used: For surveillance, battlefield reconnaissance, target acquisition, and precision strikes.
• Exercise Yudh Kaushal: Indian Army has conducted Exercise Yudh Kaushal 3.0 in the Kameng region in Easter Himalayas.

'Operation Black Forest' is the biggest anti-Naxal operation ever conducted on Karregutta hill situated along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.

Other anti-Naxal mission

• Mission Sankalp': launched on sprawling hills of Karregutta and adjoining hills along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border
• Operation Green Hunt: Began in late 2009. It takes place across five states - West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and Chhattisgarh.