Recent Current Affairs related to DRDO

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has signed an MoU with the Drone Federation of India (DFI) in New Delhi to strengthen the security of critical infrastructure against emerging aerial threats.

The DRDO has successfully tested the indigenous high-altitude Military Combat Parachute System (MCPS) at the Nyoma-Mudh Drop Zone in Leh, Ladakh. The test involved safe jumps from an altitude of 22,000 feet above sea level at a temperature of -15°C to validate special operations capabilities.

The MCPS was designed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) in Uttar Pradesh, while the integrated life-support systems were developed by the Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL) in Bengaluru.

The Indian Army (IA) has signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) with the USA to procure 100 FGM-148 Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) systems through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route. The deal is valued at $93 million.

The agreement also establishes a framework for the potential future co-production of the missile systems in India. The FGM-148 Javelin is manufactured by the Javelin Joint Venture (JV), a partnership between USA-based RTX Corporation and Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Samtel HAL Display Systems Ltd (SHDS), a Joint Venture (JV) between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Samtel Avionics, has inaugurated its new manufacturing facility in Gurugram, Haryana. It is the first public-private JV established within the Indian defence avionics sector.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) has unveiled three indigenous micro and small gas turbine engines designated as NJ-05, NJ-50, and NJ-100 at the CSIR Headquarters in New Delhi.

These engines, developed for deployment in defence Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and missile systems, feature thrust capacities of 5 kg (NJ-05), 50 kg (NJ-50), and 100 kg (NJ-100) to meet various operational needs. It is to be noted that these engines operate on the ‘Brayton cycle’, which is a thermodynamic cycle describing the workings of a constant-pressure heat engine.

Union Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the Transfer of Technology (ToT) of all conventional missile systems developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to domestic defence manufacturers.

The decision, announced in New Delhi, aims to enhance the participation of Indian private industries and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the national defence supply chain.

The inaugural meeting of the India-Kuwait Joint Defence Committee (JDC) was held in New Delhi.

During the meeting, both nations agreed to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation across various sectors, including training, military exercises, military medicine, staff talks, defence industry, and Research & Development (R&D).

The Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), a laboratory of the DRDO in Visakhapatnam has signed two Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LAToT) to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities.

Under the first agreement, the Submarine Fired Decoy (SFD) ‘Mohini’ technology will be transferred to Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL).

The second agreement covers the technology for the fabrication, installation, and commissioning of the LM2500 Gas Turbine to the Hyderabad-based Vertex Engineering Systems Pvt Ltd.

D-Propulse Aerospace Pvt Ltd has successfully demonstrated the first indigenously developed 5 kilo-Newton (kN) air-breathing Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) of India, integrated with an aerospike nozzle. The demonstration was held at the DRDO test facility in Hyderabad.

It is to be noted that the test validated the Technology Readiness Level-5 (TRL-5), which marks a milestone in the advanced propulsion capabilities of the country.

India has signed an MoU with Armenia to strengthen the bilateral defence industrial partnership.

The Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) ‘Agni-4’ has been successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha.

The test, conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), has successfully validated all operational and technical parameters of the missile system.

Paninian India Pvt Ltd, a deep-tech and aerospace startup, has launched the Yantur 4.5 kilo-Newton (kN) Turbofan engine programme. This is India's first privately developed turbofan engine in this class. The engine is designed to power the 'Svayatt L1', a long-range autonomous cruise missile platform developed by the company.

DRDO has successfully conducted the maiden flight-test of the 'Kusha' Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. The test involved the successful interception of an electronic target simulating a high-speed and high-altitude aerial threat.

Additionally, DRDO has developed the first indigenous Expendable Turbo Jet Engine of 350 kg thrust class. The engine was designed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) and manufactured in collaboration with the Hyderabad-based Azad Engineering.

The Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) under the DRDO has signed a contract with AI Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL), New Delhi, for the conversion of six A321 aircraft from commercial to green configuration. This process is crucial for the development of the Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) MKII Programme.

Additionally, a separate contract has been signed with Adani Defence Systems and Technologies (ADSTL), Ahmedabad, designating the company as the Development Cum Production Partner (DcPP) for Mission Systems under the AEW&C MKII Programme.

Adani Defence and Aerospace, a division of the Adani Group, has invested ₹2,500 crore to establish a facility in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, to create the largest private-sector missile ecosystem in South Asia.

This will be the first private-sector complex in India to integrate composite propellant production, Trinitrotoluene (TNT) manufacturing, and missile system integration at a single location.

The DRDO has successfully conducted a flight-test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur. The rocket was tested for a user-defined minimum range of 60 km and successfully demonstrated all planned in-flight manoeuvres.

The Pinaka LRGR was designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in collaboration with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Union Minister Rajnath Singh, has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for various acquisition proposals for the defence forces, estimated at ₹52,000 crore.

For the Indian Army, the DAC approved the procurement of the 'AKASH TARANG' Anti-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Electronic Warfare System, Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) Systems, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) Weapon System, Very Short Range Air Defence System (V-SHORADS), Active Protection System for Tanks, and a Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone System.

For the Indian Navy, the council granted approval for the procurement of Multi Influence Ground Mines (MIGM), Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial Systems (NSUAS), and the establishment of a Land Based Testing Facility (LBTF) for Electric Propulsion Systems. For the Indian Air Force (IAF), approval was accorded for the procurement of Fixed-Wing Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (FW-HAPS).

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has received the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) from the DRDO for the indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system named 'Netra'.

The system is integrated onto the Brazilian modified twin-engine Embraer EMB-145I aircraft platform and has a radar detection range of 240–300 km It is to be noted that the 'Netra' programme was initiated in 2003 and sanctioned in 2004, with the IAF receiving the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) in 2017.

Union Minister Rajnath Singh has released the 'Delegation of Financial Powers to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) (DFP-2026)' in New Delhi. The framework aims to expedite local clearances by expanding financial powers across various management levels of the DRDO.

Under the new policy, the financial powers for competitive procurement and sanctioning new projects for the Secretary, Department of Defence R&D (DRDO Chairman) have been doubled from ₹75 crore to ₹150 crore.

The sanctioning autonomy for Directors General (DGs) has been increased from ₹25 crore to ₹75 crore, and for Laboratory Directors from ₹2 crore to ₹5 crore. Additionally, single-tender and proprietary procurement limits have been upgraded, authorizing the Secretary, DRDO up to ₹75 crore, DGs up to ₹37.5 crore, and Lab Directors up to ₹2.5 crore.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) organized a 'Technology Transfer and Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravya (BND) Release Function' at its headquarters in New Delhi.

During the event, 7 indigenous technologies developed by the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) and the CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) were transferred to the industry to promote commercialisation. Additionally, 10 BND reference materials were released, and 5 vapor cells for quantum sensing applications, developed by CSIR-NPL, were handed over.