Defence Current Affairs July 2026

The Indian Navy is hosting Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, a multinational maritime training engagement, at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi (Kerala), from 20 to 23 July 2026. Conducted with: The four-day engagement is conducted in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under the India-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 154, which is the CMF's dedicated training task force. Objective: To enhance maritime security cooperation, improve interoperability among partner navies and strengthen professional capabilities in tackling emerging maritime challenges. Training content: A blend of classroom sessions, simulator-based instruction and practical training covering maritime law, maritime domain awareness, information sharing, counter-narcotics operations, force protection, asymmetric threats and the employment of maritime uncrewed systems. Participants: Personnel from over 40 nations are associated with the engagement, with participating countries including Australia, Canada, Japan, Thailand, the UAE, Oman, Djibouti, Seychelles, the USA and the UK.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will take part in Exercise Pitch Black 2026, the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) largest multinational air-combat exercise, held in Australia's Northern Territory from 20 July to 7 August 2026. Pitch Black is a biennial exercise featuring large-force employment air-combat drills with air forces from around the world, strengthening interoperability among participating nations.

On 17 July 2026, the Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent arrived in Australia for Exercise Pitch Black 2026, with four Rafale fighter jets, two C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft and over 120 Air Warriors — the first time IAF Rafales join the drill. The exercise runs 20 July-7 August 2026 across RAAF bases Darwin, Tindal and Amberley. One of the Indo-Pacific's largest air-combat exercises, it involves up to 100 aircraft and 2,500+ personnel from around 20 nations, aiming to enhance interoperability and combat skills.

The DRDO on 24 July 2026 carried out the maiden flight test of the indigenous Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. Kusha (Project Kusha / LR-SAM) features three interceptor variants with ranges of about 150 km, 250 km and up to 400 km, able to engage fighter aircraft, drones and missiles. Cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in 2022, the Rs 21,700-crore programme is expected to enter service between 2028 and 2030, reducing India's reliance on imported systems such as the Russian S-400. The launch was monitored by DRDO Chairman and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

The Indian Navy commissioned the indigenous stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri (F38), the sixth and final Nilgiri-class (Project-17A) frigate, into the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presiding. Designed by the Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, it bears the motto "Mighty, Majestic, Matchless". Sister ships: Nilgiri, Himgiri, Udaygiri, Taragiri, Vindhyagiri.

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Mahendragiri (F38) on 11 July 2026 at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan. It is the sixth of the Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) indigenous stealth guided-missile frigates, designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, with over 75% indigenous content. Named after the Mahendragiri range in the Eastern Ghats, it carries BrahMos and Barak-8 missiles and joins the Eastern Fleet. Its motto is 'Sthitpragyah, Raneshu, Aprajitah' (steadfast, wise, invincible in battle). Project 17A frigates are all named after Indian mountain ranges.

The <b>World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA)</b> Global Air Power Rankings 2026 ranked the <b>Indian Air Force (IAF)</b> as the <b>3rd-most powerful air force</b> globally, behind only the United States and Russia, staying ahead of China's PLAAF for the <b>5th consecutive year</b>. When all air arms (Army, Navy, Air Force) are considered together, the IAF ranks 6th overall with a True Value Rating (TVR) of <b>69.4</b>; the US Air Force tops with a TVR of <b>242.9</b> (5,004 aircraft). The assessment evaluated 129 air services across 103 countries. Pakistan's air force ranked 18th and Bangladesh 83rd.

Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister) Rajnath Singh announced two policy reforms for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) at Kartavya Bhavan-2, New Delhi, including a move towards gender-neutral induction. The Indian Coast Guard, established on 1 February 1977 and formally constituted under the Coast Guard Act, 1978, is an armed force under the Ministry of Defence responsible for maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and protection of India's maritime zones. Its motto is 'Vayam Rakshamah' ('We Protect').

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh felicitated nine women officers in New Delhi on 30 July 2026 for completing the first-ever tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition, named 'Samudra Pradakshina'. The expedition demonstrated the growing role of women in the armed forces and India's maritime capability, echoing earlier all-women Navy sailing voyages such as INSV Tarini's expeditions. It reflects the government's continued push for greater gender inclusion across the three services.