MiG-21 fighter jets

♦ The Indian Air Force officially retired its legendary MiG-21 fighter jets on 26 September 2025.

♦ The farewell ceremony, held at Chandigarh Air Base, was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. MiG-21, which served the force for 62 years. 

♦ Inducted in 1963, the MiG-21 became the backbone of India’s air power, training generations of pilots and proving its mettle in multiple conflicts, including the 1965 and 1971 wars, the 1999 Kargil War.

♦ The aircraft played a pivotal role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, striking the Governor’s residence in Dhaka, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s surrender and the liberation of Bangladesh.

♦ The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 supersonic jet fighter and interceptor aircraft was designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the erstwhile Soviet Union.

Agni-Prime missile

♦ India successfully conducted a test launch of the intermediate-range Agni-Prime missile from a rail-based mobile launcher system on 25 September 2025.

♦ The launch was carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).

♦ This next-generation missile is designed to cover a range of up to 2,000 km and is equipped with various advanced features. 

♦ The first-of-its-kind launch, carried out from a specially designed Rail-Based Mobile Launcher, has the capability to move on the rail network without any pre-conditions, allowing the user cross-country mobility and the ability to launch within a short reaction time with reduced visibility.

Androth

♦ The Indian Navy has received an indigenously-built anti-submarine warfare ship 'Androth' on 13 September 2025.

♦ This is expected to boost its maritime prowess against the backdrop of China's growing forays into the Indian Ocean. 

♦ ‘Androth’ is the second of the eight anti-submarine warfare-shallow watercraft (ASW-SWC), has been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.

♦ The ASW-SWC ships are being inducted into the Navy to strengthen its anti-submarine and coastal surveillance capabilities.

♦ The name ‘Androth’ holds strategic and symbolic significance as it is derived from the Androth Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, underscoring India’s commitment to safeguarding its vast maritime territories.

♦ These ships at approximately 77-metre length are the largest Indian Naval warships propelled by a diesel engine-waterjet combination and are equipped with state-of-the-art lightweight torpedoes and indigenous anti-submarine warfare rockets.

Maitree-XIV

♦ The 14th edition of the India-Thailand joint military exercise, ‘Maitree-XIV’, focusing on counter-terrorist operations in semi-urban terrain, began in Umroi (Meghalaya) on 3 September 2025.

♦ The exercise will conclude on September 14. 

♦ The Indian Army contingent, comprising 120 personnel, is being represented by a battalion of the Madras Regiment, while the Royal Thai Army is represented by 53 personnel from its 1st Infantry Battalion, 14th Infantry Brigade.

♦ The bilateral exercise, instituted in 2006, is part of the ongoing military-to-military exchange programme between the two countries and aims to enhance cooperation, interoperability and mutual understanding between the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army.

♦ joint exercise will focus on company-level counter-terrorist operations in semi-urban terrain under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.

India USA Joint Military Exercise

♦ The 21st edition of the India–USA Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025, scheduled from 1st to 14th September 2025.

♦ An Indian Army contingent has departed for Fort Wainwright in Alaska to participate in this exercise.

♦ The Indian contingent is drawn from the Madras Regiment, while the US side includes troops from the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment “Bobcats,” part of the Arctic Wolves Brigade Combat Team under the 11th Airborne Division.

♦ The exercise will culminate in jointly planned and executed tactical manoeuvres, ranging from live-fire exercises to high-altitude warfare scenarios, with a focus on improving capabilities for United Nations peacekeeping operations and strengthening preparedness for multi-domain challenges.

♦ This exercise has been active since its inception in the year 2002.