Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Recently, Brazil halted negotiations with India for the purchase of the Akash missile system, affecting India’s defence export ambitions. The Akash missile system is a Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) designed to defend vital areas from aerial threats. It was indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), based in Hyderabad. Akash can simultaneously engage multiple targets in Group Mode or Autonomous Mode. It has Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) to resist electronic jamming.

Notes:
Recently, the US President announced that Washington will send Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine to counter increasing Russian aggression. Patriot (MIM-104) stands for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target. It is an all-altitude, all-weather, surface-to-air missile defence system. Initially designed for anti-aircraft roles, newer versions can destroy ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, loitering munitions, and aircraft. It is developed by Raytheon Technologies Corporation, a United States aerospace and defence company. It is the most advanced air defence system used by the United States Army.

Notes:
On July 15, 2025, India received the second GE-F404 engine from the United States for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark-1A programme. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a public sector firm, received the engine and is set to get 12 more by the end of this financial year. These engines will power the LCA Mark-1A fighter jets, which faced over a year of delay due to U.S. supply chain issues. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered 83 LCA Mk-1A jets, with a proposal for 97 more under review. HAL received the first engine in March 2025 and aims to deliver over 10 Tejas jets soon.

Notes:
Indian Navy will participate in the 32nd edition of the Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX), earlier known as Exercise Lion King. It is one of India’s longest uninterrupted annual maritime exercises. It is conducted every year between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy. The exercise aims to enhance naval cooperation, interoperability, and maritime security. It supports India’s Vision SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).

Notes:
Recently, India successfully destroyed two Aerial High-Speed Unmanned targets in Ladakh using Akash Prime missile. Akash Prime is an upgraded version of the Akash surface-to-air missile system designed for high-altitude use. It is a medium-range missile meant to defend mobile, semi-mobile, and static military assets from aerial threats. It features an indigenous Radio Frequency seeker for precise target tracking in the final flight phase. It can target threats at a range of 25 to 30 kilometers.

Notes:
Recently, Indian Navy’s INS Sandhayak made its maiden port call at Port Klang, Malaysia for hydrographic cooperation. INS Sandhayak is the first indigenously designed and built Sandhayak-class hydrographic survey ship. It was commissioned in February 2024. The ship was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. It is capable of full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys and oceanographic data collection.

Notes:
The Indian Army recently conducted Exercise Drone Prahar at Rayang military station in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. It is a high-tech military drill to validate the use of drone technology in tactical battlefield operations. The exercise focused on using drones for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. It tested real-time sensor-to-shooter coordination and precision targeting capabilities. The goal was to boost command reach and situational awareness for tactical commanders.

Notes:
Rising tensions between the United States (US) and Russia have brought focus back to the RS-28 Sarmat Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), also called ‘Satan 2’ by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Russia showcased the missile after the US reportedly deployed two nuclear submarines near Russian waters. The RS-28 is a super-heavy, liquid-fueled ICBM with a massive range of up to 18,000 kilometers, enabling it to strike any global target. It is designed to replace the Soviet-era R-36M and was first successfully tested on April 20, 2022. The missile can carry 10–15 nuclear warheads using Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.

Notes:
Russia is preparing for fresh tests of its 9M730 Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile from Pankovo range, Novaya Zemlya in the Arctic. If successful, it will be the world’s first operational nuclear-powered cruise missile with unlimited range to strike any point globally. Burevestnik means “storm petrel” and is a ground-launched, low-flying missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. It is one of six strategic weapons introduced by the Russian President in 2018. NATO code-names it ‘SSC-X-9 Skyfall’.

Notes:
The US President recently announced a 175 billion dollar Golden Dome missile defence shield for the United States. It is a ground and space-based system designed to protect the country from advanced missile threats. Golden Dome will use a network of satellites to detect, track and intercept incoming missiles, including long-range ones from space or other continents. It will integrate with existing US defence systems like Patriot, THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence), Aegis Ballistic Missile Defence and Ground-based Midcourse Defence (GMD).