Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Recently, the Indian Army contingent departed for the 17th edition of India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT. The exercise is scheduled to take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 31st May to 13th June 2025. NOMADIC ELEPHANT is an annual event conducted alternately in India and Mongolia. The last edition was held in Umroi, Meghalaya in July 2024. This time, 45 Indian soldiers, mainly from the ARUNACHAL SCOUTS battalion, are participating. The Mongolian side includes 150 personnel from the Special Forces unit. The exercise aims to boost interoperability in semi-urban or mountain operations under United Nations mandate.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to acquire the ‘Ice Breaker’ missile from Israel. The Ice Breaker is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile with precision guidance and autonomous capabilities. It is developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, a leading Israeli defense company. The missile can be deployed from various platforms, including jet fighters, light attack aircraft, helicopters, small ships, and ground vehicles.

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The Indian Army has arrived in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to take part in the Multinational Military Exercise KHAAN QUEST. It is scheduled to take place from 14th to 28th June 2025 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia . This is the 22nd edition of the exercise, which started as a bilateral event between the United States of America (USA) and Mongolian Armed Forces in 2003 and became a multinational peacekeeping drill in 2006. The Indian Army team includes 40 personnel, mainly from a Battalion of the KUMAON Regiment, along with one woman officer and two women soldiers.

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The Defence Cyber Agency under Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff launched a cyber security exercise called ‘Cyber Suraksha’ on June 16, which will run till June 27. It is a multi-phase initiative to improve national-level cyber resilience. More than 100 participants from defence and national agencies are taking part in it. The exercise simulates real-world cyber threats in a gamified format to test and train participants. A Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) conclave is also part of the exercise for leadership engagement.

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Recently, the United States entered Israel’s war with Iran by launching precision strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites using Tomahawk cruise missiles and GBU-57 bunker buster bombs. Tomahawk is a long-range, subsonic cruise missile developed by the United States Navy for land-attack missions. It is launched from ships or submarines using a Vertical Launch System for highly accurate strikes. Tomahawks were first used in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm and have been used in several conflicts since then, including Syria in 2017.

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Recently, ‘Adamya,’ the first Fast Patrol Vessel under the eight Fast Patrol Vessel Project at Goa Shipyard Limited, was inducted into the Indian Coast Guard in Goa. Adamya is the first of eight vessels being built by Goa Shipyard Limited under the prestigious eight Fast Patrol Vessel Project. It has Controllable Pitch Propellers and indigenously developed gearboxes for better maneuvering and flexibility at sea. Adamya shows India’s growing shipbuilding strength and supports the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision of self-reliant India.

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Recently, the Indian Navy’s Indian Naval Ship Tabar (INS Tabar) acted quickly to rescue crew members after a fire broke out on an oil vessel in the Gulf of Oman. INS Tabar (F44) is the third Talwar-class frigate of the Indian Navy. It was built in Russia. It is one of the earliest stealth frigates of the Indian Navy. It operates under the Western Fleet based in Mumbai within the Western Naval Command.

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Recently, INS Udaygiri, the second ship of Project 17A stealth frigates, was delivered to the Indian Navy. Project 17A is a follow-on of the Shivalik class frigates under Project 17 already in service. INS Nilgiri is the first indigenously built stealth frigate under Project 17A. A frigate is a multi-role vessel used for protecting fleet surface ships against enemy ships and aerial threats. These multi-mission frigates can operate in a Blue Water environment to tackle both conventional and non-conventional threats around India’s maritime interests.

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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.

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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.