Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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The first tri-service all-women global circumnavigation expedition “Samudra Pradakshina” was flagged off from Mumbai on 7 April 2025 on board the IASV (Indian Army Sailing Vessel) Triveni. It was flagged off by Lieutenant General AK Ramesh, Commandant, College of Military Engineering, at the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre, Colaba, Mumbai. The team will sail to Seychelles and return to Mumbai, covering 4,000 nautical miles in 55 days. The expedition is a part of the armed forces’ initiative to promote women’s empowerment, also called Nari Shakti. Last year, the Indian Navy launched its second all-women Navika Sagar Parikrama on board INSV (Indian Naval Sailing Vessel) Tarini.

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The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) under Operation ATALANTA has proposed a joint naval exercise with the Indian Navy. The exercise is planned to take place around the end of May 2025 in the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. The main aim is to strengthen maritime cooperation and coordination between European forces and the Indian Navy. The proposal comes due to rising piracy and instability in the Red Sea region, especially near the Horn of Africa. Unlike regular Passage Exercises (PASSEX), this drill will include tactical manoeuvres, counter-piracy actions, and communication training. Operation ATALANTA, launched in 2008, is the European Union’s mission to fight piracy near Somalia.

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Russia warned Germany that if Ukraine uses Taurus missiles, it will be seen as direct involvement in the ongoing war. The Taurus KEPD-350 is a long-range cruise missile launched from aircraft. It is capable of hitting fortified and high-value targets with high precision. The missile was jointly developed by MBDA (Matra BAE Dynamics Alenia) and Saab Bofors Dynamics from Germany and Sweden. It is specially designed for deep strikes on bunkers, bridges, and command centres. This warning reflects growing tensions over Western military support to Ukraine in the conflict.

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Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sunayna, deployed as part of Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), arrived at Nacala Port in Mozambique. INS Sunayna is the second Saryu-class offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Navy. It was designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited. The ship was commissioned on 15th October 2013 at Kochi and is based under the Southern Naval Command. It is meant for fleet support, coastal and offshore patrol, ocean surveillance, sea line monitoring, and escort duties. IOS SAGAR is a strategic Indian initiative to promote cooperation among navies and maritime agencies in the Southwest Indian Ocean Region.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is taking part in Exercise Desert Flag-10 from April 21 to May 8, 2025, at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Exercise Desert Flag is a major multinational air combat exercise that trains different air forces under realistic war-like conditions. IAF has deployed two powerful aircraft: MiG-29, an air superiority fighter, and Jaguar, a deep strike ground attack aircraft. This year is special as it marks 50 years since the MiG-29 was first launched. Air forces from 12 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and France, are also participating. The goal is to share knowledge, improve tactics, and boost coordination in complex air combat missions.

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Australia will host Exercise Talisman Sabre from 13 July to 4 August 2025, the largest edition to date. Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral combined training activity between the Australian Defence Force and the United States military. Partner nations include Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom. Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam will attend as observers. The 2025 edition will focus on multi-domain warfighting, with key activities in land, air, sea, space, and cyber domains.

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The Indian Navy recently test-fired a Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) air defence system from INS Surat in the Arabian Sea. MR-SAM is a high-speed, quick-reaction, vertically launched supersonic missile system. It is designed to destroy enemy aerial threats such as missiles, aircraft, guided bombs, and helicopters. MR-SAM provides high responsiveness and precision in protecting naval assets against aerial attacks. It has been jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The missile system is manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) in India. This successful test enhances the Indian Navy’s air defence capabilities at sea.

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India has recently received a new shipment of Russian Igla-S air defence missiles amid rising tensions with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. Igla-S is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS) developed by Russia. It is a hand-held system that can be used by one person or a small crew. It is designed to shoot down low-flying aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones.

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Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the first flight trial of the Stratospheric Airship Platform in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh. The platform was developed by DRDO’s Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) based in Agra. The airship carried an instrumental payload and reached a high altitude of about 17 kilometres. The total flight lasted 62 minutes and helped gather important data through onboard sensors. This data will help in building accurate simulation models for future high-altitude missions. The test also checked the envelope pressure control and emergency deflation systems, and the airship was safely recovered.

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The first Arnala Class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) was handed over to the Indian Navy on 8 May 2025 at L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli, Tamil Nadu. It was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, under a public-private partnership with 80% indigenous content. This project is part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative to boost local defence manufacturing.