Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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The Ministry of Defence is finalising a deal to procure 500 Invar Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) from Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), worth around Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 crore. The Invar missile is an ATGM designed to be launched from tank barrels, especially the T-90 tanks. It is known for its long-range precision strike and can destroy enemy tanks equipped with Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA). It is originally built by Rosoboronexport of Russia. The missile is now produced under license in India by BDL. This move boosts India’s defence capability and supports the Make in India initiative.

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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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India is set to test its most advanced indigenously developed missile called the Extended Trajectory-Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM). It is indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under a program named Project Vishnu. It is a long-range missile that travels at hypersonic speeds, meaning it is over five times the speed of sound. It can be launched from land, sea, or air, giving India flexible strike capabilities.

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Recently, Indian Navy commissioned INS Arnala, the first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. This marks a big step in strengthening India’s coastal defence and underwater threat response. INS Arnala is the first of sixteen ASW-SWC class ships and is designed for subsurface surveillance, search and rescue, and low-intensity maritime missions. It has over 80% indigenous content and reflects the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).

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Recently, the United States deployed its B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to carry out precision airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure in a major military escalation. The B-2 Spirit is a long-range stealth bomber operated by the United States Air Force. It first flew in 1989 and was officially inducted in 1993. Currently, 19 B-2 bombers are in active service. It is designed and maintained by Northrop Grumman Corporation.

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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, 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.

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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.