Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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The Defence Ministry signed ₹2,500 crore contracts for NAMIS (Nag Anti-Tank Missile System) and light vehicles. NAMIS (Nag Anti-Tank Missile System) was developed by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), a part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). It is a tracked version of the Nag Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) mounted on a BMP-2 chassis. A third-generation “fire-and-forget” missile, it locks onto targets using an Imaging Infrared (IIR) Seeker. It can destroy heavily armored tanks, including those with composite and reactive armor.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) joined the INIOCHOS-25 exercise in Greece at the Andravida air base. This biennial multinational exercise, hosted by Greece’s Hellenic Air Force, simulates modern air warfare. The IAF deploys Su-30 MKI fighters, IL-78, and C-17 aircraft. Fifteen countries, including France, Israel, Italy, the UAE, and the US, participates. The exercise focuses on refining tactics in complex air operations and enhancing military cooperation. It offers an opportunity to improve skills, exchange knowledge, and share best practices in air combat.

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The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini reached Cape Town, South Africa, in its final international stop of the Navika Sagar Parikrama II global circumnavigation. INSV Tarini is a 56-foot, indigenously built sailing vessel commissioned in February 2017 by the Indian Navy. It was built by Aquarius Shipyard Ltd., Goa, under the Make in India initiative. It has advanced navigation, satellite communication, and emergency steering for extreme conditions. It was named after the Tara-Tarini hill shrine in Odisha, historically revered by sailors. The expedition began on October 2, 2024, covering 23,400 nautical miles across three oceans and three major capes in eight months.

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The Indian Navy’s frigate INS Tarkash intercepted and seized over 2500 kg of narcotics in the Western Indian Ocean during a maritime security operation. INS Tarkash is a modern stealth frigate of the Indian Navy. It belongs to the Talwar class of guided missile frigates, which are modified Krivak III-class frigates built by Russia. It was constructed at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. It was commissioned into the Indian Navy on November 9, 2012, in Kaliningrad, Russia. INS Tarkash is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet.

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The indigenously developed Hansa-3 trainer aircraft has been approved for training aircrew to get pilot licences. It will now be manufactured in India by private industry. Hansa-3 is India’s first indigenous flying trainer aircraft. It was designed and developed by the CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-NAL), Bangalore. It was built to meet the needs of Indian flying clubs. It is ideal for Commercial Pilot Licensing (CPL) because of its low cost, simple operation, and low fuel consumption.

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Indian Navy’s stealth frigate INS Tarkash joined a PASSEX (Passing Exercise) with Royal New Zealand Navy’s Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Kaha in the Gulf of Aden on April 4. It included cross-deck landings, cross-boarding, Sea Rider exchanges, tactical manoeuvres, and communication drills. The exercise helped both navies share best practices, improve cooperation, and boost operational coordination, showing strong defence ties and India’s commitment to regional maritime security.

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted release trials of the Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) named Gaurav. Gaurav is a 1,000-kg class bomb developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad. It is a glide bomb without an engine, designed to travel long distances using wings and momentum after release from a high-flying aircraft. This allows safe and precise attacks while keeping aircraft out of enemy radar and air defence range. The project saw collaboration with private firms like Adani Defence Systems, Bharat Forge, and various Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

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The Saras Mk2, India’s first multi-purpose civilian aircraft in the light transport aircraft category, is set for its test flight in December 2027. It is a 19-seater aircraft developed by National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Saras Mk2 is an upgraded version of the earlier Saras Mk1 model. It is designed for multiple uses, such as medical emergencies, disaster relief, and passenger transport. It will help improve air connectivity between Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3 cities across India.

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The Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025 was inaugurated on 13 April 2025 in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, marking a major step in India-Africa maritime cooperation. It is a large-scale multilateral maritime exercise jointly hosted by India and Tanzania to boost ties in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Eleven nations are participating: India, Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa. The aim is to enhance naval coordination and develop joint solutions to regional maritime challenges. It aligns with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) visions. Indian Navy ships INS Chennai, INS Kesari, and INS Sunayna are deployed, with INS Sunayna part of the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR mission. The exercise runs for six days (April 13–18, 2025) with harbour and sea phases.

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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.