Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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India has developed a new low-cost weapon called Bhargavastra to destroy enemy drones, especially drone swarms. It is made by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) and supports the ‘Make in India’ mission. On May 13, 2025, three successful tests were conducted at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur, Odisha. Bhargavastra uses unguided micro-rockets to hit multiple drones in a 20-meter area and guided micro-missiles for precise strikes. It also includes jammers and spoofers to confuse enemy drones. The system has radar, cameras, sensors, and a command centre to detect and track drones from 6–10 km away. It works in tough terrains and can be used by the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

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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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Russia launched a massive air attack on Ukraine on June 11, 2025, using over 300 drones and missiles. Around 250 of these were Shahed drones, which are Iranian-made Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs). Shahed drones are also loitering munitions made by Shahed Aviation Industries for one-way explosive attacks. Russia calls the Shahed-136 drone “Geran-2”.

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The Indian Army successfully tested Rudrastra, a Hybrid Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL). The trial met all Army requirements, including vertical takeoff, high endurance, precision targeting, and mission flexibility. Rudrastra flew over 50 km radius with a stable real-time video link and returned safely to its launch point. Its total range exceeded 170 km with about 1.5 hours of flight endurance. It dropped a precision-guided anti-personnel warhead that detonated in air, showing strong tactical impact.

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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, the Indian Navy announced it will commission its new stealth multi-role frigate Tamal on 01 July 2025 at Kaliningrad, Russia. Tamal is part of the Krivak class frigates that India has been inducting from Russia over the last two decades. The name Tamal represents the mythical sword used by Indra, the King of the Gods, in battles. The frigate was built at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.

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Recently, India is developing the K-6 hypersonic Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) to strengthen strategic deterrence and naval power. It is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Advanced Naval Systems Laboratory in Hyderabad. The K-6 will be deployed on advanced S-5 class SSBNs (nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines) of the Indian Navy, larger than Arihant class.

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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, two pilots were killed after a SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Churu in Rajasthan. The SEPECAT Jaguar is also known as ‘Shamsher’, meaning Sword of Justice. The SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft was jointly developed by the United Kingdom and France. It was a collaboration between the British Aircraft Corporation and the French Breguet Company (now part of Dassault). It is a twin-engine, ground-attack aircraft.

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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.