Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Indian Navy and DRDO successfully tested the Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range (NASM-SR) on 25 February 2025. The missile was launched from the Indian Navy’s Sea King Mk 42B helicopter at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha. NASM-SR is India’s first indigenously developed air-launched anti-ship missile with a sea-skimming capability. DRDO confirmed the successful validation of the missile’s Man-in-Loop feature, allowing real-time target selection and in-flight retargeting.

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The Sea Dragon 2025 naval exercise began off the Guam coast in the western Pacific Ocean. Hosted by the U.S. Navy’s 7th fleet, it runs from March 4-19, 2025. The exercise involves five nations, including the Indian Navy, focusing on anti-submarine warfare. Participating countries include India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the US. It aims to improve tactical and command interoperability among allies and partners of the U.S. Each country is deploying its Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance aircraft. The Indian Navy is using the P8I aircraft, a Boeing-made maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.

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INS Imphal arrived at Port Louis, Mauritius, to participate in the 57th Mauritius National Day celebrations on March 12, 2025. The visit highlights India’s commitment to maritime security and regional cooperation under the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and SAGAR vision. INS Imphal is a Visakhapatnam-class (Project 15B) guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy. It is the third indigenous stealth destroyer, commissioned in December 2023. It was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.

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The Indian Navy will participate in the ‘Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement’ (AIKEYME) with African nations. AIKEYME means ‘Unity’ in Sanskrit and aims to improve naval interoperability. The maiden edition is co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the event in mid-April 2025. The six-day exercise involves 10 nations, including Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, India, and Tanzania. The Indian Navy emphasized maritime security, combating piracy, illegal trafficking, and unreported fishing. India’s partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) align with its ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR) vision.

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India successfully flight-tested the Vertically Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) off the Odisha coast. VL-SRSAM is an indigenously developed Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SRSAM). It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is a quick reaction missile that neutralises aerial threats, including sea-skimming targets. Initially designed for the Indian Navy with a 40 km range, it can now strike targets up to 80 km. The missile is also being developed for the Indian Air Force to protect air bases.

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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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India successfully tested the Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW), joining the US, China, and Russia as one of the few nations with this advanced technology. It is a 30-kilowatt laser-based weapon that can destroy helicopters, swarm drones, radars, and fixed-wing drones with high precision. It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its lab Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), Hyderabad, in collaboration with academic and industrial partners. It uses an Electro Optic (EO) system and radar to identify targets and fires a laser beam to cause structural failure in seconds. This system is fast, accurate, and helps avoid collateral damage, while also reducing the use of costly ammunition in combat.

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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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The Russian Ministry of Defence has, for the first time, acknowledged the threat from Ukraine’s new short-range ballistic missile called Sapsan. The Sapsan, also known as Hrim-2 or Grom-2, is a tactical ballistic missile system developed by Ukraine. It combines features of both a tactical missile system and a multiple rocket launcher for flexible battlefield use. The export version of the Hrim-2 missile is capable of hitting fixed targets, both individual and group-based. Its range varies from 50 to 280 kilometers, making it effective for short-range precision strikes.

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The Indian Navy’s guided missile destroyer, INS Surat, recently test-fired a medium-range surface-to-air missile in the Arabian Sea. INS Surat is the fourth and final ship of the Project 15B. It belongs to the Visakhapatnam-class of stealth guided missile destroyers. It ranks among the largest and most advanced destroyers globally. With 75 percent indigenous content, it is equipped with cutting-edge weapon-sensor systems and advanced network-centric capabilities. It was designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Mumbai. It was commissioned in January 2025.