Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
HAL has renamed its HJT-36 jet trainer aircraft as ‘Yashas’ after major upgrades. Yashas is the flagship jet training aircraft of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The aircraft has been modified to improve departure characteristics and spin resistance. It is designed for Stage II pilot training, including counter-insurgency, counter-surface force operations, and armament training. The upgrades enhance its performance and safety, making it a key asset for pilot training.

Notes:
BrahMos NG, the next-generation supersonic cruise missile, will have its first flight test in 2026, with production starting in 2027-28. It is jointly developed by India and Russia. It is lighter, smaller, and more compact than its predecessor. It weighs 1.6 tonnes and is 6 metres long, compared to the older 3-tonne, 9-metre version. It has a 290 km range and 3.5 Mach speed. It will be deployed on Sukhoi-30MKI and LCA Tejas.

Notes:
Indian Navy’s INS Shardul and P8I aircraft are in Bali, Indonesia, for the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2025 and Exercise Komodo. Exercise Komodo, launched in 2014, is a non-combat multilateral naval drill by the Indonesian Navy. It promotes maritime cooperation and regional security among friendly nations. The 2025 theme is “Maritime Partnership for Peace and Stability.” The fifth edition features fleet reviews, naval drills, officer exchanges, bilateral meetings, and a defense exhibition. It involves 39 countries, with 34 foreign and 18 Indonesian Navy warships participating.

Notes:
‘Jal-Thal-Raksha 2025’, a military exercise, was conducted at Bet Dwarka, Gujarat by the Indian Army. It involved the 11 Infantry Division (Ahmedabad), 31 Infantry Brigade (Jamnagar), Coast Guard, and Marine Police. The District Administration, Forest Department, Maritime Board, and NSG monitored the drill. The exercise aimed to enhance coordination between defense forces, paramilitary units, and district authorities. It focused on combat readiness for terrorist attacks or war scenarios.

Notes:
The US President signed an Executive Order to develop an Iron Dome-style missile defense system to protect against ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles. Iron Dome is Israel’s short-range air defense system that intercepts rockets in the air. It is developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries. It functions in all weather conditions, day and night.

Notes:
The Indian Navy crew has arrived in St. Petersburg for the commissioning of INS Tamal, a stealth frigate built in Russia. INS Tamal is a state-of-the-art stealth guided missile frigate. It is an upgraded Krivak-III class frigate, part of a $2.5 billion India-Russia deal for four frigates. Two frigates were built in Russia, while the other two are being made at Goa Shipyard Limited. INS Tushil was commissioned in December 2024. INS Tamal will be the last warship imported, as India now designs and builds its own warships.

Notes:
The 6th edition of the Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) and the 4th edition of the bilateral exercise ‘BONGOSAGAR’ between the Indian Navy and the Bangladesh Navy commenced on March 10, 2025. The naval exercises are being conducted in the designated maritime areas of the Bay of Bengal, near the Bangladesh and Indian maritime borders. These exercises are being held under the supervision of Commander Flotilla West and aim to enhance maritime security, strengthen cooperation, and combat various criminal activities at sea.

Notes:
Exercise Varuna is the bilateral naval exercise between India and France, started in 1993 and named Varuna in 2001. VARUNA 2025 is the 23rd edition, scheduled to take place from March 19 to 22 in the Arabian Sea. It features high-intensity naval drills covering sub-surface, surface, and aerial operations. INS Vikrant and Charles de Gaulle participates with fighter jets, destroyers, frigates, and a Scorpene-class submarine. Key highlights include advanced air defence drills and mock air-to-air combat between French Rafale-M and Indian MiG-29K jets to improve combat readiness.

Notes:
Stealth frigate ‘Tavasya’ was launched at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) on March 22, 2025. It is the last of four Krivak-class stealth frigates and the second built at GSL under a technology transfer agreement with Russia. India and Russia signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) in 2016 for four Krivak-class frigates. Two ships were imported from Russia, while two were built at GSL. Tavasya is likely the last warship built under foreign license as India moves towards indigenous warship production.

Notes:
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.