Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of Mission Sudarshan Chakra three months after cross-border hostilities with Pakistan. The mission aims to build a multi-layered integrated air and missile defence shield for India. It will include early-warning and tracking sensors, command and control posts, land and sea-based interceptor missile batteries and other advanced weapons. Space-based assets will also be used for early warning and threat tracking. The shield will cover both strategic areas and civilian places like hospitals, railways and centres of faith by 2035.

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India will soon induct its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Aridhaman, enhancing strategic defence capabilities. INS Aridhaman is the second Arihant-class SSBN being built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre, Visakhapatnam. The submarine is 112 meters long, 15 meters wide, with a draft of 10 meters, and a displacement of 7,000 tonnes. It will carry a larger number of K-4 missiles and have a complement of about 95 officers and sailors. It features an underwater communications system, twin flank-array sonars, and Rafael broadband expendable anti-torpedo countermeasures.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) will acquire more Israeli-origin Rampage supersonic air-to-surface missiles after their successful use in Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. Rampage missiles, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, are long-range precision strike weapons with a range of up to 250 km and supersonic speed, making them hard to detect. They are already integrated with IAF’s Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, MiG-29, and Indian Navy’s MiG-29K jets. The new order aims to equip all Rampage-compatible fighter aircraft and expand integration to other fleets.

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted maiden flight tests of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the Odisha coast. This is part of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, aimed at creating a homegrown multi-layered nationwide security shield by 2035. IADWS includes Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missiles (QRSAM), Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles, and a high-power Directed Energy Weapon (DEW). It integrates surveillance, cybersecurity, and air defence systems to detect and neutralise threats like missiles, aircraft, and drones.

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The 14th edition of Exercise Maitree is a joint military drill between India and Thailand. It will be held in Umroi, Meghalaya, from September 1 to 14, 2025. The exercise focuses on sharing best practices in tactics, techniques, and procedures. It will strengthen operational capabilities for joint company-level counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain. This edition is significant as the exercise is returning to India after five years. The last edition was held in Tak Province, Thailand, with 76 soldiers each from India’s Ladakh Scouts and Thailand’s 1st Battalion of the 14th Infantry Regiment.

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On 26 August 2025, Indian Navy commissioned Project 17A multi-mission stealth frigates INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri at Naval Base Visakhapatnam. They are part of Project 17 (Shivalik) class frigates designed in-house by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB). INS Udaygiri was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL), Mumbai, and INS Himgiri by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. Udaygiri became the fastest ship of her class to be delivered post-launch through modular construction. Their commissioning strengthens Navy’s combat readiness and showcases India’s self-reliance in warship design and construction.

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During Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army used its indigenous M-Sigma app on SAMBHAV (Secure Army Mobile Bharat Version) smartphones for secure communication. SAMBHAV replaced foreign apps like WhatsApp to prevent external surveillance. The system was launched in 2023 as India’s first fully indigenous secure mobile communication ecosystem. It supports 5G connectivity, multi-tier encryption, and network-agnostic operation for real-time secure communication. M-Sigma allows soldiers to exchange images, videos, and files safely. Nearly 30,000 SAMBHAV-enabled handsets were deployed by early 2024 among army officers. It was also used during military-level talks with China, ensuring secure diplomacy.

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INS Aravali, a new shore-based naval facility, was commissioned in Gurugram to boost the Indian Navy’s information warfare and maritime domain awareness. Strategically located in the National Capital Region (NCR), it will support Navy’s command and control network. The base reflects Prime Minister’s vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). INS Aravali is named after the Aravali range, symbolising vigilance, endurance, and foresight. Its crest shows mountains and a rising sun, and its motto is “Maritime Security through Collaboration.” It consolidates India’s role as the Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region.

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The Indian Army conducted Exercise Siyom Prahar from 8–10 September 2025 in Arunachal Pradesh to validate drone use in tactical operations. The exercise aimed to integrate drones across tactical and operational levels under realistic battlefield conditions. Drones were employed for persistent surveillance, battlefield reconnaissance, target acquisition, and precision strikes. The exercise focused on developing and validating new tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for future battlefields. It demonstrated integration of drone inputs with conventional firepower, joint targeting, and rapid decision-making in dynamic combat scenarios.

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Recently, South Korea, the United States, and Japan launched their five-day trilateral multi-domain exercise ‘Freedom Edge’ from September 15–19 in international waters near Jeju Island. This is the third round of the drills, after earlier editions in June and November 2024. It is the first such exercise under South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump. The exercise focuses on ballistic missile defence, air defence, medical evacuation, and maritime interdiction training. The goal is to boost interoperability and strengthen trilateral security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.