Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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The 8th edition of Exercise Shakti-2025 is scheduled to take place from 18th June to 1st July at La Cavalerie in France. It is a joint military exercise between India and France aimed at enhancing joint military capabilities. The focus is on conducting multi-domain operations in sub-conventional scenarios. The Indian Army stated that the exercise will build interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between the two armies. Both sides will share best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures.

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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’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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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to acquire AIR LORA to strengthen its long-range strike power. AIR LORA stands for Air-Launched Long-Range Attack missile. It is developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for advanced air-to-ground missions. It targets high-value and well-defended assets like command centres, air bases, and naval vessels. It uses advanced inertial navigation system/global navigation satellite system (INS/GNSS) with anti-jamming features.

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Japanese Coast Guard Ship (JCGS) Itsukushima recently arrived in Chennai for the joint sea exercise Jaa Mata. Jaa Mata means “See You Later” in Japanese. It is a joint exercise between the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The aim is to enhance operational capabilities of both forces. It also focuses on refining combat skills and strengthening interoperability. The exercise promotes effective joint maritime operations and regional cooperation. Ask ChatGPT

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Recently, user trials of Extended Range Anti-Submarine Rocket (ERASR) were successfully conducted from INS Kavaratti. Extended Range Anti-Submarine Rocket (ERASR) is a fully indigenous anti-submarine weapon built for Indian Naval Ships. It is launched from Indigenous Rocket Launchers (IRL) installed onboard naval ships. It is designed to combat underwater submarine threats with precision. It was developed by Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, under Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

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Recently, the Defence Ministry called the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) project an “exemplary mission mode success”. Indigenously made ATAGS will replace vintage and smaller-calibre artillery guns in the Indian Army. ATAGS is a large-calibre gun system capable of firing future Long Range Guided Munitions (LRGM) with precision and deep strike. It has been designed and developed by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), a Pune-based lab under Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

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Recently, on July 10, 2025, the Indian and Greek navies conducted a joint Passing Exercise (PASSEX) off the coast of Mumbai to boost maritime interoperability and combat readiness. The Indian Navy deployed INS Tarkash, a stealth frigate, while the Hellenic Navy participated with HS Psara. Both navies validated communication procedures and shared best operational practices. The PASSEX is part of India’s broader strategy to enhance global naval cooperation, joint response capability, and maritime security.

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On July 15, 2025, India received the second GE-F404 engine from the United States for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark-1A programme. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a public sector firm, received the engine and is set to get 12 more by the end of this financial year. These engines will power the LCA Mark-1A fighter jets, which faced over a year of delay due to U.S. supply chain issues. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered 83 LCA Mk-1A jets, with a proposal for 97 more under review. HAL received the first engine in March 2025 and aims to deliver over 10 Tejas jets soon.