Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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The Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in the North Arabian Sea on June 9 and 10, 2025. India deployed INS Tabar, a stealth frigate, along with a submarine and P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. The United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group included HMS Prince of Wales and frigate HMS Richmond. The naval drill involved helicopter coordination, tactical manoeuvres, anti-submarine warfare, and officer exchanges. This shows deepening defence ties and shared commitment to maritime security.

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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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A major milestone was achieved with the launch of Garuda Aerospace’s Agri-Drone Indigenization Facility in Chennai, supporting India’s goal of becoming a global drone hub. The facility, spread across 35,000 square feet, is the first of its kind in the country for designing, manufacturing, and testing advanced Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). A total of 300 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) were also launched across India to promote drone innovation, research, and skill development through academic and industry collaboration.

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The Achal Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) was recently launched in Goa, marking a key milestone in India’s defence sector. It is the fifth out of eight FPVs being built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The vessel is built under dual-class certification from the American Bureau of Shipping and Indian Register of Shipping. It is designed to protect offshore assets and island territories through monitoring and surveillance.

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Recently, Indian Navy commissioned INS Arnala, the first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. This marks a big step in strengthening India’s coastal defence and underwater threat response. INS Arnala is the first of sixteen ASW-SWC class ships and is designed for subsurface surveillance, search and rescue, and low-intensity maritime missions. It has over 80% indigenous content and reflects the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).

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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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The Indian Army will soon get the first batch of Apache AH-64E attack helicopters from the United States. The Apache AH-64E, also called the Apache Guardian, is the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopter. It is made by Boeing in the United States and used by many countries, including India, Egypt, Greece, and Japan. It can fly up to 300 kilometres per hour and has a range of 500 kilometres. It has advanced systems for communication, navigation, sensors, and weapons.

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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, the Indian Navy signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru for the National Maritime Domain Awareness (NMDA) Project. The National Maritime Domain Awareness (NMDA) Project aims to strengthen India’s maritime and coastal security. It ensures integrated data collection, analysis, and sharing among maritime stakeholders. The project will upgrade the National Command, Control, Communication, and Intelligence (NC3I) Network to the NMDA Network. The Indian Navy will administer the project on a turnkey basis. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) will act as the lead integrator, providing advanced hardware and AI-based software solutions.

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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.