Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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Goa Shipyard Limited handed over ICGS Amulya, the third of eight Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), to the Indian Coast Guard. The vessel is 51.43 m long, 330 tonnes, and uses Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP) for better fuel efficiency. It has a top speed over 27 knots and a range of 1,500 nautical miles. It will be crewed by 6 officers and 35 sailors. It is built for fisheries protection, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance, anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, and Search and Rescue (SAR) missions. The ship will strongly boost India’s coastal and offshore security.

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A new Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility will be set up in Bengaluru to support the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, boosting India’s defence self-reliance. The C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin of the United States of America (USA). It is the principal tactical cargo and personnel transport aircraft of the United States Air Force (USAF) and is the latest variant of the C-130 Hercules. The aircraft can operate from rough and dirt airstrips and is used for airdroppping troops and equipment in hostile areas.

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Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sarthak is an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) that made a port call at Chabahar, Iran. It is the 4th of 5 Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPVs) built by Goa Shipyard Limited for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) are multi-mission platforms for concurrent operations. It was commissioned on 28 October 2021. It functions as a command platform for search and rescue, anti-maritime crime, and marine environment protection duties.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) hosted Exercise AviaIndra-2025, a joint air exercise with the Russian Federation Aerospace Force (RFASF), from December 15 to 22, 2025. Exercise AviaIndra reflects the long-standing Indo-Russian defence relationship and continues the series which began in 2014. Personnel from both countries are conducting joint flying operations on Su-30 MKI, Tejas, IL-78 aircraft, and Mi-17 helicopters. The exercise enables sharing of best practices, lessons learned, and operational expertise between the two air forces.

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The U.S. Army and U.S. Navy recently completed integrated testing of the Dark Eagle Long‑Range Hypersonic Weapon system, marking a major milestone in America’s hypersonic weapons development. The Dark Eagle Long‑Range Hypersonic Weapon is a non‑nuclear, ground‑launched hypersonic missile system being developed for the U.S. Army as part of U.S. hypersonic modernization efforts. The missile component of the Long‑Range Hypersonic Weapon program is jointly developed by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, two leading American defense companies.

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully completed User Evaluation Trials of the Akash Next Generation (Akash-NG) missile system. Akash-NG is a modern Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) defence system developed by DRDO and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). It is designed to protect vital areas from enemy air attacks. It is the advanced successor of the Akash missile. The new version is lighter and more advanced. It uses an indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, dual-pulse solid rocket motor, and fully indigenous radars with Command, Control, and Communication (C2) systems.

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China released rare footage of the YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile fired from a Type 055 guided missile destroyer warship. YJ-20, also called Eagle Strike-20, is a hypersonic anti-ship missile developed by China. It was first publicly displayed during China’s Victory Day military parade on 3 September 2025. The missile is designed to attack high-value naval assets like aircraft carriers at long ranges. It has a biconic aerodynamic shape that allows controlled glide after rocket boost. This shape creates shockwaves that protect control surfaces from extreme heat.

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Russia’s Ministry of Defence announced that the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system has officially entered active service. A brief induction ceremony was held in Belarus, where the missiles have been deployed. Oreshnik is an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile developed by Russia. It is named after the Russian word for “hazel tree.” It has a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres and can reach speeds up to Mach 10, or ten times the speed of sound. The missile is mobile and solid-fuel powered, allowing rapid deployment.

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The Albert Ekka Brigade celebrated its 56th Raising Day at Agartala Military Station with solemn ceremonies. The brigade fought in the 1971 India-Pakistan war from the Tripura sector, including Operation Cactus Lily. The brigade has earned highest gallantry awards in war and peacetime, including the Param Vir Chakra. Lance Naik Albert Ekka of 14th Guards was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for bravery in the Battle of Gangasagar. The 1971 war included Operations Cactus Lily and Nut Cracker, leading to Pakistan’s surrender on 16 December 1971 and the creation of Bangladesh.

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A rare U.S. Air Force RQ-170 “Sentinel” stealth surveillance drone was recently spotted returning to Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in eastern Puerto Rico. The drone returned after U.S. military strikes conducted overnight against targets in Venezuela. The RQ-170 Sentinel is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of the United States. It was designed and manufactured by Skunk Works, a division of Lockheed Martin, for the United States Air Force (USAF). The drone is used for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance (ISTAR), and electronic warfare missions over target areas.