Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, on September 26, 2025, the Indian Air Force (IAF) bid farewell to its iconic MiG-21 fighter jets. MiG-21 served since 1963, playing a major role in the 1965 India-Pakistan War, 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, and 1999 Kargil conflict. India procured over 700 MiG-21s, including the upgraded Bison variant with modern avionics and missiles. India is boosting defence with S-400 missile systems and indigenous Akashteer air defence system. India also plans to upgrade 84 Su-30MKI jets under the Super-30 program.

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Recently, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), with the Integrated Defence Staff and Tri-Services, released Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA) Standard 1.0. It is India’s first national specification for Software Defined Radios (SDR). IRSA 1.0 standardizes how different radio systems communicate securely and efficiently. Its vision is to make IRSA a global benchmark and promote export of IRSA-compliant SDR solutions to friendly nations. It defines interfaces, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), execution environments, waveform portability, and SDR interoperability. It was developed under the Standardization of Indigenous SDR initiative by the Directorate of Standardization (DoS), Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence (MoD).

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On October 6, 2025, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal welcomed India’s first Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) Shivalik at Visakhapatnam Port, on its maiden call. Shivalik was inducted under the Indian flag by Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) Ltd. on September 10, 2025, enhancing India’s maritime and energy logistics capability. The vessel handled its inaugural LPG consignment at Visakhapatnam Port’s LPG terminal efficiently, facilitated by the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA). The induction aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Maritime India Vision 2030, promoting self-reliance, indigenous ownership, and global competitiveness.

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Indra 2025 is an Indo-Russian joint military exercise underway at Mahajan Field Firing Range, Bikaner. The exercise began on October 7, 2025, and will conclude on October 15, 2025. It aims to strengthen coordination between Indian Army and Russian Army in counter-terrorism operations and modern warfare scenarios. Around 250 Russian personnel are participating in joint tactical exercises, live-fire training, and close-quarter combat in desert conditions. Indra exercises began in 2003, alternating between India and Russia; last held in 2021, paused during Russia-Ukraine war.

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently successfully tested the Military Combat Parachute System (MCPS) at an altitude of 32,000 feet. The system is indigenously developed by DRDO. It was designed by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, and Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bengaluru. MCPS allows paratroopers to safely exit aircraft, deploy parachutes at set altitudes, and land accurately at designated zones. It ensures independent operation without foreign interference or denial of service.

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Recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is considering a proposal from Russia to procure Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets, with possible local manufacturing in India. The Su-57 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). It is designed for both air superiority and ground attack roles. The aircraft features advanced stealth, agility, and multi-role combat capabilities. The Su-57 was primarily developed for the Russian Air Force.

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Ukraine recently carried out a bold strike on a Russian chemical plant in Bryansk using UK-made Storm Shadow long-range missiles, breaching Moscow’s air defenses. Storm Shadow is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile. It was jointly developed by the United Kingdom and France. The missile is called SCALP in France. It is designed for stealth and precision strikes in all weather conditions. It targets high-value stationary assets like airbases, radar sites, and communication hubs. It is used by the air forces of Egypt, India, Italy, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. India has integrated SCALP missiles with Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force.

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South Korea is set to deploy its ‘monster missile’ Hyunmoo-5 by the end of this year. It marks a major upgrade in South Korea’s conventional arsenal against North Korea. Hyunmoo-5 is a ballistic missile developed by South Korea. It is designed for deep penetration strikes using a large conventional warhead. The missile can destroy heavily fortified underground targets. It is part of the Korean Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) strategy to deter North Korea without nuclear weapons. It was officially unveiled in October 2024.

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Recently, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to produce the civil commuter aircraft SJ-100. The SJ-100 is a new-generation short-haul jet aircraft of Russian origin. It was earlier known as the Sukhoi Superjet 100, designed by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft. It is a twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft mainly used for commercial operations. It is flown by more than 16 airlines, including nine from Russia. The aircraft can seat 103 passengers and fly up to 3,530 kilometres. It offers low operating costs and performs efficiently in temperatures from -55°C to +45°C.

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In November 2025, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri reached Guam in the Northern Pacific to join the multilateral Exercise Malabar-2025. The participation reaffirms India’s strong partnership and commitment to regional security and maritime cooperation. INS Sahyadri is an indigenously built Guided Missile Stealth Frigate, symbolising the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision. The 29th edition of the Malabar Naval Exercise began on November 10, 2025, at Guam, a key United States (US) military base in the western Pacific Ocean. The exercise involves the navies of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.