Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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The Boeing E-4B Nightwatch, also called the US military’s “Doomsday Plane,” recently made a rare appearance in Los Angeles, causing panic amid high geopolitical tensions. It is the most secretive aircraft in the US military and serves as the National Airborne Operations Center. The plane functions as a flying command post to keep the US government operational during extreme scenarios like nuclear war or destruction of ground command centers. Its mission is to ensure government continuity even in “doomsday” situations. The E-4B is a key part of the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications system (NC3), allowing senior leaders to manage nuclear forces under all conditions.

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army recently conducted successful trials of the indigenous Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) Weapon System. It is fully designed and developed in India by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The system includes the missile, launcher, target acquisition system, and fire control unit. It is a third-generation “fire and forget” missile with advanced autonomy after launch. It uses an Imaging Infrared (IIR) homing seeker for accurate day-and-night operations

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INS Arnala marks India’s shift from a “Buyer’s Navy” to a “Builder’s Navy” by strengthening indigenous defence capability. It is the first of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWC) built for the Indian Navy. It is the Indian Navy’s first indigenously designed and built ASW-SWC. It was designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. It was commissioned into the Eastern Naval Command on 18 June 2025. It is named after the historic Arnala Fort near Vasai, Maharashtra.

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Indian Navy inaugurated MILAN Village on 15 February 2026 at Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, where Exercise MILAN 2026 is being held. Exercise MILAN 2026 is conducted at Visakhapatnam from 15 to 25 February 2026. The exercise focuses on anti-submarine warfare, air defence, search and rescue and cooperative security operations. It is organised along with International Fleet Review 2026 and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Conclave of Chiefs. It supports the Prime Minister’s MAHASAGAR vision for free, open and rules-based seas.

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Indian Coast Guard inaugurated India’s first Waterjet Production and Testing Facility of Marine Jet Power in Goa on 13 February 2026. The facility will manufacture, test and maintain advanced waterjet propulsion systems for high-speed vessels. It supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat by reducing dependence on foreign technology. India became the third country after the United States and South Korea to host such a facility. Indian Coast Guard operates over 100 Marine Jet Power systems and 42 more are under construction. It will support maintenance, regional exports, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, skilled jobs and defence indigenisation.

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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy tested the Sayyad-3G air defense missile. Sayyad-3G is a naval surface-to-air missile developed by Iran. It is derived from the land-based Sayyad-3 missile and modified for maritime use. It provides medium-range air defense to warships and naval vessels. It is launched through a Vertical Launch System, giving 360-degree coverage. It can quickly respond to aerial threats. It can intercept warplanes, maritime patrol aircraft, and high-altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

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The Integrated Fire and Manoeuvre Exercise Agni Varsha was conducted at Pokhran Field Firing Range, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, by the Southern Command of the Indian Army. The exercise highlighted combat effectiveness of mechanised forces operating across multiple domains. Foreign defence journalists from 25 countries witnessed the exercise, observing speed, accuracy, and synchronisation of Combined Arms formations in the Thar Desert. Agni Varsha incorporated modern battlefield technologies: unmanned aerial systems, counter-drone measures, precision strike rockets, artillery platforms, and networked surveillance assets.

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The Indian Navy’s stealth frigate INS Nilgiri is participating in the Sea Phase of the Royal Australian Navy-hosted multinational Exercise KAKADU 2026 in Darwin, Australia. The exercise focuses on enhancing maritime interoperability, strengthening cooperation, and improving mutual understanding among participating nations. It serves as a key engagement for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), bringing together numerous nations to promote maritime security. This participation highlights India’s commitment to building a secure, stable Indo-Pacific region through strengthened naval cooperation

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Vayu Baan is India’s first helicopter-launched drone system developed by the Indian Air Force (IAF). It is a small, autonomous drone dropped from a moving helicopter mid-flight.After release, it unfolds wings, activates propulsion, and functions as surveillance (ISR) or precision-guided munition (kamikaze drone). The program is an indigenous Air-Launched Effects (ALE) project led by IAF’s Directorate of Aerospace Design (DAD). It aims to provide stand-off capability to identify and destroy targets beyond 50 km, keeping helicopters safe from MANPADS.

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Iran reportedly fired Qader cruise missiles targeting the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, though reports indicate the ship was not hit. Qader is a medium-range, shore-based anti-ship cruise missile developed by Iran. It is an upgraded version of the Noor missile, which itself is based on the Chinese C-802 design. The missile strengthens Iran’s coastal defence and anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities in strategic regions like the Strait of Hormuz. It is part of Iran’s broader strategy to deter naval forces and protect its maritime interests.