Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, INS Sagardhwani, India’s oceanographic research vessel under DRDO’s Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), was flagged off for the fifth edition of the Sagar Maitri initiative from Southern Naval Command, Kochi. Sagar Maitri is a collaborative initiative of the Indian Navy and DRDO under MAHASAGAR, aiming to strengthen cooperation among Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries through socio-economic engagement and ocean research. The mission includes the MAITRI (Marine & Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative) component for long-term scientific partnerships.

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India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives conducted the 17th edition of the DOSTI Exercise, which concluded on 19 January 2026 in the Maldives. The trilateral Coast Guard exercise was inaugurated on 17 January 2026 in Malé and included a maritime drill on 18 January 2026. It focused on joint training, information sharing, and interoperability to tackle non-traditional maritime security challenges. The exercise supported India’s Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision and strengthened regional maritime cooperation.

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Iran recently released dramatic footage of its Khorramshahr‑4 ballistic missile amid rising tensions with the United States of America (USA). The Khorramshahr‑4, also called the Kheibar missile, is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM). It is developed by the Iranian state-owned defence company Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO). The missile uses liquid fuel for propulsion. It has an operational range of around 2,000 kilometers. The missile travels faster than the speed of sound. It is considered one of Iran’s most powerful medium-range missiles.

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China recently showcased the CJ-1000, a land-based scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missile, during a military parade in Beijing. It is developed indigenously by China and is considered the world’s first operational land-based scramjet-powered hypersonic missile. It is road-mobile and mounted on a 10-wheel diesel-electric hybrid transporter erector launcher for quick deployment. It has an estimated range of at least 2,500 kilometres. It is more advanced than hypersonic glide vehicles like China’s DF-17 and Russia’s Avangard.

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The 7th edition of the joint military exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN between India and Japan has commenced at the Foreign Training Node, Chaubattia, in Uttarakhand. The exercise is being conducted from 24 February to 9 March 2026. The exercise is held alternately in India and Japan and serves as an important pillar of defence cooperation between the two countries. The primary objective of Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN is to strengthen military collaboration and enhance joint operational capabilities in a semi-urban environment.

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INS Anjadip commissioned into Indian Navy at Chennai Port on 27 February 2026. It is the fourth ship under Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft project. It is named after Anjadip island near Karwar, it is designed for anti-submarine operations in shallow coastal waters. It has over 80 percent indigenous content, promoting Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence. The 77 metre, 1400 ton ship has advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare suite and Combat Management System. It follows INS Arnala and INS Androth in this series.

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The United States carried out strikes on Iranian targets using advanced weapons, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, stealth fighter jets, B-2 bombers, and low-cost one-way attack drones. Tomahawk is an United States of American (USA)-made long-range subsonic cruise missile used for deep land attack. It is launched from ships or submarines through a Vertical Launch System. It was first developed in the 1970s during the Cold War. It can carry a 1,000-pound conventional warhead or cluster munitions. It uses solid propellant at launch and later a turbofan engine, reducing infrared detection.

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The Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth Rs 5,083 crore for defence acquisitions. Procurement includes six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III in Maritime Role for the Indian Coast Guard. Contracts also cover Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch (SAM) Shtil missiles for the Indian Navy. Shtil missile is a medium-range, ship-based, vertical-launch surface-to-air missile system developed by Russia. It primarily uses the 9M317ME semi-active radar homing (SARH) missile.

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The United States conducted a test launch of the Minuteman III missile. Minuteman III is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by United States. It is part of the US nuclear triad. It is a land-based nuclear missile under the US Air Force Global Strike Command. The missile uses three solid-propellant rocket motors and can reach speeds of about Mach 23 at burnout. It has a range of over 6,000 miles (5,218 nautical miles), enabling long-distance nuclear strike capability.

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Recently, Iran reportedly destroyed a key THAAD radar system used by the United States in the Middle East, affecting part of its missile-defence network. THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) is an advanced ballistic missile defence system developed by the United States to counter missile threats. It is designed to intercept short, medium and limited intermediate-range ballistic missiles during the terminal phase, which is the final stage of their flight. The system can destroy incoming missiles both inside and outside Earth’s atmosphere, providing a high-altitude defence layer.