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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The Indian Navy will commission the Diving Support Craft (DSC) A20 at Kochi under the aegis of the Southern Naval Command, marking a significant boost to indigenous naval capabilities. DSC A20 is the first vessel of the indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Craft series for the Indian Navy. It is the lead ship in a series of five DSCs being built by M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata. The vessel is designed for a wide spectrum of diving and underwater operations in coastal waters, including inspection, salvage, and support missions.

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In response to the growing threat from sub-sonic cruise missiles, the Indian Army is undertaking a significant strategic shift by repurposing its Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) to strengthen low-altitude air defence capabilities. This move reflects the Army’s focus on countering modern aerial threats that fly low, evade radar, and target critical military and civilian infrastructure. MANPADS are portable surface-to-air missile systems that can be operated by an individual soldier or a small team to engage aerial targets. These systems are commonly known as shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, enhancing battlefield mobility and rapid deployment.

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Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 335, named “The Ospreys”, was commissioned at INS Hansa, Goa on 17 December 2025. It is the second Indian Naval Squadron to operate MH-60R multirole helicopters after the first was commissioned in Kochi in March 2024. MH-60R helicopter is an all-weather, day-night platform capable of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), Search and Rescue (SAR), Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) and Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP). The induction of MH-60R helicopters will greatly enhance the Indian Navy’s aviation strength and maritime operations on the Western Seaboard.

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The Indian Army has joined the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Joint Military Exercise DESERT CYCLONE-II in Abu Dhabi. The exercise is conducted from 18 to 30 December 2025. Exercise DESERT CYCLONE-II is conducted between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and defence cooperation between both armies through joint training in an urban environment. The focus is on sub-conventional operations under a United Nations mandate, enabling cooperation in peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and stability missions.

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India recently tested the K-4 missile, an intermediate-range, nuclear-capable submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), from the nuclear-powered submarine INS Arighaat in the Bay of Bengal. K-4 is 12 metres long, weighs 17 tonnes, and uses a two-stage solid-fuel system. It has a range of 3,500 km, a significant upgrade over the older K-15 missile (range 750 km). Each Arihant-class submarine can carry four K-4 missiles. It can carry a payload of up to 2 tonnes, including a nuclear warhead. It is developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

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President Droupadi Murmu undertook her maiden submarine sortie on December 28. She boarded the Kalvari-class submarine INS Vaghsheer at Karwar naval base. With this, she became the second President of India to go on a submarine sortie. The first Indian President to do so was Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. INS Vaghsheer is a Kalvari-class submarine of the Indian Navy. The event highlights civilian leadership’s close engagement with India’s naval forces. It reflects confidence in India’s indigenously built and advanced submarine capabilities

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The Indian Coast Guard conducted the Regional Level Pollution Response Exercise 2025 (RPREX-2025) in Mumbai. The exercise focused on tackling oil pollution at sea. A mock scenario involved a Motor Tanker sending a distress call after a collision with a fishing boat. The collision caused a hole in the tanker and heavy crude oil spillage into the sea. A specialised Indian Coast Guard Pollution Control Vessel and two other ships were deployed. Ships operated in full pollution response configuration. The exercise tested coordination and readiness of all stakeholders. It was conducted as per the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan.

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Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the maiden flight test of Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120). The test was carried out at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. It is an extended-range, precision-guided rocket for the Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) of the Indian Army. It was developed by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) with Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, and Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL). The rocket has a maximum strike range of about 120 kilometres.