Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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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.

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An Indian Armed Forces contingent arrived in Seychelles for the 11th edition of “Lamitiye 2026”, a joint military exercise with the Seychelles Defence Forces, held from March 9 to March 20 at the Seychelles Defence Academy. “Lamitiye”, meaning “friendship” in Creole, is a biennial exercise conducted since 2001 in Seychelles. All three Indian Armed Forces services are participating: Army (Assam Regiment), Navy (INS Trikand), and Air Force (C-130 aircraft). The 12-day exercise includes joint tactical drills, field training, combat discussions, case studies, lectures, and demonstrations, ending with a two-day validation exercise.

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Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Indian Navy successfully conducted four in-flight release trials of the ADC-150 (Air Droppable Container-150) from the Boeing P-8I Poseidon near Goa. ADC-150 is an indigenously developed container capable of carrying 150 kg payload for aerial delivery. The parachute system was developed by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment. Instrumentation support came from Defence Research and Development Laboratory. The system enables rapid aerial delivery of equipment, supplies and medical aid to naval ships operating in open sea or emergencies.

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The Indian Army’s Southern Command conducted Exercise Amogh Jwala at the Babina Field Firing Ranges, Uttar Pradesh, to demonstrate high-tempo mechanised warfare capabilities. The exercise showcased the integrated use of advanced military assets, including attack helicopters, fighter aircraft, drones, counter-drone systems, and modern battlefield technologies. It was conducted in a multi-domain operational environment, combining land, air, cyber, and space elements to reflect modern warfare requirements. The drill emphasized synchronisation of fire and manoeuvre, along with real-time drone-enabled surveillance and target acquisition.

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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.

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The Indian Army has started fielding Shaurya Squadrons, which are dedicated drone sub-units within armoured regiments. Shaurya Squadrons provide tank commanders with real-time surveillance and precision-strike capability at the unit level. Each squadron has 20 to 30 personnel trained in drone and counter-drone operations. They operate surveillance drones, attack drones, swarm drones, first-person view (FPV) drones, and loitering munitions.

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India is set to receive the remaining two units of the S-400 Triumf from Russia in 2026, completing the delivery under the deal. The system was procured under a $5.43 billion agreement signed in 2018 for five squadrons, out of which three are already inducted into the Indian Air Force. The S-400 is a modern long-range surface-to-air missile (MLR SAM) system developed by Russia. It can track and destroy multiple aerial targets at once within a range of up to 600 kilometres. The S-400 provides a powerful multi-layered air defence shield against threats like fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and stealth aircraft.

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INS Dunagiri has been delivered to the Indian Navy as part of ongoing naval modernisation. It is the fifth ship of the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) stealth frigates. The ship was designed by the Warship Design Bureau and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilding and Engineers. It is a reincarnation of the earlier INS Dunagiri, a Leander-class frigate that previously served in the Indian Navy. The vessel uses Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion, integrating a diesel engine and gas turbine driving controllable pitch propellers (CPP). It is equipped with a modern Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for efficient onboard operations.

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India has inducted its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Aridhaman, into the Indian Navy, strengthening its strategic deterrence capability. INS Aridhaman is the third indigenously built Submersible Ship Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN) and the second submarine of the Arihant class (Submersible Ship Ballistic Nuclear). It has been developed under the Advanced Technology Vessel project (ATV) at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam. The submarine has a displacement of about 6,000 tonnes on the surface and 7,000 tonnes when submerged.