Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, Indian Coast Guard Ship Sankalp visited Port Louis in Mauritius as part of overseas deployment in the Indian Ocean Region. It is the fifth Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Indian Coast Guard, commissioned in 2008. The ship is indigenously built by Goa Shipyard Limited. It is designed for maritime surveillance, Exclusive Economic Zone protection, search and rescue, and law enforcement. The vessel is 105 metres long with an endurance of 6,500 nautical miles and a displacement of about 2,325 tonnes. It has advanced navigation and communication systems and can operate Advanced Light Helicopter and Chetak helicopters.

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Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies Limited (ADTL) has upgraded the Indian Air Force (IAF) Pechora system, supporting India’s push for indigenous defence modernisation. Pechora, formally called S-125 Neva/Pechora, is a Soviet-origin surface-to-air missile (SAM) system for low- to medium-altitude threats. It has protected Indian airspace since the 1970s as a key air defence asset. The system uses radar-guided launchers with V-600 missiles and a fire control unit. It operates with the 4R90 Yatagan radar having five parabolic antennas for detection and tracking.

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India successfully test-fired the Agni-III ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha. The launch was conducted under the supervision of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) as a routine training exercise. The test aimed to validate the operational readiness and technical performance of the missile system. All mission objectives were met, and all parameters were successfully validated, according to defence officials. Agni-III is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is a two-stage, solid-fuelled intermediate-range ballistic missile with a range exceeding 3,000 kilometres.

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South Korean and United States air forces have started the Buddy Squadron joint aerial exercise at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek. The exercise aims to improve interoperability and integrated tactical skills between the two allies. Buddy Squadron is a battalion-level drill conducted alternately by South Korea and the United States. It focuses on sharing air-to-air combat tactics and integrated training. The exercise involves fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets. It strengthens joint operational readiness and regional security cooperation.

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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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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron virtually inaugurated the Final Assembly Line (FAL) for H125 helicopters at Vemagal Industrial Area in Kolar district, Karnataka (near Bengaluru). The facility marks India’s first private-sector helicopter manufacturing plant. It will manufacture the H125 helicopter. Initial production capacity: 10 helicopters per year, scalable to meet a projected demand of 500 units over 20 years. The first “Made in India” H125 is expected to roll out by early 2027. The H125 is globally known for its “hot and high” performance, including the record landing on Mount Everest.

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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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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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Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully conducted three consecutive flight trials of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) at Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. VSHORADS stands for Very Short-Range Air Defence System and it is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS). It is indigenously designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat under DRDO with other laboratories and production partners. It is a lightweight, short-range, surface-to-air missile used to destroy aircraft and helicopters. Maximum range is 8 kilometres and it can engage targets up to 4.5 kilometres altitude.

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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.