Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Exercise DESERT CYCLONE–II concluded at Al-Hamra Training City, Abu Dhabi, from 18–30 December. It was a joint military exercise between the Indian Army and UAE Land Forces, strengthening defence partnership and regional security. Training combined classroom instruction and field exercises, focusing on urban operations and sub-conventional operations under a United Nations mandate. Troops practiced urban combat, building clearance, IED awareness, casualty evacuation, first aid, heliborne operations, air assault missions, and platoon-level assaults. The exercise enhanced interoperability, operational synergy, and standardisation of tactics for future multinational operations.

Notes:
Mumbai hosted the fifth Tri-Services Veterans Day parade at Marine Drive ahead of Veterans Day. The event was held from 8 AM to 11 AM with participation of over 500 veterans, including gallantry award winners and octogenarians. Mumbai is the only city in India to host a city-level Veterans Day parade. The event was organised by the Navy Foundation Mumbai Chapter with support from Headquarters Western Naval Command. Tri-Services Veterans Day marks the retirement of Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa, first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, on 14 January 1953.

Notes:
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

Notes:
The Indian Army has officially selected the US-based firm Shield AI to supply its advanced V-BAT autonomous drones under an emergency procurement deal, marking a major step in adopting AI-driven warfare systems. This procurement is significant as it enables India to integrate Hivemind AI software, allowing sovereign development and control of autonomous military capabilities. The V-BAT autonomous unmanned aerial system (UAS) is developed and manufactured by Shield AI, a US-based defense technology company. The V-BAT is classified as a Group 3 Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) designed for long-endurance and high-risk missions.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Assam Rifles is planning to induct two indigenous dog breeds, Tangkhul Hui from Manipur and Kombai from Tamil Nadu, to reduce long-term dependence on foreign breeds. Assam Rifles, India’s oldest paramilitary force, operates the Assam Rifles Dog Training Centre (ARDTC) at Jorhat for training service dogs. Tangkhul Hui (Haofa) is a rare indigenous breed from Ukhrul district, Manipur, traditionally reared by the Tangkhul community for hunting. Kombai, also called the Polygar dog, is an indigenous guard breed from Theni district, Tamil Nadu, named after Kombai town.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Yard 18003 (Krishna), the first of three Cadet Training Ships (CTS), was launched on 16 February 2026 at Larsen & Toubro, Kattupalli, Chennai. The ship was launched by Mrs Anupama Chauhan in the presence of Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). It is indigenously designed and built and will be delivered to the Indian Navy by end 2026. The ships will train Officer Cadets, including women, and cadets from Friendly Foreign Countries at sea. The project strengthens indigenous shipbuilding under Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
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.