Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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More than 700 personnel from the Armed Forces and Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff joined Multilateral Exercise Bright Star 2025 in Egypt from August 28 to September 10, 2025. Exercise Bright Star is hosted by Egypt with the United States since 1980 and is among the largest Tri-Service multilateral exercises in the region. It is held biennially, with the last edition in 2023 also featuring India. India’s participation highlights its commitment to regional peace, stability, security, interoperability, and cooperation with friendly nations.

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Ukraine unveiled the FP-5 “Flamingo,” a new long-range cruise missile. It is developed by Ukraine’s Fire Point defense company. The missile has a range of 3,000 kilometres and carries a 1,150-kilogram warhead with a maximum takeoff weight of 6,000 kg. Flamingo is the first indigenously produced “heavy” missile in Ukraine’s arsenal. It has a wingspan of six meters and uses a turbofan engine. The missile can reach speeds up to 900 km/h and navigates using inertial systems and GPS. Its high terminal velocity and heavy warhead allow deeper target penetration and greater destruction. It is designed to resist electronic warfare, likely with secure GPS and CRPA antennas.

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The Nepali Army and China’s People’s Liberation Army launched the fourth joint exercise, Sagarmatha Friendship-2025, in Kathmandu. The drill runs until 16 September 2025. It aims to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism, disaster management, and United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions. The exercise, first held in 2017, alternates between Nepal and China. Sagarmatha Friendship-2025 focuses on building capacity, addressing security challenges, and fostering mutual trust and military-to-military ties.

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Russia recently struck Ukraine’s Cabinet building with an Iskander-K missile. Iskander-K is a Russian-made mobile short-range cruise missile launcher vehicle on an 8×8 military truck chassis. It looks similar to Iskander-M, which is a ballistic missile launcher vehicle. Also called SSC-8, it entered service with Russian Armed Forces in February 2017. It is built for tactical-operational strikes.

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A recent video shocked Washington showing a US Hellfire missile bouncing off a UFO near Yemen. The Hellfire is an air-to-ground, laser-guided, subsonic tactical missile with strong anti-tank power. It can also act as an air-to-air weapon against helicopters and slow-moving aircraft. It was developed by the United States in 1972 to counter Soviet armor formations. It is a laser-guided, air-to-ground tactical missile used by the U.S. military and more than 30 allied nations for precision striking capabilities against various targets.

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The Indian Navy has commissioned its first 3D Air Surveillance Radar (3D-ASR) aboard a warship. The radar, called Lanza-N, is developed by Tata Advanced Systems with Spanish defence company Indra. This is the first time Lanza-N is operational outside Spain. Tata Advanced Systems became the first Indian company to build and integrate next-generation naval surveillance radars. The radar passed sea trials with naval and aerial platforms across different radar cross-sections. A radar assembly and testing facility is set up in Karnataka to speed up deliveries. Lanza-N can detect drones, supersonic fighters, anti-radiation missiles, and naval platforms.

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Indian Navy’s Diving Support Vessel (DSV) INS Nistar is participating in Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 in Singapore. Exercise Pacific Reach is a biennial multinational exercise with participation from over 40 nations. The harbour phase will include discussions on submarine rescue systems, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE), a medical symposium and cross-deck visits. The sea phase will see INS Nistar and Submarine Rescue Unit (E) perform intervention and rescue operations with other nations in the South China Sea.

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Recently, South Korea, the United States, and Japan launched their five-day trilateral multi-domain exercise ‘Freedom Edge’ from September 15–19 in international waters near Jeju Island. This is the third round of the drills, after earlier editions in June and November 2024. It is the first such exercise under South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump. The exercise focuses on ballistic missile defence, air defence, medical evacuation, and maritime interdiction training. The goal is to boost interoperability and strengthen trilateral security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.

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The Indian Army recently conducted a major integrated firepower exercise codenamed ‘AMOGH FURY’. Exercise Amogh Fury was organised by the Sapta Shakti Command of the Indian Army. The drill took place at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert. The exercise aimed to test combat power, coordination, and operational readiness in real-time battle scenarios. It reflects the Army’s preparedness for multi-domain operations across land, air, and electronic warfare.

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China’s spy ship Yuan Wang 5 has returned to the Indian Ocean region near India, three years after docking at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port in August 2022. India is preparing for a hypersonic long-range anti-ship missile test over the Bay of Bengal (Sept 24–25, 2025), raising New Delhi’s security concerns over Yuan Wang 5’s presence. It is a satellite and missile tracking vessel of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy with dual-use snooping capability. It validates intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and hypersonic weapons, collecting telemetry data for performance and readiness. The ship displaces 25,000 tons, is 222 metres long, 25 metres wide, and carries 400 crew members.