Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Exercise Desert Hunt 2025 was held at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan, from 24 to 28 February 2025. It is a tri-service special forces exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force. Participants included the Indian Army’s Para (SF), Navy’s Marine Commandos, and Air Force’s Garud (SF). The exercise focused on interoperability, coordination, and synergy among special forces. It included airborne insertion, precision strikes, hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, combat free falls, and urban warfare.

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DRDO has unveiled the BM-04, a short-range ballistic missile with hypersonic speed. It enhances India’s military capability against anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) threats. The missile has a range of 400 to 1500 km and carries a 500 kg warhead. It has high accuracy with a circular error probability (CEP) of less than 30 metres. Designed for quick deployment using a mobile launcher. It places India among the few nations with hypersonic missile technology. BM-04 shares design similarities with Agni I-class missiles, showing progress in hypersonic weaponry.

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The Union Ministry of Defence signed a ₹2,906 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for Low-level Transportable Radar (LLTR), Ashwini. Ashwini is an active electronically scanned phased array radar using solid-state technology. It tracks high-speed aircraft, UAVs, and helicopters. Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), it has integrated Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems. It offers 4D surveillance with electronic scanning in azimuth and elevation. The radar is mobile, with advanced Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) and works across various terrains for automatic target detection.

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The Indian Navy recently took part in the Sea Dragon 2025 exercise, a multinational anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drill in the Indo-Pacific region. Exercise Sea Dragon 2025 was hosted by the United States Navy’s 7th Fleet, with the exercise taking place at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The drill involves maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft (MPRA) with advanced sensors and sonobuoys. Initially bilateral between the US and Australia in 2019, it expanded to include allies like India from 2021. Participating Nations are United States, Australia, India, Japan, and South Korea.

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The 14th edition of the India-Russia bilateral naval exercise INDRA takes place in Chennai from March 28 to April 2, 2025. Exercise INDRA, initiated in 2003, symbolizes the strong strategic partnership between the Indian and Russian navies. The exercise is conducted in two phases: Harbour Phase (March 28-30) in Chennai and Sea Phase (March 31-April 2) in the Bay of Bengal. Russian Navy ships Pechanga, Rezkiy, and Aldar Tsydenzhapov will participate alongside Indian Navy ships Rana, Kuthar, and P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. Activities include tactical drills, live weapon firings, anti-air operations, helicopter cross-deck landings, and expert exchanges to enhance naval cooperation.

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The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini reached Cape Town, South Africa, in its final international stop of the Navika Sagar Parikrama II global circumnavigation. INSV Tarini is a 56-foot, indigenously built sailing vessel commissioned in February 2017 by the Indian Navy. It was built by Aquarius Shipyard Ltd., Goa, under the Make in India initiative. It has advanced navigation, satellite communication, and emergency steering for extreme conditions. It was named after the Tara-Tarini hill shrine in Odisha, historically revered by sailors. The expedition began on October 2, 2024, covering 23,400 nautical miles across three oceans and three major capes in eight months.

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The Indian Army’s Air Defence warriors from the White Tiger Division demonstrated their operational skills in a live missile-firing exercise using the 9K33 Osa-AK missile system. The 9K33 Osa-AK is a Russian-built, highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air defence missile system. It was developed in the 1960s and fielded by the Soviet Union in 1972. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) designates it as “SA-8 Gecko.” The missile system has a length of 9.1 meters, a width of 2.78 meters, and weighs up to 18 tonnes. It integrates the transporter-erector-launcher and radar (TELAR) for independent detection, tracking, and engagement of aerial threats.

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Russia warned Germany that if Ukraine uses Taurus missiles, it will be seen as direct involvement in the ongoing war. The Taurus KEPD-350 is a long-range cruise missile launched from aircraft. It is capable of hitting fortified and high-value targets with high precision. The missile was jointly developed by MBDA (Matra BAE Dynamics Alenia) and Saab Bofors Dynamics from Germany and Sweden. It is specially designed for deep strikes on bunkers, bridges, and command centres. This warning reflects growing tensions over Western military support to Ukraine in the conflict.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is taking part in Exercise Desert Flag-10 from April 21 to May 8, 2025, at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Exercise Desert Flag is a major multinational air combat exercise that trains different air forces under realistic war-like conditions. IAF has deployed two powerful aircraft: MiG-29, an air superiority fighter, and Jaguar, a deep strike ground attack aircraft. This year is special as it marks 50 years since the MiG-29 was first launched. Air forces from 12 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and France, are also participating. The goal is to share knowledge, improve tactics, and boost coordination in complex air combat missions.

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Indian Navy ships INS Chennai and INS Kesari successfully performed manoeuvring exercises and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) drills during the sea phase of Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025. INS Chennai is the third and final ship of the Kolkata-class stealth-guided missile destroyers under Project 15A. The first two ships of this class were INS Kolkata and INS Kochi. INS Chennai was built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. It was commissioned into the Indian Navy on November 21, 2016. It operates under the Western Naval Command, ensuring security in the Arabian Sea region.