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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India’s first indigenous and privately manufactured C-295 aircraft will roll out from Vadodara, Gujarat. It was built by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in partnership with Airbus Defence and Space. It marks a shift from public-sector to private-sector defence manufacturing, advancing Make in India (Defence) initiative. Vadodara facility (opened 2024) is India’s first private-sector final assembly line (FAL) for military aircraft.

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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.

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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 Air Force (IAF) is conducting joint in-situ air exercise with Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to improve coordination and interoperability. Indian Air Force (IAF) is deploying Su-30MKI, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) and IL-78 mid-air refuelling aircraft. Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is participating with Gripen fighter aircraft. Exercise strengthens Indo-Thai defence cooperation and regional security synergy.

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The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹2,312 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to procure eight Dornier 228 aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard. The programme is expected to generate direct and indirect employment by strengthening HAL’s production ecosystem and supporting MSMEs and ancillary industries. It will create sustained opportunities in maintenance, repair, overhaul, and life-cycle technical support. Dornier 228 is a twin-engine turboprop Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) utility aircraft for passenger, cargo, and special mission operations. Originally developed by Dornier GmbH (Germany) in the 1980s, it is now license-produced by HAL at its Kanpur facility.

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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.

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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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China recently showcased the CJ-1000, a land-based scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missile, during a military parade in Beijing. It is developed indigenously by China and is considered the world’s first operational land-based scramjet-powered hypersonic missile. It is road-mobile and mounted on a 10-wheel diesel-electric hybrid transporter erector launcher for quick deployment. It has an estimated range of at least 2,500 kilometres. It is more advanced than hypersonic glide vehicles like China’s DF-17 and Russia’s Avangard.

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Indian Army and United States Army conducted 16th edition of Exercise Vajra Prahar at Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh. It is a joint Special Forces exercise between India and United States. The objective is to strengthen defence cooperation and improve interoperability and joint operational readiness. It promotes exchange of advanced Special Operations Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs). Year 2026 marks the 16th edition of this exercise. Training is conducted in realistic combat situations.