Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The fourth edition of Exercise Tiger Triumph, a bilateral India-US Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise, takes place from April 1 to 13, 2025, on the Eastern Seaboard. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and create Standard Operating Procedures for a Combined Coordination Center between Indian and US Joint Task Forces. Indian participants include naval ships, Army troops, Air Force aircraft, and a Rapid Action Medical Team. US participants include Navy ships and US Marine Division troops. The exercise includes a Harbour Phase in Visakhapatnam and a Sea Phase near Kakinada.

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Indian Navy’s stealth frigate INS Tarkash joined a PASSEX (Passing Exercise) with Royal New Zealand Navy’s Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Kaha in the Gulf of Aden on April 4. It included cross-deck landings, cross-boarding, Sea Rider exchanges, tactical manoeuvres, and communication drills. The exercise helped both navies share best practices, improve cooperation, and boost operational coordination, showing strong defence ties and India’s commitment to regional maritime security.

Notes:
India has recently offered the indigenous Akash Air Defence Missile System to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Akash is a Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SRSAM) system designed to protect important locations from enemy air attacks. It was fully developed in India by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and is manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), based in Hyderabad. The missile system was first inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2014 and later into the Indian Army in 2015. In 2022, Armenia became the first foreign nation to purchase the Akash missile system.

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The Saras Mk2, India’s first multi-purpose civilian aircraft in the light transport aircraft category, is set for its test flight in December 2027. It is a 19-seater aircraft developed by National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Saras Mk2 is an upgraded version of the earlier Saras Mk1 model. It is designed for multiple uses, such as medical emergencies, disaster relief, and passenger transport. It will help improve air connectivity between Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3 cities across India.

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The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) under Operation ATALANTA has proposed a joint naval exercise with the Indian Navy. The exercise is planned to take place around the end of May 2025 in the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. The main aim is to strengthen maritime cooperation and coordination between European forces and the Indian Navy. The proposal comes due to rising piracy and instability in the Red Sea region, especially near the Horn of Africa. Unlike regular Passage Exercises (PASSEX), this drill will include tactical manoeuvres, counter-piracy actions, and communication training. Operation ATALANTA, launched in 2008, is the European Union’s mission to fight piracy near Somalia.

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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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The Russian Ministry of Defence has, for the first time, acknowledged the threat from Ukraine’s new short-range ballistic missile called Sapsan. The Sapsan, also known as Hrim-2 or Grom-2, is a tactical ballistic missile system developed by Ukraine. It combines features of both a tactical missile system and a multiple rocket launcher for flexible battlefield use. The export version of the Hrim-2 missile is capable of hitting fixed targets, both individual and group-based. Its range varies from 50 to 280 kilometers, making it effective for short-range precision strikes.

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The Philippines is hosting the 40th Exercise Balikatan, a multinational military drill from April 21 to May 9, 2025. Around 14,000 troops are participating, including 9,000 from the United States (U.S.), 5,000 from the Philippines, and 200 from Australia. Japan has joined as a full member for the first time and is conducting joint patrols in the South China Sea. The U.S. has deployed the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), an anti-ship missile system, for the first time in the Philippines. The drills include ship sinking, aerial surveillance, island defense, and special forces operations near Taiwan’s Batanes islands.

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In response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian Army has resumed limited operations of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv in Anantnag. ALH-Dhruv is a twin-engine utility helicopter developed indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The development began in 1984 with help from Germany’s Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB). The helicopter had its first flight in 1992 and entered service after certification in 2002. It is “type-certified” for military use by the Centre for Military Airworthiness Certification and for civilian use by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

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Recently, US fighter jets are using the advanced “StormBreaker” bomb in operations against Houthi rebels during intense bombing campaigns. The StormBreaker missile, also known as the Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB-II), was developed by the United States. It is an air-launched, precision-guided glide bomb designed and manufactured by Raytheon. It weighs 93 kilograms, is 1.76 meters long, and has a diameter between 15 to 18 centimeters. It uses millimeter-wave radar, uncooled infrared imaging, and semi-active laser for multi-mode guidance in all weather conditions. Its GPS/INS navigation system supports real-time target updates, while TacNet Data Link (DL) technology enables weapon-to-weapon collaboration. It can destroy moving targets up to 45 miles away and stationary targets up to 69 miles away.