Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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India signed a $5.43 billion deal with Russia in 2018 to acquire five S-400 regimental systems. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has cleared a proposal to procure five additional S-400 systems. The S-400 Triumf air defence system has been developed by Russia. It was designed and manufactured by Almaz-Antey (specifically the Almaz Central Design Bureau) as a mobile, long-range surface-to-air missile system.The S-400 is capable of tracking and destroying multiple aerial threats simultaneously, including stealth aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.

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The Defence Minister recently reviewed the progress of major HAL projects, including delays in the delivery of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A. The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the procurement of 97 Tejas Mk1A aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF). Tejas Mk1A is developed by HAL. It is regarded as one of the world’s lightest fighter aircraft in its class. The aircraft is capable of offensive air support, air combat, and ground attack missions.

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Recently, INS Tarkash arrived at Victoria, Seychelles, during its deployment in the South-West Indian Ocean Region. INS Tarkash is a state-of-the-art stealth frigate of the Indian Navy. It is the second of three Talwar-class guided missile frigates. The Talwar-class frigates are modified versions of the Krivak III-class frigates. The ship was designed and built in Russia. It was constructed at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad.

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Recently, an Indian Army contingent departed to participate in Exercise KHAAN QUEST 2026. The exercise is being held from 20 June to 3 July 2026 at Five Hills Training Area, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It is a multinational military exercise focused on UN peacekeeping operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. KHAAN QUEST began as a bilateral exercise between the United States and Mongolia in 2003 and became a multilateral exercise in 2006. The Indian contingent consists of 40 personnel, mainly from the Jat Regiment. The exercise focuses on joint planning, patrolling, search operations, civilian evacuation, combat first aid, and casualty evacuation.

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India recently tested Garudastra, the country’s heaviest indigenous 120-mm vehicle-mounted mortar system, in Madhya Pradesh. Developed by Nibe Limited, it is designed for rapid shoot-and-scoot operations to avoid enemy detection. The system can be operated by a two-member crew and fire 12 rounds in 60 seconds. Garudastra features Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI), GPS and laser-guided precision engagement, and network-centric battlefield integration. It can strike targets 7–10 km away and penetrate reinforced concrete bunkers. The system enhances the Indian Army’s mobility, firepower, and precision strike capabilities.

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An Indian Navy Drishti-10 Starliner UAV crashed near Dharampur village in Porbandar district, Gujarat, during a routine training sortie, following which a Board of Inquiry (BoI) was ordered. Drishti-10 Starliner is an indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). It is a variant of Israel’s Elbit Systems’ Hermes 900 platform and is manufactured by Adani Defence and Aerospace at its Hyderabad facility under a technology transfer agreement. The UAV is designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. It plays an important role in strengthening India’s maritime and border security.

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The Indian Navy is set to commission INS Malvan, strengthening India’s coastal defence capabilities. Malvan is the second Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) of the Indian Navy. It has been indigenously designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. The vessel is named after the coastal town of Malvan in Maharashtra and carries forward the legacy of the erstwhile INS Malvan. It has a displacement of about 1,100 tonnes and is waterjet-propelled. It is equipped with torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, advanced radars, and sonar systems.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia. The exercise will be held from 20 July to 7 August 2026 at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) bases in Darwin, Tindal, and Amberley. Exercise Pitch Black is the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) premier multinational air combat exercise. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability, combat flying skills, operational coordination, and defence cooperation. India will participate in complex air combat scenarios alongside air forces from the Indo-Pacific and Europe.

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Iran has recently used the Kheibar Shekan missile in a series of complex attacks, drawing global attention to its advanced missile capabilities. It is a long-range, solid-fuel ballistic missile developed by Iran. The missile belongs to the fourth generation of the Khorramshahr missile family. Being solid-fuel powered, it can be launched more quickly than liquid-fuel missiles and requires less preparation time. It is designed to strike long-distance strategic targets with high accuracy.

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‘Nipun’, the second Diving Support Vessel (DSV), was delivered to the Indian Navy by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) on 30 July 2026 at Visakhapatnam. The vessel is designed and built as per the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) classification rules. ‘Nipun’ means “adept” or “highly skilled” in Sanskrit. It is equipped for deep-sea saturation diving, underwater rescue, and salvage operations using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). The vessel will also function as the Mother Ship for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) during submarine rescue missions.