Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is participating in Exercise Ocean Sky 2025, a multinational air combat exercise hosted by the Spanish Air Force at Gando Air Base, Spain, from October 20 to 31, 2025. The exercise aims to foster mutual learning, enhance interoperability, sharpen air combat skills, and strengthen defence cooperation with friendly nations. This comes after IAF inducted 16 Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft, received by Indian Ambassador to Spain Dinesh K Patnaik on August 3, 2025, two months ahead of schedule. The Airbus C-295 is a multi-role tactical airlifter used for troop and cargo transport, maritime patrol, surveillance, and medical evacuation. It is known for versatility, reliability, and efficiency, with over 300 aircraft under contract worldwide.

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India has launched its annual Trishul 2025 tri-Service combat exercise along the western border with Pakistan. It involves the Army, Navy, and Air Force and follows Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s warning over Pakistan’s military buildup near Sir Creek. Sir Creek is a 96 km tidal estuary between Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch and Pakistan’s Sindh province. India issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) restricting airspace from October 30 to November 10, while Pakistan also restricted routes on October 28–29. The exercise, though routine, is larger and more complex this year.

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In November 2025, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri reached Guam in the Northern Pacific to join the multilateral Exercise Malabar-2025. The participation reaffirms India’s strong partnership and commitment to regional security and maritime cooperation. INS Sahyadri is an indigenously built Guided Missile Stealth Frigate, symbolising the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision. The 29th edition of the Malabar Naval Exercise began on November 10, 2025, at Guam, a key United States (US) military base in the western Pacific Ocean. The exercise involves the navies of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.

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The Indian Army conducted Exercise Brahmashira in the Rann and Creek Sector, Gujarat, under the Tri-Services Exercise Trishul. It involved the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Border Security Force (BSF) with civil administration. The drill tested integrated land-sea-air operations and multi-domain coordination. It featured Joint Task Forces and a modern Joint Control Centre for real-time coordination. The exercise validated new technologies, cyber and drone warfare, and Military-Civil Fusion. Southern Command also led Exercises MaruJwala and Akhand Prahaar in the Thar Desert. It reflects the Army’s Decade of Transformation and focus on Jointness, Atmanirbharta (self-reliance), and Innovation

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The Chief of the Air Staff recently inaugurated the Mudh-Nyoma airbase in Ladakh by landing a C-130J aircraft there. Mudh-Nyoma is an Indian Air Force (IAF) base in southeastern Ladakh at 13,700 feet. It is just 23 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. It is now the fourth IAF base in Ladakh, India’s highest airfield, and the world’s fifth highest. It lies near the southern bank of Pangong Tso and earlier had a mud landing strip. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) began upgrading it in September 2023.

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An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent has reached Mont-de-Marsan Air Base in France for the bilateral air exercise Garuda-2025, held from November 16 to 27. Exercise Garuda is a bilateral air exercise conducted between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air and Space Force. The exercise reflects the strong India–France strategic partnership in defence, technology, and security. The drill aims to boost interoperability, share best practices, and further strengthen defence cooperation between the two air forces.

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India is set to strengthen counter-drone warfare as the Army and Indian Air Force plan to procure 16 indigenous Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (Mark-2) units. The Mark-2 is developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), led by its lab CHESS – Centre for High Energy Systems & Sciences with the Armed Forces. It detects, tracks and neutralises hostile drones using sensors, jammers and high-energy laser weapons.

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Ukraine recently used US-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles to strike targets inside Russia, marking an important development in the current conflict. Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is a United States (US) made surface-to-surface ballistic missile series developed in the 1980s by Lockheed Martin. The missile was first used in the 1991 Persian Gulf War and is also operated by Bahrain, Greece, South Korea, Taiwan and the UAE. It is an all-weather, inertially guided ballistic missile with a 305 km range and single-stage solid propulsion.

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Bharat Electronics Limited and Safran Electronics and Defence (SED) signed a joint venture to produce the HAMMER Weapon System in India. HAMMER stands for Highly Agile and Manoeuvrable Munition Extended Range, developed by French company Safran. It is an air-to-ground precision-guided weapon system, also called a glide bomb. It has a range of up to 70 km and can be attached to 250 kg, 500 kg, and 1,000 kg standard bombs. It is resistant to jamming, can be launched from low altitudes, and works well over rough terrain.

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The 10th edition of India–Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI commenced at the Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh. The exercise is conducted from 03 to 12 December 2025 and is a bilateral exercise between the Indian Army and Indonesian Army. The Indian contingent comprises troops from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), while the Indonesian contingent includes personnel from Indonesian Special Forces. The exercise aims to enhance mutual understanding, cooperation, and interoperability between both Special Forces.