Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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India plans to equip Dassault Mirage 2000 jets with Astra Mark-2 missiles, enhancing interception up to 240 kilometres and boosting aerial dominance. Astra Mark-2 is a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). More than 50 industries, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), contributed to its development. Astra Mark-1 (90–100 kilometres range) is already inducted in the Indian Air Force (IAF) on LCA Tejas and Su-30 MKI.

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The Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth ₹975 crore to procure TRAWL assemblies for T-72 tank and T-90 tank to enhance minefield breaching capability of the Indian Army. The agreements were signed with Bharat Earth Movers Limited and Electro Pneumatics and Hydraulics (India) Private Limited in New Delhi. The TRAWL system, developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation, enables tanks to safely pass through minefields, including those with advanced anti-tank mines and magnetic fuses. The procurement falls under the Buy (Indian–Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category, promoting domestic defence production.

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The Ministry of Home Affairs received an indigenous satellite imaging system Prajna, developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation through CAIR (Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics), to improve real-time decision-making for security agencies. The AI-enabled Prajna system is designed to monitor sensitive regions and support counter-terrorism operations, thereby strengthening internal security. DRDO and the Indian Navy successfully conducted in-flight trials of ADC-150 (Air Droppable Container with 150 kg capacity) from the P-8I aircraft off the Goa coast.

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INS Kalpeni is a fast attack craft of the Indian Navy and recently visited Gan, strengthening India–Maldives maritime cooperation. It belongs to the Car Nicobar class Waterjet Fast Attack Craft built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers. It was commissioned on 14 October 2010. The ship is named after Kalpeni Island of Lakshadweep. It is based at Kochi under the Southern Naval Command. Its roles include coastal surveillance, anti-smuggling, boarding operations, and search and rescue.

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Exercise PRAGATI 2026 began at Umroi Military Station, Meghalaya, with participation from 12 friendly nations, including Bhutan, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the Philippines. PRAGATI stands for “Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region.” The exercise is organised by the Indian Army to strengthen regional military cooperation, defence ties, and intelligence-sharing mechanisms. The two-week exercise focuses on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain.

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Sanghmitra was launched at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata under the Indian Navy’s indigenous shipbuilding programme. The vessel is part of the Indian Navy’s project to build 11 Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs) at GRSE and Goa Shipyard Limited. These indigenously built ships will support maritime surveillance, coastal defence, anti-piracy patrols, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The vessel is named after Sanghamitra, reflecting India’s cultural heritage.

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The Indian Navy is commissioning three indigenously built platforms in Kolkata: INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak, and INS Agray. These platforms reflect India’s focus on Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence production. INS Dunagiri is the fifth Project 17A stealth frigate, designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). INS Sanshodhak is the fourth Survey Vessel (Large) used for hydrographic, oceanographic, and geophysical surveys. INS Agray is the fourth Arnala-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, designed for littoral warfare and underwater threat detection.

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Recently, China’s state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) aired footage of the launch of the Dongfeng-17 (DF-17) hypersonic missile for the first time. The DF-17 is a Chinese solid-fueled medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile officially unveiled in 2019. The missile has an operational range of about 1,800–2,500 km and is deployed on a mobile launcher. It carries the DF-ZF Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV). After launch, the warhead separates at high altitude and re-enters the atmosphere. The glide vehicle maneuvers at speeds of Mach 5–10.

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Russia’s Burevestnik missile recently drew attention after research suggested that its flight may leave a trail of radioactive material due to its nuclear-powered propulsion system. Burevestnik, meaning “Storm Petrel”, is a ground-launched, low-flying, nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed cruise missile developed by Russia. It is regarded as the world’s first nuclear-powered cruise missile. The missile was among the six strategic weapons unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018. NATO designates the missile as SSC-X-9 Skyfall.

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Bharat Dynamics Limited recently secured an order worth ₹1,109.37 crore from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to supply launchers for HELINA missiles. HELINA (Helicopter-launched NAG) is an indigenous, third-generation, fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation. It is the helicopter-launched version of the Nag missile, while its Air Force variant is called Dhruvastra. The missile has a range of 500 m to 7 km and uses an Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker with lock-on before launch guidance.