Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has commissioned an upgraded Type 052D guided missile destroyer named Loudi. The induction reflects China’s rapid naval expansion to narrow the gap with United States naval strength. The warship adopts a new system and operational architecture. It has improved combat capabilities in air defence and sea attack roles. The destroyer also strengthens task force command and coordination abilities. The commissioning highlights China’s focus on modern, network-centric naval warfare.

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Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh commissioned ICGS Samudra Pratap, India’s first indigenously designed pollution control vessel, built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), on 5th January 2026 in Goa. The ship is the largest in the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) fleet and has over 60% indigenous content, with plans to increase to 90%. It enhances the ICG’s capabilities in pollution control, firefighting, maritime safety, coastal patrol, and extended surveillance. It is equipped with advanced pollution detection systems, side-sweeping arms, skimmers, floating booms, and a pollution control lab, it can operate even in rough seas.

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Mumbai hosted the fifth Tri-Services Veterans Day parade at Marine Drive ahead of Veterans Day. The event was held from 8 AM to 11 AM with participation of over 500 veterans, including gallantry award winners and octogenarians. Mumbai is the only city in India to host a city-level Veterans Day parade. The event was organised by the Navy Foundation Mumbai Chapter with support from Headquarters Western Naval Command. Tri-Services Veterans Day marks the retirement of Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa, first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, on 14 January 1953.

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The Boeing E-4B Nightwatch, also called the US military’s “Doomsday Plane,” recently made a rare appearance in Los Angeles, causing panic amid high geopolitical tensions. It is the most secretive aircraft in the US military and serves as the National Airborne Operations Center. The plane functions as a flying command post to keep the US government operational during extreme scenarios like nuclear war or destruction of ground command centers. Its mission is to ensure government continuity even in “doomsday” situations. The E-4B is a key part of the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications system (NC3), allowing senior leaders to manage nuclear forces under all conditions.

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The Indian Army has launched Depot Integration Management Edition, which is a pan-Army digital logistics platform. It provides near real-time visibility of logistic items from units up to Army Headquarters. It is developed jointly by the Indian Army and Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics. The platform standardises digital workflows across all Army depots and units. It equips commanders with integrated dashboards, exception alerts, and predictive stock analytics. It will reduce paperwork by about 70 percent and shorten the logistics cycle by one-third.

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Recently, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Japan Coast Guard (JCG) conducted a joint Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) response drill in Mumbai. Both sides emphasised enhanced maritime cooperation, interoperability, and commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The exercise took place onboard ICG’s pollution response vessel ICGS Samudra Prahari. The drill involved ICG Pollution Response Strike Team and JCG National Strike Team, focusing on hazardous chemical spill response. Prior planning, classroom sessions, and rehearsals ensured coordinated operational readiness. The Japanese delegation also visited Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited to learn about India’s shipbuilding capabilities.

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India will debut its Long-Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Glide Missile (LR-AShM) at the 77th Republic Day parade, marking entry into the hypersonic anti-ship weapons club. LR-AShM is an indigenous missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Navy. It is designed to destroy high-value naval targets like aircraft carrier battle groups at very long ranges. The missile enhances maritime deterrence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and strengthens Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) capability.

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Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies Limited (ADTL) has upgraded the Indian Air Force (IAF) Pechora system, supporting India’s push for indigenous defence modernisation. Pechora, formally called S-125 Neva/Pechora, is a Soviet-origin surface-to-air missile (SAM) system for low- to medium-altitude threats. It has protected Indian airspace since the 1970s as a key air defence asset. The system uses radar-guided launchers with V-600 missiles and a fire control unit. It operates with the 4R90 Yatagan radar having five parabolic antennas for detection and tracking.

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Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully demonstrated Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology on February 3, 2026, from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. The demonstration positions India among elite nations with SFDR capability for long-range air-to-air missiles, providing a tactical advantage. The missile was initially propelled by a ground booster to reach the desired Mach number.

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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.