Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
‘Jal-Thal-Raksha 2025’, a military exercise, was conducted at Bet Dwarka, Gujarat by the Indian Army. It involved the 11 Infantry Division (Ahmedabad), 31 Infantry Brigade (Jamnagar), Coast Guard, and Marine Police. The District Administration, Forest Department, Maritime Board, and NSG monitored the drill. The exercise aimed to enhance coordination between defense forces, paramilitary units, and district authorities. It focused on combat readiness for terrorist attacks or war scenarios.

Notes:
Indian scientists developed the Brahmastra Missile (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile), a hypersonic glide missile with a speed of 12,144 km/h. It was developed by DRDO. It surpasses missiles like China’s DF-17 in range and technology. The missile has a 1,500 km range and can destroy enemy ships within 7-8 minutes. It can be launched from land or sea, offering flexibility.

Notes:
The first rear fuselage for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A, produced by private Indian firm Alpha Tocol Engineering Services, was handed over to HAL. It was developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Tejas LCA Mk1A is an advanced version of India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft. It has over 40 improvements from the Tejas Mk1, enhancing combat and operational capabilities. The key upgrades are AESA radars (Israeli EL/M-2052 and Uttam), upgraded flight control computer, Unified Electronic Warfare Suite, and Advanced Self Protection Jammer pod. The aircraft has nine hardpoints for carrying weapons, including Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles and Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air missiles (ASRAAM).

Notes:
The 6th edition of the Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) and the 4th edition of the bilateral exercise ‘BONGOSAGAR’ between the Indian Navy and the Bangladesh Navy commenced on March 10, 2025. The naval exercises are being conducted in the designated maritime areas of the Bay of Bengal, near the Bangladesh and Indian maritime borders. These exercises are being held under the supervision of Commander Flotilla West and aim to enhance maritime security, strengthen cooperation, and combat various criminal activities at sea.

Notes:
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) successfully tested India’s Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) AF MK1 prototype off Chandipur, Odisha. The Astra missile made a direct hit on a flying target, proving its accuracy and effectiveness. All missile subsystems performed optimally, meeting mission objectives. Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Astra can engage targets over 100 km away with advanced guidance and navigation systems. Already inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF), it enhances India’s air defense. The test brings India closer to inducting the LCA AF MK1A variant and strengthening indigenous defense systems.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Defence signed a ₹2,906 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for Low-level Transportable Radar (LLTR), Ashwini. Ashwini is an active electronically scanned phased array radar using solid-state technology. It tracks high-speed aircraft, UAVs, and helicopters. Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), it has integrated Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems. It offers 4D surveillance with electronic scanning in azimuth and elevation. The radar is mobile, with advanced Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) and works across various terrains for automatic target detection.

Notes:
The Indian Navy will participate in the ‘Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement’ (AIKEYME) with African nations. AIKEYME means ‘Unity’ in Sanskrit and aims to improve naval interoperability. The maiden edition is co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the event in mid-April 2025. The six-day exercise involves 10 nations, including Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, India, and Tanzania. The Indian Navy emphasized maritime security, combating piracy, illegal trafficking, and unreported fishing. India’s partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) align with its ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR) vision.

Notes:
The Defence Ministry signed ₹2,500 crore contracts for NAMIS (Nag Anti-Tank Missile System) and light vehicles. NAMIS (Nag Anti-Tank Missile System) was developed by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), a part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). It is a tracked version of the Nag Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) mounted on a BMP-2 chassis. A third-generation “fire-and-forget” missile, it locks onto targets using an Imaging Infrared (IIR) Seeker. It can destroy heavily armored tanks, including those with composite and reactive armor.

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.

Notes:
The Indian Army’s Air Defence warriors from the White Tiger Division demonstrated their operational skills in a live missile-firing exercise using the 9K33 Osa-AK missile system. The 9K33 Osa-AK is a Russian-built, highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air defence missile system. It was developed in the 1960s and fielded by the Soviet Union in 1972. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) designates it as “SA-8 Gecko.” The missile system has a length of 9.1 meters, a width of 2.78 meters, and weighs up to 18 tonnes. It integrates the transporter-erector-launcher and radar (TELAR) for independent detection, tracking, and engagement of aerial threats.