Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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DRDO successfully conducted the maiden flight-test of the ‘Kusha’ Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) on 23 July 2026. It has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The test took place from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha. The missile successfully intercepted a high-speed, high-altitude electronic target. Kusha can neutralise fighter jets, missiles, UAVs, and large enemy aircraft over a long range and altitude. The missile, radars, and command-and-control system were developed by DRDO laboratories and industry partners.

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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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Machilipatnam (BY 529), the 7th of 8 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), was launched on 29 July 2026. The ship has been built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for the Indian Navy. It is named after the historic port city of Machilipatnam in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, known for its rich maritime heritage. The vessel is designed for Underwater Surveillance, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and Mine Warfare. It will strengthen coastal defence and enhance Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).

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Australia is set to become the first international buyer of the US-made AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM). AIM-260 JATM is an American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. It is designed to have a longer range than the AIM-120 AMRAAM and counter advanced threats such as China’s PL-15. The missile features a wingless supersonic design and is approximately 4 metres long. Its estimated range is more than 180–200 km, making it an important component of the U.S. long-range air-combat capability.

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The Indian Navy continues to monitor and escort merchant vessels transiting the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait amid security concerns in the Red Sea–Gulf of Aden region. The deployment forms part of India’s broader maritime-security efforts, including Operation Sankalp. Operation Sankalp was launched by the Indian Navy in June 2019 in response to the deteriorating maritime-security situation in the Gulf region. The operation was initiated particularly after attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf of Oman. Its primary objective is to ensure the safe passage of Indian-flagged merchant vessels through strategically important maritime routes. The operation covers the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz.

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Russia test-fired a mobile, solid-fuel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) on 28 August 2026 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, sending training warheads over 6,700 km to the Kura test range in Kamchatka. The researchers identified it as the RS-24 Yars. RS-24 Yars is a three-stage, solid-fuel ICBM deployed in both mobile and silo-based configurations. It can carry Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs) and has an estimated range of over 10,000 km. The Yars entered Russian Strategic Missile Forces service in 2010, replacing systems such as RS-12M Topol.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted the first flight trial of the indigenous Khagantak-243 long-range glide bomb at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, after releasing it from a Su-30MKI fighter aircraft. The trial successfully met its objectives and is aimed at strengthening India’s indigenous long-range strike capability and reducing dependence on imported precision-guided munitions. The glide bomb is designed to strike targets from considerable distances while allowing the launching aircraft to remain outside the effective range of enemy air-defence systems. It can reportedly cover 144–180 km when released from around 12 km altitude at Mach 0.8.

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The German Navy successfully test-fired Israel’s LORA ballistic missile system in the North Atlantic Ocean on September 2, 2026. The test was conducted from German frigates, including the Sachsen-Anhalt (F 224), in waters between Ireland and Iceland. LORA is manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It has a range of around 400–500 km.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to integrate RVV-BD very long-range BVR air-to-air missiles with its Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft. RVV-BD is a Russian-origin missile and the export version associated with the R-37M missile family. It uses active radar homing and is designed for engagements at extremely long standoff distances. It can target high-value aerial platforms such as early-warning and reconnaissance aircraft. Integration will require modifications to the Su-30MKI’s radar, avionics and weapons-management software.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) launched its first Dronathon-2026 at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The three-day event is being held from 14 to 16 September 2026. The IAF also demonstrated ‘Vayu UTtaM’, an indigenously developed multi-mode Unmanned Traffic Management system. Vayu UTtaM demonstrated its ability to detect and track military and civil unmanned aircraft systems in real time. The system is designed to help manage increasingly congested airspace and identify and mitigate unauthorised or rogue drones. Its potential applications extend to airspace safety, critical infrastructure protection, civil aviation and public safety.