Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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INS Mangrol is the third indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) delivered to the Indian Navy. It has been built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) under an eight-ship Mahe-class programme. The vessel has over 80% indigenous content and is designed for anti-submarine warfare, underwater surveillance, mine warfare and low-intensity maritime operations. Mangrol is named after the coastal town and minor port of Mangrol in Junagadh district, Gujarat. The vessel uses waterjet propulsion, which provides high manoeuvrability and makes it suitable for shallow and coastal waters. It is equipped with sonar, radars, torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets and mine-laying capability.

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India has successfully manufactured and test-fired its first 100% indigenous AK-203 assault rifle, named ‘Sher’. It was produced by Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) at the Korwa Ordnance Facility in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. The rifle uses 100% domestically sourced components and raw materials. It is chambered for 7.62×39 mm ammunition, has a rate of fire of around 700 rounds per minute, and an effective range of up to 800 metres. Indian Army user trials are scheduled for September 2026.

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The Indian Coast Guard and the Vietnam Coast Guard commenced the 2nd edition of the joint exercise Sahyog-HOP TAC on August 27, 2026, off the coast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Sahyog-HOP TAC is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG). It focuses on enhancing maritime safety, search and rescue (SAR), and marine pollution response capabilities. The exercise strengthens operational interoperability and maritime cooperation between India and Vietnam. It also supports India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision and the Act East Policy.

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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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India is planning to acquire the US-made FGM-148 Javelin, a shoulder-fired anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system. The development was announced by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who described it as a significant step in India-US defence relations. The Javelin uses fire-and-forget technology, allowing the operator to move away after launching the missile. The system is designed to engage armoured vehicles and tanks and is known for its portability and advanced guidance capabilities.

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The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nipun, its second Diving Support Vessel (DSV), at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) built the vessel, which was delivered to the Navy at Visakhapatnam on 30 July 2026. INS Nipun is designed for deep-sea diving, underwater intervention and submarine rescue operations. The vessel is capable of deep-sea saturation diving and is equipped with a side diving stage. It carries Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for diver monitoring and salvage operations. INS Nipun can also function as a mother ship for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) during submarine emergencies.

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Russia recently warned Japan over the deployment of U.S. Typhon missile systems, calling it unacceptable and a threat to Russian security. Typhon, also known as Mid-Range Capability (MRC), is a surface-to-surface missile system developed by the United States. It is manufactured by Lockheed Martin and can launch SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles. SM-6 has a range of over 320 km, while Tomahawk provides deep-strike capability up to 1,500 km. The system is containerized, road-mobile and highly survivable, allowing rapid deployment and precision strikes against land and maritime targets.

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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 Indian Patent Office recently granted a patent for BAM-H24, a novel high-energy compound. This propellant formulation was jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the University of Hyderabad (UoH). BAM-H24 is a boron-, hydrogen-, and nitrogen-rich energetic material designed to act as a solid propellant, fuel additive, and burn-rate accelerator.

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The Indian Army’s Konark Corps conducted the high-intensity ‘Rudra Raptors’ joint exercise in the desert sector of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The exercise was held under the theme “One Team, One Purpose, Absolute Battlefield Dominance.” AH-64E Apache attack helicopters of Thar Raptors and tanks of the Black Mace Brigade participated in the exercise. It focused on air-ground integration, combat readiness, communication, manoeuvre and battlefield dominance. The exercise also highlighted the Indian Army’s focus on Atmanirbharta, innovation and advanced battlefield technologies.