Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Russia has approved the sale of the R-37M (Russian long-range air-to-air missile), also known as AA-13 Axehead (North Atlantic Treaty Organization reporting name), to India to enhance its air combat capability. The missile is designed for BVR (Beyond Visual Range) combat, allowing it to strike targets at very long distances without direct visual contact. It is developed to destroy enemy fighter jets, drones, and other aerial threats effectively. The missile is nicknamed an “AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) Killer” because it can target high-value aircraft like radar planes, refuelling tankers, and jamming systems.

Notes:
Defence Research and Development Organisation unveiled Advanced Armoured Platforms (tracked & wheeled) on April 25, 2026, at Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra. These platforms were developed by Vehicles Research and Development Establishment to meet evolving operational needs of Indian defence forces. They feature an indigenously developed 30 mm crewless turret with a 7.62 mm PKT gun and Anti-Tank Guided Missile capability.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The first edition of Exercise ‘Pragati’ is scheduled to take place at Umroi, Meghalaya, from May 18–31, 2026. Exercise Pragati (Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region) involves 11 friendly countries. It aims to enhance defence cooperation, interoperability, and mutual trust among participating nations. The exercise reflects a shared commitment to regional security and stability in the Indian Ocean Region.

Notes:
The Indian Army contingent has reached Cambodia for the second edition of the India–Cambodia joint military exercise CINBAX-II 2026. The exercise is held at Techo Sen Phnom Thom Mreas Training Centre in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia from May 4 to 17, 2026. Around 120 Indian personnel, mainly from the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment, are participating. The Cambodian side is represented by about 160 personnel from the Royal Cambodian Army. The exercise is conducted under the framework of Chapter VII of the United Nations mandate. It focuses on counter-terrorism operations in sub-conventional and semi-urban environments.

Notes:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an artillery shell manufacturing plant at Savli Vihir Industrial Estate in Shirdi, Maharashtra. The project has been established by Nibe Limited. The facility will manufacture 155 mm artillery shells with an annual production capacity of five lakh shells. The entire production technology and raw materials used in the plant are indigenous, supporting the Make in India initiative.

Notes:
Recently, the U.S. military used a Hellfire missile against a tanker heading toward Iran. The AGM-114 Hellfire is a short-range, air-to-ground, subsonic tactical missile developed by Lockheed Martin, United States. It entered service in 1984 and was originally designed as an anti-tank weapon. The missile can also be used against helicopters and slow-moving aircraft. It is deployed from platforms such as AH-64 Apache helicopters, MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper drones, fighter aircraft, and ground launchers. The Hellfire missile is used by the United States and around 30 allied countries.

Notes:
India signed a $5.43 billion deal with Russia in 2018 to acquire five S-400 regimental systems. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has cleared a proposal to procure five additional S-400 systems. The S-400 Triumf air defence system has been developed by Russia. It was designed and manufactured by Almaz-Antey (specifically the Almaz Central Design Bureau) as a mobile, long-range surface-to-air missile system.The S-400 is capable of tracking and destroying multiple aerial threats simultaneously, including stealth aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The United States recently deployed the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile in Guam for the first time. The Dark Eagle hypersonic missile system is developed by the United States. It is a non-nuclear, ground-launched missile designed for long-range precision strikes. It is intended to destroy high-value, heavily defended targets such as command centres, air defence systems and missile launchers.