Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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The Government of India has decided to build a new ₹13,000-crore greenfield civil-military airport under the Great Nicobar Project. The new airport will be developed on Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The government has chosen this plan instead of expanding the existing INS Baaz naval airfield. INS Baaz is an Indian naval air station located near Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Island. It was commissioned in 2012 and is the first air station in the Nicobar Islands. The air station plays a major role in intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) in the Indian Ocean region.

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India recently tested Garudastra, the country’s heaviest indigenous 120-mm vehicle-mounted mortar system, in Madhya Pradesh. Developed by Nibe Limited, it is designed for rapid shoot-and-scoot operations to avoid enemy detection. The system can be operated by a two-member crew and fire 12 rounds in 60 seconds. Garudastra features Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI), GPS and laser-guided precision engagement, and network-centric battlefield integration. It can strike targets 7–10 km away and penetrate reinforced concrete bunkers. The system enhances the Indian Army’s mobility, firepower, and precision strike capabilities.

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Russia’s Burevestnik missile recently drew attention after research suggested that its flight may leave a trail of radioactive material due to its nuclear-powered propulsion system. Burevestnik, meaning “Storm Petrel”, is a ground-launched, low-flying, nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed cruise missile developed by Russia. It is regarded as the world’s first nuclear-powered cruise missile. The missile was among the six strategic weapons unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018. NATO designates the missile as SSC-X-9 Skyfall.

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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.

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INS Mahendragiri, the 6th Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate, was commissioned into the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam. It was designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, with over 75% indigenous content. The warship is equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, advanced stealth features, multifunction radar, anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine warfare systems, and electronic warfare capabilities. It is named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, the warship carries the motto “Mighty, Majestic, Matchless.”

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The Indian Navy recently received another MH-60R Seahawk multi-role naval helicopter from the United States. The MH-60R Seahawk (“Romeo”) is a state-of-the-art multi-mission naval helicopter. It is manufactured by Lockheed Martin, a US defence company. It is designed for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), maritime surveillance, search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation, and shipborne operations. It serves as the US Navy’s primary anti-submarine and surface warfare helicopter.

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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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Qadr-F missile was recently in the news amid heightened Middle East tensions and Iran–Israel military exchanges. Qadr-F is a medium-range ballistic missile developed by Iran. It has an estimated range of around 2,000 km and is derived from the Shahab-3 missile family. The missile is a key long-range asset of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It is deployed alongside Iran’s Emad and Kheiber missiles as part of its strategic missile capabilities.

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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 United States Army has temporarily halted AH-64 Apache training flights following a crash near Fort Hood, Texas, that killed two soldiers. The AH-64 Apache is a two-seat attack helicopter, with the pilot seated at the rear and the co-pilot/gunner in the front. It is made by Boeing in the United States and used by many countries, including India, Egypt, Greece, and Japan. It can fly up to 300 kilometres per hour and has a range of 500 kilometres. It has advanced systems for communication, navigation, sensors, and weapons.