Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
KAL, India’s first indigenous long-range attack drone, was successfully flight-tested at the Pokhran range in Rajasthan in September 2026. The drone has been designed and developed by Noida-based IG Defence, a defence technology company. KAL is a one-way attack drone, also described as a kamikaze or loitering-type strike platform. It has a range of up to 1,000 km, endurance of 7–8 hours and payload capacity of up to 50 kg. It can operate at an altitude of up to 5,000 metres above mean sea level. The drone uses multi-band GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and INS (Inertial Navigation System) for autonomous navigation.

Notes:
The Defence Ministry signed a contract worth over ₹810 crore with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) to procure 160 Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons (SAT-SAAW) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). SAT-SAAW is an air-to-ground precision-guided glide bomb designed to destroy or neutralise enemy airfields from a long stand-off range. It can be launched from aircraft such as Jaguar, Hawk and Su-30MKI. The weapon has been indigenously designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Notes:
The 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas 2026 was conducted at Auli in Uttarakhand and Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. It is a bilateral military exercise between India and United States. The exercise focused on improving interoperability, coordination and mutual understanding of military tactics and procedures. The drills included M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers, Dhanush guns, Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers and L70 air defence guns. The M-LIDS (Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System) was also used to practise counter-drone responses.

Notes:
INS Sudarshini, the Indian Navy’s sail training ship, recently reached the historic port of Alexandria in Egypt as part of the “Lokayan 26” transoceanic expedition. Built by Goa Shipyard Limited, INS Sudarshini is a three-masted barque designed for imparting hands-on training in traditional seamanship, celestial navigation, and sail handling to naval cadets. The expedition aims to foster international maritime relations, enhance professional cooperation through cross-deck visits, and demonstrate India’s commitment to traditional seafaring practices across global waters.

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Recently, the United States announced the deployment of the NMESIS anti-ship missile system to Yonaguni Island in Japan’s Okinawa prefecture during the Keen Sword joint military exercise. NMESIS stands for Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System.It is a ground-based anti-ship missile system developed for the US Marine Corps (USMC). The system uses the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) mounted on an unmanned variant of the Oshkosh Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). The NSM is jointly manufactured by Raytheon of the US and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace of Norway. Its key role is to enable the US Marine Corps to detect and engage enemy ships from land, supporting naval operations.

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Recently, Tarang Shakti 2026, the Indian Air Force’s multinational air exercise, has been conducted at Jodhpur and adjoining airbases in Rajasthan. The exercise involves the Indian Air Force and air forces of several foreign countries, focusing on joint training and operational coordination. Germany’s A400M military transport aircraft is participating in combined air operations with Indian and other foreign aircraft. A multinational air exercise is a planned military training activity in which the air forces of multiple countries operate together. Such exercises help participating countries improve coordination, communication, interoperability and understanding of operational procedures.

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The Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2026) was conducted off the coast of Paradip in Odisha. Paradip is a major deep-water port on the east coast of India, located at the confluence of the Mahanadi River and the Bay of Bengal. The exercise is designed to test coordinated maritime and aeronautical responses to mass-rescue emergencies at sea. It helps strengthen interoperability among the Indian Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, and local port administrations to ensure swift operations during large-scale maritime contingencies.

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Recently, GE Aerospace announced the shipment of four F404-IN20 turbofan engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A. The F404-IN20 is a low-bypass, afterburning turbofan engine manufactured by the U.S.-based GE Aerospace. GE Aerospace is contracted to supply 99 such engines to HAL. Tejas is India’s indigenously designed Light Combat Aircraft. Its design and development are led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), while HAL is the principal manufacturing and production partner. ADA was established in 1984 under the Ministry of Defence and is headquartered in Bengaluru. It functions under the Department of Defence Research and Development (DRDO).

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The 33rd edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) was held in Visakhapatnam from 21 to 26 October 2026. The exercise involves the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). Singapore’s naval ship RSS Supreme arrived in Visakhapatnam on 21 October 2026 to participate in the exercise. SIMBEX began in 1994 as Exercise Lion King and has evolved into an important bilateral maritime engagement.

Notes:
The 11th edition of the India–Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI commenced on 27 October 2026 at Banyuwangi, Indonesia. The Indian contingent comprises troops from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), while the Indonesian contingent consists of personnel from the Indonesian Special Forces. The primary objective is to strengthen mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the Special Forces of both countries. Training focuses on special operations in jungle environments, including obstacle crossing, combat marksmanship, mountaineering, air assault and combat-hardening sessions. The exercise also facilitates the exchange of knowledge about weapons, equipment and operational practices.