Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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INS Imphal (D68) marked India’s 80th Independence Day with a port call at Sultan Qaboos Port, Muscat, Oman. More than 200 Indian school students in Oman visited the indigenously built destroyer. INS Imphal is a stealth guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy and was commissioned on 26 December 2023. It was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and designed by the Warship Design Bureau of the Indian Navy. It is the third ship of the Visakhapatnam class (Project 15B). INS Imphal is the first Indian naval warship with dedicated modular accommodation and facilities for women officers and sailors.

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Russia has reportedly received North Korea’s KN-30 ballistic missile for the first time, according to Ukraine’s defence intelligence agency (HUR). KN-30 is a ballistic missile developed by North Korea and is the Western designation for the Hwasong-11C. It is a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) powered by a solid-propellant engine. The missile is launched from a mobile ground-based launcher.

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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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Recently, Indonesia and the United States launched the annual “Super Garuda Shield” military exercise on 31 August 2026. The exercise is held in Indonesia. It involves more than 4,700 personnel from Indonesia, the US and 13 other countries. Participating countries include Japan, South Korea, Australia and Canada. The exercise covers airborne operations, missile firing, jungle warfare, naval manoeuvres, infiltration drills and cyber defence.

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The Japanese Self-Defense Force (JASDF) contingent arrived in Jodhpur for the second edition of Exercise Veer Guardian 2026. The exercise will be conducted from September 9 to 22, 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur. The exercise focuses on air combat manoeuvring, interoperability, operational synergy and tactical proficiency. It aims to strengthen mutual understanding and defence cooperation between India and Japan.

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INS Mysore arrived at Lumut, Malaysia, on 9 September 2026 to participate in the 4th edition of Exercise Samudra Laksamana. The exercise is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and Royal Malaysian Navy. It includes harbour and sea-based professional engagements, including cross-deck visits and operational interactions. Sporting engagements are also part of the exercise to strengthen mutual understanding between naval personnel. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability, professional exchanges and maritime cooperation between India and Malaysia.

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Russia has publicly unveiled the S-71K Kovyor, a new air-launched stand-off weapon designed for the Su-57E fifth-generation fighter aircraft. It is designed to provide a lower-cost option between expensive cruise missiles and attack drones. The S-71K is reportedly powered by an R500 turbojet engine and has a range of approximately 300 km. The unveiling comes as Russia is seeking to expand Su-57E sales and possible production cooperation with India.

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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.

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The VIMARSH 2026 conclave was held in New Delhi in September 2026, focusing on indigenising India’s defence manufacturing sector. The event was organized under the theme “Varta se Vikas” (Development through Dialogue). During this event, the Union Defence Minister announced key policy measures to enhance the integration of MSMEs and deep-tech start-ups into the domestic defence supply chain. The event addressed key structural challenges in defence production, including high capital intensity, testing bottlenecks, and long procurement cycles.

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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that it shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Qeshm Island in southern Iran. The MQ-9 Reaper is an armed, multi-purpose Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). It is a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) drone designed for long-duration missions. It was developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, a United States company. The MQ-9 is an advanced successor to the MQ-1 Predator. It is mainly used for surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and precision strikes.