Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia. The exercise will be held from 20 July to 7 August 2026 at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) bases in Darwin, Tindal, and Amberley. Exercise Pitch Black is the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) premier multinational air combat exercise. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability, combat flying skills, operational coordination, and defence cooperation. India will participate in complex air combat scenarios alongside air forces from the Indo-Pacific and Europe.

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India has developed its first indigenous Expendable Turbo Jet Engine in the 350 kg thrust class. The engine was developed by DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE). It was successfully realised and delivered to GTRE by Azad Engineering. The development marks a major milestone in India’s indigenous jet engine technology and defence manufacturing capabilities.

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‘Nipun’, the second Diving Support Vessel (DSV), was delivered to the Indian Navy by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) on 30 July 2026 at Visakhapatnam. The vessel is designed and built as per the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) classification rules. ‘Nipun’ means “adept” or “highly skilled” in Sanskrit. It is equipped for deep-sea saturation diving, underwater rescue, and salvage operations using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). The vessel will also function as the Mother Ship for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) during submarine rescue missions.

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Russian Kh-101 cruise missile violated Polish airspace and crashed in Poland’s eastern Lublin region during a massive Russian air assault on Ukraine The crash created a 10-metre crater, raising security concerns in the NATO region. The Kh-101 (NATO reporting name: AS-23 Kodiak) is a Russian strategic air-launched cruise missile. It is designed with stealth features and carries a conventional warhead of about 450 kg. The missile has a range of 2,500–3,000 km. Its guidance system combines Inertial Navigation System (INS), GLONASS satellite navigation, and Optical-Electronic Terrain Contour Matching (OTCM).

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted Exercise ROTOR CLAP III at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, Jaisalmer (Rajasthan). The week-long exercise focused on the theme “Counter-UAS (Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems).” It aimed to strengthen the operational capabilities of the IAF’s helicopter fleet against emerging drone threats. Nearly all major IAF helicopter platforms participated in the exercise. The exercise validated tactics, techniques, procedures (TTPs), mission planning, interoperability, and rapid response.

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The 8th edition of the India-US Bilateral Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Exercise 2026 was conducted between August 10 and 14, 2026. The exercise was hosted at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. This specialized maritime exercise focused on advanced technology demonstrations, including the deployment of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). The five-day bilateral drill involved intense Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE) and practical simulations to address underwater mines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised maritime explosive remnants, reinforcing the defense ties and tactical cooperation between the two partner navies.

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The Indian Army contingent has departed for Thailand to participate in the 15th edition of India-Thailand Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-XV (2026). The exercise is scheduled to take place from August 18–31, 2026, at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp, Surat Thani, Thailand. The exercise focuses on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in jungle and semi-urban terrain. It aims to enhance interoperability, mutual understanding and military cooperation between India and Thailand. Exercise MAITREE was instituted in 2006.

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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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Divyastra Mk3 is an indigenously developed jet-powered loitering munition (kamikaze drone) developed by Kawa UAV Pvt. Ltd. (HoverIt). It recently conducted its maiden flight in Uttar Pradesh, marking a step towards indigenous UAV capabilities. The drone is designed to strike high-value enemy assets, infrastructure and personnel using an onboard explosive warhead. It incorporates autonomous flight control and AI-enabled target-engagement capabilities.

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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.