Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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Indian Navy’s guided missile corvette INS Kulish arrived at Ream Naval Base, Cambodia, on 12 September 2026. The visit is part of the Eastern Fleet’s operational deployment. The port call aims to strengthen maritime cooperation between India and Cambodia. INS Kulish is a guided missile corvette of the Indian Navy. It belongs to the Kora-class of guided-missile corvettes. The ship is equipped for anti-surface warfare and has missile and gun capabilities. The ship’s name, Kulish, refers to Indra’s thunderbolt weapon (Vajra) in Indian mythology.

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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.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently began receiving the HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft, which has been officially named ‘Ankur’. It is developed indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The HTT-40 is designed to meet the basic pilot training requirements of the IAF. The handover of the first three aircraft marks the commencement of deliveries under a contract for 70 such trainers. This indigenous platform is equipped with modern avionics, a pressurized cabin, and advanced safety features, replacing older training assets and boosting self-reliance in military pilot training.

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The keel laying ceremony of the first Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) for the Indian Navy was held at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi. The contract for construction of NGMVs was signed with Cochin Shipyard Limited in March 2023. NGMVs will be equipped with advanced weapons and sensor systems to enhance the Indian Navy’s combat capabilities. The vessels are being developed to strengthen the Navy as a future-ready and combat-ready force in the Indian Ocean Region. The project supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and Make for the World. It also aims to strengthen India’s domestic shipbuilding and defence manufacturing capabilities.

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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.

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Jodhpur, Rajasthan, hosts the 2nd edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026, a multinational air exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF). It is a multinational air exercise involving the air forces of friendly countries. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability, tactical coordination and operational cooperation. It involves joint aerial operations, tactical training and complex aerial missions. The exercise facilitates the exchange of operational practices, tactics and mission-planning approaches. The 1st edition was held in 2024 in two phases at Sulur, Tamil Nadu, and Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

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The 18th edition of Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT began at the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. It is an annual India–Mongolia joint military exercise conducted alternately in India and Mongolia. The 2026 exercise is held from 21 September to 3 October 2026. The Indian Army and Mongolian Armed Forces are represented by 45 personnel each. The exercise focuses on enhancing joint capabilities for Counter-Insurgency Operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under a United Nations mandate.

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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.

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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.