Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
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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Lockheed Martin received its first batch of critical Patriot interceptor components from General Motors (GM Defense). PATRIOT stands for Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target. It is a US surface-to-air missile (SAM) defence system designed to detect, track and intercept aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. It is operated by the United States Army and several allied countries.

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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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Recent Ukrainian reports have claimed that Russian forces used Misagh-2 systems in the Rostov region to intercept Ukrainian UAVs. Misagh-2 is an Iranian-manufactured man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS). It is a short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) designed to engage low-flying aerial targets, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The missile uses a passive infrared (IR) seeker to detect the heat signature of its target. It has a fire-and-forget capability, meaning the operator does not need to continuously guide the missile after launch. This allows the operator to leave the firing position quickly after launching the missile.

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Recently, the Indian Navy inducted indigenous TROUT underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) under the SPRINT initiative. SPRINT stands for Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through iDEX, NIIO, and TDAC and is an initiative of the Indian Navy. The initiative was launched to promote self-reliance and indigenisation in defence technology and aims to induct at least 75 indigenous technologies into the Indian Navy. SPRINT works with start-ups and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) platform. It focuses on developing and deploying niche naval combat, surveillance and other advanced defence technologies.

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Project Seabird is an initiative of the Indian Navy aimed at strengthening India’s naval infrastructure and maritime capabilities. Project Seabird Phase IIA focuses on expanding INS Kadamba naval base at Karwar, Karnataka. Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani and the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs inaugurated key utility infrastructure and residential facilities at the naval base. The naval base is located on India’s western coast along the Arabian Sea. The project spans over 11,000 acres, making INS Kadamba one of the largest naval bases in the Eastern Hemisphere.

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Nagastra-1R is an indigenously developed short-range loitering munition, commonly known as a kamikaze drone, inducted into the Indian Army. It was developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace. The drone combines surveillance and precision-strike capabilities in a single aerial platform.
It can remain airborne over a designated target area before engaging the target with high accuracy. Unlike conventional missiles, which are generally expended after launch, Nagastra-1R offers the possibility of recovery under suitable mission conditions. Its induction reflects India’s efforts to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing and modernise the armed forces.

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JWALA-MK1, developed by Indian private defence company IG Defence, is preparing for trials following successful solid rocket motor tests in October 2026. It is described as India’s first private-sector micro-missile, designed to intercept and physically destroy hostile drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This short-range surface-to-air missile uses a hard-kill interception approach and aims to provide a cost-effective alternative to expensive air-defence missiles. Its development supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat by promoting indigenous defence technology and strengthening India’s counter-drone capabilities.