Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The “Eagles of Civilisation 2026” is a bilateral joint air exercise held between the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China and the Egyptian Air Force. This joint military drill is designed to enhance tactical interoperability, joint combat capabilities, and military-to-military cooperation between the two nations. This engagement underscores Egypt’s diversifying defense relations with global powers beyond Western nations, highlighting strategic security partnerships in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

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The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nipun, its second Diving Support Vessel (DSV), at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) built the vessel, which was delivered to the Navy at Visakhapatnam on 30 July 2026. INS Nipun is designed for deep-sea diving, underwater intervention and submarine rescue operations. The vessel is capable of deep-sea saturation diving and is equipped with a side diving stage. It carries Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for diver monitoring and salvage operations. INS Nipun can also function as a mother ship for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) during submarine emergencies.

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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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Russia test-fired a mobile, solid-fuel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) on 28 August 2026 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, sending training warheads over 6,700 km to the Kura test range in Kamchatka. The researchers identified it as the RS-24 Yars. RS-24 Yars is a three-stage, solid-fuel ICBM deployed in both mobile and silo-based configurations. It can carry Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs) and has an estimated range of over 10,000 km. The Yars entered Russian Strategic Missile Forces service in 2010, replacing systems such as RS-12M Topol.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted the first flight trial of the indigenous Khagantak-243 long-range glide bomb at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, after releasing it from a Su-30MKI fighter aircraft. The trial successfully met its objectives and is aimed at strengthening India’s indigenous long-range strike capability and reducing dependence on imported precision-guided munitions. The glide bomb is designed to strike targets from considerable distances while allowing the launching aircraft to remain outside the effective range of enemy air-defence systems. It can reportedly cover 144–180 km when released from around 12 km altitude at Mach 0.8.

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The 16th edition of Aero India, the premier biennial aerospace and defence exhibition, is scheduled to be held at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru, Karnataka, in February 2027. Yelahanka Air Force Station has been hosting this prestigious international event since its inception in 1996. The exhibition serves as a vital platform for global and domestic aerospace industries to showcase advanced aviation technologies, promote defence indigenisation, and foster international collaborations in the manufacturing and export sectors.

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The German Navy successfully test-fired Israel’s LORA ballistic missile system in the North Atlantic Ocean on September 2, 2026. The test was conducted from German frigates, including the Sachsen-Anhalt (F 224), in waters between Ireland and Iceland. LORA is manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It has a range of around 400–500 km.

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A three-day Table Top Exercise (TTX) under the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) was conducted at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Visakhapatnam from 9–11 September 2026. It focused on developing a “Coordinated Response to Illicit Maritime Activities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)”. The Colombo Security Conclave is a regional security grouping focused on cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. Its cooperation covers areas such as maritime security, counter-terrorism, disaster management and transnational organised crime.

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Eager Lion 2026 is the 12th iteration of the joint military exercise between the United States and Jordan. The 2026 edition is scheduled to be hosted at Fort Carson, Colorado, USA. The exercise is conducted between US Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Jordanian Armed Forces. Traditionally, Eager Lion has been held in Jordan, making the 2026 edition notable for its change of location. It is a multi-domain military exercise aimed at improving interoperability between participating forces. The exercise focuses on addressing regional security threats and strengthening defence cooperation between the US and Jordan.

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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.