Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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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 13th edition of the Sri Lanka–India bilateral maritime exercise, SLINEX-26, is conducted at Visakhapatnam from 17–21 September 2026. The exercise is conducted in two phases: Harbour Phase followed by the Sea Phase. The Indian Navy is represented by INS Kavaratti, an indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette, and INS Jyoti, a Fleet Tanker. The Sri Lanka Navy is represented by SLNS Sindurala. SLINEX was conceptualised in 2005 and has evolved into an important platform for maritime cooperation and interoperability between the two navies. SLINEX-26 aligns with India’s MAHASAGAR vision and aims to strengthen a secure, stable and inclusive maritime environment in the region.

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The Defence Ministry signed a contract worth over ₹810 crore with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) to procure 160 Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons (SAT-SAAW) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). SAT-SAAW is an air-to-ground precision-guided glide bomb designed to destroy or neutralise enemy airfields from a long stand-off range. It can be launched from aircraft such as Jaguar, Hawk and Su-30MKI. The weapon has been indigenously designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

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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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India’s Akash air defence system has been exported to three countries: Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Armenia was the first foreign customer and acquired multiple Akash batteries. The Akash is an indigenous Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system developed by DRDO. It is manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The system is designed to engage high-speed aerial targets. Its successful exports highlight India’s growing self-reliance in defence technology and defence exports.

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Recently, France test-fired its new M51.3 nuclear-capable ballistic missile for the first time from a nuclear-powered submarine. The M51.3 is a new variant of France’s M51 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) and is designed to carry nuclear warheads. The missile did not carry a warhead during the test and landed in the North Atlantic, hundreds of kilometres away from any coastline. An SLBM (Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile) is a ballistic missile launched from a submarine and forms an important part of a country’s nuclear deterrent. The M51 family is a long-range ballistic missile system operated by France as part of its sea-based nuclear deterrent.

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Recently, Pakistan successfully test-fired the extended-range variant of the Fatah-4 ground-launched cruise missile on 6 October 2026. Fatah-4 is an indigenously developed conventional precision-strike cruise missile. It is designed to engage high-value targets at extended ranges. The missile is developed by Pakistan’s National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM). The test focused on validating its navigation, guidance systems and flight performance. The test is aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s conventional deterrence capability.

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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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Recently, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed indigenous lightweight armour panels meeting STANAG 4569 Level 6 protection. Level 6 is a high-grade ballistic standard designed to defeat 30 mm armour-piercing ammunition, significantly enhancing battlefield survivability while preserving operational vehicle mobility and strategic transportability for armed forces. STANAG 4569 is a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Standardization Agreement that specifies military protection levels for occupants of light armoured vehicles and combat platforms. It provides baseline testing requirements for threats including kinetic energy projectiles, artillery strikes, and improvised explosive devices.