Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an artillery shell manufacturing plant at Savli Vihir Industrial Estate in Shirdi, Maharashtra. The project has been established by Nibe Limited. The facility will manufacture 155 mm artillery shells with an annual production capacity of five lakh shells. The entire production technology and raw materials used in the plant are indigenous, supporting the Make in India initiative.

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Oreshnik Missile is a Russian-made intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile. Ukrainian authorities recently claimed that Russia used the missile during attacks on Kyiv. The missile was first reportedly used in November 2024 against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Oreshnik is based on the RS-26 Rubezh ballistic missile system. It is capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads. The missile is mounted on a mobile transporter-launcher for rapid deployment and concealment.

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Recently, Germany announced plans to expand its missile defence network by establishing a second Arrow-3 missile defence site in Bavaria. Arrow-3 is an exo-atmospheric anti-ballistic missile defence system designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles before they re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. It is jointly developed by Israel and the United States as part of the Arrow Weapon System (AWS). The Arrow Weapon System (AWS) is the world’s first operational stand-alone Anti Tactical Ballistic Missile (ATBM) defence system.

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INS Mahendragiri, the 6th Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate, was commissioned into the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam. It was designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, with over 75% indigenous content. The warship is equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, advanced stealth features, multifunction radar, anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine warfare systems, and electronic warfare capabilities. It is named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, the warship carries the motto “Mighty, Majestic, Matchless.”

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The Indian Navy will host Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi, from 20–23 July 2026. The multinational maritime training exercise is being conducted in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154). It covers maritime law, maritime domain awareness, counter-narcotics, force protection, asymmetric threats, uncrewed systems, damage control, and survival at sea. The exercise aims to strengthen regional maritime security, interoperability, and capacity building among participating nations.

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The Indian Navy is set to commission INS Malvan, strengthening India’s coastal defence capabilities. Malvan is the second Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) of the Indian Navy. It has been indigenously designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. The vessel is named after the coastal town of Malvan in Maharashtra and carries forward the legacy of the erstwhile INS Malvan. It has a displacement of about 1,100 tonnes and is waterjet-propelled. It is equipped with torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, advanced radars, and sonar systems.

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The Indian Navy recently received another MH-60R Seahawk multi-role naval helicopter from the United States. The MH-60R Seahawk (“Romeo”) is a state-of-the-art multi-mission naval helicopter. It is manufactured by Lockheed Martin, a US defence company. It is designed for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), maritime surveillance, search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation, and shipborne operations. It serves as the US Navy’s primary anti-submarine and surface warfare helicopter.

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Recently, INS Malvan was commissioned at Karwar on 22 July 2026. It is the second indigenously built Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC). The ship is named after Malvan, the historic coastal town in Maharashtra. It was built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi. It has over 80% indigenous content, supporting Aatmanirbhar Bharat. It is equipped for Underwater Surveillance, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Mine Warfare, and Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO). Its motto is “Silent Claws”, and its crest features the Bagh Nakha (Tiger’s Claw).

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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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The Department of Defence Production (DDP) notified the 6th Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) on 17–18 August 2026. The list includes 405 strategically important defence items, covering Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and the Indian Coast Guard. The list has been made available on the SRIJAN Defence Portal to promote indigenous defence production. The SRIJAN Defence Portal was launched in August 2020 by the Ministry of Defence. It is a single-window digital platform connecting domestic manufacturers, including MSMEs and startups, with defence procuring agencies.