Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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Russia’s Ministry of Defence announced that the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system has officially entered active service. A brief induction ceremony was held in Belarus, where the missiles have been deployed. Oreshnik is an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile developed by Russia. It is named after the Russian word for “hazel tree.” It has a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres and can reach speeds up to Mach 10, or ten times the speed of sound. The missile is mobile and solid-fuel powered, allowing rapid deployment.

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Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) forces have launched a major joint military exercise in Saudi Arabia called “Gulf Shield 2026”. The exercise aims to strengthen collective defence and improve regional military coordination among all GCC member states. It is designed to enhance combat readiness, joint operational integration, and efficiency in planning and execution in a unified operational environment. The drills include a wide range of procedures, tests, and field scenarios to assess force readiness and effectiveness of responses to potential threats.

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India’s indigenous Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRAShM) will be showcased at the Republic Day parade on 26 January. LRAShM is a hypersonic glide missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) like LRAShM glide unpredictably after rocket launch, unlike traditional ballistic missiles. The missile combines extreme speed and maneuverability, making it hard to intercept with current air defenses.

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The Indian Army recently conducted Exercise ‘Sanjha Shakti’, a joint Military–Civil Fusion exercise. It took place at the Dighi Hills Range, Khadki Military Station, under the Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa Area of the Southern Command. The exercise aimed to strengthen coordination between the armed forces and civilian agencies for complex security challenges and emergency situations.

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army recently conducted successful trials of the indigenous Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) Weapon System. It is fully designed and developed in India by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The system includes the missile, launcher, target acquisition system, and fire control unit. It is a third-generation “fire and forget” missile with advanced autonomy after launch. It uses an Imaging Infrared (IIR) homing seeker for accurate day-and-night operations

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China has revealed a major upgrade in its undersea nuclear strength with the Type 096 Tang-Class submarine. It is a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) designed and built by China for strategic nuclear deterrence. The submarine is larger and stealthier, with a submerged displacement of about 20,000 tonnes, similar to United States Ohio-class submarines. It uses advanced noise-reduction technologies to reduce detection by enemy forces.

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The Indian Navy’s Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini will undertake Lokayan 26, a 10-month transoceanic flagship expedition. INS Sudarshini is an indigenously built Sail Training Ship (STS) of the Indian Navy. It was constructed by Goa Shipyard Limited and is based at Kochi, Kerala, under the Southern Naval Command. The ship was commissioned on 27 January 2012. Such ships train sailors to survive independently at sea, handle rough weather, and develop core seamanship skills. INS Sudarshini is a three-masted barque capable of operating under sail or engine power.

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Indian Navy inaugurated MILAN Village on 15 February 2026 at Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, where Exercise MILAN 2026 is being held. Exercise MILAN 2026 is conducted at Visakhapatnam from 15 to 25 February 2026. The exercise focuses on anti-submarine warfare, air defence, search and rescue and cooperative security operations. It is organised along with International Fleet Review 2026 and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Conclave of Chiefs. It supports the Prime Minister’s MAHASAGAR vision for free, open and rules-based seas.

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Yard 18003 (Krishna), the first of three Cadet Training Ships (CTS), was launched on 16 February 2026 at Larsen & Toubro, Kattupalli, Chennai. The ship was launched by Mrs Anupama Chauhan in the presence of Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). It is indigenously designed and built and will be delivered to the Indian Navy by end 2026. The ships will train Officer Cadets, including women, and cadets from Friendly Foreign Countries at sea. The project strengthens indigenous shipbuilding under Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.

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Indian Coast Guard inaugurated India’s first Waterjet Production and Testing Facility of Marine Jet Power in Goa on 13 February 2026. The facility will manufacture, test and maintain advanced waterjet propulsion systems for high-speed vessels. It supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat by reducing dependence on foreign technology. India became the third country after the United States and South Korea to host such a facility. Indian Coast Guard operates over 100 Marine Jet Power systems and 42 more are under construction. It will support maintenance, regional exports, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, skilled jobs and defence indigenisation.