Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct its largest day-and-night air power exercise, Vayu Shakti-2026, on 27 February at the Pokaran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The exercise will test operational strategy, precision strikes, and weapon systems against simulated enemy targets like bunkers, bridges, and operation rooms. It will be held at the Chandan Field Firing Range near Pokaran, with a full dress rehearsal on 24 February. Operations will be showcased during day, dusk, and night phases.

Notes:
The Integrated Fire and Manoeuvre Exercise Agni Varsha was conducted at Pokhran Field Firing Range, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, by the Southern Command of the Indian Army. The exercise highlighted combat effectiveness of mechanised forces operating across multiple domains. Foreign defence journalists from 25 countries witnessed the exercise, observing speed, accuracy, and synchronisation of Combined Arms formations in the Thar Desert. Agni Varsha incorporated modern battlefield technologies: unmanned aerial systems, counter-drone measures, precision strike rockets, artillery platforms, and networked surveillance assets.

Notes:
Prime Minister’s second state visit to Israel focuses on defence cooperation and acquiring Sky Sting missile for Indian Air Force (IAF). Sky Sting is a 6th-generation Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM). It is developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Limited, an Israeli defence technology company. It is lightweight and can be fitted on Tejas Mk1A and Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets. It has a strike range of about 250 kilometres. It uses a three-pulse solid-fuel rocket motor and can reach speeds above Mach 5.

Notes:
The United States has raised concerns about the capabilities of Iran’s Shahed attack drones. Shahed drones are low-cost, one-way-attack unmanned aerial vehicles developed by Iran. These drones are also called “kamikaze” or “suicide” drones as they explode on impact with their targets. The most widely used variants of Shahed drones are Shahed-131 and Shahed-136. Their low cost, low-altitude flight profile, and self-sacrificial nature have earned them the label “the poor man’s cruise missile.”

Notes:
Recently, Iran reportedly destroyed a key THAAD radar system used by the United States in the Middle East, affecting part of its missile-defence network. THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) is an advanced ballistic missile defence system developed by the United States to counter missile threats. It is designed to intercept short, medium and limited intermediate-range ballistic missiles during the terminal phase, which is the final stage of their flight. The system can destroy incoming missiles both inside and outside Earth’s atmosphere, providing a high-altitude defence layer.

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Kheybar Shekan Missile is a long-range solid-fuel ballistic missile developed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran. Recently, Iran claimed that IRGC used Kheybar Shekan missiles to target the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and an Israeli Air Force command centre. The missile belongs to the Khorramshahr missile family and represents an advanced generation of Iran’s missile system. It has an approximate range of about 1,450 kilometres, enabling strikes across much of the Middle East region. It uses solid fuel technology, which allows faster launch preparation, easier storage, and improved mobility.

Notes:
An Indian Armed Forces contingent arrived in Seychelles for the 11th edition of “Lamitiye 2026”, a joint military exercise with the Seychelles Defence Forces, held from March 9 to March 20 at the Seychelles Defence Academy. “Lamitiye”, meaning “friendship” in Creole, is a biennial exercise conducted since 2001 in Seychelles. All three Indian Armed Forces services are participating: Army (Assam Regiment), Navy (INS Trikand), and Air Force (C-130 aircraft). The 12-day exercise includes joint tactical drills, field training, combat discussions, case studies, lectures, and demonstrations, ending with a two-day validation exercise.

Notes:
Sheshnaag-150 is a long-range swarm attack drone being developed in India for deep-strike military missions. It is being developed by NewSpace Research and Technologies (NRT), which focuses on Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based unmanned systems and swarm robotics. It is a collaborative swarm drone, meaning multiple drones can coordinate autonomously to carry out saturation attacks on targets. The drone weighs around 150 kg and can carry 25–40 kg payload, including explosive warheads capable of damaging infrastructure or military vehicles.

Notes:
INS Trikand will participate in the 58th National Day celebrations of Mauritius, reflecting India–Mauritius maritime cooperation. It is a Talwar-class guided-missile frigate of the Indian Navy and the third and final ship of the second batch of this class. The ship was built at Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad in Russia and commissioned on 29 June 2013 at Kaliningrad. It operates under the Western Fleet of the Western Naval Command (WNC) headquartered at Mumbai.

Notes:
The United States and South Korea conducted the joint military exercise “Freedom Shield” involving thousands of troops. Around 18,000 South Korean troops are participating, while the number of United States troops is not officially confirmed. The exercise continued till 19 March 2026 and focuses on defence preparedness and coordination. North Korea strongly opposes such exercises, viewing them as a rehearsal for invasion. These drills often trigger reactions from North Korea, including missile tests and military demonstrations.