Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Nipun is the second Diving Support Vessel (DSV) of the Nistar-class being inducted into the Indian Navy. It is indigenously designed and constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam. The vessel will strengthen the Navy’s capabilities in deep-sea diving, underwater intervention and submarine rescue operations. Nipun is equipped with modern diving systems, navigation and platform-management systems, station-keeping capabilities and medical facilities. Its induction reflects India’s growing self-reliance and indigenisation in specialised defence shipbuilding.

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The Indian Navy continues to monitor and escort merchant vessels transiting the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait amid security concerns in the Red Sea–Gulf of Aden region. The deployment forms part of India’s broader maritime-security efforts, including Operation Sankalp. Operation Sankalp was launched by the Indian Navy in June 2019 in response to the deteriorating maritime-security situation in the Gulf region. The operation was initiated particularly after attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf of Oman. Its primary objective is to ensure the safe passage of Indian-flagged merchant vessels through strategically important maritime routes. The operation covers the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz.

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Russia recently warned Japan over the deployment of U.S. Typhon missile systems, calling it unacceptable and a threat to Russian security. Typhon, also known as Mid-Range Capability (MRC), is a surface-to-surface missile system developed by the United States. It is manufactured by Lockheed Martin and can launch SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles. SM-6 has a range of over 320 km, while Tomahawk provides deep-strike capability up to 1,500 km. The system is containerized, road-mobile and highly survivable, allowing rapid deployment and precision strikes against land and maritime targets.

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The RAKSHA defence diplomacy framework, released by the Ministry of Defence in September 2026, outlines a comprehensive 10-year strategic roadmap spanning from 2026 to 2036. This blueprint integrates India’s national security objectives with foreign-policy relationships. It is structured around four operational pillars: Strategic Partnerships, Capacity Building, Indigenous Exports, and Maritime Security. The framework seeks to systematically elevate India’s global defence engagement, strengthen regional partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region, and establish the nation as a reliable long-term security partner and exporter of indigenous military hardware.

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The Indian Patent Office recently granted a patent for BAM-H24, a novel high-energy compound. This propellant formulation was jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the University of Hyderabad (UoH). BAM-H24 is a boron-, hydrogen-, and nitrogen-rich energetic material designed to act as a solid propellant, fuel additive, and burn-rate accelerator.

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Recent satellite imagery indicates that Russia is constructing a secret underground factory at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan to expand production of Geran-2 drones. Geran-2 is a long-range, one-way attack drone used by Russia in the war in Ukraine. It is the Russian version of the Iranian HESA Shahed-136 drone. The drone has a delta-wing design, with a length of about 3.5 metres and a wingspan of around 2.5 metres. It can reach speeds of up to 180 km/h and has a range of up to 2,000 km. The drone generally carries around 50 kg of explosives, while newer variants can carry up to 90 kg.

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KAL, India’s first indigenous long-range attack drone, was successfully flight-tested at the Pokhran range in Rajasthan in September 2026. The drone has been designed and developed by Noida-based IG Defence, a defence technology company. KAL is a one-way attack drone, also described as a kamikaze or loitering-type strike platform. It has a range of up to 1,000 km, endurance of 7–8 hours and payload capacity of up to 50 kg. It can operate at an altitude of up to 5,000 metres above mean sea level. The drone uses multi-band GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and INS (Inertial Navigation System) for autonomous navigation.

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The 18th edition of Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT began at the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. It is an annual India–Mongolia joint military exercise conducted alternately in India and Mongolia. The 2026 exercise is held from 21 September to 3 October 2026. The Indian Army and Mongolian Armed Forces are represented by 45 personnel each. The exercise focuses on enhancing joint capabilities for Counter-Insurgency Operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under a United Nations mandate.

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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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The 9th edition of Exercise KAZIND-2026 is conducted from 28 September to 11 October 2026 at Oskemen, Kazakhstan. Exercise KAZIND is a joint military exercise between India and Kazakhstan. India has sent a 60-member contingent, mainly from a battalion of the Garhwal Rifles, along with personnel from other services and the Indian Air Force. The exercise focuses on joint counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under a United Nations mandate. The exercise aims to improve interoperability, operational coordination, mutual trust and professional cooperation between the two armed forces.