Defence - General Knowledge Questions

Correct Answer :   INS Visakhapatnam

* Indian Navy on Tuesday (7th Mar 2023) successfully tested Medium Range Surface-to-Surface Air Missile (MRSAM) from INS Visakhapatnam.

* Reason : To validate the capability of the anti-tank missiles

* MRSAM was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and produced at Bharat Dynamics Ltd.

* The DRDO has already handed over two other versions to Indian Army and Indian Air Force to augment the country’s air defense power...

Source : Times of India

Correct Answer :   Russia

The Indian Navy on Sunday (5th March 2023) successfully test-fired in the Arabian Sea the ship-launched version of the BrahMos supersonic missile.

The missile that was tested had the indigenous “seeker and booster”, officials said.

The Indian Navy carried out a successful precision strike in the Arabian Sea by ship launched BrahMos missile with DRDO-designed indigenous seeker and booster, reinforcing our commitment towards Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence.

BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, an India-Russian joint venture, produces supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.

BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound.

The anti-ship version of the supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired jointly by the Indian Navy and the Andaman and Nicobar Command in April last year.

India is also exporting BrahMos missiles.

In January last year, India sealed a USD 375 million deal with the Philippines for supplying three batteries of the missile..

Source : Tribune India

Correct Answer :   INS Vikrant

The first edition of the Naval Commanders' Conference 2023 began onboard India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant today (6th March 2023).

The conference serves as a platform for Naval Commanders to discuss important security issues at the military-strategic level as well as to interact with senior government functionaries through an institutionalised forum.

The first phase of the Commanders' Conference is being held at sea, and for the first-time, onboard  INS Vikrant. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the Naval Commanders onboard INS Vikrant on the opening day today.

The Chief of Defence Staff and the Chiefs of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force would also interact with the Naval Commanders on subsequent days.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, along with other Naval Commanders will review major Operational, Materiel, Logistics, Human Resource Development, Training and Administrative activities undertaken by the Indian Navy in the last six months.

They will further deliberate upon future plans for important activities and initiatives. During the conference, Naval Commanders would also be provided with an update on ‘Agnipath Scheme’ executed in the Indian Navy in November last year.

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh exhorted the Navy to continue focussing on futuristic capability development to effectively overcome the emerging security challenges in the maritime domain. He reviewed the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy during the Naval Commanders’ Conference held aboard India’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant today. He interacted with the Naval Commanders and witnessed the operational demonstrations at sea, highlighting the Navy’s capability to undertake multi-dimensional missions towards safeguarding the maritime interests of the country..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Thiruvananthapuram

The maiden joint military exercise 'FRINJEX-23' between India and France, will be scheduled to conduct at the Pangode military station in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala from 7th March and 8th March 2023.

* It is for the first time that both countries are engaging in this format with each contingent comprising a Company Group.

* Theme : The theme for the exercise is based on “Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations in a Contested Environment”...

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   INS Trikand

INS Trikand is participating in the International Maritime Exercise/ Cutlass Express 2023 (IMX/CE-23) being held in the Gulf region from 26 Feb to 16 Mar 23.

* INS will exercise with participants from over 50 nations and international maritime agencies with the common aim of enhancing maritime security and keeping sea lanes in the region safe for maritime commerce.

* IMX/CE-23 is one of the largest multinational maritime exercises in the world. While this is Indian Navy’s maiden IMX participation, it also marks the second occasion where an Indian Naval ship is participating in an exercise conducted by the CMF.

* Earlier, in Nov 22, INS Trikand had participated in the CMF led Operation Sea Sword 2.

* Participation in exercises like Sea Sword 2 and IMX/CE-23 enables the Indian Navy in strengthening relationships and  enhancing  interoperability and collective maritime capability with maritime partners in the IOR. It also enables the Navy contribute constructively to regional stability and security.

Source : PIB 

Correct Answer :   Exercise Shinyuu Maitri

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is participating in Exercise Shinyuu Maitri with the Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF).

* The exercise is being organised on the side-lines of the Indo-Japan Joint Army Exercise, Dharma Guardian, which is being conducted from 13 February 2023 to 02 March 2023 at Komatsu, Japan.

* The IAF contingent is participating in Exercise Shinyuu Maitri 23 with one C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

* The Exercise is being conducted on 01 and 02 March 2023. The first phase of the exercise consists of discussions on transport operations and tactical manoeuvring, followed by the second phase of flying drills by IAF’s C-17 and JASDF C-2 transport aircraft.

* The exercise gives an opportunity for the respective subject matter experts to interact and study each other’s operational philosophies and best practices. The exercise shall also enhance mutual understanding and interoperability between the IAF and the JASDF.

* Exercise Shinyuu Maitri 23 will be yet another step in the expanding defence cooperation between the two countries; as well as for the IAF to operate in diverse environments across the globe.

* The exercise is being conducted at a time when the IAF’s heavy lift transport aircraft fleet is also taking part in Exercise Desert Flag VIII in UAE and Exercise Cobra Warrior in the UK...

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   310

Indian Army has proposed to buy 310 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems for deployment along the borders with China and Pakistan.

The guns, developed by DRDO in collaboration with two private firms, can strike targets up to 50 km away.

Key Points :

* The indigenous howitzer has the capability to strike targets at distances of up to 50 kilometers and is believed to be the best gun in its class.

* The gun has been tested at various altitudes and terrain and upgraded based on user feedback.

* Tata Advanced Systems and Bharat Forge Group, the two private firms, have received raw howitzer technology and know-how from DRDO and will supply the system to the forces along with over 320 high mobility vehicles.

* The 155mm/52 caliber ATAGS trials were successfully completed at the Pokhran Field Firing Range (PFFR) between April 26 and May 2, 2023.

* The ATAGS is a part of the Indian Army's artillery modernization program and was developed in collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, Bharat Forge Ltd, and other industries.

* Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune is the DRDO's nodal laboratory for the design and development of ATAGS..

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   United Kingdom

An Indian Air Force contingent comprising 145 Air Warriors on Sunday (26th Feb 2023) departed Air Force Station Jamnagar to participate in Exercise Cobra Warrior at the Waddington Air Force Base in United Kingdom.

The exercise is scheduled from 6th of March to 24th of March this year (2023).

Ministry of Defence in a statement said that the Exercise Cobra Warrior is a multilateral Air exercise in which Air Forces from Finland, Sweden, South Africa, United States of America and Singapore would also be participating alongside Royal Air Force and Indian Air Force.

This year IAF is participating in the exercise with five Mirage 2000 fighters, two C-17 Globemaster and an IL-78 mid air refueller aircraft.

The exercise is aimed at providing operational exposure and share best practices amongst the participating Air Forces, thereby enhancing combat capability and forging bonds of friendship..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   UAE

India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas aircraft landed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday (25th February 2023) for its first ever combat exercise in a foreign country.

Exercise Desert Flag will also see participation from the air forces of the US, France, Kuwait, Australia, the UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain and South Korea.

An India Air Force (IAF) continent with 110 individuals arrived at the Al Dahfra air base on Saturday (25th Feb 2023) afternoon.

According to officials the IAF will be participating with Five Tejas Light Combat Aircraft and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

While Tejas LCAs have been part of numerous air shows, it has never participated in such a multilateral exercise. An official IAF statement added that this was the first time LCA Tejas would be "an international flying exercise outside India".

"The aim of the exercise is to participate in diverse fighter engagements and learn from the best practices of various air forces," officials said.

Meanwhile, a growing list of nations have evinced interest in  procuring the indigenously-developed LCA from India. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is currently fielding inquiries from Argentina, Egypt and several other nations.

HAL chairman "CB Ananthakrishnan" recently said that Egypt required 20 aircraft while Argentina had sought 15 fighter jets. HAL is also in talks with the Philippines to sell its light-combat helicopters.

The US, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Botswana and the Philippines are also among the countries showing interest in Tejas aircraft.

Manufactured by HAL, Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. In February 2021 the defence ministry had sealed a ₹48,000-crore deal with the company for the procurement of 83 Tejas light combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   INS Sindhukesar

In line with the expanding military cooperation with South East Asian nations, an Indian Navy Kilo class conventional submarine, INS Sindhukesari, docked in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the first time from February 22 to 24, 2023.

The 3,000-tonne conventional diesel-electric submarine made its way to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta to dock after traversing through the nearby Sunda Strait.

The submarine, which was on operational deployment, travelled through the Sunda Strait and undertook the maiden docking in Indonesia for Operational Turnaround (OTR), Naval ships regularly make port calls to countries in the region.

The OTR in Jakarta, over 2,000 nautical miles away from its home base in Visakhapatnam, significantly expands the area operational reach of the submarine arm near crucial shipping lanes and the strategic Malacca Strait. In the past, Indonesia gave access to its Sabang port to Indian Naval ships for operational turnaround.

India has steadily expanded its defence and security cooperation with countries in the region, many of which are engaged in disputes with China in the South China Sea.

In recent years, India has signed logistics support agreements with several countries to enhance reach and sustenance of military assets while deployed far from home.

INS Sindhukesari had undergone a major Rs 1,197-crore ‘medium refit-cum-life extension’ at Severodvinsk in Russia that ended in 2018, as part of the ongoing plan to upgrade four old Sindhughosh-class (Russian-origin Kilo-class) and two Shishumar-class (German HDW) submarines to stem depletion in the underwater fleet.

The submarine’s deployment to Indonesia comes soon after India conducted operational training to handle the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for 21 military personnel from Philippines at Nagpur earlier this month.

India will supply three missile batteries of the shore-based anti-ship systems of the BrahMos, a deadly conventional (non-nuclear) weapon that flies almost three times the speed of sound at Mach 2.8 with a strike range of 290-km, under the $375 million contract inked in January..

Source : The Hindu