Latest Defence General Knowledge(GK) Questions and answers

1 .

Indian Air Force successfully test-fired BrahMos missile with a range of how many km from a Sukhoi (SU-30 MKI) fighter jet on 29th Dec 2022?

A)

370 km Range

B)

400 km Range

C)

450 km Range

D)

500 km Range

Correct Answer : 400 km Range

The Indian Air Force 29th Dec 2022 successfully tested the extended range version of the BrahMos Air Launched missile against a ship target from Su-30 MKI fighter jet.

* The extended range of the BrahMos missile is believed to have the ability to take out targets in sea 400 km away

* The supersonic cruise missile "achieved the desired mission objectives in the Bay of Bengal region and with the successful test, the Indian Air Force achieved a capability boost to carry out precision strikes from Su-30 fighter aircraft against land/ sea targets over long ranges," the defence ministry said in a statement.

* "The extended range capability of the missile coupled with the high performance of the SU-30MKI aircraft gives the Indian Air Force a strategic reach and allows it to dominate the future battle fields," the statement added.

* The successful test firing was a joint effort by the Air Force, Indian Navy, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the BrahMos Aerospace (BAPL).

* In May 2022, the extended-range version of the supersonic missile was successfully tested from the Sukhoi fighter. The extended range was reported to have increased to 350 km from 290 km.

* The successful test conducted in May was the first instance in which the missile was test fired from the Su-30MKI fighter jet..

Source : NDTV

2 .

Which is India's first tactical quasi-ballistic missile, a step towards own rocket force?

A)

Pralay

B)

Barak 8

C)

Trishul

D)

Prithvi Air Defence (PAD)

Correct Answer : Pralay

The decision by the Defence Ministry to procure indigenous short-range ballistic surface-to-surface (SRBM) missile Pralay, a conventional weapon that has become ready for induction in just seven years, gives Indian military the heft to its war-fighting capabilities.

A high-level meeting of the Defence Ministry cleared the acquisition of around 120 pralay missiles for the armed forces and their deployment along the borders.

India now permits the use of ballistic missiles in tactical roles, therefore the acquisition of these ballistic missiles is considered a significant development for the nation.

Significance Of This ballistic missile : The missile will be India’s first tactical quasi-ballistic missile and will give the armed forces the capability to hit enemy positions and key installations in actual battlefield areas. Pralay, along with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, will form the crux of India’s planned Rocket Force — a concept that was envisaged by former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the late General Bipin Rawat. Sources in the defence establishment made it clear that only conventional missiles would come under the planned Rocket Force as and when it’s ready, while nuclear weapons would continue to be under the ambit of the Strategic Forces Command.

About The Pralay missile project :

* The Pralay missile project was sanctioned in 2015 and is a derivative of the Prahaar missile programme, which was first tested in 2011.

* Sources said Pralay was formed through elements from multiple missile programmes that include the K-series of submarine-launched ballistic missiles and the ballistic defence shield programme.

* The canisterised Pralay missile, with a range of 150-500 kilometres, has been developed according to the specifications and requirement of the Army, which was looking to arm itself with a tactical conventional missile that could be used on the battlefield.

* Incidentally, both China and Pakistan have tactical ballistic missiles.

* Pralay is powered with a solid propellant rocket motor and multiple new technologies and, according to sources, accuracy is a highlight of this missile.

* It is capable of carrying a conventional warhead of about 350 kg to 700 kg, which gives it a deadly punitive capability.

* It can carry a high explosive preformed fragmentation warhead, penetration-cum-blast (PCB) and runaway denial penetration submunition (RDPS).

While BrahMos has high agility, stealth and even loitering capability, Pralay has the advantage of speed and countering it is a difficult task, even for modern air defence systems.

Why Pralay Is So deadly :

* The Indian missile can be compared to China’s Dong Feng 12 and the Russian Iskander missile that has been used in the ongoing war with Ukraine.

* The US Army is in the process of increasing the range of a similar short-range ballistic missile called the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). What makes Pralay deadly is that it is a quasi-ballistic weapon, which means that while it has a low trajectory and is largely ballistic, it can manoeuvre in flight. It has been designed to evade interceptor missiles..

Source : The Print

3 .

Which country supplies the S-400 air defence missile system to India?

A)

Russia

B)

China

C)

Israel

D)

France

Correct Answer : Russia

In 2023 Russia will begin supplying India with the third squadron of the S-400 air defence missile system.

India has already deployed its first two missile system squadrons to monitor the Ladakh sector, the Chicken's Neck Corridor in West Bengal, and the whole northeastern area.

India and Russia have agreed on a three-year contract of around 35,000 crores to purchase five squadrons of S-400 air defence missiles..

Source : Times of India

4 .

Which countries to conduct 1st bilateral air combat exercise "Veer Guardian 23" in 2023

A)

India and Russia

B)

India and USA

C)

India and Japan

D)

India and Spain

Correct Answer : India and Japan

Veer Guardian 23 : Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) are set to hold their maiden bilateral air exercise, “Veer Guardian 23”, from January 16 to 26 at Hyakuri air base and Iruma air base in Japan.

“To promote mutual understanding and strengthen defence cooperation between the Air Forces and enhance JASDF’s tactical skills,” the JASDF said on the aim of the exercise in a statement on Thursday(22nd Dec 2022).

The IAF is fielding four Su-30MKI fighters from No. 220 squadron under the Western Air Command and one IL-78 mid-air refueller, along with a contingent of around 150 personnel who will be transported by two C-17 transport aircraft. The JASDF would be fielding four F-15s and four F-2 fighter jets for the exercise.

Japan also participated for the first time in the multilateral exercise MILAN hosted by the Navy early this year.

The two countries also operationalised the logistics support agreement, Reciprocal Provision of Supply and Services Agreement, in March this year.

The defence cooperation between the two countries has significantly expanded in recent years, especially in the maritime domain with Maritime Domain Awareness emerging as a key focus area..

Source : The Hindu

5 .

Which country Provide its Key Patriot Missile Defence System to Ukraine?

A)

France

B)

Israel

C)

Saudi Arabia

D)

USA

Correct Answer : USA

The United States has announced that it would provide its key Patriot missile defence system to Ukraine. The Patriot missile system can be used as a shield against short-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and incoming jets.

* This will be the first-ever handover of such a defence system to Ukraine and strengthen the Ukrainian defence.

* The White House stated that the Patriot missile system would be part of another 1.85 billion dollars in aid to Ukraine.

* The package also includes military vehicles, mortars, ammunition for HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems), and small arms.

* The aid has been announced at a time when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Washington to strengthen the military ties between the two countries.

* The roughly eight-hour visit of the Ukrainian President to Washington included an Oval Office meeting with President Joe Biden and a joint news conference at the White House.

* Mr Zelensky also spoke before Congress, urging Washington to further ramp up military aid. Ukrainian President told Congress that he proposed a peace formula in his meeting with President Biden which he hoped would result in joint security guarantees for decades to come..

Source : AIR

6 .

Indian armed forces are now set to procure the 'Pralay' ballistic missile that can hit the target from __________ km.

A)

150 to 350 km

B)

150 to 500 km

C)

150 to 750 km

D)

150 to 1000 km

Correct Answer : 150 to 500 km

As the conflicts in the border region with China increase, the Indian armed forces are now set to procure the 'Pralay' ballistic missile that can hit the target from 150 to 500 km.

The government is expected to clear the approval moved by the Indian Defences Forces over acquiring the missile this week, sources informed the news agency.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile 'Pralay', from Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha in December 2021. According to an earlier statement from the ministry, the mission had met all its objectives.

Pralay Capabilities :

* “The new missile followed the desired quasi ballistic trajectory and reached the designated target with high degree accuracy, validating the control, guidance and mission algorithms.

* All the sub-systems performed satisfactorily. All the sensors deployed near the impact point across the eastern coast, including the down range ships, tracked the missile trajectory and captured all the events,” the statement read.

* The Pralay missiles combined with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles would be the longest-range tactical weapon system in the defence forces as the long-range strategic weapons are controlled by the strategic forces command. The missile can help the troops to completely destroy or take out enemy air defence sites or similar high-value targets.

* ‘Pralay’ is powered with a solid propellant rocket motor and many new technologies.

* The missile has a range of 150-500 kilometres and can be launched from a mobile launcher. The missile guidance system includes a state-of-the-art navigation system and integrated avionics..

Source : One India

7 .

What is the name of the first ship of the ASW SWC project launched by the Indian Navy?

A)

INS Vagir

B)

INS Arnala

C)

INS Ranvijay

D)

INS Mormugao

Correct Answer : INS Arnala

INS Arnala, the first ship of the ASW SWC Project, being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, GRSE for the Indian Navy was launched 20th Dec 2022 at Kattupalli, Chennai. She made her first contact with the water of the Bay of Bengal at 1040 hrs at the launch ceremony graced by Rasika Chaube, Financial Adviser, Ministry of Defence.

* In keeping with the Naval maritime tradition, Ms Chaube launched the ship to the chanting of invocation from Atharva Veda.

* The ship has been named Arnala to signify the strategic maritime importance accorded to the island of Arnala located about 13 Km north of Vasai, Maharashtra by the great Maratha warrior, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

* The contract for building eight ASW SWC ships was signed between Defence Ministry and GRSE, Kolkata in April 2019.

* Arnala class of ships will replace the Abhay class ASW Ships of the Indian Navy and are designed to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters and Low Intensity Maritime Operations including subsurface surveillance in littoral waters.

* The ASW SWC ships will have over 80 per cent indigenous content, ensuring that large-scale defence production is executed by Indian manufacturing units. It will generate employment and capability build up within the country. .

Source : AIR

8 .

What is the name of the 5th Scorpene submarine of Project 75?

A)

INS Vagir

B)

INS Khanderi

C)

INS Kharanj

D)

INS Kalavari

Correct Answer : INS Vagir

The Indian Navy on Tuesday(20h Dec 2022) received the fifth scorpene-class submarine Vagir ahead of its planned commissioning next month(Jan 2023). The induction of the submarine, built under Project-75, is set to bolster the Indian Navy's combat capability.

* India has been focusing on shoring up its maritime capability with a focus on the Indian Ocean in the backdrop of concerns over China's growing forays into the region, considered the backyard of the Indian Navy.

* Project-75 includes the indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design.

* The submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai in collaboration with the Naval Group of France.

* "Launched on Nov 12, 2020, Vagir commenced the sea trials from February 1 and it is a matter of great pride that she has completed all major trials including the weapon and sensor trials in the shortest time in comparison to the earlier submarines," Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said..

Source : Economic Times

9 .

Which second warship of the P15B class of stealth guided-missile destroyers, has been commissioned at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on December 18, 2022?

A)

INS Ranvijay

B)

INS Ranvir

C)

INS Mormugao

D)

INS Visakhapatnam

Correct Answer : INS Mormugao

INS Mormugao (D67), second warship of the P15B class of stealth guided-missile destroyers, has been commissioned at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on December 18, 2022.

It was designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house organisation Warship Design Bureau.

It was constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.

It has 70-km MRSAM system, torpedo and rocket launchers.

The event marked the formal induction of the second of the four ‘Visakhapatnam’ class destroyers..

Source : PIB

10 .

India receives all ____ Rafale aircraft from France with last one landing in country on 15 December 2022.

A)

25

B)

30

C)

32

D)

36

Correct Answer : 36

India has received all 36 Rafale aircraft from France, with the last aircraft landing in the country 15th Dec 2022.

According to the Indian Air Force, the aircraft arrived after a quick en-route mid-air refuelling from a UAE Air Force tanker aircraft, after taking off from France.

India and France had signed the inter-government agreement in 2016, under which Paris agreed to provide 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around 60,000 crore rupees to India.

The first batch of five Rafale jets had arrived on 29th July, 2020..

Source : AIR

Defence - General Knowledge Questions