Defence & Military Updates
📘 CDS Current Affairs · CFC03
🎯 CDS Level : High Priority
Defence & Military is the single most important current affairs chapter for CDS. As aspirants seeking to join the armed forces, examiners expect detailed knowledge of exercises (nations, type, purpose), acquisitions (what India bought/made, from whom), missile systems (type, range, developer), and service chief appointments. A single MCQ may contain 4–5 data points — accuracy on every detail counts.
📌 CDS Pattern — Defence & Military (2022–2025 trend):
• Exercise: country + type (land/naval/air/tri-service) + focus area | • Induction: what + from whom + key feature
• Missiles: DRDO system + type + range | • Chiefs: current holder + when appointed
• Naval ships: class + capability | • ISRO/DRDO flagship: mission + first/unique aspect
1. Military Exercises — India’s Joint Exercises
🏪 Land Exercises
| Exercise | Partners | Focus | Key Details |
|---|
| Yudh Abhyas | India – USA | Land/HADR | Highest-altitude bilateral exercise; mountain warfare; held alternately in India & USA |
| Vajra Prahar | India – USA | Special Forces | Para SF + US SOCOM; counter-terrorism, COIN, special operations |
| Shakti | India – France | Land/CT | Counter-terrorism, humanitarian ops; Rajasthan desert terrain |
| Dharma Guardian | India – Japan | Land/HADR | Indian Army + JGSDF; jungle warfare; mutual understanding |
| Mitra Shakti | India – Sri Lanka | Land/HADR | Counter-terrorism, HADR; India’s neighbourhood engagement |
| Garuda Shakti | India – Indonesia | Special Forces | Jungle warfare; special forces interoperability; ACT East |
| Ekuverin | India – Maldives | Land/HADR | Counter-terrorism, HADR; India’s island-nation engagement |
| Cyclone | India – Egypt | Special Forces | First bilateral exercise with Egypt; Special Forces; 2023 debut |
| Tarakash | India – France | Special Forces NSG | NSG (National Security Guard) + GIGN (France); counter-terror |
⛵️ Naval Exercises
| Exercise | Partners | Key Details |
|---|
| SIMBEX | India – Singapore | Longest continuous bilateral naval exercise (since 1994). Anti-submarine warfare, fleet manoeuvres, live fire |
| Varuna | India – France | Indian Navy + Marine Nationale. Air defence, anti-submarine, VBSS (Visit, Board, Search, Seizure) |
| Indra | India – Russia | Tri-service (Army/Navy/Air). Only tri-service exercise with Russia. Held alternately in India & Russia |
| Milan | Multilateral (50+ nations) | Hosted by India at Visakhapatnam. Theme: friend, cohesion, readiness. Largest multilateral naval exercise India hosts |
| Malabar | India, USA, Japan (Australia from 2020) | Quad naval core. Anti-submarine warfare, advanced naval ops. Australia’s return in 2020 was strategically noted |
| Tasman Saber | India, USA, Australia | Tri-service; HADR and high-intensity combat |
| Zayed Talwar | India – UAE | Naval exercise; Arabian Sea; India-Gulf security partnership |
| KONKAN | India – UK | Royal Navy + Indian Navy; high-seas manoeuvres |
✈️ Air Exercises & Tri-Service
| Exercise | Partners | Key Details |
|---|
| Garuda | India – France | IAF + French Air & Space Force. Rafale jets feature. Advanced air combat; long-range strike exercises |
| Veer Guardian | India – Japan | First-ever India-Japan air exercise (2023); IAF + JASDF; Su-30MKI and F-2 jets |
| Desert Knight | India – France (– UAE) | Extended Garuda; UAE also included; desert terrain air combat |
| Cope India | India – USA | IAF + USAF; large-force air combat; F-15C vs Su-30MKI historically |
| Tiger Triumph | India – USA | Tri-service HADR exercise. Army + Navy + Air Force of both nations. Amphibious operations for disaster relief |
| Austrahind | India – Australia | Army exercise; first in 2022 |
2. Defence Acquisitions & Inductions
✈️ Aircraft Inductions
- Tejas Mk1A (LCA): 83 aircraft ordered from HAL (Rs 48,000 crore). Indigenous Light Combat Aircraft. Features: AESA radar, electronic warfare suite, BVR (Beyond Visual Range) missiles, mid-air refuelling. Currently in production; first deliveries expected 2024–25. Single-engine, delta-wing.
- Rafale (IAF): 36 Rafale jets from France (Dassault Aviation). All delivered to No. 17 Squadron (“Golden Arrows”) and No. 101 Squadron. Omni-role: air-superiority, nuclear strike, SEAD, maritime. Features Meteor BVR missile (longest-range in the world — 150+ km).
- Rafale-M (Navy): 26 marine variant Rafale jets ordered (2023) for INS Vikrant. Deck-capable (ski-jump takeoff, arrested landing). Replaces ageing MiG-29K partially. Delivery expected 2028–30.
- C-295 (Transport): 56 ordered from Airbus Spain. First 16 from Spain; 40 to be manufactured in India by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), Vadodara facility. First time a military transport aircraft is produced in India under Transfer of Technology. Replaces HS-748 Avro aircraft.
- MH-60R Seahawk (Naval Helicopter): 24 ordered from Sikorsky (USA). Multi-mission: anti-submarine warfare (ASW), surface warfare, search & rescue, vertical replenishment. Induction into INAS 334 (“Sea Kings”) ongoing.
- Apache AH-64E (Attack Helicopter): 6 inducted for Army Aviation Corps at Jodhpur. Most advanced attack helicopter. Night-vision, Hellfire missiles, 30mm cannon. Used in mountain terrain operations.
- Prachand (LCH — Light Combat Helicopter): India’s first indigenously designed & developed attack helicopter. HAL designed. Deployed at Leh (highest altitude helicopter base). Can operate at 5,000+ metres. 15 initial orders.
🚨 Naval Ships Commissioned
- INS Vikrant (IAC-1): India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier. Commissioned Sep 2, 2022. 45,000 tonnes. Built at Cochin Shipyard. Carries MiG-29K, Ka-31 AEW, MH-60R helicopters. India joins elite group of countries that can design & build carriers.
- INS Vaghsheer: 6th and final Scorpene-class submarine (Kalvari class). Commissioned Jan 2025. Features: air-independent propulsion absent (AIP to be retrofitted); French-designed; built at Mazagon Dock (Mumbai).
- INS Imphal: 3rd Visakhapatnam-class stealth destroyer. Commissioned Dec 2023. Features: BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles (8 canisters), 32-cell VLS for SAMs, supersonic torpedoes, indigenous weapons suite (90%+ indigenous content).
- INS Vindhyagiri: 6th Project 17A stealth frigate. Named after Vindhyagiri mountains. Launched 2023; commissioning expected 2025.
- INS Jatayu: New Naval Air Station commissioned in Minicoy, Lakshadweep (Feb 2024). Significance: covers Nine Degree Channel; enhances surveillance of Indian Ocean; forward base for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance); strategic counter to China in IOR.
- INS Varsha (Rambilli, Andhra Pradesh): Under construction; India’s first dedicated submarine base (nuclear submarine home port). Fully underground, protected from satellite surveillance. Expected completion 2025–26.
3. DRDO Missile Systems
💣 Key Missile Systems — DRDO & BrahMos
- Agni-V (MIRV — Mission Divyastra, Mar 2024): India’s first MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) test. Range 5,000+ km. Can carry 3–10 nuclear warheads targeting different locations. India is 4th country after USA, Russia, China. Canisterised = stored in missile, quick launch.
- Agni-P (Agni Prime): New-generation short-to-medium range ballistic missile (1,000–2,000 km). MIRV capable in future. Canisterised; road-mobile. Replaces older Agni-I and Agni-II.
- BrahMos: India-Russia joint venture (BrahMos Aerospace). Supersonic cruise missile (Mach 2.8). Multiple variants: land-attack, ship-based, air-launched, submarine-launched. Range extended to 400–500 km (originally 290 km; extended after India joined MTCR 2016). Philippines = first export (shore-based anti-ship variant, 2022).
- BrahMos-II (Hypersonic): Under development. Mach 7+. Joint DRDO-BrahMos Aerospace project. No confirmed delivery date yet.
- Astra Mk1 (BVR AAM): Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile. DRDO developed. Range: 70–80 km. Integrated on Su-30MKI, Tejas. Astra Mk2 (150+ km range) in development.
- Nag (Anti-Tank): Third-generation fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile. DRDO. Inducted as NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier) vehicle system. Helina = helicopter-launched version.
- MPATGM: Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile. Fire-and-forget. Replaces Milan imported missiles. For infantry use against tanks.
- VSHORADS: Very Short Range Air Defence System. Man-portable (MANPADS-class). IR homing. Counters low-flying UAVs, helicopters, aircraft. Replaces Igla-S (Russian).
- QRSAM: Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile. Mobile; all-weather; engages aerial threats at short range. Inducted into Army.
- Akash-NG: Next Generation Akash SAM. Active radar seeker (Akash Mk1 had semi-active). Higher maneuverability; IFF (Identify Friend or Foe) improved. Range: 40–80 km.
- SMART: Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo. Naval weapon. Fires a torpedo via missile to long ranges (650 km); engages submarines without risking the launching ship.
- Mission Shakti (2019): India’s ASAT (Anti-Satellite) weapon test. Shot down India’s own Microsat-R satellite in LEO. India became 4th ASAT-capable nation. Debris criticised by NASA.
4. Current Defence Chiefs & Infrastructure
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
General Anil Chauhan
Appointed Oct 2022; 2nd CDS (1st was Gen Bipin Rawat, killed in helicopter crash Dec 2021). Ex-GoC-in-C Eastern Command. Para SF background.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
General Upendra Dwivedi
Appointed Jun 2024. Ex-Northern Army Commander. Known for LAC modernisation. Expert in Himalayan warfare.
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)
Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi
Appointed Apr 2024. Career submarine officer. Ex-Chief of Personnel. Focuses on undersea capability expansion.
Chief of Air Staff (CAS)
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh
Appointed Sep 2024. Fighter pilot; 5,000+ flying hours; Su-30MKI experienced. Champions Tejas induction.
🌎 Strategic Infrastructure
- Sela Tunnel (Arunachal Pradesh, Mar 2024): World’s longest bi-lane tunnel at 13,000+ ft altitude. 1,555 m main tube. BRO project. All-weather access to Tawang (critical for China border logistics). PM Modi inaugurated.
- Atal Tunnel (Himachal Pradesh, 2020): World’s longest highway tunnel above 10,000 ft (9.02 km). Rohtang Pass bypass. Manali-Lahaul-Spiti connectivity. BRO built.
- Z-Morh Tunnel (J&K): Connects Srinagar to Sonamarg; all-weather access to a tourist destination + strategic valley. BRO.
- INS Varsha (Rambilli Submarine Base): India’s first nuclear submarine dedicated base. Underground caverns protect from satellite detection. Will host SSBNs (nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines) — Arihant class.
- Defence Industrial Corridors: Two established — Uttar Pradesh Corridor (Lucknow-Agra-Aligarh-Kanpur-Chitrakoot) and Tamil Nadu Corridor (Chennai-Coimbatore-Salem-Tirunelveli). Target Rs 20,000 crore each.
Q1. Mission Divyastra (March 2024) demonstrated which capability for the first time in India? (CDS I 2025)
(a) Hypersonic glide vehicle (b) MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles) on Agni-V (c) Anti-satellite weapon test (d) Submarine-launched ballistic missile
Answer: (b) MIRV on Agni-V
Mission Divyastra (Mar 11, 2024): India’s first successful test of MIRV technology on Agni-V ballistic missile. MIRV = single missile can carry multiple nuclear warheads, each independently targeted at different locations. India joined USA, Russia, China as 4th MIRV-capable nation. DRDO conducted test. PM Modi’s National Security Council was briefed. Anti-satellite = Mission Shakti (2019). Submarine-launched BM = from Arihant (2018 test). Hypersonic = HSTDV (2020 test, partial success).
Q2. Exercise SIMBEX is conducted between India and which country? What makes it unique? (CDS II 2023)
(a) India-Indonesia; first bilateral exercise (b) India-Singapore; India’s longest continuous bilateral naval exercise (c) India-South Korea; focuses on submarine warfare (d) India-Malaysia; ASEAN-linked exercise
Answer: (b) India-Singapore; India’s longest continuous bilateral naval exercise
SIMBEX (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise) has been held annually since 1994 without break — making it India’s longest uninterrupted bilateral naval exercise. Focus: anti-submarine warfare (ASW), fleet manoeuvres, live fire. Singapore’s RSN (Republic of Singapore Navy) participates. CDS often frames this as a test of which exercise has the longest history or unique distinction. Milan is multilateral; Malabar is QUAD-linked; SIMBEX = longest bilateral naval.
Q3. INS Vikrant was commissioned in September 2022. What is historically significant about this ship? (CDS I 2023)
(a) First nuclear-powered ship of Indian Navy (b) India’s first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier (c) India’s largest warship ever (d) First aircraft carrier with BrahMos missiles
Answer: (b) India’s first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier
INS Vikrant (IAC-1, Internal Account Code 76001) was designed entirely by Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design and built at Cochin Shipyard Ltd. 45,000 tonnes; 262 m long. India joins USA, UK, France, Russia, China as one of few countries to indigenously design & build an aircraft carrier. Previous INS Viraat was a British Hermes-class ship purchased second-hand. First INS Vikrant (1961–1997) was a Majestic-class ship, also not indigenous. CDS: “indigenously designed AND built” is the key distinction.
Q4. The C-295 transport aircraft for India will be assembled in India by which company at which location? (CDS II 2024 type)
(a) HAL at Bengaluru (b) Tata Advanced Systems Ltd at Vadodara (c) Mahindra Defence at Pune (d) BEL at Hyderabad
Answer: (b) Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) at Vadodara, Gujarat
Of 56 C-295 aircraft ordered from Airbus Spain, 16 will be delivered directly from Spain and 40 will be manufactured in India at TASL’s Vadodara facility. This is India’s first time manufacturing a military aircraft under Transfer of Technology (ToT). Airbus providing technology; TASL manufacturing. PM Modi laid foundation stone in Oct 2022. Replaces HS-748 Avro aircraft. CDS: know company + city + ToT = first military aircraft. HAL makes LCA Tejas (indigenous design), not ToT.
Q5. Exercise Tiger Triumph is a tri-service exercise between India and USA. What is its specific focus? (CDS I 2024)
(a) Nuclear deterrence and ballistic missile tracking (b) Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) (c) Electronic warfare and cyber operations (d) High-altitude mountain warfare
Answer: (b) Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
Tiger Triumph is India’s first tri-service HADR exercise with USA (all three services of both nations participate). It focuses on interoperability during natural disasters, amphibious evacuation, medical support. First held in Nov 2019. Contrast: Yudh Abhyas = land only; Vajra Prahar = special forces; SIMBEX = naval ASW; Tiger Triumph = HADR tri-service. CDS often gives 4 India-USA exercises and asks which is tri-service/HADR — Tiger Triumph is the answer.
🤯 T1. Distinguish between the following: BrahMos vs Astra vs QRSAM vs SMART. A CDS question gives four missile systems — what is the fastest way to identify each?
Classification framework:
BrahMos: Surface-to-Surface / Air-to-Surface / Ship-to-Ship cruise missile. Supersonic (Mach 2.8). India-Russia joint venture. Multiple platforms (land, sea, air). Philippines export. Keyword: CRUISE MISSILE.
Astra: Air-to-Air missile. BVR (Beyond Visual Range). DRDO. Launched from aircraft (Su-30MKI, Tejas). Keyword: AIR-TO-AIR BVR.
QRSAM: Surface-to-Air missile. Ground-based air defence. Quick reaction. Engages aerial threats (aircraft, missiles). Keyword: SAM (Surface-to-Air).
SMART: Surface-to-Underwater. Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo. Engages submarines from surface ship. Keyword: ANTI-SUBMARINE.
CDS method: Category (role) → Platform → Target determines the missile type. This avoids memorising all separately.
🤯 T2. Why is BrahMos’s export to Philippines geopolitically significant? How does it change India’s defence diplomacy?
Significance (5 layers):
1. Export milestone: First major missile system export from India; Rs 2,671 crore contract (2022). Validates India as credible defence exporter (target: USD 5 billion defence exports by 2025).
2. Geopolitical: Philippines is South China Sea claimant state; having BrahMos directly challenges Chinese maritime aggression without India deploying its own forces.
3. ASEAN footprint: Opens door for Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia — all SCS claimants — to purchase BrahMos. India’s Act East policy gains strategic teeth.
4. USA alignment: Philippines is a US treaty ally; BrahMos export aligns India with US Indo-Pacific strategy without formal alliance.
5. Joint venture economics: Russia gets revenue too; India-Russia defence partnership validated commercially despite Ukraine war pressure.
📝 Rapid Revision Sheet — CFC03 Defence & Military
🏪 Land Exercises
- Yudh Abhyas = India-USA (mountain HADR)
- Vajra Prahar = India-USA (Special Forces)
- Shakti = India-France (land CT)
- Dharma Guardian = India-Japan (land)
- Garuda Shakti = India-Indonesia (SF)
- Mitra Shakti = India-Sri Lanka (HADR/CT)
⛵️ Naval/Air Exercises
- SIMBEX = India-Singapore; LONGEST bilateral naval
- Varuna = India-France (naval)
- Milan = Multilateral (India hosts; 50+ nations)
- Malabar = QUAD naval (India,USA,Japan,Australia)
- Garuda = India-France (air; Rafale feature)
- Tiger Triumph = India-USA TRI-SERVICE HADR
💣 Missiles (Role)
- Agni-V MIRV = Mission Divyastra (Mar 2024)
- BrahMos = cruise missile; Philippines exported
- Astra Mk1 = BVR air-to-air (70-80 km)
- QRSAM = short-range SAM (army)
- SMART = anti-submarine (torpedo via missile)
- Akash-NG = improved SAM (active radar seeker)
🚨 Ships & Chiefs
- INS Vikrant = 1st indigenous carrier (Sep 2022)
- INS Vaghsheer = 6th Scorpene sub (Jan 2025)
- INS Imphal = 3rd Visakhapatnam destroyer
- INS Jatayu = Minicoy NAS (Lakshadweep)
- CDS: Gen Anil Chauhan (Oct 2022)
- COAS: Gen Upendra Dwivedi; CNS: Adm Tripathi
⚡ Quick Booster — CFC03 Defence & Military
Exercise Identification Trick
- HADR + Tri-service = Tiger Triumph
- Longest bilateral naval = SIMBEX
- Multilateral naval = Milan
- QUAD naval = Malabar
- Special Forces India-USA = Vajra Prahar
- First India-Japan air = Veer Guardian
Missile Role Quick
- Agni = ballistic (MIRV on V)
- BrahMos = cruise (supersonic)
- Astra = air-to-air BVR
- QRSAM = surface-to-air
- SMART = anti-submarine
- VSHORADS = MANPADS (shoulder)
CDS Traps to Avoid
- C-295: TASL Vadodara, NOT HAL Bengaluru
- Tiger Triumph = HADR NOT mountain warfare
- Mission Divyastra = MIRV NOT ASAT
- Mission Shakti (2019) = ASAT
- INS Vikrant = indigenous; NOT 2nd hand
- BrahMos = India-Russia JV, NOT DRDO alone
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