In Defence Current Affairs for 13 October 2026, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.
Defence Current Affairs 13 October 2026
Indian Navy Commissions INS Mangrol
The Indian Navy commissioned INS Mangrol (P82), the third vessel of the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on 12 October 2026.
Designed and built indigenously by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, INS Mangrol highlights India’s increasing self-reliance in warship design, construction and systems integration. More than 80% of the vessel’s content is indigenous, reflecting the objectives of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. The project also demonstrates the contribution of domestic defence manufacturers and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to India’s naval capabilities.
INS Mangrol has been designed primarily for operations in coastal and shallow waters. Its key roles include Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), underwater surveillance, Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and mine warfare-related tasks.
The ship takes its name from Mangrol, a coastal town and prominent fishing harbour in Gujarat’s Junagadh district.
The commissioning of INS Mangrol represents another step towards strengthening India’s coastal defence and improving the Indian Navy’s ability to detect and counter underwater threats.
IBSAMAR IX 2026
The Indian Navy’s frontline guided-missile stealth frigate INS Tarkash is deployed to South Africa to participate in the ninth edition of the India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime Exercise (IBSAMAR IX) 2026.
IBSAMAR is a trilateral naval exercise involving the armed maritime forces of India, Brazil and South Africa. It seeks to improve operational coordination, deepen maritime partnerships and encourage the exchange of professional knowledge among the participating navies.
Conducted biennially since 2008 under the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) framework, the exercise provides a platform for joint training and sharing operational best practices.
The exercise covers a wide range of maritime activities, including surface warfare, anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, naval air operations, maritime interdiction, Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS), anti-piracy missions, Search and Rescue (SAR), damage control and firefighting. Professional interactions also form an important part of the programme.
The theme of IBSAMAR IX 2026 is “Stronger Together Towards a Shared Future in the Maritime Domain.” The exercise is intended to strengthen collective preparedness and promote cooperation in addressing maritime security challenges, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region.
Indian Coast Guard Completes Mount Mukut Expedition
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) achieved a significant mountaineering milestone when its 17-member team successfully scaled Mount Mukut, a peak rising to 7,045 metres, on 7 October 2026.
On 12 October 2026, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami formally flagged in the returning team at a ceremony in Dehradun. The expedition was conducted under the guidance of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling.
The climb represented Phase V and the final milestone of an intensive 18-month preparatory training programme. This programme is designed to prepare the team for a planned ascent of Mount Everest in 2027, during the Indian Coast Guard’s Swarnim Jayanti celebrations.
The expedition began on 15 September 2026, and the team established Base Camp-I on 1 October. Despite facing severe weather conditions, the mountaineers successfully reached the summit on 7 October.
The experience gained during this high-altitude mission will help the team strengthen its endurance, technical skills and operational preparedness for the proposed Everest expedition. The achievement also demonstrates the importance of structured training, teamwork and determination in challenging mountain environments.
Indian Army Introduces ‘Bharat Rice’ for Troops
The Indian Army launched ‘Bharat Rice’ for the defence forces at an event in New Delhi on 12 October 2026. The ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi.
An important feature of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Army and the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The agreement provides for the use of FCI infrastructure during operational contingencies.
Under the initiative, rice will be transported directly to Army Supply Depots, including those located in remote regions of Ladakh and the Northeast. This arrangement is intended to reduce the need for Army depots to collect supplies from local FCI facilities and improve the delivery of food provisions to troops stationed in distant areas.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described Bharat Rice as a bond of trust connecting farmers’ fields with soldiers’ plates. He also highlighted its connection with the national slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.”
The initiative symbolises cooperation between the agricultural and defence sectors, recognising the contribution of farmers to the nation’s food security and the sustenance of its armed forces.
France Accelerates Development of Next-Generation Combat Aircraft
France is advancing its plans for a future combat aircraft following its decision to separate from Germany in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project. The country is now focusing on a national programme centred on the ACF (Avion de Combat du Futur), intended to develop a future fighter for the French Air and Space Force.
The ACF is planned as a successor to the Rafale F4 standard and replaces the earlier New Generation Fighter (NGF) concept in France’s current national approach. According to the provided information, work on an ACF demonstrator is scheduled to begin in 2027, while development of the production-standard aircraft is expected to commence in 2029.
Alongside the ACF programme, France is preparing to launch the development phase of the Rafale F5, frequently referred to as the “Super Rafale.” Its planned upgrades include next-generation engines, advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, improved electro-optical systems and a hypersonic missile intended to strengthen France’s airborne nuclear deterrent.
France is also developing technologies to support the integration of artificial intelligence into combat aviation. For this purpose, the French Air and Space Force is launching the HypAIRion initiative, under which two Mirage 2000 aircraft will be converted into flying test laboratories. These platforms will support trials involving advanced autonomous technologies and human-machine teaming.
The programmes form part of France’s broader effort to preserve its independence in combat aviation, maintain control over critical defence technologies and sustain the capabilities of its domestic aerospace industry.
Key takeaway: France’s future combat aviation strategy combines the development of the ACF, upgrades to the Rafale through the F5 standard, and research into artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.
Review Questions
1. INS Mangrol (P82), commissioned by the Indian Navy on 12 October 2026,
belongs to which class of vessels?
A) Kolkata-class Destroyer
B) Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft
C) Talwar-class Frigate
D) Kamorta-class Corvette
Answer: B) Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft
2. Which shipyard indigenously designed and constructed INS Mangrol?
A) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
B) Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers
C) Cochin Shipyard Limited
D) Goa Shipyard Limited
Answer: C) Cochin Shipyard Limited
3. IBSAMAR is a trilateral maritime exercise involving which three countries?
A) India, Brazil and South Africa
B) India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
C) India, Singapore and Malaysia
D) Brazil, Russia and South Africa
Answer: A) India, Brazil and South Africa
4. Which Indian Navy vessel participated in IBSAMAR IX 2026?
A) INS Vikrant
B) INS Tarkash
C) INS Arihant
D) INS Chennai
Answer: B) INS Tarkash
5. The Indian Coast Guard’s 2026 mountaineering expedition successfully scaled
which peak?
A) Mount Trishul
B) Mount Kamet
C) Mount Mukut
D) Mount Nanda Devi
Answer: C) Mount Mukut
6. The Indian Coast Guard team is preparing for a planned Mount Everest
expedition in which year?
A) 2026
B) 2027
C) 2028
D) 2029
Answer: B) 2027
7. The Indian Army signed an MoU related to the Bharat Rice initiative with which
organisation?
A) National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED)
B) Food Corporation of India (FCI)
C) Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
D) National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF)
Answer: B) Food Corporation of India (FCI)
8. What is the name of France’s future combat aircraft programme described in the
article?
A) AMCA
B) Tempest
C) ACF (Avion de Combat du Futur)
D) FC-31
Answer: C) ACF (Avion de Combat du Futur)
9. Under France’s HypAIRion initiative, which aircraft will be converted into flying
test laboratories?
A) Rafale F4
B) Mirage 2000
C) Eurofighter Typhoon
D) Dassault Falcon 7X
Answer: B) Mirage 2000
- Who Becomes First Woman Subedar Of Indian Army?
A. Havildar Preeti Rajak
B. Havildar Sucheta
C. Havildar Neha Tyagi
D. None
ANSWER: A - Exercise ‘SADA TANSEEQ’ Conducted b/w India &
A. Qatar
B. Oman
C. UAE
D. SAUDI ARABIA
ANSWER: D - INS Karmuk Is A
A. Destroyer
B. Missile Corvette
C. Submarine
D. Tank
ANSWER: B - Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Is An Indian Unmanned & Manned
Combat Aircraft Air Teaming System Developed By
A. HAL
B. DRDO
C. JAXA
D. Boeing
ANSWER: A - Ex ‘Ekuverin’ Conducted B/W India &
A. Qatar
B. Oman
C. UAE
D. Maldives
ANSWER: D - Safran Manufactures Aircraft Engines, Rocket Engines MNC Comes From
A. Germany
B. France
C. Nepal
D. UK
ANSWER: B - ‘Praia’ Is The Capital Of
A. Costa Rica
B. Comoros
C. Cameroon
D. Cape Verde
ANSWER: D - “Roller Coaster: An Affair with Banking” Book Is Written By
A. Tamal Bandyopadhyay
B. Ranjan Gogoi
C. Manish Tiwari
D. Neha Sharma
ANSWER: A - UNDP Was Established In
A. 1965
B. 1975
C. 1985
D. 1995
ANSWER: A - Lamitye Exercise Held B/W India And___?
A. Thailand
B. USA
C. Qatar
D. Seychelles
ANSWER: D - War Cry of THE MAHAR REGIMENT
A. Bharat Mata ki Jai
B. Bolo Hindustan Ki Jay
C. Jai Hind
D. Durga Mata Ki Jai
ANSWER: B
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