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Defence Technology: India’s Strategic Initiatives, Missile System, & Modernization Efforts

Defence Technology: India’s Strategic Initiatives, Missile System, & Modernization Efforts #

 

Organisation Important Information
DEFENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (DRDO)
  • DRDO is the R&D wing of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
  • Established in 1958.
DEFENSE INNOVATION ORGANISATION
  • It is a ‘not for profit’ company registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013.
  • Its two founding members are Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) & Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) – Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).

 

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Defence Technology: Committees

Committee Year Purpose
N Chandrasekharan 2018 To study implications of AI in national security.
Shetkar Committee 2015 To suggest measures to enhance combat capability and rebalance defense expenditure of the armed forces.
Defence Artificial Intelligence Project Agency (DAIPA) 2019 It aims for greater impetus on Artificial Intelligence in Defence Technology.

 

Defence Technology: India’s Nuclear Doctrine

  • India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974 and the second nuclear test in 1998.
  • India declared herself a nuclear weapon state in 1998 and came forward with Nuclear Doctrine in 2003.
  • India’s Nuclear Doctrine consist of the following major points:
  • Credible Minimum Deterrence.
  • No First Use policy i.e., India will use the weapon only in retaliation to a nuclear attack on Indian territory or against Indian forces anywhere.
  • Nuclear Command Authority-Retaliatory attacks will be authorized only by the civilian political leadership
  • Nuclear weapons will not be used against non-nuclear weapon states.
  • Massive Retaliation.

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Defence Technology: Nuclear Triad

  • A three-sided military-force structure consisting of land-launched nuclear missiles, nuclear-missile-armed submarines, and strategic aircraft with nuclear bombs and missiles.
Land Based Agni; Agni-I; Agni-II; Agni III; Agni-IV; ICBM – Agni-V; SLBM – Sagarika (K-15); Cruise – Brahmos Supersonic etc.
Sea Based Arihant class submarine
Air Based Mig-27 ETC

Defence Technology: Missiles

In Defence Technology, a missile is an intelligent unmanned rocket designed to carry the payload to a designated point with an aim of destroying the object/target.

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Defence Technology: Propulsion Systems

Type of Propulsion Features
Solid propulsion
  • Solid fuel used, mostly aluminum powder.
  • Can be easily stored.
  • Reach high speed quickly.
Liquid Propulsion
  • Liquid fuel used, i.e., hydrocarbons.
  • Storage is difficult and complex.
  • Can be controlled easily.
Ramjet
  • No turbines
  • Fuel injected and ignited.
  • Cannot propel aerial vehicles to supersonic speeds.
  • It is a type of air breathing engine.
  • The combustion chamber – where the air is mixed with fuel and ignited – only works at subsonic speeds. So, the intake slows the air down, releasing some of its energy as a shock wave, but this reduces fuel efficiency.
Scramjet
  • Supersonic combustion ramjet.
  • Combustion at supersonic velocities.
  • Hydrogen fuel used.
  • It is a type of air breathing engine.
  • India is the fourth country apart from USA, Russia and ESA to demonstrate this technology.
  • The combustion chamber is specially designed to operate with supersonic airflow.
Cryogenic
  • Liquified gasses at very low temp. e.g. Liquid hydrogen.
  • Need insulated containers and vents.
  • No air intake is required.
  • India is the sixth country apart from the USA, Russia, France, Japan, China to have this technology.

 

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Defence Technology: Ballistic And Cruise Missiles

Ballistic Missile Cruise Missile
It is propelled only for a brief duration after the launch. It depends on gravity to reach its target. Self-propelled till the end of its flight.
Fixed target and parabolic path Moving target and no fixed path
They leave the earth’s atmosphere(Exosphere)and re-enter it. They remain within the earth’s atmosphere- Endosphere
Low precision as trajectory depends on gravity, air resistance and Coriolis Force. High precision
Can have a very long range (300 km to 12,000 km) The range is small (below 500 km)
Heavy payload carrying capacity. Payload capacity is limited.
Developed primarily to carry nuclear warheads. Developed primarily to carry conventional warheads.
E.g. Prithvi I, II, Agni I,II and Dhanush, Prahaar, Prithvi and Trishul etc. E.g. BrahMos missiles
Types of ballistic missiles based on range:

1. Short range ballistic missile (SRBM)- 300 to 1000 KM

2. Medium range (MRBM)- 1000-3500 KM

3. Intermediate range (IRBM)- 3500-5500 KM

4. Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)- 5500 KM

Types of cruise missiles based on speed:

1. Hypersonic (Mach 5): speed is five times the speed of sound (Mach 5).

2. Supersonic (Mach 2-3): speed is faster than the speed of sound.

3. Subsonic (Mach 0.8): speed is slower than the speed of sound.

 

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Defence Technology: Indian Missile System

Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP):

  • It was conceived by Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam to enable India attain self-sufficiency in missile technology, in response to the Missile Technology Control Regime.
  • IGMDP was started in 1983 and completed in March 2012.
  • It developed 5 types of missiles under it.
MISSILE DETAILS
AGNI
  • It is an intercontinental surface-to-surface, nuclear capable ballistic missile developed by DRDO.
  • At present, US, China, Russia, UK, France and Israel are known to have ICBMs.
  • It has been equipped with very high accuracy.
  • Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and Micro Navigation System (MINS).
PRITHVI
  • Tactical surface-to-surface short range ballistic missile.
  • First missile developed under IGMDP in 1983.
  • Uses either liquid or both liquid and solid fuels and are capable of carrying conventional as well as nuclear warhead.
  • Prithvi I- Army version-150 km range
  • Prithvi II- Air force version-350 km range
  • Prithvi III- Naval version-600 km range
TRISHUL
  • Short range surface-to-air missile for Indian Navy used for Immediate combat action.
  • Range – 9km.
  • Currently not in service.
NAG
  • Anti-tank missile.
  • Range – 4km.
  • 3rd generation ‘fire and forget’ guided missile where the target is identified and designated before the weapon is launched.
  • It is an all-weather condition with day and night capabilities.
  • Launched from land and air-based platforms.
AKASH
  • Group of 4 medium range surface-to-air missiles with a radar called Rajendra.
  • Multi-target engagement capacity. Radar detects incoming objects and missiles are fired.
  • Range – 30 km. Altitudes up to 18000 m.
  • Already in use.

 

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Defence Technology: Other Missiles

ASTRA
  • Astra is an all-weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM)
  • Range – 80km.
  • Payload capacity: 15 kg.
  • First indigenously developed missile of India
  • Uses solid fuel ducted Ramjet and has BVRAAM (beyond visual range air-to-air missile) technology.
  • Can destroy enemy aircrafts at supersonic speed.
PRAHAAR
  • solid-fuel, surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile
  • Range – 150 km.
  • Payload capacity – 200 to 500kg.
PRALAY
  • solid fuel surface-to-surface tactical missile.
  • Payload – 1 tonne and has a range of 350 km.
NIRBHAY
  • NIRBHAY is India’s first indigenous Long Range, all-weather, Subsonic Cruise Missile,
  • It can carry a warhead of 200 kg to 300 kg at a speed of 0.6 to 0.7 Mach with a launch weight of about 1500 kg.
  • It can avoid detection as it has the ability to cruise at heights as low as 100 m.
  • Can be launched from multiple platforms and is capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads.
  • Two-stage missile powered by Solid rocket motor booster.
  • Range of 1000 km.
DHANUSH
  • Sea-to-sea/surface short range ballistic missile.
  • Range – 350 km.
  • Capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
BRAHMOS MISSILE SYSTEM
  • BRAHMOS is a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India (DRDO) and the NPOM of Russia.
  • Named after the rivers Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia).
  • Two-stage (solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in second) air-to-surface missile.
  • Range – around 300 km.
  • Speed – Mach 2.8
  • India’s entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) has extended the range of the BRAHMOS missile to reach 450 km-600km.
  • Can be launched from land, air, and sea and multi capability missile with pinpoint accuracy that works in both day and night irrespective of the weather conditions.
  • Operates on the “Fire and Forgets” principle.
  • One of the fastest cruise missiles currently operationally deployed.
  • Lower target dispersion and quicker engagement.
  • Low radar signature.
PINAKA MISSILE SYSTEM
  • Indigenous multi-barrel rocket launch system, for the Indian Army by DRDO
  • The navigation system – aided by the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
  • Range is more than 70 km.
RudraM-I
  • It is the first indigenous anti-radiation missile of the country.
  • Range of up to 200 km depending upon the launch conditions.
  • can be launched from altitudes of 500 m to 15 km and speeds of 0.6 to 2 mach.
  • can locate and target any radiation-emitting source like enemy radars, communication sites and other Radio Frequency (RF) emitting targets.
Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT)

MISSION SHAKTI

  • To develop highly potent Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT).
  • It is a joint programme of DRDO and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
  • Anti-satellite (ASAT) System is a missile-based system to attack moving satellites.
  • ASAT propels India to the coveted space-superpower league.
  • India will now have the power to decimate satellites for pure military and strategic purposes.
  • India will have the capability to interfere with satellites or engage in direct attacks.
  • ASAT missiles can be air, sea or land based.
  • Can also help in creating nuclear missile deterrence.
  • In March 2019, India successfully tested its ASAT missile.
  • joining a select group of nations – USA, Russia and China with a similar technology.
  • India used the Kinetic Kill space technology.
  • The ASAT missile destroyed a live satellite in Low Earth orbit (283-kilometer).
  • As per DRDO, the missile is capable of shooting down targets moving at a speed of 10 km per second at an altitude as high as 1200 km.

 

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Defence Technology: Air Defence Systems

Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme:

  • India’s BMD development began in 1999, after the Kargil war.
  • It is a two-tiered defense system and will be able to intercept any incoming missile launched 5,000 km away.
  1. Prithvi Air Defence (PAD): It’s designed for High altitude interception (exo-atmospheric interception).
  2. Advanced Air Defence (AAD): It’s endo-atmospheric interception system (for low altitude interception).

Defence Technology: Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems

S-400 TRIUMF MISSILE SYSTEM Russia -It is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system .
THAAD-Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system US- a transportable, ground-based
Iron Dome Aerial Defence System Israel

 

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Defence Technology: Navy

SUBMARINES:

Nuclear-powered
  • Gets energy from a nuclear reactor so it can stay submerged in water for months.
  • Difficult for the enemy to detect.
  • Can float near territorial waters of enemy nations.
  • Provide excellent second-striking capability
  • SSN: submersible ship nuclear-powered-specifically designed for attacking and sinking other submarines/ships. Generally, do not carry long range missiles.
  • SSBN: submersible ship Ballistic Nuclear-Powered-have the capability to deploy submarine launched ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads.
Diesel-powered
  • Come on waterbody surface after regular intervals because burning of diesel needs oxygen
  • Easy for enemy to detect
  • Can’t float near territorial waters of enemy nation
  • Don’t possess that advantage
Attack Submarines
  • Generally small submarines designed for specific tasks, which include attack on the enemy in combat.
  • It uses torpedoes and other small range missiles.
  • These submarines have limited range and need to come out of the water after some time.
Ballistic Missile Submarines
  • Bigger in size and are more destructive for the enemy.
  • It is used as a launch platform for ballistic or long-range missiles.
  • These can carry nuclear warheads.
  • These submarines are nuclear powered submarines. As a result, they have almost unlimited range because of the availability of unlimited power supply.
  • These can remain underwater for months and can travel up to thousand miles.

 

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Defence Technology: In-Service

Class Type Boats Origin
Nuclear-powered submarines (3)
Chakra (Akula II) class Attack submarine (SSN) INS Chakra Russia
Arihant class Ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) INS Arihant

INS Arigha

India
Diesel-electric submarines (14)
Shishumar class Attack submarine INS Shishumar

INS Shankush

INS Shalki

INS Shankul

West Germany

India

Kalvari class Attack submarine INS Kalvari

INS Khanderi

France

India

Sindhughosh class Attack submarine INS Sindhughosh

INS Sindhudhvaj

INS Sindhuraj

INS Sindhuratna

INS Sindhukesari

INS Sindhukirti

INS Sindhuvijay

INS Sindhurashtra

Russia

 

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Defence Technology: Projects By Navy

Project Name Features
PROJECT 75
  • Part of a 30-year submarine building plan from 2007 up to 2030.
  • This project envisages the construction of six conventional submarines with better sensors and weapons and the Air Independent Propulsion System (AIP)- Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, Vela, Vagir and Vagsheer.
PROJECT 28
  • Under this 4 Anti-Submarine Warships have to be built indigenously in India.
  • Four corvettes- INS Kamorta, INS Kadmatt, INS Kiltan and INS Kavaratti.
  • The warships are named after the islands in the Lakshadweep archipelago.
PROJECT 17A
  • Involves the building of seven stealth frigates.

 

Defence Technology: Initiatives To Modernize Defence Industry

Strategic Partnership (SP) Model This Defence Technology Model identifies a few Indian private companies who would initially tie up with global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to seek technology transfers to set up domestic manufacturing infrastructure and supply chains.
iDEX Launched in 2018.

This Defence Technology initiative aims to promote innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging Industries (which includes MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes & academia)with funding and other support to carry out Research & Development.

It will be funded and managed by the Defence Innovation Organization (DIO) and will function as the executive arm of DIO.

 

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Defence Technology: Defence Indigenisation

  • Raising the sectoral cap of foreign direct investment (FDI) (automatic approval) from the existing 49% to 74%.
  • A negative list for the import of defense equipment in India- means that the Armed Force will only procure all of these 101 items from domestic manufacturers.
  • Corporatization of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and Defence industrial corridors in Tamil Nadu and UP.
  • SRIJAN portal for domestic vendors- one stop shop online portal that will give information on items that can be taken up for indigenization by the private sector.
  • Naval Innovation and Indigenization Organisation (NIIO) has been launched by the Defence Minister of India.
  • Objective– To foster innovation and indigenization for self-reliance in defense in keeping with the vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
  • Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti -to promote a culture of innovation and technology development and for promoting the creation of Intellectual Property in the sector and its commercial utilization.

Defence Technology: Defense Corridors

  • Proposed to det up two defense corridors at Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
  • In Defence Technology, Defence corridors refers to a route or path along which domestic production of defense equipment by the public sector, private to enhance the defense capability.

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Defence Technology: New Defence Acquisition Procedure of 2020 (DAP 2020)

  • DAP 2020 will govern the procurement of defense equipment from the capital budget.
  • It superseded the Defence Procurement Procedure of 2016.
  • Reservation in Categories for Indian Vendors– Some categories like Buy (Indian Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured -IDDM), Production Agency in Design & Development etc. will be exclusively reserved for Indian Vendors.
  • Overall Greater indigenous content requirement:
Category DPP 2016 DAP 2020
Buy (Indian-DMM) Min 40% Min 50%
Buy (Indian) Min 40% Indigenous Design – Min 50%

otherwise – Min 60%

Buy and Make (Indian) Min 50% of Make Min 50% of Make
Buy (Global – Manufacture in India) category does not exist Min 50% of Buy plus Make
Buy (Global) category does not exist Min 30% for Indian Vendors
  • Measuring indigenous content- Indigenous content will now be calculated on ‘Base Contract Price’–Total Contract Price, less taxes and duties.
  • Import embargo list
  • Offset liability-The government has decided not to have an offset clause in procurement of defense equipment if the deal is done through inter-government agreement (IGA), government-to-government, single vendor.
  • Leasing was introduced as a new category for acquisition in addition to the existing ‘Buy’ and ‘Make’ categories so that periodical rental payments are made instead of huge capital investment.

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 Defence Technology: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

  • Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)/Drones in Defence Technology are a class of aircrafts that can fly without the onboard presence of pilots.
  • There are three subsets of Unmanned Aircraft- Remotely Piloted Aircraft, Autonomous Aircraft and Model Aircraft.
  • Some UAV used by Indian Military are: DRDO Abhyas; DRDO Fluffy; DRDO Imperial Eagle; DRDO Kapothaka; DRDO Lakshya; DRDO Netra; DRDO Nishant; DRDO Rustom & Rustom II; DRDO Ulka.

Defence Technology: India Drone Regulations

  • India has a ‘No Permission-No Takeoff’ (NPNT) clause, which implies that a drone cannot be operated in Indian skies unless the regulatory permission is received through the Digital Sky Platform
  • Registration is required for all but the Nano category.
  • Defence Technology: Drone Categories in India
  1. Nano: Less than or equal to 250 grams
  2. Micro: From 250 grams to 2 kg
  3. Small: From 2 kg to 25 kg
  4. Medium: From 25 kg to 150 kg
  5. Large: Greater than 150kg

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Current Issues

1.RAFALE

2.TEJAS

Defence Technology: Chemical Weapons

Definition
  • A Chemical Weapon in Defence Technology is a chemical used to cause intentional death or harm through its toxic properties. Equipment specifically designed to weaponize toxic chemicals also fall under this definition.
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
  • CWC is a multilateral treaty that bans chemical weapons and requires their destruction within a specified period of time.
  • It is implemented by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
  • Three states have neither signed nor ratified the convention are Egypt, North Korea and South Sudan.
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
  • Headquarter-Hague, Netherlands.
  • OPCW was established by the Chemical Weapons Convention, 1997 to implement and enforce the terms of the non-proliferation treaty.
  • It is authorized to perform inspections, perform testing of sites and victims of suspected chemical weapons attacks to verify that signatory states are complying with the convention.
  • OPCW won the 2013 Nobel peace prize.
Chemical weapons and India
  • India ratified the CWC in 1996.
  • As a state party to the CWC India enacted the Chemical Weapons Convention Act in 2000.
  • National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) has been established under the Chemical Weapons Convention Act, 2000 for implementing the provisions of the Convention
Chemical agents in news
  • Chlorine gas – Choking agent
  • Sarin gas – Nerve agent.
  • Novichok -Nerve Agent- 5-8 times more lethal than VX nerve agent.
  • Cyanide- Blood Agent
  • Phosgene, Sulphur Mustard- Blister agents
  • VX- very persistent once in the atmosphere, it is slow to evaporate, and thus tends to cause prolonged exposure.

 

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Defence Technology: Biological Weapons

In Defence Technology, Biological weapons are microorganisms like virus, bacteria, fungi, or other toxins that are produced and released deliberately to cause disease and death in humans, animals or plants. Examples- anthrax, botulinum toxin, Plague, Ricin etc.

Biological Agents Chemical Agents
Natural origin Man-made
Difficult, costly, small-scale production Large-scale, cheaper, industrial production
Odourless and tasteless Many have noticeable odor or taste. One exception is sarin gas, which is both odorless and tasteless.
Disseminated as aerosols in air or in water or food Disseminated as aerosols or liquids
Most won’t penetrate skin Can penetrate skin
Delayed onset of physical effects Has immediate physical effects
Crisis measured in weeks, months Crisis typically measured in hours, days
Delayed response that would build Immediate, large response for some agents. Delayed for others.

 

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Defence Technology: Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

  • It is the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning the development, production and stockpiling of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. BWC entered into force on 26 March 1975.
  • India signed the convention in 1973.
  • The BWC bans:
  • The development, stockpiling, acquisition, retention, and production of:
  • Biological agents and toxins “of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes;”
  • Weapons, equipment, and delivery vehicles “designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict.”

The transfer of or assistance with acquiring the agents, toxins, weapons, equipment, and delivery vehicles described above.

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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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