Science and Tech Current lecture 8

Swarm Drones
 Swarm Drones are a collection of small and light weight aerial vehicles that can be
controlled from the same station.
 They exhibit self-organising behaviour, collision avoidance between the UAVs and
obstacle avoidance with terrain
 swarm drones can also communicate with each other, through communication system,
to create different flying formations for surveillance and attack modes.

Tethered drones
 It is an unmanned aerial vehicle tethered to the ground.
 It consists of a base station on the ground and the drone, which is connected to the
station through the tether (cable).
 The drone can be operated remotely to perform specific tasks. ● They are perfect for
data capture and telemetry.
 It dramatically reduce technical and human error crashes in flight.
 Tethered drones provide a secure line of communication between the ground station
and the aircraft.

MQ-9B Predator Drone

 India is procuring the long-endurance 'hunter-killer' drones to crank up the surveillance
apparatus of the armed forces.
 It is variant of the MQ-9 "Reaper", an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
 These are high-altitude long-endurance drones armed with strike missiles.
 It was developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA- ASI), primarily for the
United States Air Force (USAF).
 The MQ-9B has two variants — SkyGuardian and its sibling SeaGuardian.
 The Indian Navy has been operating the MQ-9B Sea Guardian since 2020.
MQ-9B SeaGuardian
 The SeaGuardian drone can operate over 40,000 feet. Their endurance time is 40 hours
 It can support land, maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare,
strike, electronic warfare and expeditionary roles.
 It is also capable of automatic take-offs and landings.
 It can safely integrate into civil airspace, enabling joint forces and civil authorities to
deliver real-time situational awareness anywhere in the maritime domain day or night.

Heron Mark 2 drones

 Have strike capability and can carry out surveillance along the borders with both China
and Pakistan
 Can be equipped with long-range missiles and other weapons systems
 The Heron Mark-2 is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone, with a maximum
range of 3,000 kilometers and an endurance of 24 hours.
 Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries

TAPAS (Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance)

 Indigenously developed TAPAS 201 is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV.
 Designed and developed by Bengaluru based Aeronautical Development Establishment
(ADE).
 Capable to carry different combinations of payloads like Medium Range Electro Optic,
Long Range Electro Optic, Synthetic Aperture Radar etc. to perform missions during day
and night.
 It has an endurance of more than 18 hours and can operate at altitudes of up to 28,000
feet.
MH-60R ROMEO
 MH-60 ‘Romeo’ multi-mission helicopter landed on the indigenously- built aircraft
carrier INS Vikrant.
 Manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, it is an all-weather helicopter designed
to support multiple missions with state-of-the-art avionics and sensors.
 It is a versatile platform known for its exceptional Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW),
surveillance, anti-shipping, and search and rescue capabilities.

Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv Mk -III

 An Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-III squadron has been
commissioned in Chennai
 ALH Mk-III helicopter indigenously manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
(HAL),
 This feature enables the helicopter to undertake maritime reconnaissance as well as
carry out search and rescue.
 It has the ability to switch roles from an offensive platform with heavy machine gun to
that of a benign one carrying a Medical Intensive Care Unit to facilitate transfer of
critically ill patients.
MiG-21 Fighter Jet
 The Indian Air Force's No. 4 squadron's MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft performed its final
flight over the Uttarlai town in Barmer, Rajasthan
 It is India's longest serving fighter plane
 It is a single engine, single-seater multirole fighter/ground attack aircraft.
 It was designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau (OKB) of the erstwhile Soviet
Union
Indo-US Jet Engine deal
 The deal will allow General Electric (GE) Aerospace (American) to share critical
technology with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
 The deal will felicitate for the joint production of GE-F414 jet engines that will power
indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-II.
 the U.S. has agreed to transfer ~80% of the tech value to India, which is unprecedented.

GE-F414 Jet engines

 It is a high-performance engine used by the US Navy for over 30 years.
 It is a derivative of the GE F404 engine, which was developed in the 1970s.
 The F414 powers or is on order to power jets in the S., Sweden, Australia, Kuwait, Brazil,
South Korea, India and Indonesia.
 It is the first fighter engine to use a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC).
FADEC provides precise control of the engine’s performance, which improves fuel
efficiency and reduces emissions.

INDUS-X
 India and the U.S. are exploring the possibility of co-producing jet engines, long-range
artillery, and infantry vehicles with launch of INDUS-X.
 It is a major upcoming initiative under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging
Technologies (iCET)
 It aimed To expand strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation
between governments, businesses and academic institutions of India and US
 Under the INDUS-X, Indian and American startups will now be able to co-develop and
co-produce advanced technologies.

U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET)

 Launched by Indian PM and US president on the sidelines of the Quad summit on May
2022.
 It aimed to elevate and expand Indo-U.S. strategic technology partnership and defense
industrial cooperation.
 It is is spearheaded by the National Security Councils of both countries.
 Areas of cooperation under iCET are R&D, Quantum computing, Defence innovations,
Space, 6G, Semiconductors, etc.
C295 Transport Aircraft
 It is a new-generation tactical airlifter in the light and medium segment that will replace
the ageing Avro aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
 It was designed and built by Airbus, a European multinational aerospace corporation
 This is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in
India by a private company.
 The aircraft, with a flight endurance of up to 11 hours, can carry out multi-role
operations under all weather conditions.
 One of its feature is short take-off/land from semi-prepared surfaces .

LCA Tejas Mk2

 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme was started by the Government of India in 1984
to replace ageing Mig 21 fighter planes.
 It is designed by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and manufactured by
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
 Inflight refueling capacity.
 On Board Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS) to supply oxygen for unlimited duration.
 Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles carrying capacity.
 Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface missiles, Heavy Precision Guided Weapons with stand off
ranges more than 100km
 Maximum payload capacity of 4000 kg. ● Maximum speed of Mach 1.8.
 The range of the aircraft is 3,000 km.
 It will have 70 per cent indigenisation (as opposed to the 62 per cent of the Mark IA),
and will incorporate more advanced technologies to be built in India.

Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground in Ladakh

 The Border Roads Organisation(BRO) is constructing India’s highest fighter airfield in
Nyoma, a village in Ladakh.
 The Nyoma is located in Eastern Ladakh.
 It is close to the south Bank of Pangong Tso at an altitude of about 13,700 feet.
 Nyoma is around 46 kilometers from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
Daulat Beg Oldi
Current military base located in the midst of the Karakoram Range i northern Ladakh

One of the world's highest airstrips

INS Vikramaditya
 Modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier
 The carrier served with the Soviet Navy and later with the Russian Navy before being
decommissioned in 1996.
 It was later bought by India in 2004 and was commissioned in 2013 after refurbishing

INS Vikrant
 India’s first indigenously designed and manufactured aircraft carrier
 India also joins the elite group of nations – the US, Russia, France, the UK and China –
who are capable of designing and constructing aircraft carriers.
 It can accommodate up to 30 fixed-wing aircraft, including fighter jets, and rotary-wing
aircraft, such as anti-submarine warfare helicopters and utility helicopters.

Project 15B
 It is a project that aims to construct four guided missile destroyer, launched in 2011
 It is follow on of project 15A (Kolkata Class)
 Designed by the Warship Design Bureau, Indian Navy’s in-house organisation; and built
by M/s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai
 Under this initiative, Visakhapatnam Class four warships (Visakhapatnam, Mormugao,
Imphal, Surat) were planned.
 The ship is 163 metres long and 17 metres wide, displaces 7400 tonnes when fully
loaded and has a maximum speed of 30 knots

INS Imphal
 The Indian Navy has received its latest stealth destroyer named INS Imphal.
 INS Imphal is the third ship to be launched under Project 15-B.
 It is designed by Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
 The ship has indigenous content of around 75%.
 The ship is armed with supersonic Surface-to-Surface ‘Brahmos’ missiles and ‘Barak-8’
Medium Range Surface to Air Missiles.
 INS Imphal is the first warship with separate accommodation for women sailors.

Project-75
 signed in 2005, includes indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene
(dieselelectric) design.
 The submarines are designed by French naval defence and energy company DCNS and
are being manufactured by Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai.

Project -75I
 The P-75I class is a follow-on of the P-75 class submarines of the Indian Navy
 P-75I, are a planned class of diesel-electric submarines, which are to be built for the
Indian Navy.
 Under P-75I the Indian Navy intends to acquire six conventional, diesel-electric attack
submarines, which will also feature advanced capabilities.
 All six submarines are expected to be constructed in India, under the Make in India
initiative.

AIP (Air Independent Propulsion)

 Conventional non-nuclear submarines
 AIP system, the submarine will need to take in oxygen only once a week.
 In a fuel cell based AIP, an electrolytic fuel cell releases energy by combining hydrogen
and oxygen, with only water as the waste product ensuring less marine pollution.

INS Arihant
 India’s first ballistic missile nuclear submarine (SSMN) ● Submarine Launched Ballistic
Missile (SLBM).
 It was commissioned in 2016.
 INS Arihant is presently armed with K-15 SLBM with a range of 750 km.

Varunastra
 It is indigenously designed and developed ship-launched anti- submarine torpedo.
 It was designed and developed by Vizag-based Naval Science and Technological
Laboratory (NSTL) under the DRDO and is manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL)
 With a maximum speed of 40 knots and a maximum operating depth of 600 m, has a
long range with multi-manoeuvering capabilities.
 iDEX (Innovation for Defence Excellence)
 Objective is rapid development of new, indigenised and innovative technologies for the
Indian defence and aerospace sector
 The iDEX-Prime aims to support projects requiring support beyond Rs 1.5 crore up to Rs
10 crore, to help ever-growing start-ups in the defence sector
 It is flagship initiative under Ministry of Defence (MoD), launched in 2018
 iDEX is funded and managed by Defence Innovation Organization (DIO), which is not for
profit company under Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013

Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC)

 DISC aims at supporting Startups/MSMEs/Innovators to create prototypes and/or
commercialize products/solutions in National Defence and Security
 First DISC was launched in 2018 at Bengaluru
 launched by Ministry of Defence in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
 The startups, Indian companies, individual innovators can participate under program

Mission DefSpace
 The Mision aims to develop innovative solutions for the three Services (Indian airforce,
Navy and Army) in the space domain through the Indian industry and start-ups.
 The mission will develop a range of military applications for space warfare.
 75 challenges are being opened to get innovative solutions, based on the defence
requirements in the space domain.
 Startups, innovators and the private sector will be invited to find solutions.

Project Udbhav
 Project Udbhav is a collaboration between the Indian Army and the United Service
Institution of India (USI).
 It aim to rediscover the profound Indic heritage of statecraft and strategic thoughts
derived from ancient Indian texts of statecraft, warcraft, diplomacy and grand strategy.
 This initiative aims to bridge the gap between age-old wisdom and contemporary
military education.
 It aims to develop an indigenous strategic vocabulary deeply rooted in India's
multifaceted philosophical and cultural heritage.

United Service Institution of India

 The United Service Institution of India (USI) is a national security and defense services
think tank.
 It is a non-profit organization that is managed by a Council of members.
 The Council is composed of representatives of the Indian Armed Forces.
 An Army scholar named Colonel (later major General) Sir Charles MacGregor founded it
in 1870.

Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)

 The DAC is the highest decision-making body of the defence Ministry on procurement.
 The objective of DAC is to ensure expeditious procurement of the approved
requirements of the armed forces.
 It was formed after the Group of Minister's recommendations on 'Reforming the
National Security System', in 2001, post-Kargil War (1999).
 The defence minister is the chairman of DAC.
 Members include the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air
Force.

The functions of the DAC include:

 approval of 15 Year Long-Term Integrated Perspective Plan for Defence Forces.
 accord of Acceptance of Necessity to acquisition proposals
 categorization of the acquisition proposals relating to ‘Buy’, ‘Buy & Make’ and ‘Make’
 issues relating to Single vendor clearance
 decision regarding ‘offset’ provisions in respect of acquisition proposals above Rs. 300
crores
 Field Trial evaluation.

Positive Indigenisation List

 The list entails that the Indian Armed Forces, comprising the Army, Navy, and Air Force,
will exclusively source the listed items from domestic manufacturers.
 These manufacturers may include entities from the private sector or Defense Public
Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).
 The government has introduced 'Make and Innovation' procedure to reduce
dependency on arms import.
 The ‘Make and Innovation’ procedure has been introduced in DAP-20 to facilitate
indigenous design and development of defence equipment

Defence Industrial Corridor

 It is a dedicated region or area strategically planned to promote indigenous production
of defence and aerospace-related items.
 It will catalyse indigenous production of defence and aerospace related items.
 It will reduce our imports and promote export of these items to other countries.
 GoI has established two Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) in the country - one in Uttar
Pradesh and other in Tamil Nadu.