Day 5 Prelims 20+: Space Tech + Defence

In today’s Prelims 20+, we focus on Space Technology and Defence—critical pillars of India’s strategic and technological landscape. From cutting-edge satellite missions and indigenous launch capabilities to breakthroughs in missile systems and defence manufacturing, this area reflects India’s growing self-reliance and geopolitical aspirations. It holds immense relevance for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, particularly in understanding national security, innovation, and international collaborations.

Space Tech

Rocket Engines

• Rocket engines operate on the principle of Newton’s third law of motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In a rocket engine, a propellant (fuel and oxidizer) is ignited in a combustion chamber.
• This combustion produces high-pressure gases that are expelled through a nozzle at high velocity. The force of these gases rushing out of the nozzle creates thrust, propelling the rocket forward.

Rocket Fuels

Cryogenic Engines

• Uses propellants that are gases at room temperature but are cooled to cryogenic temperatures to become liquids. Common propellants include liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX).
• Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen mix and burn, creating a high-temperature, high-pressure exhaust gas.
• The exhaust gases are expelled through a nozzle, converting thermal energy into kinetic energy.

Comparison with Conventional Engines

Satellite

• A satellite orbits a planet or a star.
• Two types – natural (moon) and human-made/artificial (machine);
  • Artificial satellite: machine launched into space which moves around the around earth or other object.
  • Application: weather forecasting, study of planets and galaxies, in communication and information technology, GPS.

Satellite Orbits

• It is a repeating path that one object in space takes around another one.
• Orbits- inclination angle
  • It is the angle between the plane of an orbit and the equator. 
  • An orbital inclination of 0° is directly above the equator; 90° crosses right above the pole, and 180° orbits above the equator in the opposite direction of Earth’s spin.

Types of satellite orbits

• • `Satellites orbit around the earth in different planes – equatorial orbit (orbit directly above the earth’s equator); polar orbit (orbit that passes over both the poles.)
  • Other orbits are inclined; Orbits maybe circular or elliptical.
  • Altitude of communication can be GEO (geostationary earth orbit), MEO (medium earth orbit), LEO (low earth orbit).

• Polar orbit
  • An orbit in which a satellite passes above Earth’s North and South poles on each revolution. 
  • Has an inclination of 90 degrees to the equator.
• Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) 
  • Satellites in SSO, travelling over the Polar Regions, are synchronous with the Sun.
  • They are synchronized to be at a fixed position relative to the sun which enables the satellite to always visit the same spot at the same local time.
• LEO (low earth orbit)- Polar orbit: altitude of 50-1500km and orbital period range (95-120 minutes)
• MEO (medium earth orbit)
  • Positioned somewhere between LEO and GEO altitude of 5000-12000kminclination towards equatorial plane.; Orbital period of satellite 6hrs; Medium propagation delay
  • Cover large arearequires less handover; Provides true global coverage.
  • Requires large number of satellites for coverage  Long time to deploy a full constellation.
• GEO (geostationary earth orbit)
  • Geosynchronous orbit-  Orbital period of earth (24 Hours); altitude of 35,863 km above earth’s surface;
  • Geostationary orbit- Inclination of the orbit are zero; appears stationary from earth
  • Disadvantage- large propagation delay; affects voice and time data protocol; high launch cost.
• GTO (geosynchronous transfer orbit)
  • Elliptical orbit, with an apogee of 35,784km 
  • Inclination equal to the latitude of the launch site, into which a spacecraft is initially placed before being transferred to a geosynchronous/ geostationary orbit.

Satellite Launch vehicle

• Rocket powered vehicle used to transport any spacecraft into earth’s atmosphere.
• Used to send various satellites, spacecrafts and space probes into space.
• India’s used launch vehicle- RLV-TD, SLV, ASLV, PSLV, GSLV.
  
  

Satellite launch vehicle (SLV) and augmented satellite launch vehicle (ASLV)

PSLV (polar satellite launch vehicle): third generation

• Most reliable and popular launch vehicle in service for over 20 years; First Indian launch vehicle to have liquid stages; 
• Payload: PSLV can take up to 1,750 kg of payload to Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbits of 600 km altitude and up to 1425kg to geostationary orbits.
• Has a four stage multi propellant launcher that has a height of 44 meters and a lift off 320 tons (PSLV XL).

Note – Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft in 2013 were launched through PSLV-XL (most remarkable mission of ISRO).

Geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV):  fourth generation

• Developed to launch geosynchronous satellites into geostationary orbit.
• 3 stage launch vehicle, first two stages are similar to PSLV with same solid and liquid natures of fuel; third stage is cryogenic stage.
• Three variants include: 
  • GSLV Mark I (a) ( capability of 1500 kg’s)
  • GSLV Mark I (b) (capability of 1900 kg’s )
  • GSLV M ark II (uses Indian cryogenic engine and is capable of launching 2,500 kg’s of payload to geostationary orbit and up to 5000 kg’s of payload to LEO.)

• GSLV MK-III

• • Three -stage heavy lift launch vehicle.
  • Intended for carrying 4 ton class of satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to low earth orbit (LEO), which being the double the GSLV Mk II capacity.
  • GSLV Mk III-M1, successfully injected Chandrayaan-2, CARE mission (crew module atmospheric re-entry experiment.), India’s second lunar mission, into earth parking orbit.
  • Will be used to launch Gaganyaan mission.

Ariane -5

• European heavy-lift launch vehicle that can carry payloads weighing more than 10 metric tons to GTO and over 20 metric tons into low-earth orbit (LEO).

Types of Satellite

• Earth Observation 
  • Satellite imaging and remote sensing – spectral fingerprint; 
  • Most orbit at altitudes above 500 to 600 kilometres; Orbits have significant air-drag; 
  • Remote sensing – acquisition of information without making physical contact; Active or Passive; 
• Types
  • Passive – studying reflected light e.g. IR, Radiometers; 
  • Active – RADAR & LIDAR; 
  • Synthetic aperture radars; multi-spectral imaging; Hyperspectral imaging (vast portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. continuous scan); Acoustic – Ultrasound – water levels; 

Communication Satellite

• Relays and amplifies radio signals via a transponder;
• Orbit – largely Geosynchronous, geostationary; 
• Uses: television, telephone, radio, internet, and military applications
• Frequency ranges or “bands” – minimize interference; Assigned by ITU; E.g. C-band 4-8 Ghz, KU band- 12-18 GHz, KA band;
• E.g. INSAT, GSAT;
  

Telescopes

Ground Telescopes

• GMRT (PUNE): Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope: Array of 30 fully steerable radio telescopes 
• Thirty Meter Telescope: Multi wavelength; near-UV to mid-infra; Mauna Kea (Hawaii) or Hanle (India)
• Meerkat: South Africa; Largest telescope in Southern Hemisphere;

Navigation

• IRNSS

• • Objective: provide reliable position, navigation and timing services over India and its neighborhood;
  • India became one of the 5 countries having their own navigation system like GPS of USA, GLONASS of Russia, Galileo of Europe and BeiDou of China
  • Constellation: Consists of eight satellites, 3 in geostationary and 5 satellites in geosynchronous. 
  • Range: India + 1,500-km radius over the sub-continent;
  • Satellites: The satellites are named as- IRNSS – 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G. (3 Geostationary, 4 Geosynchronous)
  • Services: 
    • Standard positioning service: open for civilian use and 
    • Restricted service: encrypted for authorised users like military
  • Applications: Terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation; Disaster management; Vehicle tracking and fleet management; Integration with mobile phones; Precise timing (as for ATMs and power grids); 

• Working of GPS
  • Global Positioning System (GPS) is a US based navigation system.
  • It has 32 satellites (24 active at a time) that continuously broadcast signals with time stamp.
  • Devices such as mobile, laptops, cars receive these signals and compare signals from 4 or more satellites.
  • Trilateration: Based on this comparison, devices calculate distance between themselves and satellites to determine their location (longitude, latitude and altitude).

• GAGAN
  • Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS) jointly developed by ISRO and AAI; GAGAN GEO footprint expands from Africa to Australia
  • System of satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal corrections; 
  • Only four Space-Based augmentation systems available in the world namely India (GAGAN), US (WAAS) Europe (EGNOS) and Japan (MSAS).

ISRO’s Third Launch Pad

• Union Cabinet approved the establishment of ‘Third Launch Pad’ (TLP) project at Satish Dhawan Space Centre of ISRO at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
• It is designed to support the launch of Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV) and Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) with a semi-cryogenic stage and upgraded NGLV configurations.
• It is also supported as a standby launch pad for the Second Launch Pad at Sriharikota.
• It is expected to be operational within 4 years.
• Significance: 
  • Increases Launch Capacity: Enhances launch frequency and supports future human spaceflight and space exploration missions.
  • Advances India’s Space Vision: Essential for India’s long-term goals, including the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035 and an Indian Crewed Lunar Landing by 2040.
  • Future Space Transportation: Ensures India meets evolving space transportation needs for the next 25-30 years.

Scramjet Engine

• A Scramjet engine (Supersonic Combustion Ramjet) is an improved version of the Ramjet, designed to operate at extremely high speeds.
  • A ramjet is an air-breathing jet engine that relies on the vehicle’s forward motion to compress incoming air for combustion, eliminating the need for a rotating compressor
• It works by using supersonic airflow to generate thrust and functions at hypersonic speeds (Mach 5+)
• Key features:
  • Air-Breathing Engine: Unlike traditional rocket engines, Scramjets use atmospheric oxygen for combustion, eliminating the need to carry heavy oxygen tanks.
  • No Moving Parts: Scramjets rely on supersonic airflow, making them highly efficient for sustained high-speed travel.
• Significance:
  • Next-generation hypersonic missiles with unmatched speed and accuracy.
  • Faster air travel, potentially reducing flight times drastically.
  • Low-cost satellite launches, making space access more affordable.

Mission in news

Chandrayaan 3

• • India’s third lunar exploration mission, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
  • Objective: To demonstrate end-to-end capability in landing and roving on the lunar surface, specifically targeting the south pole.

• Launch Vehicle:

• • GSLV Mk III (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III).
  • Height: 43.43 meters.
  • Payload capacity: Up to 4,000 kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

• Components:
  • Lander: Equipped with navigation, hazard detection, and landing technology.
  • Rover: Designed to explore the lunar surface and conduct scientific experiments.
  • Propulsion Module: Provides necessary thrust for the journey from Earth to lunar orbit.

• Modules and Corresponding Payloads

• Lander (Vikram):

• • • Payloads:
      • Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE): Measures thermal conductivity and temperature.
      • Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA): Detects seismic activities on the Moon.
      • Langmuir Probe (LP): Measures the plasma density near the lunar surface.

• Rover (Pragyan):

• Payloads:

• • Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS): Analyzes the elemental composition of the lunar surface.
  • Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS): Identifies elements present on the lunar surface.

• Propulsion Module:

• Payload:

• • • Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE): Studies the spectral and polarimetric characteristics of Earth from lunar orbit.

NISAR (NASA-ISRO-SAR)

• • A collaborative mission between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scheduled for launch in 2024.
  • Objective: To utilize advanced radar technology for comprehensive monitoring of Earth’s dynamic surfaces and ecosystems.
  • Technical Specifications:

• Dual-frequency Radar System:

• • • L-band (longer wavelength) (ISRO Contribution): Offers superior ground penetration, ideal for biomass assessment and subsurface structure analysis.
    • S-band (shorter wavelength) (NASA Contribution): Provides high-resolution imagery for detailed observations.
• High-Resolution Data: Generates topographic data with resolutions ranging from 3 to 10 meters, enabling precise mapping.
• Temporal Resolution: Repeats observations every 6 days, facilitating the monitoring of changes over time.

Artemis Accords

• The Artemis Accords are a set of international agreements outlining principles for peaceful cooperation in exploring the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies.
• Established by the US (NASA) with several other countries.
• India is a member! It became the 27th nation to sign on.
• Key points:
  • Promotes peaceful exploration and scientific discovery.
  • Encourages transparency and public awareness.
  • Establishes guidelines for resource utilization in space.
  • Not a binding treaty, but promotes collaboration.

Mission SCOT

• It is the world’s first commercial satellite for surveillance of Resident Space Objects (as small as 5cm) orbiting the Earth to ensure safer space operations. . 
• It aims to improve space safety, optimise traffic management and strengthen national security initiatives. 
• The SCOT satellite has been launched onboard SpaceX Transporter-12 mission. 
• SCOT will be deployed in a sun-synchronous orbit. This will enable it to track objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with greater efficiency as compared to the existing sensors. 

PUNCH Mission

• NASA is gearing up for a new and first-of-its-kind solar mission called PUNCH mission that will closely observe the solar atmosphere
• The Polarimetry to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission will be launched by SpaceX.
• Time Period: The expected mission life is two years.
• It is the first time that a solar mission has been specifically designed to make use of the polarisation of light to measure the corona and solar wind, that too, in 3D.
• It will provide scientists with new information which could lead to more accurate predictions about the arrival of space weather events on Earth and impact on humanity’s robotic explorers in space.
• It will measure polarised light using polarising filters, enabling scientists to look into the inner solar system.

GAIA Mission

• The European Space Agency (ESA) has officially decommissioned its Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics (GAIA) mission.
• It aimed to create the largest and most precise 3D map of the Milky Way by surveying about 1% of its 100 billion stars.
• It was launched in 2013.
• Position: Gaia orbits the Sun at Lagrange Point 2, about 1.5 million kilometers (930,000 miles) from Earth.

Moonlight Programme

• The European Space Agency has launched the Moonlight Lunar Communications and Navigation Services (LCNS) programme.
• Objective: To support over 400 moon missions planned by space agencies and private companies over the next 20 years.
• Structure: A constellation of five satellites orbiting the Moon.
• Benefits:
  ▪ Enable precise and autonomous lunar landings and surface mobility.
  ▪ Facilitate high-speed communication and data transfer between Earth and the Moon.
  ▪ Provide coverage at the Moon’s South Pole.
• Timeline: Initial services to begin by the end of 2028, with full operational capacity by 2030.

Analog Space Mission

• ISRO has launched India’s first analog space mission in Leh, Ladakh, to prepare for lunar mission experiments.
• It was developed in collaboration with ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Center, AAKA Space Studio, the University of Ladakh, and IIT Bombay.

About Analog Missions

• Analog space missions simulate the physical and operational conditions of space environments on Earth.
• Purpose:
  ▪ Testing new technologies, equipment, and vehicles.
  ▪ Training astronauts for future missions.
  ▪ Studying the behavioral and psychological effects of isolation and confinement.
  ▪ Conducting experiments in space-like conditions.
• Why Leh (Ladakh)? Its dry, cold climate, barren land, high altitude, and isolation resemble Martian and lunar landscapes.

RISE Mission

• RISE, the European Space Agency’s first in-orbit servicing mission, represents a major step toward enabling refueling, refurbishment, and in-orbit assembly— key elements for building a circular economy in space.
• Launch Year: 2028
• Capabilities: Docking with geostationary satellites and controlling their orbits.
• Mission Scope: RISE will ascend to the geostationary graveyard orbit, about 100 km above the active satellite zone, where decommissioned satellites are parked.

Note: The circular space economy mirrors the principles of a circular economy, focusing on reducing waste and improving resource efficiency in space.

ADITYA-L1 MISSION

• ISRO’s Aditya-L1 completes its first halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L1 point

Key Highlights:

• Aditya-L1 was placed into its halo orbit in early 2024
• It took 178 days to complete one revolution around the Lagrange L1 point
• Lagrange Points:
  • Positions where the gravitational pull of two large masses equals the centripetal force required for a small object to move with them
  • There are five Lagrange points in a two-body system: L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5
  • L4 and L5 are considered stable

About Halo Orbit

• A halo orbit is a repeating, three-dimensional orbit around one of the L1, L2, or L3 Lagrange points in a three-body system

Advantages of placing Aditya-L1 in a Halo Orbit:

• Ensures a mission lifetime of 5 years
• Minimizes fuel usage by reducing station-keeping maneuvers
• Maintains a clear, uninterrupted view of the Sun

About Aditya-L1 Mission (Launched in 2023)

• India’s first space mission dedicated to studying the Sun
• Objectives:
  • Investigate the Sun’s corona, solar emissions, solar winds, flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)
  • Enable continuous imaging of the Sun
• Payloads:
  • Equipped with 7 payloads, including:
    • Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)
    • Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)
    • And others

Dragonfly Mission

• It is the fourth mission in NASA’s New Frontiers Program, alongside New Horizons, Juno, and OSIRIS-REx
• Objective: It is an astrobiology mission to Titan aimed at evaluating its potential for microbial life and examining its prebiotic chemistry at multiple sites
• It marks the first time NASA will fly a vehicle for science on another planetary body
• It will reach Titan in 2034

Technical Specifications

• Design: Dragonfly is a “dual quadcopter” about the size of a car, capable of traveling tens of kilometers on Titan in under an hour
• Power Source: Dragonfly will use a radioisotope power system, like the one used by the Curiosity rover on Mars

About Titan

• It is Saturn’s largest moon, featuring an Earth-like cycle of liquid flowing across its surface and being the only moon with a dense atmosphere

ISRO’S RLV LEX-02 Mission

About Reusable Landing Vehicle (RLV) LEX-02 developed by ISRO

• It is the second in a series of test flights designed to showcase the autonomous landing capability of a reusable launch vehicle (RLV)
• The mission featured a winged vehicle named Pushpak, which was lifted to an altitude of 4.5 kilometers by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter
• Pushpak was released and had to autonomously execute a series of maneuvers to land accurately on the runway

About Reusable Landing Vehicle

• The reusable launch vehicle is essentially a spaceplane with a low lift-to-drag ratio, which means it must approach at steep glide angles and land at high speeds of 350 km/h

Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX) Mission

• It is a joint mission of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
• Objective: To explore the Moon’s southern polar region for water and other elements, possibly in the form of surface ice
• Contributions: For the LUPEX mission, the launch vehicle and rover are supposed to be contributed by the Japanese agency, while the lander will come from ISRO
• It will also carry instruments from NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA)

Defence

Weapons/Systems in News (India)

Pinaka Multiple Rocket Launch Systems (MRLS)

• It is a battle-proven, all-weather, indirect area fire Artillery Weapon System.
• Developed by DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE).
• First used during the Kargil War, where it successfully neutralized Pakistan Army positions on the mountain tops.
• It delivers a variety of warheads, including high-explosive and submunitions.
• It has a range of 60 to 75 kilometers.

Nag Mark-2

• It is an indigenously developed anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) that works in all weather conditions.
• It is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on after launch capability.
• Developed by: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• The missile is launched from NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier), an anti-tank armored vehicle used by the Indian Army.
• Estimated range: 7 to 10 kilometers.

Vertically Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM)

• Developed by: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• This quick-reaction missile is capable of neutralizing various aerial threats at close ranges, including sea-skimming targets.
• Initially designed for the Indian Navy with a strike range of 40 km, it has now been enhanced to attack targets up to 80 km.
• Additionally, it is being developed for the Indian Air Force to safeguard its air bases.
• It is capable of reaching Mach 4.5 and can achieve a maximum altitude of 16 km.

Bhargavastra

• India’s first indigenous micro-missile system, developed by Economic Explosives Ltd., is specifically designed to counter the threat posed by swarm drones.
• This system can be rapidly deployed on mobile platforms and effectively target threats over 2.5 km. 
• It has the capability to detect small flying objects from distances exceeding 6 km and neutralize them using guided micro munitions.
• The system is capable of launching more than 64 micro missiles simultaneously.
• It is built to operate across diverse terrains, including high-altitude regions, it meets the specialized needs of the armed forces.

SANJAY System

• Sanjay is an automated surveillance system that combines real-time data from ground and aerial sensors to create a unified view of the battlefield. This helps commanders make quick, informed decisions during both conventional and unconventional warfare.
• Developed by: Indian Army and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

Advanced Ballistic for High Energy Defeat (ABHED) Jackets

• These jackets are made from polymers and indigenous boron carbide ceramic material.
• Developed by DRDO and IIT Delhi.
• They offer 360-degree protection with modular design and front/rear armour plates.
• Their weight ranges from 8.2 kg to 9.5 kg for different BIS levels.
  

India’s Fourth Nuclear Submarine

• India’s fourth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), referred to as S4, was launched into water at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam.
• S4 features about 75% indigenous content.
• It is armed exclusively with K-4 nuclear ballistic missiles (range: 3,500 km).
• India currently has two SSBNs operational: INS Arihant (commissioned in 2016) and INS Arighaat (commissioned in 2024).
• The third SSBN Aridhman is undergoing sea trials and is expected to be commissioned next year.

INS ARIGHAAT

• It is India’s second indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN).
• It joins INS Arihant to strengthen India’s nuclear triad.
• It was constructed at the Indian Navy’s Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam.

Features:

• It has a length of 111.6 meters and a submerged displacement of 6,000 tons.
• It has a seven-blade propeller powered by an 83-MW pressurised light water reactor using enriched uranium.
• It can carry up to 12 K-15 SLBMs, each with a range of 750 km.

RHUMI-1

• India’s first reusable hybrid rocket RHUMI-1 was launched from Thiruvidandhai in Chennai.
• RHUMI-1 was developed by Tamil Nadu-based startup Space Zone India in collaboration with the Martin Group.
• It was launched into a sub-orbital trajectory using a mobile launch system.

Key Features of RHUMI-1

• RHUMI-1 is a hybrid rocket engine that integrates both solid and liquid propellants.
• It is equipped with an electrically triggered parachute system, which is an advanced and eco-friendly descent mechanism.
• It has an adjustable launch angle (0 to 120 degrees), allowing for precise trajectory control.
• It is completely free of pyrotechnics (fireworks) and TNT (Trinitrotoluene), making it environmentally friendly.

Zorawar Tank

• It has been indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
• It is named after the great military general Zorawar Singh Kahluria.
• It is a lightweight tank with a maximum weight of 25 tonnes.
• It features advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and drone integration.
• It is amphibious and can operate in varied terrain.

Rudram-1 Missile

• It is an air-to-surface missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• The IAF’s Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets serve as its launch platform.
• It can be launched from altitudes ranging from 500 meters to 15 kilometers, with a range of up to 250 kilometers.
• It is equipped with Inertial Navigation System (INS), GPS navigation, and a Passive Homing Head to precisely strike radiation-emitting targets.

Astra Mark 1 Missile

• It is a Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) air-to-air missile.
• It will be deployed on fighter jets of the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
• It has been indigenously developed by DRDO and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
• It has a range of 80 to 110 km in a head-on chase.
• It can travel at a speed of Mach 4.5.

GAURAV

• It is an air-launched, 1000-kg glide bomb capable of precisely hitting long-distance targets.
• It uses an Inertial Navigation-based guidance system.
• It can be integrated with fighter jets.
• It has been designed and developed indigenously by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad.

Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) Flight Tested

• It has been developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment of DRDO, with contributions from other laboratories and Indian industries.
• It is a long-range subsonic cruise missile designed to hit targets with precision.
• It is powered by an indigenous propulsion system.
  ✓ A subsonic cruise missile flies at a speed lower than that of sound (<1 Mach).

Agni Prime Successfully Flight-Tested

• It is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
• It is a nuclear-capable, two-stage canisterised missile with a maximum range of 1,000 to 2,000 km.
• It is lighter than all previous missiles in the Agni series.

Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation (SPACE)

• It is a premier testing and evaluation hub for sonar systems for the Indian Navy.
• It has been set up by DRDO.
• It consists of two distinct platforms:
   A) Floating Platform
   B) Submersible Platform (submersible up to 100m depth)
• It will bolster anti-submarine warfare research capabilities.

Project 28

• Objective: To build four indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) corvettes, also known as Kamorta-class corvettes.
• These four ASWs are: INS Kamorta, INS Kadmatt, INS Kiltan, and INS Kavaratti.
• These ships can be deployed in nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare conditions.
• Designed by: Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design
• Built by: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata

Nagastra-1

• It is India’s first indigenous loitering munition (suicide drone).
• It has been developed by Solar Industries, Nagpur.
• It has the capacity to carry a 1-kilogram warhead.
• It can carry out GPS-enabled precision strikes with an accuracy of up to 2 meters.
• It has an indigenous content of over 75%.
• It features a parachute recovery mechanism.

RudraM-II Missile

• It is an indigenously developed, solid-propelled, air-launched missile system.
• It has been designed for air-to-surface operations.
• It has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Weapon Development in News – World

Dragon Drone

• Dragon drones are powerful UAVs equipped with thermite and rain down fire from the sky
• Thermite is a mixture of aluminium and iron oxide.
• When ignited, it produces a self-sustaining reaction that is extremely difficult to extinguish.
• Dragon Drones were used by Ukraine against Russia in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War.

THAAD Missile Defence System

• It is an advanced defense system that can destroy short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
• Developed by Lockheed Martin Corporation.
• Employs a ‘hit-to-kill’ approach to target missiles.
• Its target range varies between 150–200 kilometers.

Crystal Maze 2 (also known as ROCKS)

• It is a medium-range ballistic missile.
• It has been developed by Israel.
• It is an air-to-surface missile with a strike range of over 250 km.
• It has the capability to strike high-value stationary and relocatable targets in GPS-denied environments.

C-Dome Defense System

• It has been developed by Israel.
• It is a naval version of Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system.
• It is designed to shield against missile and rocket attacks.
• Unlike the Iron Dome which features its own radar, C-Dome is integrated into ship’s radar to detect incoming targets.

Hermes-900

• It is an advanced, Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle.
• It is of Israeli origin.
• It is also known as Drishti-10 drone.
• It features Automatic Take Off and Landing (ATOL) capability, Terrain Avoidance Warning System (TAWS), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
• It can be employed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions.

Igla-S Air Defense System

• It is a man-portable air defense system (MANPADS).
• It has been developed by Russia.
• It is a handheld, very short range defense system (VSHORAD).
  It has an interception range of up to 6 kms and can destroy targets at altitudes of up to 3.5 km.

MQ-9B Drones

• These drones are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with high altitude and long endurance capabilities, created for surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision strike operations.
• They have a maximum endurance of 40 hours and can hit targets on land, sea, and air.
• They have two variants: SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian.
  

Exercises in News

• Dharma Guardian – Joint military exercise between India and Japan. 
• Ekuverin – Bilateral military exercise between India and the Maldives.
• Cyclone 2025 – Joint military exercise between India and Egypt.
• La Perouse – Multilateral naval exercise hosted by France, involving India, Australia, Canada, USA, Indonesia, Malaysia, UK, and Singapore.
• KAZIND 2024 – Joint military exercise between India and Kazakhstan.
• Naseem Al Bahr – Bilateral naval exercise between India and Oman.
• Garud Shakti – Joint special forces exercise between India and Indonesia.
• VINBAX 2024 – Bilateral army exercise between India and Vietnam.
• SIMBEX-2024 – Bilateral maritime exercise between India and Singapore.
• Poorvi Prahar – High-intensity tri-services exercise conducted by the Indian Army.
• Sanyukt Vimochan 2024 – Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise conducted by the Indian Army.
• SAREX-24 – National maritime search and rescue exercise conducted by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
• Exercise Antariksha Abhyas 2024 – India’s first-ever space exercise conducted by the Defence Space Agency under the Ministry of Defence.
• Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC)- World’s largest biennial maritime exercise, held in Hawaii.Led by the US Navy; 29 countries participated, including India.
• Exercise Pitch Black- Biennial multinational air exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force.
• Exercise Mitra Shakti- Annual joint exercise between India and Sri Lanka.
• Exercise Tarang Shakti- India’s first multinational air exercise, inspired by the US Red Flag.
• Exercise Udara Shakti- Bilateral air exercise between India and Malaysia.
• Exercise Eastern Bridge- Bilateral air exercise between IAF and Oman’s RAFO.
• Exercise Al Najah- Biennial joint military exercise between India and Oman since 2015.
• Tarkash Exercise- India–US joint counter-terrorism exercise.
• Shakti Exercise- Biennial India–France military exercise
• HOPEX Exercise- Type: India–Egypt Air Force joint exercise

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