\n
Science and Tech Current Affairs 2021-22<\/span><\/h2>\nDefence technologies\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/p>\n
To Read Other Current Affairs Compilations<\/strong><\/span> for UPSC Prelims 2022<\/span>– Click here<\/a><\/h4>\n
\nCluster Munitions and Thermobaric Weapons<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> Human rights groups Amnesty International and Ukraine\u2019s ambassador to the United States has accused Russia of using cluster bombs and vacuum bombs in the ongoing war.<\/p>\nAbout Cluster Munitions<\/strong>: Cluster Munitions are non-precision weapons that are designed to injure or kill human beings indiscriminately over a large area and to destroy vehicles and infrastructure such as runways, railway or power transmission lines.<\/p>\nThey can be dropped from an aircraft or launched in a projectile that spins in flight, scattering many bomblets as it travels.<\/p>\n
Many of these cluster bombs end up not exploding, but continue to lie on the ground, often partially or fully hidden, posing a threat to people for long after the fighting has ceased.<\/p>\n
About Thermobaric Weapons:<\/strong> Thermobaric weapons \u2014 also known as aerosol bombs, fuel-air explosives, or vacuum bombs \u2014 use oxygen from the air for a large, high-temperature blast.<\/p>\nA thermobaric weapon causes significantly greater devastation than a conventional bomb of comparable size.<\/p>\n
Is using Cluster and Thermobaric Weapons illegal?<\/strong><\/p>\nCluster Munitions: <\/strong>There is a Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM)<\/strong>. It is an international treaty adopted in 2008. It prohibits the use, transfer, production, and stockpiling of cluster bombs. Currently, 110 states are parties to the convention and 13 other countries have signed up but are yet to ratify it. Neither Russia nor Ukraine are signatories.<\/p>\nThermobaric weapons are not prohibited by any international law or agreement, <\/strong>but their use against civilian populations in built-up areas, schools or hospitals, could attract action under The Hague Conventions<\/strong> of 1899 and 1907.<\/p>\n
\nINS Visakhapatnam<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has dedicated INS Visakhapatnam to the nation in a formal ceremony held at Naval Dockyard.<\/p>\nAbout INS Visakhapatnam:<\/strong> INS Visakhapatnam is the name of the first indigenously designed and constructed stealth guided-missile destroyer ship <\/strong>under Project 15B.<\/a> The ship has been named after the City of Destiny \u2013 Visakhapatnam.<\/p>\nThe crew of the ship abides by her motto \u2018Yasho Labhasva\u2019<\/em> \u2013 a Sanskrit phrase that translates to \u2018Attain Glory\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\nBuilt by<\/strong>: The ship has been designed by the Directorate of Naval Design and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai.<\/p>\nPurpose:<\/strong> The ship is a potent platform capable of undertaking multifarious tasks and missions spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare.<\/p>\nKey Features of the ship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- It is the most technologically advanced guided destroyer in the world with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes.<\/li>\n
- It is equipped with numerous state-of-the-art weapons and has a significant indigenous content of approximately 75%. It also has anti-submarine warfare capabilities.<\/li>\n
- The ship is propelled by a powerful combined gas and gas propulsion, which enables her speed of over 30 knots.<\/li>\n
- It is also equipped to be deployed to fight in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\nBrahmos Missiles<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> India has signed a $375-million contract with the Philippines for the supply of 24-30 BrahMos cruise missiles. Further, a Brahmos missile with increased indigenous content of 70% has also test fired.<\/p>\nAbout Brahmos Missile:<\/strong> It is a cruise missile manufactured by BrahMos Aerospace limited. It is a joint venture<\/strong> of India\u2019s DRDO and Russia\u2019s NPO Mashinostroyenia.<\/p>\nThe research for the missile began in the 1990s. It became the first supersonic cruise <\/strong>missile to enter service.<\/p>\nIt has a speed of 2.8 mach<\/strong> (almost 3 times the speed of sound) and a range of 290 km.<\/strong> A new version has a range of 400 km. The high speed makes its interception very difficult and allows it to easily target fighter jets like the Chinese J-20 fighter aircraft.<\/p>\nThe naval and land variants of the BrahMos were inducted into service by the Indian Navy in 2005 and the Indian Army in 2007. Later, the air variant was tested in 2017 thereby giving the missile a dominating presence in all three domains.<\/p>\n
India is now trying to build a superior version having hypersonic speeds (at or above Mach 5) and a maximum range of 1,500 km.<\/p>\n
\nExtreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS)<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over technology to manufacture indigenous extreme cold weather clothing systems (ECWS) to five Indian companies.<\/p>\nAbout Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS): <\/strong>ECWCS\u00a0 is a three layered cloth required by the Indian Army for its sustained operations in glacier and Himalayan peaks.<\/p>\nNote:<\/em><\/strong> Till now, Indian Army has been importing extreme cold weather clothing and several Special Clothing and Mountaineering Equipment (SCME) items for the troops deployed in high altitude regions.<\/em><\/p>\nKey features of ECWCS<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/utd.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
Firstly,<\/strong> it is an ergonomically designed modular technical clothing that provides physiological comfort and thermal insulation over a temperature range of +15 to -50\u00b0 Celsius.<\/p>\nSecondly,<\/strong> the cloth has several features like reduction in respiratory heat and water loss, rapid absorption of sweat, water proof, wind proof with adequate breathability and enhanced insulation as well as strength features required for high altitude operations.<\/p>\nSignificance of ECWCS<\/strong><\/p>\nConsidering the widely fluctuating weather conditions in the Himalayan peaks, the clothing is a viable import alternative for the Indian Army.<\/p>\n
Moreover, it not only cater to the existing requirements of the Army but also can be exported.<\/p>\n
\nHANSA-NG<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> HANSA-NG aircraft has successfully completed the sea level trials at Puducherry.<\/p>\nAbout HANSA-NG:<\/strong> HANSA-NG is India\u2019s first indigenous Flying Trainer aircraft.<\/p>\nDeveloped by<\/strong>: CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore under the aegis of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.<\/p>\nFeatures:<\/strong> The aircraft is powered by Rotax Digital Control Engine with unique features like Just-In-Time Prepreg (JIPREG) Composite lightweight Airframe, Glass Cockpit, Bubble Canopy with wide panoramic view, electrically operated flap, Highly efficient digitally controlled engine, Electrically operated flaps, Long endurance, Low acquisition and low operating cost among others.<\/p>\nSignificance<\/strong>: The aircraft is designed to meet the Indian flying club needs, and it is an ideal aircraft for Commercial Pilot Licensing (CPL) due to its low cost and low fuel consumption.<\/p>\n
\nMan Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM)<\/span><\/h3>\nNews: <\/strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully flight tested the Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM).<\/p>\nAbout Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM)<\/strong>: MPATGM is an indigenously developed low weight Anti-Tank guided fire & forget missile.<\/p>\nRange:<\/strong> MPATGM has already proven in earlier tests its ability to strike targets at its maximum range of 4,000 meters<\/strong>.<\/p>\nThe missile was launched from a man portable launcher. It is also integrated with a thermal sight<\/strong> that allows it to be used in low-visibility conditions, even in complete darkness.<\/strong><\/p>\nThe missile has a miniaturized infrared imaging seeker and advanced avionics for on-board control and guidance.<\/p>\n
Significance:<\/strong> The MPATGM will now be built in India, eliminating the need to import large numbers of Spike<\/strong> ATGMs from Israel or Javelin<\/strong> ATGMs from the US, which was the earlier plan.<\/p>\n
\nINS Vikrant<\/span><\/h3>\nNews: <\/strong>INS Vikrant is heading out to sea for its third set of sea trials.<\/p>\nAbout Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) \u2018Vikrant\u2019: IAC-1 Vikrant <\/strong>has been designed by the Indian Navy\u2019s Directorate of Naval Design (DND). It is being built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), a Public Sector Shipyard under the Ministry of Shipping.<\/p>\nKey Features of IAC-01 Vikrant<\/strong><\/p>\nVikrant <\/strong>is the first aircraft carrier designed and built in India. It has over 76 percent of the material and equipment which is indigenous.<\/p>\nVikrant is named after the<\/strong> Majestic-class aircraft carrier, which was operated by the Indian Navy from 1961 to 1997.<\/p>\nThe ship is 262 m long<\/strong> with over 2,300 compartments designed for a crew of around 1700 people including specialized cabins to accommodate women officers.<\/p>\nThe ship can operate a mix of aircrafts<\/strong> like Russian MiG-29K\/KUB fighters, Kamov-31 helicopters and a new fleet of Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopters.<\/p>\nType of Aircraft Carrier: <\/strong>STOBAR (short take-off but arrested landing)<\/p>\nThe ship is equipped <\/strong>with numerous high-end technologies, including network-centric distributed data processing and control systems and state-of-the-art weapons such as the Barak LR-SAM (long-range surface-to-air missile) and sensors.<\/p>\nSignificance of Made-in-India aircraft carrier<\/strong><\/p>\nOnly five or six nations <\/strong>currently have the capability of manufacturing an aircraft carrier. India joins this elite club now.<\/p>\nIndia\u2019s <\/strong>earlier aircraft carriers were either built by the British or the Russians.<\/p>\nThe INS Vikramaditya, <\/strong>currently the Navy\u2019s only aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 2013, started out as the Soviet-Russian Admiral Gorshkov.<\/p>\nThe country\u2019s <\/strong>two earlier carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Viraat were originally the British-built HMS Hercules and HMS Hermes before being commissioned into the Navy in 1961 and 1987 respectively.<\/p>\n
\nINS Khukri<\/span><\/h3>\nWhat is the news?<\/p>\n
INS Khukri has been decommissioned after 32 years of glorious service.<\/p>\n
About INS Khukri:<\/strong> INS Khukri is India\u2019s first indigenously built Missile Corvettes (high-speed ships that have considerable firepower).<\/p>\nIt was built by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders<\/strong> and commissioned in 1989.<\/p>\nIt had the distinction of being part of both the Western and Eastern Fleets. The ship was affiliated with the Gorkha Brigade of the Indian Army. During the service, the ship travelled a distance which is equivalent to navigating around the world 30 times, or 3 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.<\/p>\n
\nArmy Secure IndiGeneous Messaging Application (ASIGMA)<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> The Indian Army has launched a contemporary messaging application named ASIGMA (Army Secure IndiGeneous Messaging Application).<\/p>\nAbout ASIGMA:<\/strong> It is a web-based communication platform<\/strong> developed to meet real-time data transfer and messaging requirements of the Army.<\/p>\nDeveloped by:<\/strong>\u00a0 It has been developed entirely in-house by a team of officers of the Corps of Signals of the Army.<\/p>\nWhere will it be deployed? <\/strong>The application is being deployed on the Army\u2019s internal network as a replacement of the Army Wide Area Network (AWAN) messaging application, which has been in service for the past 15 years.<\/p>\nFeatures:<\/strong> The app has a variety of contemporary features including multi-level security, message prioritization and tracking, a dynamic global address book and various options to meet the Army\u2019s requirements.<\/p>\nSignificance: <\/strong>The app meets all futuristic user requirements and boasts of an enhanced user experience. It is also in line with the Government of India\u2019s, Make in India initiative<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nPralay Missile<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of \u2018Pralay\u2019 Missile.<\/p>\nAbout the Pralay Missile:<\/strong> It is a surface-to-surface conventional quasi-ballistic missile with state-of-the-art navigation system.<\/p>\nNote:<\/strong> Quasi missile trajectory is also ballistic<\/a> but after a certain range it changes the projectile path to defeat interceptors.<\/p>\nKey features of the Pralay Missile: <\/strong>The missile has the ability to change its path after covering a certain range in the mid-air. Which makes it hard to intercept by missile defence system.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/polif.png?resize=244%2C300&ssl=1\")
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The missile has a range of 150-500 kilometers. It has a payload capacity of 500-1,000 kg.<\/p>\n
The missile can be launched from a mobile launcher and its payload is designed to carry only a conventional warhead. The missile is powered by a solid-propellant rocket motor. The missile guidance system includes state-of-the-art navigation and integrated avionics.<\/p>\n
The missile is based on the Prithvi <\/a>Defence Vehicle from the Indian ballistic missile programme.<\/p>\nSignificance of the Pralay Missile<\/strong><\/p>\nThe indigenous Pinaka<\/a> can strike targets up to 60-70 km from the launchers; while variants of the Prithvi missile can strike the target up to 250-350 km away.<\/p>\nThe territory between them where the key targets will be located in wartime will be engaged by the Shourya,<\/a> Prahar and Pralay missile systems.<\/p>\n
\nKiller Robots<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> A report from\u200aa\u200a UN\u200a panel\u200a has said that the first autonomous drone attack may\u200a have\u200a already happened in Libya. Yet, a UN conference in Geneva \u200afailed to regulate the use of killer robots on the battlefield.<\/p>\nAbout Killer Robots: <\/strong>Killer Robots are fully autonomous weapons that would be able to select and engage targets without meaningful human control.<\/p>\nThe idea of killer robots has been explored widely in science fiction movies including Terminator<\/em>, Blade Runner,<\/em> and Robocop<\/em>.<\/p>\nCollectively, these weapons fall under Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS)<\/strong> which can include bombs, dog-like robots, and more that can use AI and other digital technologies to make decisions on the battlefield. It doesn\u2019t include drones, which are manned remotely by pilots.<\/p>\nAbout the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons<\/strong><\/p>\nThe United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) also known as the Inhumane Weapons Convention <\/strong>was concluded at Geneva in 1980 and entered into force in 1983.<\/p>\nPurpose:<\/strong> It is a framework of rules that ban or restrict weapons considered to cause unnecessary, unjustifiable and indiscriminate suffering such as incendiary explosives, blinding lasers and booby traps that don\u2019t distinguish between fighters and civilians.<\/p>\nThe convention covers<\/strong> land mines, booby traps, incendiary devices, blinding laser weapons and clearance of explosive remnants of war. The convention has no provisions for killer robots.<\/p>\nIndia has ratified this<\/strong> Convention.<\/p>\n
\nAgni P Missile<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested the \u2018Agni P\u2019 Missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.<\/p>\nAbout Agni P Missile: <\/strong>Agni P is a new generation nuclear capable Surface To Surface ballistic missile.<\/p>\nRange:<\/strong> The missile has a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km.<\/p>\nFeatures:<\/strong> The missile is a two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system.<\/p>\n\n- Canister Based Missile: <\/strong>Agni P is a canisters based missile. Canisterisation of missiles reduces the time required to launch the missile while improving its storage and mobility,<\/li>\n
- This means that it can be launched from rail and road and stored for a longer period. It can also be transported across the length and breadth of the country.<\/li>\n
- Weight: <\/strong>The missile weighs 50% less than Agni III and has new guidance and a new generation of propulsion.<\/li>\n
- Range: <\/strong>The missile has a range between 1000km to 2000km.It has been developed specifically to strike targets in Pakistan. Its range is too short to reach targets in the Chinese mainland.<\/li>\n
- Replaced by: <\/strong>The Agni-P will replace the Prithvi, Agni-1 and Agni-2 missiles that were built two decades ago with technologies that are now considered outdated.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nMissile technologies in India<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> At a seminar organised by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Defence Minister has encouraged scientists to work towards developing hypersonic missile technology.<\/p>\nHistory of missile technology in India<\/strong><\/p>\nBefore Independence<\/strong>: Several kingdoms in India were using rockets as part of their warfare technologies. Mysore ruler Hyder Ali started inducting iron-cased rockets in his army in the mid-18th century.<\/p>\nAfter Independence: <\/strong>At the time of Independence, India did not have any indigenous missile capabilities. The Govt. created the Special Weapon Development Team in 1958. This was later expanded and called Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL). It was moved from Delhi to Hyderabad by 1962.<\/p>\nProject Devil<\/strong>: It was initiated in 1972 for the development of a medium range Surface-to-Surface Missiles.<\/p>\nIntegrated Guided Missiles Development Programme (IGMDP)<\/a>:<\/strong> It was conceived by Dr. APJ. Abdul Kalam in 1982 to enable India attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile technology.<\/p>\nIndia\u2019s present Missile systems<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nType of Missile<\/strong><\/td>\nMissile\/Status<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nAnti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)<\/strong>
\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nNag<\/a> is the \u201cfire-and-forget ATGM with a range of around 20 km.<\/p>\nHeli-Nag <\/a>will be operated from helicopters and will be inducted by 2022<\/p>\n
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To Read Other Current Affairs Compilations<\/strong><\/span> for UPSC Prelims 2022<\/span>– Click here<\/a><\/h4>\n
\nCluster Munitions and Thermobaric Weapons<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> Human rights groups Amnesty International and Ukraine\u2019s ambassador to the United States has accused Russia of using cluster bombs and vacuum bombs in the ongoing war.<\/p>\nAbout Cluster Munitions<\/strong>: Cluster Munitions are non-precision weapons that are designed to injure or kill human beings indiscriminately over a large area and to destroy vehicles and infrastructure such as runways, railway or power transmission lines.<\/p>\nThey can be dropped from an aircraft or launched in a projectile that spins in flight, scattering many bomblets as it travels.<\/p>\n
Many of these cluster bombs end up not exploding, but continue to lie on the ground, often partially or fully hidden, posing a threat to people for long after the fighting has ceased.<\/p>\n
About Thermobaric Weapons:<\/strong> Thermobaric weapons \u2014 also known as aerosol bombs, fuel-air explosives, or vacuum bombs \u2014 use oxygen from the air for a large, high-temperature blast.<\/p>\nA thermobaric weapon causes significantly greater devastation than a conventional bomb of comparable size.<\/p>\n
Is using Cluster and Thermobaric Weapons illegal?<\/strong><\/p>\nCluster Munitions: <\/strong>There is a Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM)<\/strong>. It is an international treaty adopted in 2008. It prohibits the use, transfer, production, and stockpiling of cluster bombs. Currently, 110 states are parties to the convention and 13 other countries have signed up but are yet to ratify it. Neither Russia nor Ukraine are signatories.<\/p>\nThermobaric weapons are not prohibited by any international law or agreement, <\/strong>but their use against civilian populations in built-up areas, schools or hospitals, could attract action under The Hague Conventions<\/strong> of 1899 and 1907.<\/p>\n
\nINS Visakhapatnam<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has dedicated INS Visakhapatnam to the nation in a formal ceremony held at Naval Dockyard.<\/p>\nAbout INS Visakhapatnam:<\/strong> INS Visakhapatnam is the name of the first indigenously designed and constructed stealth guided-missile destroyer ship <\/strong>under Project 15B.<\/a> The ship has been named after the City of Destiny \u2013 Visakhapatnam.<\/p>\nThe crew of the ship abides by her motto \u2018Yasho Labhasva\u2019<\/em> \u2013 a Sanskrit phrase that translates to \u2018Attain Glory\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\nBuilt by<\/strong>: The ship has been designed by the Directorate of Naval Design and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai.<\/p>\nPurpose:<\/strong> The ship is a potent platform capable of undertaking multifarious tasks and missions spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare.<\/p>\nKey Features of the ship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- It is the most technologically advanced guided destroyer in the world with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes.<\/li>\n
- It is equipped with numerous state-of-the-art weapons and has a significant indigenous content of approximately 75%. It also has anti-submarine warfare capabilities.<\/li>\n
- The ship is propelled by a powerful combined gas and gas propulsion, which enables her speed of over 30 knots.<\/li>\n
- It is also equipped to be deployed to fight in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\nBrahmos Missiles<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> India has signed a $375-million contract with the Philippines for the supply of 24-30 BrahMos cruise missiles. Further, a Brahmos missile with increased indigenous content of 70% has also test fired.<\/p>\nAbout Brahmos Missile:<\/strong> It is a cruise missile manufactured by BrahMos Aerospace limited. It is a joint venture<\/strong> of India\u2019s DRDO and Russia\u2019s NPO Mashinostroyenia.<\/p>\nThe research for the missile began in the 1990s. It became the first supersonic cruise <\/strong>missile to enter service.<\/p>\nIt has a speed of 2.8 mach<\/strong> (almost 3 times the speed of sound) and a range of 290 km.<\/strong> A new version has a range of 400 km. The high speed makes its interception very difficult and allows it to easily target fighter jets like the Chinese J-20 fighter aircraft.<\/p>\nThe naval and land variants of the BrahMos were inducted into service by the Indian Navy in 2005 and the Indian Army in 2007. Later, the air variant was tested in 2017 thereby giving the missile a dominating presence in all three domains.<\/p>\n
India is now trying to build a superior version having hypersonic speeds (at or above Mach 5) and a maximum range of 1,500 km.<\/p>\n
\nExtreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS)<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over technology to manufacture indigenous extreme cold weather clothing systems (ECWS) to five Indian companies.<\/p>\nAbout Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS): <\/strong>ECWCS\u00a0 is a three layered cloth required by the Indian Army for its sustained operations in glacier and Himalayan peaks.<\/p>\nNote:<\/em><\/strong> Till now, Indian Army has been importing extreme cold weather clothing and several Special Clothing and Mountaineering Equipment (SCME) items for the troops deployed in high altitude regions.<\/em><\/p>\nKey features of ECWCS<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Firstly,<\/strong> it is an ergonomically designed modular technical clothing that provides physiological comfort and thermal insulation over a temperature range of +15 to -50\u00b0 Celsius.<\/p>\nSecondly,<\/strong> the cloth has several features like reduction in respiratory heat and water loss, rapid absorption of sweat, water proof, wind proof with adequate breathability and enhanced insulation as well as strength features required for high altitude operations.<\/p>\nSignificance of ECWCS<\/strong><\/p>\nConsidering the widely fluctuating weather conditions in the Himalayan peaks, the clothing is a viable import alternative for the Indian Army.<\/p>\n
Moreover, it not only cater to the existing requirements of the Army but also can be exported.<\/p>\n
\nHANSA-NG<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> HANSA-NG aircraft has successfully completed the sea level trials at Puducherry.<\/p>\nAbout HANSA-NG:<\/strong> HANSA-NG is India\u2019s first indigenous Flying Trainer aircraft.<\/p>\nDeveloped by<\/strong>: CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore under the aegis of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.<\/p>\nFeatures:<\/strong> The aircraft is powered by Rotax Digital Control Engine with unique features like Just-In-Time Prepreg (JIPREG) Composite lightweight Airframe, Glass Cockpit, Bubble Canopy with wide panoramic view, electrically operated flap, Highly efficient digitally controlled engine, Electrically operated flaps, Long endurance, Low acquisition and low operating cost among others.<\/p>\nSignificance<\/strong>: The aircraft is designed to meet the Indian flying club needs, and it is an ideal aircraft for Commercial Pilot Licensing (CPL) due to its low cost and low fuel consumption.<\/p>\n
\nMan Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM)<\/span><\/h3>\nNews: <\/strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully flight tested the Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM).<\/p>\nAbout Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM)<\/strong>: MPATGM is an indigenously developed low weight Anti-Tank guided fire & forget missile.<\/p>\nRange:<\/strong> MPATGM has already proven in earlier tests its ability to strike targets at its maximum range of 4,000 meters<\/strong>.<\/p>\nThe missile was launched from a man portable launcher. It is also integrated with a thermal sight<\/strong> that allows it to be used in low-visibility conditions, even in complete darkness.<\/strong><\/p>\nThe missile has a miniaturized infrared imaging seeker and advanced avionics for on-board control and guidance.<\/p>\n
Significance:<\/strong> The MPATGM will now be built in India, eliminating the need to import large numbers of Spike<\/strong> ATGMs from Israel or Javelin<\/strong> ATGMs from the US, which was the earlier plan.<\/p>\n
\nINS Vikrant<\/span><\/h3>\nNews: <\/strong>INS Vikrant is heading out to sea for its third set of sea trials.<\/p>\nAbout Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) \u2018Vikrant\u2019: IAC-1 Vikrant <\/strong>has been designed by the Indian Navy\u2019s Directorate of Naval Design (DND). It is being built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), a Public Sector Shipyard under the Ministry of Shipping.<\/p>\nKey Features of IAC-01 Vikrant<\/strong><\/p>\nVikrant <\/strong>is the first aircraft carrier designed and built in India. It has over 76 percent of the material and equipment which is indigenous.<\/p>\nVikrant is named after the<\/strong> Majestic-class aircraft carrier, which was operated by the Indian Navy from 1961 to 1997.<\/p>\nThe ship is 262 m long<\/strong> with over 2,300 compartments designed for a crew of around 1700 people including specialized cabins to accommodate women officers.<\/p>\nThe ship can operate a mix of aircrafts<\/strong> like Russian MiG-29K\/KUB fighters, Kamov-31 helicopters and a new fleet of Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopters.<\/p>\nType of Aircraft Carrier: <\/strong>STOBAR (short take-off but arrested landing)<\/p>\nThe ship is equipped <\/strong>with numerous high-end technologies, including network-centric distributed data processing and control systems and state-of-the-art weapons such as the Barak LR-SAM (long-range surface-to-air missile) and sensors.<\/p>\nSignificance of Made-in-India aircraft carrier<\/strong><\/p>\nOnly five or six nations <\/strong>currently have the capability of manufacturing an aircraft carrier. India joins this elite club now.<\/p>\nIndia\u2019s <\/strong>earlier aircraft carriers were either built by the British or the Russians.<\/p>\nThe INS Vikramaditya, <\/strong>currently the Navy\u2019s only aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 2013, started out as the Soviet-Russian Admiral Gorshkov.<\/p>\nThe country\u2019s <\/strong>two earlier carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Viraat were originally the British-built HMS Hercules and HMS Hermes before being commissioned into the Navy in 1961 and 1987 respectively.<\/p>\n
\nINS Khukri<\/span><\/h3>\nWhat is the news?<\/p>\n
INS Khukri has been decommissioned after 32 years of glorious service.<\/p>\n
About INS Khukri:<\/strong> INS Khukri is India\u2019s first indigenously built Missile Corvettes (high-speed ships that have considerable firepower).<\/p>\nIt was built by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders<\/strong> and commissioned in 1989.<\/p>\nIt had the distinction of being part of both the Western and Eastern Fleets. The ship was affiliated with the Gorkha Brigade of the Indian Army. During the service, the ship travelled a distance which is equivalent to navigating around the world 30 times, or 3 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.<\/p>\n
\nArmy Secure IndiGeneous Messaging Application (ASIGMA)<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> The Indian Army has launched a contemporary messaging application named ASIGMA (Army Secure IndiGeneous Messaging Application).<\/p>\nAbout ASIGMA:<\/strong> It is a web-based communication platform<\/strong> developed to meet real-time data transfer and messaging requirements of the Army.<\/p>\nDeveloped by:<\/strong>\u00a0 It has been developed entirely in-house by a team of officers of the Corps of Signals of the Army.<\/p>\nWhere will it be deployed? <\/strong>The application is being deployed on the Army\u2019s internal network as a replacement of the Army Wide Area Network (AWAN) messaging application, which has been in service for the past 15 years.<\/p>\nFeatures:<\/strong> The app has a variety of contemporary features including multi-level security, message prioritization and tracking, a dynamic global address book and various options to meet the Army\u2019s requirements.<\/p>\nSignificance: <\/strong>The app meets all futuristic user requirements and boasts of an enhanced user experience. It is also in line with the Government of India\u2019s, Make in India initiative<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nPralay Missile<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of \u2018Pralay\u2019 Missile.<\/p>\nAbout the Pralay Missile:<\/strong> It is a surface-to-surface conventional quasi-ballistic missile with state-of-the-art navigation system.<\/p>\nNote:<\/strong> Quasi missile trajectory is also ballistic<\/a> but after a certain range it changes the projectile path to defeat interceptors.<\/p>\nKey features of the Pralay Missile: <\/strong>The missile has the ability to change its path after covering a certain range in the mid-air. Which makes it hard to intercept by missile defence system.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The missile has a range of 150-500 kilometers. It has a payload capacity of 500-1,000 kg.<\/p>\n
The missile can be launched from a mobile launcher and its payload is designed to carry only a conventional warhead. The missile is powered by a solid-propellant rocket motor. The missile guidance system includes state-of-the-art navigation and integrated avionics.<\/p>\n
The missile is based on the Prithvi <\/a>Defence Vehicle from the Indian ballistic missile programme.<\/p>\nSignificance of the Pralay Missile<\/strong><\/p>\nThe indigenous Pinaka<\/a> can strike targets up to 60-70 km from the launchers; while variants of the Prithvi missile can strike the target up to 250-350 km away.<\/p>\nThe territory between them where the key targets will be located in wartime will be engaged by the Shourya,<\/a> Prahar and Pralay missile systems.<\/p>\n
\nKiller Robots<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> A report from\u200aa\u200a UN\u200a panel\u200a has said that the first autonomous drone attack may\u200a have\u200a already happened in Libya. Yet, a UN conference in Geneva \u200afailed to regulate the use of killer robots on the battlefield.<\/p>\nAbout Killer Robots: <\/strong>Killer Robots are fully autonomous weapons that would be able to select and engage targets without meaningful human control.<\/p>\nThe idea of killer robots has been explored widely in science fiction movies including Terminator<\/em>, Blade Runner,<\/em> and Robocop<\/em>.<\/p>\nCollectively, these weapons fall under Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS)<\/strong> which can include bombs, dog-like robots, and more that can use AI and other digital technologies to make decisions on the battlefield. It doesn\u2019t include drones, which are manned remotely by pilots.<\/p>\nAbout the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons<\/strong><\/p>\nThe United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) also known as the Inhumane Weapons Convention <\/strong>was concluded at Geneva in 1980 and entered into force in 1983.<\/p>\nPurpose:<\/strong> It is a framework of rules that ban or restrict weapons considered to cause unnecessary, unjustifiable and indiscriminate suffering such as incendiary explosives, blinding lasers and booby traps that don\u2019t distinguish between fighters and civilians.<\/p>\nThe convention covers<\/strong> land mines, booby traps, incendiary devices, blinding laser weapons and clearance of explosive remnants of war. The convention has no provisions for killer robots.<\/p>\nIndia has ratified this<\/strong> Convention.<\/p>\n
\nAgni P Missile<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested the \u2018Agni P\u2019 Missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.<\/p>\nAbout Agni P Missile: <\/strong>Agni P is a new generation nuclear capable Surface To Surface ballistic missile.<\/p>\nRange:<\/strong> The missile has a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km.<\/p>\nFeatures:<\/strong> The missile is a two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system.<\/p>\n\n- Canister Based Missile: <\/strong>Agni P is a canisters based missile. Canisterisation of missiles reduces the time required to launch the missile while improving its storage and mobility,<\/li>\n
- This means that it can be launched from rail and road and stored for a longer period. It can also be transported across the length and breadth of the country.<\/li>\n
- Weight: <\/strong>The missile weighs 50% less than Agni III and has new guidance and a new generation of propulsion.<\/li>\n
- Range: <\/strong>The missile has a range between 1000km to 2000km.It has been developed specifically to strike targets in Pakistan. Its range is too short to reach targets in the Chinese mainland.<\/li>\n
- Replaced by: <\/strong>The Agni-P will replace the Prithvi, Agni-1 and Agni-2 missiles that were built two decades ago with technologies that are now considered outdated.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nMissile technologies in India<\/span><\/h3>\nNews:<\/strong> At a seminar organised by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Defence Minister has encouraged scientists to work towards developing hypersonic missile technology.<\/p>\nHistory of missile technology in India<\/strong><\/p>\nBefore Independence<\/strong>: Several kingdoms in India were using rockets as part of their warfare technologies. Mysore ruler Hyder Ali started inducting iron-cased rockets in his army in the mid-18th century.<\/p>\nAfter Independence: <\/strong>At the time of Independence, India did not have any indigenous missile capabilities. The Govt. created the Special Weapon Development Team in 1958. This was later expanded and called Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL). It was moved from Delhi to Hyderabad by 1962.<\/p>\nProject Devil<\/strong>: It was initiated in 1972 for the development of a medium range Surface-to-Surface Missiles.<\/p>\nIntegrated Guided Missiles Development Programme (IGMDP)<\/a>:<\/strong> It was conceived by Dr. APJ. Abdul Kalam in 1982 to enable India attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile technology.<\/p>\nIndia\u2019s present Missile systems<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nType of Missile<\/strong><\/td>\nMissile\/Status<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nAnti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)<\/strong>
\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nNag<\/a> is the \u201cfire-and-forget ATGM with a range of around 20 km.<\/p>\nHeli-Nag <\/a>will be operated from helicopters and will be inducted by 2022<\/p>\n
News:<\/strong> Human rights groups Amnesty International and Ukraine\u2019s ambassador to the United States has accused Russia of using cluster bombs and vacuum bombs in the ongoing war.<\/p>\n About Cluster Munitions<\/strong>: Cluster Munitions are non-precision weapons that are designed to injure or kill human beings indiscriminately over a large area and to destroy vehicles and infrastructure such as runways, railway or power transmission lines.<\/p>\n They can be dropped from an aircraft or launched in a projectile that spins in flight, scattering many bomblets as it travels.<\/p>\n Many of these cluster bombs end up not exploding, but continue to lie on the ground, often partially or fully hidden, posing a threat to people for long after the fighting has ceased.<\/p>\n About Thermobaric Weapons:<\/strong> Thermobaric weapons \u2014 also known as aerosol bombs, fuel-air explosives, or vacuum bombs \u2014 use oxygen from the air for a large, high-temperature blast.<\/p>\n A thermobaric weapon causes significantly greater devastation than a conventional bomb of comparable size.<\/p>\n Is using Cluster and Thermobaric Weapons illegal?<\/strong><\/p>\n Cluster Munitions: <\/strong>There is a Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM)<\/strong>. It is an international treaty adopted in 2008. It prohibits the use, transfer, production, and stockpiling of cluster bombs. Currently, 110 states are parties to the convention and 13 other countries have signed up but are yet to ratify it. Neither Russia nor Ukraine are signatories.<\/p>\n Thermobaric weapons are not prohibited by any international law or agreement, <\/strong>but their use against civilian populations in built-up areas, schools or hospitals, could attract action under The Hague Conventions<\/strong> of 1899 and 1907.<\/p>\n News:<\/strong> The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has dedicated INS Visakhapatnam to the nation in a formal ceremony held at Naval Dockyard.<\/p>\n About INS Visakhapatnam:<\/strong> INS Visakhapatnam is the name of the first indigenously designed and constructed stealth guided-missile destroyer ship <\/strong>under Project 15B.<\/a> The ship has been named after the City of Destiny \u2013 Visakhapatnam.<\/p>\n The crew of the ship abides by her motto \u2018Yasho Labhasva\u2019<\/em> \u2013 a Sanskrit phrase that translates to \u2018Attain Glory\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n Built by<\/strong>: The ship has been designed by the Directorate of Naval Design and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai.<\/p>\n Purpose:<\/strong> The ship is a potent platform capable of undertaking multifarious tasks and missions spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare.<\/p>\n Key Features of the ship<\/strong><\/p>\n News:<\/strong> India has signed a $375-million contract with the Philippines for the supply of 24-30 BrahMos cruise missiles. Further, a Brahmos missile with increased indigenous content of 70% has also test fired.<\/p>\n About Brahmos Missile:<\/strong> It is a cruise missile manufactured by BrahMos Aerospace limited. It is a joint venture<\/strong> of India\u2019s DRDO and Russia\u2019s NPO Mashinostroyenia.<\/p>\n The research for the missile began in the 1990s. It became the first supersonic cruise <\/strong>missile to enter service.<\/p>\n It has a speed of 2.8 mach<\/strong> (almost 3 times the speed of sound) and a range of 290 km.<\/strong> A new version has a range of 400 km. The high speed makes its interception very difficult and allows it to easily target fighter jets like the Chinese J-20 fighter aircraft.<\/p>\n The naval and land variants of the BrahMos were inducted into service by the Indian Navy in 2005 and the Indian Army in 2007. Later, the air variant was tested in 2017 thereby giving the missile a dominating presence in all three domains.<\/p>\n India is now trying to build a superior version having hypersonic speeds (at or above Mach 5) and a maximum range of 1,500 km.<\/p>\n News:<\/strong> Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over technology to manufacture indigenous extreme cold weather clothing systems (ECWS) to five Indian companies.<\/p>\n About Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS): <\/strong>ECWCS\u00a0 is a three layered cloth required by the Indian Army for its sustained operations in glacier and Himalayan peaks.<\/p>\n Note:<\/em><\/strong> Till now, Indian Army has been importing extreme cold weather clothing and several Special Clothing and Mountaineering Equipment (SCME) items for the troops deployed in high altitude regions.<\/em><\/p>\n Key features of ECWCS<\/strong><\/p>\n Firstly,<\/strong> it is an ergonomically designed modular technical clothing that provides physiological comfort and thermal insulation over a temperature range of +15 to -50\u00b0 Celsius.<\/p>\n Secondly,<\/strong> the cloth has several features like reduction in respiratory heat and water loss, rapid absorption of sweat, water proof, wind proof with adequate breathability and enhanced insulation as well as strength features required for high altitude operations.<\/p>\n Significance of ECWCS<\/strong><\/p>\n Considering the widely fluctuating weather conditions in the Himalayan peaks, the clothing is a viable import alternative for the Indian Army.<\/p>\n Moreover, it not only cater to the existing requirements of the Army but also can be exported.<\/p>\n News:<\/strong> HANSA-NG aircraft has successfully completed the sea level trials at Puducherry.<\/p>\n About HANSA-NG:<\/strong> HANSA-NG is India\u2019s first indigenous Flying Trainer aircraft.<\/p>\n Developed by<\/strong>: CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore under the aegis of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.<\/p>\n Features:<\/strong> The aircraft is powered by Rotax Digital Control Engine with unique features like Just-In-Time Prepreg (JIPREG) Composite lightweight Airframe, Glass Cockpit, Bubble Canopy with wide panoramic view, electrically operated flap, Highly efficient digitally controlled engine, Electrically operated flaps, Long endurance, Low acquisition and low operating cost among others.<\/p>\n Significance<\/strong>: The aircraft is designed to meet the Indian flying club needs, and it is an ideal aircraft for Commercial Pilot Licensing (CPL) due to its low cost and low fuel consumption.<\/p>\n News: <\/strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully flight tested the Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM).<\/p>\n About Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM)<\/strong>: MPATGM is an indigenously developed low weight Anti-Tank guided fire & forget missile.<\/p>\n Range:<\/strong> MPATGM has already proven in earlier tests its ability to strike targets at its maximum range of 4,000 meters<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The missile was launched from a man portable launcher. It is also integrated with a thermal sight<\/strong> that allows it to be used in low-visibility conditions, even in complete darkness.<\/strong><\/p>\n The missile has a miniaturized infrared imaging seeker and advanced avionics for on-board control and guidance.<\/p>\n Significance:<\/strong> The MPATGM will now be built in India, eliminating the need to import large numbers of Spike<\/strong> ATGMs from Israel or Javelin<\/strong> ATGMs from the US, which was the earlier plan.<\/p>\n News: <\/strong>INS Vikrant is heading out to sea for its third set of sea trials.<\/p>\n About Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) \u2018Vikrant\u2019: IAC-1 Vikrant <\/strong>has been designed by the Indian Navy\u2019s Directorate of Naval Design (DND). It is being built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), a Public Sector Shipyard under the Ministry of Shipping.<\/p>\n Key Features of IAC-01 Vikrant<\/strong><\/p>\n Vikrant <\/strong>is the first aircraft carrier designed and built in India. It has over 76 percent of the material and equipment which is indigenous.<\/p>\n Vikrant is named after the<\/strong> Majestic-class aircraft carrier, which was operated by the Indian Navy from 1961 to 1997.<\/p>\n The ship is 262 m long<\/strong> with over 2,300 compartments designed for a crew of around 1700 people including specialized cabins to accommodate women officers.<\/p>\n The ship can operate a mix of aircrafts<\/strong> like Russian MiG-29K\/KUB fighters, Kamov-31 helicopters and a new fleet of Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopters.<\/p>\n Type of Aircraft Carrier: <\/strong>STOBAR (short take-off but arrested landing)<\/p>\n The ship is equipped <\/strong>with numerous high-end technologies, including network-centric distributed data processing and control systems and state-of-the-art weapons such as the Barak LR-SAM (long-range surface-to-air missile) and sensors.<\/p>\n Significance of Made-in-India aircraft carrier<\/strong><\/p>\n Only five or six nations <\/strong>currently have the capability of manufacturing an aircraft carrier. India joins this elite club now.<\/p>\n India\u2019s <\/strong>earlier aircraft carriers were either built by the British or the Russians.<\/p>\n The INS Vikramaditya, <\/strong>currently the Navy\u2019s only aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 2013, started out as the Soviet-Russian Admiral Gorshkov.<\/p>\n The country\u2019s <\/strong>two earlier carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Viraat were originally the British-built HMS Hercules and HMS Hermes before being commissioned into the Navy in 1961 and 1987 respectively.<\/p>\n What is the news?<\/p>\n INS Khukri has been decommissioned after 32 years of glorious service.<\/p>\n About INS Khukri:<\/strong> INS Khukri is India\u2019s first indigenously built Missile Corvettes (high-speed ships that have considerable firepower).<\/p>\n It was built by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders<\/strong> and commissioned in 1989.<\/p>\n It had the distinction of being part of both the Western and Eastern Fleets. The ship was affiliated with the Gorkha Brigade of the Indian Army. During the service, the ship travelled a distance which is equivalent to navigating around the world 30 times, or 3 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.<\/p>\n News:<\/strong> The Indian Army has launched a contemporary messaging application named ASIGMA (Army Secure IndiGeneous Messaging Application).<\/p>\n About ASIGMA:<\/strong> It is a web-based communication platform<\/strong> developed to meet real-time data transfer and messaging requirements of the Army.<\/p>\n Developed by:<\/strong>\u00a0 It has been developed entirely in-house by a team of officers of the Corps of Signals of the Army.<\/p>\n Where will it be deployed? <\/strong>The application is being deployed on the Army\u2019s internal network as a replacement of the Army Wide Area Network (AWAN) messaging application, which has been in service for the past 15 years.<\/p>\n Features:<\/strong> The app has a variety of contemporary features including multi-level security, message prioritization and tracking, a dynamic global address book and various options to meet the Army\u2019s requirements.<\/p>\n Significance: <\/strong>The app meets all futuristic user requirements and boasts of an enhanced user experience. It is also in line with the Government of India\u2019s, Make in India initiative<\/a>.<\/p>\n News:<\/strong> Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of \u2018Pralay\u2019 Missile.<\/p>\n About the Pralay Missile:<\/strong> It is a surface-to-surface conventional quasi-ballistic missile with state-of-the-art navigation system.<\/p>\n Note:<\/strong> Quasi missile trajectory is also ballistic<\/a> but after a certain range it changes the projectile path to defeat interceptors.<\/p>\n Key features of the Pralay Missile: <\/strong>The missile has the ability to change its path after covering a certain range in the mid-air. Which makes it hard to intercept by missile defence system.<\/p>\n The missile has a range of 150-500 kilometers. It has a payload capacity of 500-1,000 kg.<\/p>\n The missile can be launched from a mobile launcher and its payload is designed to carry only a conventional warhead. The missile is powered by a solid-propellant rocket motor. The missile guidance system includes state-of-the-art navigation and integrated avionics.<\/p>\n The missile is based on the Prithvi <\/a>Defence Vehicle from the Indian ballistic missile programme.<\/p>\n Significance of the Pralay Missile<\/strong><\/p>\n The indigenous Pinaka<\/a> can strike targets up to 60-70 km from the launchers; while variants of the Prithvi missile can strike the target up to 250-350 km away.<\/p>\n The territory between them where the key targets will be located in wartime will be engaged by the Shourya,<\/a> Prahar and Pralay missile systems.<\/p>\n News:<\/strong> A report from\u200aa\u200a UN\u200a panel\u200a has said that the first autonomous drone attack may\u200a have\u200a already happened in Libya. Yet, a UN conference in Geneva \u200afailed to regulate the use of killer robots on the battlefield.<\/p>\n About Killer Robots: <\/strong>Killer Robots are fully autonomous weapons that would be able to select and engage targets without meaningful human control.<\/p>\n The idea of killer robots has been explored widely in science fiction movies including Terminator<\/em>, Blade Runner,<\/em> and Robocop<\/em>.<\/p>\n Collectively, these weapons fall under Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS)<\/strong> which can include bombs, dog-like robots, and more that can use AI and other digital technologies to make decisions on the battlefield. It doesn\u2019t include drones, which are manned remotely by pilots.<\/p>\n About the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons<\/strong><\/p>\n The United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) also known as the Inhumane Weapons Convention <\/strong>was concluded at Geneva in 1980 and entered into force in 1983.<\/p>\n Purpose:<\/strong> It is a framework of rules that ban or restrict weapons considered to cause unnecessary, unjustifiable and indiscriminate suffering such as incendiary explosives, blinding lasers and booby traps that don\u2019t distinguish between fighters and civilians.<\/p>\n The convention covers<\/strong> land mines, booby traps, incendiary devices, blinding laser weapons and clearance of explosive remnants of war. The convention has no provisions for killer robots.<\/p>\n India has ratified this<\/strong> Convention.<\/p>\n News:<\/strong> Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested the \u2018Agni P\u2019 Missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.<\/p>\n About Agni P Missile: <\/strong>Agni P is a new generation nuclear capable Surface To Surface ballistic missile.<\/p>\n Range:<\/strong> The missile has a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km.<\/p>\n Features:<\/strong> The missile is a two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system.<\/p>\n News:<\/strong> At a seminar organised by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Defence Minister has encouraged scientists to work towards developing hypersonic missile technology.<\/p>\n History of missile technology in India<\/strong><\/p>\n Before Independence<\/strong>: Several kingdoms in India were using rockets as part of their warfare technologies. Mysore ruler Hyder Ali started inducting iron-cased rockets in his army in the mid-18th century.<\/p>\n After Independence: <\/strong>At the time of Independence, India did not have any indigenous missile capabilities. The Govt. created the Special Weapon Development Team in 1958. This was later expanded and called Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL). It was moved from Delhi to Hyderabad by 1962.<\/p>\n Project Devil<\/strong>: It was initiated in 1972 for the development of a medium range Surface-to-Surface Missiles.<\/p>\n Integrated Guided Missiles Development Programme (IGMDP)<\/a>:<\/strong> It was conceived by Dr. APJ. Abdul Kalam in 1982 to enable India attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile technology.<\/p>\n India\u2019s present Missile systems<\/strong><\/p>\n Heli-Nag <\/a>will be operated from helicopters and will be inducted by 2022<\/p>\n
\nINS Visakhapatnam<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
\nBrahmos Missiles<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nExtreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS)<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
\nHANSA-NG<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nMan Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM)<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nINS Vikrant<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nINS Khukri<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nArmy Secure IndiGeneous Messaging Application (ASIGMA)<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nPralay Missile<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
\nKiller Robots<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nAgni P Missile<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
\nMissile technologies in India<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n\n
\n Type of Missile<\/strong><\/td>\n Missile\/Status<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)<\/strong>
\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nNag<\/a> is the \u201cfire-and-forget ATGM with a range of around 20 km.<\/p>\n