Subject: Science & Technology
Topic: Defence Research

Ques. 1 : Discuss in brief India’s defence requirements and aims of Indian defence policy?

Ans. India today is faced with an extensive defence and security parameter - 14,103 km. of land borders including 7,000 km of border with countries with which major territorial disputes still persist (Pakistan and China), a coastline of over 7000 km. and exclusive economic zone of 2.5 million sq. km. to protect. The land defence parameter spans some of the world's most difficult terrain including the mighty Himalayas. Moreover, presence of an ever-hostile neighbour and the menace of terrorism require a comprehensive approach to security. In this scenario, the security challenges confronting the country need to be revamped to a desired level of military preparedness to deter both external attacks and internal extremism, so that peace, stability and growth can be sustained.

Application of science and technology plays a vital role in determining the defence capabilities of a country which is critical in keeping the morale of the armed forces. India's defence policy aims at promoting and sustaining durable peace in the subcontinent, while at the same time equipping the defence forces adequately to safeguard against any aggression. Its long term military and strategic aims have been defined as-

(i) Keeping the war machine i.e. the armed forces well trained and ready to wage war at short notice.
(ii) Having a wide industrial base and infrastructure to support any long term . insurgency or war when it is thrust upon us.
(iii) Avoidance of conflict by acquisition of-deterrents like nuclear weapons and their delivery systems (missiles etc.).

By its very nature and because of its sensitivity, defence is an area where it is wise to develop self-reliance. Modern defence systems are necessarily linked to scientific management. S&T builds and develops the defence hardware of a country and war and defence have become increasingly electronically controlled. In this scenario, India has also developed an impressive defence infrastructure, largely emphasising on technological advancement aimed at achievement of self-reliance.

Ques. 2 : Briefly discuss the role of DRDO in the national defence?

Ans. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was formed in 1958 by amalgamating Defence Science Organisation and some other technical development establishments. A separate --department of Defence Research and Development was formed in 1980 which now administers DRDO and its 50 laboratories and establishments. The department of defence research and development formulates and executes plans for scientific research, design and development in the fields of relevance to national security, leading to the induction of new weapons, delivery systems, platform and other equipments required by the armed forces. It also functions as the nodal agency for the execution of major development programmes of relevance to defence through integration of research, development, testing and production facilities with the national scientific institutions, public sector undertakings and other agencies. It is involved in design and development of activities in a variety of disciplines such as aeronautics, armament, combat vehicles, rockets and missiles, naval technology, electronics and instrumentation, radars and electronic warfare, communication, robotics, artificial intelligence etc. It also plays an important role in other defence related as well as application oriented fields such as terrain research, life sciences (including high altitude agriculture, high altitude physiology etc.), nuclear medicine, avalanche forecast and control, food technology etc.

The research efforts of DRDO have brought significant amount of success in various key projects. Its recent achievements include the successful flights testing of various missile systems under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. A sophisticated low level warning radar INDRA has been successfully developed and inducted into the services. An indigenously designed, fully automated factory was set up the DRDO to manufacture- Fin-Stabilised Armour. Piercing Discarded Sabot (FSAPDS). The other notable achievements of DRDO have been - multi barrel rocket launch system PINAKA; main battle tank ARJUN; brick layer tank KARTIK; field guns Mk-I and Mk-II; flight stimulator for aircraft; air launched, rocket powered missile targets; field artillery radar; communication systems; night vision devices; new family of light weight Indian Small arms (INSAS); cluster weapon system; illuminating ammunition for enhancing night fighting capabilities; advanced sonars; rockets for ship defence etc.

In addition, several high technology projects which include light combat aircraft (LCA); gas turbine engine; pilotless target aircraft (PTA) are at various stages of development with DROO. The PTA LAKSHYA, a re-usable aerial target system remotely operated from ground is under limited serial production and induction. The first technology demonstration flight of the LCA was flight tested in 2001. The other major programmes under progress in, the current year are KAVERI engine for the LCA, various missiles under the IGMDP, multi barrel rocker system PINAKA and EW systems for the Army and Navy. The successful completion of these would greatly contribute towards self-reliance in critical areas of defence technologies.

Development of sea mines for use against submarines and ships is in advanced stages. Upgraded version of the mine for underwater work by naval divers and frogmen has been developed and has undergone trials by the Navy. Composite sonar and tactical weapon control system PANCHENDRIYA for navy and a marine acoustic research ship SAGARDHWANI, which is indigenously designed and built and is one of the most sophisticated research ships have also been developed.

The multi-span bridging system SARVATRA has been accepted for induction in the service after mobility, stability and manoeuvrability of the vehicle was proved.

A defence technology park is being set up in Bangalore to facilitate transfer of technologies by DRDO labs to the production undertakings. This will result in indigenous production of high tech items needed by the armed forces.

Research in health is being done in the areas of radio-immuniassay, radio- biology and bioengin-eering at the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Applied Sciences (INMAS), while the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences carries out studies on high altitude acclimatisation and devises methods for increased fighting efficiency, safety and comfort of the arrned forces.

The defence food laboratory has developed products, processes, preservatives and packaging material so that suitable Indian packaged food can be provided to the armed forces in difficult terrain.

Ques. 3 : Give a brief description of India’s Missile development programme?

Ans. India's Missile development programme called Integrated Guided-Misslle Development Programme (IGMDP) was launched in 1983. It was envisaged as ambitions plan to take up simultaneously the design and development of five missiles which would provide the nation a Comprehensive Missile-based Umbrella within 10 years. India desired comprehensive and integrated capabilities in missile systems because on one hand they have advantage of delivering higher payload (warheads) beyond the range of combat aircrafts, on other hand they are one-way devices and there are no dangers or costs associated with loss of a combat aircrafts. Moreover with their high speed, their interruption is also more difficult than combat aircrafts.

The programme has following missile systems to be designed, developed and operationalised,

1. Tactical, short range surface to surface (SSM) Missile - Prithvi.
2. Intermediate range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) - Agni
3. Short range Surface-to-Air (SAM) Missile - Trishul
4. Medium range SAM - Akash
5. Anti-Tank Guided Missile - NAG

Ques. 4 : Discuss in brief the salient features of Prithvi Missile?

Ans.

Prithvi

Features

1. Surface to surface Missile.
2. A tactical battlefield i.e. its role is destroy critical enemy targets over a short range of up to 250 km.
3. Can carry a 500 kg payload up to 250 km or 1000 kg payload up to 150 km.
4. Can carry both conventional or nuclear warhead.
5. A vehicle based Missile, capable of being towed to all kinds of terrains, has a short reaction time.
6. Has strap down inertial Navigation and is guided and controlled all the way to its target by on-board computer. It is extremely accurate.
7. Difficult to spot it or to trace its trajectory and target because of its supersonic speed and limited flight time.

The Prithvi Missile comes in four variants:

• Prithvi-l is a battlefield support system for the army (range 150 km, 1000 kg payload). It is a single stage, dual engine, liquid fuel, road-mobile, short-range surface-to-surface missile.
• Prithvi-II is dedicated to the Indian Air Force (range 250 km, 500-750 kg payload). It is a single stage, dual engine, liquid fuel, road-mobile, short-range surface-to-surface missile. DRDO has decided to increase the payload capability of the SS-250/Prithvi-1I variant to 1000 kg by using boosted liquid propellant to generate higher thrust-to-weight ratio.
• Prithvi-III is a solid fuelled version with a 350 km range and a 1000 kg payload. It is a two stage solid fuel road-mobile short-range surface-to-surface missile Sagarika and Prithvi-III are two different acronyms for the same missile. A related program, known as Project K-15 is in development and will enable the missile to be launched from a submerged submarine.
• Dhanush (in Sanskrit/Hindi means Bow) is a system consisting of a stabilisation platform (Bow) and the Missile (Arrow). The system can fire either the SS-250 or the SS-350 variants. There may likely be certain customisations in missile configuration to certify it for sea worthiness.

Ques. 5 : Briefly discuss the features and significanc of Agni Missile?

Ans.

Agni

Features

1. Surface to surface Missile.
2. An Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM). It is a Missile having a re-entry capability i.e., it propels itself out of the earth atmosphere and then re-enters and falls to the surface of the earth. It takes elliptical trajectory to cover long distances. It is also called strategic Missile as it can hit long-range targets.
3. Can carry payload of 500-1000 kg upto a range of 1000 2500 km.
4. Can carry both conventional and nuclear warhead and thus both battlefield weapon and a deterrent.
5. It can be launched from land platform and mobile platform.
6. It was presented as technology demonstrator for re-entry technology.

Progress

1. Agni-1 having range of about 700 km (and thus bridging the gap between Prithvi and Agni-II) has been successfully flight tested in July-August. 2004 and along with Agni-II have been accepted for induction in armed forces.

2. Agni-II with range of 2500 km, and operational capability of delivery of one tonne payload, on its way to be fully inducted into army. The Army is raising an ‘Agni Missile Group’ for this purpose.

Significance of Agni

The success of Agni-1 and Agni-II represents a quantum leap in India's strategic capability. Only five other countries US, Russia, France, China and Israel have IRBM technology. Agni missile system is a cornerstone of IGDMP. It has put India's credible minimum nuclear deterrence (CMND) on firm footing. The Agni and its variants with proven re-entry, technology and maneuverability had added punch to India's second strike capability which is key pillar of its no first use poling. Agni was seen as political missile by the West and was interpreted as an attempt by India to move into ranks of World military powers.

There is intense high technology work going on at the Defence Research and Development laboratory (DRDL), the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), and the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), all located on DROO Campus. The scientists at the ASL are furiously working on Agni-V, which will have a range of 5,000 km. Its design has been completed and development work is under way. The ASL is also preparing for a Night Trial of Agni-III A. The missile will be an advanced version of Agni-II, which has a range of more than 2,500 km.

Ques. 6 : Give a brief description of Trishul?

Ans.

Trishul

Features

1. It is Surface-to-Air (SAM) Missile.
2. It is an air defence weapon.
3. Has a short range of up to 9 km.
4. It has radar guided surveillance, tracking and guidance mechanism for accurate interception of targets.
5. It can be used by Army, Navy or Air Force to track, and target enemy air crafts, sea-skimming missiles or low flying targets respectively.

Progress

Trishul and Akash have been delayed on account of snags in guidance and propulsion technologies.

During 2003-2004 seven consecutive successful flight tests were conducted, amply demonstrating accuracy of the guidance system.

The production version of launcher and radar vehicle 'Trishul Ground Electronics and Radar Vehicle' (TGERV) for Air Force has been realised. The TGERV has been upgraded and maiden flights using this version have been successfully carried out. The range of Trishul has been enhanced for IAF requirements.

Due to-delays in Trishul programme, Navy is exploring alternative anti-missile system for its warships. It is considering 'BARAK' anti-missile system of Israel.

Ques. 7 : Briefly discuss the features of Akash Missile?

Ans.

Akash

Features

1. It is SAM.
2. It is an multi-target air defence weapon that can target 4-5 enemy targets at a time.
3. It has range of 25 km.
4. It uses a command guidance from ground radar system and on-board precision homing system.
5. It is integrated with indigenously produced phased array radar called Rajendra.
6. It will be first Indian Missile System to use scramjet principle for its propulsion i.e. using atmospheric air as one of combustion agents.

The Akash uses an integral ramjet rocket propulsion system to give a low- volume, low-weight (700 kg launch weight) missile configuration, and has a low reaction time from detection to missile launch of 15 seconds. This allows the missile to carry a heavier warhead (60 kg). The solid-propellant booster accelerates .the missile in 4.5 seconds to Mach 1.5, which is then jettisoned and the ramjet motor is then ignited for 30 second to Mach 2.8 - 3.5 at 20g. Akash has a range of 27 km, with an effective ceiling of 15 km. It is capable of detecting & destroying aircraft flying at tree-top height. Development is on to increase speed, maximum altitude and range-to 60 km. A dual model radar/infra-red seeker is also being developed as is a longer range version of the Rajendra radar, to give earlier warning and tracking of ballistic missile targets.

Rajendra is 3D phased-array surveillance/engagement radar developed by the Electronic Research & Development Establishment (ERDE). Also mounted on a modified BMP-1 chassis, like the Akash, the radar is capable of tracking 64 targets, engage 4 simultaneously and guide up to 12 missiles. The system is reportedly similar to the 30N6 (Flap-Lid B) engagement radar. Has air surveillance, multiple target tracking and multiple missile guidance functions via multi-channel monopulse. Features fully digital”, signal processing system \ with adaptive moving target indicator, coherent signal process, and variable pulse repetition frequency.

Progress

So far 40 full flights test of Akash have been conducted. It showed consistency during entire flight and travel to the far boundary as demanded by Army and airforce. Consistent performance of propulsion, control and guidance systems has been demonstrated in last ten consecutive flights.

Akash and Patriot Missile

It is believed that Akash Missile has better features than its US counterpart called. Patriot. Akash is totally mobile, can be launched from battle tank. It has thrust during entire flight - propulsion will work till it hits the target. The patriot has thrust only for 12 seconds. But Akash has thrust for 35 seconds, it is lighter and more effective.

Ques. 8 : Give a brief description of Nag?

Ans.

Nag

Features

1. It is an anti-tank missile.
2. It has range of 4-km.
3. It has fire and forgets capability, the target is sighted, it automatically aligns itself to the target.
4. It uses infrared imaging system for having on the target.
5. Launched from a tracked carrier or from a helicopter. It is capable of piercing the most sophisticated of tank armours:

Progress

1. There have been 44 test launches to conclusively establish performance of the target acquisition system.
2. Development of prototype ALH-Nag launcher has been completed.

Ques. 9 : Briefly discuss the features and advantages of BRAHMOS?

Ans.

BRAHMOS

It is world's best supersonic cruise missile, which has been developed by joint efforts of Indian and Russian Scientists. This missile is the leader in the family of cruise missiles and is unique to fly at speed of 2.8 times the speed of sound. It anti-ship missile with 300 km. range and 300 kg payloads.

Cruise Missile: It is one that flies close to the earth surface unlike ballistic missile which travels outside atmosphere and raises it height and speed to supersonic levels as it approaches the target.

BRAHMOS can be launched from submarine, ship, aircraft and land based Mobile Autonomous Launchers (MAL. The missile is launched from a Transport-Launch Canister (TLC), which also acts as storage and transportation container.

Primarily BRAHMOS is an anti-ship missile. It has the capability to engage land based targets also. The missile can be launched either in vertical or inclined position and will cover 360 degrees.

The BRAHMOS missile has identical configuration for land, sea and sub sea platforms. The air-launched version has a smaller booster and additional tail fins for stability during launch.

Features

1. High Supersonic Velocity
2. Long flight range
3. Varieties of flight trajectories
4.  “Fire & Forget” principle
5. Universal for multiple platforms
6. Low Radar Signature
7. Simplicity of technical operations
8. High lethal power
9. Higher effectiveness

Advantages:

(1) Long flight range with supersonic speed all through the flight.
(2) Shorter flight times leading to lower target dispersion and quicker engagement.
(3) Varieties of flight trajectories.
(4) 'Fire and forget' principle of operation.
(5) Higher destructive capability aided by the large kinetic energy of impact.
(6) Higher effectiveness against ship defences.
(7) Canister for transportation, storage and launch

Superiority of the BRAHMOS Supersonic Anti-ship Missile over a Subsonic Long Range Anti-ship Missile
In Velocity by 3 times
In flight range by 2.5-3 times
In Seeker 3-4 times

Ques. 10 : Discuss in brief about ‘Astra’?

Ans.

Astra

Features
1. It air-to-air missile.
2. It is beyond visual range (BVR) class that would be capable of beating radar eyes and hitting enemy targets. Located up to range of 80km.
3. The missile can be launched after receiving a signal from the far away target and, it will seek and home is, using a complex-range of on-board manoeuvres based on radio frequency.
4. It would be interfaced with LCA.

Project Progress
The Union Government has cleared the futuristic project, which will be guided and led by Hyderabad based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL).

It is Rs.1,000 crore National project. Each Astra Missile would cost Rs. 3-5 crore.
It would be high-end tactical missile. Several other PSU's like HAL, ECIL and some private companies are involved in this project.

Project Astra signals a continuem in two-decade old Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. The Indian Missile Programme is now confident of delivering a quality missile to the stringent requirements of the user and there was no need to look for imports. Indigenous missile are cheaper, easily maintained, can be technologically upgraded.

Encouraged by technical and systems integration expertise, the laboratory is confident that missile will be developed in six years.

Answer of Question 1: B

Answer of Question 1: C