26.9.20

DRDO DAKSH

DRDO DAKSH REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE (ROV)[1]

Daksh is an electrically powered and remotely controlled robot used for locating, handling and destroying hazardous objects safely.

Daksh is a battery-operated remote-controlled robot on wheels that was created with a primary function of bomb recovery. Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), it is fully automated. It can navigate staircases, negotiate steep slopes, navigate narrow corridors and tow vehicles to reach hazardous materials. Using its robotized arm, it can lift a suspect object and scan it using its portable X-Ray device. If the object is a bomb, Daksh can defuse it with its water jet disruputer. It has a shotgun, which can break open locked doors, and it can scan cars for explosives.

DRDO Daksh ROV

The ROV is versatile equipment for improvised explosive device identification and handling. It can also be utilised to survey and monitor nuclear and chemical contamination levels. The ROV has stair climbing capabilities and can operate continuously for 3 hours. The ROV can be controlled either by fibre optic communication over 100m distance or can be controlled by wireless communication over 500m line of sight.

The vehicle’s manipulator arm can handle hazardous objects of up to 20kg from 2.5m and 9kg from a 4m distance. It can climb stairs and negotiates steep slopes. The solid rubber wheels of Daksh can withstand blast impacts.

Manufacturer: DRDO
In service: 2011- present
Number built: 190
Users: Indian Army (190 in service, 10 on order)

21.8.20

Chandrayaan-2 completes one year around the Moon

On August 20,2020, Chandrayan-2 marked one year of completion of launched by GSLV Mk III- M1 today. The Chandrayan-2 space craft was inserted into lunar orbit on August 20,2019. The orbit carries 8 payloads.

The orbital is being maintained in 100+/- 25km polar orbit with periodic orbit maintenance (OM) maneuvers.

GSLV Mk III- M1 launch carrying Chandrayaan-2

On-board camera of GSLV Mk III

The eight payloads on the orbiter of Chandrayan-2 are:-

Terrain Mapping Camera-2 (TMC-2)
Orbiter High Resolution Camera (OHRC)
Chandrayan-2 Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer ( CLASS)
Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM)
Imaging Infra-red Spectrometer (IIRS)
Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar(DFSAR)
Chandra’s Atmospheric Composition Explorer-2 ( CHACE-2)
Dual Frequency Radio Science Experiment (DFRS)

The data acquired from Chandrayan-2 payloads are being derived for:

Presence of water-ice in polar regions.
X-ray based and Infra-red spectroscopic mineral information.
Mid and high latitudes presence of Argon- 40.

The report on the major findings from Chandrayan-2 science experiments will be publicly release on October 2020.

The Orbiter placed in its orbit around the moon will give us knowledge of the moon’s evolution and mapping of the minerals and water molecules in polar regions, using its 8 state of the art scientific instruments. The Orbiter camera is the highest resolution camera (0.3m) in any lunar mission so far and will provide high resolution images.
The Orbiter has a life of almost seven years.

Images taken by Chandrayaan-2:-

19.8.20

IAF integrates MICA air-to-air missile with Su-30MKI

Su-30MKI integrated with MICA air-to-air missile

IAF test fires MICA air-to-air missile from Su-30MKI. The multi-mode MICA missile fired from Su-30MKI for the first time, it successfully destroyed expendable aerial targets (EATs). IAF test fired two rounds of BVR air-to-air missile MICA on Monday & Tuesday.

MICA is an all weather multi-mode missile available in both short & medium range. It can neutralise targets within a range of 500 m to 80 km. It has two variants: MICA-IR (infrared) & MICA-RF (radio frequency). The MICA-IR has an imaging infrared homing seeker. The MICA-RF has an active radar homing seeker. Currently, MICA missiles are integrated with Mirage 2000 & Rafale fighter jets of IAF.

Last week, IAF has conducted two rounds test of R-77-1 air-to-air missile from Su-30MKI. The R-77-1 is a new variant of R-77 missile which was purchased by IAF in 2019 as a replacement of existing R-77 missiles which were deployed with Su-30MKI. The R-77-1 is BVR air-to-air missile. It has a range of 110 km. It uses an active radar homing seeker. Currently, R-77 missiles are integrated with Mig-29UPG & Su-30MKI of IAF & Mig-29K of Indian Navy.

29.7.20

Air launched ATGMs of India- Dhruvastra & SANT

Air Launched ATGMs of India

HELINA/Dhruvastra ATGM

Helina (Helicopter-launched Nag) is air launched version of the Nag ATGM with extended range. It is designed and developed by Defence Research And Development Organisation (DRDO).

It is guided by an Infrared Imaging Seeker (IIR) operating in the Lock- On-Before-Launched(LOBL) mode and Lock-On-After-Launched (LOAL) mode for target engagement. The IIR seeker has a 640×512 pixel resolution. It supports both top attack and direct attack. It has completed all its user trials from 2015-2020 and it is ready of induction.

It is launched by Twin tube stub wing-mounted launchers.

Manufacturer: Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ordnance Factory Medak

Mass: 4.3 kg
Length: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Diameter: 0.2m (7.9 in)

Engine: Solid-propellant rocket booster
Operational range: 7 – 10 km
Maximum speed: 828 km/h (230 m/s)
Guidance system: Imaging infrared homing

Launch Platform: HAL Rudra & HAL LCH

SANT

SANT ( Standoff ANti-Tank guided missile) is an upgraded version of HELINA ATGM. It is equipped with active radar homing seeker instead of IIR seeker. It is developed to be used from Attack helicopters, Ground attack aircrafts & UCAV. It was first tested successfully in November 2018. It was tested from Mi-35 in 19th October 2020.