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)

Chandrayaan-2 completes one year around the Moon

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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.

Orbiter of Chandrayaan-2

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:-

1. Terrain Mapping Camera-2 (TMC-2)
2. Orbiter High Resolution Camera (OHRC)
3. Chandrayan-2 Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer ( CLASS)
4. Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM)
5. Imaging Infra-red Spectrometer (IIRS)
6. Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar(DFSAR)
7. Chandra’s Atmospheric Composition Explorer-2 ( CHACE-2)
8. 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:-

Results:-

1. Topographic mapping using TMC-2

2. Detection of Argon-40 in the lunar exosphere:-
Argon-40, which is one of the isotopes of the noble gases, it is an important of the lunar exosphere.

Origin of Argon-40 on Moon

3. Initial imaging and observations by C-2 Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DF-SAR).

4. Spectroscopic studies of lunar surface.

5. Solar flare observed by the solar X-ray monitor on C-2:-
   Orbital carries two instruments, Chandrayan-2 Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS) and Solar X-ray monitor (XSM), to measure the lunar elemental composition.

6. Images from the Orbiter High resolution camera.

7. Studying Earth’s extended magnetosphere plasma around moon:-
The Earth’s magnetosphere is compressed into region approx three to four times the Earth’s radius (~22000km above the surface) on the side facing the sun, but it is stretched into a long tail on the opposite side that goes beyond the orbit of moon.
The CLASS instrument has detected the presence of key elements like Na, Ca, Al, Si, Ti and Fe by using X-ray emission

Magnetosphere of Earth

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

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

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

• Operational Range: 15 – 20 km
• Guidance system: Millimetre wave Active Radar Homing
  

Launch Platform: Mi-35

Sniper Rifles used by Indian Armed Forces

Bolt-action Sniper Rifles

Sako TRG-42 : Bolt- action sniper rifle.

Calibre: .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70mm)

Range: 1,500m

Users: Para (SF)

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Mauser SP66: Bolt-action sniper rifle

Calibre: 7.62×51mm

Range: 800m

Users: Indian Army

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Steyr SSG69: Bolt-action sniper rifle

Calibre: 7.62×51mm

Range: 800m

Users: BSF & CRPF

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Barrett M95: Bolt-action sniper rifle

Calibre: .50 BMG (12.7×99mm)

Range: 1,800m

Users: Para (SF) & Mumbai Police

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Barrett M 98B: Bolt-action sniper rifle

Calibre:. 338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70mm)

Range: 1,500m

Users: Para (SF) & NSG

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Beretta Scorpio TGT: Bolt-action sniper rifle

Calibre: .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70mm)

Range: 1,500m

Users: Indian Army

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SIG Sauer SSG 3000: Bolt-action sniper rifle

Calibre: 7.62×51mm

Range: 900m

Users: NSG

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Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR)/ Semi-automatic Sniper Rifles

Dragnov SVD: Designated Marksman rifle (DMR)

Calibre: 7.62×54mm

Range: 800m

Users: Indian Army

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IWI Galil Sniper: Designated Marksman rifle (DMR)

Calibre: 7.62×51mm

Range: 800m

Users: Indian Army

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Heckler & Kock MSG90: Designated Marksman rifle

Calibre: 7.62×51mm

Range: 1,000m

Users: NSG, MARCOS, Indian Army, OCTOPUS & Greyhounds

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Anti-Material Rifles

Vidhwansak: Anti-material rifle

Calibre: 14.5×114mm, 12.7×108mm & 20×82mm

Range: 2,300m (14.5×114mm), 1,800m (12.7×108mm) & 1,300m (20×82mm)

Users: BSF

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Denel NTW-20: Anti-material rifle

Calibre: 14.5×114mm & 20×110mm

Range: 2,300m (14.5×114mm) & 1,800m (20×110mm)

Users: Indian Army

Types of Fighter Jets of India Air Force

IAF currently operates 7 different types of fighter jets. Each fighter jet have different roles.

• Air Superiority Fighter Jets:-

• Su-30 MKI:- 261 (12 on order)

  Role: Air Superiority, Strike, Anti-ship 

• MiG-29 UPG:- 65 (21 on order)

  Role: Air Superiority, Multirole

• Multirole Fighter Jets:-

• Rafale:- 5 (32 on order)

  Role: Omnirole

• HAL Tejas Mk.1:- 18 (Mk.1- 22 on order; Mk.1A- 83 planned)

  Role: Multirole

• Mirage 2000 H/I:- 45 (12 TH/TI trainer variants)

  Role: Multirole

• Ground Attack Aircraft:-

• Jaguar:- 91

  Role: Ground Attack, Close air support, Nuclear strike

• Interceptor Aircraft:-

• MiG-21 Bison:- 95

Role: Interceptor

RCS of 4th Generation Fighter Jets

RCS of 4th Generation Fighter Jets

Radar cross-section (RCS) is a measure of how detectable an object is by radar.

The factors that influence RCS are:

• the material of target

• the size of target

• incident angle & reflect we angle of target

• shape of the target

• polarization

List of 4th generation fighter jets (in active service)

A. US fighter jets 🇺🇸:

• F-14 Tomcat:- RCS of 25 sq.m

• F-15 Eagle/F-15 E:- RCS of 25 sq.m

 F-15 EX:- RCS of 1 sq.m (prototype, on order)

• F-16:- RCS of 5 sq.m

 F-16 Block 60:- RCS of 1.2 sq.m

• F/A-18 C/D:- RCS of 2 sq.m

 F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet:- RCS of 0.5- 1 sq.m

 F/A-18 E/F Block III:- RCS of 0.1 sq.m (Prototype)

 It is the Stealthiest 4.5th generation aircraft.

B. Russian Fighter Jets🇷🇺:

  

• Sukhoi Su-27:- RCS of 15 sq.m

• Su-30 MKI🇷🇺🇮🇳:- RCS is 4 sq.m

  (Indian variant)

 

 Su-30 MKK🇷🇺:- RCS is 5 sq.m

 (Chinese variant)

• Su-33:- RCS is 5 sq.m

• Su-34:- RCS is 1- 3 sq.m

• Su-35:- RCS is 1 sq.m

 

• MiG-29/Mig-29 K:- RCS is 5 sq.m

 

• MiG-31:- RCS is 15 sq.m

• MiG-35:- RCS is 0.5- 2 sq.m

• Yak-130:- RCS is 1sq.m

C. Chinese fighter jets🇨🇳:

• Xi'an JH-7:- RCS is 10 sq.m

• Chengdu J-10:- RCS is 1.5 sq.m

  It is developed from Israeli  IAI Lavi program🇮🇱.

 

• Shenyang J-11:- RCS is 15 sq.m

   It is the licensed copy of Su-27🇷🇺.

• Shenyang J-15:- RCS is 5 sq.m

  It is the unlicensed copy of Su-33 (stolen)🇷🇺

• Shenyang J-16:- RCS is 3 sq.m

 • Hongdu JL-10:- RCS is 0.5- 1 sq.m

 • CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder🇨🇳🇵🇰:- RCS is 3 sq.m

   It is rejected Russian LCA design🇷🇺

  JF-17 Block III:- RCS is about 1~1.5 sq.m

C. European Fighter Jets:

• Panavia Toronto🇩🇪🇬🇧🇮🇪:- RCS is 5- 10 sq.m

 • Eurofighter Typhoon 🇬🇧🇩🇪🇪🇸🇮🇪:- RCS is 0.5- 1.2 sq.m

* British fighter jets🇬🇧:

 

• British Aerospace Hawk 200:- RCS is 1 sq.m

* French fighter jets 🇫🇷:

• Dassualt Mirage 2000:- RCS is 1- 2.5 sq.m

• Dassualt Rafale:- RCS is 0.5- 1.25 sq.m

* Swedish fighter jets🇸🇪: 

 

• JAS-39 A Gripen:- RCS is 1.5 sq.m

  Gripen Block E/F:- RCS is 0.5 sq.m

D. Indian Fighter Jet🇮🇳:

 

• HAL Tejas:- RCS is 0.3- 0.5 sq.m

 It is the stealthiest 4.5th generation fighter jet which is  operational.

E. Asian Fighter Jets:

* Japanese fighter jet🇯🇵:

• Mitsubishi F-2:- RCS is 1.5 sq.m

  It is the licenseed copy of F-16🇺🇸

* Taiwan (ROC) fighter jet🇹🇼:

• AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-koo:- RCS is 1.5 sq.m

  Developed with the help of USA🇺🇸

* South Korean fighter jet🇰🇷:

• KAI T-50 Golden Eagle:- RCS is 0.9 sq.m

  Developed with Lockheed Martin🇺🇸