Aryabhata: 1st Indian Satellite in Space

Aryabhata

The Aryabhata, named after the famous Indian astronomer , was India's first satellite. It was completely designed and fabricated in India and launched by a Soviet Kosmos-3M rocket from Kapustin Year on April 19, 1976. It was built by ISRO.

It was build to conduct experiment s in X-ray astronomy, aeromics and solar physics. The spacecraft was a26-sided polyhedron, 1.4 m (4.6 ft) in diameter. All faces (expect top and bottom) were covered with solar cells. The satellite remain we active till March 1981. Due to orbital decay the satellite Earth's atmosphere on 11th February, 1992.

Mission type: Astrophysics

Operator: ISRO

Launch weight: 360 kg 

Rocket: Kosmos-3M

Refence system: Geocentric

Regime: Low Earth Orbit

Perigee altitude: 563 km

Apogee altitude: 619 km

Period: 96.46 minutes

Sputnik 1: World's 1st Artificial Satellite

Sputnik 1

It's full name is Proteyshiy Sputnik-1 or Elementary Satellite 1.

Sputnik 1 was the 1st artifical earth satellite. The Soviet Union launched it into an elliptical low earth orbit on 4th October 1957, orbiting for three weeks before it's batteries died, then after two months it fall back into the atmosphere.

It was a 58 cm ( 23 in) diameter metal sphere, with four external radio antennas to broadcast radio pulses. The launch of this satellite causes the Sputnik crisis and triggered the Space Race. The launch was the beginning of a new era of political, military, technology and scientific development. 

Mission type: Technology Demonstration

Operator: OKB-1 (RSC Energia)

Manufacturer: OKB-1

Launch mass: 83.6 kg

Launch date: 4th October 1957

Rocket: Sputnik 8K71PS

Launch site: Baikonur 1/5

Mission duration: 21 days

Refence system: Geocentric

Regime: Low Earth Orbit

Semi-major axis: 6,955 km

Perigee altitude: 215 km

Apogee altitude: 934 km

Period: 96.2 minutes

DRDO Ghatak UCAV

DRDO Ghatak

Ghatak is an autonomous stealthy Unmanned Combat Aireal Vehicle (UCAV), being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Air Force. The design work on the UCAV is carried out by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). The name of the project was Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft (AURA).

        The combat drone will have internal weapons bay and a turbofan engine: Dry variant of GTRE K-9 Kaveri engine. The UCAV will be capable of releasing air-to-ground missiles, bombs and precision-guided munitions.

Role: Unmanned Combat Aircraft

Designer: Aeronautical Development Agency;

                 Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory ;

                 Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. 

First flight: 2024-2025 (expected)

Program Cost: INR 2,650 crore (equivalent to INR 32 billion or US $450 million in 2019)

ADTCR Radar

Air Defence Tactical Control Radar (ADTCR) 

The Air Defence Tactical Control Radar (ADTCR) is a 3D AESA radar. It is developed by Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), a laboratory of DRDO which is being developed for Indian Army. 

Air Defence Tactical Control Radar (ADTCR) is used for volumetric surveillance, detection, tracking and friend/foe identification of aerial targets of different types, and transmission of prioritised target data to multiple command posts/ weapon systems. The radar is capable of detecting very small targets and low flying targets. The system employs Active Phased Array Technology with Digital Beam Forming, distributed Digital Receivers and IFF Mark XII. The Radar System, power & cooling systems, operator shelter, communication equipment etc. is configured on two High Mobility Vehicles. The Radar can be deployed in plain lands, deserts and in the mountain regions for the purpose of tactical early warning for Ground based Weapon Systems. It is capable of tracking 100 aireal targets at a time. 

Type: Tactical Control Radar 

Range: 500 km (maximum) 

Detection Altitude: 30 m to 30 km

Detection range for 2sqm RCS target: 300 km

Detection range for 0.2sqm RCS target: 160 km

Azimuth: 360°

Elevation: 30°

Operator: India Army

Helicopters made by HAL

Helicopters made by HAL

● DHRUV 

    Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-DHRUV) 

It is a twin-engine, multirole, multi mission helicopter in the 5.5 ton weight class and is powered by two Shakti Engines.

Roles:

▪Passenger/Commuter role

▪VIP travel

▪Under slung load

▪Rapod development of forces

▪Logistic Air support 

▪Search and Rescue 

Features:

▪Composite Hinge less interchangeable main rotor blades 

▪Composite bearing less tail rotor blades

▪Composite Air frame

▪Glass cockpit 

▪Chaff & Flare Dispenser 

▪EO Pod with FLIR, LRF & LP

▪IR Suppressor 

Operators: 

▪Indian Air Force: 91 in service (20 on order)

▪Indian Army: 159 in service (105 on order)

▪Indian Navy: 8 in service (17 on order)

▪Indian Coast Guard: 4 in service (16 on order)

▪Indian Border Security Force: 6 in service 

● RUDRA 

Rudar is the Weaponised version of the ALH Dhruv, designed and developed by HAL to meet the requirements of Indian Army & Air Force. The multirole helicopter of 5.8 ton class is powered by two Shakti engines.

Roles:

▪Anti-tank

▪Scout 

▪Fire support 

▪Armed reconnaissance and surveillance 

▪Escort

▪EW platform 

Features:

▪Designed for high rate of climb performance.

▪Adequate safety margins in the event of single engine      failure.

▪Designed to perform cost effective operations due to better fuel efficiency and low maintenance cost.

Weapons: 

▪20mm Turret gun

▪70mm Rocket system

▪ATGM

▪Air-to-air missile 

Sensors: 

▪Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite

▪Helmet Pointing System (HPS)

▪Electro-Optical (EO) Pod

▪Flare and Chaff Dispenser (FCD)

Operators:

▪Indian Air Force: 8 in service (8 on order)

▪Indian Army: 50 in service (10 on order)

● Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)

 Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) was proposed to meet IAF's requirement of a dedicated light helicopter for combat operations. LCH with a narrow fuselage has polot and co-pilot/gunner in tandem configuration incorporating a number of Stealth features, Armour protection, Night attack capability and crash wrothy landing gear for better survivability. It has a service ceiling of 6500 m which is highest among all attack helicopters.

Features: 

▪Glass Cockpit 

▪Crashworthy bottom structure

▪Canted flat panels dor low radar cross section.

▪IR Suppressor 

▪Counter Measuring Dispesing System (CMDS)

▪EO pod,Helmet Mounted Display System & EW Suite.

▪20mm Turret gun, 70 mm rockets.

▪Air-to-air missiles 

▪ATGM

Operators:

▪Indian Air Force: 65 on order 

▪Indian Army: 114 on order 

● Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)

Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is designed and developed as a replacement for Cheetak & Chetal helicopters which are being operated by Indian Armed Forces. LUH is a new generation helicopter in the 3 ton class incorporating the state of the art technology features like Glass Cockpit with Multi-Functional Display (MFD) and powered by a single turboshaft engine for high altitude missions. 

Role:

▪Search and Rescue 

▪Passengers 

▪Cargo sling

Features:

▪Auto Pilot System 

▪Emergency Floatating System 

Operators:

▪Indian Air Force: 61 planned 

▪Indian Army: 126 planned

● IMRH

It is a 10 ton class helicopter designed and is under development to meet the requirements of Indian Defence Services. Dedicated versions to meet the requirements of Air Force, Army as well as Navy are panned. The helicopter will be powered by twin engines and will feature blade folding option for ship deck operations. The intended role of IMRH are to support air assault, air transport, combat logistics, combat search & rescue and causality evacuation operations. It is being developed as a replacement for Mi-17 helicopters. 

Project-18 class Destroyer

Project-18 class Destroyer 

The Project-18 class Destroyer would be the next generation destroyers and they would be the successor of Visakhapatnam class destroyers (Project-15B). They will be a class of stealth guilded missile destroyers planned for the Indian Navy.

   The Project-18 class ships will have a displacement of 9000 tonnes. Kakinda Shipyard in collaboration with Mazgaon docks and L&T will kell for the destroyer. DRDO in collaboration with BEL will be designing thr next generation of radar system.

   Project-18 class destroyers will have the following armaments: 

☆ BrahMos II hypersonic cruise missile 

☆ Anti-Ballistic missile defence system 

☆ Electromagnetic Railgun 

☆ Laser-based CIWS (300 kW laser)

  The ship would be powered by new gas turbine being developed by DRDO and L&T. The planned gas turbine will deliver power upto 36 MW, and the destroyer will have 2 of these to deliver a power of 72 MW.

   Project-18 aims to launch the  lead ship in 2028. DRDO has spared US $1.5 billion for the development of the programme.

R-77 to be replaced in Indian Air Force

R-77 to be replaced in Indian Air Force 

Yes, India is going to replace the Russian R-77 missile which is deployed in Su-30MKI. It is being replaced due to its poor performance in the front of PAF in February 2019. It being replaced by R-77-1 ( upgraded variant of R-77), R-27ER, R-27ET, Astra & I- Derby by 2022.

R-77

It is a Russian medium- range active radar homing air-to-air missile.

Range: 80- 100 km

Speed: Mach 4

It is currently being used in MiG-21, MiG-29 & Su-30MKI . Indian has ordered 400 R-77-1 missiles in 2019.

R-77-1 range: 110 km.

R-27

It is a medium- to- long range air to air missile developed by the Soviet Union.

IAF is using two variants of this missile.

R-27 T: 40 km

R-27 R: 80 km

Speed: Mach 4.5

It is currently being used in MiG-29 & Su-30 MKI.

India has ordered 300 R-27 ER & R-27 ET missiles in 2019.

R-27 ER: 130 km

R-27 ET: 120 km

Astra

It is a all weather beyond visual range active radar homing air-to-air missile developed by India.

Range: 110 km

Speed: Mach 4.5

I- Derby

It is a beyond visual range active radar homing air-to-air missile developed by Israel.

Range: 100 km

Speed: Mach 4

It is used in HAL Tejas.

In May 2019, IAF planned to replace the whole batch of R-77 missile used in Su-30MKI with I- Derby & Astra by 2022.

Images taken by Astosat

Images taken by Astrosat 

Astrosat is India's 1st dedicated multi-wavelenght space telescope. It was launched on a PSLV-XL on 28th September 2015.

Images:-

1. Crab Nebula in X-ray 

2. Near-UV (left) and Far-UV (right) images of the Globular Cluster NGC 1851, taken by UVIT onboard Astrosat 

3. NGC 2808

4. Open cluster M67, The BSS-White Dwarf pais WOCS1007 is circled in red

5. Near-UV images of NGC 2336

6. Dwarf Galaxy Wolf- Lundmark- Melotte (WLM)