TWIN-ENGINE DECK BASED FIGHTER (TEDBF)

The Twin-Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) is being developed by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Navy. It will be a single-seater, twin-engine, compound tailless delta wing with close-coupled canards.

The TEDBF will be a Carrier-based aircraft. It’s first flight is planned in the year 2026.

Features:-

• LEX: Leading-Edge Extension (LEX) a small extension to an aircraft frontal Fuselage Boundary. A leading-edge extension is designed for the same purpose to create a strong vortex that increases the stall angle of a wing. TEDBF features a Leading Edge Extensions (LEX) below the canopy blended back into the wing.
• Canards: A small wing like projection attached to an aircraft forward of the main wing to provide extra stability or control. TEDBF has canards to provide longitudinal stability and control for the aircraft. TEDBF has adapted close-coupled canards configuration from the Tejas Mk-2 aircraft.
• DSI Intakes: A Diverterless Supersonic Inlet (DSI) compared to a conventional intake decreases the inlet weight, since the structure becomes less complex and it has no movable parts, therefore, requiring less maintenance and also increases the performance of a fighter aircraft.
• 3D Bump: Bump near DSI intakes is used to improve the negative effects caused by the bends of the duct.
• Stealth optimized Radome Frontal Section: TEDBF design comes with a Stealth optimized Radome Frontal Section inspired from the AMCA fighter program to have reduced cross-section (RCS). 
• Wing folding Mechanism: TEDBF will feature a Wing folding Mechanism that will be used when for storage in the hangar or when the aircraft requires repairs. The wing folding Mechanism also helps aircraft on the decks to be parked neatly and save space for more aircraft. 
• Tail hook: TEDBF is seen with a tail hook attached to the empennage (rear) of the fuselage for rapid deceleration during routine landings aboard aircraft carrier flight decks.
• Larger fuselage fuel tanks: TEDBF features a fixed upper fuselage fuel tank on either side of its central spine that will play the role of conformal fuel tanks (CFT). But unlike CFT that can be removed after mission by the ground crews, this will be part of the fuselage. It will add range, decreases drag and also decreases the overall signature of the TEDBF jet.

Roles:-

• Combat Air Patrol
• Deck launch interception
• Air-to-air combat
• Anti-ship strike
• Maritime strike
• Land attack strike
• Escort jamming
• Buddy Refueling

Specifications:-

• Length: 16.3 m
• Wingspan: 11.2 m(unfloded); 7.6 m(floded)
• Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26 ton
• Speed: Mach 1.6
• Service Ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,288 m)
• ‘g’ limits: +8/-3

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INDIAN AND FRENCH AIR FORCE BILATERAL EXERCISE DESERT KNIGHT- 21

The Indian and French Air & Space Force (Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace) conducted a five-days bilateral air drill at Air Force Station Jodhpur in India from 20th to 24th June, 2021.

As a part of Indo-French Defence Cooperation, six editions of air drill ‘Garuda’were conducted. The latest being in the year 2010, at Air Force Base Mont-de-Marsan in France.

The Desert Knight- 21 exercise is unique as it will include the Rafale fighter jets by both sides. It also indicates the growing interaction between the air forces of the two nations- India & France.

• Aircrafts from Indian Air Force:- Rafale, Su-30 MKI, Mirage 2000, IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C aircraft.

• Aircrafts from French Air Force:- Rafale, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), A-400M Tactical Transport aircraft and approximately 175 personnel.

Different Exercises between India & France:-

• Varuna: Naval exercise
• Garuda: Air Exercise
• Shakti: Army Exercise

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HAWK-I AIRCRAFT SUCCESSFULLY TEST FIRED SMART ANTI-AIRFIELD WEAPONS (SAAW)

On 21st January, 2021, Hindustan Aeronautical Agency (HAL) successfully test fired a Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) from the Hawk-i aircraft off the coast of Odisha. The indigenous stand-off weapon developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), DRDO is the first smart weapon fired from an Indian Hawk-Mk 132.

“The Hawk-i is HAL’s internally funded programme offering the armed forces an upgrade and combat capability for the Hawk, transforming it into an Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT), providing training on sensors and weapons in peacetime into a potent combat platform during conflict,” an HAL statement read.

The SAAW is a long-range precision-guided anti-airfield wepeon of 125 kg used to destroy ground targets, such as runways, bunkers, aircraft hangars and other reinforced structures from a range of 100 km.

INDIAN ARMY DEMONSTRATS DRONE SWARM DURING ARMY DAY PARADE

The Indian Army carried out a demonstration of drone swarm by using 75 indigenously designed and developed rotary drones

These drones are developed by Indian Army and NewSpace Research and Technology. Each drone is autonomous and independent to carry out missions by using Artificial Intelligence (AI). Theses drones have a range of 50 km. The Army and NewSpace is planning to fly up to 1,000 rotary drones.

During the demonstration, 75 UAV and small drones were flown together in a large swarm through AI technology. These swarm drones can be used for simultaneous large attacks on enemy tanks, infantry combat vehicles and trucks loaded with soldiers and ammunition, as well can be used for supplying medicines and other equipment.

Swarm-drones can also be used to jam the enemy’s communication-systems and radars on the battlefield.

Indian Army carried out multiple operations including intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, kamikaze drone attacks, mothership, first-aid delivery and parachute payloads. These 75 drones can carry a total payload of 600 kg.

There were different types of drones used:

• Mothership Hexacopter, that can 2 kamikaze quadcopters.
• Kamikaze drones or Loitering munitions.
• Utility drones for payload & first-aid delivery.

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)