DRDO Tests Glide Bomb Successfully
December, 2014
India test fires Agni-II Missile
A 1,000-kg glide bomb designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was successfully tested in the Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast. The bomb was dropped by an Indian Air Force aircraft.
Defence sources said the bomb, guided by its onboard navigation system, glided for nearly 100 km before hitting the target with precision. Its flight was monitored by radars and electro-optic systems stationed at the Chandipur-Based Integrated Test Range.
Multiple DRDO laboratories, including Bengaluru-based Defence Avionics Research Establishment, Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment and Chandigarh-based Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, along with Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad as the nodal laboratory have contributed towards development of the glide bomb.
DRDO's Parachute System developed for GSLV MK-III Crew Module
December, 2014
DRDO's Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), has developed a 16t capacity heavy drop system (HDS), it has met performance parameters during two successful drops at an undisclosed location
The successful launch of GSLV MK-III by ISRO to validate the Crew Capsule Recovery system equipped with advanced parachute system designed and developed by ADRDE (Aerial Delivery R&D Estt), an Agra based lab of DRDO proved the efficacy and reliability of the parachute system. The parachute deployment system functioned perfectly and achieved the required descent rate. ISRO has expressed happiness and thanked ADRDE & DRDO for the support.
ADRDE is the premier DRDO laboratory, one of its kind in the country, specializing in design development and leading to production para drop systems for a comprehensive range of military applications. A large number of such systems such as Combat Free Fall system, heavy drop systems, P 7 & P 16, capable of aerial delivery of payloads up to 7 tons and 16 tons respectively.
November, 2014
Government clears defence projects worth 80,000 Crores
October, 2014
AGNI-I Ballistic Missile Launch
DRDO successfully test-fired Akash Air Defense Missiles
June, 2014
India conducts successful test of first indigenous Air-to-Air Beyond Visual Range (BVR) ‘Astra’ Missile
May & June, 2014
Army & Air Force versions Akash Missile test fired successfully
February, April & May, 2014
May, 2014
Interceptor Missile test fired successfully by DRDO
April, 2014
DRDO developing UAVs to track down Maoists
February, 2014
India successfully test fired long range nuke-capable Agni-IV missile
January, 2014
About nuke-capable Agni-IV missile
On 9th November 2014, India test fired nuclear-capable Agni-II ballistic missile. This successful test was conducted from Wheeler Island, Odisha. The test was a part of training exercise to the Army with logistic support provided by DRDO.
Key facts of Agni-II missile
- Agni-II missile is part of India’s strategic forces arsenal for nuclear deterrence with a range of over 2000 km and can carry a payload of 1000kg.
- It is a two stage surface-to-surface missile, equipped with an advanced high accuracy navigation system and guided by a novel state-of-the-art command and control system.
- It is powered by a solid rocket propellant system and already been inducted into the army.
- Agni-II weighs 17 tonnes and the range of the missile can be increased to 3000 km by reducing the payload.
- It can be fired from both rail and road mobile launchers and it takes only 15 minutes for the missile to be readied for firing.
- The Agni-II missile is developed by Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) and integrated by the Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Hyderabad.
Successful Flight Testing of Long Range - Surface to Air Missile
November, 2014
BARAK-8 Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM)
The Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM) is successfully flight tested against a flying target in a range in Israel, today. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel has carried out the test in the presence of DRDO scientists and officials of the Indian Armed Forces. The LRSAM system is jointly developed by DRDO and IAI Israel. All the systems including the radar, communication launch systems and the missile system have performed as expected and hit the target directly and damaged.
The system is developed for both Israel Defence Forces and Indian Armed Forces.
India conducts successful flight trial of "NIRBHAY" Sub-Sonic Cruise Missile
October, 2014
NIRBHAY Sub-Sonic Cruise Missile taking off from the Integrated Test Range (ITR)
India's first indigenously designed and developed long range sub-sonic cruise missile Nirbhay was successfully flight tested today the 17th October 2014 at 1005 hrs from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Balasore, Odisha.The entire mission, from lift-off till the final splash down was a perfect flight
achieving all the mission objectives.
The cruise missile Nirbhay, powered by a solid rocket motor booster developed by the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) took off majestically from a mobile launcher specifically designed for Nirbhay by the R&D Engineers (E). As it achieved the designated altitude and velocity, the booster motor got separated, the turbofan engine automatically switched on taking over the further propulsion and the wings opened up by the commands generated by the on-board computer (OBC) stabilizing the flight. Guided by a highly advanced inertial navigation system indigenously developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) the Nirbhay continued it's flight that lasted a little over 1hr and 10 minutes. Throughout it's path, the missile was tracked with the help of ground based radars and it's health parameters were monitored by indigenous telemetry stations by team of professionals from DRDO's ITR and LRDE (Electronics & Radar Development Establishment). Additionally, the performance of Nirbhay was closely watched by an Indian Air Force aircraft.
The missile maintained an accuracy better than 10 meters throughout it's path and covered a distance of more than 1000 km.
October, 2014
The Defence Acquisition Council has given the clearance to defence projects amounting to 80,000 cr. Multiple deals that involve either upgradation of equipments or capability enhancement of the Navy were given approval.
Other projects that have been approved are:
- Indigenous production of six submarines with DRDO as principle partner
- Procurement of 12 upgraded Dornier surveillance aircraft with enhanced sensors from HAL at Rs. 1,850 cr
- Purchase of 8,356 SPIKE Anti Tank Guided Missile from Israel worth Rs 3,200 cr (This is being bought instead of USA’s Javelin missile). The Army will also purchase 321 launchers for the missile
- Purchase of 362 infantry fighting vehicle from the Ordinance Factory Board in Medak,West Bengal for Rs 662 cr
- Purchase of 1,761 units of five spoke 7.5 tonne radio containers for Rs 662 cr and 1,768 critical rolling stock – open and closed wagons for transport of military equipments at a cost of Rs 740 cr from domestic vendors
- Purchase of equipments for classified operations of the Navy
- Indigenous production of submarines with DRDO as principle partner
- Six submarines equipped with land attack cruise missiles will be produced in India at a cost of Rs. 50,000 cr. This will be in furtherance of the Government’s Make in India initiative. A committee will be formed to make a study of both public and private shipyards to determine which of them have the capacity and manpower to build six submarines. After the study is completed, a Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued to the port that has been identified by the study.
AGNI-I successfully launched
April & September, 2014
AGNI-I Ballistic Missile Launch
The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) successfully fired the short range Agni-1 missile propelled by solid rocket propellant system, with a range capability of over 700 Kms from the Wheeler’s Island, off the Odisha Coast, today.
The launch was undertaken as a part of periodic training activity by the Strategic Forces Command to further consolidate operational readiness. The trajectory of the trial was tracked by a battery of sophisticated radars, telemetry observation stations, elctro-optic instruments and naval ships from its launch till the missile hit the target area with pinpoint accuracy.
DRDO successfully test-fired Akash Air Defense Missiles
June, 2014
Akash air defence missiles were test-fired successfully by Defence Research and Developmet Organization (DRDO) off the coast of Balasore in Odisha. Three Akash missiles were fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur (Odisha), on tow body target of Lakshya Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA) moving at “low altitude for boundary” and ripple mode missions. The missiles were successfully guided by multi-function phased array radar developed by Electronics and Radar Development Establishment, a DRDO Lab and produced by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL).
India conducts successful test of first indigenous Air-to-Air Beyond Visual Range (BVR) ‘Astra’ Missile
May & June, 2014
India tested its first indigenous air-to-air Beyond Visual Range (BVR) ‘Astra’ missile from a Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet, marking an important achievement in the development of complex BVR weapons. Astra will initially provide a 44-km range with “high single-shot kill probability”, while its Mark-II version will be able to hit hostile aircraft over 100 km away.
Astra V/s Brahmos Cruise Missile:
India is also likely to initiate testing the 290-km supersonic BrahMos cruise missile from the heavy-duty Sukhoi-30MKIs by the end of 2014. So, while Astra is being developed to smash enemy aircrafts, BrahMos will give incisive land-strike capability against hostile targets.
Importance:
Currently, IAF jets are armed with very costly Russian, French and Israeli missiles. These indigenously developed Astra Missiles are comparatively very cheaper. Only a few countries like the US, Russia, France and Israel have managed to develop BVR missiles till now. It is therefore important due to economic and strategic reasons for India to have an indigenous air-to-air BVR missile like Astra.
‘Astra’ missile:
- Developed by: DRDO as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program
- Range: Short range-20 km and Long range-80 km
- Type: Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Air-to-Air, all-weather
- Special features: “Target lock-on” capabilities both before and after launch; Advanced ECCM (Electronic Counter-Counter Measures); Active radar terminal guidance; Smokeless propulsion; Process improved effectiveness in multi-target scenarios.
Army & Air Force versions Akash Missile test fired successfully
February, April & May, 2014
India successfully test fired indigenously-developed surface-to-air Akash missile as part of a user trial from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha.
Two Akash missiles from the production lot of the Air Force version of Akash missile system were test fired in two separated tests in modes on Saturday the 26th April 2014, successfully intercepting the fast moving incoming and receding maneuvering targets respectively, towed by Lakshya pilot less target aircraft.
Akash Missile:
- Developed by: DRDO as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program
- Type: Surface-to-Air
- Range: 25 km, medium range
- Warhead Capacity: 60 kg
- Comparative Advantage: Compared with American MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system, Akash has the capability to neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles.
Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) Penta Rail Supersonic Track inaugurated at TBRL
May, 2014
Rail Track Rocket Sled - Penta Rail Supersonic Track at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory
India is among a handful of countries in the world now possessing this unique test facility.
This four kilometer long RTRS Penta track will be extremely useful for the testing of wide range of critical systems such as payload for manned missions of ISRO, the navigation system for missiles and aircrafts, proximity fuses for advanced warheads, fuses for armament systems parachutes for payload delivery, arrester systems for aircraft such as LCA.
“NABHRATHNA” Flying Test Bed handed over to DRDO
May, 2014
A long felt void to have a flying test bed for testing the airborne radars and aerospace systems developed by DRDO was fulfilled as the system was handed over by HAL.
There are many systems lined up for testing such as Maritime Patrol Radar, Synthetic Aperture Radar, Data‐link, Electro‐optics and EW systems. The money invested in procuring this aircraft will give us returns many times more as the aircraft will prove its worth in the months to come. The use of flying test bed (FTB) aircraft will reduce the cycle time for development for such airborne system.
Lightweight Ceramic Faced Composite Armour Panels
May, 2014
Lightweight Ceramic Faced Composite Armour Panels for Advanced Light Helicopter and Mi-17-IV helicopter have successfully undergone integration and flight-trials. This provides protection to aircrews and critical parts of helicopter against hits of bullets of 12.7 mmAPI. Composite laminates were made using kevlar fabric as reinforcement and modified epoxy resin for matrix.
Kevlar-epoxy composite laminates of different thicknesses were prepared by compression moulding process. Kevlar-epoxy composite laminates were bonded with alumina ceramic cylindrical pellets with the help of epoxy structural adhesive. Gaps between the ceramic pellets were filled with modified epoxy resin.
April, 2014
India’s premier defence equipment manufacturer DRDO successfully test-fired a new Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) interceptor missile capable of neutralizing any incoming long-range missile at higher altitude.
How this test was conducted by DRDO?
Firstly, the target which was a dummy incoming enemy missile was test fired from a naval ship more than 2,000 km away in the Bay of Bengal. Following this, after receiving signals from the radars, the interceptor missile blasted off from the launch pad-IV of Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha to hit this target missile.
What are the objectives of the Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) mission?
DRDO is working to develop sophisticated interceptor missiles capable of neutralizing any incoming long-range missile at higher altitude. The latest PDV mission seeks to engage targets in the exo-atmosphere region at more than 120 km altitude.
DRDO’s achievements in Interceptor Missile Development:
Earlier DRDO had successfully tested six interceptor missiles developed by it, both in theendo-atmosphere (within 30 km altitude above the sea level) and exo-atmosphere stage (above 30 km altitude above the sea level). The Prithvi Air Defence interceptor missile has already exhibited its precision at an altitude of 50 km and 80 km while the Advanced Air Defence interceptor missile has striked the target missile at an altitude of 15 km to 30 km.
DRDO developing UAVs to track down Maoists
February, 2014
The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is developing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to track down maoists in naxal hit states viz. Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, etc. And would demonstrate the operational capability of the first such vehicle, Nishant in Jagdalpur. The UAVs being developed for CRPF would be able to help the forces trace and track down the ultra Left operatives in even thick forests.
The Nishant, a multi-mission UAV developed by India’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a branch of DRDO, had already been inducted by the army. (Nishant consists of an air vehicle supported by ground control station equipment mounted on Tatra vehicles and it can be moved to any location for launching whenever required making it very versatile).
About Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
Means: Aerial vehicles which operate without a human pilot. Eaves are commonly used in both the military and police forces in situations where the risk of sending a human piloted aircraft is unacceptable, or the situation makes using a manned aircraft Impractical.
Uses: To get aerial video of a remote location, especially where there would be unacceptable risk to the pilot of a manned aircraft and can be equipped with high resolution still, video, and even infrared cameras. The information obtained by the UAV can be streamed back to the control centre in real time. Used to carry and deliver a variety of payloads. Helicopter type UAVs are well suited to this purpose, because payloads can be suspended from the bottom of the airframe, with little aerodynamic penalty.
India successfully test fired long range nuke-capable Agni-IV missile
January, 2014
India successfully test fired a nuclear-capable Agni-IV strategic missile from the Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast near Dhamra in Bhadrak district, about 200 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.
About nuke-capable Agni-IV missile
- Developed by: DRDO as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program
- Type: Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (surface-to-surface missile)
- Operational range: 4000 km
- Developed and tested by: Defense Research and Development Organisation(DRDO).
- Used by: Indian Army
- India’s second longest-range missile.
- Light-weight
- Two stages of solid propulsion
- Payload with re-entry heat shield
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