LRDE Pushing for Uttam AESA For Tejas Mk-1A
The indigenous Uttam Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar developed by Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) is being considered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the last batch of Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk 1A.
With the addition of AESA radar being one of the key features of Tejas MK1A, LRDE hopes that Uttam can even meet the schedules of the upgraded programme. It has already completed more than 100 hours of flying on a hired aircraft and nearly 25 hours on Tejas test platforms. It is now confirmed that Uttam’s air-to-air mode and its sub-mode functionalities have been already tested.
Uttam is in competition with the Israeli Elta radar and the official word is not yet out on the question of how many Tejas MK1As (total 83) will be fitted with the indigenous technology. LRDE scientists are pinning their hopes on the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mandate.
TAPAS BH-201 Drone Tested With SATCOM
Rustom-II (Tapas), the medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) flew, in mid-August, in the Satellite Communication (SATCOM) mode for the first time.
The UAV also flew with the long range electro optical payload. These two capabilities are not available on the Heron and Searcher UAVs being operated by the three Services now. The future of this UAV programme is still unclear, with the Services yet to give any firm commitment.
DIAT Wins Smart India Hackathon-2020
Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) Pune, an autonomous organization under the Department of Defence Research & Development, DRDO, won first prize in Smart India Hackathon (SIH)-2020, where prime minister Narendra Modi interacted with the participants in a live event.
The SIH-2020, the 36-hour non-stop digital product building competition was a national level competition for software edition organized jointly by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) held during 1-3 August 2020 at Noida Institute of Engineering & Technology (NIET), Uttar Pradesh.
The DIAT student team “Age of Ultron” which comprised of six members under the guidance of Dr. Sunita Dhavale, won the 1st Prize of Rupees 1 Lakh for solving problem statement MS331 in the category of software posed by the Madhya Pradesh Government. The team provided the solution titled “DRISHTI” for the face, expression and gesture recognition using Artificial Intelligence.
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“Pavitrapati” Ayurvedic Products for COVID-19 Launched
Pune based Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, DIAT (DU) developed an Aurveda-based biodegradable face mask of nano-fibres, which acts a virus neutraliser to resist against the bacteria/ virus, and has named “Pavitrapati”.
Accordingly the Transfer of Technology (ToT) of this product signed in June 2020 between DIAT and Kolhapur based Textile Company Siddheshwar Techtessile Pvt. Ltd., Maharashtra, for actual development to this product on mass level to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The Company now launched its first ever Aurveda-based biodegradable face mask named “Pavitrapati” for sale. Siddheshwar Techtessile, Maharashtra initially developed 10,000 Nos of this mask and have got responses from distributors, sales teams, pharmaceutical companies and the same will be made available on online platform like Amazon, Flipkart, etc.
Another ToT has been transferred to Siddheshwar Techtessile, Maharashtra by DIAT for development of anti-microbial body suit in the name of “Aushada Tara”. This suit has super-hydrophobic, breathing, anti-microbial, comfort feeling properties. The fabric material of the suit has the approval for fighting against the COVID-19. The suit had cleared the splash resistant tests and it has got good repellent property of any fluids. The demand of this suit will be for medical hospitals, private companies, airlines and Govt agencies. The production of the Aushada Tara has started and the initial order is already placed and executed.
DRDO’s New Covid Test Centre at Leh
As fresh cases of COVID-19 continue to emerge, a testing centre for COVID-19 samples has been established at the Defence Institute of High-Altitude Research (DIHAR), Leh.
Apart from a utility during the ongoing pandemic, the infrastructure set up can play a pivotal role in enhancing capability to address future bio-threats and also in research activities pertinent to agro-animal diseases.
