Value of Defence Equipment Developed by DRDO
Raksha Rajya Mantri Shripad Naik informed Parliament, on 9 December, that the value of systems, products and technologies developed by DRDO and inducted into the Services or in the process of induction stood over Rs 2.75 lakh crore. This figure did not include Strategic Systems. Out of these, a total of 45 different systems and equipment worth over Rs 1,18,882.6 crore designed and developed by DRDO, had been approved for induction into the Services during the last five years. These systems included various types of platforms, sonars, radars, software defined radios, missile systems, gun systems, munitions, bridging equipment, etc.
350 Km Range XRSAM Missile Details Revealed
DRDO, for the first time on 27 December, revealed the details of the XRSAM-IAF (eXtra Long Range Surface to Air Missile) to be developed by the Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratories (DRDL). DRDO will begin trials in the next three years.
The DRDO’s website stated that XRSAM-IAF was being developed for the Indian Air Force (IAF) as part of Missiles and Strategic Systems (MSS), and added that it would play a vital role in the missile defence system of the country. DRDO said that the XRSAM air missile weapon system would also be able to engage stealth fighters and ballistic missile in the terminal stage.
“The IAF has projected a requirement to induct Long Range Surface to Air Missile System to neutralise aircraft at extended ranges of 250 km, sea-skimming anti-ship missiles, AWACS at ranges of 350 km, stealth fighters and ballistic missile in the terminal stage. The entire system shall be designed for transportability. IAF has accepted the configuration,” said DRDO on its website.
The XRSAM air missile weapon will have a range of 350 km and will also come in canister-based, transportable truck-based launcher system.
Fresh Night Trial of Prithvi-2 Missile
The night flight test of the indigenous surface-to-surface nuclear capable Prithvi-2 missile was carried out successfully as part of user trialsm barely a fortnight after two back-to-back trials of the Prithvi-2 were conducted successfully at night from the same base on November 20.
The trial was carried out from a mobile launcher of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur. The missile has a strike range of 350 kilometres. Prithvi-2 is capable of carrying 500-1,000 kilograms of warheads and is powered by liquid propulsion twin engines. The state-of-the-art missile uses an advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target.
The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the entire launch activities were carried out by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the armed forces and monitored by the scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of a training exercise.
Already inducted into the armoury of the defence forces in 2003, the nine-metre-tall, single-stage liquid-fuelled Prithvi is the first missile to have been developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
National Panel for Quantum Technology
DRDO chairman G Satheesh Reddy, 2 December, hinted at forming a special committee at the national level for coordinating a collaborative effort in research and application of quantum technology (QT), an emerging field of physics and engineering which relies on the principles of quantum physics in the defence sector.
Reddy was addressing the inaugural session of a four-day meet on ‘Quantum Information Technology’ jointly organised by the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) and the Joint Advanced Technology Centre (JATC) at Pune. He emphasised the need for a roadmap to promote the use of QT.
“The country is committed to taking QT forward. Many organisations like the DRDO, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Indian Space Research Organisation, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Indian Institutes of Technology, private industries and institutes are working in this field. We need to collaborate to bring out specific solutions. If required, we may form a special committee which will operate nationally to bring synergy in this niche research domain,” said Reddy.
He said quantum computing, communication, sensing, radar, cryptography etc are the key areas which will play a crucial role in the coming years across the globe. “The DRDO’s Advanced Numerical Research and Analysis Group is working on quantum communication project,” he said, adding that working closely with foreign experts and institutes is the need of the hour.
China has made huge progress in QT over the last four years, which is a matter of concern for India. Currently, China is building multi-satellite quantum network.
About 2.5% GDP of the world is lost to cyber-crime. Fool-proof cyber security measures can be achieved through quantum cryptography.
