QKD is primarily a mechanism to undertake secure communication which utilises a cryptographic protocol involving various components of quantum mechanics. The technology enables two communicating sides to come up with random secret keys shared by both of them and known exclusively to them, so only they can use it to encrypt and decrypt messages, thus achieving a very highly-secure communication.

In December 2020, the technology was tested for communication between two DRDO facilities in Hyderabad—the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and Research Centre Imarat (RCI)—over a distance of 12 km.

A press statement from the Ministry of Defence said on the latest test, “This technological breakthrough was achieved over a commercial-grade optical fibre already available in the field. With this success, the country has demonstrated indigenous technology of secure key transfer for bootstrapping military-grade communication security key hierarchy. The performance parameters have been measured and have been found to be repetitively within the reported international standards at sifted key rates of up to 10 kHz. This technology will enable security agencies to plan a suitable quantum communication network with indigenous technology backbone.”

Secure communications are vital for defence and strategic agencies across the globe and the distribution of encryption keys is the crucial factor for it. Sharing of keys over the air or wired links requires encryption, which in turn requires encryption keys to be pre-shared. Quantum-based communication offers a robust solution to sharing the keys securely. DRDO has undertaken multiple projects for the development of this technology.

The technology is expected to help define standards and formulate crypto technology-related policies that can use the QKD system in a unified Cipher Policy Committee (CPC) framework in the country for more secure “key management” for current and future military cryptographic systems.

In the last week of December 2020, DRDO Young Scientist Laboratory for Quantum Technologies (DYSL-QT), a DRDO facility based in Mumbai, developed a Quantum Random Number Generation (QRNG), which has the ability to detect random quantum events and convert those into a stream of binary digits. The QRNG system developed by DYSL-QT passed the global randomness testing standards of NIST and Die-harder Statistical Test Suites at the speed of around 150 kbps after post-processing. The generated random numbers were also evaluated and verified using DRDO’s indigenously developed Randomness Testing Statistical Test Suite of Scientific Analysis Group. With this development, India had entered the club of countries that have the technology to achieve the generation of random numbers based on the Quantum Phenomenon.

Most of the large economies and defence powers across the world have in the recent past formulated dedicated plans for the development of quantum technologies. These countries include the US, Canada, several European countries, China, Japan and South Korea. India has seen significant policy decisions and budget allocation for the sector.

However, senior DRDO scientists and defence officials say that developments in India need to be seen especially in the context of several claims made by China. China has said that it has achieved multiple breakthroughs in the quantum technology domain that included the world’s first quantum satellite, the world’s first optical quantum computing machine prototype and also a 2000 km long quantum communication link between Beijing and Shanghai.

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India, on 18 December, successfully India successfully tested nuclear-capable ballistic missile ‘Agni P’, a two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system.

The test was carried out from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. “Various telemetry, radar, electro-optical stations and downrange ships positioned along the eastern coast tracked and monitored the missile trajectory and parameters. The missile followed textbook trajectory, meeting all mission objectives with a high level of accuracy,” the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said in a statement.

This second flight-test has proven the reliable performance of all the advanced technologies integrated into the system, it said.

The surface-to-surface ballistic missile has a range of 1,000 to 2,000 km.

DRDO Tests Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile

The DRDO, on 11 January, successfully flight tested the final deliverable configuration of the Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM). The indigenously developed anti-tank missile is a low weight, ‘fire and forget’ missile and is launched from a man portable launcher, integrated with thermal sight.

During the test, which was conducted at a range in Southern India, the missile impacted the designated target with precision and destroyed it. The final impact event was captured on camera. The purpose of this particular test was to prove the consistent performance for the missile system at its minimum range.

Because of the strategic importance of tanks and armoured vehicles in modern day battlefields since World War I, the development of ammunition that can beat the armour of tanks and the development of armour that would withstand anti-armour ammo has been an ongoing race since then.

While the Indian Army has been mainly using various imported anti-tank guided missiles in the past, the DRDO has been working on ATGMs to be launched from different platforms as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

The indigenously developed MPATGM, ATGM Nag and Helicopter launched ATGM Nag or Helina have been successfully tested in the recent past under various conditions. In a related development, the Indian government, in December 2019, procured Anti Tank Spike missiles from Israel along with the allied systems to meet operational requirements of the Indian Army.

Helicopter-launched stand-off anti-tank missile Tested

India, on 11 December, successfully flight-tested indigenously developed helicopter-launched stand-off anti-tank (SANT) missile in Rajasthan’s Pokhran firing ranges. The weapon, developed for the IAF, can neutralise targets in a range up to 10 km.

The defence ministry said the flight-testing, carried out by the DRDO and the Indian Air Force, was “successful” in meeting all the mission objectives of the missile.

“The flight-test was successful in meeting all its mission objectives. The release mechanism, advanced guidance and tracking algorithms, all avionics with integrated software, performed satisfactorily and tracking systems monitored all mission events,” it said.

The ministry said the missile is equipped with a state-of-the-art MMW seeker which provides high precision strike capability from a safe distance.

The SANT missile has been designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad. in coordination with other DRDO labs and participation from industries.

“This is the third in the series of indigenous stand-off weapons to be tested in recent times after long-range bomb and smart anti airfield weapon for strengthening the arsenal of IAF,” the ministry said in a statement.

Indigenous Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missile Tested 

India, on 11 January, successfully test-fired the indigenously designed and manufactured Brahmos supersonic cruise missile.  It was a validation test of the naval variant of the missile jointly manufactured by Russia and India. The missile was fired from a stealth guided-missile destroyer.  The DRDO said the missile hit the designated target “precisely”.

BrahMos Aerospace, the first India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.

BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound. The Army and Navy have already inducted the highly versatile missile.

Given the effectiveness of the missile capable of hitting targets at a range of more than 350 kms, operational commanders have deployed the Brahmos at various critical points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) facing China.

Flight demonstration of Controlled Aerial Delivery System

The DRDO has conducted a flight demonstration of its controlled aerial delivery system having the capability to deliver 500 kilograms of payload. The demonstration was carried out by the DRDO’s Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) in Agra on 18 December.

The Controlled Aerial Delivery System of 500-kilogram capacity (CADS-500) is used for precise delivery of payloads up to 500 kilograms at a predetermined location by making use of manoeuvrable capabilities of Ram Air Parachute (RAP).

The CADS, with its onboard electronics unit, autonomously steers its flight path using waypoint navigation towards target location by operating controls, it said in a statement.

Survival Kit For Troops in Extreme Cold Areas

The DRDO, on December 27, handed over technology for making extreme cold weather clothing to five Indian companies. The Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) is meant for troops operating at the limits of human endurance in high altitude areas and provides thermal protection against temperatures as low as Minus 50 degrees Celsius.

The DRDO designed ECWCS is an ergonomically designed modular technical clothing with improved thermal insulation and physiological comfort based on the insulation required at various ambient climatic conditions in Himalayan regions during different levels of physical activity.

“The ECWCS embodies physiological concepts related to reduction in respiratory heat and water loss, unhindered range of motions and rapid absorption of sweat while providing water proof, wind proof features with adequate breathability and enhanced insulation as well as strength features required for high altitude operations,” a Ministry of Defence statement said.

“The three layered ECWCS is designed to suitably provide thermal insulation over a temperature range of +15 to -50° Celsius with different combinations of the layers and intensity of physical work,” it elaborated. The layered clothing reduces the requirement for different combinations to provide for widely fluctuating weather conditions on the Himalayan peaks.

Electronics and Communication Systems Transferred to Industry

Secretary DD R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy, handed over three products developed by MED & CoS Cluster of DRDO to user laboratories on 16 December. He also handed over four Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreements to public and private sector companies.

The GaN process development kit has been released for MMIC designers to enable them to design indigenous GaN MMICs for various frequencies upto X-band. The devices can be manufactured at GAETEC.

Secretary DD R&D handed over High-g MEMS Switch, UHF 1kW High Power Amplifier  and X band Power Amplifier to user laboratories. He also handed over SSPL developed technology of 0.5W Stirling Cryo-cooler for Integrated Detector Dewar Cooler Assembly (IDDCA) to Bharat Electronics Limited.

Technology document of 10W laser diode chip fabrication technology and X-band GaN HEMT MMIC  was handed over to GAETEC. Technology document for HgCdTe based DDCA was handed over to STAR-C.

The technology of Acoustic Emission (AE) Sensors, AE Data Acquisition & Analysis System was handed over to industry. The sensors and the system will be used for site specific snow avalanche monitoring/prediction.

Building upon the existing security matrix, Secretary, DD R&D handed over CAIR developed INDIGIS, a Geographical Information System to industry. Secure mobile handset to facilitate secure transmission of voice and instant messaging over 4G cellular networks for usage in sensitive environment was launched.

Reliable and secure key transfer Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) at a distance over 100 km using commercial telecom optical fiber link was announced.

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