Missiles, DRDO - GS questions based on daily current affairs

ANSWER: Defence System

Explanation:

• Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is fully indigenous towed artillery gun system project undertaken in mission mode by DRDO as a part of artillery modernisation programme of Indian Army. Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune is the nodal laboratory of DRDO for design & development of ATAGS along with other DRDO laboratories.
• ATAGS is configured with all electric drive to ensure maintenance free and reliable operation over a longer period of time. It will have a firing range of 40 Kms with advanced features in terms of high mobility, quick deployability, auxiliary power mode, advanced communication system, automatic command and control system with night firing capability in direct fire mode.
• The development trajectory of ATAGS aims at establishing indigenous critical defence manufacturing technologies. This is important from the point of view of indigenisation of defence.

ANSWER: Muntra

Explanation:
Government agency Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed India's first unmanned tank that can remotely operate and has named it ‘Muntra’.

The agency has developed the tank in three different variants to tackle any kind of situation- for surveillance, another for mine detection and a third variant for reconnaissance in areas with nuclear and bio threats.

The tank which is a first of its kind in the country has been developed and tested by Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) in Avadi for the army.

The paramilitary has expressed its interest in using them in the areas that have been affected by the Naxals.

Recently two vehicles that have been designed like an armoured tank were recently displayed at the Science for Soldiers exhibition that was organised by DRDO as a tribute to former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who was also known as the Missile Man of India.

During the testing of the vehicle, it was found that its surveillance radar that includes an integrated camera can be used to spy on targets that are 15 km away.

More about the variants of the unmanned tank ‘Muntra’-

Muntra S – This variant has been developed to carry out unmanned surveillance missions.

Muntra M – This variant has been developed for detecting mines.

Muntra N – This variant will be deployed in areas where nuclear radiation or the risk of bio weapons is high.

The tanks have been tested and validated at Mahajan field firing range in Rajasthan.

The Muntra tanks have surveillance radar, an integrated camera along with laser range finder, which can be used to spy on ground target about 15 kilometres away.

Besides heavy weights, the DRDO also showcased a few inventions like a handheld wall penetration radar which if placed on a wall will project on a screen the presence of people inside a building.

DRDO is now working on installing AWAC (Airborne Early Warning and Control System) on an A330 aircraft.

The system is now perfected for use on a smaller Embraer plane.

ANSWER: Chitradurga Karnataka

Explanation:
Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) is the first of its kind range that has been set up by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), one of the premier laboratories of the DRDO.

ADE works on a range of UAVs (unmanned air vehicles). The facility will be an integrated test centre for a cluster of DRDO’s aeronautical laboratories.

The following labs will make use of the testing facility: the Centre for Air Borne Systems, the Gas Turbine Research Establishment, the Defence Avionics Research Establishment, the Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification, all of which are based in Bengaluru, and finally the Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment, which is based in Agra.

The facility is meant to conduct flight-tests of indigenous unmanned and manned aircrafts such as naval and trainer versions of the Light Combat Aircraft, the unmanned air vehicles- Rustom-I and Rustom-II (Tapas); the Airborne Early Warning & Control Systems (AEW&C), Air-to-Ground weapons, parachutes and aerostats, etc.

Karnataka, especially Bengaluru, and its tech ecosystem not only leads India, but is a leader on the global horizon.

Technology companies and their facilities located in Bengaluru are helping us create new facilities in other places in the country.

DRDO indicated the ATR, sprawling 4,090 acres, was built at a cost of INR 290 crore.

The ATR campus has 31 buildings and a 2.2km runway that can be expanded to 3km to help larger aircraft land and take off.

It has two hangers to house UAVs, radar centre, fibre-optic network, and a separate residential complex on 200 acres.

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
North Korea has test-fired a ballistic missile defying global pressure and warnings from the United States and its main ally, China.

The test was conducted from the Pukchang region present in the north of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.

The test has failed and it is North Korea’s fourth successive unsuccessful missile test since March.

The missile launched is expected to be a medium-range weapon known as a KN-17 and appears to have disintegrated within minutes of taking off.

In February, it successfully launched a new intermediate-range ballistic missile defying global pressure that is capable of carrying a nuclear weapon.

Similarly, it also successfully tested ballistic missiles on March 6. But since then it has caused a series of failed missile tests.

The reasons behind the failed tests are largely unknown.

ANSWER: Minuteman III

Explanation:
An unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile was launched during an operational test from an air base in the state of California, amid growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a single test re-entry vehicle was launched on 26th April 2017 by a combined team of United States Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen.

According to US Air Force, the ICBM’s re-entry vehicle, which contained a telemetry package used for operational testing, travelled to the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, approximately 4,200 miles away from the launch site.

The ICBM test launch program demonstrates the operational credibility of the Minuteman III.

It also ensures the US ability to maintain a strong, credible nuclear deterrent as a key element of national security and the security of allies and partners.

The Minuteman III is one of three legs of the US nuclear triad, which also comprises strategic bombers such as the B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit, as well as submarine launched ballistic missions, provided by Navy submarines.

Though US Air Force Global Strike Command routinely conducts ICBM test launches from Vandenberg, the latest is still a great concern amid heightened tensions between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Minuteman III: Know More

• Unit cost : $7,000,000
• Guidance system : Inertial
• Warhead : Nuclear: W62, W78, or (from 2006) W87
• Launch platform : Missile Silo (MLCC)

ANSWER: Hormoz 2

Explanation:
Iran media reported the Revolutionary Guard has successfully tested ballistic missile Hormoz 2. The missile destroyed the target from 155 miles.

The sea launched ballistic missile was tested last week. President Trump has imposed sanctions on entities or individuals who support the ballistic missile program of Iran.

Several sophisticated rockets were also launched by Iran during military exercises in the central desert of the country in February.

Iran: Know More

• Capital: Tehran
• Code: +98
• Currency: Iranian rial
• President: Hassan Rouhani
• Supreme leader: Ali Khamenei

ANSWER: Japan sea

Explanation:
Nuclear-armed North Korea fired four ballistic missiles east of the peninsula on March 6, with Japan saying three of them landed in its waters.

Pyongyang fired a ballistic missile last month, its first such launch since October, which Seoul said was aimed at testing the response from the new US administration of President Donald Trump.

Seoul said several missiles were filed into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, and that South Korea and the US were closely analysing tracking data for further details.

In terms of the range, it is around 1,000 kilometres.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said North Korea fired four missiles almost simultaneously, three of which landed in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

In response to the launch, South Korea’s acting president Hwang Kyo-Ahn convened an emergency National Security Council (NSC) meeting, the presidential office said in a statement.

Seoul and Washington launched annual joint military exercises last week that infuriate Pyongyang, which condemns them as provocative rehearsals for invasion.

North Korea has regularly carried out actions in protest against the US-South Korea exercises, last year firing seven ballistic missiles during them.

That rocket–said by the North to use solid fuel and to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead–flew east for about 500 kilometres before falling into the Sea of Japan, South Korea said at the time.

North Korea is under heavy international sanctions for its nuclear and missile programmes.

Last month, China–the North’s chief ally and diplomatic protector–announced a suspension of all coal imports from the North until the end of the year, depriving Pyongyang of a crucial source of foreign currency.

China’s foreign ministry said Beijing and Pyongyang were still “friendly neighbours” but added it remained opposed to the North’s nuclear ambitions.

North Korea is barred under UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology. But six sets of UN sanctions since Pyongyang’s first nuclear test in 2006 have failed to halt its drive for what it insists are defensive weapons.

Last year the country conducted two nuclear tests and numerous missile launches in its quest to develop a nuclear weapons system capable of hitting the continental US.

North Korea: Know More

• Capital: Pyongyang
• Supreme leader: Kim Jong-un
• Premier: Pak Pong-ju
• Currency: North Korean won
• Population: 24.9 million (2013) World Bank

ANSWER: Both of the above

Explanation:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed a technology transfer agreement with Jindal Stainless (Hisar) Ltd. (JSHL) for manufacturing high nitrogen steel (HNS).

The steel alloy has significant applications in the defence sector, but currently the country is mostly dependent on imports.

HNS has higher ballistic strength and is not only tough but also has good strength.

It is non-magnetic and corrosion-resistant.

It costs about 40% less than that of rolled homogenous armour steel (RHA).

Its domestic production will further the Indian Army’s quest for lighter armouring material.

HNS: Know More

• HNS is corrosion resistant and provides exceptional ballistic and blast protection than the existing material.
• This is at a much reduced thickness along with longevity which increases the fuel and mass efficiency.
• It exhibits higher energy absorption.
• Aim is to launch additional variants of HNS with enhanced blast and ballistic protection to cater to niche requirements of the defence sector.
• HNS passed ballistic tests in different calibers with 8-10 times higher impact and blast protection.
• It has potential application in all armoured vehicles, including infantry combat vehicle (ICV), light speciality vehicle (LSV), light armoured multi-purpose vehicle (LAMV), futuristic infantry combat vehicle (FICV), main battle tank (MBT), future ready combat vehicle (FRCV), aviation and naval systems.

ANSWER: Defence

Explanation:
The Defence and Research Development Organization (DRDO) successfully flight tested the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW), from an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft.

SAAW, an indigenously designed and developed 120 kg. class smart weapon, developed by DRDO, is capable of engaging ground targets with high precision up to a range of 100 kms.

The light weight high precision guided bomb is one of the world class weapons systems.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
Defence Research and Development Organisation has signed an MoU with IIT-B and M to establish a bi nodal Centre of Propulsion Technology.

• MoA was signed to achieve synergy between DRDO and IITs for channeling research efforts and advanced collaborative research in areas of critical defence technologies.
• CoPT will facilitate and undertake multidisciplinary directed research in the following areas:
• futuristic aero engines,
• hypersonic propulsion for long duration flights,
• solid propellant combustion modelling
• morphing aircraft technologies.