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: 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: A torpedo

Explanation:

• The ‘Varunastra – a Ship Launched Heavy Weight Torpedo’, also known as underwater missile, is an advanced heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo of India, developed by Naval Science and Technological Laboratory of the DRDO for the Indian Navy.
• This torpedo can achieve speeds in excess of 40 knots and is powered by an electric propulsion system with multiple 250 KWs Silver Oxide Zinc (AgOZn) batteries.
• Varunastra, a versatile naval weapon which can be fired from the Rajput class destroyers, Delhi class and all future Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) ships capable of firing heavy weight torpedoes and is capable of targeting quiet and stealthy submarines both in deep and littoral waters even in intense countermeasure atmosphere.

ANSWER: DRDO

Explanation:

• Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jadavpur University (JU), Kolkata to establish the Jagadish Chandra Bose Centre for Advanced Technology (JCBCAT).
• The MoU will facilitate DRDO and the Jadavpur University to pursue collaborative advanced research. The JCBCAT will primarily undertake research in areas of secure systems and cognitive technologies, directed energy, unmanned and robotics technologies and other futuristic technologies.

ANSWER: Microbiological Quality

Explanation:

• The National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), under Ministry of Science & Technology, has entered into a license agreement with M/s Ramashree Chemicals Pvt. Ltd, Bhopal for commercialisation of “Test kit for Microbiological Quality of Drinking Water” developed by Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior, DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India.
• The kit is used for detection of H2S producing organism in drinking water, which are present along with coliforms. Waterborne diseases like typhoid, cholera, diarrhoea and jaundice are caused by polluted water supply. It is an inexpensive, reliable and convenient method of testing in field conditions and is approved by World Health Organization (WHO). The initiative of NRDC aids the “Make in India” Mission of the Government of India.

ANSWER: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Explanation:
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) ‘Nishant’.
- It is developed by ADE (Aeronautical Development Establishment), a branch of DRDO.
- Its aim was to provide Army with indigenous systems for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
- Four of the UAVs were inducted in 2011 after a long delay and at least three were crashed so resulted in cancellation of further orders.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- Center for Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) is a laboratory of the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO).
- Located near Manali, Himachal Pradesh its primary function is research in the field of snow and avalanches to provide avalanche control measures and forecasting support to Armed forces.
- SASE is also actively participating in Indian Antarctic Programme with ongoing research activities in the areas of Antarctic Surface Energy Balance and monitoring of Glaciers.

ANSWER: New Delhi

Explanation:
- DRDO is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defense
- It was formed in 1958 by the merger of the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production with the Defense Science Organization.