---

Current Affairs Brain Booster for UPSC & State PCS Examination

---

Topic: 10 Missiles in 35 Days

Why in News?

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) effort to fast-track development of ‘Made in India’ strategic nuclear and conventional missiles comes against the backdrop of China’s refusal to step back from the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• DRDO has fired a missile every four days over nearly a month – comes against the backdrop of China’s refusal to step back from the LAC.

Missile Testing

• HSTDV– On 7th September, India has successfully test fired the hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle (HSTDV), becoming the fourth country after US, China and Russia, to test the technology that will pave the way for developing missiles that will travel six times faster than sound.
• ABHYAS– On 22nd September, DRDO has conducted successful flight test of ABHYAS High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT).
• Prithvi-II– On 23rd September, India has conducted successfully flight test of Prithvi-II. Prithvi-II is capable of carrying 500 to 1,000 kilogram of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines. The state-of-the-art missile uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target. Night trials also conducted.
• ATGM- On 23rd September, DRDO has conducted successfully flight test of laser-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). The missile employs a tandem heat warhead to defeat explosive reactive armour protected armoured vehicles. It has been developed with multiple-platform launch capability and is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials from gun of MBT Arjun.
• BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile: On 30th September, India has conducted successfully flight test of BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile. The 'prime strike weapon' will ensure the warship's invincibility by engaging naval surface targets at long ranges, thus making the destroyer another lethal platform of Indian Navy.
• Shaurya- On 3rd October, India has conducted successfully flight test of advanced version of Shaurya ballistic missile. It is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead from a defence facility. Shaurya is about 10 metres long with a diameter of 0.74 metre. A land variant of India's K-15 missile, it has a strike range of 700 km to 1,000 km and is capable of carrying payloads of 200 kg to 1,000 kg.
• SMART- On 5th October, India has conducted successfully flight test of Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART). It is a system that can hit enemy submarines when they are beyond torpedo range. Called as "game changer" in anti-submarine warfare.
• RudraM-1- On 10th October, India has conducted successfully flight test of India's first new-generation anti-radiation missile, RudraM-1. It can hit any radio frequency emitting target. The missile is integrated on the Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft.
• Nirbhay- On 12th October, India’s first Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM), Nirbhay tests aborted due to failure in weapon systems deviating from the pre-designated trajectory forcing defence scientists to abort the mission mid air.
• BrahMos Extended Range Supersonic Cruise Missile- On 18th October, India has conducted successfully flight test of BrahMos Extended Range Supersonic Cruise Missile, one of the fastest supersonic cruise missiles in the world, is capable of hitting targets at more than 400-km range. The cruise missile travels at a speed of Mach 2.8, nearly three times that of sound.

Now 12 Missiles in 45 Days

• SANT- Stand-off anti-tank (SANT), air-to-surface missile for the Indian Air Force. An upgraded version of anti-tank missile - Helicopter Launched Nag (HeliNa), the SANT missile has both lock-on before launch and lock-on after launch capability. Equipped with an advanced nose-mounted seeker the missile can destroy targets 15 km to 20 km away. It has both Lock-on After Launch and Lock-on Before Launch capability. (19 Oct)
• NAG- The shoulder launched four-kilometre range missile with imaging infrared seeker to be inducted in Army. Indian Army will no longer have to import this weapon from either Israel or the US for the range of four kilometres. (21 Oct)

Deadlier to Defend it Borders

• Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation (BECA) has been signed between India and US.
• This agreement will give India access to topographical, nautical and aeronautical data vital for pinpointed attacks using missiles and armed drones.