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News from CURRENT AFFAIRS (October 01-10-2020 to October 31-10-2020) TECHNOLOGY

Navy demonstrates combat readiness; releases video of missile hitting target

Sounding rocket Rohini launched with new propellant

Publisher DRDO’s Rustom-2 drone takes-off, goes for armed Heron

Journal of Aerospace Sciences Overcoming the initial program setbacks, the Defence And Technologies Research and Development Organization (DRDO) flight The Aeronautical Society of India tested the Rustom-2 medium altitude long endurance Bangalore Branch Building New Thippasandra Post indigenous prototype drone and achieved eight hours Bangalore 560 075 of flying at an altitude of 16000 feet at Chitradurga, Karnataka, INDIA Karnataka. The prototype is expected to achieve a Phone No : +91 80 25273851 Email: [email protected] height of 26000 feet and endurance of 18 hours by Website: www.aerojournalindia.com 2020 end. Rustom-2 is capable of carrying different combinations of payloads depending on the mission Publication Team objectives including synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence systems and situational awareness systems. It has a satellite communication link to

Dr R Balasubramaniam relay situation in the battle theatre on real time basis. “ The Rustom-2 had one hour of fuel left after eight Dr S Kishore Kumar hours of test flying at Challakere aeronautical test range in Chitradurga district of Karanataka and had Dr P Raghothama Rao achieved the test flight ceiling,” said a senior official. While the DRDO expects Rustom-2 surveillance Mrs Chandrika R Krishnan Mr Hemanth Kumar R drone to match the specifications of the Israeli Heron used by the Mr Kumaran A K M and Navy, it has revitalized its drone program with a new mission head and objectives. The push to Rustom-2 program was given after the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) tried to occupy Indian territory in Advertisement – Tariff Ladakh on the basis of a 1959 cartographical claim on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The PLA has Wing Loong II armed drones in its arsenal and has even given four of them to Pakistan to protect the CPEC A4 – 1 Full Page : Rs. 2000 corridor and Gwadar port. Although the Rustom-2 will have to undergo test and user trials before inducted Draft Drawn in Favour of in the Indian military, the Ministry of Defence is currently negotiating with Israeli Aerospace Industry (IAI) “Journal Office, The Aeronautical to not only upgrade the existing fleet of Heron drone but also arm them with air to surface missile and laser Society of India” Payable at Bangalore guided bombs. According to South Block officials, the technical upgradation and arming of Heron drone is at contract negotiating committee level after being cleared by the Defence Acquisition Committee (DAC). Head Quarters The project will be cleared at the level of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The Heron upgrade involves installing a satellite communication link so that there is no time gap in relaying situation on ground as well as installing hard points on the wings for missiles and laser guided bombs. While the Israelis have The Aeronautical Society of India 13-B, Indraprastha Estate kept their armed drone program under cover, the Heron has a proven weaponized version. Besides, India New Delhi 110 002, India has also decided to go in for American MQ 9B armed drone instead of Sea Guardian surveillance drone Tel: +91 11 23370516 with cost and numbers being worked out. Clearly, the future belongs to stand-off weapons and India this Fax: +91 11 23370768 time will not miss the bus. Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/

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For more information about Journal of Aerospace Sciences and Technologies Log on to our Website : www.aerojournalindia.com CURRENT AFFAIRS

IAF will have 37-38 fighter squadrons in a decade, says deputy chief

The Indian Air Force (IAF), which is facing a decline in its fighter squadrons, will have around 37-38 fighter squadrons in a decade, said the Deputy Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Sandeep Singh. He also said the 114-fighters deal under way has to meet the growing Make in India aspirations incorporated in the just-released Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020. “We are already aware [of] what is supposed to come in the DAP 2020, and we have already realigned our Statement of Case to seek higher levels of production technology, and use of indigenous systems and materials where possible,” he said on the 114-fighters deal, addressing a webinar jointly organised by the Centre for Air Power Studies and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers. The IAF is expected to soon approach the government for an accord on the Acceptance of Necessity for the 114-fighters deal, after which the formal procurement process would begin. The new DAP 2020 comes into effect from October 1. On the fighter modernisation, Air Marshal Singh said that the rate at which the phasing out was taking place, the Mig-21s would “have to go”, but life of other fighters was being extended and made “more capable”. The IAF is in the process of phasing out the remaining squadrons of Mig-21s. “We will hit around 37-38 squadrons in a decade,” Air Marshal Sandeep Singh said, adding that this was assuming there were no delays in the induction of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) variants. The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) induction is planned to begin by the end of the decade. Stating that the fleet would be much more capable by then, he said, “Our adversaries are also getting technologically superior and [have] more number of aircraft.” The IAF has an authorised strength of 42 fighter squadrons but currently has around 30 squadrons.

Mid-air refuellers

Air Marshal Singh said that “the financial crunch” had made the IAF rethink its acquisition plan for mid-air refuelling aircraft. “IAF has already received feedback that it would be possible to dry lease these platforms,” he said, stating this may be possible through Indian firms, which is allowed by the DAP 2020. The lease need not be from the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and could be from aggregators of these platforms, which is permitted under the DAP 2020, he said. The IAF presently has six Russian IL-78 tankers and has been looking to procure six new aircraft, but the deal has been repeatedly delayed. In another development, Air Marshal Singh said the IAF is the lead service for the tri-service case for 127 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). Stating that the Air Force had to decide whether it was “Buy Indian” or “Buy and Make Indian” of the procurement procedure, he said the IAF already had some responses and would “rapidly decide on how to go about it”. On the increasing threat of drones and various efforts by the services to procure counter-drone systems, Air Marshal Singh said that anti-drone systems should be under a national policy as that would be required by various agencies. “Discussion is on as to which systems will be handled by which agencies,” he added.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/

IAF demonstrated its operational capability along northern border: Chief of Air Staff

The Indian Air Force has clearly demonstrated its resolve, operational capability and will to effectively engage with the adversary whenever the need arises, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said, and commended the air warriors for their prompt response in the recent standoff on the northern frontier in view of the bitter border row with China. In an address on the occasion of the 88th anniversary of the IAF, Bhadauria also assured the nation that the force will evolve and be ever ready to safeguard India’s sovereignty and interests in all circumstances. Talking about security challenges in eastern Ladakh, the Chief of Air Staff commended the air warriors for their prompt response in the recent standoff, and talked about rapid deployment of combat assets at short notice to handle any eventuality. “We have clearly demonstrated our resolve, operational capability, and the will to effectively engage the adversary, should the need arise,” he said after inspecting the Air Force Day parade at the Hindon air base . “I would like to commend all warriors for the quick response, in the recent standoff on our northern frontiers, when we deployed our combat assets at short notice to handle any eventuality, and provided proactive support to all the requirements of deployment and sustenance for the ,” Bhadauria said. The Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in a bitter border row for the past five months in eastern Ladakh and the IAF has made significant deployment in the region. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh greeted the IAF on its foundation day, and said the government is committed to enhance its combat capability of the force. “The nation is proud of its men and women in blue and salutes the prowess of the IAF as it stands ready to face challenges and deter adversaries. We remain committed to enhancement of IAF’s combat capability through modernisation and indigenisation,” he said. In his address, the Chief of Air Staff also cautioned of the evolving “threat matrix” in the region, and said it mandates a greater need to have a strong air force to fight across domains and the entire spectrum of warfare. “The evolving threat matrix in our region is becoming complex, ranging from aspirational adversaries with huge investments in military arsenal, to those collusively supported by nonstate actors, apart from growing sub- conventional threats emanating from terrorism and cyber space,” he said. Bhadauria said disruptive technologies and easy access to low cost options like drones are increasingly demanding greater attention to the sub-conventional domain. The IAF also carried out a spectacular air display at the event, showcasing its vintage aircraft and modern fleet including the recently-inducted Rafale jets. The IAF chief said notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic, the force has maintained its capacity to undertake full scale operations as it took proactive measures to counter the spread of COVID-19. “The tenacity and resolve of our air warriors ensured that the IAF continued to retain its capability and capacity to undertake full scale operations, throughout this period,” he said. Bhadauria also talked about the IAF’s culture and ethos of team work and told the air warriors that “it will help you to overcome temptation if any to seek personal glory, while in service or beyond.” He also called creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff and Department of Military Affair as “landmark step” towards increasing tri-service effectiveness, coordination and overall combat capabilities of the armed forces. “We are working proactively towards setting up joint command structures. The formation of air defence command is spearheading the envisaged tri-service commands, and it will further optimise all available air defence resources and be supported with a robust decision making structure, and this is at an advanced stage,” he said. On modernisation of the IAF, he said the vision is to continue to comprehensively scale up the combat capability, and be a force to reckon with across the entire sphere of influence through careful force structuring and acquisition of indigenous equipment. “The recent induction of state of the art Rafale, Chinook and Apache aircraft, have added significantly to our combat capability over our adversaries on the battlefield,” Bhadauria said. “Our offensive strike capability has been honed further, with upgrades of our aircraft with weapons and sensors, ably supported by a networked decision making matrix,” he added. The Chief of Air Staff also talked about the IAF’s full support towards the government’s self-reliance initiative, and said the force is rapidly shifting to indigenous equipment and platforms. He also mentioned induction of a large number of indigenously developed platforms like Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Netra airborne early warning and control system, surface-to-air missile systems and BrahMos missiles. The Chief of Air Staff also mentioned the introduction of an electronic maintenance management system in the IAF for all its flying platforms and combat assets. “This is virtually the world’s largest such maintenance monitoring system, across various types of platforms and the numbers,” he added. On future requirements, he highlighted efforts to develop an indigenous combat system with sixth generation technologies, and mentioned plans to develop directed energy weapons, optionally manned combat platforms, swarm drones and hypersonic weapons. “The space domain is likely to become increasingly important in future years, and is being given the required thrust. I want all air warriors to understand the importance of the decade ahead, and work proactively towards making Indian Air Force the engine of growth of our indigenous aerospace industry,” he said.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

Indian Air Force team in France to make preparations to induct more Rafale jets

As it prepares to induct a second batch of Rafale jets, the Indian Air Force has sent a team of officials to France to oversee the logistical issues and review the training of a hand-picked group of pilots at the Saint-Dizier air base there, officials said. The second batch of four Rafale jets is expected to arrive in India in the next four weeks. The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29, nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 of these aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. Several teams from the IAF have visited France since January to oversee the progress of the Rafale project including integration of India-specific enhancements and weapons systems, the officials said. The IAF’s Rafale project management team has an office in Paris headed by a Group Captain-rank officer. The team is tasked with overseeing the production timelines as well as coordinating training of the crew. A team of experts headed by assistant chief of air staff (projects) reached France earlier this week to coordinate logistical issues as well as training of pilots and technicians, said the officials. The first batch of Rafale jets was finally inducted into the IAF on September 10. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on October 5 said the induction of all 36 Rafale jets will be completed by 2023. Ten Rafale jets have been delivered to India so far and five of them stayed back in France for imparting training to IAF pilots. Known for their air-superiority and precision strikes, the Rafale jets are India’s first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 year after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. The newly inducted fleet has been carrying out sorties in eastern Ladakh where Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in a bitter border row for over five months. A group of IAF pilots is currently undergoing training on Rafale jets at the Saint-Dizier air base in eastern France.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

Navy demonstrates combat readiness; releases video of missile hitting target

In a demonstration of its combat readiness in strategic sea lanes around India, the released a video of an anti-ship missile destroying a sinking ship with “deadly accuracy” somewhere in the Arabian Sea. The missile was fired by frontline corvette INS Prabal as part of a mega naval drill involving aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and a number of warships, attack helicopters, aircraft and other assets of the Navy. An Indian Navy Spokesperson tweeted that the missile homed in on its target, an old ship, hitting with deadly accuracy at its maximum range. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh reviewed the operational preparedness of his force at various shore-based locations a well as at sea. He also addressed a select group of combatants of the Navy’s Carrier Battle Group over a broadcast from the INS Vikramaditya, India’s only aircraft carrier, and reviewed the force’s overall combat readiness, officials said. In his remarks, Admiral Singh complimented his force for continuously maintaining “peak combat-readiness” and “high tempo” of operations over the past few months, they said. The Indian Navy has significantly increased its deployment in the Indian Ocean Region, in an attempt to send across a message to China in the wake of escalation in tension between the two countries. Giving an overview of the prevailing security situation, the Chief of Naval Staff stated that the Navy would continue to maintain a high-tempo of operations in coming months. “He also complimented the Carrier Battle Group and its combatants for accurate and effective weapon firings, which left no doubt about the Navy’s readiness to meet any emergent contingencies,” the Navy said in a statement. A carrier battle group is a mega naval fleet comprising an aircraft carrier, accompanied by a large number destroyers, frigates and other ships. “Indian Navy continues to maintain a high tempo of operations and combat-readiness despite the COVID-19 pandemic by adhering to stringent protocols onboard warships, submarines and aircraft squadrons and bases, and is fully prepared to tackle challenges in the maritime domain,” the Navy said.

Source: Times of India

ISRO now in talks with NASA for key tech

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which has already tied up with multiple countries to get help with various facets of India’s first human spaceflight mission — Gaganyaan — is now in talks with the US’ NASA, examining if it can gain access to some critical technologies relating to astronaut safety. “Given that Covid-19 has already affected the timeline of the mission, we are hoping to expedite it by accessing some technologies that are already ready. NASA and ISRO had been exploring a long-term partnership for the human spaceflight programme, and this could be a start,” a source said. TOI reported earlier this month that Ganganyaan may miss the August 2022 deadline set by Prime Minister Modi because of the pandemic. ISRO chairman K Sivan, while confirming that the agency has initiated talks with NASA, however, said that they were in a very nascent stage and no decision on whether or not there would be a partnership has been made. “We will still be developing things ourselves, but we are looking at accessing some of the technologies, like green propulsion, life-support systems and so on, given the tight schedule. Nothing has fructified so far,” Sivan said. ISRO, as reported by TOI earlier, had been in talks with space agencies from at least three countries including the US for astronaut training and finally decided to partner with Russia because of the tight schedule it had to meet for Gaganyaan. If talks turn into a partnership then the US, which has been keen on partnering on Gaganyaan, would become the third country to be helping ISRO launch India’s first astronauts from Indian soil. As on date, four Indian astronaut-elects are training in Russia as part of ISRO agreement with Glavkosmos, a subsidiary of Russian space agency Roscosmos, which has been in talks with ISRO for some life-support systems. Russia has also started production of customised space suits for the astronauts, while the French space agency has also partnered with ISRO. Sam Scimemi, director, International Space Station (ISS), Nasa headquarters, had told TOI in January: “We were in discussions, I think the Russians and ISRO were prepared to move a lot quicker which I think was advantageous for the Indian space agency given the timeframe that you’ve been given to send humans into space.” What expedited the Russia agreement was also the fact that India was slightly more familiar with Russian systems given that Rakesh Sharma had flown to space on a Soviet mission in 1984.

Source: Times of India ISRO will launch first satellite of this year from Sriharikota on November 6

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch the first satellite of this year from Sriharikota on November 6 when its PSLV-C 49 rocket will lift off with an earth observation (surveillance) satellite Risat-2BR2 and 10 foreign commercial satellites from the first launchpad. It is keeping November 7 and 8 as two days of backup launch dates in case of any delay, according to a notice to airmen (NOTAM). This will be ISRO’s first satellite launch amid the Covid- 19 pandemic, which has slowed down all space activities since March. The agency is also gearing up for the much- awaited first demonstration test of its new rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) or mini-PSLV by December. Risat-2BR2 is an advanced series of the earth observation satellite whose synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has an all- weather and day-and-night observation capability. It can also see through clouds. This new ‘eye in the sky’ will boost the military’s surveillance capability from space and help the security forces keep a hawk eye on the borders amid the LAC troop stand-off with China. Besides its surveillance role, Risat-2BR2 will also be used for civil applications like in agriculture, forestry, soil moisture, geology, coastal monitoring and flood monitoring. Soon after the PSLV-C49 mission, ISRO is targeting to launch PSLV-C50 mission carrying GSAT-12R communication satellite in December. However, the much-awaited launch of the first SSLV by December will generate a lot of interest among space enthusiasts as this is a vehicle-on-demand made especially for satellite customers. Post-PSLV-C49 launch, the first launchpad set-up has to be reconfigured to suit the shorter SSLV launch. The test on the SSLV motor is scheduled for November. An SSLV will have a three-stage engine rocket all powered by solid fuel. The mini-launcher can be assembled in just 3-5 days as compared to 30-40 days for a normal-size rocket. The 34-metre rocket will have a lift-off mass of 120 tonnes and will have the capability for multiple satellite launches at different orbits. However, an SSLV can carry a maximum of 500 kg payload to the low earth orbit (LEO) and 300 kg to the sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). As was reported by TOI earlier, the first commercial SSLV has already been booked for carrying an American payload much before its birth. The last satellite ISRO had launched from Indian soil was PSLV-C48, which also carried a surveillance satellite, Risat-2BR1, on December 11, 2019. The agency’s communication satellite Gsat-30 was the only satellite launched this year on January 17 but from the European spaceport in French Guiana.

Source: Times of India

Prof. Satish Dhawan Birth Centenary Programme at ISRO HQ

Birth centenary programme of Prof. Satish Dhawan was conducted on 25th September 2020 through virtual mode. The programme was organized ISRO Hq, Department of Space. The participants include Secretary, Department of Space / Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation,Dr. K Sivan, Dr Kasturirangan, Former Secretary, DOS, Scientific Secretary, ISRO, Dr. Roddam Narasimha, former Director, NAL, Dr. TK Prahad, former director, NAL & student of Prof. Dhawan and Dr.Jyotsna Dhawan D/o of Prof. Satish Dhawan. After the invocation Dr. Sivan and senior officials of ISRO Hq. paid floral tributes to the portrait of Prof Dhawan. The speakers shared their association with Prof. Dhawan and his contributions to aerospace engineering, Indian Institute of Sciences and ISRO. Dr.Kasturirangan recollected his experiences of working with Prof. Dhawan, his management perpective in shaping the Indian Space Research Organisation and creating an ecosystem with industry for delivering the space systems. Dr. Narasimha applauded his contribution to the aerospace community in the country. Dr. Prahlad has highlighted Prof. Dhawan’s relationship with students and encouragement given. Dr. Jyotsna recalled her family association with Prof. Satish. CBPO, ISRO Hq has brought out aphoto album with rare collection of Prof. Dhawan’s memories and was released by Dr. Sivan. The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India sent a message, which was read by Secretary, DOS. The function ended with vote of thanks and National Anthem.

Source: https://www.ISRO.gov.in/

TECHNOLOGY

India likely to produce next generation fighter jets in a private sector-led joint venture

India is likely to produce its next generation of fighter jets in a private sector-led joint venture, which could require investments of over Rs 2,500 crore from the selected company but would catapult it into a select league capable of manufacturing cutting edge aeronautical systems. India’s leading aero manufacturer, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd NSE -0.84 % (HAL) is currently working out the costs involved and the structure of the planned JV for the production of the fifth generation Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA), with an ambitious target for 2028. HAL chairperson R Madhavan told ET that the preferential model is to give the private sector a controlling stake in the joint venture and the option to take existing manufacturing infrastructure on lease to keep capital investment at a minimal. “We will be forming a JV between DRDO, HAL and a private party. HAL will provide the infrastructure wherever possible so that the total capital cost is reduced for the private partners. Preferably, we want to keep our share below 50% so that it becomes a private entity,” the top official said. Costs are currently being worked out and would depend on the model planned and whether the prototype of the next generation fighters will be made by the JV or fabricated by HAL before the serial production starts. “The expectations is that the private sector will have to invest Rs 2,500-3,000 crore but the number could vary. We are suggesting that the prototype manufacturing be kept outside the JV so that the capital requirement can be reduced,” Madhavan said. While the investment is high, the possibility of manufacturing next generation fighter jets is a huge opportunity for the private sector, which has still to produce any major aviation platform. All major western defence manufacturers are privately held and are supported by government-funded labs and institutions whenever required. In the new defence acquisition procedure, a new category of procurement has been added to cater for technology transfer from DRDO and PSUs to the private sector for manufacturing of weapon systems. Details are being worked out but HAL is likely to offer its existing facilities in Nasik to the private sector partner for manufacturing the AMCA in the future. “Most likely the prototypes will be made in Bangalore and the production could take place in Nasik. We are looking around 2028 to start production and we want that the private sector gets the capacity of investing and creating a new ecosystem and HAL does not remain to be the only production partner,” Madhavan said. While talks with potential industry partners has not yet started, the plan has generated interest in major players that have ventured into the defence sector. Only a handful of Indian companies have the capacity to invest into such a venture but on the plus side, there is set to be a defined and assured order book, besides the business opportunity of maintaining the aircraft that would stay in service for over three decades. DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy and Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria spoke on the AMCA at a seminar conducted by the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers and the Centre for Air Power Studies: G Satheesh Reddy: When we started the LCA programme, we had only a handful of private companies available. Today, we have over 18,000 companies and we can get the complete airframe and avionics done by the industry. The AMCA will be a 5.5 Gen aircraft and we are trying to work out models so that more and more of the industry partners with us. Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria: The air force strongly supports the development of a fifth generation AMCA that will have sixth generation characteristics.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

Sounding rocket Rohini launched with new propellant

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), earlier this month, launched Rohini Sounding Rocket (RH200) with a new propellant formulation based on Hydroxyl-terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB) from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) at its Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). “This was 180th successive successful flight of RH200 (meteorological) sounding rocket and the first flight with HTPB based propellant. The mission achieved an altitude of 62.7km against the predicted nominal 60.6km in 123 seconds and released the chaff payload successfully. Performance of the motor was normal,” ISRO said. India started its space journey with the establishment of the TERLS on November 21, 1963 by launching the first sounding rocket from Indian soil. Subsequently on November 21, 1967 the first Indian made sounding rocket, RH75 was successfully launched. “Over the years, ISRO has developed various sounding rockets for a variety of scientific experiments & meteorological studies. Currently, the RH200, RH300 MkII and RH560 Mk-III rockets are operational which were developed during the early phase of our journey in rocketry,” ISRO added. The first and second stages of the RH200 rocket are powered by solid motors. Since the inception of the RH200 rocket, both solid stages are processed using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) based propellant. “...As compared to PVC based propellants, HTPB based propellant is more energetic with higher mechanical and interface properties and has less defects due to lower processing temperature,” ISRO said. The space agency added that considering these advantages, efforts were made to replace PVC based propellant with HTPB based propellant for RH200 rocket and series of trials were carried out to achieve desired properties. In addition, composite paper tube based insulation has been implemented to enhance interface properties and rigidity with HTPB propellant. “Prior to maiden flight, performance of the RH200 stages were validated by conducting four static tests for first stage and two static tests for second stage,” ISRO said.

Source: Times of India India has the potential to be the next space hub of the world

Space, universe, solar system, planets have interested human beings since time immemorial. With every exploration, the desire and intent to know more about space grows, evolving it as a sector of research and development at a geo level and creating a footprint for the country in space exploration. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, Kalpana Chawla the list is endless of inspirational space research scientists and astronauts of India and their life stories are inspiring students and engineers across the country to explore the domain of space and aeronautics. Indian films have showcased how we made history with the successful Mars mission. Breaking into the bulwark of space programs held by a handful of countries around the globe, ISRO started its ambitious and daring journey five decades ago with a record of over 100 successful space missions. ISRO today is amongst the top six government space agencies in the world. From launching small rockets of just 30-70 kg payloads to carrying 4,000 kg payloads to outer space, ISRO’s journey has been refreshingly audacious. From relying on other countries for space programs to now having its own robust launch vehicle program, this momentous growth was harnessed by ISRO’s space research centers - Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Space Applications Centre and 14 more of such centers. To further enhance the field of space research, ISRO and its research centers have active programs with academic and research institutes across the country and are training personnel from numerous countries around the globe. As per industry sources, the space sector in India accounts for 3% in the rising $360-billion global space market. Over 500 plus Indian suppliers provide components and electronics to ISRO, and there are over 200 engineering colleges that teach aeronautical engineering. Space- from government led to private initiatives Historically the space missions were led at a country level. Since the first manned spaceflight of Yuri Gagarin in 1961 and Apollo 11- the spaceflight that first landed humans on the moon, space programs have always been under the strict purview of the respective governments. However, it all changed in 2012 when a teardrop-shaped capsule, packed with cargo and supplies, docked at the International Space Station. It was owned and operated by a private company. While space exploration today remains a key initiative at a country level and is part of the government agenda, however providing opportunities to private companies for space exploration and satellite launches has democratized the sector creating new opportunities for diversification of large enterprises and SMEs in the value chain. Innovative startups as in other sectors are also disrupting the sector with cost-effective space programs, new designs based on new components and materials, and a purpose to create new experiences for humans. Space- the opportunity in India In India, there is an inherent interest in the domain of space, defence, aeronautics and satellites. India produces the best brains that have been part of several space missions elsewhere in the world. Earlier this year, the government announced a policy to boost private participation in space activities, providing an opportunity for private companies in satellites, launches, and space-based services. Along with this, the new Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN- SPACe) was formed to assess the need and demand of private players, including educational and research institutions, and explore ways to accommodate these requirements in consultation with ISRO. This opens up new avenues for private players in not just space explorations but in satellites, sub-assemblies, electronic components, materials and other associated domains. Space and satellite are the backbone for predictions that help us in sectors like agriculture, weather, communications, military, defence, banking, monitoring, and surveillance and in several other domains. With these announcements, India now stands on the cusp of building a space ecosystem with ISRO being the guiding body, large enterprise and conglomerates diversifying into the sector, pulling up the value chain- the SMEs to produce sub-assemblies. With startups and technology innovators, India can now evolve as a space startup hub for the world. Industry estimates there are over 40+ startups working in India with funding, teams and structure on space and satellite projects complementing the efforts of the government, ISRO, VSSC and others. This number is likely to increase, and this is where technology will play a big role. Space- the role of technology in bridging V+R (virtual+real), simulation and program management Nearly 65 years ago, satellites were invented which captured the world’s imagination and wonder in space. Today the fascination has only deepened with a new frontier of satellite technology where companies can now collectively extend the limit of rocketry and satellite innovation, making space more accessible. The race is on to run satellites into space more optimally and sustainably by bridging the real and virtual universes, speeding up innovation from rocketry to satellite design to manufacturing and operations so we can deploy first time right satellites into orbit. The challenge for new space companies is to develop the versatility of their platforms while manufacturing to order at scale. In the longer term, the challenge will be to manage mega-constellations and ensure their sustainability. To win the space race with successful satellite launches, companies must close the gap between the real and virtual worlds. India has the required provisions, evolving infrastructure, and young talented minds to master this cusp of space technology and evolve into a global leader in the sector. We need to ensure that we enable the emerging companies with accurate know-how, profound knowledge, and expertise experience to close the gap between two worlds with unlocking new prospects with new stellar V+R technologies. Indo-French collaboration will provide new avenues Space cooperation and collaboration between France and India that began in the 1960s have profoundly marked the relationship between the two countries. In 2018, France and India concluded the joint vision for space cooperation. Its various aspects include the societal impact of space technologies, space surveillance and situation assessment, response to global challenges such as climate change, and development of technologies for human exploration of the universe. France and India have a longstanding and unparalleled partnership for peaceful uses of outer space, and as a French company doing business in India, we are committed to take this engagement forward and collaborate in space technology for national development.

Summary

To summarize, there are three key aspects of potential collaboration to increase the momentum and expand India’s share in the global space economy. The first is to establish new partnerships with the industry and entrepreneurs and we are happy to collaborate with ISRO and its subsidiaries on indigenous missions like re-launchable spacecrafts & human in space programs. We can bring in our expertise on bridging the real and virtual worlds, and enabling companies to extend the boundaries of rocketry and satellite innovation and make space more accessible. Secondly, we would like to bring in a business platform that helps them shorten rocketry and satellite development time to achieve first- time-right quality for successful launches. This business platform will enable integrating different departments and information while providing digital capabilities to accelerate design and manufacturing, including virtual validation. Lastly, to win the space race with successful satellite launches, companies must reduce the gap between the virtual and real world and bring in a framework to manage complex systems of systems through effective global collaboration with international space organizations, thus achieving innovation in program execution. This can accelerate the product life-cycle from concept to take-off and give a critical first-to-market advantage.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

India test-fires Rudram 1, its first anti-radiation missile to kill enemy radars

India successfully test-fired Rudram 1, the tactical anti-radiation missile that the Indian Air Force can launch from its Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets to take down enemy radars and surveillance systems. The missile has a launch speech of up to 2 Mach, twice the speed of sound, people familiar with the matter said. The Defence Research and Development Organisation developed the new generation weapon. It was tested at the interim test range Balasore, off the coast of Odisha in the Bay of Bengal, at about 10.30 am. “This is a huge step forward,” a senior government official said about the DRDO’s successful test firing. “The IAF will now have the capability to perform SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defence) operations deep into enemy territory to destroy enemy air defence setup,” the official said. This would allow the IAF’s strike aircraft to carry out their mission unhindered effectively. “This test demonstrates the capability of an Anti-Radiation Missile with large stand-off ranges,” a second official said. The New Generation Anti-Radiation Missile, or NGARM, is integrated on Su-30MKI fighter aircraft. Its range depends on the height at which the fighter jet is flying. It can be launched from a height ranging from 500 metres to 15 km and can hit radiation emitting targets within a range of 250 km. All radars and Electro Optical Tracking System tracked the launch and point of impact, a senior government official told Hindustan Times. The tactical, air-to-surface anti-radiation missile is equipped with a passive homing head that tracks sources of radiation of a wide range of frequencies. It can lock into a target not only before launch but also after it has been launched. The missile is comparable to the tactical air-to-surface missile AGM-88E Advanced Anti- Radiation Guided Missile that was inducted by the US Navy only in 2017 and can engage relocatable Integrated Air Defence targets and other targets equipped with shutdown capability. This means that if the enemy shuts down the radar after the missile is launched, it will still hit the target. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted his congratulations to the DRDO team that developed the supersonic-capable missile that can be launched at speeds ranging from 0.6 Mach to 2 Mach. “The New Generation Anti-Radiation Missile (Rudram-1) which is India’s first indigenous anti-radiation missile developed by DRDO for Indian Air Force was tested successfully today at ITR, Balasore. Congratulations to DRDO & other stakeholders for this remarkable achievement,” Rajnath Singh said on Twitter.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/

India can have complete hypersonic system in 4-5 years: DRDO

In a major boost for India’s missile strike capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has said that it can develop a complete hypersonic cruise missile system in the next four to five years which will have the capability to strike its targets at speeds at least double than that of world’s present fastest BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. The DRDO test fired the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) on September 7 which is expected to lay the foundation for the development of a hypersonic cruise missile system. Giving details of the HSTDV testfiring to ANI, DRDO chief Dr G Satheesh Reddy said the cruise missiles are the one which flies at a lower altitude. “In that cruise missile, we have varieties called Subsonic cruise missile, Supersonic cruise missile and then hypersonic cruise missiles. The hypersonic cruise missiles are the one which actually travels at six times, seven times..eight times..more than that the speed of sound which is approximate about 300+ metre per second on the surface of the earth,” he said. “This one what we have attempted has got a scramjet engine, which works at the hypersonic speed breathing the air in the atmosphere, taking the oxygen in the atmosphere and then burns it and that happens at the hypersonic speed,” he added. Reddy said the scramjet engine developed by the DRDO has been tested for a specific time to see how it is working. “It has been scramjet vehicle which is the hypersonic cruise vehicle, has been taken to a designated height and released at the specific Mach number and then the engine has been ignited and the engine has been tested,” he said. The DRDO chief said this was the first time that India’s premier defense research agency has done such an experiment for a good amount of time and “it has successfully worked and hence it paves the way for us to work on these technologies for longer ranges.” Asked how long will take for a hypersonic cruise missile system to be fully developed, Reddy said, “It will take probably about four to five years for us to work on all these things and realise a complete missile system working for some good amount of range.” On the comparison with the speeds of the further hypersonic cruise missile with the existing BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, he said it will be at least double of that speed at around six to seven Mach. The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is considered to be the world’s fastest cruise missile at the moment with speeds of around 2.8 Machs. Asked about the successful test of the BrahMos on September 30, he said the missile was tested with heightened indigenous content and it has proved itself. The BrahMos Extended Range Missile can be launched at targets beyond 400 kms and can strike its targets at longer ranges than before. It was earlier used for striking targets slightly less than 300 kms.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

Successful night trial of nuclear-capable -2 missile

India successfully conducted a night trial of the indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-2 missile as part of a user trial by the Army from a test range in Odisha, defence sources said. The state-of-the-art surface-to-surface missile blasted off around 7.30 pm from launch complex 3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near Balasore and the trial was successful, they said. The last trial of Prithvi-2, carried out after sunset on September 23 from the same base, was also successful. The trial of the missile, which has a strike range of 350 km, was carried out from a mobile launcher, a Defence Research and Development (DRDO) official said. “The missile trajectory was tracked by radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry stations by the DRDO along the coast of Odisha,” he said. The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the entire launch activity was carried out by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the Army and monitored by scientists of the DRDO as part of a training exercise, defence sources said. The downrange teams onboard a ship deployed near the designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal monitored the terminal events and splashdown. The Prithvi-2 missile is capable of carrying 500- 1,000 kg of warheads and is powered by liquid propulsion twin engines, the sources said. The sophisticated missile uses an advanced inertial guidance system with a maneuvering trajectory to hit its target, they said. Already inducted into the armory of Indian defence forces in 2003, the nine-metre tall ‘Prithvi NSE -3.51 %’ was the first missile to have been developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

India successfully test fires BrahMos cruise missile from Indian Navy’s stealth destroyer

India successfully test fired BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from Indian Navy’s indigenously-built stealth destroyer INS Chennai today hitting a target in the Arabian Sea. It hit the target successfully with pinpoint accuracy after performing high-level & extremely complex manoeuvres. The test comes in the wake of BrahMos missile having a range of around 400 km being tested from an integrated test range at Balasore in Odisha on September 30. “BrahMos as ‘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,” the defence ministry said in a statement. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the BrahMos Aerospace and the Indian Navy for the “successful” test-firing of the missile. DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy too congratulated the scientists and all personnel involved in the test-firing of the missile which he said will add to the capabilities of the in many ways. India has already deployed a sizeable number of the original BrahMos missiles and other key assets in several strategic locations along the de-facto border with China in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. The test firing of the missile comes at a time India and China are locked in a bitter border standoff in eastern Ladakh. BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms. In May last year, the Indian Air successfully test fired the aerial version of the BrahMos missile from a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. The BrahMos missile provides the IAF a much-desired capability to strike from large standoff ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions. The IAF is also integrating the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile on over 40 Sukhoi fighter jets which is aimed at bolstering overall combat capability of the force.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

India successfully test-fires SANT Missile off Odisha coast

India today successfully test-fired the Stand-off Anti-tank (SANT) Missile off the coast of Odisha, sources said. The Missile is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and will have both Lock-on After Launch and Lock-on Before Launch capability, the sources informed. On the other hand, the IAF congratulated the DRDO on the successful test-firing of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired from the Indian Navy’s indigenously-built stealth destroyer INS Chennai, hitting a target in the Arabian Sea, the DRDO said.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

BUSINESS

US offers F-18 fighters to India for Naval requirement

Seeking to develop further closer ties with India, the United States of America (USA) has offered its F-18 naval fighter jets for the Indian Navy’s requirements of combat jets for its aircraft carriers. The Indian Navy had a few years ago expressed interest in the acquisition of 57 naval fighter aircraft for operations from its aircraft carriers including the present INS Vikramaditya and the under-construction Indigenous Aircraft Carrier. “The American Government has offered to provide their naval fighter aircraft F-18 for the Indian Navy under a government proposal at the meeting between defence delegations of both countries during the 2+2 meetings,” government sources told ANI here. The US government has offered to sell their F-18 fighters along with the unmanned aircraft Sea Guardian to the Indian Navy along with a number of other systems to the Indian armed forces in recent times. At the moment, the Indian Navy has been assessing the F-18 and the Rafale naval fighters for its present and futuristic requirements as its present fighter is likely to be phased out by the end of this decade or the beginning of next. The aircraft offered by the American government is said to be the advanced version of the plane which was on offer to the Indian Air Force for its requirement of 126 Multirole Medium Combat Aircraft in which only Rafale and European Eurofighter had been able to meet the qualitative requirements and finally the French plane had been selected. Even the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal had to be scrapped, the Indian government showed faith in the French fighter and bought 36 of its under a Rs 60,000 crore deal. The American fighter offered to the Indian Navy can be operated from aircraft carriers. Both Rafale and F-18 have been showcasing the simulated capability of their respective fighter aircraft to take off and land at the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier to the Indian Navy. In the recent past, the Indian Navy has moved towards American equipment in a big way as its long-range surveillance aircraft fleet consists of 12 P-8I aircraft and would have six more of these in near future. The Sea King multirole helicopters would also be replaced by 24 MH-60 Romeos which are being acquired uNder a government to government deal. American equipment including The C-17 heavy-lift and the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, M-777 ultra-light howitzers, Apache attack and Chinook heavy-lift choppers along with the SiG Sauer assault rifles have become mainstays in the Air Force and the Army in the last one decade. The Americans have also shared a lot of information regarding the deployment and activities of the Chinese military in the military standoff.

Source: Times of India HAL and Tech Mahindra Sign Rs 400 Crore Contract for ‘Project Parivartan’

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Tech Mahindra (TM) signed a contract worth Rs 400 crore recently in Bengaluru for implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) to support HAL’s ‘Project Parivartan’. The ‘Project Parivartan’ is a comprehensive business transformation exercise initiated by HAL through technology enhancement and centralized ERP, says Mr. R Madhavan, CMD, HAL. The exercise will enable HAL to adopt some of the best practices followed in some of the similar industries globally, he adds. Mr. Sujit Baksi, President Corporate Affairs and Business Head Emerging Markets, Tech Mahindra, said, “Tech Mahindra’s selection by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd extends our vision of supporting government’s ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) initiative to enhance our indigenous capabilities. This project will transform HAL’s ERP system, serving the Armed Forces in an efficient and effective manner. This is in line with our TechMNxt charter that focuses on leveraging new generation technologies with original equipment manufacturers and aims to deliver an enhanced experience to our customers.” The contract was signed by Mr Dibyendu Maiti, Executive Director (Corporate Planning), HAL and Mr Prashanth S, Group Competency Head, Tech Mahindra in the presence of Mr R Madhavan, CMD, HAL Tech Mahindra will be responsible for the transformation and modernisation of the ERP System as an implementation and support partner enabling HAL to streamline and standardize its business processes across the organization. As a system integrator, Tech Mahindra will implement ‘Project Parivartan’ over a period of nine years at a cost of Rs 400 crores. Tech Mahindra will transform the distributed application to a centralized application, for all the 20 divisions and R&D Centers of HAL based on a business transformation engineering process. This includes centralized ERP Turnkey Solution to meet HAL’s business requirements with implementation of SRM, CRM along with select non-ERP applications.

Source: https://hal-india.co.in/

ACHIEVEMENT

S Anbuvelan Takes Over as CEO of HAL’s Helicopter Complex

Mr S Anbuvelan has taken over as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HAL’s Helicopter Complex here today. Prior to this, he was heading the Helicopter Division as Executive Director. “My focus will be to ensure quality products & services and timely delivery from Helicopter Complex”, said Mr Anbuvelan after taking the charge. Mr Anbuvelan did his graduation in mechanical engineering from Alagappa Chettiar College of Engineering, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu and holds a Post Graduate Degree of M Tech in Aircraft Production Engineering from IIT Madras. He also holds Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from XIME, Bengaluru. He joined HAL as a management trainee (technical) in 1986 and has experience of 34 years in various key positions. Some of the highlights of his career so far include productionising ALH’s integrated transmission assembly, ramping up production of ALH gear boxes, reduction of snags during equipping of ALH, training & development of employees, quality improvements in ROH of Cheetah & Chetak helicopters at Barrackpore, streamlining of ALH production and implementation of latest technologies in the field of manufacturing & assembly of helicopter products.

Source: https://hal-india.co.in/ ADVERTISEMENTS

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