2.9 Defence technology notes

1. 2.9.1DRDO, defence PSUs and indigenisation: corridors, iDEX and exports

   DRDO designs India's weapons, the defence PSUs and private firms build them, and policy since 2018 (corridors, iDEX, import-ban lists) pushes self-reliance and exports.

   Standard · 6 min · Full course
2. 2.9.2Missile basics: ballistic, cruise, hypersonic and MIRV

   Ballistic missiles fly a high arc and fall under gravity, cruise missiles fly low under engine power, hypersonic weapons travel above Mach 5, and MIRV lets one missile deliver several warheads.

   Standard · 5 min · Full course
3. 2.9.3IGMDP and strategic missiles: Prithvi, Agni and the K-series

   The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (1983), led by A P J Abdul Kalam, produced Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash and Nag, and its strategic line grew into the Agni series and submarine-launched K-missiles.

   Standard · 5 min · Full course
4. 2.9.4BrahMos and cruise missiles: Nirbhay and exports

   BrahMos is the India-Russia supersonic cruise missile (Mach 2.8 or more) that is launched from land, ship, submarine and aircraft, and the Philippines was its first export customer; Nirbhay is India's own subsonic long-range cruise missile.

   Standard · 5 min · Full course
5. 2.9.5Air defence and anti-satellite: Akash, Astra, ballistic missile defence and Mission Shakti

   India defends airspace with layered systems from DRDO's Akash to the imported S-400, has a two-tier ballistic missile defence, and showed anti-satellite capability in Mission Shakti on 27 March 2019.

   Standard · 5 min · Full course
6. 2.9.6Combat aircraft and helicopters: Tejas, Rafale, Prachand, Dhruv and AEW&C

   Tejas (HAL, designed by ADA) is India's own light fighter, Rafale is the French fighter bought in 2016, and HAL makes Prachand and Dhruv helicopters; Netra gives airborne early warning.

   Standard · 5 min · Full course
7. 2.9.7Naval platforms: aircraft carriers, warships and submarines (Kalvari, Arihant)

   INS Vikrant is India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, the Kalvari-class Scorpene submarines are built at Mazagon Dock, and INS Arihant, built at Visakhapatnam, completed the nuclear triad with its first deterrence patrol in 2018.

   Standard · 5 min · Full course

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