♦ The Indian Army has received the first batch of 24 Russia-made Igla-S Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS), along with 100 missiles from Russia. In 2023, November, India signed a contract with Russia for 120 launchers and 400 missiles.
♦ The Igla-S system consists of a single launcher and a missile.
♦ MANPADS are portable surface-to-air missile systems and air defence units in high mountainous regions use MANPADS to neutralise low-altitude aerial threats such as aircraft, drones, and missiles.
Science & Technology
♦ India conducted a successful flight test of the Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system on 1 May 2024.
♦ This was held from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
♦ The SMART system represents the next generation of missile-based lightweight torpedo delivery systems, designed to bolster the Indian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities beyond the conventional ranges of lightweight torpedoes.
♦ This was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Posted Date: May 1, 2024♦ SJVN Limited inaugurated India's first Multi-purpose (Combined Heat & Power) Green Hydrogen Pilot Project at SJVN’s 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) in Jhakri, Himachal Pradesh.
♦ The green hydrogen produced from the project will be utilized for High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) Coating Facility of NJHPS for meeting its combustion fuel requirements.
♦ In addition, it will also generate electricity through its fuel cell of 25 kW capacity.
Posted Date: April 26, 2024♦ CMD of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) Pradip Kumar Das participated in the 26th edition of the World Energy Congress in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
♦ He was involved in a panel discussion on 'The New Interdependencies: Trust, Security and Climate Resilience'.
♦ During the discussion, Pradip Kumar shared insights into India's journey towards energy transition and underscored IREDA's crucial role in advancing renewable energy adoption within the country.
♦ He also highlighted India's commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by the year 2070.
Posted Date: April 26, 2024♦ Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur (IIT-J) signed an agreement for “Automated Service Management in 5G and Beyond Networks Using AI”.
♦ The primary objective is to develop AI frameworks for automated network management, fault detection, and diagnostic techniques by utilizing continuous information generated within the network like 5G.
Posted Date: April 25, 2024♦ The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed India's lightest bullet proof jacket for protection against highest threat level 6 of BIS. Its unit, Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur, the DRDO has created the jacket for protection against 7.62 x 54 R API (Level 6 of BIS 17051) ammunition. The bulletproof jacket can stop six bullets.
Posted Date: April 23, 2024♦ Gandhinagar-based Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) and Starburst Aerospace of France entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance aerospace, defence, and homeland security innovation.
♦ The MoU includes the creation of a venture capital fund of 100 million euros for aerospace, defence and security technology and provides export promotion support for Indian start-ups to explore international markets.
♦ About Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU):
Rashtriya Raksha University is a specialized university in the field of security studies, established by the Government of Gujarat, India in 2009. It aims to provide quality education and training in the areas of national security, defence, policing, and allied fields.
♦ About Starburst:
Founded in 2012, Starburst Aerospace is an innovation catalyst in the global Aerospace and Defence (A&D) industry.
♦ Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Pande inaugurated a high-tech IT Laboratory at the Academy of Armed Forces in Uzbekistan. The Lab has been established with Indian assistance. The development is in accordance with the commitment made by India and Uzbekistan to build an IT laboratory, during the Defense Ministers meeting in September 2018.
♦ The Lab, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, is expected to enrich the training resources available to Uzbek armed forces and foster a deeper understanding and cooperation between India and Uzbekistan.
♦ India delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines on 19 April 2024. In January 2022, the Philippines concluded a $375-million deal with India for three batteries of a shore-based, anti-ship variant of the BrahMos becoming the first export customer for the joint venture missile between India and Russia.
♦ The first batch was delivered onboard transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force which landed in the Philippines. The Philippines is acquiring the systems under the Horizon 2 of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Programme.
♦ The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested the long-range subsonic Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) on 18 April 2024.
♦ This test was conducted from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
♦ The flight of the missile was also monitored from the Su-30-Mk-I aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
♦ The missile is developed by Bengaluru-based DRDO laboratory Aeronautical Development Establishment along with contributions from other laboratories and Indian industries.
Posted Date: April 18, 2024Apple has formed a joint venture with renewable energy firm Cleanmax to deploy solar solutions in India. The joint venture has installed 14.4 megawatts of rooftop solar installations across six industrial sites in India which will help Apple in addressing the emissions associated with its corporate operations in India. The partnership aims to bolster renewable energy projects across India, marking a significant step forward in the nation's green energy landscape
Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi, for co-operation in research and technology, product development, in the areas of semiconductors, quantum technologies, and drones. The MoU aims at leveraging the complementary strengths and capabilities of BEL and IIT-Mandi. It will support indigenisation of products/ solutions being supplied by BEL to its customers and is in line with the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
♦ The 5th edition of India- Uzbekistan joint military Exercise DUSTLIK started at Termez, the Republic of Uzbekistan on 15 April 2024. This exercise will be held until 28 April 2024. DUSTLIK is a yearly event conducted alternatively in India and Uzbekistan. Last edition was conducted at Pithoragarh (India) in February 2023.
♦ This exercise aims to foster military cooperation and enhance combined capabilities to execute joint operations in mountainous as well as semi urban terrain. It would focus on high degree of physical fitness, joint planning, joint tactical drills and basics of special arms skills.
The Indian Army has successfully carried out field trials of indigenously-developed man-portable anti-tank guided missile (MPATGM) weapon system, paving way for its induction into the force’s armoury. The weapon system was designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The MPATGM Weapon System is a comprehensive solution that includes the MPATGM missile, Launcher, Target Acquisition System, and the Fire Control Unit.
Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane presided over the first steel cutting of the Fleet Support Ships (FSS) for the Indian Navy at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL). The FSS, under construction at HSL, is first-of-its-kind with displacement of 44,000 tons and will play a crucial role in replenishing the fleet at sea with fuel, water, ammunition, and stores, thereby extending the operational capabilities of the Navy and enhancing its strategic reach.
♦ Russia successfully launched the Angara-A5 rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome on 11 April 2024.
♦ The Angara-A5 is a heavy-lift rocket designed to carry payloads exceeding 20 tonnes into orbit, roared into the sky.
♦ The Angara family of rockets, developed to replace the Soviet-designed Proton rockets.
Posted Date: April 11, 2024♦ Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) was signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT) for Technical & Knowledge cooperation for Critical Minerals. Under the MoU, KABIL will leverage the technical expertise and services of CSIR-IMMT to undertake various projects, including the design and analysis of metallurgical test work-plans.
♦ KABIL is a JV company of three Indian public sector undertakings - National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL), under the aegis of Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
♦ Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) launched India’s first private sector-built sub-metre resolution earth observation satellite, TSAT-1A, in collaboration with Satellogic. The satellite was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, by SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
♦ The satellite was assembled at TASL’s facility in Karnataka. Elon Musk's SpaceX launched a total of 11 satellites in its maiden Bandwagon flight. TASL is Tata Sons' wholly-owned subsidiary.
♦ The new generation ballistic missile Agni-Prime was successfully flight-tested from the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. This test was conducted by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
♦ The ‘Agni Prime’ or ‘Agni-P’ is a nuclear-capable new-generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles. It is a two-stage canisterised missile with a maximum range of 1,000 to 2,000 km.
♦ The ‘Agni Prime’ missile is lighter than all the earlier Agni series of missiles.
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu launched India’s first home-grown gene therapy for cancer 'CAR-T cell therapy' at IIT Bombay on 4 April 2024. This therapy was developed in collaboration with IIT Bombay and Tata Memorial Hospital in association with industry partner ImmunoACT.
The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) delivered two Dornier 228 planes to the Guyana Defence Force. The President of Guyana, Mohamed Irfaan Ali stated that the planes arrived at Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Guyana is located on the North Atlantic coast of South America.
