ABOUT NEWLY TESTED HYPER SONIC TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATOR VEHICLE OF INDIA..

HSTDV:- Hyper Sonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle.

Image:- DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India.

            HSTDV is a carrier vehicle built by DRDO for carrying the hypersonic & long-range cruise missile. Initiated in the decade of 2010, but it was cleared for testing in 2019 subsequently flight testing was conducted. On the 7th of September, 2020 the Scramjet engine was tested. HSTDV was mounted on a solid rocket motor and taken to a height of 30 km. After which it separated from the rocket and it's air intakes opened as per planned. HSTDV achieved a speed of 2km/sec (7200km/hr) approximately for over 20 sec. 

           Important Terms:-

                1. Hyper Sonic:- Typically, any vehicle traveling with the speed of 5-10 mach number is called Hyper Sonic vehicle. 5-10 mach number results in a speed of 6100-12400 km/h. 

                2. Scramjet Engine:- Supersonic Combustion ramjet engine. Typically, These engines compress air at supersonic speed & combustion takes place at the same speed. These engines are mounted on another delivery vehicle till it attains supersonic speed and required altitude.

            Concluding, India joined the elite club of the USA, Russia & China with hypersonic technology. China is the only country that has officially inducted hypersonic technology in its arsenal. Considering the elevated conditions at borders it is a morale booster for India. Other than military purposes this technology has civilian applications too like launching satellites at low cost. So, it's a dual-use technology. Many more tests are supposed to be done for making the technology perfect.

Note:- The availability of the confirmed information is not much, as it is a highly secretive mission. I have written this blog for getting little insights for the aspirants who will be facing written exams & interviews in the upcoming months. Where there is a possibility of a question on this test of HSTDV. 

If you like reading my blogs then you can follow it. The button is on the top right corner. See you guys in the next blog,

Regards,

Bhargav Deshpande

 

THE GROUP OF COUNTRIES WITH MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING...

Multilateral Export Control Regime (M.E.C.R.):-

 Photo:- Wikipedia, MECR &Wassenaar Agreement.

There are four different regimes currently operating under (M.E.C.R.):-

1. M.T.C.R.:-Missile Technology Control Regime.

2. A.G.:- Australia Group.

3. W.A.:- Wassenaar Agreement.

4. N.S.G.:- Nuclear Suppliers Group.

These regimes are informal political understandings between countries that seek to stop the trading of destructive missiles and weapon systems. They can not put any legal action on the country violating the rules or Memorandum of Understanding (M.o.U.).

1. M.T.C.R.:-

As its name suggests, its regime of controlling the trading of Ballistic missiles, Nuclear missiles, Unmanned delivery systems & launching Vehicles. A technology having the capacity 500 kg of payload & have a range of 300 km along with mass destruction capabilities are prohibited. In 1987, G7 countries decided to form the regime and make two categories. Full missile systems, Sub-systems, Manufacturing facilities are in Category I & Propellants and sub-components of rockets and missiles come in Category II. A total of 35 members are there in MTCR including leading manufacturers and suppliers of missile technology. Since its inception, MTCR has been able to control or slow down the Missile program of countries like Brazil, South Korea & South Africa. But, Countries like India (Member since 2016), Iran & Pakistan continues to increase its missile program at a rapid pace.     

2. A.G.:-

The Australia Group Controls the trading of the chemical and the biological weapon. After Iraq used chemical weapons in 1984, Australia initiated to form this group. A total of 43 members are there with India joining in 2018. A uniform list of 63 elements has been made which are strictly prohibited for exporting. After reforming decisions taken in 2002, "No Undercut" was declared which means it doesn't matter importing country is a member of the group or not. The exporting country must consult the existing members before exporting. Second is, regardless of exporting material is on the list or not, the exporting country must stop trading if the material can be used for the weapon system.  

3. W.A.:-  

In 1996, this regime was started at Wassenaar, the Netherlands to control the export of Conventional arms & Dual used goods and technologies. A total of 42 countries are a member of this regime including Warsaw pact members (I will write a separate blog on Warsaw pact). India joined the regime in 2017.

Prohibited materials are divided into two lists- 

1. Dual-use goods & Technologies:-

Namely- Computers, Sensors, RADARS, Information security, Processors, etc.

Further two sub-sections are made.

I. Sensitive- Marine, Aerospace & propulsion, etc.        

II. Very Sensitive-Materials used for manufacturing of stealth technology.

2. Munitions list:-

Over 22 categories are made but without any specific label or group. Members take the decision on a case basis using simple technics like availability & ability of destruction of exporting material. 

4. N.S.G.:- I have already written a separate blog on N.S.G. Name- India, Smiling Budhha & Nuclear Suppliers Group.

India & M.E.C.R.:- India will become a member of all four regimes once it gets membership of N.S.G. as it is already a member of the rest three. China is the only member of N.S.G. out of four. So, India can use this card on China to get an entry in N.S.G. against supporting China for its membership bid of rest three groups of M.E.C.R.

Concluding, These types of regimes are very important as most countries are equipped with mass destructive weapons. The world will not be able to overcome world war II like wars henceforth. Membership of these groups must be mandatory for capable countries. In my opinion, Associations, Regimes like this must have their own peacekeeping forces. So, the country violating the rules will be punished or any country at risk will be protected using them.

Regards,

Bhargav Deshpande.

AKASH-INDIA'S INDIGENOUSLY DEVELOPED AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM.

 Akash Surface to Air Missile (S.A.M.):-

Photo:-Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India.

            Traditionally, India is one of the highest importers of defence equipment in the world. But, to become independent, many projects were started. One step in this direction was the development of the Akash indigenous missile air defence system to replace the Russian 2K12 kub missile system. Development of Akash SAM started in the 1980s & flight tests were initiated near 1997 under D.R.D.O. & manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL), Bharat Electronics Ltd. (B.E.L.), Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division, and Larsen & Toubro.

            Akash Mk1 has a range of around 40 KM and a flight envelope of as low as 30 meters to 18 kilometers. It uses a solid booster rocket for assisting it to mach 2.5-3 speeds & further it continues its journey with the Ranjet engine. The system can neutralize targets like fighter jets, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, etc. One battery of Akash SAM consists of 4 self-propelled launchers. Each one carries 3 missiles, a Rajendra 3D PESA radar that can trace up to 64 targets and engage 4 of them at a time, system also distinguishes between friend and foe. A battery control center (BCC) to engage targets and guide missiles accordingly. Two batteries make a Squadron (for Air force) & 4 batteries make a group (For Army). This system can be deployed in various single and group modes according to requirements. In group configuration, it can secure an area as large as 5000 sq.km. Akash battery can engage four targets simultaneously & the radar can guide eight missiles i.e. a maximum of two missiles per target. A single missile has a kill probability of 88% while two missiles have 98.5%. The time gap between the firing of successive missile is 5 seconds.

            The Indian Air Force has eight operational Akash SAM squadrons & Seven more on order. The Indian Army has two operational and two ordered regiments. The Ministry of Defence in November last year signed a deal to but Akash system for both Army and Airforce saving valuable forex reserves to the tune of 5.3 Billion Dollars as it has 96% indigenous components. It also withdrew requests from all global tenders for air defence systems. More orders are expected looking at the requirements of the forces.

            Concluding, the Akash SAM system will provide the much-needed air defence to our assets and will surely make the enemies vulnerable in Indian Air Space. But Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report in 2017 stated the Akash is not trustworthy and has a 30% failure rate which can be risky during operations. Since then, Akash has been successfully developed and tested with required corrections. I think our government should look into the constant delay and failure of tests of these projects. We are spending a hefty amount of money for almost 30 to 40 years. As a result, we must have fully deployed and superior technology to guard our borders.

I would really like to thank Pankaj Jangraj (my dear friend & a Defence aspirant)for helping me write this blog.

Signing off for the day. See you guys in the next blog.

Regards,

Bhargav Deshpande.