Defence Technology
APJ Abdul Kalam & IGMDP
- APJ Abdul Kalam is called the Father of Indian Rocket Science.
- In July 1983, under his leadership, the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was formed.
- Under this, missiles Prithvi, Nag, Akash, Trishul, and Agni were successfully tested.
Missile Tests
Prithvi & Agni
- First successful test of Prithvi – 27 February 1988.
- Prithvi – surface-to-surface missile (SS).
- First successful test of Agni missile – 22 May 1989 at Chandipur, Odisha.
- First developmental test of Agni-5 – 19 April 2012.
Other Missiles
- Nirbhay – India’s subsonic cruise missile, surface-to-surface.
Major Missiles and Their Features
IGMDP Missiles
- Nag – Anti-tank missile
- Prithvi – Surface-to-surface missile
- Dhanush – Naval version of Prithvi missile
- Trishul – Surface-to-air missile
- Agni – Intermediate-range ballistic missile
Other Missiles
- Pinaka – Multi-barrel rocket system
- BrahMos – Supersonic cruise missile, developed jointly by India and Russia
- Astra – Air-to-air missile
- Shaurya – Surface-to-surface missile
- Astra BVRAAM – DRDO beyond-visual-range missile
UAVs & Reconnaissance
- Nishant – Unmanned reconnaissance vehicle
- Mirage 2000 – Fighter aircraft
Programme Closure
- DRDO closed the Trishul Supersonic Missile Program in 2008.
Indigenous Weapons, Vehicles & Aircraft
Battle Tanks
- Arjun and Bhishma – indigenous battle tanks.
- Indian Light Tank ‘Zorawar’ – DRDO & L&T; high-altitude & desert warfare.
- T-90 Bhishma Overhaul – Indian Army first overhauled tank.
Aircraft & UAVs
- Tejas (2016) – first indigenous light combat aircraft.
- Lakshya – pilotless aircraft developed by DRDO.
- Netr – unmanned aerial vehicle capable of flying up to 300 meters altitude.
- Rudrastra – Hybrid UAV.
- E-Hansa – Electric trainer aircraft.
- Dhruv – HAL advanced light helicopter.
Engines
- Kaveri Engine – Indigenous gas turbine; DRDO-GTRE.
DRDO & Defence Systems
Missile Defence & Radar
- India purchased Barak-8 missile defence system from Israel.
- Indra – radar series developed by DRDO.
- Akashteer System – Automated air defence; used in Operation Sindoor.
Energy & Advanced Tech
- Mk-II(A) Laser Directed Energy Weapon – DRDO–CHESS; drones & missiles; India 4th after USA, China, Russia.
- Cooled Scramjet engine – DRDO; tested >1000 sec; India 4th nation with hypersonic tech.
Surveillance & Cyber
- Stratospheric Airship Platform – DRDO trial in MP; surveillance & communication.
- ‘Gaurav’ – Long-Range Glide Bomb.
- Bharat NCX 2024 (Cyber Exercise) – Cybersecurity training.
- Quantum Technology Research Centre – DRDO, Delhi.
- Bhargavastra Counter-Drone System – Micro-missile.
- SANJAY – Battlefield surveillance; Army + BEL.
Short-Range Defence
- VSHORADS – DRDO Very Short Range Air Defence System; Odisha coast.
International Defence Systems & Tech
Russia
- Satan 2 (RS-28 Sarmat) – Russian ICBM.
- Pantsir System – BDL–Russia mobile air defence.
USA
- Dark Eagle – US hypersonic weapon.
- MH-60R Seahawks – US naval helicopters; Indian Navy.
- Golden Dome – US missile defence system.
Israel
- Iron Beam – Israel laser missile defence.
Europe
- Eurodrone Programme – Germany, France, Italy, Spain; India observer.
- Gravehawk – UK short-range missile; Ukraine.
Iran
- Shahed-136B & Jihad missile – Iran suicide drone & ballistic missile.
China
- China’s Silent Radar – Stealth radar.
Bilateral Collaborations
- UNICORN Mast – India-Japan stealth naval communication.
- Sonobuoys – India-US anti-submarine sonar.
Defence Projects & Initiatives
DRDO Projects
- Project Kusha – DRDO long-range surface-to-air missile system.
- Nagayalanka Test Range – DRDO missile test range; Andhra Pradesh.
- Hypersonic Missile Test – DRDO successfully tested India’s first long-range hypersonic missile from APJ Abdul Kalam Island (Wheeler Island Orissa).
Indian Army & Navy Initiatives
- Panchshul Pulse – Indian Army’s FM radio station; Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.
- INSV Koundinay – Ship built using ancient sewn method; Ajanta Cave 17 design.
- Gandeev (Astra MK-III) – Indian air-to-air missile; DRDO.
- Himkavach – Multi-layer clothing for extreme cold; DRDO.
Space & Satellites
- GSAT-20 – India’s advanced communication satellite; ISRO; launched by SpaceX Falcon 9.
Aerospace & Defence Industry
- Abhay – Anti submarine warfare Shallow Water Craft; Garden Reach Shipbuilders.
- C-295 Aircraft – India’s first Make-in-India military aircraft; Airbus + Tata, Vadodara.
- Shakti Semiconductor Plant – India-US defence semiconductor plant; Jewar, UP.
- Nano Electronics Roadshow 2025 – IISc Bengaluru.
- Falcon 2000 jets – Dassault + Reliance pact, Nagpur.
Drones & UAVs
- Sabal 20 Logistics Drone – By EndureAir (IIT-Kanpur).
- e-Tarang System – AI-based radio spectrum manager.
AWACS & Airborne Systems
- AWACS developed by Israel.
- Falcon developed for Indian Air Force.
Women & Forces
- Sub Lt. Aastha Poonia: 1st woman Navy fighter pilot trainee.
- 1st All-Women Commando Unit – CISF.
- Samudra Pradakshina: Tri-services all-women team sailed 3,600 nautical miles Mumbai–Seychelles–Mumbai on IASV Triveni; 55-day voyage.
Operations
- Operation Mahadev: J&K anti-terror op.
- Operation MED MAX: pharma trade by NCB.
- Operation Deep Manifest: illegal imports (Pakistan–Dubai) by Department of Revenue Intelligence.
- Operation Fire Trail: banned Chinese firecrackers.
- BSF Operation Alert- Rajasthan border, Independence day security.
- Operation Akhal - counter-terror in J&K.
- Operation Shield: Civil defence drill, held May 31, 2025 in multiple states.
Missiles & Tests
- Akash Prime tested (Ladakh); upgraded air defence.
- Prithvi-II, Agni-I tested (Odisha); short range ballistic missile.
- Astra Missile: 1st indigenous BVR air-to-air missile by DRDO with IAF & HAL.
- ULPGM-V3 precision guided missile tested (Kurnool – Andhra Pradesh).
- Pralay Ballistic Missile – DRDO at Kalam Island, Odisha.
- Agni-5 – Test-fired from Chandipur, Odisha; Nuclear capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
- Integrated air defence weapon system– DRDO flight test off Odisha.
- ConvEx-3: IAEA nuclear emergency drill at Cernavoda plant, Romania; 75+ countries, 10 orgs (24–25 June 2025).
- Rudrastra UAV: Hybrid VTOL UAV tested at Pokharan, Rajasthan; developed by Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd.
Defence Seminars & Exercises
- RAN SAMWAD 2025 – Tri-service seminar, MP.
Naval Ships & Vessels
- INS Udaygiri: stealth frigate.
- Adamya - fast patrol vessel.
- INS Nistar - diving support vessel.
- Ajay - anti-submarine shallow watercraft.
- INS Udaygiri & INS Himgiri – Nilgiri-class stealth frigates.
- INS Kadmatt – Port call at Surabaya, Indonesia.
- INS Arnala: First indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warship commissioned Visakhapatnam; designed by GRSE & L&T.
- INS Nilgiri: 1st indigenously built Project 17A stealth frigate.
Aircraft & Defence Equipment
- MiG-21 Bison – To retire in September 2025; Russian-made fighter jet; India's first supersonic fighter jet.
- Airbus C-295 – military transport aircraft from Spain.
International & Terror Groups
- TRF (The Resistance Front): US designated terrorist group.
- Magen Or (Light Shield): Israel’s laser-based missile defence system under Iron Beam program.
- FPV Drones: Small UAVs for GPS-free navigation, strikes; used by Ukraine to destroy Russian aircraft.
- SIPRI Yearbook 2025: 9 nuclear countries, 12,241 warheads – Russia (5,459), US (5,177), China (600), France, UK, India (180), Pakistan (170), Israel, North Korea.