News Highlights:
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) gives the nod to the purchase of indigenous defence systems for three capital acquisition proposals amounting to ₹4,276 crore.
Key Takeaway:
Indigenous defence systems include Helicopter launched Nag (HELINA) Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM), Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORAD) and BrahMos cruise missile launchers and Fire Control Systems (FCS) for naval ships.
Helina, Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM):
- About:
- Helina has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, under the Missiles and Strategic Systems (MSS) cluster of the DRDO.
- Successful user trials of the missile have been conducted since 2018.
- Features:
- It has a maximum range of seven kilometres and has been designed and developed for integration on the weaponized version of the ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter).
- The missile system has all-weather, day, and night capability and can defeat battle tanks with conventional armour and explosive reactive armour.
- It has been developed to integrate choppers in the Army and the Air Force.
- The Air Force version of Helina is sometimes referred to as Dhruvastra.
- Helina can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well as top attack mode.
- Top Attack Mode: In this mode, the missile is required to climb sharply after launch and travel at a certain altitude, and then plunge on the top of the target.
- Direct Hit Mode: The missile travels at a lower altitude, directly striking the target.
VSHORADS:
- About:
- Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.
- Features:
- VSHORADS missile incorporates many novel technologies, including a miniaturized Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which have been successfully proven during the tests.
- The missile, meant for neutralizing low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges, is propelled by a dual-thrust solid motor.
- The design of the missile, including the launcher, has been highly optimized to ensure easy portability.
- Significance:
- This new missile, equipped with modern technologies, will give a further technological boost to the Armed Forces.
BrahMos launcher and Fire Control System(FCS):
- About:
- The BrahMos missile, an Indo-Russian joint venture, has a range of 290 km and is the fastest cruise missile in the world, with a top speed of Mach 2.8 (nearly three times the speed of sound).
- BrahMos is named for the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva.
- It is a two-stage (solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in the second) missile.
- It is a multiplatform missile, i.e., it can be launched from land, air, and sea and multi a capability missile with pinpoint accuracy that works in both day and night irrespective of the weather conditions.
- It operates on the “Fire and Forgets” principle i.e it does not require further guidance after launch.
- Features:
- BrahMos cruise missile launcher and Fire Control System (FCS) is for the Shivalik class of ships and Next Generation Missile Vessels for the Navy.
- With the induction of missile launchers and Fire Control System , these ships would have enhanced capability of carrying out maritime strike operations, interdicting and destroying enemy’s warships and merchant vessels.
Pic Courtesy: Freepik
Content Source: The Hindu