INDIA'S DEFENCE SYSTEM

INDIAN ARMED FORCES
• The Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India.
• They consist of three professional uniformed services:
  • Indian Army
  • Indian Navy
  • Indian Air Force

INTEGRATED GUIDED MISSILE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (IGMDP)
• Conceived in 1983 under the leadership of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
• Objective: To achieve self-sufficiency in missile technology.
• Implemented by DRDO.
• Five missiles developed under IGMDP:
  • Prithvi – Short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
  • Agni – Intermediate-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
  • Trishul – Short-range surface-to-air missile.
  • Akash – Medium-range surface-to-air missile.
  • Nag – Third-generation anti-tank guided missile.
• IGMDP was declared successfully completed in January 2008.

PRITHVI MISSILE
• Tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile.
• Developed by DRDO.
• Variants:
  • Prithvi-I (Army): Range 150 km.
  • Prithvi-II (Air Force): Range 350 km.
  • Dhanush (Navy): Ship-launched version with 350 km range.
• Capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads.

AKASH MISSILE
• Medium-range surface-to-air missile system.
• Operational with Indian Army and Indian Air Force.
• Range: Up to 30 km.
• Altitude: Up to 18 km.
• Capable of engaging:
  • Fighter aircraft
  • Cruise missiles
  • Air-to-surface missiles
  • Ballistic missiles

TRISHUL MISSILE
• Short-range surface-to-air missile.
• Supersonic missile with range of 12 km.
• Designed for:
  • Defence of naval vessels
  • Low-level aerial threats on land

NAG MISSILE
• Third-generation anti-tank guided missile.
• Operates on “fire and forget” principle.
• Designed to destroy modern main battle tanks.
• Variants:
  • NAMICA (Land-based): Range 500 m – 4 km.
  • HELINA (Helicopter-launched): Range 7 – 10 km.

AGNI MISSILE SERIES
• Strategic ballistic missile series developed by DRDO.
• Capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
• Missile variants:
  • Agni-I: 700–900 km
  • Agni-II: 2,000 km
  • Agni-III: 3,000 km
  • Agni-IV: 4,000 km
  • Agni-V: 5,000–5,500 km
  • Agni-VI (under development): 8,000–10,000 km
• Acts as a deterrent against Pakistan and China.

INDIA'S BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENCE (BMD) PROGRAMME
• Objective: To protect India from ballistic missile attacks.
• Multi-layered missile defence shield.
• Two-tier interceptor system:
  • PAD (Prithvi Air Defence): High-altitude interception.
  • AAD (Advanced Air Defence): Low-altitude interception.
• Key components:
  • Radars
  • Interceptor missiles
  • Command and control systems
• Introduced due to missile threats from Pakistan.

CRUISE MISSILE DEFENCE
• Designed to counter low-flying cruise missiles.
• Uses aircraft defence systems.
• Utilises Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor.
• Capable of intercepting missiles launched from 2,000 km away.

HAL TEJAS
• Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
• Single-engine, single-seat, multirole fighter.
• Developed by HAL and ADA.
• Replaces MiG-21 aircraft.
• Inducted into IAF in 2016.
• Features:
  • Supersonic speed
  • Air-to-air missiles
  • Precision-guided munitions
  • Limited stealth features

DEFENCE DEALS WITH RUSSIA

S-400 TRIUMF
• Long-range surface-to-air missile system.
• Range: Up to 400 km.
• Altitude: Up to 30 km.
• Can track 100 targets simultaneously.
• Deal signed in 2018 worth $5.43 billion.

BRAHMOS
• Supersonic cruise missile.
• Jointly developed by India and Russia.
• Speed: Mach 2.8–3.0 (upgradeable to Mach 5).
• Range: 290 km (extended beyond 600 km).
• Deployed on land, sea, air and submarines.

SUKHOI-30MKI
• Twin-engine multirole air superiority fighter.
• Built by HAL under license from Russia.
• Backbone of Indian Air Force.

MiG-29K
• Carrier-based multirole fighter.
• Procured for Indian Navy.
• Operates from INS Vikramaditya.

IL-76
• Heavy-lift transport aircraft.
• Backbone of IAF transport fleet before C-17.

Mi-17 HELICOPTERS
• Medium twin-engine transport helicopter.
• Used for troop and cargo transport.

DEFENCE DEALS WITH ISRAEL

BARAK-8
• Long and medium-range surface-to-air missile.
• Jointly developed by DRDO and IAI.
• Defends against aircraft, UAVs, cruise and ballistic missiles.

PHALCON AWACS
• Airborne Early Warning and Control System.
• Provides real-time surveillance and command.

DEFENCE DEALS WITH USA

P-8I POSEIDON
• Maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft.

C-130J SUPER HERCULES
• Tactical airlift aircraft for special operations.

C-17 GLOBEMASTER
• Heavy-lift strategic transport aircraft.

APACHE AH-64E
• Advanced attack helicopter.

CHINOOK CH-47
• Heavy-lift transport helicopter suitable for mountains.

DEFENCE DEALS WITH FRANCE

RAFALE
• Twin-engine multirole combat aircraft.
• Deal signed in 2016 for 36 aircraft.

MIRAGE 2000
• Multirole fighter inducted in 1985.
• Upgraded under Indo-French agreement.

SCORPENE SUBMARINES
• Diesel-electric attack submarines.
• Built under transfer of technology.
• Manufactured by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.
 

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Subject: Science

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