Context:
India demonstrated the firepower of the indigenous Akash missile system during the recent exercise ‘Astrashakti 2023’.
Astrashakti:
- Literally means – ‘power of weapons’
- An air force exercise.
- Aim –
- To serves as a platform to showcase the advanced capabilities of indigenous weapon systems.
- To underscore India’s commitment to exporting its home-grown weapon systems to the global market.
- Demonstrations of Surface to Air Missile for Assured Retaliation (SAMAR) air defence missile.
- Demonstration of Akash firing unit –
- A single firing unit of Akash weapon system simultaneously engaged and destroyed 4 unmanned aerial targets.
- 2 Akash Air Force Launcher (AAFL) – It has 5 armed missiles, at 1st 2 Akash missiles were launched and the same launcher was assigned for next 2 targets.
- Thus all 4 targets were successfully engaged at maximum range (around 30 km) simultaneously.
India become the 1st country to demonstrate the capability of engaging 4 targets simultaneously at such ranges by command guidance using a single firing unit of Akash weapon system.
SAMAR (Surface to Air Missile for Assured Retaliation):
- An air defence system
- Developed by – a unit under IAF’s Maintenance Command.
- Consists of a twin turret (dual axis) launch platform.
- Operating speed range – 2 to 2.5 Mach.
Akash weapon system:
- A Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System
- Designed and developed by – DRDO
- Range of Operation – 4.5 km to 25 km
- Simultaneously engage Multiple Targets in Group Mode or Autonomous Mode.
- Produced by – Defence PSU along with other industries.
- Deployed by – Indian Air Force and the Indian Army
According to data by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India has been the world’s largest arms importer since 1993. But in 2022, India clinched a deal with Philippines to export Brahmos supersonic cruise missile.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.
2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Ballistic missiles are powered by rocket engines throughout their entire trajectory. The engine operates for the first few minutes of flight, and then the missile follows a trajectory guided by gravity. On the other hand, cruise missiles are jet-propelled and they maintain powered flight for the entirety of their journey, not just the initial phase.
Agni-V is an Indian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. It uses solid fuel and has a range of over 5,000 kilometers. On the other hand, BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile developed by India and Russia. It uses a two-stage propulsion system, with solid propellant in the first stage and liquid ramjet in the second stage.
