DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY Study Materials

Nuclear Doctrine

NUCLEAR DOCTRINE

A nuclear doctrine of any nuclear weapon country includes the aims and missions that guide that country’s deployment and employment of nuclear weapons throughout peacetime and wartime.

The primary purposes of a nuclear doctrine are often deterrence, target destruction, assurance of allies and a hedge against an uncertain future.

History

• Homi J. Bhabha supervised India’s nuclear effort, which began in the late 1940s.

• Nehru opposed nuclear weapons and pleaded with the superpowers for complete nuclear disarmament. However, the nuclear arsenal grew.

When Communist China conducted nuclear tests in October 1964, the five nuclear powers (the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France, and China), as well as the five Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council, seeked to impose the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) on the rest of the world.

India’s Nuclear Doctrine

In 1998, India proclaimed itself a nuclear weapon state and

introduced the Nuclear Doctrine in 2003.

The foundation of India’s nuclear doctrine is on the idea that the government will only use nuclear weapons in retaliation for any attempt by any nation to attack India, its states, or its armed forces. In general, nuclear doctrine refers to the employment of nuclear weapons by a nation both during times of peace and conflict.

Three major pillars form the foundation of India’s Nuclear Doctrine

• No first use: India follows a no-first-use policy when it comes to nuclear weapons. The no-first-use and deterrence theories are mutually reinforcing. Any first aggressive use of nuclear weapons will be an indication and admission that deterrence has failed and that using such weapons was the only alternative available to the country.

• Credible minimum deterrent: The concept of a minimum nuclear deterrent entails sufficient survivable and operationally prepared nuclear forces, a robust command and control system, effective intelligence and early warning capabilities, and comprehensive planning and operational training in accordance with the strategy and willingness to use nuclear weapons and forces.

• Nuclear command authority (NCA): On 4th January 2003, India unveiled a 3-tier Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) to manage its nuclear weapons; political council, executive council and strategic forces command. This broad framework was given a green flag on the nuclear doctrine prepared by the National Security Board.

All other doctrine components, such as survivability, strategic trend, punitive retribution in quick response, and transition from peacetime deployment to fully employable forces in the shortest amount of time, are strictly mathematical derivations of the three basic principles listed above.

The Indian nuclear doctrine is the most responsible, with the goal of providing a minimum credible deterrence. It is a consensus document that does not preclude the country from using its nuclear weapons in any way. It provides complete flexibility in determining the amount of nuclear weapons India should have.

India’s Nuclear Test

Regarding the Pokhran-I Nuclear Test:

• Scientist Raja Ramanna was the first to direct a small group of scientists that coordinated and conducted the test. He also expanded and coordinated scientific research on nuclear weapons.

• On May 18, 1974, a test known as “Smiling Buddha” was carried out on Buddha Purnima.

• The bomb went off in the Pokhran Test Range, an army outpost in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

• It was the country’s first verified nuclear test and the first conducted by a non-permanent member of the UN Security

Council (UNSC).

Additional nuclear tests

• Following the 1974 tests, India conducted five tests: Three on May 11 and two on May 13, 1998.

• The tests designated ‘Operation Shakti’/Pokhran-II were repeated at the Pokhran test range.

• Following Pokhran-II, the Indian leadership capitalized on the political utility of its actions, which drew international censure and penalties while simultaneously creating political space for and providing strategic autonomy to India’s decision-making.

• For example, the Indo-US nuclear pact (2008) laid the groundwork for the strategic alliance that currently includes

high-tech cooperation ranging from defense to artificial intelligence.

Challenges to India’s Nuclear Doctrine

• Domestic Concerns

• India is still developing its nuclear triad.

• With an estimated 3,500 km range, Agni IV has now been introduced to the land-based missile army.

• It is anticipated that Agni V and Agni VI will increase the ranges to over 6,000 kilometers.

• Technology-related challenges

Indianeeds    to        takeinto        account    technical advancements that may affect the validity of its deterrent.

The distinction between nuclear and conventional systems is becoming more hazy due to the growing employment of dual-purpose weapons such cruise missiles, hypersonics and conventional precision global strike weapons.

• Challenges to diplomacy from the outside

• After completing nuclear testing in 1998, India faced the problem of being accepted as a responsible nuclear country.

Way Forward

• Nuclear disarmament: India should keep working toward this objective by interacting diplomatically with other nations and international organizations.

• Non-proliferation: India should keep pushing to make the international non-proliferation framework stronger and stop the proliferation of nuclear technology and weapons.

• Development of nuclear energy:Increasing the program to produce more nuclear energy to fulfil the world’s expanding energy needs while taking robust precautions against the spread of nuclear weapons technology and accidents.

• Regional security: In order to maintain regional security, India should also keep up its deterrence strategy. At the same time, it should communicate and take steps to foster confidence with its neighbors in order to ease tensions and advance regional stability.

Conclusion

India has made significant progress in resolving its diplomatic concerns abroad since the 1998 nuclear tests. The advancement has been largely attributed to India’s steady nuclear policy. But India’s policies will have to be adjusted frequently to meet the new challenges of the twenty-first century.

Defence Organisations

INTRODUCTION

The use of technology in military operations, including research and development, procurement and deployment of systems and equipment used by armed forces to defend national interests, is collectively referred to as “Defence Technology.”

DEFENCE ORGANISATIONS

Defence Research and Development Organisations (DRDO)

• The DRDO is the R&D division of India’s Ministry of Defence that was established in 1958.

• It is trying to develop a world-class scientific and technological base for India and to give our defence services a competitive advantage by equipping them with internationally competitive technologies and solutions.

• It was established by integrating three important defence organizations, namely

• Defence Science Organization (DSO)

• Defence Technical Development Establishment (DTDE) and

• Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTDP).

Committees

Project Indigo, which focused on Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM) in 1960, was the DRDO’s first significant defence project. This project was abandoned without yielding any results.

• DRDO began with just ten laboratories nationwide, but today it has over fifty labs conducting research in many defence and technology-related fields.

Defence Innovative Organisation (DIO)

• The company is registered as ‘not for profit’ under

Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013.

• The two founding members are Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), both are Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).

• About Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX-DIO)

• It is the flagship project of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, and was started in 2018.

• The scheme’s goal is to create an innovation ecosystem in the defence and aerospace sectors through collaboration with startups, innovators, MSMEs, incubators, and academics.

Nuclear Triad

NUCLEAR TRIAD

• The term “Nuclear Triad” refers to the ability to deliver nuclear weapons by ballistic missiles launched from submarines, aircraft and land.

• India announced the launch of its nuclear triad following the development of an indigenous Ship Submersible Ballistic

The components of the Nuclear Triad in India

Like those of other countries, India has three nuclear weapons:land, air, and naval (sea) where each one is capable of launching a nuclear strike.

• Land-based Components

• It mostly consists of missiles that may be launched from land-based platforms, such as ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles), SRBMs (Short Range Ballistic Missiles), etc. The ICBMs are quite responsive and devastating.

• Because ICBMs may be launched and reach targets in minutes and are stationed in hundreds of silos, opponents face an almost impossible targeting challenge.

• For instance, the Agni-V missile’s nuclear payload may travel up to 5500 kilometers.

• DRDO under Mission Divyastra developed Agni-5

missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV)

• The Prithvi, Akash, Trishul, and other land-based missiles are capable of supporting the triad.

Sea-based components

• This component mostly consists of Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear Submarines (SSBNs).

• The SSBNs are considered survivable because a component of the fleet is always on patrol, making it difficult for potential opponents to locate them altogether, which contributes to their survival.

• For example, INS Arihant has K-15 Sagarika missiles (700 km range) and K-4 missiles (3500 km range).

• Also, testing with INS Arighat are ongoing, with the possibility of being inducted by 2024.

• It is more suited for carrying more K-4 missiles than INS Arihant.

• Because their position is unknown, SSBNs play an important role in the Second Strike against any nuclear assault, supplementing the Nuclear Doctrine.

Air-based components

• It mostly consists of bombers, which are regarded as versatile offensive weapons. The bomber aircraft are adaptable and can resolve crises while also providing a number of deployment and yield options when placed on alert.

• The Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000H, SEPECAT Jaguar, and, most importantly, the Rafale would all be suitable as bombers.

• Strategic Forces Command, which is part of the Nuclear Command Authority, controls land and air strike capabilities.

• The NCA was established in 2003 and is in charge of managing and administering the country’s tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile.

Significance of the Nuclear Triad in India

Provides National Security: India is one of only a few countries (including the US, Russia, China, India, and Pakistan) with nuclear triad capabilities. The Nuclear Triad plays an important role in providing national security.

Capability for Second Strike: The Nuclear Triad assists a country in counter-attacking a nation after being attacked by nuclear warheads. This trinity ensures that even if hit by a nuclear bomb, one can counter the attacking nation.

Credible Minimum Deterrence: One of the goals of India’s Nuclear Doctrine is credible minimum deterrence, which is reinforced by having a fully functional nuclear triad.

• By instilling dread of the repercussions, it offers adequate deterrent against any nation that could attack (Second strike).

• Massive Retaliation: India would launch a large second

strike in accordance with the Nuclear Doctrine, which is reinforced by the Triad.

As a result, the Triad offers counterbalance and viability.

Limitations of the Nuclear Triad in India

The ability of missiles and vehicles (platforms) to deter a nuclear triad is dependent upon each other. Despite being finished, India’s Nuclear Triad still has certain issues.

• As part of the triad, India possesses ICBMs, but Ballistic Missile Defence technology can monitor them early in their flight.

• India depends on other nations, such as France (Rafale) and Russia (Sukhoi), for its Strategic Bombers, which are part of the triad’s air component.

• To guarantee continuous deployment at sea, multiple SSBNs (nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines) are required.

• This also adds to the country’s import burden. Therefore, it is imperative that platforms and missiles be indigenous.

Conclusion

India has a very important nuclear triad that includes air, sea, and land-based nuclear delivery platforms. It keeps the region stable and acts as a strong deterrent to prospective enemies considering nuclear aggression. The diversification of the triad guarantees India’s nuclear arsenal’s survival even in the event of a first-strike. India can successfully repel pre-emptive strikes by effectively responding to a nuclear attack with a credible second-strike capability.

Missiles

MISSILES

A missile is an intelligent, autonomous rocket used in defence technology that is intended to convey a payload to a certain location and then destroy the target or object.

Components of a Missile

A Missile have five system components

Guidance system

Targeting system

Flight system

Engine

Warhead

Types of Missiles

Based on Speed

Missiles are classed based on their relative speed to sound, which is expressed in Mach.

Subsonic missile: Missiles that travel slower than sound are referred to as “subsonic.”

Examples include the US Harpoon anti-ship missile and India’s Prithvi short-range ballistic missile.

•
Supersonic missile: “Supersonic” refers to missiles that move faster than the speed of sound (Mach 1) but slower than Mach 5.

• Examples: Russian Iskander tactical ballistic missile and Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

• Hypersonic missile: The term “hypersonic” refers to speeds above Mach 5, or at least five times the speed of sound.

• Examples include China’s DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle and Russia’s Avangard.

Based on Trajectory

Ballistic Missiles: Following the boost phase, ballistic missiles operate on the principle of unpowered free-fall flight and have a ballistic lofted trajectory.

The ballistic missiles from India’s Agni and Prithvi series are two such examples.

• Hypersonic Glide Vehicle: Hypersonic ballistic missiles are ballistic missiles that reach hypersonic velocity during the re-entry phase.

• HGV examples include: Hypersonic glide vehicle mounted atop China’s DF-17 missile, Russia Boost-glide system Avangard.

• Cruise missiles: These are guided weapons that are fired against land or sea targets. Unlike ballistic missiles, they stay in the atmosphere for the most of their flight path and travel at a nearly constant speed until they reach their target.

• Examples are the Indian Nirbhay subsonic cruise missile and the U.S. BGM-109 Tomahawk long-range subsonic cruise missile.

• Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS): It is a weapon delivery system that delivers warheads to their intended target by using a low Earth orbit. It deorbits with a retrograde engine burn just before it reaches the target.

• FOBS can evade early warning systems by approaching from the south polar region without revealing their targets, in contrast to ICBMs that follow a likely course.

• For instance, in the 1960s, Russia created this technique. China has also tested this technology recently.

Based on Strategic Significance

Missiles that provide a country a credible deterrence or a strategic advantage over an adversary are classified as strategic missiles.

• These missiles are a component of the nuclear triad in India and several other strong nations.

• The long-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a weapon designed to carry nuclear warheads across continents.

• It belongs to the Nuclear Triad of India.

• With a range of between 5000–8000 kilometers, Agni-V is India’s first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). It extends its reach to the whole Asia-Pacific area.

Propulsion Systems

The systems that generates thrust to move an object forward is called a propulsion system. Typically, airplane thrust is produced by utilizing Newton’s third law of action and reaction in some way. The engine accelerates a gas, or working fluid and the engine is subjected to a force as a result of this acceleration.

Type of Propulsion

Solid propulsion Features

• Solid fuel, primarily powdered aluminium is used.

• It is simple to store.

• Gets a high speed very fast.

Liquid Propulsion

• Use of liquid fuel, such as hydrocarbons.

• Storage is challenging and intricate.

• It is readily regulated.

Ramjet

• No turbines.

• Fuel is injected and ignited.

• Aerial vehicles cannot achieve supersonic speeds.

• It is a sort of air-breathing engine.

Scramjet

• A supersonic combustion ramjet.

• Combustion at supersonic speeds.

• Hydrogen fuel is used.

• It is an air-breathing engine.

• India is the fourth country, after the United States, Russia and the European Space Agency, to showcase this technology.

• The combustion chamber is specifically constructed for supersonic airflow.

• DRDO has recently developed actively cooled long duration Scramjet Engine which achieved the speed of 6100 km/hr.

• This will boost the India’s Hypersonic Missile Programme.

This is considering complex technology in Defence sector

Cryogenic

• Need for insulated containers and vents;

• liquid gases, such as hydrogen, are liquefied at very low temperatures.

• An air intake is not necessary.

• After the United States, Russia, France, Japan, and China, India is the sixth nation to possess this technology.

Ballistic VS Cruise Missiles

Following are the key differences between Ballistic and

Cruise Missile system

Indian Missile System

India’s missile systems are used for a variety of defence- related purposes and serve multiple tasks throughout the country. Essentially, it uses its ballistic missile arsenal to deliver nuclear bombs to both China and Pakistan. It is worth noting that India is developing longer-range ballistic missiles and diversifying its delivery systems beyond mobile land-based missiles.

Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)

• Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam envisioned achieving self- sufficiency in missile technology in response to the Missile Technology Control Regime.

• The IGMDP began in 1983 and concluded in March 2012.

• Developed five types of missiles

AGNI

• DRDO developed an intercontinental surface-to- surface ballistic missile with nuclear capabilities.

• The United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and Israel are currently known to have intercontinental ballistic missiles.

• It is equipped with extremely high precision.

• Ring Laser Gyro-Based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) along with Micro Navigation System (MINS).

PRITHVI

• Surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile.

• The first missile was produced by IGMDP in 1983.

• Capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads, they can run on liquid or solid fuel.

• The Prithvi I Army variant has a 150 km range.

• The Prithvi II Air Force version has a 350 km range.

• Prithvi III naval version has a 600 km range. TRISHUL

• The Indian Navy uses this short-range surface-to-air missile for immediate combat action with a range of 9km.

• At the moment it is not in service. NAG

• The anti-tank missile has a range of 4km.

• Third-generation ‘fire and forget’ guided missiles identify and designate targets before launch.

• It is capable of operating in all weather conditions, both day and night.

• Launched from both ground and air-based platforms. AKASH

• Four medium-range surface-to-air missiles equipped

with Rajendra radar.

•
Capable of engaging multiple targets. Radar detects incoming objects, and missiles are fired.

• The range is 30 kilometers. Altitudes up to 18000 meters.

• Currently in use.

Other Missiles

ASTRA

The Astra is a BVRAAM air-to-air missile capable of operating in any weather conditions.

Range – 80km.

Payload capacity: 15 kg.

• First indigenously developed missile of India

Uses solid fuel ducted Ramjet and has BVRAAM (beyond visual range air-to-air missile) technology.

• Can destroy enemy aircrafts at supersonic speed.

PRAHAAR

• Solid-fuel, surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile

• Range – 150 km.

• Payload capacity – 200 to 500kg. PRALAY

• Solid fuel surface-to-surface tactical missile.

• Payload – 1 tonne and has a range of 350 km. NIRBHAY

• India’s first domestic long-range, all-weather subsonic cruise missile is NIRBHAY.

• It can carry a warhead of 200 kg to 300 kg at a speed of

• to 0.7 Mach with a launch weight of about 1500 kg.

• It can avoid detection as it has the ability to cruise at heights as low as 100 m.

• Solid rocket motor booster powers the second stage of this two-stage missile, which can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.

• It can be launched from a variety of platforms.

• Range of 1000 km.

DHANUSH

• Sea-to-sea/surface short range ballistic missile.

• Range – 350 km.

• Capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

BRAHMOS MISSILE SYSTEM

• BRAHMOS is a collaborative venture between the Russian

NPOM and the Defence Research and Development Organization of India (DRDO).

• Named after the rivers Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia).

• Air-to-surface missile with two stages (first stage with a solid propellant engine and second stage with a liquid ramjet). Range – around 300 km.

• Speed – Mach 2.8

• The BRAHMOS missile’s range has been increased to 450–600 km as a result of India’s accession to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

• It is a multifunctional missile with pinpoint accuracy that can be launched from land, air, or sea and operates day or night, weather permitting.

• Operates on the “Fire and Forgets” principle.

• Currently one of the fastest cruise missiles in use.

• Lower target dispersion and quicker engagement.

• Low radar signature.

Long-Range Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM):

• India’s first long range hypersonic missile having speed of Mach 10 with the range of 1500 Km, designed and developed for destroying naval assets like aircraft carrier and enemy’s naval destroyer. It fulfills the Indian navy carrier killer requirements

PINAKA MISSILE SYSTEM

• Indigenous multi-barrel rocket launch system, for the Indian Army by DRDO

• The navigation system – aided by the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).

• Range is more than 70 km. RudraM-I

• It is the nation’s first indigenous anti-radiation missile.

• Up to 200 kilometers of range, depending on the launch circumstances.

• Can be fired at 0.6 to 2 mach and from 500 m to 15 km in height.

• Is able to identify and target any source of radiation, including enemy radars, communication sites, and other targets that generate radio frequency (RF).

RudraM-II

• Modified version of RudraM-I missile

• Air-to-Surface anti- radiation Missile

• Range up to 330 Km

• It is useful in Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) capability, the need of this type of missile was realized during Operation Sindoor

Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT)

MISSION SHAKTI

• To create extremely powerful anti-satellite (ASAT)

weaponry.

•
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the DRDO are working together on the initiative.

• The Anti-satellite (ASAT) technology targets moving spacecraft using a missile-based technology.

• ASAT propels India to the coveted space-superpower league.

• India will be able to attack directly or interfere with satellites, giving it the capacity to destroy them for military and strategic objectives alone.

• ASAT missiles can be air, sea or land based.

• Has the potential to contribute to nuclear missile deterrence.

• India conducted a successful ASAT missile test in March 2019.

• Integrating with the USA, China, and Russia into a small group of countries with comparable technology.

• India used the Kinetic Kill space technology.

• A live satellite in Low Earth orbit (283 kilometers) was destroyed by an ASAT missile.

• The missile can fire down objects traveling at a speed of 10 km/s at a height of up to 1200 km, according to the DRDO.

Air Defence Systems

Air Defence Systems

Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme

India’s BMD system is a two-tiered defense system that can intercept any incoming missile launched up to 5,000 kilometers away.

Its development started in 1999, following the Kargil

conflict.

Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) is designed for high-altitude interception (exo-atmospheric).

• Advanced Air Defence (AAD) is an endo-atmospheric interception system designed for low altitude interceptions.

Project Kusha

• Is ambitious and indigenous defence project of the DRDO to develop the long range anti-ballistic missile defence system by 2029. It consists multiple types of interceptor missile named M1, M2 and M3 with the range of 150 km, 250 km and 350 km respectively.

Mission Sudarshan Chakra

• Indigenous integrated air and missile defence system to be deployed by 2035. It will provide the full security from enemy’s air projectile like missile, aircrafts and drones.

• It is the integration of the following systems:

• QRSAM (Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles)

• VSHORADS (Very Short-Range Air Defence System)

• DEW (Directed Energy Weapon)

• AAD (Advanced Air Defence)

• PAD (Prithvi Air Defence)

Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems

Indian Navy

INDIAN NAVY

Submarines

Nuclear-powered

• Draws electricity from a nuclear reactor, allowing it to remain underwater for months.

• Difficult for enemies to detect.

• Can float in enemy nations’ territorial waters.

• Offer outstanding second-strike capability.

• SSN: nuclear-powered submersible ship developed particularly to attack and sink other submarines/ships. In general, avoid carrying long-range missiles.

In-Service Submarines

• SSBN: Submersible Ship Ballistic Nuclear-Powered-capable of deploying nuclear-armed ballistic missiles launched from submarines.

Diesel-powered

• Come on the waterbody surface at regular intervals since the combustion of diesel requires oxygen.

• Detectable by enemies

• Unsuitable for navigating near enemy territorial seas.

Attack Submarines

• Small submarines are specialized for specific objectives, such as attacking the enemy in warfare.

• It employs torpedoes and short-range missiles.

• These types of submarines have a limited range and must return to the surface after a period of time.

Ballistic Missile Submarines

• Larger in size and more devastating for the enemy.

• It serves as a launch platform for missiles with long- range capabilities.

• These can carry nuclear weapons.

• These are nuclear-powered submarines. As a result of the endless power supply, they have a nearly limitless range.

• These can stay submerged for months and travel up to thousands of miles.

Projects of Indian Navy

PROJECT 75

• Part of a 30-year submarine construction plan from 2007 to 2030.

• The project aims to build six conventional submarines with improved sensors and weaponry, as well as an Air Independent Propulsion System (AIP): Kalvari,

Khanderi, Karanj, Vela, Vagir, and Vagsheer.

PROJECT-75I

• Development of six highly advanced conventional submarines with the help of Germany to strengthen naval submarine fleet of Indian Navy.

• These submarines will be constructed by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in collaboration with Mazagon Dock limited.

• The submarines will be fitted with advance air independent propulsion system

PROJECT 28

Four anti-submarine warships must be built in India.

• Four corvettes namely INS Kamorta, INS Kadmatt, INS Kiltan, and INS Kavaratti.

• The Lakshadweep archipelago’s islands are the basis for the names of the warships.

PROJECT 17A

• entails constructing seven stealth frigates.

Initiatives To Modernize Defence Industry

Strategic Partnership (SP) Model

This Defence knowledge Model specifies a few Indian private enterprises that will initially collaborate with global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to seek knowledge transfers to establish domestic manufacturing infrastructure and supply chains.

iDEX

• It was launched in 2018.

• The Defence Technology Initiative supports innovation and technology development in defense and aerospace by providing funding and support to industries such as MSMEs, start-ups, entrepreneurs, R&D institutes, and

academics.

•
The Defence Innovation Organization (DIO) will fund and oversee the initiative, serving as its executive arm.

Defence Indigenisation

• Increasing the sectoral cap for FDI (automatic approval) from 49% to 74%.

• The Indian Armed Force will only purchase 101 defense equipment products from indigenous manufacturers due to a negative import list.

• Corporatizing the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and defense industrial corridors in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

• The SRIJAN portal is a one-stop shop for domestic sellers, providing information on items for indigenization in the private sector.

• The Defence Minister of India created the Naval Innovation and Indigenization Organization (NIIO).

• The objective is to promote innovation and indigenization for self-reliance in defense, along with the vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

• Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti aims to foster innovation and technological development, as well as create and commercialize intellectual property in the field.

Defence Corridors

• It suggested to divide Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh into two defense corridors.

• The term “defense corridors” in defense technology refers to a road or route that local defense equipment manufacture by the public and private sectors takes to improve defense capability.

New Defence Acquisition Procedure of 2020 (DAP 2020)

• DAP 2020 governs the procurement of defence equipment from the capital budget.

• It replaced the 2016 Defense Procurement Procedure.

• Category Reserving for Indian Vendors: Certain categories, such as Production Agency in Design & Development and Buy (Indian Indigenously Designed

Developed and Manufactured - IDDM), are only available to Indian vendors.

• Overall Higher Requirement for Indigenous Content

• Indigenous content will be calculated based on the ‘Base Contract Price’, which is the whole contract price minus taxes and tariffs.

• Import embargo list

• The government has chosen not to include an offset clause in defence equipment procurement through inter- government agreements (IGAs) with a single vendor.

• A new acquisition category, leasing, was added to the existing ‘Buy’ and ‘Make’ categories. This allows for recurring rental payments rather than large capital investments.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

In the field of defence technology, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones are a class of aircraft that are capable of flying without pilots present.

Unmanned aircraft can be divided into three categories:

autonomous, remotely piloted, and model aircraft.

• DRDO Abhyas, DRDO Fluffy, DRDO Imperial Eagle, DRDO Kapothaka, DRDO Lakshya, DRDO Netra, DRDO Nishant, DRDO Rustom & Rustom II, and DRDO Ulka are a few of the UAVs that the Indian military uses.

• Sheshnaag-150 kamikaze drone with range of 1000 km developed by NewSpace Research & Technologies

Drone Regulations in India

• The ‘No Permission-No Takeoff’ (NPNT) clause in India requires drone operators to obtain regulatory clearance through the Digital Sky Platform before flying.

• All categories require registration, with the exception of Nano.

Classification (As per Drone rules,2021)

• Nano: <250 gm

• Micro: 250 gm to 2 kg

• Mini: 2 kg to 25 kg

• Small: 25 kg to 150 kg

• Large: >150 kg

Chemical Weapons

Chemical Weapons

A chemical weapon is a substance that is intentionally employed to cause death or harm due to its poisonous qualities. This definition also includes equipment created expressly for weaponizing dangerous chemicals.

Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)

• The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is a multinational convention that prohibits the use of chemical weapons and demands their disposal within a set time period.

• The convention has an unlimited term and is significantly more comprehensive than the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which prohibits the use but not possession of chemical weapons.

Members

The CWC is open to all nations, and there are now 193 state parties.

Although Israel has signed the convention, it has not yet ratified it.

The agreement has not been approved or signed by three states: South Sudan, North Korea, and Egypt.

The chemical weapons convention prohibits

Creating, manufacturing, acquiring, stockpiling, or

maintaining chemical weapons.

The direct or indirect transmission of chemical weapons.

Chemical weapons are used or prepared for use by the military.

• Assisting, encouraging, or influencing other states to engage in CWC-prohibited behaviour.

• The application of riot control chemicals “as a method of warfare.”

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

• With the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), with its headquarters located in The Hague, Netherlands, was founded.

• The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, South Sudan, and Israel (signatory) are among the non- members.

Chemical weapons and India

• India ratified the CWC in 1996.

• In 2000, India, a state party to the CWC, passed the Chemical Weapons Convention Act. The National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) was established under the Chemical Weapons Convention Act of 2000 to implement the provisions of the Convention.

• In 2000, India, a state party to the CWC, passed the

Chemical Weapons Convention Act.

• The Chemical Weapons Convention Act of 2000 established the National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) to implement its provisions.

Chemical agents in news

• Chlorine gas is a choking agent.

• Sarin gas, a nerve agent.

• Novichok nerve agent is 5-8 times more dangerous than VX nerve toxin.

• Cyanide, a blood agent.

Phosgene, Sulphur Mustard are blister agents

Biological Weapons

Biological weapons

In Defence Technology, biological weapons are microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, or other poisons that are intentionally generated and deployed to cause disease and death in humans, animals, and plants. Examples include anthrax, botulinum toxin, plague, and ricin.

Biological agents such as anthrax, botulinum toxin, and plague can pose a serious public health problem, resulting in a huge number of deaths in a short period of time. Epidemics can be caused by biological agents that can spread through secondary transmission.

A biological agent attack could look like a natural occurrence, making it more difficult to identify and respond in the public health domain. In the event of war or conflict, high-threat pathogen laboratories may be targeted, potentially causing major public health effects.

Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

Biological and toxic weapon research, production, acquisition, transfer, storage, and use are all strictly prohibited by the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). It was the first worldwide disarmament agreement to forbid a class of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).

The BWC is a critical component of the international community's efforts to combat WMD proliferation, and it has established a strong norm against biological weapons. There are four Signatory States and 185 States Parties to the Convention, representing almost all states in the world.

It plays an important role in the international community's efforts to combat the spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and has developed a strong norm against biological weapons.

WMD is a weapon capable of inflicting huge and indiscriminate death and destruction, and its mere presence in the hands of a hostile power might be seen as a grave threat.

The Conference of the Committee on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland, drafted the Convention, formally named "The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction."

It opened for signatures on April 10, 1972, and went into effect on March 26, 1975.

Members include 183 State Parties and 4 Signatory States.

India signed the convention in 1973.

The Convention prohibits the research, manufacture, transfer, stockpiling, and use of biological and toxin weapons.

It was the first global disarmament deal to prohibit an entire class of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

The BWC bans

• The creation, accumulation, procurement, holding, and manufacturing of

• Toxins and biological agents "of kinds and in amounts that have no justification for preventive, defensive, or other peaceful purposes;".

• Weapons, equipment, and delivery vehicles "designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict."

• Assistance in getting the agents, toxins, weapons, equipment, and delivery vehicles listed above.

Differences between Biological Agents and Chemical Agents