Defence Flashcards
Missile: Definition
A guided airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight, usually by a jet engine or rocket motor.
Five Components of a Missile
- Targeting, 2. Guidance system, 3. Flight system, 4. Engine, 5. Warhead.
Missile Range Classification
- Short Range (≤ 500 km): Prithvi\n- Medium Range (≤ 1500 km)\n- Intermediate Range (≤ 5000 km): Agni\n- Long Range (> 5000 km): ICBM (Agni-V).
Missile Speed Classification
- Subsonic (<1 Mach): Nirbhay\n- Supersonic (1-5 Mach): BrahMos\n- Hypersonic (>5 Mach): Shaurya (Under development).
Ballistic vs Cruise Missiles
- Ballistic: Follows a high-arc trajectory, partially unpowered in flight (Agni, ICBM).\n- Cruise: Fully powered, low-altitude, precise targeting (BrahMos, Nirbhay).
Ballistic Missile Defence System (BMD)
India’s multi-layered system to intercept incoming ballistic missiles using exo-atmospheric (PAD) and endo-atmospheric (AAD) interceptors.
ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile)
A missile with a range >5,500 km, used for nuclear weapon delivery. Only a few countries, including India, have operational ICBMs.
Hypersonic Missiles
Travel at Mach 5+ speeds, maneuver in-flight, making them hard to detect and intercept (e.g., DRDO’s Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle - HSTDV).
Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS)
A missile system that orbits Earth before deorbiting to strike from an unexpected direction, enhancing strategic surprise.
Missile Defence Systems Worldwide
- USA: THAAD\n- Russia: S-400, S-500\n- Israel: Iron Dome\n- India: BMD (PAD & AAD).
BrahMos Missile
A supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia, capable of land, air, sea, and submarine launch.
Tejas Fighter Jet
India’s 4.5 generation, indigenous lightweight, multi-role fighter aircraft with advanced avionics and composite materials.
INS Vikrant
India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier (commissioned 2022), featuring a STOBAR system and supporting MiG-29K fighters.
INS Arihant
India’s first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), part of the nuclear triad.
Warship Classifications
- Destroyers: Missile-equipped, fast-moving warships.\n- Frigates: Medium-sized, multi-role warships.\n- Corvettes: Small, highly maneuverable warships.\n- Aircraft Carriers: Mobile sea-based airbases.
India’s Indigenous Submarines
- Kalvari Class (Scorpene submarines)\n- Sindhughosh Class (Russian-origin Kilo-class subs)\n- Arihant Class (Nuclear-powered SSBNs).
GSAT-7 Series Satellites
Advanced communication satellites for India’s armed forces:\n- GSAT-7: Indian Navy\n- GSAT-7A: Indian Air Force\n- GSAT-7B: Proposed for the Indian Army.
Operation Skylight
An Army exercise testing satellite-based communication readiness, highlighting the need for a dedicated military satellite.
Project 75I
A strategic initiative to build six modern conventional submarines with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) for longer underwater endurance.
Stealth Technology
- Deflects radar radiation using special surface coatings and materials.\n- Used in aircraft (e.g., Rafale, Tejas) and ships (e.g., Kolkata-class destroyers).
Generations of Fighter Jets
1st Gen: Basic jet fighters\n2nd Gen: Afterburners, missiles\n3rd Gen: Multirole, turbofan engines\n4th Gen: Fly-by-wire, stealth tech\n5th Gen: AI-assisted targeting, stealth (e.g., F-35, Su-57).
Rafale Fighter Jet
French-made multirole combat aircraft, inducted into the Indian Air Force under the MMRCA deal.
Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher
India’s indigenous artillery rocket system with a range of 40-75 km, recently exported to Armenia.
India’s Hypersonic Research
- BrahMos-II: Hypersonic cruise missile (Mach 7)\n- Mission Shakti: India’s successful ASAT test\n- DRDO’s HSTDV program for next-gen hypersonic weapons.
