Defense systems have undergone extensive evolution, with missile system emerging as a cornerstone of modern military strategy. These systems, categorized based on their range, purpose, and method of deployment, play a critical role in safeguarding nations against external threats. In India, the development and deployment of missile technology have been pivotal to its defense capabilities. Notably, India’s Ballistic Missile Defence System stands as a testament to its commitment to national security. Furthermore, the utilization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has become increasingly prevalent, offering reconnaissance, surveillance, and tactical advantages to the Indian armed forces. Concurrently, advancements in stealth technology have revolutionized warfare, enabling aircraft and vessels to operate covertly. However, amidst these advancements, the specter of chemical and biological weapons looms, necessitating stringent measures for deterrence and defense. As such, understanding the intricacies of these defense technologies is essential for comprehending the contemporary landscape of global security.
Missile Systems:
A missile, often termed a guided missile in military context, is a self-propelled flying weapon with guidance systems, flight components, engines, and warheads. It can be launched, shot, or propelled towards a target.
Components of Missiles:
- Targeting or missile guidance
- Flight system
- Engine
- Warhead
History of India’s Missile Systems:
- Missiles trace back to ancient times in India, known as ASTRA, with mentions in scriptures like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
- Tipu Sultan utilized India’s early rockets against the British during the Anglo-Mysore wars in the 18th century CE.
- British rule inhibited missile development in India due to colonial constraints and resource limitations.
Classification of Missiles:
- Based on Launch Mode:
- Surface-to-surface
- Surface-to-air
- Air-to-air
- Air-to-surface
- Surface-to-sea
- Anti-tank missiles
- Based on Range:
- Short-range
- Medium-range
- Intermediate-range
- Intercontinental ballistic missiles
- Based on Propulsion:
- Solid propulsion
- Liquid propulsion
- Hybrid propulsion
- Ramjet
- Scramjet
- Cryogenic
- Based on Warhead:
- Conventional
- Strategic (Nuclear)
- Based on Guidance System:
- Wire guidance
- Command Guidance
- Inertial Guidance
- Terrestrial Guidance
- Laser Guidance
- RF and GPS guidance
Difference between Ballistic and Cruise Missiles:
Ballistic Missile:
- Uses a ballistic trajectory to strike a predefined target with one or more warheads.
- The path of the launched object in flight, without active propulsion, defines its ballistic trajectory.
- Influenced by gravity, air resistance, and the earth’s motion (Coriolis Force).
- Targets are typically predetermined.
- Suitable for large targets.
- Guided only during brief periods of flight, rest of trajectory is unpowered and driven by gravity.
- Flies at high elevation, making tracking easier.
Cruise Missile:
- A guided missile used against terrestrial targets, with the target pre-set.
- Spends its entire flight in the atmosphere.
- Flies most of its path at a constant speed.
- Efficiently delivers large warheads over long distances.
- The target may be mobile.
- More suitable for small, mobile targets.
- Self-navigating throughout the flight.
- Capable of flying at incredibly low altitudes, making tracking harder.
| Type of Missile | Description |
| Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM) | Missiles designed to intercept and destroy airborne threats. Trishul: Type: Short-Range surface to air missile Range: 9 km Akash Missile: Type: Medium-range surface-to-air missile Range: 30-35 km Barak 8: Type: Long-Range surface to air Missile Range: 100 km |
| Air-to-Air Missiles (AAM) | Missiles launched from aircraft to engage aerial targets. MICA: Type: Air-to-Air Missiles Range: 500 m to 80 km Astra: Type: Air-to-Air Missiles Range: 80-110 km Novator K-100: Type: Medium Range air-to-air missile Range: 300–400 km |
| Surface-to-Surface Missiles | Missiles designed to strike targets on land or at sea. Agni Series: Agni-I: Medium-range ballistic missile – Range: 700-1250 km Agni-II: Intermediate-range ballistic missile – Range: 2,000–3,000 km Agni-III: Intermediate-range ballistic missile – Range: 3,500 km – 5,000 km Agni-IV: Intermediate-range ballistic missile – Range: 3,000 – 4,000 km Agni-V: Intercontinental ballistic missile – Range: 5000 – 8000 Km Prithvi Series: Prithvi I: Short-Range Ballistic Missile – Range: 150 km Prithvi II: Short-Range Ballistic Missile – Range: 350 km Dhanush: Short-Range Ballistic Missile – Range: 350 – 600 km Shaurya: Medium-Range Ballistic Missile – Range: 750 to 1,900 km Prahaar: Short-Range Ballistic Missile – Range: 150 km |
| Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) / Interceptor Missiles | Missiles designed to intercept and destroy incoming ballistic missiles. Prithvi Air Defence: Type: Exo-atmospheric Anti-ballistic missile Range: Altitude- 80 km Prithvi Defence Vehicle: Type: Exo-atmospheric Anti-ballistic missile Range: Altitude- 30 km Advanced Air Defence: Type: Endoatmospheric Anti-ballistic missile Range: Altitude- 120 km |
| Cruise Missiles | Missiles with long-range capabilities, flying at low altitudes, used for precision strikes on land or sea targets. BrahMos: Type: Supersonic cruise missile Range: 290 km BrahMos II: Type: Hypersonic cruise missile Range: 300 km Nirbhay: Type: Subsonic cruise missile Range: 1,000 – 1500 km |
| Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles | Missiles launched from submarines to strike targets on land. Ashwin: Type: Ballistic Missile Range: 150-200 km Sagarika: Type: Ballistic Missile Range: 700 – 1900 Km K-4: Type: Ballistic Missile Range: 3,500–5,000 km K-5: Type: Ballistic Missile Range: 6,000 km |
| Anti-Tank Missiles | Missiles specifically designed to target armored vehicles. Amogha: Type: Anti-Tank Guided Missile Range: 2.8 km Nag: Type: Anti-Tank Guided Missile Range: 4 km Helina: Type: Anti-Tank Guided Missile Range: 7-8 km |
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), popularly known as drones, are aircraft that navigate devoid of onboard human pilots. These innovative machines are either remotely controlled by human operators or operate autonomously through pre-set instructions or artificial intelligence. Here’s a breakdown of the various types of UAVs:
- Fixed-Wing UAVs: Resembling traditional airplanes, these UAVs boast extended flight times and are primarily utilized for surveillance and mapping missions.
- Multi-Rotor UAVs: Featuring multiple rotors, such as quadcopters, these UAVs excel in tasks like aerial photography and are ideal for short-range operations.
- Single-Rotor UAVs: Similar to helicopters, single-rotor UAVs can carry heavier payloads and are often employed for specialized tasks requiring precision and versatility.
- VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) UAVs: Combining features of both fixed-wing and rotorcraft, VTOL UAVs offer prolonged endurance and the convenience of vertical takeoffs and landings, making them suitable for various applications.
- Tethered UAVs: Tethered to a ground station, these UAVs provide continuous power, enabling them to undertake persistent tasks efficiently and reliably.
- Nano/Micro UAVs: Designed for indoor use or maneuvering within tight spaces, these small drones are nimble and versatile, catering to specialized needs.
- High Altitude UAVs: Operating at considerable heights, these UAVs are instrumental in weather monitoring, surveillance, and other high-altitude missions.
- Swarm UAVs: Comprising groups of drones working in tandem, swarm UAVs are utilized for coordinated displays and research, showcasing the potential of collaborative aerial systems.
UAVs in India:
In the 1990s, the Indian Army initiated the acquisition of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Israel, a move that subsequently led to similar adoption by the Indian Air Force and Navy. During the intense Kargil conflict of 1999 with Pakistan, India deployed military UAVs for visual reconnaissance activities along the Line of Control (LOC), marking a pivotal moment in their operational use. The oversight of all aerial vehicles, whether manned or unmanned, falls under the purview of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India, emphasizing the importance of regulatory frameworks. Originally developed for military and aerospace purposes, UAVs have witnessed extensive integration across various sectors in India, driven by their significant advancements in safety and efficiency, transforming the landscape of aerial operations.
Draft Drone Rules, 2021
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has introduced the Draft Drone Rules, 2021, centered on principles of “trust, self-certification, and non-intrusive monitoring,” aimed at modernizing regulations for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in India.
Key Highlights:
Objective: The primary goal is to establish a “digital sky platform” that offers a user-friendly, single-window online system for obtaining various approvals, minimizing bureaucratic hurdles. The digital sky platform will streamline processes with minimal human intervention, empowering operators to self-generate most permissions.
Provisions:
Elimination of multiple approvals, including certificate requirements, import clearance, and operator permits, streamlining procedures for operators. Fee structures have been simplified, unlinking charges from drone size, making it more accessible to a wider range of operators.
- Digital Sky Platform: The government plans to develop an interactive airspace map, categorized into green, yellow, and red zones, within the digital sky platform. This platform will support drone technology frameworks like NPNT (no permission, no take-off), enabling digital flight permissions and efficient management of unmanned aircraft operations and traffic.
- Reduced Airport Perimeter: Airport perimeter reduced from 45 km to 12 km, easing flight restrictions. No flight permissions required up to 400 feet in green zones and up to 200 feet within 8-12 km of the airport perimeter.
- Pilot License: Exemption from pilot licenses for micro drones used non-commercially, nano drones, and for research and development organizations. Foreign-owned companies registered in India face no restrictions on drone operations.
- Drone Corridors: The Ministry will facilitate the establishment of drone corridors for cargo deliveries, supported by the formation of a drone promotion council to foster a conducive regulatory environment. Safety Measures: Draft rules mandate safety features like real-time tracking beacons and geo-fencing, with a six-month lead time for compliance.
- Expanded Coverage: Coverage expanded from 300 kg to 500 kg, encompassing drone taxis. Issuance of Certificate of Airworthiness delegated to the Quality Council of India and authorized certification entities.
- Analysis: The government’s decision to liberalize drone policies, despite recent drone incidents in Jammu, underscores its commitment to fostering drone usage while simultaneously addressing security concerns through the development of counter-drone technology. The draft rules are seen as a positive step towards attracting investments in drone technology, bolstering India’s position in the global drone market.
Applications of Drone Technology:
- Defense: Drones serve as a potent tool for symmetric warfare against terrorist threats, bolstering national security efforts. Integration of drones into the national airspace system enhances surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. Combat deployment, communication facilitation in remote regions, and implementation of counter-drone solutions are feasible with drone technology.
- Healthcare Delivery: The Ministry of Civil Aviation’s approval of a collaboration with the Telangana government underscores the potential of drones in delivering vaccines to remote areas, augmenting healthcare accessibility.
- Agriculture: Drones play a pivotal role in spreading micronutrients and conducting surveys to identify agricultural challenges, aiding farmers in enhancing productivity and sustainability.
- Monitoring: In initiatives like the SVAMITVA scheme, drones expedite property mapping processes, benefiting rural communities. They also enable real-time surveillance of assets, prevention of theft, visual inspection, construction planning, and environmental monitoring.
- Conservation: Drones contribute to anti-poaching efforts, forest and wildlife monitoring, pollution assessment, and evidence collection, reinforcing conservation endeavors.
- Enforcement: Law enforcement agencies, fire and emergency services, and healthcare providers leverage drones in situations where human intervention poses risks, ensuring efficient and safe operations. In various domains, drone technology continues to revolutionize operations, offering innovative solutions to diverse challenges and advancing societal well-being.
Challenges in Drone Management
- Clarity in Operational Framework
Establishing clear responsibility and delineating tasks between armed forces and civilian agencies is crucial for addressing the sub-tactical threat posed by drones, necessitating a strategic response to ensure effective management.
- Financial Constraints
Securing adequate funding from the government poses a significant challenge, as large-scale manufacturing and deployment of counter-drone mechanisms require substantial financial resources and meticulous strategic planning.
- Identification and Discrimination
Developing robust counter strategies that can accurately distinguish between birds and actual drones is essential. Additionally, ensuring timely warnings and positive identification before taking action is critical to prevent erroneous responses.
- Accessibility and Anonymity
The affordability and accessibility of drones raise concerns about their widespread availability to individuals with malicious intent. Their anonymous nature further complicates efforts to trace their origin, potentially enabling clandestine drone attacks even from within.
- Threat of Swarm Drones
The emergence of swarm drones, characterized by multiple drones overwhelming detection systems, poses a formidable challenge. Their ability to confuse and evade detection increases the likelihood of some drones successfully bypassing defenses.
Stealth Technology
Stealth technology, also referred to simply as stealth, encompasses a collection of techniques and technologies employed to diminish the detectability of objects like aircraft or ships by radar and other electronic sensors. Its primary aim is to reduce the radar cross-section (RCS) of an object, quantifying the amount of radar energy reflected back to the radar antenna.
While stealth technology doesn’t render an object entirely invisible, it significantly mitigates its detectability by radar, thereby curtailing the range at which the object can be detected and tracked by radar operators.
Several methodologies contribute to achieving stealth capabilities, including the utilization of radar-absorbent materials, optimizing the shape of the object to minimize its RCS, and employing strategies like low observables (LOs) to diminish the object’s visibility to radar.
Stealth technology finds applications across various domains, spanning military and civilian sectors alike. Its deployment extends to aircraft, ships, missiles, and ground vehicles, enhancing their operational effectiveness and survivability in diverse operational environments.
Stealth Technology in Defence
Stealth technology is used by a number of countries around the world for military and defense purposes. Some of the ways in which stealth technology is used by countries in their defense sectors include:
- Stealth aircraft: Many countries have developed or are developing stealth aircraft, which are designed to be less detectable by radar and other sensors. Stealth aircraft can be used for a variety of missions, including surveillance, intelligence gathering, and attack.
- Stealth ships: Some countries have developed or are developing stealth ships, which are designed to be less detectable by radar and other sensors. Stealth ships can be used for a variety of missions, including surveillance, intelligence gathering, and naval warfare.
- Stealth missiles: Some countries have developed or are developing stealth missiles, which are designed to be less detectable by radar and other sensors. Stealth missiles can be used for a variety of missions, including precision strikes, intelligence gathering, and air defense.
- Stealth ground vehicles: Some countries have developed or are developing stealth ground vehicles, such as tanks and armored personnel carriers, which are designed to be less detectable by radar and other sensors. These vehicles can be used for a variety of missions, including reconnaissance, attack, and defense.
Chemical Weapons
The term “chemical weapon” refers to a substance intended to cause deliberate harm or fatality through its toxic properties. This includes not only the chemicals themselves but also any tools, apparatus, or systems devised specifically to deploy these toxic substances.
Traditionally, people envision chemical weapons as poisonous agents enclosed within delivery mechanisms like bombs or artillery shells. While this perception is accurate, it captures only a fraction of what the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) categorizes as ‘chemical weapons.’
According to the CWC, a chemical weapon encompasses a broader spectrum, encompassing all toxic chemicals and their precursors. Exceptions exist only when these substances are used in manners permitted by the Convention and within quantities aligned with such approved purposes.
Chemical Weapon Definition in Three Parts:
- Toxic chemicals and their precursors:
- Defined as ‘any chemical which through its chemical action on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation, or permanent harm to humans or animals’.
- Encompasses all such chemicals, regardless of their origin or method of production, and irrespective of whether they are manufactured in facilities, munitions, or elsewhere.
- Munitions or devices:
- Any munitions or devices explicitly designed to inflict harm or cause death through the release of toxic chemicals.
- Examples include mortars, artillery shells, missiles, bombs, mines, or spray tanks.
- Equipment ‘directly in connection’ with munitions and devices:
- Any equipment specifically crafted for use ‘directly in connection’ with the deployment of the munitions and devices classified as chemical weapons.
Chemical weapons are categorized as weapons of mass destruction (WMD), distinct from nuclear, biological, and radiological weapons. All these categories may be utilized in warfare and are collectively known by the military acronym NBC (for nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare). Weapons of mass destruction differ from conventional weapons, which primarily rely on their explosive, kinetic, or incendiary properties. Chemical weapons can disperse widely in gas, liquid, and solid forms, posing risks to individuals beyond their intended targets. Modern examples of chemical weapons include nerve gas, tear gas, and pepper spray.
The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC):
A multilateral treaty aimed at prohibiting chemical weapons and mandating their destruction within a specified timeframe. The treaty surpasses the 1925 Geneva Protocol by banning not only the use but also the possession of chemical weapons.
- Genesis and Commencement:
- CWC negotiations initiated in 1980 during the UN Conference on Disarmament.
- Opened for signature on January 13, 1993, and officially entered into force on April 29, 1997.
- Implementation:
- Implemented by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), headquartered in The Hague.
- Mechanism of Implementation:
- The OPCW receives declarations from states-parties regarding chemical weapons-related activities and materials, as well as relevant industrial activities.
- Subsequently, the OPCW conducts inspections and monitors facilities and activities of states-parties to ensure compliance with the convention.
- Members and Parties:
- The CWC is open to all nations and currently boasts 193 states-parties.
- Israel has signed the convention but has yet to ratify it.
- Three states, namely Egypt, North Korea, and South Sudan, have neither signed nor ratified the convention.
- Prohibitions:
- The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) prohibits:
- Developing, producing, acquiring, stockpiling, or retaining chemical weapons.
- The direct or indirect transfer of chemical weapons.
- Chemical weapons use or military preparations for their use.
- Assisting, encouraging, or inducing other states to engage in CWC-prohibited activities.
- The use of riot control agents “as a method of warfare.”
- Declaration Requirements:
- States-parties to the CWC must declare to the OPCW within 30 days of the convention’s entry into force for each member state:
- Chemical weapons stockpiles.
- Chemical weapons production facilities (CWPFs).
- Relevant chemical industry facilities.
- Other weapons-related information.
- Chemical Weapons Stockpiles:
- States-parties must declare all chemical weapons stockpiles, categorized as:
- Category 1: chemical weapons based on Schedule 1 chemicals like VX and sarin.
- Category 2: chemical weapons based on non-Schedule 1 chemicals such as phosgene.
- Category 3: chemical weapons including unfilled munitions, devices, and equipment designed for chemical weapons deployment.
- Other Weapons-related Declarations:
- States-parties must also declare:
- Chemical weapons production facilities since January 1, 1946.
- Facilities primarily used for chemical weapons development since January 1, 1946.
- “Old” chemical weapons manufactured before 1925 or those produced between 1925 and 1946 that are no longer usable.
- “Abandoned” chemical weapons left by another state without consent on or after January 1, 1925.
- Plans for destroying weapons and facilities.
- All transfers or receipts of chemical weapons or related equipment since January 1, 1946.
- All riot control agents in their possession.
FAQs
Q: What are missile systems?
Missile systems are advanced weapons designed to deliver destructive payloads to targets over long distances. They can be categorized based on their propulsion, guidance systems, and purpose.
Q: What are the main classifications of missile systems?
Missile systems can be classified into several categories:
- Ballistic Missiles: These follow a trajectory that is primarily influenced by gravity and are powered by rockets.
- Cruise Missiles: These fly at low altitudes and use aerodynamic lift to travel long distances, often with a guidance system for precision targeting.
- Anti-Ship Missiles: Specifically designed to target and destroy enemy naval vessels.
- Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs): Designed to intercept and destroy hostile aircraft, helicopters, or other missiles.
- Surface-to-Surface Missiles (SSMs): Intended for striking targets on land from a distance.
Q: What are UAVs?
UAVs, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, are aircraft operated without a human pilot aboard. They can be remotely controlled or fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans or dynamic inputs from onboard sensors.
Q: What is the significance of UAVs in India?
UAVs play a significant role in India’s defense strategy, providing intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and even combat capabilities. They are used for border surveillance, monitoring terrorist activities, disaster management, and other military and civilian applications.
Q: What types of UAVs does India employ?
India employs various types of UAVs, including reconnaissance UAVs, combat UAVs, target drones, and surveillance drones, developed indigenously or acquired from foreign manufacturers.
Q: What is stealth technology?
Stealth technology is a set of techniques designed to minimize the detectability of an aircraft, ship, or other military platforms by radar, infrared, sonar, and other detection methods. It involves reducing radar cross-section, thermal emissions, acoustic signature, and other characteristics that can be detected by sensors.
Q: How does stealth technology work?
Stealth technology works by shaping the structure of the aircraft to deflect radar signals away from the emitting radar source, using radar-absorbent materials to reduce reflection, and employing advanced coatings to minimize infrared signatures. Additionally, minimizing heat emissions and noise helps evade detection by infrared and acoustic sensors.
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