Mirage 2000s from No 7 Squadron “Battleaxes” lead the strike.
Notwithstanding the fact that HAL never manufactured Mirage. According to reports, IAF used old Mirages for this strike. So, HAL should be blamed for not delivering upgraded versions as schedule which most definitely would have been used for this strike.
The ASAT being assembled on a rig, electronics of the missile are getting integrated. There is a cannister behind the missile. The front end of the missile shows a window for the IIR seeker to see through. The DACS nozzles are also visible.
DACS stands for Divert Attitude Control System which is a quick reaction propulsion system providing very fast & accurate course correction ability. DACS is absolutely vital for any hit-to-kill AD system. The DACS on PDV/ASAT probably uses UDMH as fuel.
IIR seeker of the ASAT was made by RCI. It was labelled PDV. The IIR seeker has a range of ~200 km. That's an incredible range for an imaging seeker. The cold background of space provides a very contrasting infrared picture of the sun soaked Microsat-R that was hit in that test.
DRDO-LASTEC developed Laser Ordnance Disposal System(LORDS) is the first laser based Directed Energy Weapon(DEW) in operational service of the Indian Armed Forces. Though it is not an offensive system, its deployment brought valuable lessons for future DEW R&D and deployments.
Borrowing from the LORDS laser, dazzlers were developed. Initially as crowd control devices (Pic 1). More powerful variants came up that could overwhelm IIR seekers from >10 km away. Named the Helios-AD system, it had 2 variants(Pic2-3). It is not known if it entered service.
We've already seen 2 anti-drone DEW systems deployed: 1st was during US President's India visit. The system may be a modified version of an old DRDO DEW project. In 2017, DRDO had developed 10kW & 2kW lasers. The system deployed here is probably using the 10 kW DRDO laser.
QNu Labs is an Indian start-up working on next gen encryption technology called Quantum Key Distribution(QKD). Traditional cryptography relies on complex mathematics to keep data secure which wont be enough as with the advent of quantum computers the maths can be solved easily.
The solution uses two channels :
1. To transmit encrypted data 2. To transmit the secure private key that’s used to decrypt the data
The data is shared over a traditional network while the secure keys are shared through a quantum channel using photons.
Pic : QNu Labs Armos
This way, even if the data line is tapped, the attacker won’t be able to decrypt the data without the encryption key. The key is nearly impossible to tap because intercepting light particles on the quantum channel will change its properties and make it useless for the attacker.
THREAD : A look at India's micro-processor & micro-controller R&D work in Defence, Space, Telecom etc. sectors. Funded by MeITY, ISRO etc(under direct/indirect control of the GoI) with participation from academia & the private sector.
DEFENCE :
Let's take a look at what DRDO is doing in this field. DRDO has set up the Society for Integrated Circuit Technology & Applied Research(SITAR) & Advanced Numerical Research & Analysis Group(ANURAG) to design systems required for many DRDO projects.
They have 2 production units : 1. Semiconductor Technology & Applied Research Centre (STARC) at Bangalore 2. Gallium Arsenide Enabling Technology Centre (GAETEC) at Hyderabad.
Most of the processors used in the guidance systems of Indian missiles & munitions are made by them.
THREAD : ISRO publication showing the Second Vehicle Assembly Building (SVAB). The render shows an unknown rocket inside the building. The rocket in SVAB isn't GSLV Mk3, but something bigger. Pic2 shows a VSSC render of HLV, there has been some talk about it in the media.
“One of the launch vehicles will look like the GSLV MK-3, but it will be much taller, almost 65 m, weighing 732.6 ton at lift-off and it is capable of putting a 10-tonne space plant in the communication orbit,” said Dr. S. Somanath, director of VSSC.
ISRO has a tender out for a transportation trailer for the SC120 semi-cryo stage. The SC120 stage comprises of SCE-200 engine & carries 120 tons of RP-1/LOX. It will replace the L110 stage of the GSLV Mk-3, which comprises of 2 Vikas engines & carries 110 tons of UDHM/N2O4.
First, A monopoly is defined by the market it serves. Airbus Helicopter's main market is outside of France. Where its competing with all of the western companies, From AgustaWestland to US giants.
French market has shrunk has so much so that the future H160M's total projected requirement to replace all the light to medium helicopters (from 420+) is less than 200.
For comparison, Our LUH requirement alone is 400+ !
They simply do not have the market size, thus depended on global completion.
HAL is "Frog in the well", It does not have the appetite or efficiently to compete outside of indian market.