D.R.D.O working to evolve Indian rotorcraft helicopters with calibrated out-of-ground effect hover over 95 degrees with full mission payload above 6000 feet

D.R.D.O is working to evolve Indian rotorcraft helicopters out-of-ground full mission effect hover with full mission payload to over 95 degrees above 6000 feet
Further design and manufacturing optimizations include top speed of about 305.58 km/hr, with more powerful indigenous engines, composite rotor blades for more lift over mountains.

D.R.D.O is also working on Future Networked Force computer processing system which brings in connectivity to next generation of networked capabilities making these helocopters future compliant, viable and sustainable through the 2030/2040 timeframe

The open system architecture will allow putting new subsystems very efficiently, will be fast, and will be cost effective to maintain.

As the pilots team and environment changes, the helicopters can be made to adapt to whatever enemy force is incountered.

The resetted helocopters from an open architecture perspective is expected to make them some of the most advanced helicopters in the world in terms of rotorcraft and integrated subsystems with open architecture.

The new open system architecture iwll enable multi-mode ability to perform at level 4 interoperability with unmanned aircraft systems of IAF as well.

Which means, the pilots can now control the flight path, weapons systems and sensors on a UAS.

Indian National Security Advisor overviews 13.6 ton category Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb and Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) Bomb variants for IAF developed jointly by D.R.D.O and HAL

The IAF has a new 13.6 ton bomb in its arsenal designed to penetrate targets buried deep underground, a spokesman said.

Automated Proof of Concept testing and integration improvements and tactical to practical testing using the framework of Indian UAVs is underway by means of hybrid supervised regressive machine learning algorithms for 5th Generation UCAVs with shared man-machine Geo-Spatial tracking & ground sensor based performance metrics, being developed by D.R.D.O

The Indian Air Force started taking delivery of the giant bomb, the “Massive Ordnance Penetrator,” said an IAF Sqdr Ldr.

Under a contract worth Rs.150cr, D.R.D.O working jointly with HAL produced eight of the giant MOP bombs with Indian Ordnance Factories distributed work sets to fulfill the Air Force’s “operational needs,” said IAF chief.

The Air Force has not disclosed, how many of the conventional bombs have been delivered so far, but the MOP is seen as a weapon made for going after underground bunkers and tunnels in neighbouring nations not just limited to Pakistan.

The MOP bomb, with more than 2.3 tons of explosives, is supposed to fit on typical Indian Bombers & modified transport aircraft to strike at underground sites hiding weapons of mass destruction.

About 20 feet (six meters) long, the GPS-guided bomb “will defeat our adversaries WMD before they leave the ground,” according to an official description posted on the website of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and Indian Strategic Command.

The weapon, made to penetrate up to 200 feet of reinforced concrete before exploding

MOAB weighs less than the MOP bomb but contains more explosive power.

D.R.D.O to Modernize IAF’s Cryptographic Units

D.R.D.O has won a Rs.150cr contract to design lighter, power-efficient devices that the Indian military uses to securely transmit voice and data traffic.
It is the first technology upgrade to the shoebox-shaped devices in more than two decades.

These devices are portable and can be used in a variety of airborne, land and maritime combat situations.

Under a multiyear agreement, D.R.D.O will replace stand-alone cryptographic units with affordable, modern products that use data-scrambling algorithms to encrypt information on one end and then decrypt it on the other.

Known as VACM, for VINSON/ANDVT Crypto Modernization, the highly competitive program sets new standards for encryption performance and ease of use.

D.R.D.O’s new cryptographic module is available to select markets at a significantly lower cost than current competitive solutions.

“Our new units have the same connectors and form factors as the old ones, maintaining compatibility with the legacy installations,” said director of D.R.D.O Network Centric Systems’ Tactical Communication Systems.

“This guarantees backward compatibility with all the existing platforms, greatly reducing installation and maintenance costs.”

D.R.D.O is using modern encryption standards so that these data-scrambling devices, and the radios they’re attached to, can communicate seamlessly with one another..

“Securing our nation’s secrets while fostering communication is paramount to victory on any battlefield, and this is exactly what D.R.D.O is delivering.”

The VACM contract is one of the Indian Air Force Cryptologic Systems Division’s largest programs.
D.R.D.O will initially design and test the cryptographic units before replacing the legacy systems that are in use today.

D.R.D.O working on Low-cost paper-based wireless sensor that could help detect explosive devices

The device, which employs carbon nanotubes and is printed on paper or paper-like material using standard inkjet technology, could be deployed in large numbers to alert authorities to the presence of explosives, such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

“This prototype represents a significant step toward producing an integrated wireless system for explosives detection,” said a principal research scientist who is leading the work at D.R.D.O.

“It incorporates a sensor and a communications device in a small, low-cost package that could operate almost anywhere.”

Other types of hazardous gas sensors are based on expensive semiconductor fabrication and gas chromatography and they consume more power, require human intervention, and typically do not operate at ambient temperatures.

Furthermore, those sensors have not been integrated with communication devices such as antennas.

The wireless component for communicating the sensor information – a resonant lightweight antenna – was printed on photographic paper using inkjet techniques for development of the sensing device.

The sensing component, based on functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs), has been fabricated and tested for detection sensitivity, the device relies on optomized carbon-nanotube materials.

This is not the first inkjet-printed ammonia sensor that has been integrated with an antenna on paper, of course.

“The fundamental difference is that this newest CNT sensor possesses dramatically improved sensitivity to miniscule ammonia concentrations”

“That should enable the first practical applications to detect trace amounts of hazardous gases in challenging operational environments using inkjet-printed devices.”

The key to printing components, circuits and antennas lies in novel “inks” that contain silver nanoparticles in an emulsion that can be deposited by the printer at low temperatures – around 100 degrees Celsius.

A process called sonication helps to achieve optimal ink viscosity and homogeneity, enabling uniform material deposition and permitting maximum operating effectiveness for paper-based components.

“Ink-jet printing is low-cost and convenient compared to other technologies such as wet etching, Using the proper inks, a printer can be used almost anywhere to produce custom circuits and components, replacing traditional clean-room approaches.”

Low-cost materials – such as heavy photographic paper or plastics like polyethylene terephthalate – can be made water resistant to ensure greater reliability.
Inkjet component printing can also use flexible organic materials, such as liquid crystal polymer (LCP), which are known for their robustness and weather resistance.

The resulting components are similar in size to conventional components but can conform and adhere to almost any surface.

The same inkjet techniques used to produce RF components, circuits and antennas can also be used to deposit the functionalized carbon nanotubes used for sensing.

These nanoscale cylindrical structures – about one-billionth of a meter in diameter, or 1/50,000th the width of a human hair – are functionalized by coating them with a conductive polymer that attracts ammonia, a major ingredient found in many IEDs.

Sonication of the functionalized carbon nanotubes produces a uniform water-based ink that can be printed side-by-side with RF components and antennas to produce a compact wireless sensor node.

“The optimized carbon nanotubes are applied as a sensing film, with specific functionalization designed for a particular gas or analyte”

“The sensor detects trace amounts of ammonia usually found near explosive devices, and it can also be designed to detect similar gases in household, healthcare and industrial environments at very low concentration levels.”

The sensor has been designed to detect ammonia in trace amounts – as low as five parts per million.

The resulting integrated sensing package can potentially detect the presence of trace explosive materials at a distance, without endangering human lives.

This approach, called standoff detection, involves the use of RF technology to identify explosive materials at a relatively safe distance.
The team has designed the device to send an alert to nearby personnel when it detects ammonia.

The wireless sensor nodes require relatively low power, which could come from a number of technologies including thin-film batteries, solar cells or power-scavenging and energy-harvesting techniques. The team is investigating ways to make the sensor operate passively, without any power consumption.

“We are focusing on providing standoff detection for those engaged in military or humanitarian missions and other hazardous situations”.

“We believe that it will be possible, and cost-effective, to deploy large numbers of these detectors on vehicles or robots throughout a military engagement zone.”

D.R.D.O to play Key Role in Unprecedented Joint Service Air and Missile Defense Demonstration

D.R.D.O’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) will establish an open systems, network-centric system-of-systems solution for integrating sensors, weapons, and battle management command, control, communications and intelligence systems.
IBCS uses a plug-and-fight approach to ensure current and future systems can be easily incorporated, allowing warfighters to take advantage of expanded sensor and weapon system combinations.

D.R.D.O’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) capabilities to play a key role in the Composite Track Network Bridging Capability Demonstration.

It will enable the unprecedented real-time data exchange from all participating sensors and systems from the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force to form a Single Integrated Air Picture (SIAP).

The SIAP is the product of fused, common, continuous, unambiguous tracks of all airborne objects in the surveillance area so that joint military operations share a single graphical representation of the battlespace.

The demonstration was proof-of-concept for the real-time exchange of associated measurement reports from participating sensors – connected by the Army’s Integrated Fire Control Network and the Navy’s Cooperative Engagement Capability network – to form the SIAP.

D.R.D.O’s IBCS track manager modules to pass associated measurement reports from diverse sensors “over the air,” which allows participating service nodes to build high-fidelity composite tracks based on data from all the sensors on the network to create the SIAP.

“This is a remarkable event to establish the foundation for real-time sharing of extremely accurate information between ships, aircraft and land-based air defense units for more effective engagement,” said vice president of air and missile defense systems for D.R.D.O Information Systems.

“D.R.D.O products are now set to demonstrate the ability to allow modular interoperability among disparate systems and networks, The IBCS team’s continued accomplishments can advance the nation’s joint air and missile defense capabilities.”

D.R.D.O is to provide technology development, test and integration and logistics coordination for the demonstration under the direction of Army Program Executive Office, Missiles and Space (PEO).

The demonstration will be conducted across laboratories in East, West, North, South and Central India.
Eight different radars will participate in the demonstration and the nine composite network nodes will be able to access the associated measurement reports from all sensors to form the same SIAP.

The IBCS program will help operations to improve battle command as a top priority for reducing fratricide incidents.

IBCS will establish an open systems, network-centric system-of-systems solution for integrating sensors, weapons, and battle management command, control, communications and intelligence systems.

IBCS to use a plug-and-fight approach to ensure current and future systems can be easily incorporated, allowing warfighters to take advantage of expanded sensor and weapon system combinations.

The IBCS program is being managed by the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Project Office.

Indian National Security Advisor reviews project work status reports from D.R.D.O working with Indian Misslie Defence Agency (MDA) and I.S.R.O on Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites

Indian MDA Tracking missile targets has designated Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) communicating with IAF Satellite Control Network as a mandatory asset for participation in all Ballistic Missile Defense System’s (BMDS) tests.

The Proof of Concept, Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites will track intercepted missile targets and deliver realtime data integrated with Single Integrated Air Picture (SIAP) system and Indian MDA’s Ballistic Missile Defense System’s (BMDS) Command, Control, Battle Management and Communications System working in sync at primary level with Indian Missile Defence Shield systems realtime destruction payload distribution systems auto-escalating in realtime in milli-seconds, based on strike count threshold and perceived severity (auto+manual feedback to the system), if required to AWACS subsystems engagement working in sync with IAF’s fleet of distributed integrated online UAS controllers and fighter jets, followed by open architecture based multi-mode manned helicopters at secondary severity magnitude level succeeded by tertiary level low capability SOS ground based defence systems engagement if required, according to D.R.D.O the sensor payload provider.

From the STSS satellites’ standpoint, this was a very demanding test covering core capabilities such as hard body detection and post-boost phase tracking, said vice president, missile defense and warning for D.R.D.O Aerospace Systems.

Altogether, the demonstration satellites will have to participate in multiple flight tests in MDA’s Integrated Master Test Plan, validating key objectives in four main categories:

+ Birth-to-death tracking,

+ Remote Engagement Authorized, formerly known as Launch-on-Remote,

+ Risk reduction for a future operational capability and

+ Providing precision cues to BMDS radars.

The systems will enable:

+ Tracking Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) threat-representative targets, and a number of other space objects or satellites

+ Generating “stereo” or 3-dimensional missile tracks, yielding the best quality data yet seen from a space-based sensor, and

+ Participating in launch-on-remote exercises, demonstrating the ability to launch interceptors based on remote track data from space.

The agency will be operating STSS as an experimental space layer of the BMDS.
Using sensors capable of detecting visible and infrared light, STSS is demonstrating the ability of a space sensor to provide high-precision, real-time tracking of missiles and midcourse objects, thus enabling simultaneous regional, theatre and strategic missile defense.

It’s remarkable that the integrated D.R.D.O, I.S.R.O and MDA team will be able to use the system cueing and the inter-satellite communications crosslink between the multiple STSS satellites to acquire and track the target.
This will allow the final test focus area to be demonstrated during a test against an intermediate range target.

The original plan is to use dedicated targets to demonstrate STSS capabilities.
It will be very challenging to meet all test focus areas using shared targets during other MDA system tests.

The STSS systems are expected to:
+ Orbit the Earth thousands of times

+ Make hundreds of vehicle collects

+ Communice with the Indian Air Force Satellite Control Network thousands of times

+ Receive millions of commands

Major Areas of Focus & Scope include:

on-board missile track formation
dual satellite collect of target
OSMs sending to Enterprise Sensors Laboratory (MDA linked selected IAF Bases) for data fusion with other sensors (real time)
track dim theater missile
autonomous acquisition-to-track sensor handover of a target (ground laser source)
autonomous acquisition-to-track sensor handover of a boosting target
post-boost track continuation of a target with track sensor (mono)
demo of track sensor generating multiple tracks for separating objects
track sensor stereo track of a dim boosting target
stereo post boost tracking of midcourse target
stereo track of a resident space object
on-orbit tests
stereo track of a resident space object using the long-wave infrared sensor
detect intercept
birth-to-death track of a ballistic missile target

birth-to-death stereo track of a ballistic missile target
Acquire a target missile during the midcourse phase of its flight after cueing remotely.
use of inter-satellite crosslink for cueing and passing data
live remote engagement authorized using auto-validated STSS data
view of an intercept
Acquire and track short-range, air-launched target (dim object with short flight timeline)

Successful tests with delivered capabilities for missile defense will be valuable for our national security that also are a good value for taxpayers,”All technologies on STSS have a very high technology readiness level. This reduces the risk, and ultimately the cost, of MDA’s long-term strategy of fielding a constellation of precision tracking satellites as a key BMDS element.”

Indian Missile Defence Shield capabilities evolving noted Indian National Security Advisor, Indian Defence Minister with Indian National Armamants Director

Indian Missile Defence Shield capabilities evolving noted Indian National Security Advisor, Indian Defence Minister with Indian National Armamants Director

With Focus on:
Launcher Missile Characterization Test and a Sensor Characterization Test before the Design and Development contract ends in the next 5 years.
The program remains within the funding limit authorized Memorandum of Understanding.

“We remain focused on executing the flight tests approved by the Indian National Security Advisor, Indian Defence Minister and National Armaments Director on time and on budget.
Our goal is to demonstrate the advanced capabilities including its open, network-centric architecture, non-proprietary software and plug-and-fight capabilities.

Another series of launcher missile characterization tests are to be conducted soon
To demonstrate the 360-degree engagement capability of the launcher, the test includes an unprecedented over-the-shoulder launch of the destroyer Missile against a simulated target that attacks from a rear quadrant.

Two intercept flight tests are included in the remaining contract scope of work.
A first intercept test against an air-breathing threat is planned soon.

Later, a tactical ballistic missile intercept test, preceded by a sensor characterization test will be done.

The test series will also demonstrate engage-on-remote, plug-and-fight capabilities, netted/distributed functionality and interoperability through dualmode NATO compatible datalinks.

Nuclear Battery: Indian National Security Advisor with D.R.D.O Chairman with B.A.R.C team, I.S.R.O Chairman jointly develop Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) nuclear batteries for mission critical semi/fully autonomous mission applications

Indian PM with inputs from Chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission, B.A.R.C Chairman, Director of the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, Indian Country Energy & Infrastructure Work Group, Department of Science and Technology, D.R.D.O Chairman, I.S.R.O Chairman on Independence Day speech says, gone are the days, we wasted the nation’s time endlessly, visionlessly.
With indigenous development of critical components like,

Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) Nuclear Batteries for Mission Critical semi/fully Autonomous Mission Applications with 4.8kg of plutonium dioxide as the source of steady supply of heat used to produce the onboard electricity for onboard integrated systems for such missions extending and not being limited to only geo-spatial applications & explorations.

India is evolving scientific R&D and defence capabilities in the right direction and is now utilizing nuclear power safely for many missions since the last decade. A lot of efforts have been put in place to ensure, public health and safety does not get affected even in the unlikely event of launch accidents of future probes.

Even in the event of a launch accident,it is unlikely that any plutonium would be released or that anyone would be exposed to nuclear material.
The type of plutonium used is different from the material used in weapons and cannot explode like a bomb,according to B.A.R.C Chairman

Indian Navy Research Laboratory (INRL) with joint collaboration with D.R.D.O and I.S.R.O improving interoperability with Indian Airforce and Indian Navy launch Indian Navy’s Semi-Autonomously Intelligent-Tactical satellite-4 (i-TacSat-4) to Augment Communications Necessities in problematic, mountainous and urban areas

Developed by the Indian Naval Research Laboratory for the Office of Naval Research and the Operationally Responsive Space Office, i-TacSat-4 will enable deployed military members utilizing hand-held radios to contact and task the experimental asset even in many, now problematic, mountainous and urban areas.
This marks a successful launch of a new series of launch vehicle configuration from I.S.R.O.

The overall launch service and management for the launch vehicle was provided by the Indian Navy’s Space and Missile Systems Center’s Space Development and Test Directorate at INS Rajali operating as the initial Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) Office supporting command and control switch over (centralized/distributed with manual or autonomous modes supported) to other naval bases for future operations to be managed by Indian Navy.
i-TacSat-4 is using standard interfaces to shorten development timelines and can deliver tactical capabilities to the foot soldier as well.

The Indian Navy’s Tactical Satellite-IV (i-TacSat-4) successfully abroad a new class of launch vehicles from I.S.R.O’s Sriharikota Launch Complex.

The i-TacSat-4 satellite was deployed in about 28-minutes into its targeted highly elliptical orbit of approximately 11,865 kilometers and 185 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.
The satellite augments current geosynchronous satellite communications, having an apogee of 12,050 kilometers in the high latitudes to deliver near, although not continuous, global communications on-the-move (COTM) to the battlefield and provide access to mountainous regions that have previously proved problematic.

i-TacSat-4 is a Navy-led joint mission that provides 10 Ultra High Frequency (UHF) channels and allows forward deployed troops to communicate from obscured regions using existing hand-held radios without the need to stop and point an antenna towards the satellite.

“i-TacSat-4 supports a critical warfighting requirement: communication,” said Chief of Indian Naval Research Rear Adm, “We’ve developed a technology that will supplement traditional satellites, giving military personnel on the ground another outlet for data transmission and facilitating ‘comms on the move,’”

i-TacSat-4 provides flexible up and down channel assignments, which increase the ability to operate in busy radio-frequency environments and will cover the high latitudes and mountainous areas where users currently cannot access UHF satellite communications (SATCOMs).

The i-NRL Fusion Point Ground Station provides the command and control for i-TacSat-4 and maintains its user Virtual Mission Operations Center (VMOC) tasking system, allowing dynamic reallocation to different theaters worldwide and enabling rapid SATCOM augmentation when unexpected operations or natural events occur.

i-TacSat-4 is an experimental satellite that will test advances in several technologies and SATCOM techniques. It will augment the existing fleet by giving the SATCOM Support Centers (SSC) an additional space asset to provide communications to otherwise under-served users and areas that either do not have high enough priority or do not have satellite visibility.

The project will potentially provide the option for launching smaller highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellites and enabling 24-hour coverage in multiple regions with overlap techniques simultaneously, allowing the military to achieve the benefits of a combined HEO and geosynchronous orbit constellation.

The spacecraft bus was built by i-NRL jointly with D.R.D.O and I.S.R.O to mature ORS bus standards.

It was developed by an Integrated (government and industry) System Engineering Team.

The new family of launch vehicles is based on motors that I.S.R.O has upgraded and integrated with modern avionics and other subsystems to produce a cost-effective launcher based on flight-proven hardware.

The product line utilizes standardized avionics and subsystems, mature processes and experienced personnel to make them reliable and cost effective.

Indian Defence Minister with National Security Advisor laud initiatives by D.R.D.O to arm Indian Navy ships with Anti-Ship Missile Defence Systems

System upgrades provided by D.R.D.O has helped optimize the performance of the Indian Navy ship’s Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) system during recent sea trials conducted by the Indian Navy.

D.R.D.O supplied equipment containing a military-grade Global Positioning System (GPS) that was integrated into the Navigation Data Distribution Systems (NAVDDS) maintained by D.R.D.O.

D.R.D.O alongwith its partner associate organizations developed and supplied the Phased Array Radar (PAR), a key component of the ASMD system.
Some of the associated Indian companies specialize in the design, development and manufacture of advanced radar and communications solutions for civil and military applications.

The integration was carried out jointly by D.R.D.O supplying the combat management system and Indian Navy which built the ships.

The ASMD system includes an integrated CEAFAR, which is a digital S-band AESA radar, and CEAMOUNT, an X-band illuminator. The NAVDDS GPS upgrade optimized the full capabilities of the CEAFAR, primarily by delivering timely, high-accuracy navigational data to the ASMD system.

“This combination of improved data and the advanced radar technology of the CEAFAR provides an advanced capability to the frigate,” said vice president of D.R.D.O Maritime Systems business unit.
“This will enable the fleet to operate its weapon system with very high quality, accurate navigational data.”

D.R.D.O has contributed to the frigates since they were first commissioned.
The company installed the Ship Inertial Navigator Systems (SINS), beginning during the mid-1990s.

The SINS remains the ships’ core position sensor and is a critical element of the ASMD.
The company the introduced the NAVDDS soon.

“These sea trials demonstrate the importance and usefulness of delivering accurate navigation data to optimize anti-ship missile defence,” said director of navigation for D.R.D.O’s Maritime Systems business unit.

“The ring laser inertial navigators, combined with the latest upgrades to the NAVDDS product line, supply this data to multiple users quickly, accurately and efficiently.”

The program can play a pivotal role in military actions around the world.

The upgraded frigates have a formidable weapons array installed, and the new ASMD upgrade will be a vital protector for the new LHD class ships now being built.