Defence Technology

Which one of the following statements about ‘INS Tarmugli’ is not correct ?

• (a) It is a fast attack craft commissioned by the Indian Navy.
• (b) It was commissioned at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.
• (c) It was given by the Government of India to Sri Lankan Naval Force in 2006 and returned to the Indian Navy in May 2023.
• (d) It is supposed to be used for coastal surveillance.

[amp_mcq option1=”It is a fast attack craft commissioned by the Indian Navy.” option2=”It was commissioned at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.” option3=”It was given by the Government of India to Sri Lankan Naval Force in 2006 and returned to the Indian Navy in May 2023.” option4=”It is supposed to be used for coastal surveillance.” correct=”option3″]

Statement (c) is not correct. While the vessel has a history of being transferred between India and Sri Lanka, the statement misrepresents the names and the sequence in relation to ‘INS Tarmugli’. The vessel was originally commissioned as INS Tillanchang by the Indian Navy. It was gifted to the Sri Lankan Navy in 2006 and named SLNS Ayesha. After being returned to India in May 2023, it was subsequently re-commissioned by the Indian Navy as INS Tarmugli in December 2023. Therefore, INS Tarmugli itself was not given and returned; it was a different vessel name during that period, and it was commissioned *after* being returned.

– INS Tarmugli is indeed a fast attack craft commissioned by the Indian Navy (a).
– It was commissioned at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam (b).
– Fast attack craft are used for coastal surveillance and patrolling (d).
– The historical transfer involved the vessel named INS Tillanchang (later SLNS Ayesha) which was later re-commissioned as INS Tarmugli.

INS Tarmugli belongs to the Fast Attack Craft (FAC) class. Its commissioning enhances the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet.

Mission Shakti (DRDO) of India is related to which one among the following ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Launch of multiple satellites using a single rocket” option2=”Launch of heavy satellites” option3=”Use of high power rockets in launching of satellites” option4=”Use of rocket to destroy an orbiting satellite” correct=”option4″]

Mission Shakti (DRDO) is related to the use of a rocket to destroy an orbiting satellite.

– Mission Shakti was the codename for India’s first anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test, conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on 27 March 2019.
– The test involved the successful destruction of an Indian satellite in low Earth orbit (LEO) using a ground-based missile.
– This test demonstrated India’s capability to intercept and destroy orbiting targets, establishing it as the fourth country (after the US, Russia, and China) with this capability.

The test aimed to demonstrate India’s technological capability in space defence and security. The target satellite was MicrosaT-R, an Indian satellite. The debris generated by the test was stated to be minimized by conducting the test at a relatively low altitude, intended to ensure that the debris would decay quickly.

From which one of the following countries has India procured the S-400 Triumf air defence missile system ?

[amp_mcq option1=”United Kingdom” option2=”U.S.A.” option3=”France” option4=”Russia” correct=”option4″]

The correct answer is D.

India has procured the S-400 Triumf advanced surface-to-air missile defence system from Russia. The deal for five S-400 regiments was signed in 2018.

The S-400 is a mobile, multi-layered air defence system capable of engaging various aerial targets including aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles at ranges up to 400 km. It is one of the most advanced air defence systems currently available.

The joint multinational maritime exercise IBSAMAR is conducted by the Navies of which of the following countries ?

[amp_mcq option1=”India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives” option2=”India, Bangladesh and South Africa” option3=”India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Mauritius” option4=”India, Brazil and South Africa” correct=”option4″]

The correct option is D. The joint multinational maritime exercise IBSAMAR is conducted by the Navies of India, Brazil, and South Africa.

– IBSAMAR is a tri-nation naval exercise.
– The name ‘IBSAMAR’ is an acronym derived from the participating countries: IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) + MAR (Maritime).
– The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and strengthen maritime security cooperation among the three navies.

IBSAMAR is one of the key defence cooperation initiatives among the IBSA Dialogue Forum countries. The exercise series began in 2008.

With reference to BrahMos missile, consider the following statements :

• 1. It has a flight range of up to 290 km.
• 2. It is capable of attaining a speed of 2.8 Mach.
• 3. Its cruising altitude could be up to 30 km.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2″ option2=”2 only” option3=”1 and 3″ option4=”3 only” correct=”option1″]

Statement 1: The original BrahMos missile’s range was capped at 290 km primarily due to Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) restrictions, which applied before India became a member. This was a widely known characteristic for a long time.
Statement 2: BrahMos is known for its supersonic speed of Mach 2.8, making it one of the fastest supersonic cruise missiles in the world.
Statement 3: Cruise missiles like BrahMos are designed to fly at low altitudes (often tens of meters above the surface) to evade radar detection. While they can reach higher altitudes during certain flight phases, a cruising altitude of up to 30 km is not typical for a cruise missile like BrahMos; this altitude range is more characteristic of high-flying aircraft or ballistic missile trajectories.
Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are correct, and statement 3 is incorrect.

– BrahMos is a joint venture between India (DRDO) and Russia (NPO Mashinostroyeniya).
– It is a multi-platform missile, capable of being launched from land, sea, and air.
– Since India’s entry into the MTCR in 2016, the range of BrahMos has been successfully extended beyond 290 km in newer versions. However, statement 1 reflects the missile’s initial and long-standing characteristic range.

The name BrahMos is a portmanteau formed from the names of two rivers: the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia.

The term ‘Thermal High Altitude Area Defense’, sometimes mentioned in news, refers to

[amp_mcq option1=”Anti-Missile system.” option2=”Air-launched cruise missile.” option3=”Aircraft navigation system.” option4=”Surface-to-air guided weapon.” correct=”option1″]

Thermal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is an anti-ballistic missile system developed by the United States. It is designed to intercept and destroy short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase (when they are descending towards their target) within or outside the atmosphere.

– THAAD uses a “hit-to-kill” technology, meaning the interceptor missile destroys the incoming threat through kinetic energy upon direct impact.
– It is designed to defend against threats over a large area.

THAAD is part of the United States’ broader ballistic missile defense system. It is typically deployed to protect critical military and civilian sites.

P-75 I (or P-75 India) project refers to manufacture of

[amp_mcq option1=”Diesel-electric submarines.” option2=”Nuclear-powered submarines.” option3=”Aircraft carrier warships.” option4=”Field guns.” correct=”option1″]

The P-75 I project (Project 75 India) is a follow-on project to Project 75 of the Indian Navy, which involved the construction of six Scorpene-class submarines. P-75 I aims to acquire a new class of diesel-electric submarines equipped with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology to increase their underwater endurance.

– P-75 I is part of India’s plan to modernize its submarine fleet.
– The project emphasizes indigenous construction under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, often involving collaboration with foreign partners providing technology.

Diesel-electric submarines are also known as conventional submarines. AIP technology allows these submarines to operate submerged for longer periods than traditional diesel-electric submarines, reducing the need to surface or snorkel for air to recharge batteries.