- [Block-1] Airforce
- [Block-2] Indian Army and Missiles
- [Block-3] Indian Navy
- [Block-4] Defense exercises and Misc. developments
- Mock Questions
- Selected defense topics from last three months- October to December 2014.
- Utility: At MCQ and interview level of three UPSC exams: CSE, CDS and CAPF.
[Block-1] Airforce
Jet: Rafael MMRCA
- In future wars, we need fighter jets to cripple the advancing Chinese or Pakistani columns first, before our (large but slow moving) Army and naval formation can attack them.
- At present, Indian Airforce (IAF) has 34 fighter squadron, we need atleast 44 squadrons to be combat effective against China and Pakistan.
Role | Aircraft | No. | Squadrons |
---|---|---|---|
Air superiority |
Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 | 280 | 15 |
MiG-29 | 50 | 3 | |
Air Combat (MMRCA) |
Mirage 2000 | 50 | 3 |
MMRCA (Rafael) | 126 | ~7-11 | |
Air combat (Light) |
Tejas | 125 | 7 |
Strike | Jaguar | 119 | 6 |
Total | ~740 | ~45 |
- We are working on fifth Generation fighter aircraft (FGCA) project with Russia, but that is unlikely to finish before 2020.
- So in the meantime, we need a fourth generation Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) aircraft such as Rafael.
2007-21 | “Tender” invited for purchase of MMRCA.
|
---|---|
2012 | |
2014Feb. |
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2014Dec. |
|
2015 | Rafael deal likely to be completed in 2015. Salient features are likely to be:
|
2016 | First 18 Rafaels will be delivered. |
Rafael: the salient features
good | bad |
---|---|
|
|
UAV: Panchi with Wheels (DRDO)
Nishant | Panchi |
---|---|
|
|
Nishant can be used for surveillance and correcting artillery fire. | Can do all functions of Nishant, while staying in air for a longer period, because Panchi’s weight is lighter than Nishant. |
More chances of radar detection | Panchi has smaller cross-section, low chances of radar-detection, compared to Nishant |
UAV: Global Hawk Drone (USA)
Technical name | high altitude, long endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) |
---|---|
Mfg. |
|
Type |
|
[columnize]
Jet: Naval LCA (NP1)
- Naval version Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). 4th plus(+) generation aircraft.
- It needs hardly 200m airstrip. Can be used from air-craft carriers such as INS Vikramaditya (Admiral Gorchakov)
- Has facility of “Hands-free” Takeoff using Ski-jump platform.
- Test flight done in 2014, December.
Helicopter: Dhruv
Why in News? During SAARC-Kathmandu visit, Modi gifted a Dhruv Mark-III Advanced Light Helicopter to the Nepal Army.
Features of this helicopter
- Can work in all weathers
- Hindustan Aeronautics has built it, using “Shakti” Engines.
- Can play multiple roles: logistics, rescue and attack for Army, navy, Airforce and coast guards.
- Dhruv has infrared jammers, radar and missile detectors. It can fire anti-tank “NAG” missiles.
- Dhruv was used Operation Rahat and Surya Hope for Uttarakhand floods in 2013.
Helicopter: S-70B
- It is the naval version of the US Army’s Black Hawk helicopter.
- S-70B is an attack-helicopter for both anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare.
- Manufactured by USA’s Sikorsky company.
- Why in News? Indian navy aims to buy 16 such multi-role helicopters for Rs.6,000 crores.
Airdefense: Schilka system
- Who? Russians designed this system in 1970s, with four 23mm guns
- Purpose: low-level air-defense for Indian Army.
- Recently, BEL made following upgrades to Sachilka system
- 24/7 all weather tracking system
- AC cabin for crew
- Fire detection and modern communication faciltiies.
- Filter for NBC attacks (Nuke, biological and chemical)
Airdefense: Akash Missile
- Designed by DRDO and testing by Indian Air Force (IAF) at Chandipur near Balasore in Odisha.
- Medium range (25 kms), surface to air missile (SAM). Can destroy cruise missiles and fighter jets.
- Can carry payload upto 60kg.
- Akash can simultaneously track and attack several targets simultaneously, with help of a ground radar “Rajendra”.
- Both Indian army and Airforce use Akash missile system.
- Other surface to air missiles are: Astra, Trishul.
Computerized Pilot Selection System
- Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s brainchild, jointly developed by DRDO and allied research agencies.
- To conduct pilot aptitude tests for Indian Airforce, in a more scientific manner using computer system.
- Will help reducing flying accidents by pilot error.
[/columnize]
[Block-2] Indian Army and Missiles
Indian Missiles in News
Missile | range and features |
---|---|
Prithvi 1 | 150 km, surface to surface |
Prithvi 2 | 250 km, surface to surface |
Brahos |
|
Brahmos Mini |
|
Prithvi 3 | 350 kms. Its naval version called “Dhanush” |
Agni-1 | 700 kms. All Agni series missiles are surface to surface. |
Nirbhay |
|
Agni-2 | 2000 kms. Test fired in 2014, November. |
Agni-3 | 3000 kms |
Agni-4 | 4000 kms. Test fired in 2014, December. Although Hindu is gone crazier than usual in covering this topic during December 2014 so it ought to be the most important topic for next prelims. But since UPSC already asked Agni-4 in in CSAT-2014, so less likely to re-appear again in CSAT-2015. |
Agni-5 |
|
Agni-4
- Both Prithvi and Agni are Surface to surface missiles.
- 20 meters tall. Two stage solid fuel engine.
- Can carry nuclear weapons upto 1 tonne. Range 4000 kms
- Has heat shields so missile can even withstand above 4000C temperature, When it re-enters earth’s atmosphere
- RINS: Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS), to correct inflight disturbances.
- Agni missiles are designed by DRDO and tested by Army’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC), At Odisha’s Wheeler Island.
Chinese JL-2 missiles
Chinese missiles | USA’s strategic concerns |
---|---|
Dongfeng-5A |
|
Dongfeng-31A |
|
Dongfeng-31B | Upgraded version of Dongfeng 31A, to reach most American and European cities. Later DF-41 missiles with 12,000 kms range to reach every American city. |
USA’s Asian pivot policy to increase military presence in the region by 2020- particularly to deter China and North Korea. |
- Now, China aims deploy Julang (JL-2) long range nuclear missiles on its submarines. Range: 7350 kms.
- This will help China launch a “second strike” on Alaska and Hawaii. IF USA destroy all its nuclear weapons on land.
[Block-3] Indian Navy
Dismantling of INS Vikrant begins
Vikrant (UK) | Vikrant (Desi) | Virat | Vikramaditya | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Who? | HMS Hercules (Britain) | built at Kochi | Britain | Admiral Gorchakov(Russia) |
Joined? | 1961 | 2013 | 1987 | bought in 2004, got in 2013 |
Retired | 1997 | ?? | 2017-18 | ?? |
In service? | NOPE | TRIAL PHASE | YES | YES |
Story of INS Vikrant
- 1961 to 1997: INS Vikrant served in Indian navy, participated in blockade of Pakistan during 1971’s war.
- 2014: Navy sells INS Vikrant to a Mumbai company for scrap metal at 63 crore rupees.
- Bombay Highcourt rejects PIL to convert Vikrant into a naval museum.
- Maharashtra Government says it doesn’t have enough money to maintain this vessel as a ‘museum’, better just scrap it.
- TheHindu goes more emotional than usual, running same news story for almost 2 weeks in December 2014. Hence topic automatically becomes important for competitive exams.
INS Sindhuratna |
|
---|---|
Project 75I |
|
Air-Independent Propulsion |
|
HUMSA-NG |
|
INS Kolkata | Largest Anti-submarine warship, built by India. |
[Block-4] Defense exercises and Misc. developments
Defense of Gujarat |
|
---|---|
Hand in Hand |
|
Avir Indra |
|
TRV | Torpedo recovery vessel. This ship sank at Visakhapattanam coast in 2014, November. |
Navy Day | Celebrated on December 4. To mark the success of Operation Trident, in which Indian navy devastated Karachi harbour. |
Armed Forces Flag Day | Observed on December 7, since 1949. |
INS Sukanya, Deepak etc. | Delivered fresh water to Maldives after country’s desalination plant got damaged. |
Binola, Haryana | Government will setup Indian national defense university here. |
Xiaomi |
|
Mock Questions
[columnize]
Q1. Consider following statements about Rafael
- It is a fifth generation combat aircraft.
- Under the proposed deal, France will supply 108 jets, remaining 18 will be produced by HAL under transfer of technology.
- Dassult company will be required to invest back 50% of the amount in India, under “offset policy”
Which of the above statements are wrong?
- Only 1 and 2
- Only 2 and 3
- Only 1 and 3
- None of them
Q2. UAV Panchi is a wheeled version of UAV ____, while Nirbhay Missile is based on UAV _____.
- Nethra, Nishant
- Nishant, Nethra
- Nishant, Lakshya
- Lakshya, Nishant
Q3. Consider following statements about Dhruv helicopters
- They can be used for transport, surveillance and relief operations only.
- Dhruv helicopters use Shakti Engine.
- They’re manufactured by Pawan Hans ltd.
Correct statements are
- Only 1 and 2
- Only 2 and 3
- Only 1 and 3
- None of them
Q4. Consider following weapon systems:
- Akash missile
- Schilika
- NAG
Which of them are ideal against enemy-aircraft?
- Only 1 and 2
- Only 2 and 3
- Only 1 and 3
- All of them
Q5. Consider following missiles
- Agni-4
- Nirbhay
- Prithvi-3
- Akash
Arrange them in ascending order of their range?
- 1234
- 1243
- 2143
- 4321
Q6. Nirbhay is a ____sonic missile and Brahmos is a ___sonic missile.
- Sub, sub
- sub,super
- sub,hyper
- hyper,sub
Q7. (CSAT-2014) Which reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- It is a surface-to-surface missile.
- It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.
- It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Q8. Find incorrect pairs
- INS Viraat: HMS Hercules
- INS Vikramaditya : Admiral Gorchakov
- INS Sindhuratna: Fast petrol vessel.
Incorrect pairs are
- Only 1 and 2
- Only 2 and 3
- Only 1 and 3
- All of them
Q9. Correct statements about INS Vikrant
- It was an aircraft carrier, purchased from France.
- Vikrant was decommissioned after its last service at rescue-relief operations during 2004’s Tsunami
- Both A and B
- Neither A nor B
Q10. Correct statements about Dhanush Howitzer?
- They indigenously manufactured, using Israel’s Spike howitzer design.
- It can deliver upto half-tonne artillery shells about 50 kms away.
- Both A and B
- Neither A nor B
Q11. Hand in hand is a joint _____ exercise between India and ____.
- mechanized warfare, USA
- airforce, China
- Navy, Russia
- Counter terrorism, China
Q12. Avir Indra is a joint airforce exercise between India and ____, held at ____ in 2014.
- USA, Bangaluru
- USA, Punjab
- Russia, Bangaluru
- Russia, Punjab
[/columnize]
[line]
Interview
- Has India made the right choice in purchasing Rafael as our MMRCA?
- Has India made the right choice in scrapping the legendary INS Vikrant rather than turning it into a naval Museum?
Dear sir
I wish to make a very important query as i am unable to get information from anyone.
Sir i am applying for the post of asst mgr. In NABARD. I am facing the problem in opting examination centre.
I hails from j&k and presently working in gujarat. After selection i wish that i will work in my home state ie j&k.
When i am applying online for the post . The comes the option state applied for”
Can anybody send NABARD previous year main paper.
sir pl suggest books for mppsc.
neha
please provide some details about nabard grade A recruitment
nice work sir!!
Please provide your answer Keys
Dear Mrunal,
Just a small correction regarding the Indian submarines part:
INS Sindhurakshak: explosion in August 2013 killed 18 sailors, enquiry completed, held that mishandling of torpedoes to be likely cause.
INS Sindhuratna: Fire in submarine in February 2014 led to death of two officers. Led to resignation of Navy Chief Admiral D.K Joshi. Enquiry not yet concluded but action taken against 7 officers.
Mrunal sir this report of PIB says that Avir Indra excercise was held at Astrakhan region of Russia near the Caspian Sea, commenced on 25 Aug 2014. Was another excercise held at Halwara in Punjab or is there an error in your material?
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=109055
1. A
2. C
3. A
4. A
5. A
6. C
7. 1
8. A
9. D
10. D
11. D
12. D
1 c
2 c
3 a
4 a
5 d
6 b
7 a
8 c
9 d
10 d
11 d
12 d