DRDO conducted the first night trial of AgniII successfully:
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the first night trial of Agni-II from Dr. Abdul Kalam Island successfully off Odisha coast. The missile had a strike range of 2000 km. It was blasted off from a mobile launcher at the Launch Complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR).
Test trial:
The entire trajectory/path of the trial was tracked by telemetry observation stations, a battery of sophisticated radars, electro-optic instruments, and two naval ships located near the impact point in the downrange area of Bay of Bengal. The test trial was carried out by the Indian Army`s specially formed Strategic Forces Command (SFC) with logistic support from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Agni-II:
♦ Agni-II is a versatile surface-to-surface medium-range nuclear-capable missile
♦ Agni-II is an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) with two solid-fuel stages, and a Post Boost Vehicle (PBV) integrated into the missile`s Re-entry Vehicle (RV).
♦ The strike range of the missile is 2,000 to 3,500 km
♦ Agni-II has been already inducted into the armed forces
♦ The two-stage missile is equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation system.
♦ It was guided by a new method of command and control system
♦ Agni-II missile was developed by Advanced Systems Laboratory along with DRDO laboratories. The missile was integrated by Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad.
DRDO to double the range of ASTRA missile:
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) plans to extend the range of weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile ASTRA to nearly double to 160 km of its existing range. This will make it the most lethal BVR missile. It was announced by the DRDO Chief G Sateesh Reddy.
The ASTRA air-to-air-missile and the ballistic missile defence system has been designed to protect India against a nuclear attack. India is one of the few countries which has its own active and successful BMD programme.
ASTRA:
ASTRA means weapon in Sanskrit. Astra is the first air-to-air missile that is developed by India. The range of the missile is more than 110 km with modern guidance and navigation techniques. The missile has been built in midcourse guidance and Radio Frequency (RF) seeker based terminal guidance on achieving target destruction with pinpoint accuracy. The missile will be integrated with Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft of India. The series that are developed under the ASTRA programme will be the building blocks for the development of future variants of Air-to-Air and Surface-to-Air Missiles.
DRDO gave free access for its 450 patents:
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) gave free access to its 450 patents. Now, industries can use patents for commercial exploitation.
Aim:
The aim of the bold move by DRDO to boost the domestic industries, especially in the strategic sector through free access to patents held by the DRDO. The patents involve research and development.
DRDO`s new policy:
♦ The new policy formulated by the DRDO, it offers complete access to its patents filed in India without any licensing or royalty fees.
♦ DRDO has displayed both the procedure and the complete list of technologies on its website.
♦ The move supports the startups, entrepreneurs and industries in the country.
♦ The patents covering aeronautics, naval systems, missile technology, combat engineering, life sciences, armaments, electronics, and communication material that has military applications have been transferred to the commercial market.
♦ Earlier, the licence fee for patents and royalty ranged between several lakh rupees to crore depending upon the type of technology involved.
♦ After DRDO`s move, other leading R&D division like the National Research and Development Corporation (NRDC), Department of Space, Council of Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will also provide access to their patent without fee or royalty.
NIA to host counter terrorism exercise for Quad countries:
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is to host the first-ever counter-terrorism table-top exercise (CT-TTX) for the Quad countries. The exercise is being conducted on 21-22 November 2019.
Aim:
The aim of the CT-TTX exercise is to assess and validate counter-terrorism response mechanisms in the light of emerging terrorist threats among the Quad countries.
CT-TTX exercise:
♦ The CT-TTX exercise is the first of its kind engagement among the four countries. The exercise aims to discuss the issues of common interest related to counter-terrorism.
♦ The countries take the international counter-terror offensive, preparedness, mitigation and synergy to the next level.
♦ The exercise will enable the quad countries to understand the response systems to terror incidents that exist in other member countries.
♦ The exercise will help to recognize the best practices among the Quad countries.
♦ The exercise will improve the inter-agency cooperation between different counter-terrorism and other agencies of the Quad countries.
Participants:
The counter-terrorism officials and security experts from the Quad countries are participating in the exercise.
Note: The association of the countries was initiated in 2007 by PM of Japan Shinzo Abe with the support of former Vice President of the US Dick Cheney, former Australian Prime Minister John Howard and former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It lead to an informal strategic dialogue between the countries named Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.