08-05-2007, 10:56 PM
BrahMos now moves toward the air version
Yet another milestone was crossed by the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile on April 22 when it was successfully test-fired for the 14th time from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-Sea. The fourth and final test of the Armyâs Land Attack Cruise Missile (LACM) validated the missileâs unique manoeuvring ability both at the boost and terminal phases during the 290km flight.
Explained, this means that the LACM can change its course (azimuth) at the initial boost phase as well as within 50km of the target. Even as BrahMos is a supersonic missile that travels at three times the speed of sound at 2.8 Mach, the manoeuvring capability will confound the enemy to know the direction from which the missile has been fired. With this successful test, the President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam himself has agreed to hand over the first batch of BrahMos LACM to the army sometimes in June, well ahead of the delivery schedule. The army had placed the order for one subgroup (12 launchers distributed in four Mobile Autonomous Launchers each with three BrahMos) in March 2006 and the delivery was agreed for middle-2008.
The BrahMos Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Dr A. Sivathanu Pillai told FORCE that, âBrahMos is a technological breakthrough that will make war winning possible in quick time. There is no equivalent missile in the world with similar capabilities.â What Dr Pillai did not say is that BrahMos is a psychological breakthrough as well; this is the only Defence Research and Development Organisation product that has been delivered before time.
The government in 1999 gave funding for the BrahMos, the first anti-ship version was test-fired in 2001 and after 10 successful test flights the missile was accepted by the Indian Navy in 2004. Simultaneously, work started on the army and the air force version; the first will be delivered soon and the recent visit of the air force chief, Air Chief Marshal F.H. Major to the BrahMos complex in New Delhi suggests that work on BrahMos air version is well on its way. All this has been possible because of good management, transparency and close interaction between the scientists and the users that has been the hallmark of this development work.
With a total of four tests, two each from the ITR and in Pokharan ranges, all technical parameters of the LACM have been validated. These essentially include the handling of the weapon system by the user (army personnel fired the missile independent of the scientists from their complex itself), midcourse guidance by the strap-down Inertial Navigation System housed in the on-board computer, terminal guidance by the seeker, manoeuvring capability of the missile at the boost and terminal stages, the advertised 290km range, and importantly the precision hitting of the target (the missile has demonstrated zero Circular Error Probability). In short, the requirement of the army has been met beyond its stated Qualification Requirements that are minimal acceptable technical capabilities.
LRDE working on Rajendra III radar
9 May, 2007
Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) a unit of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has embarked on developing advanced version of indigenous Rajendra II radar and is called Rajendra III. Rajendra III is indigenous slewable phased array radar. The BLR-III vehicle on T-72 chasis is ready for track test. Phased array antenna has been fabricatedin Bharat Rlectronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad.
Collimated beam pattern and s/s cure for all 16 spot frequencies has been taken.
Rajendra II Radar
Rajendra II Radar is also slewable passive phased array radar. By 2005, Rajendra II had participated in more than 15 flight trials at Balasore missile testing range. The flight trials have been spread over 4 missions in both group and autonomous mode. High altitude engagement, far boundary engagement, crossing and receding target engagement and multiple missions against multiple targets capabilities have been established.
Consistency in performance of radar in guiding missiles as close as 15m is established. During a mission, a Pilot less Target Aircraft (PTA) was neutralized while engaging crossing and receding target.
Rajendra radar is used for 3-D target detection, multi target tracking and multiple missile guidance under extreme hostile EW environment. A main phased array consisting of 4000 phase control modules (PCMs), and a command phased array consisting of 1000 PCMs have been built to achieve the multi-functionality. A powerful high-end computer computes phases for all the elements of the array. Rajendra controls the beam positioning sequence through beam requests for each track at adaptive data rates and performs multifunctional roles like search âconfirm âtrack -interrogate targets, assign and lock on launchers, and launch/acquire/ track/guide missiles. The RDP supplies track data to remote group control centre. Rajendra features a Dual channel radar receiver and a C band transmitter, although the complete transmiting and receiving features and bands are unknown.
Rajendra Multisensor Tracking features 2-D battery surveillance radar (BSR) with 360 degree coverage and a larger detection range provides track data to the multifunction, slewable, 3-D phased array radar. The multisensor direction finder in Rajendra processes the track data from the phased array radar and the BSR to identify the targets reported by both the sensors and maintains a common track database. For those BSR tracks, which are not being reported by Rajendra though under its coverage, target acquisition is initiated with elevation search in the designated direction. The antenna is skewed in the direction of threat to acquire the targets, which are outside the covered air space.
The major functions of the radar are:
â¢Surveillance of the assigned volume of space
â¢Acquisition of aircraft targets either independently or handed over from group control centre and battery surveillance radar
â¢Tracking of targets
â¢Tracking of assigned targets and missiles during engagement
â¢Command guidance of missiles
â¢Integrated IFF functions
The AKASH Surface to Air Missile (SAM) system is guided by Rajendra radar. Rajendra radar features a âphase shifterâ technology. Phase shifter when integrated in large numbers for electronic beam steering, allows Rajendra radar to simultaneously track multiple aircraft and also guide multiple missiles towards these targets. The phase shifter was designed and developed by Prof Bharati Bhat, a scientist from Centre for Applied Research in Electronics (CARE) of IIT, Delhi, and her team.
Dhanush test fired
BALASORE: India's indigenously developed surface-to-surface ballistic missile Dhanush was on Friday test-fired from a naval ship in the Bay of Bengal off Orissa coast.
The test launch was conducted from INS Subhadra , about 40 nautical miles from Chandipur-on-sea, at around 2.30 pm, sources said.
Dhanush , considered the naval version of surface-to-surface missile Prithvi, was being exclusively developed for the Indian Navy and has a striking range of 250 km to 350 km.
It can be deployed as an anti-ship weapon as well as for destroying land targets depending on the range. It can carry both conventional and nuclear weapons in its operational stage.
Friday's test launch, carried out by scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), had been tracked from its take-off to impact point through an integrated network of sophisticated radars and electro-optic instruments for data analysis.
The 8.56 metre long missile had a launch weight of 4,600 kg and uses a single stage liquid propellant engine.
Dhanush was test-fired for the first time on April 11, 2000, from the integrated test range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea. However, it had failed at the blast-off stage due to technical snag in its software system.
The second test was carried out from INS Subhadra on September 21, 2001.
The two subsequent experiments were carried out on November 7, 2004 and December 28, 2005 from INS Subhadra and INS Rajput respectively.
Missile Defense: Lower Atmosphere Interceptors To Be Developed By DRDO
Dated 2/12/2006
Buoyed by a successful missile interception in higher atmospheric zone, defence scientists are now planning to shoot down incoming warheads, much closer to ground, with a new missile named Pad.
The country's top Missile Scientist Vijay Kumar Saraswat told a press conference today that "within the next three to four months the DRDO is planning to carry out another missile interception in the endo-atmospheric zone" -- a pattern used by the Americans in the development of their Patriot PAC-III anti-missile shield.
"We have demonstrated the technology to defend against incoming ballistic missile threat," he said, but added it would take another three to four years to develop for the country a full-fledged anti-missile theatre shield.
Saraswat's announcement comes in the midst of recent criticism of the DRDO which has been accused of allowing "heavy time and cost overruns" in critical projects.
He admitted that the Pad was still a technology demonstrator and said it would need another half-a-dozen tests to validate it as a missile shield.
The scientist said in any future indigenous missile shields, India would have to have a mix of exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception capabilities to match short reaction threats.
He ruled out that India might opt out of trying to acquire either the American or Israeli anti-missile system saying "we are only at the beginning and at this stage co-development or outright acquisition cannot be counted of."
Saraswat is the Chief Controller of the country's missile programme and project director of the air defence missiles, whose team successfully carried out India's first ever surface-to-surface missile interception in the exo-atmospheric zone on November 27.
Yet another milestone was crossed by the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile on April 22 when it was successfully test-fired for the 14th time from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-Sea. The fourth and final test of the Armyâs Land Attack Cruise Missile (LACM) validated the missileâs unique manoeuvring ability both at the boost and terminal phases during the 290km flight.
Explained, this means that the LACM can change its course (azimuth) at the initial boost phase as well as within 50km of the target. Even as BrahMos is a supersonic missile that travels at three times the speed of sound at 2.8 Mach, the manoeuvring capability will confound the enemy to know the direction from which the missile has been fired. With this successful test, the President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam himself has agreed to hand over the first batch of BrahMos LACM to the army sometimes in June, well ahead of the delivery schedule. The army had placed the order for one subgroup (12 launchers distributed in four Mobile Autonomous Launchers each with three BrahMos) in March 2006 and the delivery was agreed for middle-2008.
The BrahMos Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Dr A. Sivathanu Pillai told FORCE that, âBrahMos is a technological breakthrough that will make war winning possible in quick time. There is no equivalent missile in the world with similar capabilities.â What Dr Pillai did not say is that BrahMos is a psychological breakthrough as well; this is the only Defence Research and Development Organisation product that has been delivered before time.
The government in 1999 gave funding for the BrahMos, the first anti-ship version was test-fired in 2001 and after 10 successful test flights the missile was accepted by the Indian Navy in 2004. Simultaneously, work started on the army and the air force version; the first will be delivered soon and the recent visit of the air force chief, Air Chief Marshal F.H. Major to the BrahMos complex in New Delhi suggests that work on BrahMos air version is well on its way. All this has been possible because of good management, transparency and close interaction between the scientists and the users that has been the hallmark of this development work.
With a total of four tests, two each from the ITR and in Pokharan ranges, all technical parameters of the LACM have been validated. These essentially include the handling of the weapon system by the user (army personnel fired the missile independent of the scientists from their complex itself), midcourse guidance by the strap-down Inertial Navigation System housed in the on-board computer, terminal guidance by the seeker, manoeuvring capability of the missile at the boost and terminal stages, the advertised 290km range, and importantly the precision hitting of the target (the missile has demonstrated zero Circular Error Probability). In short, the requirement of the army has been met beyond its stated Qualification Requirements that are minimal acceptable technical capabilities.
LRDE working on Rajendra III radar
9 May, 2007
Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) a unit of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has embarked on developing advanced version of indigenous Rajendra II radar and is called Rajendra III. Rajendra III is indigenous slewable phased array radar. The BLR-III vehicle on T-72 chasis is ready for track test. Phased array antenna has been fabricatedin Bharat Rlectronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad.
Collimated beam pattern and s/s cure for all 16 spot frequencies has been taken.
Rajendra II Radar
Rajendra II Radar is also slewable passive phased array radar. By 2005, Rajendra II had participated in more than 15 flight trials at Balasore missile testing range. The flight trials have been spread over 4 missions in both group and autonomous mode. High altitude engagement, far boundary engagement, crossing and receding target engagement and multiple missions against multiple targets capabilities have been established.
Consistency in performance of radar in guiding missiles as close as 15m is established. During a mission, a Pilot less Target Aircraft (PTA) was neutralized while engaging crossing and receding target.
Rajendra radar is used for 3-D target detection, multi target tracking and multiple missile guidance under extreme hostile EW environment. A main phased array consisting of 4000 phase control modules (PCMs), and a command phased array consisting of 1000 PCMs have been built to achieve the multi-functionality. A powerful high-end computer computes phases for all the elements of the array. Rajendra controls the beam positioning sequence through beam requests for each track at adaptive data rates and performs multifunctional roles like search âconfirm âtrack -interrogate targets, assign and lock on launchers, and launch/acquire/ track/guide missiles. The RDP supplies track data to remote group control centre. Rajendra features a Dual channel radar receiver and a C band transmitter, although the complete transmiting and receiving features and bands are unknown.
Rajendra Multisensor Tracking features 2-D battery surveillance radar (BSR) with 360 degree coverage and a larger detection range provides track data to the multifunction, slewable, 3-D phased array radar. The multisensor direction finder in Rajendra processes the track data from the phased array radar and the BSR to identify the targets reported by both the sensors and maintains a common track database. For those BSR tracks, which are not being reported by Rajendra though under its coverage, target acquisition is initiated with elevation search in the designated direction. The antenna is skewed in the direction of threat to acquire the targets, which are outside the covered air space.
The major functions of the radar are:
â¢Surveillance of the assigned volume of space
â¢Acquisition of aircraft targets either independently or handed over from group control centre and battery surveillance radar
â¢Tracking of targets
â¢Tracking of assigned targets and missiles during engagement
â¢Command guidance of missiles
â¢Integrated IFF functions
The AKASH Surface to Air Missile (SAM) system is guided by Rajendra radar. Rajendra radar features a âphase shifterâ technology. Phase shifter when integrated in large numbers for electronic beam steering, allows Rajendra radar to simultaneously track multiple aircraft and also guide multiple missiles towards these targets. The phase shifter was designed and developed by Prof Bharati Bhat, a scientist from Centre for Applied Research in Electronics (CARE) of IIT, Delhi, and her team.
Dhanush test fired
BALASORE: India's indigenously developed surface-to-surface ballistic missile Dhanush was on Friday test-fired from a naval ship in the Bay of Bengal off Orissa coast.
The test launch was conducted from INS Subhadra , about 40 nautical miles from Chandipur-on-sea, at around 2.30 pm, sources said.
Dhanush , considered the naval version of surface-to-surface missile Prithvi, was being exclusively developed for the Indian Navy and has a striking range of 250 km to 350 km.
It can be deployed as an anti-ship weapon as well as for destroying land targets depending on the range. It can carry both conventional and nuclear weapons in its operational stage.
Friday's test launch, carried out by scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), had been tracked from its take-off to impact point through an integrated network of sophisticated radars and electro-optic instruments for data analysis.
The 8.56 metre long missile had a launch weight of 4,600 kg and uses a single stage liquid propellant engine.
Dhanush was test-fired for the first time on April 11, 2000, from the integrated test range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea. However, it had failed at the blast-off stage due to technical snag in its software system.
The second test was carried out from INS Subhadra on September 21, 2001.
The two subsequent experiments were carried out on November 7, 2004 and December 28, 2005 from INS Subhadra and INS Rajput respectively.
Missile Defense: Lower Atmosphere Interceptors To Be Developed By DRDO
Dated 2/12/2006
Buoyed by a successful missile interception in higher atmospheric zone, defence scientists are now planning to shoot down incoming warheads, much closer to ground, with a new missile named Pad.
The country's top Missile Scientist Vijay Kumar Saraswat told a press conference today that "within the next three to four months the DRDO is planning to carry out another missile interception in the endo-atmospheric zone" -- a pattern used by the Americans in the development of their Patriot PAC-III anti-missile shield.
"We have demonstrated the technology to defend against incoming ballistic missile threat," he said, but added it would take another three to four years to develop for the country a full-fledged anti-missile theatre shield.
Saraswat's announcement comes in the midst of recent criticism of the DRDO which has been accused of allowing "heavy time and cost overruns" in critical projects.
He admitted that the Pad was still a technology demonstrator and said it would need another half-a-dozen tests to validate it as a missile shield.
The scientist said in any future indigenous missile shields, India would have to have a mix of exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception capabilities to match short reaction threats.
He ruled out that India might opt out of trying to acquire either the American or Israeli anti-missile system saying "we are only at the beginning and at this stage co-development or outright acquisition cannot be counted of."
Saraswat is the Chief Controller of the country's missile programme and project director of the air defence missiles, whose team successfully carried out India's first ever surface-to-surface missile interception in the exo-atmospheric zone on November 27.