News In Shorts

About Operation Mahadev

• A joint counter terror mission of Indian Army, CRPF & J&K Police.
• Objective: Eliminate foreign terrorists who have infiltrated into Kashmir valley with support from Pakistan-based groups like LeT.

It was an operation conducted by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for cracking down on illegal pharmaceutical drug trade. 

• Under it, NCB dismantled a transnational drug trafficking syndicate that smuggled controlled medicines across four continents. 
• The syndicate used encrypted digital platforms, drop shipping models, and cryptocurrency to smuggle the controlled substances. 
• The network showcases the growing convergence of digital platforms, cryptocurrency, and transnational logistics in modern illicit trade.

INS Udaygiri, the second ship of Project 17A’s stealth frigates, was delivered to the Indian Navy.

Project 17A

• The Project is follow-on of the Shivalik class (Project 17) frigates active in service.
  • Frigate is a multi-role vessel utilized for fleet surface ship protection against surface combatants or incoming aerial threats.
• P-17A ships have enhanced stealth features and fitted with ‘State of the Art’ weapons and sensors, a significant upgrade from the P17 class. 
• These multi-mission frigates are capable of operating in a ‘Blue Water’ environment dealing with both conventional and non-conventional threats in the area of India’s Maritime Interests.

India has tested the indigenous anti-submarine rocket systems.

About ERASR

• ERASR is a totally indigenous anti-submarine rocket used to combat submarines and fired from onboard of Indian Naval Ships. 
• It has twin-rocket motor configuration to meet a wide spectrum of range requirements with high accuracy and consistency. 
• It uses an indigenously developed Electronic Time Fuze.
• Designed and developed by DRDO’s Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune.

DRDO & Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted the flight-test of  ‘Astra’ equipped with indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker from Su-30 Mk-I platform.

About Astra Missile

• It is Indigenous Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile (BVRAAM).
• The missile is designed to engage and destroy highly manoeuvring supersonic aircraft.
• Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• The missile has all weather day and night capability.
• Its range exceeds 100 kms and is equipped with state-of-the art guidance and navigation systems.

DRDO conducted two consecutive successful flight tests of the Pralay missile at Odisha coast.

About Pralay missile:

•  A surface-to-surface short range solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile which can fly at hypersonic speed (Above Mach 5).
  • Quasi ballistic missiles are a class of missiles that have low trajectory and take ballistic trajectory but can change course and make maneuvers during the flight if required.
• Developed indigenously by: Hyderabad-based DRDO facility Research Centre Imarat in collaboration with other facilities.
• Strike Range: From 150 to 500 km.