Isro
successfully conducts 1st hot test of Gaganyaan propulsion system in Tamil Nadu
ISRO on Saturday successfully conducted the first hot test of system demonstration model of the Gaganyaan service module propulsion system in Tamil Nadu.
The
system performance met the test objectives and there was a close match with the
pre-test predictions. Further, a series of hot tests are planned to simulate
various mission conditions as well as off nominal conditions.
The
test was conducted for a duration of 450 seconds at the test facility of Isro
Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu on August 28, 2021. The service
module is part of the Gaganyaan Orbital module and is located below the crew
module and remains connected to it until re-entry.
The
service module propulsion system consists of a unified bipropellant system
consisting of 5 nos. of 440 N thrust engines and 16 nos. of 100 N Reaction
Control system thrusters with oxidizer and fuel respectively.
The
System demonstration model, consisting of 5 nos. of 440 N engines and 8 nos. of
100 N thrusters, is likely to qualify the propulsion system performance on the
ground. A new test facility is also being established at Isro Propulsion
Complex, Mahendragiri for testing the System demonstration model.
Bharat Dynamics Limited on path of developing weapons with AI based
technology
Bharat
Dynamics Limited has started undertaking development of next generation weapons
systems for the Armed forces with Artificial Intelligence technologies with
active participation of start-ups.
This
is in view of the rapid strides being made by countries across the globe in
this arena. The defence ministry public sector giant is also setting up new
manufacturing units in its Kanchanbagh premises here such as ‘Seeker Facility
Centre’, ‘Warhead Production Facility’ and ‘High Temperature Carbon Composite
manufacturing facility’.
The
Konkurs Missile test equipment and Konkurs Launcher test equipment have been
developed in house as an indigenous substitute to the foreign equipment
imported earlier by the Indian Army to make the country ‘Atmanirbhar’ in
defence.
Indigenisation
of a few components and sub-assemblies of anti-tank guided missiles and
underwater weapons has been successfully completed.
Indian
Airforce signs EMERGENCY DEAL for 70,000 AK-103 assault rifles worth Rupees 300
Crore with Russia
The
Indian Airforce has a requirement of over 1.5 lakh new assault rifles and the
new AK-103 rifles expected to come within the next few months into the service
would strengthen its capability to tackle terrorist attacks in a much better
way.
The contract worth around Rupees 300 Crore was
signed last week under emergency provisions to buy 70,000 AK-103 assault rifles
from Russia. The weapons would be first provided to troops in field areas like
Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar along with sensitive air bases.
The
remaining part of the requirement would be met after India and Russia sign a
deal to produce the more advanced AK-203 together within India. The contract
for the AK-203 assault rifles is being processed under the Army which requires
around 6.5 lakhs of these rifles to strengthen its troops firepower.
US
Navy’s Unmanned Influence Sweep System Completes Initial Operational Test and
Evaluation
The
UISS is an unmanned, self-propelled, semi-autonomous surface vehicle equipped
with capability to sweep acoustically or magnetically actuated naval mines.
Designed for the
littoral combat ship LCS as part of the mine countermeasures mission package,
the UISS consists of a mine countermeasures unmanned surface vehicle and a
towed minesweeping payload for influence sweeping of magnetic, acoustic, and
magnetic/acoustic combination mines. UISS can also be launched from vessels of
opportunity or from shore.
The test event
demonstrated for the first time both the capability and sustainability of a
minesweeping capability using an unmanned system from a littoral combat ship LCS
in an operationally realistic environment.
US Navy’s Third And
Final Zumwalt Class Destroyer Starts Sea Trials
The stealth destroyer
left the Bath shipyard and headed down Maine’s Kennebec River, 27 August to
begin sea trials.
It is expected to be
commissioned with the US Navy in 2023. First ship in class USS Zumwalt was
commissioned in October 2016 while sister ship USS Michael Monsoor was
commissioned in January 2019.
The multi mission Zumwalt class destroyers will be capable of
performing a range of deterrence, power projection, sea control, and command
and control missions while allowing the Navy to evolve with new systems and
missions. Zumwalt ships are 610 feet long, have a beam of 80.7 feet, displace
almost 16,000 tons, and are capable of making 30 knots speed.
