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The latest version of Indo-Russian Brahmos cruise missile has achieved a speed of Mach 6.5 during experiments at Hyderabad and the target is to achieve Mach 7, a top DRDO official said here today. "Experiments are being done in Hyderabad. We have completed tests up to Mach 6.5," BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director A Sivathanu Pillai told reporters here. The target is to achieve Mach 7, he said. Mach is commonly used to represent the speed of an object when it is traveling close to or above the speed of sound. BrahMos is a cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. Inaugurating an International Research Centre developed by Sathyabama University and Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research here, Pillai said nanotechnology is the buzzword in the future and several countries were investing into it. "Over 70 billion US dollars are being spent in this field. Once, this technology is commercialised, it will generate over USD 3 trillion per year," the DRDO scientist said. Nanotechnology will be a boon for the health sector especially to tackle diseases like Alzheimer's. The government has formed a nanotechnology mission and a centre in Bangalore is being upgraded for this, Pillai said.
The DRDO proposes to develop a technology to reduce vulnerability of the Submarines available with the Indian Navy. Naval Material Research Laboratory (NMRL), Ambernath, under Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is progressing a technology demonstration project "Development of Land-based Prototype for Air Independent Propulsion (AIP)" for submarine propulsion. Vulnerability of a submarine can be reduced by increasing its underwater endurance (dived conditions). Normally diesel electric generators are used to charge the batteries that provide propulsion power when the submarine is in dived conditions. To run the generators the submarine has to surface for taking in air and throwing out the exhaust. Using AIP system, submarine can charge the batteries without surfacing.
The full scale operations of such System is likely to be demonstrated by 2015.
This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Shri Dhruva Narayana in Lok Sabha today.
To augment coastal security, the Indian Navy will roll out 52 fast interceptor crafts within a year out of which 12 would be stationed at the Southern Naval Command base in Kochi.“They are small in size but have great speeds and are capable of destroying even large vessels,” said the vice admiral, Mr K.N. Sushil, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command. “We want to improve coastal security and will also also use them for anti-piracy missions.”
Pointing out that the piracy off the Somalian coast is still a major threat, Mr Sushil asked the Indian fishermen and merchant vessels to maintain a tight vigil.
“We got inputs that they are attempting to lure small fishing boats by offering cheap fuel from Yemen and Iran,” he said. “Then they capture them and use them.”
The vice admiral said that the mysterious Iranian ship, MV Assa, anchored close to Lakshadweep, was armed with machine guns and that the ministry of defence lodged a strong protest with Tehran.
“Currently the ship is anchored 150 to 160 miles away from out territorial waters,” he said. “So far they have not violated any rules. But since they are armed, we are keeping a close tab. They maintain they carry the weapons to thwart pirate attacks.”
Mr Sushil said the process of setting up radar towers along the Kerala and Lakshadweep coasts was progressing.
Then what the hell is going on in the name of modernization ? If these things are not done then what is done ?Antony said the main reasons for the delay in MDL’s modernisation programme included the ship-builders not being able to create a modular shop, a cradle shop, a wet basin and stores primarily because of non-availability of land, want of permission from the Mumbai Port Trust and lack of adequate funds in the initial stage.
In short delay everywhere ....I thought SAIL started producing high quality steel ? Weapons and sensors are now been produced in India. Yeah propulsion system depends on supplier.“Stealth frigate (Project 17) and destroyers (Project 15A) projects are running behind schedule due to delays in supply of high quality steel for warships and delay in finalisation and delivery of major weapons, sensors and propulsion system through indigenous and foreign sources,” he said.