Indigenous Defense Prowess: The Akash SAM and Zorawar Light Tank

Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) – India’s Iron-Dome

Introduction and About:

  • Akash SAM, India's indigenous Iron-Dome, is vying against Chinese-made Sky Dragon-50 air defence systems for an order from Brazil.
  • The missile system is designed and developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and produced by Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL).

Features:

  • This short-range Surface-to-Air Missile system can deter various air threats, neutralising fighter jets, cruise missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and ballistic missiles.
  • With a launch weight of 720 kg, it can reach a height of 18 km with maximum speed up to Mach 2.5.
  • The Akash SAM features the advanced Rajendra phased array radar, an integral system that can scan, guide and accommodate Multiple Targets.
  • Additionally, it has a built-in Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) features, fast response time from target detection to kill, and operates fully automatically.

The Indigenous Light Tank - Zorawar

Introduction and About:

  • The prototype of India's unique light tank, named Zorawar, is ready for extensive trials.
  • Developed jointly by DRDO and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Zorawar carries the legacy of military general Zorawar Singh Kahluria, serving Raja Gulab Singh in the 19th Century.

Features:

  • Designed for various terrains, the 25-tonne tank is agile, capable of high-angle firing, and features AI, Drone Integration, and amphibious operation capabilities.
  • It's known for its optimal fire, power, mobility, and protection characteristics, maintaining an appropriate weight.
  • The Zorawar Light Tank is expected to be inducted into the Indian Army by 2027 post all trials.

About Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO):

DRDO, formed in 1958, serves as the Ministry of Defence's R&D wing, aimed at empowering India with state-of-the-art defence tech and facilitating self-reliance in key defence technologies. It was conceived by merging the Indian Army's Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTDP) with the Defense Science Organisation (DSO).