Science & Technology
Defence Technology
GS Paper III
Defence Technology — Quick Revision
One-page UPSC revision of defence technology: missile classes, Indian systems, milestones, nuclear doctrine, export regimes and indigenisation.
SyllabusGS III · Achievements of Indians in science and technology; indigenisation of technology
A last-week revision sheet for defence technology. Expect matching questions on missile types and statement questions on policy.
Missile Classification
| Basis | Classes |
|---|---|
| Flight path | Ballistic (rocket, arc) · Cruise (jet engine, low and flat) |
| Launch–target | Surface-to-surface · Surface-to-air · Air-to-air · Air-to-surface · Anti-tank · Submarine-launched |
| Speed | Subsonic (< Mach 1) · Supersonic (Mach 1–5) · Hypersonic (> Mach 5) |
| Ballistic range | Short (< 1,000 km) · Medium (1,000–3,000) · Intermediate (3,000–5,500) · Intercontinental (> 5,500) |
Indian Systems
| System | Type |
|---|---|
| Prithvi | Surface-to-surface SRBM (IGMDP) |
| Agni series | Surface-to-surface ballistic; Agni-V over 5,000 km |
| Trishul | Short-range SAM (IGMDP) |
| Akash | Medium-range SAM (IGMDP) |
| Nag / HeliNa | Anti-tank, fire-and-forget (IGMDP) |
| BrahMos | Supersonic cruise, India–Russia JV |
| Nirbhay | Subsonic long-range cruise |
| Astra | Beyond-visual-range air-to-air |
| K-series | Submarine-launched ballistic missiles |
| PAD / AAD | BMD — exo- / endo-atmospheric interceptors |
Milestones
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1983 | IGMDP launched |
| May 1998 | Pokhran-II nuclear tests |
| January 2003 | Nuclear doctrine made public: NFU, credible minimum deterrence |
| June 2016 | India joins MTCR |
| December 2017 | India joins Wassenaar Arrangement |
| January 2018 | India joins Australia Group |
| November 2018 | INS Arihant’s first deterrence patrol — triad complete |
| 27 March 2019 | Mission Shakti ASAT test |
| September 2020 | HSTDV scramjet flight test |
| October 2021 | Ordnance Factory Board split into seven DPSUs |
| January 2022 | BrahMos export contract with the Philippines |
| 2 September 2022 | INS Vikrant commissioned |
| 11 March 2024 | Mission Divyastra — Agni-V MIRV |
High-yield facts
- Scramjet — combustion in supersonic airflow; cannot start from rest.
- MIRV — several warheads on one missile, each aimed at a different target.
- Nuclear Command Authority — Political Council chaired by the Prime Minister authorises retaliation.
- Defence exports — record ₹21,083 crore in 2023-24 (Ministry of Defence).
- SIPRI (March 2024) — India the largest arms importer, 2019–23.
Indigenisation Toolkit
| Measure | Year |
|---|---|
| iDEX | 2018 |
| Defence Industrial Corridors (UP, Tamil Nadu) | 2018 |
| DAP 2020 — Buy (Indian-IDDM) priority | 2020 |
| First Positive Indigenisation List (101 items) | August 2020 |
| FDI 74% automatic | 2020 |
Traps
Watch these
- BrahMos is supersonic, not hypersonic.
- Astra is air-to-air; Akash is surface-to-air.
- India is not an NSG member.
- Mission Shakti’s target was in low Earth orbit.
Related Topics
- Missile Technology and Defence Indigenisation
- Defence Technology — practice questions
- Defence Technology — overview
- Nuclear Technology and Energy
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