On March 14, 2023, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted two consecutive successful flight tests of Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.
- The flight tests involved launching the missiles from a man-portable ground-based launcher at high-speed unmanned aerial targets. The targets were designed to mimic approaching and receding aircraft.
- The tests were successful as all the mission objectives were met.
What is VSHORADS?
Based on the SA-18 Grouse MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense System) developed by Russia, VSHORADS’s purpose is to neutralize low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges. It has been designed and developed indigenously by Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad (Telangana) in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.
- Its’ feature include Dual-band Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) Seeker, a miniaturised Reaction Control System and integrated avionics. The propulsion is provided by a dual-thrust solid motor.
Maiden successful flight-test of DRDO’s indigenous PTO Shaft conducted on LCA Tejas in Bengaluru
DRDO also successfully conducted a maiden flight-test of the Power Take off (PTO) Shaft on Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Tejas) Limited Series Production (LSP) -3 aircraft in Bengaluru (Karnataka).
Design and Development:
PTO shaft is indigenously designed and developed by the Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), Chennai (Tamil Nadu) of DRDO while teaming with Aeronautical Development Agency, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Note: The PTO shaft technology has already been transferred to Godrej & Boyce, Mumbai (Maharashtra), and Lakshmi Technology and Engineering, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu).
Features:
i.It is designed with a unique innovative patented ‘Frequency Spanning Technique’ which enables it to negotiate different operating engine speeds.
ii.It is lightweight, high speed, lubrication free, and transmits higher power between the aircraft engine gear box and Aircraft Mounted Accessory Gear Box while accommodating misalignments that arise in the drive line.
iii.It is a critical component in the aircraft to support the requirements of future fighter aircraft and their variants and offers competitive cost and reduced time of availability.
Recent Related News:
i.Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), DRDO’s lab based in Bengaluru(Karnataka), has developed an UnFurlable Reflector Antenna (UFRA), one of the major subsystems of radar.The UFRA has a significant role in both Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) and the Military.
ii.Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras has created a ‘centre of excellence’ named ‘DRDO Industry Academia-Ramanujan Centre of Excellence’ (DIA-RCoE) at a campus unit set up by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop advanced technologies for national defence and security.
About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
Chairman– Dr Samir V Kamat
Headquarter– New Delhi, Delhi
