DRDO, HAL & Defence Orgs — Set 5

Correct Answer: B. Invest or source from India a percentage of the contract value

India's Defence Offset Policy requires foreign vendors winning contracts above Rs 2,000 crore to invest a percentage (typically 30%) of the contract value back in India through direct industrial participation, technology transfer, co-development, or co-production. Offsets create technology transfer, promote indigenisation, and develop the Indian defence industry. Under DAP 2020, offset obligations apply for capital procurement contracts exceeding the threshold. Offsets can be discharged through investments in defence manufacturing, R&D, and maintenance facilities in India.

Correct Answer: B. Panchendriya

DRDO developed 'Panchendriya', an integrated submarine sonar and fire control system, which was indigenously developed for Indian Navy's Sindhughosh-class (Kilo-class) submarines. Panchendriya integrates hull-mounted sonar, intercept sonar, towed array sonar, and fire control. NPOL (Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory) at Kochi, a DRDO lab, is the centre for underwater acoustics and sonar development. DRDO's sonar systems are also fitted on newer P17A Nilgiri-class stealth frigates and P15B Visakhapatnam-class destroyers.

Correct Answer: C. 2013

HAL Tejas achieved Initial Operational Clearance (IOC-I) in December 2013, allowing it to be used with basic operational weapons. A second IOC (IOC-II) was granted in 2016 with expanded weapons capability. Final Operational Clearance (FOC) was granted in February 2019, certifying Tejas for full operational deployment. No.45 Squadron 'Flying Daggers' and No.18 Squadron 'Flying Bullets' of the IAF are the two Tejas operational squadrons. IAF requires 36 squadrons minimum; Tejas Mark1A and AMCA will meet this requirement.

Correct Answer: B. Unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) / stealth drone

AURA (Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft) is DRDO's project to develop an unmanned stealth combat aircraft (UCAV). AURA is designed to have internal weapons bay, stealth features, and autonomous flight capability. DRDO's ADE (Aeronautical Development Establishment) in Bangalore is working on AURA. DRDO has also developed Rustom-II (TAPAS-BH-201) — a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV for surveillance and reconnaissance — and Archer-NG, a newer-generation MALE UAV. These programmes aim to make India self-sufficient in military UAVs.

Correct Answer: B. DLRL (Defence Electronics Research Laboratory), Hyderabad

DLRL (Defence Electronics Research Laboratory) at Hyderabad is the primary DRDO laboratory for electronic warfare (EW) systems. DLRL develops airborne EW suites (jammer systems, radar warning receivers), shipborne EW systems, ground-based EW equipment, and signal intelligence (SIGINT) systems. DLRL's products include the Tarang radar warning receiver for IAF aircraft, Tempest EW suite for naval ships, and Himshakti for army EW. DLRL also develops satellite-based surveillance systems. Electronic warfare capability is increasingly critical in modern high-tech conflicts.

Correct Answer: C. INS Arihant

INS Arihant (SSBN-80) is India's first indigenously designed and built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), commissioned on 18 August 2016. The Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project that resulted in Arihant took three decades. INS Chakra was a leased Russian submarine. INS Vikrant is an aircraft carrier. INS Arihant's nuclear reactor was designed by BARC and the submarine hull was built at Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam. Arihant is capable of carrying K-15 Sagarika (750 km range) and K-4 (3500 km range) SLBMs.

Correct Answer: B. UAVs and pilotless target aircraft (PTA)

ADE (Aeronautical Development Establishment) in Bangalore, a DRDO lab, is known for developing UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTAs). ADE developed Lakshya (PTA) used for training anti-aircraft gunners, Nishant (reconnaissance UAV), Rustom-I and Rustom-II (medium-altitude UAVs), and AURA (UCAV concept). ADE is working on next-generation UAVs and stealth combat aircraft concepts. ADE also contributes to Tejas development in areas like avionics integration and fly-by-wire systems.

Correct Answer: B. Bangalore

HAL's primary helicopter manufacturing complex is located in Bangalore, Karnataka, at its Helicopter Division (established in the 1970s). HAL Bangalore manufactures Dhruv (ALH), LCH (Prachand), LUH (Light Utility Helicopter), and is set up for future helicopter production. HAL has expanded helicopter manufacturing to its new facility in Tumkur (near Bangalore). HAL Helicopter Division is one of Asia's largest helicopter manufacturing facilities. HAL also maintains helicopters for all service branches at its maintenance depots.

Correct Answer: B. Quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile with a range of 150-500 km

Pralay is a quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile developed by DRDO with a range of 150-500 km. 'Quasi-ballistic' means it follows a ballistic trajectory for most of its flight but can manoeuvre in the terminal phase, making it harder to intercept. First tested in December 2021, Pralay uses solid fuel and can carry a 350-700 kg warhead. The Indian Army is procuring Pralay as an operational conventional strike missile. It is India's counterpart to China's DF-12 and Pakistan's Fatah-II ballistic missiles.

Correct Answer: B. 3

DRDO was formed in 1958 by merging three existing organisations: (1) Defence Science Organisation (DSO), (2) Technical Development Establishments (TDEs), and (3) Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTDP). These were the pre-independence era defence technology bodies. The newly formed DRDO was given a broader mandate to pursue advanced defence research. Over the years, DRDO grew from a few hundred scientists to over 5,000 scientists and 25,000 technical staff with approximately 50 laboratories.