Exercise Antariksha Abhyas – 2024

Context:

The Defence Space Agency successfully conducted Exercise Antariksha Abhyas-2024.

About Exercise Antariksha Abhyas 

• It was a maiden tabletop exercise aimed at bolstering the strategic readiness of the Indian armed forces in the domain of space warfare. 
• The exercise included focused discussions on emerging space technologies, space situational awareness and India’s space programmes.
• The exercise also identifies vulnerabilities in the conduct of operations in the event of denial or disruptions of space-based services.

Objectives:

• Secure national strategic interests in space.
• Integrate space capabilities into military operations.
• Enhance understanding of space-based assets and their operational dependencies.
• Identify vulnerabilities in space services during potential disruptions or denial.

Participants:

• Personnel from the Defence Space Agency and the three defence services (Army, Navy, Air Force).
• Specialist branches such as the Defence Cyber Agency, Defence Intelligence Agency, and Strategic Forces Command.
• Representatives from ISRO, DRDO, and academic institutions.

Exercise successfully met its objectives of improving interoperability, fostering mutual understanding and enhancing cohesion between the tri-services and Defence Space Agency.

Defence Space Agency (DSA)

• It is an integrated tri-services agency of the Indian Armed Forces. 
• Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka. 
• DSA is collaborating with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop systems for expanding India’s defence and offence capabilities in space.
• Role: The agency is tasked with operating the space warfare and Satellite Intelligence assets of India. 
• Staff: The DSA draws personnel from all three branches of the Armed Forces.

Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM)

Context:

Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the maiden flight test of the Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM).

About Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM)

Range and Performance:

• Range: 1,000 km with precision strike capability.
• Avionics: Equipped with advanced avionics and software for enhanced reliability.

Developed by: Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO.

Launched: Integrated Test Range, Chandipur coast of Odisha, from a mobile articulated launcher.

Design and Launch:

• Launch Configurations: Can be launched from mobile ground-based platforms and naval ships using universal vertical launch modules.
• Navigation: Demonstrated waypoint navigation and low-altitude, terrain-hugging flight.

Strategic Significance:

• Provides long-range strike capability similar to the U.S. Tomahawk missile, enhancing India's standoff strike options.
• The missile performance was monitored by several range sensors such as Radar, Electro-Optical Tracking System and telemetry deployed by ITR at different locations to ensure complete coverage of the flight path.
• Boosts India’s indigenous missile capability, contributing to regional deterrence and operational flexibility.

Dicliptera Polymorpha

Context:

Recently, scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (Pune) discovered a new species of Dicliptera in the Northern Western Ghats of India.

About Dicliptera Polymorpha

Key Features:

• Fire-Resilience: It is a pyrophytic species, meaning it is adapted to survive and thrive in fire-prone environments.  
• Dual Blooming: Unlike most plants, it blooms twice a year: once post-monsoon and again after grassland fires.  
• Unique Inflorescence: It has a distinctive spicate (spike-like) inflorescence, a rare feature among Indian Dicliptera species.  
• Habitat: It thrives in open grasslands.
• Adaptation: It is particularly notable for its remarkable adaptation to fire.