ARIES, DRDO lab sign MoU to boost India's space situational awareness
The collaboration marks a significant step in India's efforts to enhance its space monitoring capabilities, aligning scientific research with national security objectives.
The MoU was signed by Dr Manish Kumar Naja, director of ARIES, and D Ajay Kumar, director of IRDE, in the presence of Dr Brijesh Kumar and Dr TS Kumar from ARIES, and Ruma Dhaka, Dr Sudhir Khare, Dr Manavendra Singh, Abhijit Chakraborty, and Bharat Ram Meena from IRDE on Tuesday.
The collaboration unites ARIES, a leading astronomy and astrophysics research institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), with IRDE, a DRDO laboratory specialising in electro-optical surveillance systems.
The MoU signed on Tuesday aims to leverage ARIES' advanced observational facilities, including the 3.6m Devasthal Optical Telescope and ST Radar system, alongside IRDE's expertise in developing surveillance technologies for ground, naval, airborne, and space platforms.
The partnership will focus on strengthening ground-based Space Situational Awareness (SSA) through several key initiatives, like utilising ARIES' observational facilities for monitoring and acquiring data on space objects.
This strategic alliance between two premier Uttarakhand-based institutions is expected to foster innovation in space surveillance and ground-based astronomy.
ARIES is a premier research institute in the field of astronomy, astrophysics and atmospheric sciences and hosts state-of-the-art national observing facilities including the 3.6 m Devasthal Optical Telescope and ST Radar system.
IRDE is a leading institution engaged in the design and development of Electro-Optical surveillance systems for the Armed Forces across ground, naval, airborne, and space platforms.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
3 hours ago
- India.com
Agni-5 can reduce Beijing and Islamabad to ashes with help of THIS new technology, it is...
New Delhi: India's Agni-5 missile is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which is equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV) technology, making it extremely lethal. Agni-5, equipped with this technology, can hit cities like Islamabad, Karachi, Rawalpindi, as well as Beijing and Shanghai in China. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is making Agni-5 more advanced. MIRV technology is considered very good for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Let's understand this. What is MIRV technology? MIRV means Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles. This technology allows a missile to carry multiple weapons, including nuclear weapons, each of which is designed to be capable of hitting different targets. India's MIRV technology missile has been developed by DRDO under Mission Divyastra. This system is equipped with an indigenous avionics system and high high-accuracy sensor package. It ensures that the missiles reach the target accurately and shoot down enemy missiles on the way. This is the reason why Pakistan and China are in tension. How lethal is India's Agni-5 missile? The Agni-5 missile can travel 24 times faster than the speed of sound, reaching a speed of 29,401 km per hour. Equipped with advanced navigation systems, including a ring laser gyroscope inertial navigation system (NavIC) and satellite guidance, this missile can destroy any target with accuracy. Its range is up to 5 thousand km, but it can be increased to 8,000. Why is China worried by this missile? Many cities of China are within the range of Agni-5 equipped with MIRV technology. This missile is capable of targeting the whole of China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong. This missile, which is expert in hitting the target accurately, attacks the enemy base ruthlessly. A nuclear-weapon-equipped Agni-5 can target even beyond 5000 km. It can reduce to ashes the major industrial cities of China. Does Pakistan have an ICBM? Pakistan's Ghauri-2 missile has a range of 2300 km, and Shaheen-2 missile has a range of 2500 km. Pakistan is also working on Shaheen-3, which can have a range of up to 2700 km. This means that Pakistan only has medium-range missiles. Agni-5 is capable of carrying a bunker-buster warhead The DRDO is developing a modified version of the Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile. The original version of Agni-V has a range of more than 5000 km, and this missile usually carries a nuclear warhead. Its modified version will be a conventional weapon capable of carrying a massive 7500 kg bunker-buster warhead.
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
Microsoft launches probe into claims that Israel used its Azure cloud services to spy on Palestinians
Microsoft has launched an 'urgent' probe into allegations that the Israel military has used the company's technology to facilitate mass surveillance on Palestenians. According to a report by Guardian, the Microsoft investigation comes after the news outlet's earlier report that the Satya Nadella-led tech firm's Azure cloud platform was utlised to store a vast collection of everyday Palestinian mobile phone calls by the Israeli Unit 8200 spy agency. Microsoft in a statement said 'using Azure for the storage of data files of phone calls obtained through broad or mass surveillance of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank' would be prohibited by its terms of service. The investigation is being overseen by lawyers at the US firm Covington & Burlin. This is the second time Microsoft has launched an external probe against the Israeli military using its technology. The first enquiry was commissioned earlier this year to look into allegations that the Israeli military was using Microsoft's technology during its attacks on Gaza. In May, the company said it 'found no evidence to date' the Israeli military did not comply with its terms of service or used Azure 'to target or harm people' in Gaza. However, the recent report by Guardian apparently sent shockwaves among senior Microsoft employees about whether some of its Israel-based employees may have held back on information regarding how Unit 8200 uses Azure. According to Guardian's joint investigation with the Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine and the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call, Israel's Unit 8200 made use of a customised and segregated area within Azure and stored recordings of millions of calls made daily in Gaza and the West Bank. Since the report, Guardian said that Microsoft has been trying to assess what data Unit 8200 stores in Azure. Israel's offensive has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza which the United Nations considers reliable. The Israeli government's plans to expand the war have sparked an international outcry as well as domestic opposition.
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
INCOIS to focus on forecasts on low profile but high impact events like high waves and storm surges
Thayannur Mullachery Balakrishnan Nair, a founding scientist of the Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Systems (INCOIS), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has recently taken over as Director. In this exclusive interview, he shares insights into the next phase of ocean observation and forecasting services. INCOIS has completed 25 years. How do you look at the evolution of the institute? For a scientific institution, 25 years is relatively young. Yet, we have emerged as global leaders in ocean information systems. Only four other countries — the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Japan — have this level of operational oceanography. We began with potential fishing advisories (PFA), followed by tsunami warnings, ocean forecasts, and more. Our focus has been on improving the accuracy of observation systems for better forecasts to serve stakeholders like fishermen, maritime industry, Indian Navy, Coast Guard and tourism sector. Has INCOIS been able to achieve its stated mission objectives during this time? 200%! Our growth has been phenomenal. The institute was built brick-by-brick, thanks to the visionary directors right from the beginning. Our research and publications have had a tangible social impact, especially in helping the common man. The ISRO culture of nation-building and teamwork has inspired us. Secretary MoES M. Ravichandran have been very supportive. How has the importance of oceanography gained recognition over the years? There was struggle in the early years. But our mission of translational research — how to give service to society and supporting stakeholders like the fishing community — has gained traction. Today, nine lakh fishermen receive our PFA advisories daily. We've established a vast network of observation systems to provide accurate forecasts, and we're continuously upgrading them with the latest technologies. How good are we in monitoring the oceans, especially the Indian Ocean? We are among the best having invested a lot in tide gauge networks, automated weather stations, water quality monitoring buoys, Argo floats, tsunami buoys, and gliders. We are now developing undersea cable observatories for real-time monitoring. What are the benefits of real-time ocean monitoring? It enables us to provide timely services to society — whether it's identifying potential fishing zones, predicting high waves, or issuing tsunami and storm surge alerts. The shipping industry relies on us for safer routes, while the tourism sector needs information on beach safety and cleanliness. Our goal is to offer customized services. We also plan to provide ocean climate services like sea level rise, impact on coastal areas and blue economy stakeholders. How do you plan to expand your ocean monitoring systems? We are a key partner in UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), addressing 10 major challenges related to disaster risk reduction through advanced early warning systems. We are an integral part of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which has recognized us as a Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) for early warnings and disaster management. We aim to develop a deep fishery information system, extending our current 20-kilometre range into international waters where countries like China and Taiwan are actively fishing. Are early warning alerts taken seriously by policy makers and stakeholders? Absolutely. We work closely with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State agencies to deliver alerts directly to the public through the Common Alert Protocol. Our current focus is on low-profile but high-impact events such as high waves and storm surges. Last year, 15 people lost their lives despite our warnings in Kerala. With rising sea levels, impact-based forecasts have become crucial. Can you elaborate on the need for advanced forecasting? We currently provide forecasts for three to four days. However, maritime users need long-term planning tools —sometimes months in advance. For decadal forecasting, we are planning advanced modelling systems powered by AI and machine learning, more satellite data, and seabed observation systems, especially in regions like the Andaman subduction zone. A constellation of satellites is essential to scan each site at least twice a day, compared to the current lag of one week to 22 days. INCOIS seems to have gone international by introducing buoys near Mauritius. What is the idea behind this? India is committed to supporting other nations in need of oceanographic information. We already provide alerts to 30-40 countries in the Indian Ocean and 14 countries in the Pacific. African nations, including Mozambique, are seeking our assistance, and we plan to expand our observation posts. So far, we have trained over 6,000 personnel from 97 countries in operational oceanography. Having built your entire scientific career here and now heading the institute, how do you look at it? I am proud and deeply satisfied. When I was recruited, I was asked about my vision. I was clear — I wanted to use science to serve society. Over the past two decades, we have contributed to saving lives, improving livelihoods, and helping government agencies manage natural disasters and marine-related developments. But, just giving information is not enough. We need to look into how climate change impacts our society, blue economy and agriculture. That is our vision.
