Latest news with #TerminalHighAltitudeAreaDefence
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Pralay and Akash Prime missiles: Why are they relevant for UPSC Exam
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your UPSC Current Affairs knowledge nugget for today on Pralay and Akash Prime missiles. (Relevance: Various missiles, air defence systems, fighter jets, and aircraft types are some of the important topics of defence technology that have been asked by UPSC in prelims. In 2018, a question was asked on Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD). In this context, understanding the unique weapons becomes crucial.) The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted two consecutive successful tests of quasi-ballistic missile Pralay from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha on 28th and 29th July. Three Pune based facilities of the DRDO have played a key role in the development of the tactical weapons system. 1. The flight tests were carried out as a part of user evaluation trials to validate the maximum and minimum range capability of the missile system. 2. 'Pralay is an indigenously-developed solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile employing state-of-the-art guidance and navigation to ensure high precision. The missile is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads against various targets.' said the Ministry of Defence. 3. The first test of Pralay (which means widespread destruction) was conducted in December 2021. The missile is slated to be armed with a conventional warhead and will be inducted into the artillery of the Indian Army. 4. The system has been developed by Hyderabad-based DRDO facility Research Centre Imarat in collaboration with other facilities including three Pune based firms—Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) and Research & Development Establishment, Engineers (R&DE). 5. The ballistic missiles are a category of missiles that utilise projectile motion to deliver warheads. During their arched trajectories, the ballistic missiles are powered during their initial travel but later take a gravity driven path. 6. The quasi ballistic missiles are a class of missiles that have low trajectory and take the ballistic trajectory but can change course and make maneuvers during the flight if required. 1. The Akash Prime missile, which is the upgraded variant of the Akash weapon for the high-altitude region, was successfully tested in Ladakh on 16th July as destroying aerial high-speed unmanned targets with pinpoint accuracy. 2. The trials were done as part of the first Production Model firing trial and will further enable timely induction and enhance the Air Defence potential in high-altitude frontiers of the country, the Ministry of Defence said. 3. The initial version of the Akash missile has an operational range of 27 to 30 kilometers and a flight altitude of around 18 kilometers. The Akash Prime, which underwent its maiden flight test in September 2021 has the same range as that of the earlier version but has a crucial new addition of an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for improved accuracy to hit the aerial targets. 4. Other key enhancements in Akash Prime ensure more reliable performance under low-temperature environments at higher altitudes. These new additions have been made after receiving feedback from armed forces, for the deployment of the system to provide air defence cover for vital installations and sensitive areas in high-altitude regions. The weapon system is customised to operate in altitudes above 4,500 metres, the MoD has said. 5. Notably, the development of the Akash, a short to medium range surface to air missile, was started by the DRDO in the late 1980s as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. The early systems trials, field trials and target neutralisation trials were conducted in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These were followed by the extensive user trials by the Indian Air Force and Indian Army. 6. Named after the original Sanskrit work for sky, Akash symbolised the deterrence in the air. It is primarily designed to provide air defence cover to the vulnerable areas and critical installations. 7. The Akash weapon system can simultaneously engage multiple targets in group mode or in autonomous mode. It has built-in Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) features, which means that it has mechanisms on-board that can counter the electronic systems that deceive the detection systems. 1. Ballistic missiles use projectile motion to deliver warheads to a target. They are powered for a relatively brief time, after which they let the laws of physics take them to their target. These missiles are categorised based on range. Ballistic missiles can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads. Examples of ballistic missiles are Agni I, Agni II, Prithvi I, Prithvi II and Dhanush missiles. Source: UN Office of Disarmament Affairs (Note: This categorisation is not fixed.) 2. Cruise missiles are unmanned vehicles powered by jet engines that can be launched from ground, air, or sea platforms. Examples of cruise missiles are BrahMos,Tomahawk,Kalibr, AGM-86 ALCM and JASSM. 3. The cruise missiles fly at a low distance from the ground while the ballistic missiles follow a parabolic trajectory. Ballistic missiles are easier to track since they have a standard parabolic trajectory, as compared to cruise missiles which can fox air defence systems due to their manoeuvrability. (1) With reference to the Pralay missile, consider the following statements: 1. It is an indigenously developed solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile. 2. This missile is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads against various targets. 3. The first test of Pralay was conducted in 2024. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None (2) Consider the following statements about the Akash Prime missile: 1. It ensures more reliable performance under low-temperature environments at higher altitudes. 2. Akash missile is a short to medium-range surface-to-air missile. 3. It has an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for improved accuracy to hit the aerial targets. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None (Sources: DRDO successfully tests quasi-ballistic tactical missile Pralay as part of user evaluation trials, Akash Prime missile with indigenous seeker successfully tested at high altitude in Ladakh ) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Middle East Eye
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
US asked Saudi Arabia to send missile interceptors to Israel during Iran conflict. Riyadh refused
Israel was running low on Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) interceptors as Iranian ballistic missiles slammed into Israeli cities in June. The US asked Saudi Arabia to turn over interceptors to help the US ally in need. But Riyadh's response was "no", two US officials familiar with the talks told Middle East Eye. "During the war, we asked everyone to donate," one official told MEE. "When that didn't work, we tried deal-making. It wasn't aimed at one country." But Saudi Arabia was well placed to help Israel, and US officials have been keen to emphasise that Iran is a threat to them as well as Israel. The US has already deployed air defence systems to the oil-rich Gulf state, which until recently was targeted by Houthi missile and drone attacks. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters As Iran and Israel were fighting it out, the kingdom was preparing to receive the first THAAD battery it purchased with its own sovereign funds. In fact, the battery was inaugurated by the Saudi military on 3 July, just nine days after Israel and Iran reached a ceasefire. Just before the inauguration, US officials were concerned that a massive Iranian ballistic missile attack on Israel would drain the US stockpile of interceptors to a "horrendous level". Middle East Eye was the first to report that Israel was rapidly depleting the US's stockpile of ballistic missile interceptors as well as Israel's arsenal of Arrow interceptors. The Wall Street Journal and The Guardian later confirmed MEE's report. The Guardian later reported in July that after the conflict, the US was only left with about 25 percent of the Patriot missile interceptors that planners at the Pentagon assess are needed for all US military operations globally. A US official confirmed that classified number to MEE. The US also fired the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) mounted on Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to defend Israel. Iran receives Chinese surface-to-air missile batteries after Israel ceasefire deal Read More » Despite Israel's three-tiered air defence system being backed up by additional American firepower, Iran was able to send missiles into Israeli cities right up until the ceasefire was reached. The Telegraph reported that Iranian missiles directly hit five Israeli military facilities. Analysts say that the American and Israeli air defence systems held up better than some military planners anticipated, given the scale of Iran's barrages, but the Islamic Republic was able to exploit the system's weak spot, particularly as the conflict dragged on. "The weakness is that it is an enterprise where you are at risk of running out of your magazine depth. We only have so many interceptors and the ability to produce them," Douglas Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, previously told MEE. Amid the shortage, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that some US officials even discussed taking THAAD interceptors purchased by Saudi Arabia and diverting them to Israel. One US official confirmed to MEE that the talks took place after Saudi Arabia had rejected polite US overtures and deal-making efforts. Both US officials also told MEE that the US asked the United Arab Emirates to share interceptors with Israel. Neither would confirm if any arrived. The UAE was the first non-US country to purchase and operate the THAAD, which it activated in 2016. Iran's success breaching Israel's sophisticated air defences did not go unnoticed in the more lightly defended Gulf states, experts say. 'Israel paid a price' Scrambling the globe for interceptors has become a common job for a select few US officials as its allies, Israel and Ukraine, both face adversaries who rely on much cheaper ballistic missiles and drones. The US Department of Defense's office for policy has taken the lead in trying to cajole and coax US allies to share interceptors with Israel. The efforts were led by Christopher Mamaux, who is deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Global Partnerships. But Saudi Arabia's refusal to help Israel will sting officials in Washington. Before the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, the US was working to integrate Israel's air defence system with Gulf allies in part of a much hyped "Middle East Nato". Instead, Gulf states sat out the Israel-Iran conflict and felt "vindicated" they had revived relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, analysts in the region told MEE. 'Vindicated': Unscathed by war, Gulf states look to capitalise on Israel and Iran's losses Read More » The Trump administration still says it wants to broker a normalisation deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. But Riyadh and other Arab states are increasingly seeing Israel as an expansionist military power to check - not aid in a time of need. For example, Saudi Arabia lobbied the US for Syrian soldiers to deploy to southern Syria this month. Riyadh was upset that Israel launched strikes on Syrian government forces amid the sectarian clashes in the country. As the smoke clears from the Israel-Iran conflict, the flaws in Israel's missile defence system are being studied, and Iran is rebuilding its air defences with help from China, MEE has reported. As one Arab diplomat told MEE: "From our perspective the war ended well. Israel experienced the price of confronting a strong nation state." And Iran, trying to regroup from a blistering Israeli bombing campaign, is also becoming more dependent on the Gulf, too. "On Israel, the Saudi position has hardened in light of unchecked Israeli actions in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank. With Iran now weakened, the kingdom is repositioning closer to Turkey & may even do the same with Iran," Firas Maksad, Eurasia Group's managing director for the Middle East and North Africa, recently wrote on X.
News18
03-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Saudi Arabia Activates First THAAD Missile Killer, Iran "Fully Prepared" to Counter Israel-US
Last Updated: Crux Videos Saudi Arabia has announced the activation of the first US-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) air defence system and the operational readiness of its first associated unit. Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry said that the system was inaugurated after it was tested within the Kingdom's territories. 'The Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces inaugurated the first unit of the THAAD air defense missile system after completing testing, inspection, and operation of its systems, and conducting collective field training for its personnel within the Kingdom', the defence ministry in Riyadh said in a statement. The Saudi defence ministry stated that the move aims to strengthen the country's air defence capabilities and protect its strategic areas. The battery was reportedly purchased in a $15 billion deal with US President Donald Trump during his first term. The deal included an additional six THAAD batteries, 44 launchers, and 360 interceptors, as per reports. n18oc_world n18oc_crux0:00 INTRODUCTION2:48 WHY SAUDI NEEDS THAAD?5:30 US DEPLETES 20% OF ITS THAAD INTERCEPTORS: REPORT7:34 IRAN READY TO COUNTER ISRAEL WITH 'ALL ITS MIGHT' Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! More from world Zohran Mamdani Blasts "Desperate" Trump, Cites Reason Why The President Wants To 'Arrest' Him | 4K Telangana Factory Blast: Death Toll Climbs- Negligence Or Systemic Failure? | Brass Tacks Russia Makes Battlefield Gains Across Ukraine, Summer Of 2025 Proves To Be Putin's Second Wind? | 4K China Slams Hegseth's "Hegemonic Mindset" Says US "Inciting Conflict", Urges EU to "Foster..." | 4K home videos Saudi Arabia Activates First THAAD Missile Killer, Iran "Fully Prepared" to Counter Israel-US | 4k trending news Illegal Dairies, Shanties Removed From Defence Land Valued At Rs 165 Crore In Delhi Cantonment Srikanth enters quarterfinals of Canada Open Super 300 British aviation team to land in Kerala to repair stranded F-35B fighter jet Merger of schools: HC asks UP govt to justify move with full facts on Friday latest news
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First Post
28-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Iran must tread carefully in framing post-ceasefire strategy
As a Persian proverb warns, 'Bravado without power is like a lion's roar from a sheep's throat,' Iran's defiance may echo loudly, but it risks being drowned out by the consequences of its own overreach read more The ceasefire notwithstanding, Iran has a brand new strategic mix for the near future. The first part of Iran's war strategy includes threatening traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which a fifth of the world's oil flows. This is a high-stakes gamble rooted in the sea denial principles of the British naval theorist Julian Corbett. Yet, despite its calculated bravado, Iran's approach is likely to lead to a protracted conflict it cannot win, exposing its strategic vulnerabilities and risking regional escalation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Corbett's sea denial theory, which emphasises disrupting an adversary's control of maritime routes without seeking outright naval dominance, is evident in three facets of Iran's strategy. First, Iran deploys fast-attack boats armed with anti-ship missiles, designed to harass and deter larger naval forces through asymmetric hit-and-run tactics. Second, its naval assets, including submarines and mine-laying vessels, aim to create uncertainty and raise the costs of operating in the Strait. Third, Iran leverages its coastal geography, studded with missile batteries and radar stations, to project power over the narrow waterway, threatening commercial and military shipping alike. These tactics align with Corbett's vision of a weaker navy frustrating a stronger opponent's freedom of movement. Yet Iran's strategy extends beyond the Strait. It is likely to be flanked by the continued threat of missile strikes on American air bases in Qatar, Bahrain, and Iraq, targeting the US military presence that underpins regional security. These attacks, however, are unlikely to yield decisive results. US bases are fortified, with advanced missile defence systems like Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) capable of intercepting most threats. Moreover, such strikes risk galvanising American resolve and international condemnation without significantly degrading US operational capacity. A critical flaw in Iran's plan lies in the geography of the strait itself. Iran controls only the northern half; the southern half is Oman's jurisdiction. This bilateral control severely limits Iran's ability to enforce a complete blockade without provoking Oman or other Gulf states, which would escalate the conflict into a broader regional war. The US Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, further tilts the balance. With its carrier strike groups, destroyers, and air superiority, the fleet possesses overwhelming firepower to counter Iran's naval and missile threats. While Iran's asymmetric tactics may cause temporary disruptions, they cannot match the sustained power projection of the US Navy. The Fifth Fleet's ability to secure the Strait, supported by allies like Israel, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, ensures that any Iranian blockade would be short-lived. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iran's strategy also risks self-inflicted wounds. By threatening to close the Strait, Iran endangers its own energy exports, which account for a significant portion of its revenue. China, Iran's largest oil buyer, would view such disruptions with alarm, as Beijing relies on stable Gulf energy supplies. Unlike Saddam Hussein, who recklessly attacked oil infrastructure during the Iran-Iraq War, Iran is unlikely to repeat this mistake, aware that alienating China and other trading partners would compound its economic woes. Compounding Iran's challenges is its weakened regional position. Its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah, are diminished, with the former reeling from Israel's campaigns and the latter constrained by Lebanon's internal chaos. Iran's influence in Syria and Iraq has waned, eroded by local resistance and external pressures. Domestically, Iran's military is hamstrung by sanctions, outdated equipment, and a lack of air superiority—a critical disadvantage against the US and its allies. Yet this weakness makes Iran dangerous. With its prestige at stake, Tehran may feel compelled to double down and break the ceasefire at the earliest. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iran's gambit in the Strait of Hormuz is thus a paradox: a bold strategy born of vulnerability. As a Persian proverb warns, 'Bravado without power is like a lion's roar from a sheep's throat.' Iran's defiance may echo loudly, but it risks being drowned out by the consequences of its own overreach. The writer is a senior journalist with expertise in defence. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
India.com
20-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Three Muslim countries will become the cause of Iran's destruction, 40000 US soldiers on alert in…, Trump in fear of…, the countries are...
Iran's missiles reaching over 2,300 km to hit Israel in just minutes because… technology behind it is… Tehran: The conflict between Iran and Israel entered its seventh day on Friday, the world's eyes are fixed on the United States as it has indicated to join the war. Meanwhile, Iran has threatened that it will not back down from targeting American bases in West Asia. Tehran has already shown its strength by launching its lethal missiles on major cities of Israel. Now, the question arises that if US jumps into the war and support Tel Aviv, how would Tehran retaliate? As per a report by The Guardian, after Donald Trump approved the plans to attack Iran, the US defence department is considering the ways to attack the Middle East country. Amidst the tension, America has deployed its 40,000 soldiers in the Gulf region, including UAE, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, on high alert. Iran Has Options It is worth noting that, Tehran has several options to retaliate against US and missile attack is the most prominent among them. Tehran has several lethal ballistic missies and it has already shown its might by firing hundreds of ballistic missiles on Israel. According to US intelligence officials, these missile attacks can be carried out by Iran on American military bases in Arab countries. America has at least 20 military bases in West Asia and surrounding regions, most of which fall within the range of 2,000 kms of Iran's Sejjil-2 ballistic missile. In such a scenario, expert believe that the US bases in Iraq and Syria will be the first target and after than Tehran may attack bases located in Arab countries. Attack At Sea Notably, the US has stationed two large aircraft carriers in West Asia and the third war ship is on its way. Iran can also target these ships. The Strait of Hormuz, which is located between the Arabian Peninsula and the western shore of the Persian Gulf, is the place where Iran can show its strength there. The recent attacks on Israel have shown that how difficult it is to stop Iran's ballistic missiles. In such a situation, the US has started deploying its Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defence in West Asia to stop these lethal ballistic missiles. The Pantagon has deployed its patriot batteries in OIraq
