Hypersonic Missile | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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    • April 2024

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    News in Shorts

    Posted 21 May 2024

    14 min read

    Hypersonic Missile
    • Russian President confirmed that the 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missile had been used in battle. 
    • Hypersonic Missile
      • Missile that can travel at Mach-5 or faster, or at least five times the speed of sound.
      • They fly at lower altitudes than ballistic missiles, making them harder to track.
      • Their extreme speed and maneuverability make them very difficult to defend against.
      • Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGV) and Hypersonic Cruise Missiles are two types of hypersonic weapons systems.
    • Tags :
    • HYPERSONIC MISSILE
    • Hypersonic Glide Vehicles
    • Hypersonic Cruise Missiles

    Crystal Maze 2
    • The Indian Air Force has successfully tested a new version of a medium-range ballistic missile
    • About Crystal Maze 2 (aka ROCKS):
      • Origin: medium-range ballistic missile developed by Israel.
      • Range: strike range of over 250 km
      • Type: Air-to-surface missile
      • Aim: designed to strike high-value stationary and relocatable targets in GPS-denied environments
      • The missile can target long-range radar and air defense systems.
    • Tags :
    • CRYSTAL MAZE 2
    • medium-range ballistic missile
    • Air-to-surface missile

    C-Dome Defense System
    • Israel deployed C-Dome defense system for the first time.
    • About C-Dome
      • It is a naval version of the Iron Dome air defense system used to shield against advanced ballistic, aerial, and surface-to-surface threats.
        • Iron Dome is a missile defense system that can protect deployed and maneuvering forces, as well as civilian areas against a wide range of indirect and aerial threats.
      • Handles saturation attacks by engaging multiple targets simultaneously, with short reaction time.
      • Unlike Iron Dome which has its own radar, C-Dome is integrated into the ship’s radar to detect incoming targets.
    • Tags :
    • C-Dome
    • C-DOME DEFENSE SYSTEM

    Exercises in News
    • Exercise ‘Gagan Shakti’
      • The Indian Air Force is conducting its biggest exercise ‘Gagan Shakti’ at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer district.
      • In the exercise, all the major fighter aircraft and modern helicopters of the Air Force will demonstrate their striking capabilities.
    • Exercise Poorvi Lehar or XPOL: The Indian Navy conducted Exercise Poorvi Lehar on the East Coast under the Operational Control of Eastern Naval Command.
    • Tiger Triumph 2024: Harbour Phase of the exercise Tiger Triumph is being conducted at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). 
      • Tiger Triumph is a Bilateral Tri-Service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Amphibious Exercise between India and the US.
    • Tags :
    • Tiger Triumph 2024
    • Exercise ‘Gagan Shakti’
    • Exercise Poorvi Lehar
    • EXERCISES IN NEWS

    Cyber Risk: Concern For Macro-Financial Stability
    • Rising Cyber Threats Pose Serious Concerns for Macro-Financial Stability, warns International Monetary Fund (IMF). 
    • According to IMF’s Global Financial Stability Report 2024, 
      • Risk of extreme losses from cyber incidents has increased to $2.5 billion. 
      • Number of cyberattacks has almost doubled since COVID-19 pandemic.
      • Attacks on financial firms account for nearly one-fifth of total, of which banks are most exposed. 
    • Reasons Behind Rising Cyber Incidents in Financial Sector
      • Increased digital financial services offer target-rich environment for hackers. 
      • Insider threats i.e. users have authorized access to assets and misuse their privileges deliberately or accidentally for monetary gain.
      • Cybersecurity skills gap leaving financial firms vulnerable to cyber threats.
      • Geopolitical tensions. E.g. Surge in cyber-attack after Russia’ invasion of Ukraine.
    • Impact of Cyber Attacks on Macro-financial Stability
      • Data breach lead to loss of confidence in viability of targeted institution, resulting in high deposit outflows.
      • Cyber-attacks on payment networks can halt trading, online banking etc., and undermine country's financial stability.
      • Cyber-attacks propagate rapidly within a network of financial systems through financial linkages, thus impacting market stability.
    • Policy Recommendations
      • Strengthen reporting of cyber incidents by financial firms to supervisory agencies.
      • Financial firms should develop and test response and recovery procedures to remain operational in face of cyber incidents.
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    • Tags :
    • Cybercrime
    • CYBER RISK

    Initiatives for Prevention of Crimes Against Peacekeepers
    • India-led Group of Friends (GOF) launched a new database designed to record crimes against Peacekeepers & monitor progress in holding perpetrators accountable. 
      • The GOF was launched by India in 2022 to promote accountability for crimes against the Blue Helmets during its presidency of the UN Security Council
    • UN peacekeeping forces are employed to maintain or re-establish peace in an area of armed conflict. However, they sometimes face violence in deployed regions.
      • These forces are also referred to as Blue Helmets as they are equipped in blue-coloured helmets.
      • They won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1988.
    • Tags :
    • Peacekeepers
    • Group of Friends

    International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)
    • India’s Jagjit Pavadia has been re-elected to INCB for the third term from 2025 to 2030.
    • About INCB
      • It is independent and quasi-judicial monitoring body for implementation of UN international drug control conventions.
      • It was established in 1968 in accordance with Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961.
      • Members:  13 members (elected by UN Economic and Social Council for five years)
      • Its functions are laid down in:
        • Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961.
        • Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971.
        • United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988. 
    • Tags :
    • INCB
    • NARCOTICS

    Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) Flight Tested
    • Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted test from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur on the eastern coast.
    • About ITCM
      • Developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of DRDO.
      • It is a long-range subsonic cruise missile powered by an indigenous propulsion system.
        • The propulsion system is developed by Gas Turbine Research Establishment.
        • Cruise missiles are unmanned vehicles that remain within the atmosphere and can fly as low as a few meters off the ground.
        • Subsonic cruise missile flies at a speed lesser than that of sound (around 0.8 MACH)
    • Reasons for Missile and Satellite launch from the Eastern coast
      • A satellite launched from the sites near the equator towards the east direction gets an initial boost equal to the velocity of Earth's surface. 
        • It helps in cutting down the cost of rockets used to launch the satellites.
      • In case of the failure of satellite/missile, the Bay of Bengal provides a safe corridor that does not fall on built-up hinterland. 
      • Does not have major international maritime or airline routes crisscrossing testing..
        • During test launches, the few existing routes can be closed temporarily without causing much disruption.
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    • Tags :
    • DRDO
    • long-range subsonic cruise missile
    • ITCM

    Agni Prime Successfully Flight-Tested
    • Agni-prime the new generation ballistic missile flight tested successfully.
    • It was conducted by Strategic Forces Command (SFC), along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island.
      • SFC is responsible for the management and administration of the country's tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile.
    • About Agni prime
      • Two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile, with a maximum range of 1,000 to 2,000 km.
      • A nuclear-capable advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles.
      • Lighter than all the earlier Agni series of missiles and will be guided by inertial navigation systems (INS) based on advanced ring-laser gyroscopes.
      • First of the new generation of missiles after the end of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP).

    About IGMDP

    • It was started in 1983 to enable India to attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile technology.
    • The missiles developed under the program were
      • Short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Prithvi.
      • Intermediate-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni.
      • Short-range low-level surface-to-air missile Trishul.
      • Medium-range surface-to-air missile Akash.
      • Third-generation anti-tank missile Nag.
    • Significance
      • As the warhead is preloaded, it offers the ability to launch with minimal preparation time.
      • It can be stored for many years together, with minimum inspection at periodic intervals.
      • It has very high accuracy, which is useful for precise targeting.
    • Tags :
    • ballistic missile
    • AGNI PRIME

    Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation (SPACE)
    • SPACE, a premier testing and evaluation hub for sonar systems for Indian Navy, set up by DRDO.
    • About SPACE
      • It will consist of two distinct assemblages – 
        • a platform which floats on water surface, 
        • a submersible platform which can be lowered to any depth upto 100 m.
    • Significance
      • Evaluation of sonar systems, allowing for quick deployment and easy recovery of scientific package.
      • Help to survey, sampling, and data collection of air, surface, mid-water, and reservoir floor parameters using modern scientific instrumentation.
      • Boost anti-submarine warfare research capabilities.
    • Tags :
    • sonar systems
    • SPACE
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