๐ Topic 05 of 6 ยท Chapter 02 ยท Defence Technology & DRDO
Tejas, Arjun, INS Vikrant & INS Arihant
Indigenous defence platforms โ complete notes for UPSC & PSC exams.
โ๏ธ Tejas โ Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) โ 4th generation multirole fighter |
| Developed by | HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) + ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency, DRDO) |
| Inducted into IAF | 2016 (Tejas Mk1); 2023 (Tejas Mk1A) |
| Engine | Single GE F404 engine (American); future: Kaveri engine (indigenous) |
| Speed | Mach 1.8 (supersonic) |
| Orders | India ordered 83 Tejas Mk1A aircraft (2021) |
| Purpose | Replaces ageing MiG-21 fleet |
๐ก๏ธ Arjun โ Main Battle Tank (MBT)
- Developed by DRDO’s CVRDE (Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment), Chennai
- Weight: 68 tonnes; 120mm rifled gun
- Inducted into Indian Army in 2004
- Arjun Mk1A โ upgraded version with 72 improvements; inducted 2023
- India also uses T-90 (Russian) and T-72 tanks
โ INS Vikrant โ India’s First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier
- Commissioned: September 2, 2022
- Weight: 45,000 tonnes
- Built at: Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kerala
- Can carry: 30 aircraft (MiG-29K, Tejas Naval, helicopters)
- India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier
- INS Vikramaditya (refurbished Russian carrier) is India’s other aircraft carrier
๐ INS Arihant โ Nuclear Submarine
- India’s first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN)
- Commissioned: 2016
- Completes India’s nuclear triad (land + sea + air)
- Carries K-15 (750 km) and K-4 (3,500 km) submarine-launched ballistic missiles
- INS Arighat = second SSBN; commissioned 2024
- Nuclear triad ensures second-strike capability
โญ Key Facts:
โข Tejas = LCA = HAL = 4th generation = replaces MiG-21 = 83 Mk1A ordered
โข Arjun = MBT = CVRDE Chennai = 68 tonnes
โข INS Vikrant = first indigenous aircraft carrier = 2022 = Cochin Shipyard
โข INS Arihant = first nuclear submarine = 2016 = completes nuclear triad
โข Mission Shakti (2019) = ASAT test = India = 4th country with ASAT capability
โข Tejas = LCA = HAL = 4th generation = replaces MiG-21 = 83 Mk1A ordered
โข Arjun = MBT = CVRDE Chennai = 68 tonnes
โข INS Vikrant = first indigenous aircraft carrier = 2022 = Cochin Shipyard
โข INS Arihant = first nuclear submarine = 2016 = completes nuclear triad
โข Mission Shakti (2019) = ASAT test = India = 4th country with ASAT capability