During the inexplicable times of the pandemic, DRDO’s tireless efforts have helped the nation to fight efficiently against the virus, alongside fulfilling its duties in the core defence sector.

DRDO is all set for the trails of their new missile ‘Agni Prime’ in the coming days. The ‘Agni Prime’ is the advanced version of the ‘Agni-1’ missile.

Features of ‘Agni Prime’

According to available data, the ‘Agni Prime’ is a short-range ballistic missile that will have a range of 1000 km to 1500 km and will have advanced features in agility and road mobility. It is a surface to a surface missile that can carry a payload of around 1,000 Kg or a nuclear warhead. The double stage missile will be lighter and much sleeker than its predecessor ‘Agni-1’.

Last year, the DRDO launched 12 missiles in a span of six weeks between September and October. Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) was the last missile technology that was tested from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) of Odisha coast on March 5.

DRDO initiates the trials of advanced stealth SWiFT drone

DRDO has initiated the ground trials of SWiFT, 1-ton All Up Weight (AUW) Technological Demonstrator for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Stealth Bomber). The trials will be conducted on the first assembled prototype, which will be involved in a series of a low, medium, and high-speed taxi testing to fathom aircraft’s performance and instrumentation by a ground control station to ascertain the functionality of the unmanned vehicle when it reaches a high speed.

SWiFT has been powered by an NPO Saturn 36MT turbofan engine, which is manufactured by NPO Saturn Russia, for powering advanced trainers, light attack aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that will be later replaced by Gas Turbine Research Establishment’s (GTRE) Small Turbo Fan Engine (STFE).

DRDO’s efforts during COVID-19

India is continuously heading towards life-saving inventions in the field of technology and DRDO has been leading from the front. The organization has developed around 52 new technologies which include the anti-Covid drug 2DG, ventilator, PPE, mask, and pressure swing adsorption.