As the new year 2025 approaches, India’s top defense design and development agencies like DRDO and HAL have launched a staggering 2024 in trials and testing of advanced weapon systems, fighter jets, battlefield platforms, drones and missiles. Recorded. Many of these weapons will be almost ready for use in 2025. Some will be ready for use next year as more advanced versions after rigorous testing.
Let’s know about ten major initiatives taken in the field of indigenous defense technology in the year 2024.
1. 11 March Mission Divyastra successfully completed (testing of Agni-5 ICBM with MIRV). DRDO has fielded indigenously developed Agni-5 intercontinental range ballistic missile with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) technology. (ICBM) first successful flight test. The flight test, named Mission Devyastra, was conducted from Odisha’s Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island. This means that an Indian-made missile can now deploy multiple nuclear and thermonuclear warheads at different locations in enemy territory. can The Agni-5 ICBM has a range of about 8,000 km covering all of China and large parts of Europe.
2. On March 28 The first test flight of the Tejas Mark-1A fighter jet took place. The first production series fighter, the LCA Tejas Mark-1A, is an upgraded version of the LCA Mk-1 fighter jet, which has already been inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF). It completed its maiden flight in Bengaluru. The flight of the indigenously developed fighter lasted for 18 minutes. Tejas Mark-1A has indigenously developed advanced AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar.
3. The last test of Agni Prime was completed on April 3. This test of the Agni-Prime (Agni-P) ballistic missile was the second and last night test conducted by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) with the DRDO. All test objectives were met, confirming its reliable functionality, as evidenced by data acquired by multiple range sensors deployed at various locations, including two down-range vessels at the terminal point. The missile is a Maneuverable Re-entry Vehicle (MaRV) capable of carrying nuclear as well as conventional warheads and has anti-ship capability.
4. On July 5, the first 35,000 units of AK-203 rifles were handed over to the Indian Army. Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia, Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), a joint venture between the two countries, produced the first batch of 35,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 automatic assault rifles and handed them over to the Indian Ministry of Defence. . . More than 6.7 lakh AK-203 rifles are being manufactured in India and will eventually be handed over to the Indian Army under the Infantry Modernization Program.
5. On July 7, the Zoravar Light Battle Tank was officially unveiled. The first prototype of the indigenously developed Zorawar tank was officially unveiled at Larsen & Toubro’s Hazira manufacturing division. It is a light battle tank specially designed for high-altitude combat conditions on the India-China border, and has greater mobility than the T-72, T-90 and Arjuna tanks.
6. MPATGM was successfully tested on August 13. DRDO successfully test-fired the Made in India Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM). The test was conducted at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The MPATGM system is well equipped for both day and night operations and has excellent strike capability. Successful penetration tests of the MPATGM’s tandem warhead system during the test demonstrated its effectiveness in defeating contemporary armor protection.
7. INS Arighat was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 29 August. India’s second indigenously developed nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine – INS Arighat was successfully commissioned into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam. It is capable of carrying K-15 Sagarika and K-4 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) up to 750 km and 3500 km respectively. This further strengthened India’s nuclear triad (capability to launch nuclear weapons from air, land and sea). The submarine INS Arighat also successfully test-fired the K-4 nuclear-capable ballistic missile on 27 November 2024, a few months after its induction.
8. Successful verification of local VSHORADS took place on 3rd and 4th October. India successfully test-fired the indigenously developed VSHORADS (Very Short Range Air Defense System) missile at the Pokhran Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Three trials of very short-range air defense systems were conducted by DRDO as part of development trials. The successful tests marked the end of VSHORADS’ development trials. It is capable of eliminating low-altitude aerial threats such as enemy jets, drones and helicopters.
9. On November 6, DRDO and ADE began production of full-scale lethal UCAVs. In a major step in India’s pursuit of indigenous stealth aircraft technology, the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) have developed the deadly Stealth Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV). Full-scale models of DDD have begun to be developed. . The 12-ton drone is capable of stealthy deep penetration attacks in enemy territory.
10. On November 16, India test-fired its first hypersonic missile. India has announced the successful launch of its first long-range hypersonic missile. Developed by DRDO, the missile was intended for the Indian Armed Forces to carry various payloads to a range of over 1500 km. The test made India one of the few nuclear-armed nations capable of developing such a missile. The hypersonic missile tested by India has anti-ship capabilities with a high-altitude warhead capability, which could prove to be a nightmare for enemy warships and submarines in the Indian Ocean region.
