In 2024, India saw some of the most groundbreaking achievements, ranging from the withdrawal of troops from the border with China along the Line of Actual Control to the first test flight of the new variant Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A to the test of a hypersonic missile. , The country’s defense and security apparatus is developed across land, sea, air and space sectors.
Here are the top milestones in India’s defense and security apparatus
Disruption on the border with China
In October, the Center announced that India and China had agreed on the “final phase of troop disengagement” regarding patrolling arrangements in the Depsang and Demchok areas. The first is in northern Ladakh, while the second is in the east. Pangong Tso, along with other areas such as Galwan Valley and Gogra Hotsprings, has been the subject of controversy over differing perceptions of the boundary line.
In 2020, troops from nuclear-armed countries clashed in the Galwan Valley, killing 20 Indian soldiers and an officer. Troops withdrew from most areas but Depsang and Demchok remained disputed.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed the major announcement of disengagement at the NDTV World Summit that day, saying, “We reached an agreement on patrolling, and we are back to the status quo of 2020. With this, we can say that China “Disengagement has been done with.” The whole… There are areas where, for various reasons after 2020, they blocked us, we blocked them, we have now reached an understanding that will allow patrolling as we were doing till 2020.
A month later in November, the Indian Army “successfully completed” patrolling at one of the patrolling points in Depsang area of ​​Ladakh following a consensus today.
Mission Divyastra
India successfully conducted the first flight test in March Agni-5 intercontinental ballistic missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs). The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully tested the MIRV technology, which was in development for several years, putting India in the elite list of countries that have the capability.
DRDO scientists have been working on Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV) technologies for many years. This technology allows a single missile like Agni-5 to carry multiple warheads and target locations independently. The DRDO developed system is equipped with indigenous avionics system and high accuracy sensor package, which ensures that the re-entry vehicles reach the target points within the desired accuracy.
Agni-5 is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that travels into space before re-entering the atmosphere.
‘Project Zorawar’ – India’s answer to China in Ladakh
In July, the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) developed a light tank in a record two years, which will become the Army’s high-altitude light tank to counter China’s ZQ-15 in Ladakh. Meets the need.
The tank was put on advanced stage More tests will be added soon. Light tank Zorawar weighs 25 tonnes. This is the first time, a fresh tank has been designed And prepared it for trial in such a short time.
About 59 of these tanks will initially be provided to the Army and will be the front runner for the flagship program of 295 more armored vehicles.
Tejas MK1A was airborne
On March 28, Group Captain KK Venugopal (Retd), Chief Test Pilot, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, flew the first aircraft of the Tejas MK1A series, staying in the air for 18 minutes. This was a major milestone in India’s LCA project, which aims to replace the existing fleet of MiGs and other aging aircraft in the Indian Air Force.
“The Tejas MK1A will have advanced electronic radar, combat and communication systems, additional combat capability and improved maintenance facilities,” HAL said.
Indian Air Force has ordered 83 Tejas MK1A Variant in a deal worth Rs 36,468 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. In November last year, the Defense Acquisition Council had approved the project to procure 97 more Tejas jets for the Indian Air Force.
Commissioning of INS Arighat
India launched INS Arighat on 29 AugustSecond of the Arihant class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, in service.
The submarine will strengthen India’s nuclear triad, enhance nuclear deterrence, help establish strategic balance and peace in the region and play a decisive role in the country’s security.
The Defense Ministry said the country’s nuclear submarines have the distinction of having indigenous systems and equipment, which were conceived, designed, manufactured and integrated by Indian scientists, industry and naval personnel.
nuclear missile test firing
A few months after the commissioning of INS Arighat, India tested a nuclear submarine-launched ballistic missile with a range of 3,500 km. K-4 missile launched in November and will provide India with a second strike capability.
This underlined India’s nuclear triad capability, putting it in a small group of countries that can fire nuclear missiles from land, air and undersea.
According to reports, this was the first test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
hypersonic missile test
India had successfully tested it in November Long-range hypersonic missile from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh described the missile test as a historic moment as it puts India among the select group of countries having the capability to develop such critical technologies.
@DRDO_India has successfully flight tested its long-range hypersonic missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on 16 November 2024.
Defense Minister Shri @rajnathsingh Congratulated DRDO, Armed Forces and Industry for the successful flight… pic.twitter.com/wq7yM2YS9f
– Defense Minister’s Office/RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) 17 November 2024
He congratulated the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the armed forces and the industry for what he described as a “fantastic” achievement.
Commissioning of new Navy helicopters
In March, a squadron of MH-60 Romeo helicopters INS Garuda, a naval air station and the “cradle of naval aviation” was commissioned at Kochi. Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 334 is the newest air squadron of the Navy and is home to the submarine hunters MH-60R. Captain M Abhishek Ram will be the Commanding Officer of INAS 334 Squadron.
The MH-60R, manufactured by Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky, is the naval version of the US Blackhawk helicopter, which is currently one of the most powerful anti-submarine helicopters in the world and is considered a game changer due to its anti-submarine/anti-surface capability. Capabilities and command, and control capabilities.
India ordered 24 MH-60R in a $905 million government-to-government deal with the US. Two helicopters were formally handed over to the Indian Navy by the US counterpart in 2021.
C295 aircraft manufacturing facility
PM Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez jointly inaugurate the Tata Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 transport aircraft At the Tata Advanced Systems Limited campus in Vadodara, Gujarat in October 2024.
The C-295 is a 5-10 ton capacity transport aircraft with contemporary technology that will replace the Indian Air Force’s aging Avro-748 aircraft.
In September 2021, India signed a Rs 21,935 crore contract with Airbus Defense and Space SA, Spain, for the supply of 56 aircraft – 16 aircraft will be brought from Spain in fly-away condition and 40 will be built in India by TASL. Six of the 16 aircraft have already been inducted into the Indian Air Force in 11 squadrons based at Vadodara.
The last one will be delivered by August 2025. The first made-in-India C-295 is expected to be launched from the final assembly line facility in Vadodara by September 2026 and the rest by August 2031.
Test firing of Rudram-II
In May, India successfully tested air-surface anti-radiation Missile from Su-30MKI fighter jet. Rudram-II anti-radiation supersonic missile has been developed by Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
The Rudram-II is the latest variant after the Mark-1 variant was tested by the Su-30MKI, the backbone of India’s fighter fleet, four years ago.
The flight test met all test objectives, validating the propulsion system and control and guidance algorithms. Rudram missile is the first indigenously developed anti-radiation missile designed to target enemy ground radar (surveillance, tracking) and communication stations in Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) missions.
Rudram-II is one of the best and is aimed at neutralizing multiple types of enemy assets. India currently operates the Russian Kh-31, an anti-radiation missile. Rudram missiles will replace the Kh-31s.
