As the new year 2025 is approaching, India’s premier defense design and development agencies like DRDO and HAL recorded an astonishing record in trials and testing of cutting-edge weapon systems, warplanes, battlefield platforms, drones and missiles in the year 2024. Is. Many of these weapons will be almost ready for use in 2025. Some will be ready to be used as more advanced versions after rigorous testing next year.
Let us know about ten big steps taken in the field of indigenous defense technology in the year 2024-
1. on March 11 Mission Divyastra successfully completed (testing of Agni-5 ICBM with MIRV). DRDO conducted the first successful flight test of indigenously developed Agni-5 Intercontinental Range Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology. The flight test named Mission Divyastra was conducted from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. This means that a single missile made by India can now deploy multiple nuclear and thermonuclear warheads at different places in enemy territory. The range of Agni-5 ICBM is about 8000 kilometers which covers the whole of China and large parts of Europe.
2. on 28th March The first test flight of Tejas Mark-1A fighter aircraft took place. The first production series fighter aircraft, the LCA Tejas Mark-1A, is an advanced version of the LCA Mk-1 fighter jet, which has already been inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF). It completed its first flight in Bengaluru. The flight of the indigenously developed fighter aircraft lasted for 18 minutes. Tejas Mark-1A has indigenously developed advanced AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar.
3. The final testing of Agni-Prime was completed on April 3. This test of Agni-Prime (Agni-P) ballistic missile was the second and last night test conducted by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) with DRDO. All test objectives were met, confirming its reliable functionality, as confirmed by data captured by multiple range sensors deployed at various locations, including two downrange vessels positioned at the terminal point. The missile is capable of carrying a Maneuverable Reentry Vehicle (MaRV) nuclear as well as conventional warheads, and has potential anti-ship capabilities.
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, manufactured the first batch of 35,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 automatic assault rifles and handed them over to the Indian Defense Ministry. 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 programme.
5. On July 7, the Zorawar Light Battle Tank was officially unveiled. The first prototype of indigenously developed Zorawar tank was officially unveiled at Hazira Manufacturing Division of Larsen & Toubro. It is a light battle tank specifically designed for high altitude combat conditions on the India-China border, and its mobility is far superior to the T-72, T-90 and Arjun tanks.
6. MPATGM was successfully tested on 13 August. DRDO successfully test fired Made-in-India Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM). This test was conducted at Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The MPATGM system is well equipped for both day and night operations and has excellent strike capability. The successful penetration tests of the MPATGM’s tandem warhead system during the test demonstrated its efficiency in defeating contemporary armor protection.
7. On 29 August, INS Arighat was inducted into the Indian Navy. 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) with ranges of 750 km and 3500 km respectively. This further strengthened India’s nuclear triad (the ability to fire nuclear weapons from air, land and sea). The INS Arighat submarine also successfully test-fired the K-4 nuclear capable ballistic missile on November 27, 2024, just a few months after its induction.
8. Successful verification of indigenous VSHORADS took place on 3rd and 4th October. India successfully test-fired indigenously developed VSHORADS (Very Short Range Air Defense System) missiles at the Pokhran Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Three trials of the Very Short Range Air Defense System were conducted by DRDO as part of development trials. The successful tests marked the end of the developmental trials of VSHORADS. It is capable of eliminating low altitude air threats such as enemy jets, drones and helicopters.
9. On November 6, DRDO and ADE started manufacturing full-scale lethal UCAVs. In a significant step in India’s pursuit of indigenous stealth aircraft technologies, the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) have begun manufacturing full-scale models of lethal stealth Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) drones. Did. This drone weighing 12 tons will be capable of carrying out deep penetration attacks secretly in enemy territory.
10. On November 16, India tested its first hypersonic missile. India announced the successful test of its first long-range hypersonic missile. Developed by DRDO, this missile was intended to carry various payloads for a distance of more than 1500 kilometers for the Indian Armed Forces. This test made India one of the few nuclear-armed countries to develop such a missile. The hypersonic missile tested by India has anti-ship capabilities with very high loitering warhead capabilities, which could prove to be a nightmare for enemy warships and submarines in the Indian Ocean region.
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