• India launches third indigenous destroyer, INS Chennai
April 01, 2010
India launched its third destroyer, INS Chennai at Mazgoan Docks Ltd (MDL). The 130-meter long indigenously designed warship, to be constructed under the code name Project 15-Alpha, will be inducted into Navy in August 2013. The advanced ship will have stealth features and will be armed with supersonic BrahMos surface-to-surface missile system. The construction of the ship will use a ‘Pontoon Assisted Launching’ method, in collaboration with Baltisky Zavod of St. Petersburg, Russia.
• HAL’s Light Combat Helicopter makes successful maiden flight
March 29, 2010
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd’s (HAL) Light Combat Helicopter, made its first flight test at its Helicopter Complex, Bangalore. The 5.5 ton indigenously designed and developed attack helicopter, a derivative of HAL’s Advanced Light Helicopter, flew for 20 minutes and performance of various parameters was found ‘satisfactory’. The maiden test marks the culmination of three years of design and developmental efforts of HAL. The helicopter, which features “Weapon Systems, Mission Systems and Crashworthy Wheel Landing Gear with in-built Stealth characteristics, will be inducted into the armed forces after initial operational clearance by December 2012.
• ISRO aims for low-cost access to space
April 04, 2010
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is working on GSLV Mk3 that will bring down the cost of accessing space. The Chairman of IRSO K. Radhakrishnan noted that GSLV Mk3 with indigenous cryogenic technology will reduce the launch cost by a half from present 20,000 per kg. The Chairman also noted that India’s human space flight programme will put two Indians in an orbit around the Earth. A project report has been submitted to the government for approval.
