CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -BENGALURU: The Indian army, under emergency procurement powers has signed a contract for more than 100 explosive-laden drones - to be manufactured in Bengaluru - that are to be used as force multipliers in Balakot type of missions.It will have a range of about 100km.

Detailed explanation-2: -About 400 drones are being procured for logistical support and around 1, 500 for different types of surveillance. The drones being used for logistics can carry loads of between 5kg and 40kg and will mostly be used to carry different types of supplies to troops in forward posts.

Detailed explanation-3: -Netra is a lightweight (1.5 kg), autonomous UAV for ISR, developed by DRDO and IdeaForge, a Mumbai-based private firm. This is the first such success story where a private player demonstrated capabilities for manufacturing military-grade drones.

Detailed explanation-4: -Months after the Indian Army announced the induction of “swarm drones” into its mechanised forces, the Navy chief, Admiral R Hari Kumar, reiterated the importance of autonomous systems in creating a “future-proof” Indian Navy (IN).

Detailed explanation-5: -High-speed performance - Due to rapid flight speed capability, SkyStriker can reach a distance of 20km within ten minutes. Upon reaching the target area, the UAV can loiter and pursue the target for upto 2 hours with a 5kg warhead or upto1 hour with a 10kg warhead.