Anti-tank Guided Missile Weapon System
Relevance: GS III: Sci & Tech
Table of Contents
ToggleWhy in News: DRDO & Indian Army conduct successful trials of indigenous Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile Weapon System.
About ATGMs
Anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) are specialized munitions designed to target and destroy heavily armored military vehicles.
Size Variants:
- Small ATGMs are portable by a single individual and can be shoulder-launched.
- Medium-sized ATGMs require a team for transportation and firing.
- Large ATGMs are mountable on aircraft or main battle tanks, enabling long-range launches.
Technology Advancements:
- Historically, ATGMs necessitated close proximity to the target due to limited penetration power.
- Modern ATGMs utilize advanced technology to inflict damage from significant distances, affecting light and medium armored vehicles.
Warhead Types:
- Various warhead types are utilized based on target size and armor thickness.
- Notably, the High Explosive Anti Tank (HEAT) warhead features a penetrating metal spike effective against armored vehicles.
Guidance Systems:
- First-generation ATGMs required manual guidance, with operators steering the missile to the target.
- Second-generation ATGMs employed semi-automatic guidance, requiring operators to maintain target sight until impact.
- Third-generation ATGMs incorporate sophisticated guidance systems like electro-optical imagers (IIR), lasers, or W-band radar seekers, enabling “fire-and-forget” capabilities.
Anti-Tank Missiles in India
Missile Name | Description |
DRDO ATM | Developed by DRDO, it’s a first-generation wire-guided ATGM with a range of 1.6 km and a 106 mm HEAT warhead. |
AMOGHA | Bharat Dynamics’ guided ATGM under development with a range of 2.8 km. It comes in land and infrared versions, utilizing “thermal intelligent vision” for target acquisition. |
NAG | Third-generation Indian ATGM with a range of 500 m to 20 km. Features fire-and-forget capability and five variants including land, helicopter-launched, man-portable, and air-launched. |
HELINA/Dhruvastra | Designed for ALH, this ATGM has a 7 km range and can defeat conventional and explosive reactive armor. |
SANT | Smart Stand-off Anti-Tank Missile for Mi-35 Helicopter, developed for Air Force anti-tank operations. |
MPATGM | Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile with a 2.5 km range, offering fire-and-forget and top attack capabilities for infantry use. |
ATGM for MBT Arjun | Laser-guided munition launched from Arjun tank’s 120mm rifled gun, intended to defeat Explosive Reactive Armour-protected targets. |
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Relevance: GS III – Conservation
Why in News: The Odisha government is set to reintroduce tigers in Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary and supplement the population in Similipal Tiger Reserve within the next four months to revive the endangered big cat population.
About Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary
- Geographic Location: Situated in the Bargarh district of Odisha, near Sambalpur city and adjacent to the Hirakud Dam, lies the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Total Area: Covering a vast expanse of 346.91 square kilometers, the sanctuary provides ample space for the conservation of wildlife and their natural habitats.
- Flora and Fauna Diversity: The sanctuary hosts a rich diversity of flora and fauna, including more than 40 mammal species, 200 bird species, 40 reptile species, 12 amphibian species, 42 fish species, 39 odonate species, 85 butterfly species, and 38 spider species.
- Aquatic Biodiversity: Notably, the sanctuary stands out for its support of both terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity. The presence of the Hirakud reservoir adds to its allure, attracting numerous migratory waterfowl during the winter months.
- Medicinal Flora: Within its bounds thrive over 250 plant species, many of which possess significant ethnobotanical and medicinal properties, contributing to the sanctuary’s ecological and medicinal value.
Havana syndrome
Relevance: GS III– Science & Technology
Why in News: Recently, Russia has rejected allegations from a collaborative media inquiry that connected a Russian military intelligence division to the ‘Havana syndrome,’ a condition that impacted US diplomats and spies around the world.
Understanding Havana Syndrome
It is refers to a cluster of mental health symptoms reportedly experienced by US intelligence and embassy personnel in various countries.
Origins and Development
- Emergence in Havana: Beginning in late 2016, American diplomats and other personnel stationed in Havana reported feeling unwell following exposure to strange sounds and sensations.
- Symptoms Identification: These symptoms, such as nausea, severe headaches, fatigue, dizziness, sleep disturbances, and hearing impairment, have since been categorized as “Havana Syndrome.”
Causes
- Initial Suspicions: Initially, suspicions centered on a sonic attack orchestrated by Cuban intelligence.
- Scientific Insights: However, the National Academy of Sciences proposed that pulsed microwaves might be accountable for these symptoms.
- Microwave Weaponry: There are suspicions that high-powered microwaves delivered via a “microwave weapon” could be the source of the symptoms.
- Microwave weapons operate as direct energy weapons, utilizing beams of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation to induce discomfort by heating the water in a person’s skin.
Direct Energy Weapon (DEW)
Mechanism of Action
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Incidents in India
- Single Incident Recorded: Up to July 2023, the lone documented instance of Havana Syndrome within India pertains to the 2021 incident involving a US intelligence officer.
- Lack of Awareness: Indian security authorities have asserted that they possess no knowledge of any agency possessing microwave-based counter-espionage technology.
Countries with Microwave Weapons:
Some countries that are known or reported to be developing directed-energy weapons:
- China: China has displayed its microwave weapon, called the Poly WB-1, at an air show in 2014.
- United States: The United States has also developed a prototype microwave weapon, called the Active Denial System (ADS). The ADS is a non-lethal weapon that is designed to deter crowds or riots by creating an uncomfortable heating sensation on the skin.
In addition to China and the United States, several other countries are reported to be developing directed-energy weapons:
- Russia: Russia has been researching and developing directed-energy weapons for decades. While specifics are not public knowledge, they are believed to be pursuing various DEW applications.
- France, Germany, United Kingdom: These European nations are also investing in DEW research, with a focus on both defensive and offensive capabilities.
- India, Israel, Pakistan: These countries are reportedly developing DEWs to potentially counter drone threats and other emerging technologies.