OFB's 7.62x51mm Belt fed LMG..

Ground based mobile ELINT system

Day before yesterday's pic of the DRDO SFDR testfire

SFDR utilizes a unique ramjet propulsion system solid fuel, variable flow, ducted rocket flight control system there by allowing it to engage targets at very long ranges.

This allows the missile with thrust all the way to target intercept, with a very tight NEZ.

Unlike traditional rocket motor,SFDR can throttle its engine during different phases of flight especially while approaching its target it can throttle up and able to maneuver and attack even fast maneuvering targets.

Also DRDO for the first time demonstrated nozzle less booster technology.

Till date only MBDA meteor utilizes SFDR technology

Another pic of the drdo SFDR testfire

Ducted Ramjet Propulsion Technology is capable of producing higher thrust levels during acceleration phase due to higher maximum fuel flow rate which results into shorter acceleration time to hypersonic cruise conditions.

This SFDR technology demonstrator testfired consists of 2 section

1. SFDR section
2. Ground launch booster section ( darker in colour )

What is interesting is that there r two boosters in this test article

1. Integrated nozzle less booster inside the SFDR meaning it is not jettisonable.

2. Ground launch booster which is jettisonable

The solid fuel ducted ramjet SFDR with the integrated nozzle less booster weights 250kg while the ground launch booster weights 450kg.

SFDR carries only the fuel while the oxidizer is sucked in from the atmosphere.
Ground launch booster carries both the fuel and the oxidizer.

The ground launch booster is used to propel the SFDR to Mach 3 from launch at sea level after which it is then jettisoned. The integral nozzle less booster of the SFDR then fires to its max speed and the ducted ramjet takes over to provide throttleable thrust as per requirements , the SFDR now is able to function as a booster/sustainer and provide thrust spikes when required.

Still it will require lots of testing inorder to even qualify it to be included for the real weapon systems.

Very generally speaking

A normal rocket motor after achieving its max velocity after booster burnout will start loosing velocity.

A multi pulse rocket motor will be able to generate its max velocity again only at is terminal stage.

A SFDR with nozzle less integrated booster will be able to generate its max velocity as and when required multiple times as per needs throughout its flight path and flight maneuvering.

The ground launch booster will possibly end up in the upcoming DRDO XRSAM a 150-300 km range surface to air missile system under development etc.

While the SFDR will possibly end up used in future in

1. DRDOs MBDA meteor analogue ie astra mk2 BVRAAM

2. next generation ABM interceptors and long range SAMs

3. Air to ground tactical missiles like RUDRA M3

4. Helicopter launched air to ship missiles like NASM-MR

Etc
Etc

Kept hearing rumours of IAF having Novator KS-172 400km range BVRAAM but it is powered by a rocket motor and hence will have difficulty to engage decently manuvering targets in terminal phase at such long ranges.

but after this DRDO SFDR tech matures it can be used to realise a very long range BVRAAM at 400km range and it will be achievable at lower weight and additionally will make it potent against not only against AWACS / tankers / MPA etc but against high manuvering targets also.

A close up of the system which was tested

SFDR - the white portion

Ground launch booster - the darker portion

If drdo needs to develop a air to air or air to surface missile it will use the SFDR minus the ground launch booster.

If drdo needs to build a surface to air missile it will use the SFDR and the ground launch booster together.

Earliest iteration will be a meteor class bvraam at half the price ie astra mk2

Apache fuselage being built at Tata aerospace facility

Next test will be of Drdo hstdv ( hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle )

Astra mk1 bvraam

Initial order for around 100 of these has been placed

Astra mk1 uses 2 pulse motor 1st one is fired during initial stage and the second one is fired during terminal stage.

Israeli stunner also uses 2 pulse motor

Drdo should start work on WVR missiles , the only category in which no work has been done on till date

Some of the publically know DRDO missiles under development or under testing or in user trials.

1.Agni 1P : Made to replace the ageing Agni 1. The Agni 1P Short Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM) by DRDO will be more compact and have the capability to be launched from cannister.

2.Agni IV Mk. II : An upgrade of original Agni IV by DRDO. It will have a fully composite body and will be compatible to be launched from cannister, unlike the original Agni IV which can't be launched from cannister.

3.Agni VI : Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) project by DRDO with a payload capability of 3 tons, Agni VI will be able to deliver it more than 10000km away.

4.K5 : The next Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) under development by DRDO, the K5, will have a range beyond 5000km. The secretive NG-SSBN submarine project with over 10,000 ton displacement will be able to launch this missile.

5.K6 : SLBM Missile under development which will have a range beyond 6000km, but the existence of this project has been officially confirmed.

6.Pralay SSM : This new DRDO Missile is a smaller cousin to Shaurya Ballistic Missile but much more advanced. It has the option of carrying either 350kg warhead or a 700kg warhead with minimum 500km range.

7.Astra Mk1A : The successor to Astra Mk. I, the Astra Mk. II by DRDO which will feature better range, better maneuverability, better counter measures and a better seeker.

8.Astra Mk2 : meteor category bvraam with SFDR propulsion.

9.NGARM : Next Generation Anti Radiation Missile by DRDO designed to destroy enemy radars with its 60kg warhead and blind them. This air launched missile have a range of over 100km and features an advanced passive homing seeker.

10.MPATGM : Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile is an ATGM by DRDO and under final stages of development. It will have a range of 2.5km and will feature top attack mode as well.

11.CLGM : Cannon Launched Guided Missile is a 120mm ATGM under development by DRDO designed to be fired from the barrel of Arjun MBT AND from a dedicated launcher on Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV). CLGM have a range of 5km.

12.Nag : Nag is a heavy ATGM which has finished its developmental trials. It features an infrared seeker and have a range of 4km with 8kg warhead, enough to destroy a heavily protected Main Battle Tank or a reinforced enemy bunker.

13.HeliNa : The Helicopter launched Nag is air launched version of ATGM having a range of 7km. It has the same infrared seeker and an 8kg warhead.

14.S.A.N.T. : Stand Off Anti-Tank Missile is another ATGM being developed by DRDO with major differences being an MMW Seeker instead of Infrared seeker and 10+ km range. Other than attack helicopters fixed wing aircrafts will be too able to launch S.A.N.T.

15.MLPGM : Missile Launched Precision Guided Munition (MLPGM) is an ATGM under development by DRDO, except it has a unique capability to be launched from a Tactical Ballistic Missile (TBM). MLPGM shares same body features with S.A.N.T. but features a heavier 10kg warhead. Each TBM will be able to launch multiple MLPGMs.

16.QR-SAM : Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile is a high priority project by DRDO designed to eliminate aerial threats to frontline military bases located at dense or hilly environment. The missile features a 32kg warhead and excellent maneuverability.

17.Akash-NG : The Next Generation Akash Missile System which is under advanced stage of development is on its way to be tested this year. The missile will feature Dual Pulse Rocket Motor just like Barak 8, except its longer than Barak 8 and will feature a fully indigenous active radar seeker.

18.XR-SAM : eXtended/ eXtra Range Surface to Air Missile is another key project of DRDO designed to destroy aerial targets 200–300km away. This unnamed missile system under development will be cannisterised and compliment the S-400 Missile System which India will buy soon.

19.Rudra M-II : An Air Launched Ballistic Missile weighing around 700kg. The missile is in advanced stage of development and will be soon tested from a Su-30 MKI. It's speed is believed to be around Mach 3–4.

20.Rudra M-III : Another Air Launched Ballistic Missile under development by DRDO but having a higher range and a weight of 1.6 tons. The speed of this missile system is believed to be hypersonic.

21.NASM-SR : Naval Anti-Ship Missile - Short Range is a missile under development by DRDO with subsonic speed and a range below 100km. The missile is designed to destroy smaller enemy warships like Missile Boats/ Offshore Patrol Vehicles and Corvettes.

22.NASM-MR : Naval Anti-Ship Missile - Medium Range. The range is believed to be between 150 to 300km.

23.Nirbhay : Nirbhay is a subsonic cruise missile under development by DRDO for a long time. The indigenous Manik turbofan of Nirbhay have finished its rigorous lab testing and is now ready to be tested from Nirbhay.

24.DSCM : Dual Speed Cruise Missile is another missile under development by DRDO which will feature a turbofan as main stage and a ramjet engine as second stage. Once it gets nearer to the enemy target, it will jettison its turbofan and fire up the ramjet engine for supersonic engagement in order to evade enemy air defences.

25.LFRJ : Liquid Fueled Ramjet Cruise Missile under development by DRDO. It features dual air ducts, a diameter of 350mm and a range of 600km. It will be Indian equivalent to French nuclear capable ASMP-A Supersonic Cruise Missile.

26.HSTDV : Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle is a key DRDO project that will use an Agni Missile Booster to release the vehicle at 32km altitude where it will fire up it's scramjet engine to cruise at hypersonic speed. HSTDV will eventually be converted into a Hypersonic Cruise Vehicle that will be able to cover 1500km range.

27.AD-1 : Air Defence - 1 is an Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) under Phase II of India's BMD Project which will be able to intercept enemy Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs) once DRDO complete its development and validates the system.

28.AD-2 : Air Defence - 2 is another Phase II Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) under development by DRDO which will complement AD-1.

29.ASAT-1000 : Not much is known about this secretive Anti-Satellite Missile project by DRDO. The number “1000” in the project name is believed to be the altitude it can achieve to destroy enemy satellites. If the claimed altitude is true, it will be able to destroy enemy satellites at Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).

30.SMART : Supersonic missile assisted release of torpedo. A supersonic missile will act as a carrier for a torpedo for fast response stand off response against submarines.

Credit for Original list goes to N Alam which I edited.

Tata ATAGS version

Kalyani ATAGS version

Only difference being this one has a automatic loader

LCA trainer taking off for a flight test over the Himalayas

close up of china J-20 stealth jet

newafricaken254:
close up of china J-20 stealth jet

I daresay the Chinese J-20 might turn out more stealthy than the Russian Su-57.

What do you think?

lionel4power:


I daresay the Chinese J-20 might turn out more stealthy than the Russian Su-57.

What do you think?

Doubt it, for all the talk of Russia's inexperience in making a stealth aircraft they have more experience than China does (which is none). The plane looks cool but it is far too big and has far too many moving parts (that massive canard does not help its case). It is a bomb truck and nothing more, might have some stealth features but I don't thing it's nearly as stealthy as the SU-50 which in turn isn't nearly as stealthy as the F-22.

Daverytimes:


Doubt it, for all the talk of Russia's inexperience in making a stealth aircraft they have more experience than China does (which is none). The plane looks cool but it is far too big and has far too many moving parts (that massive canard does not help its case). It is a bomb truck and nothing more, might have some stealth features but I don't thing it's nearly as stealthy as the SU-50 which in turn isn't nearly as stealthy as the F-22.

You are right in some aspects... But the Chinese J-20 was never intended for dogfighting or air combat maneuvers rather it's role is more akin to a tactical strike platform or maritime attack aircraft akin to the US F-111 or even the F-15K strike eagle.

And No!... contrary to popular opinion, fore canards DOES Not negatively affect low RCS.. The British did a research to that regard on its Euro 2K jets.
It can even enhance RCS if you use proper computational algorithm to position it in concomitance to the flight trajectory.

The Russian PAK/ SU-57 on the other hand, lacks proper DSI from what I observed in a recently released operational photo. The engine blades was open. Coupled with the naked rear engine nozzles too.

If you look at all this three stealth(y) aircraft (F-35, J-20, Su-57), only the Russian jet lacks the immersed radar absorbent coating material necessary for achieving a low RCS. You can even see the rivets on the body of the Aircraft.

lionel4power:

You are right in some aspects... But the Chinese J-20 was never intended for dogfighting or air combat maneuvers rather it's role is more akin to a tactical strike platform or maritime attack aircraft akin to the US F-111 or even the F-15K strike eagle.

And No!... contrary to popular opinion, fore canards DOES Not negatively affect low RCS.. The British did a research to that regard on its Euro 2K jets.
It can even enhance RCS if you use proper computational algorithm to position it in concomitance to the flight trajectory.

The Russian PAK/ SU-57 on the other hand, lacks proper DSI from what I observed in a recently released operational photo. The engine blades was open. Coupled with the naked rear engine nozzles too.

If you look at all this three stealth(y) aircraft (F-35, J-20, Su-57), only the Russian jet lacks the immersed radar absorbent coating material necessary for achieving a low RCS. You can even see the rivets on the body of the Aircraft.

if the f35 j20 n su57 should encounter each other who do you think will go/survive

lionel4power:


If you look at all this three stealth(y) aircraft (F-35, J-20, Su-57), only the Russian jet lacks the immersed radar absorbent coating material necessary for achieving a low RCS. You can even see the rivets on the body of the Aircraft.

J20 rivets all over

Also RCS of rivets is not worth the trouble unless they r bunched up even then it's not worth the trouble unless u r being paranoid

In real world stealth aircrafts will cover the rivets with ram coatings/fibers or use flush rivets however this leads to maintenance issues if the panels need to be opened regularly.

And FYI stealth is dependent on inherent characteristics but again importantly stealth is variable , can't influence the inherent features but can definitely influence the variables

Daverytimes:


Doubt it, for all the talk of Russia's inexperience in making a stealth aircraft they have more experience than China does (which is none). The plane looks cool but it is far too big and has far too many moving parts (that massive canard does not help its case). It is a bomb truck and nothing more, might have some stealth features but I don't thing it's nearly as stealthy as the SU-50 which in turn isn't nearly as stealthy as the F-22.

most of what you said is unsubstantiated hearsay,which experience are you talking about,developing SU-57!,are you assuming that when the chinese were minimizing the radar cross section of the J-20,opted to ignore the canard being a hindrance to its stealthiness!You also seems not to understand the advantageousness of canards in within-visual-range combat.you need to understand nobody has a monopoly over stealth tech,what is most curtailing most nation progress in this field is capital investment.i remember just few years ago when US had a monopoly over armed drone tech,now more countries have that capability and still more countries are joining the league of nations of armed UCAV developers.

Interesting composed image showing a J-20A during a sharp turn

Russia does not have a working stealth fighter yet. This bird they on display will show up is a western country plane's IRST at 100km.

SternProphet:
Russia does not have a working stealth fighter yet. This bird they on display will show up is a western country plane's IRST at 100km.

Where is your evidence to support this claim?

SternProphet:
Russia does not have a working stealth fighter yet. This bird they on display will show up is a western country plane's IRST at 100km.

is that possible?

a jet that can attain super cruise with out afterburn.

and when it comes to IRST no jet is immune.

LCA

giles14:
if the f35 j20 n su57 should encounter each other who do you think will go/survive

depends on the technology in play at the time...

x

The Shenwei Unit of the Chinese air force is an elite group of precision flyers. Thousands of feet up, they steer their H-6K bombers in a number of high-profile missions

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv-aXvRykrM

Putin Shows His New Limo To Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wihYJyR8ob8