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- In a concerning development, a fire recently erupted just outside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Mumbai.
- About Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP):
- SGNP, formerly known as Borivali National Park, is a vast protected area located near Borivali in the northern region of Mumbai. It spans across both the Thane and Mumbai Suburban Districts of Maharashtra. Covering 103 square kilometers, it stands as one of the largest parks within the city.
- The park is renowned for its rich biodiversity, including dense forests, a wide variety of birds, butterflies, and a small tiger population. At its core lies the historic Kanheri Caves, a significant Buddhist learning center and pilgrimage site carved by Buddhist monks between the 1st century BCE and 9th century CE from massive basaltic rock formations.
- In addition, SGNP is home to two artificial lakes—Tulsi Lake and Vihar Lake—along with a deer park, a lion safari, and the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.
- Flora: The park's flora includes Kadamba, Teak, Karanj, Shisham, and various species of acacia, Ziziphus, and Euphorbia, among others.
- Fauna: SGNP supports diverse wildlife, including Mongoose, Four-horned antelope, Sambar, Atlas Moth, Wild boar, Langur, Monkeys, Crocodiles, and Panthers. It is also a haven for 251 bird species and a large variety of butterflies.
- Turkey has successfully conducted a test firing of the supersonic missile UAV-122 from the Bayraktar Akinci drone.
- About Bayraktar Akinci:
- The Bayraktar Akinci is a long-endurance Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) developed by the Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar. It is designed to carry out a variety of missions alongside fighter jets, including both air-to-ground and air-to-air strike operations.
- Features: This combat drone measures 12.2 meters in length, 4.1 meters in height, and has a wingspan of 20 meters. It is notable for its impressive payload capacity of up to 1,500 kilograms and offers a flight endurance of 25 hours, with a range of 7,500 km.
- The Akinci is equipped with advanced technologies, including dual satellite communication systems, air-to-air radar, electronic support systems, collision avoidance radar, and synthetic aperture radar. Its triple-redundant flight control system ensures stability and reliability during missions.
- Incorporating a dual artificial intelligence (AI)-driven avionics system, the Akinci improves real-time signal processing, sensor fusion, and situational awareness. The UCAV is also capable of carrying a variety of weapon payloads, such as laser-guided munitions, missiles, and long-range stand-off weapons.
- Additionally, the Bayraktar Akinci is the first drone capable of launching an Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM).
- India and Mauritius recently conducted a joint coordination meeting aboard the INS Sarvekshak to launch the Joint Hydrographic Survey, aimed at improving navigational safety in Mauritian waters.
- About INS Sarvekshak:
- INS Sarvekshak is an Indian Navy hydrographic survey vessel, stationed at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. The ship is equipped with cutting-edge survey technology, including a Deep Sea Multi-Beam Echo Sounder, Side Scan Sonars, and a fully automated digital surveying and processing system.
- The ship also carries an integral Chetak helicopter, which will be actively utilized during the survey operations. INS Sarvekshak is the second ship of the Darshak class and operates with a crew of 15 officers and 175 sailors.
- Previously, INS Sarvekshak has participated in international hydrographic surveys, collaborating with countries such as Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, and Kenya.