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- India's most advanced air-to-air missile, the Astra MK-III, has been officially renamed Gandiva, after the legendary bow wielded by Arjuna in the Mahabharata.
- About the Astra MK-III Missile:
- The Astra MK-III is a beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile designed for integration with fighter aircraft.
- Currently under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), this missile is set to revolutionize aerial warfare, particularly in BVR combat scenarios.
- It will be deployed on the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI jets and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.
- With the introduction of Gandiva, India will possess one of the longest-range BVR air-to-air missiles globally.
- The missile is capable of targeting a wide range of aerial threats, including enemy fighter jets, bombers, military transport aircraft, refueling planes, and Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.
- Features:
- The Gandiva has a range of 340 kilometers when targeting at an altitude of 20 kilometers and 190 kilometers at a lower altitude of 8 kilometers.
- Powered by a dual-fuel ducted ramjet engine, it can be launched from an IAF aircraft at altitudes ranging from sea level up to 20 kilometers.
- Its launch speed varies between 0.8 to 2.2 Mach, with a capability to hit targets at speeds between 2.0 and 3.6 Mach.
- The missile is equipped with advanced maneuvering technology, allowing it to engage highly agile fighter aircraft at an angle of attack of up to 20 degrees.
- One of its standout features is its ±10 km snap-up/snap-down capability, enabling it to engage targets at varying altitudes, whether higher or lower than the launching aircraft.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently revealed its plan to inject Rs 1.9 lakh crore into the banking system through open market purchases of government securities and USD/INR swaps.
- About Open Market Operations (OMO):
- Open Market Operations (OMOs) refer to the central bank’s practice of buying or selling securities in the open market.
- OMOs are used as a tool in monetary policy to control inflation and manage the money supply within the economy.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) utilizes OMOs to adjust the liquidity conditions in the market on a long-term basis.
- When the RBI identifies excess liquidity in the system, it sells government securities to absorb rupee liquidity from the market.
- Selling securities reduces the money supply, increases interest rates, makes borrowing costlier, and slows down economic activity.
- This can also result in a rise in bond yields, as more government securities are released into the market, and investors demand higher returns.
- On the other hand, when liquidity is constrained, the central bank purchases securities from the market, injecting money into the system.
- Buying securities increases the money supply, lowers interest rates, makes loans more accessible, and stimulates economic activity.
- ISRO recently completed a successful hot test of the semi-cryogenic engine (SE2000), making significant progress toward finalizing the critical cryogenic stage.
- About Semi-Cryogenic Engine:
- A semi-cryogenic engine (SCE) is a type of liquid rocket engine that uses liquid oxygen (LOX) as the oxidizer and refined kerosene as the fuel.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is developing a semi-cryogenic engine with a thrust capacity of 2000 kN, intended to power the booster stages of future heavy-lift launch vehicles. This engine combines LOX with refined kerosene (RP-1) as propellants.
- The semi-cryogenic engine offers several advantages over traditional cryogenic engines, including:
- Higher Density Impulse: The LOX-kerosene combination provides a higher density impulse than LOX-liquid hydrogen, resulting in improved overall performance.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Kerosene is less expensive and easier to handle compared to liquid hydrogen, lowering the overall cost of missions.
- Operational Efficiency: Kerosene can be stored at ambient temperatures, simplifying both storage and handling requirements.
- This engine's development is expected to increase the payload capacity of ISRO’s existing launch vehicles, such as the LVM3, and is also slated for use in future launch vehicles like the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).
- Difference Between Semi-Cryogenic Engine and Cryogenic Engine:
- Unlike a cryogenic engine, which uses liquid hydrogen as fuel, a semi-cryogenic engine uses refined kerosene, with liquid oxygen as the oxidizer.
- The key advantage of the semi-cryogenic engine is that refined kerosene is lighter than liquid hydrogen and can be stored at normal temperatures, making it more practical for operations.