defence Archives - Exhibit Tech

A Nuclear Submarine is not Actually Nuclear

The former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee was right about one thing, “We can change our friends but not our neighbours”. The international system is all about making alliances and breaking it. Post COVID-19 pandemic is anchoring a new international order where small alliances are getting created. Recently, when the US, UK, and Australia came with the concept of AUKUS, France declared that it would form a new multilateral order with India. With AUKUS came the very first declaration that Australia would have a nuclear submarine. Let’s know more about this nuclear submarine defence technology and whether India has such acumen or not from this piece.

What is a Nuclear Submarine?

Nuclear submarines, or precisely nuclear-powered submarines, run using a miniature nuclear reactor instead of diesel or other snorkel engines. Such nuclear reactors have generally enriched Uranium as a fuel. Another question: What is enriched Uranium? Well, let’s go back to class XII and unfold the chapters from the Modern Physics chapter. Normally, Uranium exists in two isotopes: U-238 and U-235. Now, U-238 is the one that is available in abundance (around 99.3%). But, to run a nuclear reactor present in a submarine demands 50% U-235 as content. A big figure? Not for the scientists. Well, some dedicated scientists do that by transforming this U-238 to the 235 isotope form using gas diffusion or laser isotope separation.

Traits of a Nuclear Submarine

First of all, you need to understand that merely possessing a nuclear submarine doesn’t make you a nuclear power, and you are just using a nuclear reactor to sail a marine. Then? Well, using a nuclear reactor eradicates many of the limitations of a submarine. Unlike conventional diesel-powered engines that have limitations and cannot let you stay inside the water for months, you cannot witness the same with a nuclear submarine. Apart from this, the small size of the nuclear reactor allows you to enhance the storage of items in the submarine and influences its speed and endurance.

Does India possess this technology?

The answer is yes. Yes, India is one of those six countries that possess this technology apart from France, China, the US, the UK, and Russia. As of now, India has 15 conventional submarines and one nuclear submarine. Stop. Some of the defence specialists will say that what I am writing for nuclear submarines is wrong. No, sir and ma’am, it is true. India had two nuclear submarines – INS Chakra and Arihant. Russia actually leased INS Chakra to India for some time which has been returned. Currently, India has an indigenously built INS Arihant that is nuclear-powered.

Final Remarks

Nuclear submarines are actually not nuclear. However, they upgrade your navy in terms of enhancing the features. With this latest development, Australia will become the 7th country to possess this technology.

Defence Internet-of-Things: Leaveraging Deterrence & Attacks

After the advent of IoT (Internet-of-Things), the world has changed. IoT is penetrating each sector by bringing improvement and upgrading the lifestyle of humankind. But, Exhibit has decided to talk on the defence front, and IoT enables respective countries’ military to enhance their deterrence capability. Let’s know more about DIoT (Defence Internet-of-Things) from this blog.

Defence Internet-Of-Things: Stats & Insights

According to a renowned firm, GlobalData, the projection of the IoT market is about to touch the market of $ 1.1 trillion (around 80 lacs Crore). You will go into the awestruck mode, but the number of patents filed under Aerospace, Defence & Security has jumped in recent years, with more than 15000 average in a year.

DIoT & Cybersecurity

Imagine a chip is inserted with the controller. Hence, if you give some sort of instructions, this controller can make a call. Now, imagine if you have a bunch of such robots that can make an automated call to any point at one point or in a time series. It will lock the communication pipeline for real callers. In the year 2016, a US company named Dyn witnessed a DDoS. And, this attack weaponized IoT. Hackers harnessed IoT even in “Krebs on Security” by letting them suffer through DDoS attacks. Hence, IoT has a great potential to use as a cybersecurity weapon and tarnish enemy infrastructure.

Drones & Surveillance

Drones can help a lot in upgrading border security. If you add facets of thermal imaging and 3D mapping, drones will provide the exact location of trespassers. Hence, UAVs are perfect for detecting any penetration in your borders. R&D of drones can help militaries to install nano and small missiles in these UAVs that the army can use to shoot down through aerial attacks.

Cartridge Sensor

Ministries of each company should facilitate a level-playing field to develop cartridge sensors that can in real-time assess and accordingly generate signals of when to reload the assault rifle or other missile system. Such alerts will keep the concerned individuals ready to load the optimum acumen.

Weapons Inventory

You are handling inventory operations of the weapons department in your command. If you deploy small IoT-based bots in the warehouse, it will be their responsibility to keep a count of every record of weapons. Hence, these DIoT devices don’t need to have a lethal application in the defence sector. Even one can assign roles for defence fleet management. Such a fleet management system and inventory handling operations can reduce the logistics cost by a great margin.

Conclusion

What Exhibit has discussed are some of the aspects that will have a futuristic presence tomorrow for sure. But, considering the current progress of Defence Internet-of-Things, it has to cover many milestones. Therefore, one must wait for future developments. If you want to check our other articles under defence section, click here.

Drone Destroying Technologies: Nullify UAVs’ Impact

A few days ago, the Exhibit team came out with certain essential concerns about drones. Drones which, if it is in your hand, make you feel empowered. Otherwise, you are vulnerable. In the previous article on drones, Exhibit also discussed those points that are creating an issue. And, to counter them, Exhibit laid out several methodologies to upgrade drone detection systems. But, this time, Exhibit will display how to neutralize such entities if such elements penetrate your territory. Keep an eye and understand what you need to do to destroy or take control of such weapons.

RF Jammer

In the previous article, we have thoroughly discussed how to upgrade detection equipment with an RF analyzer. But the time has come for jammers. What happens in jamming? I hope you have heard of these instruments earlier. Remember when a political figure sitting at the zenith of administration and governance comes to your vicinity. You may complain about network signals getting lost. The same happens with drones. These jammers emit radio frequency signals at enormous energy. Due to this, the controller signals are unable to reach such UAVs. Once it has lost connectivity, it may go back to its original position or fall uncontrolled.

GPS Spoofers

Imagine you are going to a location using your GPS (through a mobile app). Suddenly, you feel like the distance that was reduced again increased. No, don’t worry, such things don’t happen. But, to counter UAVs if such situations arise, you may easily deter such defensive entities. How? Consider that if you detect a drone has trespassed your land and is trying to make a lethal move, you can send a signal that tells a drone that it has come to the wrong location and must move back. GPS Spoofers is a non-lethal method to resist lethal moves (Quotable quote, isn’t it?). Hence, through such systems, you can avoid drone attacks.

HPM & HEL Devices

In easy language, you can imagine that your GPS Spoofers or RF Jammers are like Windows OS. And, this OS platform wants to download updates. Once downloaded, it’s an upgraded element for sure with enhanced features. The HPM (High-Power Microwave) device also sends an electromagnetic pulse (similar to an RF signal). But, this pulse can destroy the electronic circuitry in these UAVs. It is because such vibrations create a high difference in voltage. This difference results in a high jump in current, and that destroys the circuitry. The same is true for HEL (High-Energy Laser) devices, but here you send a laser beam. However, HEL has the edge over all other drone-destroying instruments due to its long-range fire. HEL also helps to reduce collateral damage.

Conclusion

The Exhibit has come with another byte on defense technology. This time it has covered aspects of destroying drones. But these are hard bits and pieces. Imagine if all such functionalities and traits integrate into one place. Today, defense R&D is trying to hammer and tap the other aspects too. For other articles on defense technology on the Exhibit platform, click here.