Current Affairs - Hajela's IAS Academy (HIA)

Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM)

The Indian Air Force is set to equip its fleet of MiG-29 fighter aircraft with the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM).

It is a European-designed short-range air-to-air missile developed by the multinational company MBDA.

Key Features of ASRAAM

The missile is approximately 2.9 metres long, weighs 88 kilograms, and is equipped with a high-explosive warhead.
ASRAAM uses heat-seeking (infrared) technology and is optimized for close-range aerial combat (dogfights).
It operates on the “fire-and-forget” principle, meaning that once launched, it can guide itself to the target without further input from the pilot.
Speed: It can reach speeds exceeding Mach 3, engage fast-moving fighter aircraft at ranges greater than 25 kilometres, and deliver high accuracy.
It features Lock-On After Launch (LOAL) capability, allowing the pilot to fire the missile even before the seeker locks onto the target.
It has already been integrated into the indigenous LCA Tejas and Jaguar aircraft.
The missile is highly manoeuvrable and capable of sustaining high G-forces to track rapidly turning fighter jets.
After launch, its aerodynamic design and powerful rocket motor enable it to maintain high energy throughout its flight path.

Once considered a jewel of the Ganga River, the Red-crowned Roofed Turtle is now forced to live in a shrinking habitat (sanctuary).

It is a species of freshwater turtle found in South Asia.
It is one of the three large freshwater species of the genus Batagur found in India.

Distribution

It is found in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
Historically, this species was widely distributed in the Ganga River (in both India and Bangladesh).
It is also found in the Brahmaputra basin.

Features of Red-crowned Roofed Turtle

Compared to females, males are smaller and reach only about half their length.
Their head is reddish-orange in color with a black crown, and the upper shell (carapace) is greenish-brown with yellow patterns.
Their lower shell (plastron) is yellow with black markings.
Diet: It is omnivorous and feeds on a variety of plants and animals.
It acts as a bio-indicator of river health.
It contributes to nutrient cycling in the river, which is essential for the overall health of the aquatic ecosystem.

Conservation Status