Science & Technology Current Affairs May 2016

Laser Walls Activated along India-Pakistan Border

• On April 27, 2016, ‘laser walls’ made operational along the India-Pakistan international border in Punjab to plug the porous riverine and difficult terrain and keep an effective vigil against intruders and terrorists.
• Satellite-based signal command system used for monitoring. These walls armed with fog operability tools and these walls help in guarding areas where barbed wire fencing can’t be installed due to difficult terrain.
• The ‘laser walls’ or fence are being monitored by the BSF which guards the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

INS-KarmukParticipted in Indo-Thai Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT)

• INS-Karmuk and a Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft, participated in the 22nd Indo-Thai Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT), held from 19-27 April, 2016 in the Andaman Sea.
• The CORPAT has also strengthened understanding and interoperability between the navies and facilitated institution of measures to prevent unlawful activities at sea as well as conduct Search and Rescue (SaR) operations.
• The two navies have been carrying out CORPATs along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) twice a year since 2005.

Exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant-2016’ Commenced

• The 11th India-Mongolia joint training exercise, ‘Nomadic Elephant-2016’, begun on April 25, 2016 in Mongolia.
• The exercise aimed to develop synergy and inter operability between the armies to battle in counter insurgency and counterterrorism environment under the UN mandate.
• A platoon of the Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army along with a team of two observers and 60 personnel from the Mongolian Armed Forces took part in the event.

Army Completed Exercise ‘JalPrahar’

• Indian military completed an exercise ‘JalPrahar’ on April 23, 2016 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• It was aiming to validate and fine-tune its strategy to take over enemy land via The aim was also to check preparedness and readiness of the armed forces to ensure functional integrity of all three services and security of the Islands.
• All three wings of the armed forces Army, Air Force and Navy participated in the participated in this exercise. Ships, aircraft and troops along with tanks from both the Eastern Naval Command and Andaman & Nicobar Command participated in the exercise.

Japan’s First Stealth Fighter Jet Tested Successfully

• Japan’s first radar-evading aircraft—a prototype called the X-2, took off on April 22, 2016 from Nagoya Airport carrying out a series of basic flight maneuvers, such as climbing, descent, and circling, it landed at the Japan Air j Self-Defense Force’s Gifu Air Base.
• The X-2, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and 200 other firms, measures 14.2 m long and 9.1 m wide and it integrates an airframe, engines, and other advanced systems and equipment all adaptable to future fighters.
• Presently, only the USA, Russia and China have been internationallyrecognised as having successfully developed and flown manned stealth jets.

Russia Test-fired ‘Iskander’ Ballistic Missile

• Russian Military test-fired a cruise missile named Iskander from the Kapustin Yar range in the Astrakhan region on April 20, 2016.
• It flew at an altitude of about 40-50 km. It incorporates reduced signature technology was not detected by a simulated enemy’s electronic warfare means.
• The missile systems are accomplished of hitting both small-size and large-area targets at a distance of up to 500 km to abolish missile and multiple launch rocket systems, long-range artillery guns, aircraft and helicopters at aerodromes, command posts and communications centres.

‘International Defence Expo’ Held in Malaysia

• Around 1000 defence companies including France major Airbus and UK based BAE Systems, Bell Helicopter, SAAB and Thales participated in the Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition in Malaysia on April 18, 2016.
• In the exhibition it was displayed static equipment of weapons and defence technology, weaponry systems and generic security solutions in the four-day exhibition.
• This year’s DSA was one of the biggest one since its inauguration 28 years ago. Issues related to Cyber Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief were emphasized in the exhibition.

Indian Army’s Firing Exercise ‘Shatrujeet’ Conducted

• Indian Army conducted a major Exercise called ‘SHATRUJEET’ in Rajasthan on April 17, 2016. The capability to Strike deep in enemy territory in an integrated Air-Land battle environment was tested during the exercise.
• The operationally oriented exercise focused on validating integrated theatre battle fighting concept incorporating new age technologies, weapon platforms and systems as well as long range precision targeting vectors.
• Indian Army undertakes such exercises at regular intervals at different levels to ensure forces are provided real war like situations and are kept in high State of battle readiness.