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Prelim Bits 20-08-2018

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August 20, 2018

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft

  • It is India’s next indigenous fighter and expected to make its first flight by 2032.
  • It is built under India’s only fifth generation aircraft programme.
  • The aircraft will feature geometric stealth which is different from material stealth feature.
  • In material stealth, radar-absorbing materials are used to absorb the radio waves thus reducing the radar footprint.
  • Whereas, in geometric stealth, the aircraft is designed at such angles to deflect away maximum radar waves to minimise radar cross section.
  • Thus, the fighter will have low radar cross section, making it difficult for the enemy to spot it.

Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon

  • It is an indigenously developed light weight glide bomb, capable of targeting large enemy infrastructure, like airfields.
  • It was recently flight tested from Indian Air Force’s Jaguar aircraft successfully.
  • It is an accurate bomb and  is termed a precision-guided munition (PGM).
  • It has “Inertial navigation system” which guides it precisely to its target, typically an enemy airfield up to 100 km away.
  • This precisely guided one bomb is more economical than traditional free fall bombs which are less accurate.
  • It has another advantage that it can release the bomb at a safer distance to enemy airfield and return without exposing itself to enemy anti-aircraft defences.

HELINA

  • HELINA is an acronym for “Helicopter Launched Nag” missile.
  • Nag is a third generation Anti-Tank guided missile indigenously developed under “Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)” of DRDO.
  • Anti-Tank Guided Missiles are primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armored military vehicles.
  • Helina is the helicopter launch variant of Nag, that can be fired from Dhruv advanced light helicopter and HAL Rudra attack helicopter.
  • It is a heavier and longer-range version of the vehicle mounted Nag missile with a 7-km range.
  • Typically, a land version of Nag missile has a range of only 4 km.
  • The missile is guided by “infrared imaging seeker”, that homes in on the target’s heat signature.
  • IGMDP involves the development of Agni, Akash, Trishul, Prithvi and Nag missiles.

Hilsa

  • It is the most priced variety of fish, originates in the coastal waters of Myanmar.
  • It travels to the mouth of the Ganga in West Bengal, Padma and Meghna rivers in Bangladesh to lay eggs in fresh water during the monsoon.
  • It is a sensitive species and its breeding ground is mostly concentrated at the confluence of river and oceanic waters.
  • After breeding in freshwater, the fish makes its way to seawater by undertaking a return journey to the confluence points.
  • It belongs to the family of Clupeidae.
  • It is known as “King of Fish” due to its soft oily texture and mouthwatering flavour.

Crypto-Pegged Forex rate

  • Venezuela has recently announced a single exchange rate based on its cryptocurrency.
  • Petro is a cryptocurrency launched by the government earlier this year.
  • The President has effectively devaluated the petrocurrency by 96 per cent.
  • Exchange rates, salaries, pensions and prices are pegged to Petro.
  • Now, one petro would equal $60 and have the equivalent of 360 million bolivars (official currency of Venezuala).
  • Since 2003 Venezuela has had strict currency controls, identified by economists as a major cause of its economic crisis.
  • It has led to hyperinflation and rendered the bolivar currency near worthless.
  • The International Monetary Fund has predicted that inflation in Venezuela would hit 1 million percent this year.

 

Source: The Hindu, PIB, Business Standard

 

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