INNOVATIONS FOR DEFENSE EXCELLENCE - SCI & TECH
News: Defence Ministry’s iDEX reaches milestone
What is in the news?
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Innovations for Defence
Excellence (iDEX), the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence (MoD),
has reached a milestone with the signing of the 250th contract,
key takeaways:
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This is the first one
under the Mission DefSpace, and the 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract.
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The first iDEX contract
of Mission DefSpace was exchanged between Additional Secretary (Defence
Production), Defence Innovation Organization (DIO), InspeCity.
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InspeCity is developing
agasbased (compact micropropulsion system) system. This technology can be
integrated with other satellites, including the cubesat swarm being developed
under Mission DefSpace.
Mission Def Space:
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India launched Mission
DefSpace with 75 defence space
challenges to be addressed by the private sector during DefExpo in
Gandhinagar in October 2022.
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It aims to nurture the
Indian private space industry through challenges addressing every stage of a
space mission -- from mission planning to satellite data analytics.
SPRINT initiative:
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Under the 'SPRINT'
initiative, a total of 75 challenge
statements for the Indian industry were unveiled by the Prime Minister
during the Naval Innovation and Indigenization Organization (NIIO) seminar 'SWAVLAMBAN' on July 18, 2022.
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The initiative aims at inducting at least 75 technologies and
products into the Indian Navy by August 2023.
Cubesats:
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Cubesats are a class of small satellites which are modular,
low-cost, easy to manufacture, integrate, and launch, and form a critical
component for launch-on-demand capabilities.
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For imagery, intelligence
surveillance and reconnaissance communication purposes, cubesats need to be
precisely aligned, hence there is a requirement of a compact micropropulsion system for precise maneuvering and orbit
correction,
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InspeCity is developing a
gas-based system for this purpose. This technology, once developed, can be
integrated with other satellites, including the cubesat swarm being developed
under Mission DefSpace.
Indian Defence Excellence:
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iDEX is an initiative
taken by the government to engage the
private sector to contribute towards modernization of the Defence Industry.
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It was launched in 2018.
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iDEX aims to promote innovation and technology
development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging industries which includes
MSME, startups, R&D firms.
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iDEX will provide the
engaging industries with funding and other support to carry out Research &
Development.
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iDEX will be funded and
managed by the Defence Innovation
Organization (DIO), and will function as the executive arm of DIO.