Weapons, Equipment and Military Technology
This domain tests recognition of standard weapons and equipment, what each is for, and the direction military technology is taking.
Small arms
- INSAS rifle - 5.56 mm, the standard infantry rifle family, with an LMG variant.
- AK-203 - 7.62×39 mm, built at Korwa (Amethi, Uttar Pradesh) by Indo-Russian Rifles Pvt Ltd.
- SIG-716 - 7.62×51 mm NATO, procured for frontline troops.
- Older SLR (7.62 mm) and carbines remain in some units; grenades and 51 mm/81 mm mortars support the infantry section.
Heavy equipment
- Armour: T-90 Bhishma, T-72 Ajeya, Arjun MBT, BMP-2 ICV.
- Artillery: 155 mm Bofors FH-77B, Dhanush, K9 Vajra-T.
- Air: Su-30MKI, Rafale, Tejas LCA, Apache AH-64E, Chinook CH-47F, C-17, C-130J; AEW&C Netra.
- Missiles: BrahMos supersonic cruise missile (about Mach 2.8); Prithvi and Agni (ballistic); Astra (air-to-air); Nag (anti-tank); Akash (surface-to-air); Pinaka (multi-barrel rocket).
Technology direction
Network-centric operations, UAVs and counter-drone systems, electronic warfare, space-based ISR, artificial intelligence and hypersonics. DRDO is the main research agency; HAL, BEL, BDL, BEML and the defence shipyards form the production base.
Worked example
"Classify BrahMos, Agni-V and Astra." Reasoning: BrahMos flies a powered, guided path within the atmosphere - a cruise missile. Agni-V follows a ballistic arc after boost - a ballistic missile. Astra is launched from an aircraft at another aircraft - air-to-air.
Traps
- Calling INSAS a 7.62 mm weapon.
- Treating BrahMos as ballistic because it is long-ranged.
- Mixing designer and producer - DRDO designs; HAL, BEL and BDL manufacture.